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Abstract Background The initial clinical symptoms of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) mainly include high fever, thrombocytopenia and gastrointestinal symptoms, and severe patients may suffer from severe complications such as multiple organ failure, which can lead to death. Studies have shown that central nervous system symptoms are associated with severe adverse outcomes of SFTS, but there are few reports on confirmed cases of SFTS encephalitis. This is a special case in which her initial SFTS symptoms were atypical, while the disease deteriorated rapidly after the appearance of encephalitis. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical and epidemiological features of this case, isolate and trace the SFTS virus (SFTSV) strain, identify the genotype of the strain, and speculate on the infection route to provide an important reference for the diagnosis and control of SFTSV. Methods Cerebrospinal fluid and serum samples were collected, multipathogen detection was performed via next-generation sequencing (NGS), and SFTSV virus isolation was performed via inoculation of the samples with Vero cells. The serum of key populations closed to patients, parasitic ticks on the surface of domestic animal bodies and environmentally free ticks were collected for SFTSV monitoring. The whole genomes of the virus strains and positive nucleic acid samples were sequenced and compared with the GenBank reference sequence to construct a phylogenetic analysis tree. Results This patient was diagnosed with SFTSV encephalitis, and the viral strain was successfully isolated. The SFTSV strain is closely related to the Hubei strain HB2017-02, and the SFTSV M and L fragments belong to the B genotype, whereas the M fragments belong to the F genotype. In addition, the similarities of coding sequences of case strain to those of tick-carried SFTSV strain in the residence were more than 99.9%. Conclusions The patient was confirmed to have SFTSV-infected encephalitis and died rapidly. The SFTSV strain was of Chinese local origin, and tick bites were the most likely route of infection.

Rare earth ion-doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG)-based transparent ceramics have been used as important laser gain media for a long time, yet the doping concentration of active ions is limited due to concentration quenching, wherein the inflexion concentration quenching of Nd3+ is recognized as 1.0 at%. In this work, YAG–Al2O3 nanocrystalline transparent ceramics with a concentration of Nd3+ (0–5.0 at%) were fabricated via amorphous crystallization, and the crystal structure evolution, morphology, and optical properties were systematically investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), magnetic resonation (MAS), nuclear magnetic resonation (NMR), and fluorescence spectroscopy. The doping of Nd3+ can promote the transition of Al[5] and Al[6] to Al[4], indicating improvements in the ability of the amorphous material to form Nd3+:Y2O3–Al2O3 vitrified beads, and 1.5 at% Nd3+:YAG–Al2O3 nanocrystalline transparent ceramics can be obtained by crystallization at 1050 °C with a matrix composed of YAG and concomitant δ-Al2O3 and θ-Al2O3. The nanocrystalline transparent ceramics show an internal transmittance of 89.56% at 1064 nm, and the strongest emission peak corresponds to the energy transfer from 4F3/2 to 4I11/2 of Nd3+ with a fluorescence lifetime of 231 μs when pumped by an 808 nm laser. Specifically, spectral broadening begins to occur, indicating the onset of concentration quenching, when the concentration of Nd3+ exceeds 1.5 at%, substantially higher than the 1.0 at% observed in YAG ceramics. YAG–Al2O3 nanocrystalline transparent ceramics obtained by amorphous crystallization can be utilized as the matrix to increase the inflexion point of doping concentration quenching of Nd3+, and this material may have great potential as a laser gain medium.

Objective: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is deemed as an emerging global epidemic, whereas the underlying pathogenic mechanism remains to be clarified. We aimed to systemically analyze all the NAFLD-related gene expression datasets from published human-based studies, by which exploring potential key factors and mechanisms accounting for the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Methods: Robust rank aggregation (RRA) method was used to integrate NAFLD-related gene expression datasets. For fatty liver study, adeno-associated virus (AAV) delivery and genetic knockout mice were used to create IGFBP2 (Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2) gain- or loss-of function models. Western blot, Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), immunofluorescent (IF) staining, luciferase assay, molecular docking simulation were performed to reveal the IGFBP2-EGFR-STAT3 axis involved. Key axis protein levels in livers from healthy donors and patients with NAFLD were assessed via immunohistochemical staining. Results: By using RRA method, the present study identified IGFBP2 being the most significantly down-regulated gene in all NAFLD subjects. The decreased IGFBP2 expression was further confirmed in the liver tissues from patients and animal models of NAFLD. IGFBP2 deficiency aggravated hepatic steatosis and NASH phenotypes and promoted lipogenic gene expression both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, IGFBP2 directly binds to and regulates EGFR, whereas blockage of the IGFBP2-EGFR complex by knockdown of IGFBP2 resulted in the EGFR-STAT3 pathway activation, which in turn promoted the promoter activity of Srebf1. By using molecular docking simulation and protein-protein interaction analysis, the sequence of 233-257 amino acids in IGFBP2 was characterized as a key motif responding for its specific binding to EGFR and the protective effect against hepatic steatosis. Conclusions: The current study has, for the first time, identified IGFBP2 as a novel protector against hepatosteatosis. The protective effect is mediated by its specific interaction with EGFR and thereby suppressing the EGFR-STAT3 pathway. Therefore, pharmaceutically targeting the IGFBP2-EGFR-STAT3 axis may provide a theoretical basis for for the treatment of NAFLD/NASH and the associated diseases.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused over 600 million confirmed infections and more than 6.8 million deaths worldwide, with ongoing implications for human health. COVID-19 has been extensively documented to have extrapulmonary manifestations due to the widespread expression of necessary ACE2 receptors in the human body. Nevertheless, the association between COVID-19 and cancer risk remains inadequately explored. This study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) methods to examine the causal relationship between genetic variations associated with COVID-19 and the risk of developing cancer. The findings indicate that COVID-19 has negligible impact on most cancer risks. Interestingly, a higher COVID-19 impact is associated with a decreased risk of thyroid cancer. In summary, our findings demonstrate a genetic correlation between COVID-19 and thyroid cancer, contributing to our understanding of the interplay between COVID-19 and cancer risk.

Abstract The aim of this study is to uncover how students’ practices of writing in higher education are being impacted by ChatGPT. The use of ChatGPT and other generative AI needs to be set in the context of a longer-term process of the digitisation of writing, where many tools are being employed by students to support writing because it is a complex iterative process. Generative AI appears to have had a large impact on how students write, and we propose a model of generative AI literacy to assess their capabilities in doing so. Semi-structured interviews and observation data were collected at a British University with 23 students from diverse backgrounds, including the UK, USA, China, Japan, and Saudi Arabia. The data was analysed thematically. It was found that students used ChatGPT alongside many other tools, and in rather individualistic ways often to address specific challenges they felt they had with writing. Their main concerns were around plagiarism, information inaccuracy and technology dependence. There was a relatively weak understanding or interest in the ethical issues around the exploitative and environmental impacts of generative AI. The social controversy around ChatGPT can be seen as a useful opportunity to engage students in a discussion about the digitisation of writing and promote AI literacy in this context.

ABSTRACTMagnetic coupling is an approach employed to prevent gas leakage by transforming the dynamic seal into a non-contact static seal for the recovery of natural gas pressure energy. The impact of thermal demagnetization necessitates the consideration of the heat dissipation characteristics resulting from eddy current losses in the rotating magnetic field. We performed a numerical study of thermal-magnetic coupling in a magnetic transmission validated by experimental results. The Maxwell software was utilized to simulate the distribution characteristics of induced current, while the Fluent software was employed to analyze the dissipation of heat caused by eddy currents. The obtained simulation results reveal a proportional increase in induced current and eddy current losses with the rotation speed. Also, the eddy current losses increase together with the thickness of the isolation cover, since more volume of the conducting media is affected by the eddy currents. Furthermore, reducing the electrical conductivities of the isolation cover and enhancing the internal flow rates can effectively decrease the temperature of the magnetic coupling and mitigate thermal demagnetization. These research findings offer valuable insights for the design and optimization of non-contact transmission methods, ultimately enhancing the safety of natural gas top-pressure energy recovery equipment.

Abstract This study examines the temporal changes in income segregation within the ambient population around the clock using mobile phone big data. It employs ordinal entropy, a metric suited for measuring segregation among ordered groups, to quantify the level of segregation among eight income groups within micro-geographic units throughout the 24-h period on a weekday and a weekend day in the urban core of Guangzhou, China. The study further decomposes daily segregation by location and time profile. We identify urban functions and neighborhood contexts relevant for income segregation and explore their temporal variation. Using group-based trajectory analysis, we classify daily segregation trends among 400 m urban grids into seven distinct trajectories for both weekday and weekend. Our findings confirm that segregation fluctuates constantly. The role of local urban functions, particularly retail, accommodation, and offices, and neighborhood context, such as the number of residents and the share of non-local migrants, exhibits a significant temporal rhythm. The seemingly convoluted 24-h segregation time series among urban grids follow just a few distinct trajectories with clear geographical patterns. There is limited variability at individual grids both over the course of a day and across days. Shifts across different trajectory types between weekday and weekend are rare. The dynamic daily segregation in the ambient population per se may be an enduring characteristic of neighborhoods and a real-time channel for neighborhood contextual influences, potentially fueling long-term residential segregation and neighborhood change.

Forward-looking imaging is crucial in many civil and military fields, such as precision guidance, autonomous landing, and autonomous driving. The forward-looking imaging performance of airborne radar may deteriorate significantly due to the constraint of the Doppler history. The deconvolution method can be used to improve the quality of forward-looking imaging; however, it will not work well for complex imaging scenes. To solve the problem of scene sparsity measurement and characterization in complex forward-looking imaging configurations, an efficient probability model-driven airborne Bayesian forward-looking super-resolution imaging algorithm is proposed for multitarget scenarios to improve the azimuth resolution. First, the data dimension of the forward-looking imaging scene was expanded from single-frame to multiframe spaces to enhance the sparsity of the imaging scene. Then, the sparse characteristics of the imaging scene were statistically modeled using the generalized Gaussian probability model. Finally, the super-resolution imaging problem was solved using the Bayesian framework. Because the sparsity characterization parameters are embedded in the entire process of imaging, the forward-looking imaging parameters will be updated during each iteration. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm was verified using simulation and real data.

Abstract Breast cancer treatment has been a global puzzle, and apoptosis strategies based on mitochondrial Ca2+ overload have attracted extensive attention. However, various limitations of current Ca2+ nanogenerators make it difficult to maintain effective Ca2+ overload concentrations. Here, we constructed a multimodal Ca2+ nano-modulator that, for the first time, combined photothermal therapy (PTT) and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload strategies to inhibit tumor development. By crosslinking sodium alginate (SA) on the surface of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) nanoparticles encapsulating with Cur and ICG, we prepared a synergistic Ca2+ nano-regulator SA/Cur@CaCO3-ICG (SCCI). In vitro studies have shown that SCCI further enhanced photostability while preserving the optical properties of ICG. After uptake by tumor cells, SCCI can reduce mitochondrial membrane potential and down-regulate ATP production by producing large amounts of Ca2+ at low pH. Near-infrared light radiation (NIR) laser irradiation made the tumor cells heat up sharply, which not only accelerated the decomposition of CaCO3, but also produced large amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) followed by cell apoptosis. In vivo studies have revealed that the Ca2+ nano-regulators had excellent targeting, biocompatibility, and anti-tumor effects, which can significantly inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells and play a direct killing effect. These findings indicated that therapeutic strategies based on ionic interference and PTT had great therapeutic potential, providing new insights into antitumor therapy. Graphical Abstract

Abstract The development of two-dimensional (2D) magnetic semiconductors with room-temperature ferromagnetism is a significant challenge in materials science and is important for the development of next-generation spintronic devices. Herein, we demonstrate that a 2D semiconducting antiferromagnetic Cu-MOF can be endowed with intrinsic room-temperature ferromagnetic coupling using a ligand cleavage strategy to regulate the inner magnetic interaction within the Cu dimers. Using the element-selective X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) technique, we provide unambiguous evidence for intrinsic ferromagnetism. Exhaustive structural characterizations confirm that the change of magnetic coupling is caused by the increased distance between Cu atoms within a Cu dimer. Theoretical calculations reveal that the ferromagnetic coupling is enhanced with the increased Cu-Cu distance, which depresses the hybridization between 3d orbitals of nearest Cu atoms. Our work provides an effective avenue to design and fabricate MOF-based semiconducting room-temperature ferromagnetic materials and promotes their practical applications in next-generation spintronic devices.

The off-grid inverter with the inverter side voltage as the feedback parameter has the advantages of a single voltage loop, simple control parameter design, and low cost. But the output voltage accuracy is not enough. A single-stage off-grid inverter with feedforward control is recommended to improve the output voltage accuracy. It has a higher voltage regulation rate compared to the proportional–integral (PI) control and it can track a given AC signal at any frequency compared to the proportional-resonant (PR) control. Bus capacitors can employ thin-film capacitors for improved reliability and higher power density and the voltage stress on power devices can be decreased by controlling the intermediate bus voltage to a non-constant value. The working principle is explained. The design principles of the parameters are provided and the external characteristics and stability of the system are analyzed. A simulation model was built to verify the control strategy for improving voltage accuracy and decreasing voltage stress.

Activity space research explores the behavioral impact of the spaces people move through in daily life. This research has focused on urban settings, devoting little attention to non-urban settings. We examined the validity of the activity space method, comparing feasibility and data quality in urban and non-urban contexts. Overall, we found that the method is easily implemented in both settings. We also found location data quality was comparable across residential and activity space settings. The major differences in GPS (Global Positioning System) density and accuracy came from the operating system (iOS versus Android) of the device used. The GPS-derived locations showed high agreement with participants' self-reported locations. We further validated GPS data by comparing at-home time allocation with the American Time Use Survey. This study suggests that it is possible to collect daily activity space data in non-urban settings that are of comparable quality to data from urban settings.

Cyclone separators, which have a high separation performance, play a crucial role in mitigating the occurrence of dust explosion incidents. This study aims to improve the performance of an axial cyclone separator using the results of simulations employing the RNG k-ε model together with a user-defined function to simulate the wall collision process. The effectiveness of various structural modifications to the vortex tube has been addressed. Specifically, we found that increasing the number of blades, reducing the blade exit angle, and adopting L-shaped blades increase separation efficiency. Additionally, enlarging the guide vane and exhaust pipe diameters, as well as increasing the exhaust pipe inclination angle, contribute to an improved separation performance due to the developed tangential velocity and vortex cores. However, it also increases the pressure drop losses due to the increase in the turbulence pulsation entropy and the wall entropy, while the time-averaged entropy is found to be less significant. As a result, our study sheds light on the flow characteristics, the gas–solid separation process, and the energy loss mechanism in the cyclone separator.

Alkali metal-based adsorbents are used in the direct air capture of CO2, but the process is hindered by high energy demands, mainly due to the slow adsorption and desorption kinetics of CO2, This necessitates the use of a catalytic support like ZrO2 to reduce the energy barrier associated with the reaction. This study uses both density functional theory and experimental approaches to explore how ZrO2 support interacts with H2O during the carbonation reaction. The findings suggest that the presence of [ZrO(OH)]+ and OH- on the monoclinic ZrO2 (001) surface greatly speeds up the dissociation of H2O, reducing energy use in CO2 capture and increasing thermal efficiency. The catalytic role of ZrO2 is further confirmed through analyses using thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Flue gas desulfurization gypsum is the main solid byproduct generated during the limestonegypsum wet desulfurization process in coal-fired power plants. This byproduct is produced in large quantities annually, and ineffective management or disposal can lead to significant environmental damage and land resource wastage. This study investigates how reaction conditions affect CO2 mineralization of desulfurization gypsum, focusing on the purity of the resultant solid minerals, the rate of carbonation of CaSO4·2H2O, and the proportion of vaterite in the produced calcium carbonate. The experimental findings suggest that an increase in ammonia solution concentration enhances the purity and carbonation rate of calcium carbonate from CaSO4·2H2O. Additionally, a higher CO2 flow rate speeds up the mineralization process but may decrease CO2 capture efficiency; however, an optimal increase in CO2 flow can reduce the Ca2+ to CO32- ratio, facilitating the formation of vaterite calcium carbonate. The solid-to-liquid ratio in the reaction does not generally impact the purity or carbonation rate of calcium carbonate but increasing this ratio leads to higher supersaturation of the solution, slowing the conversion of vaterite to calcite and increasing the vaterite content. However, this effect diminishes past a certain point. This research serves as a basis for refining the direct mineralization conditions for CO2 in desulfurization gypsum processes, aiming to optimize the conditions for producing high-quality vaterite-type calcium carbonate.

Abstract Background Abundant evidence has manifested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are closely implicated in human cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Remarkably, lncRNA FAM83H antisense RNA 1 (FAM83H-AS1) has been reported to be a tumor-propeller in multiple cancers. However, its effect on HCC progression remains unknown. Methods FAM83H-AS1 expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Colony formation, EdU, and flow cytometry as well as transwell assays were implemented to analyze the biological functions of FAM83H-AS1 on HCC progression. Luciferase reporter, RIP and RNA pull-down assays were implemented to detect the interaction among FAM83H-AS1, microRNA-485-5p (miR-485-5p), and myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) in HCC cells. Results FAM83H-AS1 expression in HCC cells was markedly elevated. FAM83H-AS1 accelerated cell proliferation, migration and invasion whereas inhibiting cell apoptosis in HCC. Besides, we confirmed that FAM83H-AS1 acts as a miR-485-5p sponge in HCC cells. Additionally, MEF2D was verified to be a direct target of miR-485-5p. FAM83H-AS1 could upregulate MEF2D expression via sponging miR-485-5p. Further, rescue experiments testified that MEF2D upregulation or miR-485-5p downregulation offset the repressive effect of FAM83H-AS1 depletion on HCC cell progression. Conclusions FAM83H-AS1 facilitates HCC malignant progression via targeting miR-485-5p/MEF2D axis, suggesting that FAM83H-AS1 may be a promising biomarker for HCC treatment in the future.

PurposeTo explore the difference in the effectiveness of gallium-68 fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (68Ga-FAPI-04) PET/CT and fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT for the initial staging of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsThe Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University hosted this single-center prospective investigation (Clinical Trials registration No.ChiCTR2100044131) between March 2020 and September 2021. Within a week, all subjects underwent MR scans, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT, and 18F-FDG PET/CT in order. The effectiveness of medical staging employing 68Ga-FAPI-04 and 18F-FDG PET/CT was compared.ResultsTwenty-eight patients with primary NPC were evaluated (mean age53 ± 11 years). 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT indicated an elevated recognition rate for diagnosing primary tumors (28/28 [100%] vs. 27/28 [96%]) and lymph node metastases (263/285 [92%] vs. 228/285 [80%]), but a lower detection rate for distant metastases (5/7 [71%] vs. 7/7 [100%]) compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT. A significant association between the maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-FDG PET and 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET was found in the primary cancers (r = 0.691, p < 0.001). In comparison to 18F-FDG PET/CT, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT upstaged the T stage in five patients while downstaging the N stage in seven patients. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT corrected the overall staging of five patients on18F-FDG PET/CT.Conclusion68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT is preferable to 18F-FDG PET/CT for NPC staging in terms of the detection efficiency for primary tumors and lymph node metastasis. This is especially true when evaluating the primary cancer and any spread to contiguous tissues. It is possible to improve the staging assessment of NPC by using 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/CT in conjunction with 18F-FDG PET/CT.

Auxiliary forced convection induced by axial flow fans was introduced to improve the ventilation and heat dissipation of a large-scale dry cooling tower under crosswinds. A numerical model coupling aerodynamic characteristics of the fans, thermo-flow characteristics of the tower, and thermodynamic calculations of the condenser was developed. By altering fan layout position, compactness, and inclination, the induced effects on thermal performance of the indirect dry cooling system were studied. Results showed that at wind speeds below 6 m/s, it is best to arrange the fans horizontally on the inlet cross-section of tower body. On this basis, distributing the fans uniformly in three rings could reduce flow turbulence inside the tower and meanwhile increase the tower ventilation. A moderate inclination of the fans could improve the synergy between the ventilation directions of the fans and airflow directions inside the tower. The combination of these steps significantly enhances thermal performance of the indirect dry cooling system, and the caused drop in back pressure of the turbine exceeds 3 kPa. At high wind speeds, the vertical arrangement of the fans outside the radiators becomes the most-effective layout for alleviating the adverse wind effects by remarkably reducing air inflow deviation angles of the radiators.

This paper reports the design, fabrication and quantitative performance analysis of a low-cost, flexible carbon nanotube (CNT) network-based deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sensor. These sensors comprise an array of ink-jet printed silver (Ag) electrodes on a transparent polyethylene terephthalate (PET) flexible substrate, where a CNT network acts as a sensing layer. DNA hybridization is studied by immobilizing single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) probes on the CNT surface; these probes recognize their complementary DNA target. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to analyze the quantitative performance of flexible CNT biosensors. Various influencing factors (performance indicators) have been identified and quantified in the performance of flexible CNT biosensors (before bending, during bending and after bending). Additionally, the noise and other external factors contributing to the measured real signal have been quantified. The interpretation of the overall outcome will enable the improvement of the performance of flexible biosensors fabricated through large-scale manufacturing for possible commercialization.

Abstract Background Glucocorticoids (GCs) show powerful treatment effect on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the clinical application is limited by their nonspecific distribution after systemic administration, serious adverse reactions during long-term administration. To achieve better treatment, reduce side effect, we here established a biomimetic exosome (Exo) encapsulating dexamethasone sodium phosphate (Dex) nanoparticle (Exo/Dex), whose surface was modified with folic acid (FA)-polyethylene glycol (PEG)-cholesterol (Chol) compound to attain FPC-Exo/Dex active targeting drug delivery system. Results The size of FPC-Exo/Dex was 128.43 ± 16.27 nm, with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.36 ± 0.05, and the Zeta potential was − 22.73 ± 0.91 mV. The encapsulation efficiency (EE) of the preparation was 10.26 ± 0.73%, with drug loading efficiency (DLE) of 18.81 ± 2.05%. In vitro study showed this system displayed enhanced endocytosis and excellent anti-inflammation effect against RAW264.7 cells by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine. Further biodistribution study showed the fluorescence intensity of FPC-Exo/Dex was stronger than other Dex formulations in joints, suggesting its enhanced accumulation to inflammation sites. In vivo biodistribution experiment displayed FPC-Exo/Dex could preserve the bone and cartilage of CIA mice better and significantly reduce inflamed joints. Next in vivo safety evaluation demonstrated this biomimetic drug delivery system had no obvious hepatotoxicity and exhibited desirable biocompatibility. Conclusion The present study provides a promising strategy for using exosome as nanocarrier to enhance the therapeutic effect of GCs against RA.

Abstract Background China still suffers heavily from rabies, although reported human cases continue to decrease year over year. There are far fewer laboratory-confirmed human cases than clinically diagnosed cases, which is a big problem that needs to be addressed. In this report, we summarize analyses of all specimens from human cases tested in our laboratory over the past 15 years, in order to promote laboratory diagnosis of rabies. Methods From 2005 to 2019, a total of 271 samples from 164 suspected rabies cases were collected from local hospitals by the local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCs) in China. Saliva, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), serum (blood) and urine were collected for ante-mortem diagnosis, and brain tissue, neck skin tissue and cornea were collected for post-mortem diagnosis. All of the specimens were tested by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and brain tissues were also tested using fluorescent antibody test (FAT). The number of positive test results obtained using different fluids or tissues, and at different stages of the disease, were compared using a chi-square test and a more effective sampling program is recommended. Results As the national reference laboratory for rabies surveillance in China, our laboratory has tested 271 samples from 164 suspected rabies cases collected by local CDCs since 2005. We found that saliva gave the highest number of positive test results (32%), compared with CSF and other fluids. We also found that serum or blood specimens collected in the last 3 days of life can test positive by RT-PCR. Conclusions Serum or blood samples collected in the last 3 days of a patient’s life can be used to measure viral RNA, which means that serum samples, as well as saliva and CSF, can be used to detect viral RNA for anti-mortem diagnosis of rabies. Because of our findings, we have modified our “National Surveillance Project for Human Rabies”, by adding the collection and testing of serum samples from the end of the survival period. This will improve our national surveillance and laboratory diagnosis of human rabies.

Background: Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapy drugs remains a major challenge in clinical cancer treatment. Here we investigated whether and how ginsenoside Rg5 overcomes the MDR mediated by ABCB1 transporter in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Cytotoxicity and colon formation as well as the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates were carried out in MDR cancer cells A2780/T and A549/T for evaluating the reversal effects of Rg5. The expressions of ABCB1 and Nrf2/AKT pathway were determined by Western blotting. An A549/T cell xenograft model was established to investigate the MDR reversal activity of Rg5 in vivo. Results: Rg5 significantly reversed ABCB1-mediated MDR by increasing the intracellular accumulation of ABCB1 substrates without altering protein expression of ABCB1. Moreover, Rg5 activated ABCB1 ATPase and reduced verapamil-stimulated ATPase activity, suggesting a high affinity of Rg5 to ABCB1 binding site which was further demonstrated by molecular docking analysis. In addition, co-treatment of Rg5 and docetaxel (TXT) suppressed the expression of Nrf2 and phosphorylation of AKT, indicating that sensitizing effect of Rg5 associated with AKT/Nrf2 pathway. In nude mice bearing A549/T tumor, Rg5 and TXT treatment significantly suppressed the growth of drug-resistant tumors without increase in toxicity when compared to TXT given alone at same dose. Conclusion: Therefore, combination therapy of Rg5 and chemotherapy drugs is a strategy for the adjuvant chemotherapy, which encourages further pharmacokinetic and clinical studies. Keywords: ABCB1 transporter, combination therapy, ginsenoside Rg5, multidrug resistance

Abstract Background This study aimed to identify the differentially expressed circular RNAs (circRNAs) between human abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and the control group. Methods High-throughput sequencing was applied to determine the circRNA expression profiles of 4 paired aortic samples. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was carried out to testify 6 randomly selected dysregulated circRNAs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene ontology (GO) analysis were conducted for functional annotation of the parental genes. Additionally, interaction networks between circRNA and 5 putative microRNA (miRNA) partners were constructed. Results Finally, 411 differentially expressed circRNAs were discovered, including 266 downregulated and 145 upregulated circRNAs. Compared with the control group, the expression level of hsa (Homo sapiens) _circ_0005360 (LDLR) and hsa_circ_0002168 (TMEM189) were proved significantly lower in the AAA group by qRT-PCR. Regarding upregulated circRNAs, the most enriched GO molecular function, biological process and cellular component terms were poly(A) RNA binding, negative regulation of transcription from RNA polymerase II promoter and nucleoplasm, respectively. Moreover, circRNA/miRNA interaction networks showed that hsa_circ_0005360/miR-181b and hsa_circ_0002168/miR-15a axis might have a regulative role in human AAA. Conclusions This study revealed new circRNAs potentially related to the pathogenesis of AAA. Further experimental studies are warranted to clarify the potential molecular mechanisms.

PURPOSE: The efficacy of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in diagnosing obstructive venous lesions has been established in the Western countries; however, its beneficial role in the Asian population is seldom reported. Because IVUS is still not widely used in China, we, therefore, investigated whether the salutary effect of IVUS on the diagnosis and treatment of iliac venous outflow obstructions could also be extended to the Chinese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective single-center study. Patients with nonthrombotic iliac venous obstructions were consecutively enrolled from September 2017 to September 2019. IVUS and venography were performed for every participant. The anatomic characteristics of the venous lesions were measured by these two imaging modalities and then compared with each other. Venous lesions were divided into the collateral and noncollateral group according to the presence of collaterals on venographic images, and comparison was performed between the two groups. The difference of lesion diameter or area at the most compression site was also observed after the endovascular intervention. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients with 59 limbs were eligible (males, 25; females, 25; mean age 63.46 ± 8.07). The clinical-etiology-anatomy-pathophysiology classification was C4: 43 (72.88%), C5: 6 (10.17%), and C6: 10 (16.95%). Compared with IVUS, the diameter and area stenosis calculated by traditional venography were dramatically lower than that measured by IVUS (diameter stenosis, 38.56% ± 17.76% vs. 64.55% ± 15.96%, P < 0.001; area stenosis: 51.14% ± 19.50% vs. 60.11% ± 13.86%, P = 0.003). Based on a previously reported 50% stenosis threshold (significant stenosis), traditional venography displayed a low sensitivity of 23.91% and an acceptable specificity of 84.62% in detecting significant lesions. The overall intermodality agreement was extraordinarily low between venography and IVUS (κ = 0.045). With no major difference in the baseline characteristics, the area stenosis measured by IVUS was not significantly different between the collateral and noncollateral group (61.31% ± 15.29% vs. 57.94% ± 10.79%, P = 0.376). IVUS also confirmed a significant increase of the compressed vein lumen after the endovascular intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with IVUS, traditional venography underestimates the degree of stenosis and misses significant iliac venous obstructive lesions. The collaterals presented by venography is not a reliable indicator in distinguishing significant lesions. IVUS is a valuable and effective imaging modality in the diagnosis and treatment of nonthrombotic iliac venous obstructions in the Chinese population.

The P-V phase transition and critical behavior in the extended phase space of asymptotic Anti-de Sitter (AdS) black holes have been widely investigated, in which four critical exponents around critical point are found to be consistent with values in the mean field theory. Recently, another critical exponent ν related to divergent correlation length at critical point is proposed by using thermodynamic curvature scalar RN in the charged AdS black hole. In this paper, we develop a method to investigate the divergent behavior of RN at critical point, and find that the divergent behavior of RN around the critical point expresses a universal property in generic black holes. We further directly apply this method to investigate black holes in de Rham-Gabadadze-Tolley (dRGT) massive gravity to check this universality. Those results shed new lights on the microscopic properties of black holes.

In January 2019, the fourth rabies case caused by organ transplantation was noticed in China, with the conditions of one per year for the recent four years. Different from the previous cases, there were no definite epidemiological histories of exposure or rabies-related symptoms from this patient. This case strongly supports the call for the legislation of establishing a national-level management that will incorporate the screening programs on donors prior to the practice of organ transplantation to reduce the risks on rabies caused by organ transplantation.

The Cat Que orthobunyavirus has been found in mosquitoes, birds, pigs, and humans, suggesting its wide range of hosts and potential public health implications. During arbovirus surveillance in 2013, the HN1304M virus was isolated from naturally occurring Culicoides biting midges in Hunan Province, southern China. The virus was cytopathic to BHK-21 cells and showed stable passage, but was not cytopathic to C6/36 cells. Determination and analysis of the viral genome sequence revealed that HN1304M is an RNA virus with three gene segments, namely, L, M, and S. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence homologies of HN1304M to Cat Que viruses in the Manzanilla species complex were 90.3–99.4%, and 95–100%, respectively, while the homologies to other viruses in this species complex were 74–86.6% and 78.1–96.1%, respectively. A phylogenetic analysis of the viral genes revealed that HN1304M formed an evolutionary branch with other Cat Que viruses isolated from mosquitoes, pigs, birds, and humans, which was completely independent of the other viruses in this complex. The fact that the Cat Que virus was isolated from Culicoides suggests that biting midges may participate in the natural circulation of Cat Que viruses.

2D chalcogenide semiconductors with luminescence and ferromagnetism (FM) are demanded in spintronics, valleytronic and photoelectric devices. Here the authors show such characteristics in monolayer MoS2 by co-doping Co and Cr to build the FM interaction and cut-off the nonradiative recombination channels of excitons

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-08923-0

Objective To summarize and analyze the imaging features and outcomes of patients with ruptured hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). Methods We investigated all consecutive patients with HCC who received standardized TACE based on our hospital database. Ruptured HCCs were divided into three types according to their relationship with the liver capsule, determined by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans: Type I, portion of tumor cambered outwards ≤30%; Type II, portion of tumor cambered outwards >30% and

Energy sustainability is keyed to social development, and thus finding renewable and clean energy sources is crucial to modern society. Waste to energy technology is of particular interest in recent years because the feedstock supply is relatively stable and the technology is less influenced by climate and geographic conditions. This study first reviews this technology, and then provides a case study to explore the potential investment, economic benefits, and environmental consequences associated with such an application. The results indicate that the energy conversion efficiency and net social benefits are highly dependent on the composition of the wastes, the transportation costs, and the distribution of regional population. The results imply that for the application of waste to energy technology to be efficient and effective, the locations of refuse plants play an important role, as well as the recycled rates of municipal solid wastes. Policy implications regarding these points are also discussed in detail.

A bioactive coating of nanoporous magnesium calcium silicate (n-MCS) on polyetheretherketone (ncPK) surface was prepared, and dual drugs of genistein (GS) and curcumin (CR) were co-loaded into coating of ncPK (dncPK). The results revealed that compared with polyetheretherketone (PEEK), surface roughness, wettability and apatite mineralization ability of both ncPK and dncPK obviously improved, which promoted the rat bone mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) adhesion. In addition, compared with ncPK and PEEK, dncPK significantly promoted the proliferation and differentiation of rBMSCs. Compared with ncPK and PEEK, dncPK displayed superior antibacterial activity to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The Micro-CT, histological and push-out load evaluations revealed that compared with ncPK and PEEK, dncPK remarkably accelerated osteogenesis and osseointegration in vivo. The results demonstrated that dual drugs-loaded dncPK exhibited good antibacterial activity and osteogenic activity, and significantly enhanced osteogenesis and osseointegration, which could be an alternative candidate as an implant in orthopedic and dental applications. Keywords: Polyetheretherketone, Nanoporous coating, Dual drugs, Antibacterial activity, Osseointegration

Context: Selaginella tamariscina (P. Beauv.) Spring (Selaginellaceae) (ST) has been widely used in China as a medicine for improving blood circulation. However, its processed product, S. tamariscina carbonisatus (STC), possesses opposite haemostatic activity. Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the activity of ST and STC on physiological coagulation system of rats, and seek potential active substances accounting for the activity transformation of ST during processing. Materials and methods: The 75% methanol extracts of the whole grass (fine powder) of ST and STC were prepared, respectively. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group, model + ST group, model + STC group and positive control group (model + Yunnanbaiyao). The duration of intragastric administration was 72 h at 12 h intervals. Haemorheology parameters were measured using an LB-2 A cone-plate viscometer and the existed classic methods, respectively. SC40 semi-automatic coagulation analyzer was employed to determine coagulation indices. Meanwhile, HPLC and LC-MS were applied for chemical analyses of ST and STC extracts. Results: STC shortened tail-bleeding time, increased whole blood viscosity (WBV) and plasma viscosity (PV), decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate blood (ESR), reduced activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and increased the fibrinogen (FIB) content in the plasma of bleeding model rats. Although ST could shorten APTT and TT, the FIB content was significantly decreased by ST. Dihydrocaffeic acid with increased content in STC vs. ST showed haemostatic activity for promoting the platelet aggregation induced by collagen and trap-6, and reducing APTT and PT significantly with a concentration of 171.7 μM in vitro. Amentoflavone with reduced content in STC vs. ST inhibited ADP and AA-induced platelet aggregation significantly with a concentration of 40.7 μM. Discussion and conclusions: As the processed product of ST, STC showed strong haemostatic activity on bleeding rat through regulating the parameters involved in haemorheology and plasma coagulation system. Two active compounds, dihydrocaffeic acid and amentoflavone, might be partially responsible for the haemostatic and anticoagulant activity of STC and ST, respectively.