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Sevoflurane induces developmental neurotoxicity in mice; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) is essential for microglia-mediated synaptic refinement during the early stages of brain development. We explored the effects of TREM2 on dendritic spine pruning during sevoflurane-induced developmental neurotoxicity in mice. Mice were anaesthetized with sevoflurane on postnatal days 6, 8, and 10. Behavioral performance was assessed using the open field test and Morris water maze test. Genetic knockdown of TREM2 and overexpression of TREM2 by stereotaxic injection were used for mechanistic experiments. Western blotting, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, three-dimensional reconstruction, Golgi staining, and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were performed. Sevoflurane exposures upregulated the protein expression of TREM2, increased microglia-mediated pruning of dendritic spines, and reduced synaptic multiplicity and excitability of CA1 neurons. TREM2 genetic knockdown significantly decreased dendritic spine pruning, and partially aggravated neuronal morphological abnormalities and cognitive impairments in sevoflurane-treated mice. In contrast, TREM2 overexpression enhanced microglia-mediated pruning of dendritic spines and rescued neuronal morphological abnormalities and cognitive dysfunction. TREM2 exerts a protective role against neurocognitive impairments in mice after neonatal exposures to sevoflurane by enhancing microglia-mediated pruning of dendritic spines in CA1 neurons. This provides a potential therapeutic target in the prevention of sevoflurane-induced developmental neurotoxicity.

BackgroundIntraoperative opioid use has a positive relationship with postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), and opioid-free anaesthesia (OFA) might reduce PONV. We investigated whether OFA compared with opioid-based anaesthesia would reduce PONV during the first 2 postoperative days among patients undergoing thoracoscopic lung resection.MethodsIn this randomised controlled trial, 120 adult patients were randomly assigned (1:1, stratified by sex) to receive either OFA with esketamine, dexmedetomidine, and sevoflurane, or opioid-based anaesthesia with sufentanil and sevoflurane. A surgical pleth index (SPI) of 20-50 was applied for intraoperative analgesia provision. All subjects received PONV prophylaxis (dexamethasone and ondansetron) and multimodal analgesia (flurbiprofen axetil, ropivacaine wound infiltration, and patient-controlled sufentanil). The primary outcome was the occurrence of PONV during the first 48 h after surgery.ResultsThe median age was 53 yr and 66.7% were female. Compared with opioid-based anaesthesia, OFA significantly reduced the incidence of PONV (15% vs 31.7%; odds ratio [OR]=0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-0.91; number needed to treat, 6; P=0.031). Secondary and safety outcomes were comparable between groups, except that OFA led to a lower rate of vomiting (OR=0.23, 95% CI, 0.08-0.77) and a longer length of PACU stay (median difference=15.5 min, 95% CI, 10-20 min). The effects of OFA on PONV did not differ in the prespecified subgroups of sex, smoking status, and PONV risk scores.ConclusionsIn the context of PONV prophylaxis and multimodal analgesia, SPI-guided opioid-free anaesthesia halved the incidence of PONV after thoracoscopic lung resection, although it was associated with a longer stay in the PACU.Clinical trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2200059710).

Mentoring has been used in human resources in both the education and business sectors to aid the onboarding process. Improved retention has been found in both mentors and mentees involved in the mentoring programs. While most administrators surveyed indicated successful mentoring programs, this study identifies factors that were most common for the success of those educational institutions' programs. This study provides tips to increase and improve formal mentoring programs within your institution by showing the most common responses to survey questions about the mentoring process in multiple higher education institutions in one Midwestern state within the United States. Education level, the field of study, and other criteria were studied to indicate the most important factors in making a good mentor-mentee match, which aims to identify the best practices for mentoring programs.

Abstract Objective In order to synthesize available results regarding human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide quantitative estimates of associated risk. Methods A systematic search of four scientific databases, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Scopus, was performed. The overall odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% CI was calculated via a random effects model. Sensitivity analyses and tests for publication bias were then performed. Results Of the 3046 articles retrieved, seven studies with a cumulative sample size greater than 57,000,000 were included in our analysis. A subsequent meta-analysis based on a random effects model (heterogeneity test, I2 = 99.9) revealed an association between HIV infection and IBD: OR = 2.68 (95% CI: 1.17, 6.13). The funnel plot of this meta-analysis was asymmetric (Egger’s test: P = 0.01), and significant publication bias was found. Sensitivity analysis of the 3 dimensions revealed that the results of this meta-analysis were relatively stable. Conclusions A significant correlation may exist between HIV infection and intestinal disease, and more large-scale studies are needed to draw firm conclusions. It is recommended that HIV patients be screened for intestinal diseases.

Abstract The dielectric performance of the pristine and the electrothermal‐aged metallised polypropylene capacitors are investigated under different magnetic fields. The energy storage capacity decreases under the magnetic field. At 12 T, the capacitance value of the pristine capacitors decreases by 8.4%–17% and that of the aged capacitors declines by 15%–20%. The dielectric loss is reduced by 2.6%–6.3%, but the equivalent series resistance shows an 8.3%–23.1% growth. The leakage conductivity increases to 202%–354%, which leads to a weakened voltage holding capacity. In addition to the effects of the magnetic fields, the impacts of ageing have also been investigated. The effects of the magnetic field and ageing on the electrical parameters of the capacitors are discussed separately. The molecular chains of the dielectric are oxidised and decomposed during the ageing process, which reduces the insulating properties of the dielectric. The magnetic field inhibits polarisation by changing the polarisation behaviour through Lorentz force and excites the electrons to enhance charge transmission.

This study investigates the socio-cultural experiences of Chinese international graduate students in a Canadian university. Specifically, this research explores the multiple challenges of their engagement in and out of the classroom as it relates to their language and culture. Qualitative data was collected by interviewing students and staff at the university. The findings show that Chinese international graduate students' experiences as passive learners and reduced engagement were disadvantaged in Canadian university classrooms. This is because active engagement is preferred in the Western-dominant ideology of student engagement in Canadian graduate schools. Implications from this study suggest that faculty and staff should deconstruct the Western dominant ways of the understanding of student engagement by empowering inclusivity and diversity of multiple languages and cultural identities. The study also provides some practical suggestions for the Chinese international graduate student population to better engage in Canadian graduate institutions and for educators and practitioners to better support Chinese international students in Canadian post-secondary schools.

Abstract Background This study explores the diagnostic value of combining fractional-order calculus (FROC) diffusion-weighted model with simultaneous multi-slice (SMS) acceleration technology in distinguishing benign and malignant breast lesions. Methods 178 lesions (73 benign, 105 malignant) underwent magnetic resonance imaging with diffusion-weighted imaging using multiple b-values (14 b-values, highest 3000 s/mm2). Independent samples t-test or Mann-Whitney U test compared image quality scores, FROC model parameters (D,, ), and ADC values between two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified independent variables and constructed nomograms. Model discrimination ability was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration chart. Spearman correlation analysis and Bland-Altman plot evaluated parameter correlation and consistency. Results Malignant lesions exhibited lower D, and ADC values than benign lesions (P

BackgroundMultiple neonatal exposures to sevoflurane induce neurocognitive dysfunctions in rodents. The lack of cell type-specific information after sevoflurane exposure limits the mechanistic understanding of these effects. In this study, the authors tested the hypothesis that sevoflurane exposures alter the atlas of hippocampal cell clusters and have neuronal and nonneuronal cell type-specific effects in mice of both sexes.MethodsNeonatal mice were exposed to 3% sevoflurane for 2 h at postnatal days 6, 8, and 10 and analyzed for the exposure effects at postnatal day 37. Single-nucleus RNA sequencing was performed in the hippocampus followed by in situ hybridization to validate the results of RNA sequencing. The Morris Water Maze test was performed to test neurocognitive function.ResultsThe authors found sex-specific distribution of hippocampal cell types in control mice alongside cell type- and sex-specific effects of sevoflurane exposure on distinct hippocampal cell populations. There were important changes in male but not in female mice after sevoflurane exposure regarding the proportions of cornu ammonis 1 neurons (control vs. sevoflurane, males: 79.9% vs. 32.3%; females: 27.3% vs. 24.3%), dentate gyrus (males: 4.2% vs. 23.4%; females: 36.2% vs. 35.8%), and oligodendrocytes (males: 0.6% vs. 6.9%; females: 5.9% vs. 7.8%). In male but not in female mice, sevoflurane altered the number of significantly enriched ligand-receptor pairs in the cornu ammonis 1, cornu ammonis 3, and dente gyrus trisynaptic circuit (control vs. sevoflurane, cornu ammonis 1-cornu ammonis 3: 18 vs. 42 in males and 15 vs. 21 in females; cornu ammonis 1-dentate gyrus: 21 vs. 35 in males and 12 vs. 20 in females; cornu ammonis 3-dentate gyrus: 25 vs. 45 in males and 17 vs. 20 in females), interfered with dentate gyrus granule cell neurogenesis, hampered microglia differentiation, and decreased cornu ammonis 1 pyramidal cell diversity. Oligodendrocyte differentiation was specifically altered in females with increased expressions of Mbp and Mag. In situ hybridization validated the increased expression of common differentially expressed genes.ConclusionsThis single-nucleus RNA sequencing study reveals the hippocampal atlas of mice, providing a comprehensive resource for the neuronal and nonneuronal cell type- and sex-specific effects of sevoflurane during development.Editor’s perspective

The urban environmental effects can have multifaceted impacts on the orchard soil microbial community structure and function. To specifically study these effects, we investigated the soil bacterial and fungal community in the laxly managed citrus orchards using amplicon sequencing. Ascomycota demonstrated significant dominance within the citrus orchard soils. The increased presence of beneficial Trichoderma spp. (0.3%) could help suppress plant pathogens, while the elevated abundance of potential pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium spp. (0.4%), might raise the likelihood of disorders like root rot, thereby hindering plant growth and resulting in reduced yield. Moreover, we observed significant differences in the alpha and beta diversity of bacterial communities between urban and rural soils (p

BackgroundThe virulence of Yersinia pestis strains in the Rattus flavipectus plague focus is relatively low. The purpose of this study was to investigate the undetected, sporadic plague cases in plague foci and provide the basis for plague prevention and control.MethodsA 3-year-old plague-confirmed case was investigated in the R. flavipectus plague focus of Yunnan Province in 2020 due to the intensive screening for fever symptoms during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Epidemiological investigation, laboratory testing, and clinical treatment were conducted for the case. The expanded survey was carried out around the case within a 7-km radius, including the resident population, domesticated dogs, and rats. PCR and indirect hemagglutination tests were performed on the collected samples.ResultsThe isolation rates of Y. pestis were 100.0% (7 out of 7) in dead rats and 4.00% (3 out of 75) in live rats in the survey area of the foci. A total of 5.00% (6 out of 120) of the domesticated dogs were F1 antibody positive. Nine local people were determined for plague infection recently (0.92%, 9 out of 978). The locations of human cases coincided with the Y. pestis epidemic area among the animals.ConclusionThis study discovered the existence of plague cases that had not been detected by routine surveillance in the R. flavipectus plague focus, and the actual epidemic of human infection may be underestimated.

Summary: Strains from the Cryptococcus gattii species complex (CGSC) have caused the Pacific Northwest cryptococcosis outbreak, the largest cluster of life-threatening fungal infections in otherwise healthy human hosts known to date. In this study, we utilized a pan-phenome-based method to assess the fitness outcomes of CGSC strains under 31 stress conditions, providing a comprehensive overview of 2,821 phenotype-strain associations within this pathogenic clade. Phenotypic clustering analysis revealed a strong correlation between distinct types of stress phenotypes in a subset of CGSC strains, suggesting that shared determinants coordinate their adaptations to various stresses. Notably, a specific group of strains, including the outbreak isolates, exhibited a remarkable ability to adapt to all three of the most commonly used antifungal drugs for treating cryptococcosis (amphotericin B, 5-fluorocytosine, and fluconazole). By integrating pan-genomic and pan-transcriptomic analyses, we identified previously unrecognized genes that play crucial roles in conferring multidrug resistance in an outbreak strain with high multidrug adaptation. From these genes, we identified biomarkers that enable the accurate prediction of highly multidrug-adapted CGSC strains, achieving maximum accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.79 and 0.86, respectively, using machine learning algorithms. Overall, we developed a pan-omic approach to identify cryptococcal multidrug resistance determinants and predict highly multidrug-adapted CGSC strains that may pose significant clinical concern.

Abstract Introduction The replacement intervals for infusion sets may differ among healthcare institutions, which may have an impact on the occurrence of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). Nevertheless, there exists a limited amount of high-quality evidence available to assist clinicians in determining the most suitable replacement intervals for infusion sets. Therefore, the objective of this trial is to compare the efficacy of 24-h and 96-h replacement intervals for infusion sets on CLABSI among critically ill adults who have central venous access devices. Methods This is a multicenter, parallel-group randomized controlled trial that will investigate the effect of infusion set replacement intervals on CLABSI in adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The study will enroll 1240 participants who meet the inclusion criteria, which includes being 18 years or older, expected to stay in the ICU for longer than 96 h, and in need of central venous access. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a control group receiving a 96-h replacement interval or a treatment group receiving a 24-h replacement interval. Planned Outcome The primary outcome of this trial is the rate of CLABSI within 28 days after randomization. Conclusion This is the first randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of infusion set replacement at 24-h and 96-h intervals on CLABSI in ICU patients. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT05359601.

[Introduction] The "carbon peak and neutrality" strategy has put forward a new path for China's energy development, which restricts the use of traditional fossil energy, and promotes the Chinese government to increase its support for the development of the new energy industry. Photovoltaic, as a new energy which is the most accessible and has the widest coverage, has become the first choice to solve the current energy and environmental problems. However, if we want to increase its market scale and realize the vigorous development of photovoltaic industry, it is necessary to find out and solve the pain points and difficulties of the current stage. [Method] China's policy on the whole photovoltaic industry chain was combed and analyzed to explore the shortcomings of the photovoltaic industry incentive policy. Based on the data from 33 sample enterprises in the A-share market from 2000 to 2021, the DEA model was built and the integrated innovation benefits and scale benefits of China's PV industry under the guidance of policy were explored. And using the panel regression analysis method, the different impacts of different regional policies on the innovation capacity of the upstream, middle and downstream enterprises of the PV industry. were explored. [Result] The research shows that the policy subsidies have a more significant impact on the innovation benefits of upstream photovoltaic enterprises, which is positively correlated with the development of enterprises in the eastern region. While in the western region, the opposite is the case, and there are certain regional differences. [Conclusion] It is necessary to improve the preferential policy strength in the photovoltaic technology innovation level, and carry out a reasonable industry chain planning and layout in combination with the regional advantages.

The Junggar Basin is known for its high potential of petroleum resources, showcasing significant oil and gas discoveries across various layers. However, the potential of utilizing the thick mudstone of the Upper Triassic as a viable source rock in the basin remains uncertain. Therefore, an urgent need exists to assess the Upper Triassic source rock across the basin and predict the distribution of effective source rocks. This evaluation is crucial for informing future exploration strategies in this layer. To shed light on the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and hydrocarbon generation potential of the Upper Triassic source rocks in the Junggar Basin, as well as to determine the hydrocarbon generation intensity within the effective hydrocarbon kitchen's distribution range, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted. This evaluation involved assessing organic matter abundance, type, and maturity of the Upper Triassic source rock across the basin using various geochemical parameters derived from data collection, profile measurement, drill cuttings observation and sampling, and organic geochemistry testing. Key parameters were then selected, and a multi-level fuzzy mathematical evaluation method was employed to map out the development range of the effective hydrocarbon kitchen. The findings indicate that the Upper Triassic source rock exhibits a broad distribution range spanning the entire basin, with considerable thickness (reaching up to 350 m) and significant burial depth in the central region (up to 11 000 m). The total organic carbon (TOC) content of source rocks varies from 0.75% to 8.30%, with an average value of 1.74%. Additionally, the average values of S1+S2 and chloroform asphalt "A" are 2.78 mg/g and 0.354%, respectively. The predominant organic matter types in the area are type Ⅲ and type Ⅱ2, indicating a dominance of terrestrial higher plant inputs. The favorable kerogen types are primarily located from the western sag to the Fukang Sag. The thermal evolution of the organic matter ranges from low-maturity to mature stages, with some areas reaching high to over-maturity levels. As per the evaluation criteria for hydrocarbon generation potential of coal-bearing mudstone in China, the Upper Triassic mudstone generally represents poor to medium-quality source rocks with significant hydrocarbon generation potential, particularly for gas. The key hydrocarbon source kitchens are situated from the western part of the Fukang Sag to the eastern part of the Shawan Sag in the central depression, and in the Huomatu Anticline of the southern margin thrust belt. Within these areas, the Ro value of the source rock exceeds 1.3%, with oil and gas generation intensities reaching 50×104 t/km2 and 3×108 m3/km2, respectively.

Abstract A boundary mode localized on one side of a finite-size lattice can tunnel to the opposite side which results in unwanted couplings. Conventional wisdom tells that the tunneling probability decays exponentially with the size of the system which thus requires many lattice sites before eventually becoming negligibly small. Here we show that the tunneling probability for some boundary modes can apparently vanish at specific wavevectors. Thus, similar to bound states in the continuum, a boundary mode can be completely trapped within very few lattice sites where the bulk bandgap is not even well-defined. More intriguingly, the number of trapped states equals the number of lattice sites along the normal direction of the boundary. We provide two configurations and validate the existence of this peculiar finite barrier-bound state experimentally in a dielectric photonic crystal at microwave frequencies. Our work offers extreme flexibility in tuning the coupling between localized states and channels as well as a new mechanism that facilitates unprecedented manipulation of light.

Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 BQ.1* variant rapidly spread globally in late 2022, posing a challenge due to its increased immune evasion. Methods: We conducted a prevalence survey in Brazil from November 16 to December 22, 2022, as part of a cohort study. We conducted interviews and collected nasal samples for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and whole-genome sequencing. Cumulative incidence was estimated using RT-PCR positivity, cycle threshold values, and external data on the dynamics of RT-PCR positivity following infection. Results: Among 535 participants, 54% had documented SARS-CoV-2 exposure before this outbreak and 74% had received COVID-19 vaccination. In this study, 14.8% tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, with BQ.1* identified in 90.7% of cases. Using case data and cycle threshold values, cumulative incidence was estimated at 56% (95% confidence interval, 36-88%). Of the 79 positive participants, 48.1% had a symptomatic illness, with a lower proportion fulfilling the World Health Organization COVID-19 case definition compared to prior Omicron waves. No participants required medical attention. Conclusions: Despite high population-level hybrid immunity, the BQ.1* variant attacked 56% of our population. Lower disease severity was associated with BQ.1* compared to prior Omicron variants. Hybrid immunity may provide protection against future SARS-CoV-2 variants but in this case was not able to prevent widespread transmission.