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In this paper, the precipitation behavior and its effect on resistivity in a new type of nickel–iron-based alloy during short-term aging were investigated. During the aging process, the γ′ phase increases in average size and decreases in number, with its area fraction fluctuating over time. This fluctuation is caused by the mismatch in the redissolution and growth rates of the γ′ phase. As the area fraction of the γ′ phase increases, the content of solute atoms in the matrix that scatter electrons decreases, lowering the resistivity of the alloy. Additionally, the continuous precipitation of M23C6 at grain boundaries during aging causes the resistivity to gradually increase. This paper explains the fluctuation in the total amount of γ′ phase during short-term aging and proposes a new method for characterizing the precipitation behavior of the γ′ phase in the novel alloy using the relative trend of resistivity changes.

This study employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations combined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scratch testing to explore the interface crystallization behavior of amorphous-Co under thermal conditions and the impact of new phase precipitation on the cohesive strength of WC/Co coatings. Microstructural analysis revealed the phase transformation induced by heat treatment, as amorphous-Co gradually transformed into the η-phase, with the transition starting at 873 K and completed at 1173 K. The results of the scratch testing indicated that appropriate heat treatment could enhance the coating's cohesive strength and thereby improve its performance under certain conditions. Nonetheless, at 873 K, the early stage of η-phase nucleation exhibited elastic strain, leading to an abnormal decrease in the coating's cohesive strength. MD simulation results demonstrated that the crystallization of amorphous-Co primarily occurred at the WC/Co interface, and the ideal fracture energy (Wsep) increased with increasing heat-treatment temperature. However, after heat treatment at 873 K, the Wsep between the atomic layers within amorphous-Co slightly decreased and was reflected as a decrease in the coating's cohesive strength at the macroscopic level.

Abstract Background Approximately 90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cases are driven by the untargetable non‐G12C KRAS mutations, and only a small subset of patients are eligible for FDA‐approved precision therapies. The practice of precision therapy in pancreatic cancer was limited by the paucity of targetable genetic alterations, especially in the Asian population. Methods To explore therapeutic targets in 499 Chinese PDAC patients, a deep sequencing panel (OncoPanscan™, Genetron health) was used to characterize somatic alterations including point mutations, indels, copy number alterations, gene fusions as well as pathogenic germline variants. Results We performed genomic profiling in 499 Chinese PDAC patients, which revealed somatic driver mutations in KRAS, TP53, CDKN2A, SMAD4, ARID1A, RNF43, and pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in cancer predisposition genes including BRCA2, PALB2, and ATM. Overall, 20.4% of patients had targetable genomic alterations. About 8.4% of patients carried inactivating germline and somatic variants in BRCA1/2 and PALB2, which were susceptible to platinum and PARP inhibitors therapy. Patients with KRAS wild‐type disease and early‐onset pancreatic cancer (EOPC) harbored actionable mutations including BRAF, EGFR, ERBB2, and MAP2K1/2. Compared to PGV‐negative patients, PGV‐positive patients were younger and more likely to have a family history of cancer. Furthermore, PGVs in PALB2, BRCA2, and ATM were associated with high PDAC risk in the Chinese population. Conclusions Our results demonstrated that a genetic screen of actionable genomic variants could facilitate precision therapy and cancer risk reduction in pancreatic cancer patients of Asian ethnicity.

High-intensity pulsed magnetic field was applied to modify the microstructure and mechanical propertis of quenched 8Cr4Mo4V bearing steel under the cryogenic environment. The microstructual transformation in 8Cr4Mo4V bearing steel was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) and so on. The results revealed that individual deep cryogenic treatment (DCT) promote the transformation from retained austenite (RA) in quenched steel to martensite. However, this phase transformation will be inhibited by coupling high-intensity magnetic field with deep cryogenic treatment (MDCT). For instance, the relative reduction of RA content in DCT samples was 10 ± 2%, while that in MDCT samples was 3 ± 3%. Furthermore, the modified Williamson-Hall method was utilized to estimate the dislocation characteristics based on XRD profile analysis. It exhibited that the proportion of edge dislocation significantly decrease from 61.8% to 43.7% by DCT, while this type of dislocation remains almost unchanged after MDCT. Moreover, the microhardness of quenched 8Cr4Mo4V steel became more uniform after MDCT than that of DCT. It can be indicated that the martensite transformation is blocked and carbon cluster is dissolved under the condition of coupling pulsed magnetic field treatment.

This study investigates the influence of groove geometry on the high-temperature creep life and fracture behavior of Dissimilar Metal Welds (DMWs) between low-alloy steel 2.25Cr1Mo and austenitic stainless steel 347H using Inconel 82 nickel-based filling metal. This research aims to reveal the effect of groove geometry, especially the stepped groove, on creep crack propagation path and creep life, through a combined approach of finite element simulation considering stress triaxiality and experimental validation. The study reveals that the stepped groove alters the creep crack propagation path, enhancing the endurance life by deflecting cracks away from the weld/heat-affected zone (HAZ) interface and directing them into regions with higher creep resistance. The experimental results verify the simulation findings, revealing that the stepped groove joints exhibited longer creep life with changes in failure location and mechanism compared to the V-groove joints. However, it was found that the stepped groove intensified the stress concentration at the early creep stage. Thus, a good balance should be achieved between the negative (stress concentration at interface) and positive (changing crack paths) effects of the stepped groove to extend the creep life of DMWs.

Based on the continuous advances in surgical technology and equipment, as well as the recognition of the importance of the normal physiological function of the pancreatic duct, we performed several clinical studies of pancreatic duct repair after injury, and the results initially confirmed the safety and effectiveness of pancreatic duct injury repair. This article reviewed the indications and advantages of pancreatic duct surgery (PDS) and provided an outlook on the future of PDS.

Aims Sleeve gastrectomy (SG) has been proven effective in the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that SGLT3 may play an important role in the mechanism of glucose control and weight loss after SG. Materials and methods Daily body weight and food intake were measured in SG and sham-operated mice. Glucose tolerance test, SGLT3 agonist (αMG), and SGLT1 inhibitor (phlorizin) perfusion experiments were used to detect changes in intestinal SGLT3 and SGLT1 activity following SG. Expression of SGLT3a and SGLT1 was assessed at 2 weeks, 1 month after surgery by quantitative PCR and fluorescence immunoassay. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to detect morphological changes in the villi. SGLT3 and SGLT1 expression was measured after stimulation of human intestinal epithelial cells (HIEC). Results Both the body weight and daily food intake of the SG-treated mice decreased within 30 days after surgery. Oral glucose absorption was significantly reduced at 30 days. The intestinal stimulation proved that SG can improve glucose metabolism, which can be reversed by αMG and enhanced by phlorizin. Villus height and surface area of the intestine in SG mice decreased after surgery. mRNA expression of SGLT3a and SGLT1 decreased at 2 weeks and 1 month after SG, immunofluorescence also confirmed these changes. HIEC stimulation confirmed that αMG could increase the expression of SGLT3 and SGLT1, but the expression of SGLT1 was down regulated when phlorizin was added to the medium. Conclusion The results suggest that reducing SGLT3 expression might contribute to lowering blood glucose and controlling body weight after SG.

BackgroundCholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a malignant tumor originating from bile duct epithelial cells that no obvious clinical symptoms and specific clinical manifestations are shown in the early stage of CCA.MethodsPropensity score matching (PSM) is a quasi-experimental method in which this study used. Patients were enrolled from Department of General surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University from March 1, 2010, to December 30, 2019. Totally 170 patients with CCA were enrolled in this study.ResultsWe performed a 1:2 PSM study and found that patients with losartan group showed both comparable median OS (overall survival) and TTR (time to recurrence) to those in the patients without losartan group before PSM. However, after matching, patients with losartan group showed favorable median OS and TTR than those in the patients without losartan group. Then we performed Cox proportional hazards models and found that patients with losartan was an independent factor after multivariable analysis for patients with CCA. Furtherly, we sequenced serial cfDNA were performed in 10 patients with losartan and 9 patients without losartan who received adjuvant chemotherapy after tumor resection. These results showed that the treatment of losartan was related with tumor microenvironment and could be potentially useful to combine the immunotherapy for patients with CCA.ConclusionIn conclusion, this study demonstrated that the treatment of losartan could increase the efficacy of adjuvant chemotherapy and identified as an independent survival predictor for patients with CCA. Moreover, losartan could be potentially useful to combine the immunotherapy for patients with CCA.

Fracture toughness is critical for the fatigue life of the cemented carbide coatings widely used in the aviation fields, and the development of an economical and effective post-treatment method is in demand. In this research, pulsed magnetic treatment was applied to the thermal spraying WC-10Co4Cr coating with a 17.7% improvement in its fracture toughness, and the strengthening mechanism was further investigated. Microstructure characterization indicates that structural relaxation took place in the amorphous Co binder, and the annihilation of some free volume holes mainly contributes to the mechanical property enhancements. Atomic migration related to the structural relaxation was further explained in terms of the magnetic field induced intersystem crossing. Improvement of both the nano-hardness and elastic modulus of the Co binder was also observed as a result of structural relaxation. This work provides a possible non-thermal post-treatment method for not only the different kinds of cemented carbide coatings but also other amorphous functional materials sensitive to crystal defects.

From the perspective of the differential phase delay experienced by the two counterpropagating optical fields, the self-starting of the mode-locked fiber laser with a non-linear amplifying loop mirror (NALM) is theoretically studied. Although it is generally believed that NALM shows a saturable absorption effect on both continuous wave (CW) light and pulses, we find a counter-intuitive fact that cross-phase modulation (XPM) leads to opposite signs of differential non-linear phase shifts (NPSs) in these two cases, resulting in inverse saturable absorption (ISA) during the pulse formation process. The ISA is not helpful for the self-starting of laser mode-locking and can be alleviated by introducing a non-reciprocal phase shifter into the fiber loop. These results are helpful for optimizing the design of NALM and lowering the self-starting threshold of the high-repetition-rate mode-locked fiber laser.

Objective: To analyse the histopathological features of eosinophilic sialodochitis by using terminal duct biopsy. Methods: Sixty‐five patients with suspected eosinophilic sialodochitis and four with chronic obstructive sialadenitis were prospectively enrolled. Clinical features, laboratory tests and sialograms were comparatively analysed. Terminal duct biopsy of the parotid or submandibular glands was performed concomitantly with endoscopy‐assisted duct dilatation to determine the histopathological features of eosinophilic sialodochitis. Results: Based on eosinophil quantification, the samples of suspected patients were scored as 'definite', 'highly suspected' and 'negative' in 26 (40%), 15 (23.1%) and 24 (36.9%) cases, respectively. Gland types and peripheral blood eosinophil counts were significantly different among these three groups. The proportions of itching glands, mucus plug exudations and elevated immunoglobulin E levels were higher in the 'definite' group than in the other two groups; however, the intergroup differences were insignificant. The primary pathological features of eosinophilic sialodochitis were abundant eosinophils and lymphocytes infiltrated around the duct, degranulation of eosinophils, extensive fibrosis and scattered mastocytes. Periductal eosinophils were not found in cases of chronic obstructive sialadenitis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that terminal duct biopsy is safe and valuable for the pathological confirmation of eosinophilic sialodochitis, and can be used simultaneously with endoscopy‐assisted duct dilatation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thrombus components are dynamically influenced by local blood flow and blood immune cells. After a large-vessel occlusion stroke, changes in the cerebral thrombus are unclear. Here we assessed a total of 206 cerebral thrombi from patients with ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular thrombectomy. The thrombi were categorized by time to reperfusion of 8 h (T8). The cellular compositions in thrombus were analyzed, and relevant clinical features were compared. Both white blood cells and neutrophils were increased and then decreased in thrombus with time to reperfusion, which were positively correlated with those in peripheral blood. The neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) content in thrombus was correlated with the degree of neurological impairment of patients. Moreover, with prolonged time to reperfusion, the patients showed a trend of better collateral grade, which was associated with a lower NET content in the thrombus. In conclusion, the present results reveal the relationship between time-related endovascular immune response and clinical symptoms post-stroke from the perspective of thrombus and peripheral blood. The time-related pathological changes of cerebral thrombus may not be the direct cause for the difficulty in thrombolysis and thrombectomy. A low NET content in thrombi indicates excellent collateral flow, which suggests that treatments targeting NETs in thrombi might be beneficial for early neurological protection.

BackgroundNon-pharmaceutical interventions were implemented in most countries to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. We aimed to describe the incidence of influenza in four countries in the 2019–2020 season and examined the effect of these non-pharmaceutical interventions on the incidence of influenza.MethodsWe used the network surveillance data from 2015 to 2020 to estimate the percentage increase in influenza cases to explore the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to control the COVID-19 on the incidence of influenza in China, the United States, Japan, and Singapore.ResultsWe found that the incidence of influenza has been almost zero and reached a persistent near-zero level for a continuous period of six months since epidemiologic week 14 of 2020 in the four countries. Influenza incidence decreased by 77.71% and 60.50% in the early days of COVID-19 in the 2019–2020 season compared to the same period in preceding years in Japan and Singapore, respectively. Furthermore, influenza incidence decreased by 60.50–99.48% during the period of compulsory interventions in the 2019–2020 season compared to the same period in preceding years in the four countries.ConclusionThese findings suggest that the application of non-pharmaceutical interventions, even everyday preventive action, was associated with a reduction of influenza incidence, which highlights that more traditional public health interventions need to be reasserted and universalized to reduce influenza incidence.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the outcomes of robotic limited liver resections (RLLR) versus laparoscopic limited liver resections (LLLR) of the posterosuperior segments. Background: Both laparoscopic and robotic liver resections have been used for tumors in the posterosuperior liver segments. However, the comparative performance and safety of both approaches have not been well examined in the existing literature. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a multicenter database of 5446 patients who underwent RLLR or LLLR of the posterosuperior segments (I, IVa, VII, and VIII) at 60 international centers between 2008 and 2021. Data on baseline demographics, center experience and volume, tumor features, and perioperative characteristics were collected and analyzed. Propensity score-matching (PSM) analysis (in both 1:1 and 1:2 ratios) was performed to minimize selection bias. Results: A total of 3510 cases met the study criteria, of whom 3049 underwent LLLR (87%), and 461 underwent RLLR (13%). After PSM (1:1: and 1:2), RLLR was associated with a lower open conversion rate [10 of 449 (2.2%) vs 54 of 898 (6.0%); P =0.002], less blood loss [100 mL [IQR: 50-200) days vs 150 mL (IQR: 50-350); P <0.001] and a shorter operative time (188 min (IQR: 140-270) vs 222 min (IQR: 158-300); P <0.001]. These improved perioperative outcomes associated with RLLR were similarly seen in a subset analysis of patients with cirrhosis-lower open conversion rate [1 of 136 (0.7%) vs 17 of 272 (6.2%); P =0.009], less blood loss [100 mL (IQR: 48-200) vs 160 mL (IQR: 50-400); P <0.001], and shorter operative time [190 min (IQR: 141-258) vs 230 min (IQR: 160-312); P =0.003]. Postoperative outcomes in terms of readmission, morbidity and mortality were similar between RLLR and LLLR in both the overall PSM cohort and cirrhosis patient subset. Conclusions: RLLR for the posterosuperior segments was associated with superior perioperative outcomes in terms of decreased operative time, blood loss, and open conversion rate when compared with LLLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Suturing the proximal pancreatic stump and performing pancreaticoenterostomy for the distal pancreatic stump following central pancreatectomy is a conventional procedure. This reconstruction after resection of the pathological pancreatic lesion brings changes in anatomy and physiology. In this study, an innovative one-stage robotic end-to-end pancreatic anastomosis was reported to replace the conventional pancreaticoenterostomy following central pancreatectomy. Materials and methods The clinical data of 11 consecutive patients who underwent robotic central pancreatectomy with end-to-end pancreatic anastomosis between August 2017 and December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Results All operations were completed successfully without any conversion to open surgery. Nine patients had benign tumors, one had a mass-forming chronic pancreatitis, and one had an isolated pancreatic metastasis from a renal cancer. The mean gap left after central pancreatectomy was 4.3 ± 1.0 cm. The median operative time was 121 (range, 105 to 199) min. The median blood loss was 50 (range, 20 to 100) ml. Seven (63.6%) patients developed complications which included Clavien–Dindo Grade I complications in five patients, a Grade II complication in one patient, and a Grade IIIa complication in one patient. Seven patients developed a Grade B postoperative pancreatic fistula, and two patients a biochemical leak. There was no Grade C or worse pancreatic fistula. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography at postoperative 6 months showed no stricture in any of the main pancreatic ducts. Three patients had an asymptomatic and small pancreatic pseudocyst. Conclusion Robotic central pancreatectomy with end-to-end pancreatic anastomosis was safe and feasible. It restores the normal anatomy of the pancreas. With its good short-and long-term outcomes, it could be an alternative reconstructive method to pancreaticoenterostomy following central pancreatectomy.

This study investigates the seepage and deformation characteristics of carbonaceous mudstone coarse-grained soil embankment with different gradations under the action of dynamic load and rainfall. An indoor geotechnical test is conducted, and the mechanical parameters of carbonaceous mudstone coarse-grained soil with different gradations are analyzed. A numerical calculation model of seepage and dynamic characteristics of carbonaceous mudstone coarse-grained soil embankment is established on the basis of the test data. The different effects of rainfall infiltration and vehicle load are evaluated. The seepage, settlement, and slope stability evolution characteristics of graded carbonaceous mudstone coarse-grained soil embankment slope are studied. Results show that under the condition of the same rainfall time, the greater the nonuniformity coefficient, the faster the decrease in pore water pressure of the coarse-grained soil embankment at the same monitoring point. The seepage velocity vector in the embankment is concentrated below the soil shoulder. The smaller the saturated permeability coefficient and saturated water content, the larger the seepage velocity vector. The greater the nonuniformity coefficient, the larger the coarse-grained soil embankment under vehicle load. The smaller the embankment settlement, the lower the safety factor of embankment. The safety factor decreases slowly at first and then decreases rapidly in the whole study period under the effect of dynamic wetting. The research results provide a theoretical reference for the practical engineering application of carbonaceous mudstone coarse-grained soil embankment in rainy areas.

Sabia parviflora Wall. ex Roxb., an evergreen climbing woody vine, is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used by ethnic minorities in some areas of China. In this study, the chloroplast genome of S. parviflora was sequenced for the first time. Its genome is 162,054 bp in length with 38.6% of GC content. The genome consists of a large single copy (LSC) region of 90,001 bp, a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,887 bp, and two inverted repeat (IRa and IRb) regions of 26,583 bp each. A total of 130 genes were annotated, including 85 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis was conducted by nine species from order Proteales, which demonstrated a close relationship between the family Sabiaceae and Nelumbonaceae.

Objective: To compare the outcomes between robotic major hepatectomy (R-MH) and laparoscopic major hepatectomy (L-MH). Background: Robotic techniques may overcome the limitations of laparoscopic liver resection. However, it is unknown whether R-MH is superior to L-MH. Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of a multicenter database of patients undergoing R-MH or L-MH at 59 international centers from 2008 to 2021. Data on patient demographics, center experience volume, perioperative outcomes, and tumor characteristics were collected and analyzed. Both 1:1 propensity-score matched (PSM) and coarsened-exact matched (CEM) analyses were performed to minimize selection bias between both groups Results: A total of 4822 cases met the study criteria, of which 892 underwent R-MH and 3930 underwent L-MH. Both 1:1 PSM (841 R-MH vs. 841 L-MH) and CEM (237 R-MH vs. 356 L-MH) were performed. R-MH was associated with significantly less blood loss {PSM:200.0 [interquartile range (IQR):100.0, 450.0] vs 300.0 (IQR:150.0, 500.0) mL; P = 0.012; CEM:170.0 (IQR: 90.0, 400.0) vs 200.0 (IQR:100.0, 400.0) mL; P = 0.006}, lower rates of Pringle maneuver application (PSM: 47.1% vs 63.0%; P < 0.001; CEM: 54.0% vs 65.0%; P = 0.007) and open conversion (PSM: 5.1% vs 11.9%; P < 0.001; CEM: 5.5% vs 10.4%, P = 0.04) compared with L-MH. On subset analysis of 1273 patients with cirrhosis, R-MH was associated with a lower postoperative morbidity rate (PSM: 19.5% vs 29.9%; P = 0.02; CEM 10.4% vs 25.5%; P = 0.02) and shorter postoperative stay [PSM: 6.9 (IQR: 5.0, 9.0) days vs 8.0 (IQR: 6.0 11.3) days; P < 0.001; CEM 7.0 (IQR: 5.0, 9.0) days vs 7.0 (IQR: 6.0, 10.0) days; P = 0.047]. Conclusions: This international multicenter study demonstrated that R-MH was comparable to L-MH in safety and was associated with reduced blood loss, lower rates of Pringle maneuver application, and conversion to open surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The Nam Dinh virus (NDiV) was isolated from Culex quinquefasciatus in Shenzhen, China, for the first time, in 2011. In this study, we characterized the ultrastructure of NDiV, determined its complete genome sequence and made comparisons with other known nidoviruses. Electron microscopic observation revealed that the NDiV strain isolated in China produced viral nucleocapsid-like particles and vesicles in host cells. The extracellular virions were enveloped and were spherical with short spikes. The complete genome sequence of the newly isolated NDiV was submitted to the GenBank database (GenBank accession number KF522691). Sequencing of the viral genome showed that the homologies of NDiV isolated in China and Vietnam were greater than 94.0% and 89.0% at the nucleotide and amino acid sequence levels, respectively. Moreover, gene substitution was detected, whereas insertions and deletions were not. A phylogenetic tree analysis showed that these viruses belong to the genus Alphamesonivirus1 of the family Mesoniviridae. The similarity between the two viruses regarding morphological and molecular biological characteristics indicates that the molecular genetics of NDiV are conservative and that the regional differences are unlikely to have a significant effect. This is the first report of the isolation and complete sequencing of a mesonivirus in mainland China.

This study investigated the degree of brain functional impairment in persistent somatoform pain disorder (PSPD) by examining changes in the patterns of brain functional hubs. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 21 PSPD patients with headache as the main symptom and 17 sex- and age-matched healthy controls. Degree centrality (DC) analysis as well as the connectivity among these hubs by functional connectivity (FC) analysis and Granger causality analysis (GCA) were performed to characterize abnormal brain networks in PSPD (Gaussian random field corrected: P < 0.001, Z > 3.09). The relationships between DC and connectivity and clinical parameters were also examined. DC values in the bilateral inferior occipital gyrus (IOG), bilateral calcarine fissure (CAL), and left paracentral lobule (PCL) and FC values of right IOG–left CAL, right IOG–right CAL, right IOG–left IOG, left CAL–right CAL, left CAL–left IOG, left CAL–left PCL, right CAL–left PCL, and left IOG–left PCL were lower in PSPD patients as compared to controls. A negative causal effect from the left CAL to the left paracentral lobule and a positive effect from the right CAL to the right IOG were observed in PSPD patients. Abnormal DC, FC, and signed-path coefficients in PSPD patients were negatively correlated with self-rating anxiety and depression scale scores. These results indicate that altered functional hubs and connectivity patterns in the somatosensory cortex may reflect emotional disturbance in PSPD patients.