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Teaching has always been an emotionally demanding profession, which involves tremendous emotional labour on the part of language teachers. This is particularly true for instructors of English as a foreign language (EFL) suddenly obliged to teach online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on the approach of autoethnographic self-study, this article reveals the first author's understanding and negotiation of complex emotions during her online teaching from February to May 2020 in Wuhan, the centre of the COVID-19 pandemic during that period. This study sheds light on a language teacher's complex emotional experiences in relation to technology, students and colleagues under the sudden shifts of teaching environment. It also explores how emotional regulation strategies are employed through undertaking emotional labour and observing/renegotiating emotional rules. The study exemplifies the importance of emotionally managed classrooms, and language teachers are advised to make deliberate and strategic efforts in channelling positive emotions into online teaching. The authors call for more attention to self-study as a viable and instrumental approach to facilitating language teachers' continuing development and enhancing their emotional reflexivity and well-being.

Reflective practice (RP) has been widely promoted in many second language teacher education programs to foster pre-service teachers' pedagogical competence. However, the effectiveness of RP has often been questioned and challenged due to its lack of authenticity in practice. This Viewpoint paper focuses on the issue of authenticity of RP and how it can manifest and shape the complex process of learning to teach. Specifically, the paper proposes a tentative framework with practical tools and strategies for the design and implementation of authentic RP. The framework emphasizes the "context, content," and "process" dimension of authenticity in both RP instruction and assessment, where student teachers can gradually develop their reflective abilities and learn how to integrate RP into their future classroom practice. The paper also outlines directions for future research on RP in second language teacher education.

The existing literature in TESOL has revealed the multilayered, dynamic, and situated nature of teacher identity, but how language teachers construct their identities during curriculum reforms receives relatively limited attention, particularly in the context of teaching English for specific purposes (ESP). Theoretically anchored by the notion of contradiction in activity theory, this study investigates an ESP teacher's identity transformation in a Chinese university. Drawing on data from semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and artifacts (policy documents and course materials), the findings reveal that the participant constructed her identities including "a skiff drifting in the dark," "an optimistic warrior," and "a nonconformist" through the teaching reform mediated by the corporatized culture and accountability system in higher education. The process of identity transformation was accompanied by her identity-driven efforts to resolve various contradictions and seek the delicate equilibrium between her agency and object-oriented reform. The study offers practical recommendations on teacher development and curriculum reforms for both language teachers and other stakeholders (e.g., teacher educators and school leaders) in different educational contexts.

While the concept of big ideas has been widely promoted in different subject areas such as history and STEM, its pedagogical power has received little attention in second language education. In view of this gap, this paper seeks to conceptualize and practicalize this notion by addressing two fundamental questions regarding the "what" and "how" of big ideas in English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) classrooms. Specifically, the paper proposes a tentative, heuristic framework that views big ideas as a composite of three distinct yet interrelated dimensions regarding knowledge, domain, and learning. In light of the framework, the paper argues for the need to adopt big ideas as curriculum organizers in language teaching while employing an infusion, inductive approach to helping students analyze, comprehend, and apply big ideas in the process of language learning.

The study examined international and home students' perceptions of intercultural collaborative learning in an English as a medium of instruction (EMI) environment in a Chinese university. Drawing on data from in-depth interviews, the findings showed that international students held a positive view, reporting gains from the cultural, subject knowledge and language learning dimensions but also hurdles which impeded intercultural communication and content learning in the EMI curriculum. The Chinese students were less positive, viewing such a mode of learning somewhat as a 'burden' due primarily to the differences in their and international students' academic goals and expectations. In response to the negative experiences, the Chinese students demonstrated resilience and ingenuity in devising strategies for achieving their own academic goals. This article concludes with practical implications for EMI teachers and curriculum designers regarding how to improve EMI instruction and intercultural learning in higher education.

The teaching of critical thinking (CT) has become an important requirement in many English language classrooms at different educational levels, yet little is known about how teachers promote the learning of CT. This article reports on a qualitative study examining the ways in which two university English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers in China attempted to blend CT into their reading classrooms, and the factors that influenced their attempts at CT innovation. In-depth, semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, artefacts, and observation of eight joint discussion sessions between the two participants and the first author were analyzed to explain the participants' implementation of CT innovation in their intensive reading courses and the influential factors. The findings indicate that the teachers implemented CT innovation in reading instruction through the infusion approach, which means explicitly highlighting CT during the course orientation of their reading courses, while also improving the students' CT abilities and language competence through reflective and collaborative writing using reading journals. The study also revealed several factors that influenced their attempts at CT innovation. The study sheds light on how teachers can be supported to innovate conventional CT instruction in the reading classroom.

Abstract Background Human kinesin family member 11 (KIF11) plays a vital role in regulating the cell cycle and is implicated in the tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers, but its role in endometrial cancer (EC) is still unclear. Our current research explored the prognostic value, biological function and targeting strategy of KIF11 in EC through approaches including bioinformatics, machine learning and experimental studies. Methods The GSE17025 dataset from the GEO database was analyzed via the limma package to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in EC. Functional enrichment analysis of the DEGs was conducted using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. DEGs were further screened for hub genes through protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and machine learning. The role of the hub gene KIF11 in EC was analyzed using clinical data from the TCGA database. The expression of KIF11 in EC was subsequently validated in clinical samples. In vitro experiments were utilized to evaluate the effects of KIF11 on biological functions such as proliferation, migration, apoptosis, and the cell cycle in endometrial cancer cells. Results A total of 877 DEGs, which are widely involved in important biological processes such as cell division, tubulin binding, and the cell cycle, were identified. Through PPI network analysis and machine learning, KIF11 was selected as the hub gene for subsequent analysis and experimental validation. An analysis of TCGA data revealed that KIF11 is highly expressed in EC and is associated with tumor grade, stage, and a low survival rate. The overexpression of KIF11 in tumor tissues was further confirmed in EC patient samples. KIF11 knockdown had inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that KIF11 knockdown induced G2/M phase arrest and promoted apoptosis in EC cells. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that KIF11 was upregulated in EC and was strongly associated with a poor prognosis. Notably, we found that reduced KIF11 expression inhibited EC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. KIF11 knockdown caused more EC cells to arrest in the G2/M phase and undergo apoptosis. The findings of our study emphasized that KIF11 may be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for EC patients.

Despite a clarion call to cultivate EFL teachers' intercultural competence (IC) in supporting their classroom practice, there is a lack of empirical research on how pre-service EFL teachers develop their IC. To fill the gap, the study examined two pre-service EFL teachers' IC development during a service-learning programme in China. Drawing on data from interviews, reflective journals, and researchers' field notes, the findings revealed two IC development patterns derived from the Chinese notion of harmony, i.e., "prioritising harmony" and "seeking harmony in diversity," shaped by the participants' motivations, personality traits, and contextual influences. Implications are provided to facilitate pre-service teachers' IC development in culturally diverse contexts.

Abstract For the blasting scenario, our research develops an emulsion explosive grasping and filling system suitable for tunnel robots. Firstly, we designed a system, YOLO-SimAM-GRCNN, which consists of an inference module and a control module. The inference module primarily consists of a blast hole position detection network based on YOLOv8 and an explosive grasping network based on SimAM-GRCNN. The control module plans and executes the robot’s motion control based on the output of the inference module to achieve symmetric grasping and filling operations. Meanwhile, The SimAM-GRCNN grasping network model is utilized to carry out comparative evaluated on the Cornell and Jacquard dataset, achieving a grasping detection accuracy of 98.8% and 95.2%, respectively. In addition, on a self-built emulsion explosive dataset, the grasping detection accuracy reaches 96.4%. The SimAM-GRCNN grasping network model outperforms the original GRCNN by an average of 1.7% in accuracy, achieving a balance between blast holes detection, grasping accuracy and filling speed. Finally, experiments are conducted on the Universal Robots 3 manipulator arm, using distributed deployment and manipulator arm motion control mode to achieve an end-to-end grasping and filling process. On the Jetson Xavier NX development board, the average time consumption is 119.67 s, with average success rates of 87.1% for grasping and 79.2% for filling emulsion explosives.

Abstract With the continuous development of deep oil and gas resources, the number of high‐temperature and high‐pressure wells is increasing, and the complexity of fracturing operations is becoming more pronounced. The safe conduct of fracturing operations is crucial for improving production efficiency. To investigate the strength and safety of fracturing strings in high‐temperature and high‐pressure wells, a transient calculation model of temperature‐pressure coupling was established for fracturing strings in high‐temperature and high‐pressure wells. The safety factor method and triaxial stress analysis were employed to evaluate the safety of fracturing strings in high‐temperature and high‐pressure wells. The method was used to assess the fracturing strings in high‐temperature and high‐pressure wells, and the effects of fracturing fluid injection rate and string size on the stress of the strings were analyzed. The results indicate that the axial force and equivalent stress at the wellhead of the fracturing string are the highest; as the fracturing time and injection rate of the fracturing fluid increase, the axial stress and equivalent stress at the wellhead of the fracturing string also increase. Small‐sized pipes are conducive to improving the safety factor of fracturing pipe string operations. The research findings can provide theoretical guidance for designing fracturing strings for high‐temperature and high‐pressure wells.

This study presents a systematic review of 38 empirical studies about big ideas published between 2010 and 2022 in various disciplines. The review scrutinised the conceptualisation of the big idea in the identified studies and its application in educational practices such as standards, curricula, textbooks, school-based curriculum reforms, and classroom teaching. Additionally, the review synthesised the benefits and challenges of incorporating big ideas into classroom instruction in different subject areas, followed by a methodological review that identified and compared the research approaches employed in the literature. The critical analysis of key findings indicates that the implementation of big ideas in education is still in its infancy stage, with complex issues surrounding its practice and research. These challenges include exploring how big ideas-based education can advance educational equity, addressing deficiencies in assessment strategies and activities, bridging gaps in research evidence concerning the effectiveness of big ideas-based instruction, and assisting teachers in identifying and teaching big ideas through teacher education. The review offers practical recommendations to address these challenges in big ideas-based education and proposes directions for future research.

This study examines how primary-level preservice teachers (PSTs) in an online asynchronous course (co-)constructed and (re)negotiated their professional identities through the use of metaphors in online asynchronous courses in the U.S. By using metaphors and narrating their lived experiences in relation to their chosen metaphors, participants expressed their desired and feared identities. Their metaphorical expression of identities reflects the complex interplay between participants' construction of their possible selves within the temporal, social, and spatial context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Individual and collaborative metaphor-based reflections provided a reflective space for PSTs to explore professional becoming and future possibilities at the interface between their sense of agency and their situated temporal, spatial, and social context, even within asynchronous online teacher education courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Against the backdrop of the worldwide prevalence and importance of internationalisation in higher education, the mixed-methods study examined the relationships between tertiary-level learners' on-campus intercultural activity participation (e.g. intercultural talks and workshops), seven aspects of whole-person development (civic responsibility, cultural engagement, intellectual capacity, peer relationship, community care, leadership, and self-appreciation), and academic performance. A questionnaire was distributed to 518 participants studying at two universities in Hong Kong. No positive relationship was found between participation and academic achievement. However, participation was positively correlated with all aspects of whole-person development. Community care and cultural engagement had the strongest correlations with participation. Following an explanatory sequential design, 18 of these participants were invited for a follow-up interview to expound on the findings based on their experiences, observations and understanding of their peers. The article ends with a discussion of the findings and implications for intercultural learning and teaching in higher education.

The development of corpus-based language pedagogy (CBLP) is a complex and intriguing process that pertains to how corpus technology is directly applied to classroom teaching. Using a case study approach, this study investigated how two experienced university English teachers integrated corpus technology in authentic classroom teaching. Data sources included CBLP lesson materials, pre-interviews, lesson observations, and post-interviews. Our study detailed the process of how both teachers designed and implemented their CBLP teaching activities to address their student needs. The results indicate that the CBLP development draws on five components of teacher knowledge and practice: (1) knowledge of English language; (2) knowledge of corpus technology; (3) pedagogical knowledge; (4) contextual knowledge; and (5) learning and practice. Teacher learning and practice are integral and key to their CBLP development. Although the paths taken by each teacher shared some similarities and differences, both led to a relatively high level of CBLP growth after considerable learning and practice. Moreover, while one teacher developed the CBLP primarily from a strong knowledge of corpus technology, the other drew on solid pedagogical knowledge. A series of factors under each of the five components were also examined in relation to their influence on teacher paths to CBLP development. Based on the findings, several practical implications are provided to facilitate the process of developing CBLP for language teachers.

Drawing upon a collection of curriculum proposals and reflections and informed by a textual analysis approach, this study investigated how 234 university teachers planned to enact and reform their English-medium instruction courses (n = 66) in an English as a foreign language (EFL) university context. Results reveal that the teachers tend to adopt a student-centered teaching approach with a focus on content learning. Teacher collaboration and technology use were two facilitative factors for EMI curriculum operation in different disciplines. In addition, the teachers attempted to evaluate and reform their courses through multiple paths including internet survey, material analysis, and classroom-based research. On the other hand, the study also identifies some challenges encountered by the teachers in their EMI curriculum development, namely, a lack of language awareness, limited cross-disciplinary collaboration, and relatively low level of professional development. Based on the research findings, practical implications are provided to enhance EMI teaching and teacher education in EFL tertiary institutions.

This study examines how novice teachers engage with the emotion of anger in their professional work. We generated 155 Chinese teachers' written reflections on how they felt, expressed, and regulated anger. The study revealed three findings: (1) the primary sources of the teachers' anger were related to students; (2) the majority of teachers tended to express anger destructively; (3) some teachers lacked emotional competence to regulate anger. The intensifying emotional labour in the teaching profession, the professional prematurity of novice teachers, and the stringent emotional rules in Chinese schools jointly contributed to the identified patterns. This study generates new insights into novice teachers' anger-related experiences, highlights the socio-cultural dimension of teacher anger, and suggests practical implications for supporting teachers in making sense of and acting on anger more consciously and effectively.

Drawing on data collected from multiple sources, this qualitative case study investigates how seven English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) academics from a university in mainland China perceive and cope with their professional vulnerability within the system of performativity. Three themes were generated from the data: (1) professional vulnerability as a state of conformity and self-learning, (2) professional vulnerability as a state of constrained agency, and (3) professional vulnerability as a state of disengagement. The findings not only reflect the complex and dynamic nature of EFL academics' professional vulnerability, but also unpack numerous contextual and personal factors mediating EFL academics' experiences of professional vulnerability. The paper ends with some practical implications on how to mitigate the negative influences that vulnerability has on EFL academics' professional practice within the system of performativity.

The spread of English and its increasing importance in intercultural encounters have challenged essentialist perspectives of culture in English language teaching. In addition to using English as a means of communication, students are expected to develop intercultural awareness, which allows them to analyse and reflect on their intercultural encounters and to participate in social activities. Such a need draws great attention to language teachers' perceptions of and engagement in intercultural teaching. As a narrative inquiry, this paper examines the reflections of English language practitioners who have returned from an overseas study experience and have become English language teachers in China. It focuses on their study abroad experiences, encompassing both their achievements and challenges in the context of intercultural learning, and examines how these experiences have influenced their current involvement in intercultural teaching. The findings help shed light on the shifts in teachers' perceptions of intercultural encounters and how the processes of making sense of intercultural experiences inform their orientation towards intercultural learning. The paper considers the importance of helping teachers use their experiential understanding of language and culture to generate a critical pedagogical stance to promote intercultural education.

Against the backdrop of internationalisation and growing attention to intercultural experiences in tertiary education, this mixed-methods study examined, in part I, language learning benefits reaped by active participants in intercultural activities. As English is widely used for communication among multilinguals, part II of the study focused specifically on English. We set out to investigate the relationship between individuals' language background (actual and self-perceived English proficiency) and intercultural participation, as well as their views of the formal English language education they received prior to entering universities. The participants (n = 518) recruited from two universities in Hong Kong responded to a questionnaire and 11 of them also attended individual semi-structured interviews. Overall, five categories of benefits emerged from the interview findings, namely psychological benefits, proficiency enhancement, identification of problems, communicative strategies for accommodation, and communicative strategies for expression. A weak positive correlation was found between self-rated English speaking proficiency and participation. The interviewees also commented on the formal English education they received from curricular and environmental perspectives.

Background The school–vacation cycle may have impacts on the psychological states of adolescents. However, little evidence illustrates how transition from school to vacation impacts students’ psychological states (e.g. depression and anxiety). Aims To explore the changing patterns of depression and anxiety symptoms among adolescent students within a school–vacation transition and to provide insights for prevention or intervention targets. Method Social demographic data and depression and anxiety symptoms were measured from 1380 adolescent students during the school year (age: 13.8 ± 0.88) and 1100 students during the summer vacation (age: 14.2 ± 0.93) in China. Multilevel mixed-effect models were used to examine the changes in depression and anxiety levels and the associated influencing factors. Network analysis was used to explore the symptom network structures of depression and anxiety during school and vacation. Results Depression and anxiety symptoms significantly decreased during the vacation compared to the school period. Being female, higher age and with lower mother's educational level were identified as longitudinal risk factors. Interaction effects were found between group (school versus vacation) and the father's educational level as well as grade. Network analyses demonstrated that the anxiety symptoms, including ‘Nervous’, ‘Control worry’ and ‘Relax’ were the most central symptoms at both times. Psychomotor disturbance, including ‘Restless’, ‘Nervous’ and ‘Motor’, bridged depression and anxiety symptoms. The central and bridge symptoms showed variation across the school vacation. Conclusions The school–vacation transition had an impact on students’ depression and anxiety symptoms. Prevention and intervention strategies for adolescents’ depression and anxiety during school and vacation periods should be differentially developed.

Data missing and anomalies in monitoring equipment have become critical barriers to developing intelligent Water Supply Systems (WSS). The valid data preceding and after the missing segments can be utilized to impute missing values. However, traditional imputation methods, such as linear interpolation and prediction-based methods, have limited capacity to use data relationships or can only utilize information before the missing values. Therefore, existing methods still need to work on efficiently and conveniently achieving high-accuracy imputation. According to the continuity and periodicity of WSS data, missing values often exhibit multi-level correlations with valid data. This paper innovatively employs graph structures to analyze the multi-level correlations at different timestamps and applies graph signal sampling algorithms to extract low-frequency features for imputation. A novel Graph-based Data Imputation (GDI) method has been developed, which leverages multi-level correlations to propagate information and completes imputation tasks without requiring complex feature engineering and pre-training processes. Results indicate that GDI outperforms Holt-Winters, Support Vector Regression, and Gated Recurrent Unit in the task of imputing continuous missing data. It can still achieve R2>0.8 even when the proportion of missing values reaches 80 %. These results demonstrate that GDI ensures a more streamlined and efficient imputation with high robustness and accuracy.

Abstract With the ongoing challenge of air pollution posing serious health and environmental threats, particularly in rapidly industrializing regions, accurate forecasting and effective pollutant identification are crucial for enhancing public health and ecological stability. This study aimed to optimize air quality management through the prediction of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and identification of air pollutants. Our study spans nine representative cities (Hohhot, Yinchuan, Lanzhou, Beijing, Taiyuan, Xi’an, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan) in China, with data collected from January 1, 2015, to November 30, 2021. We proposed a new model for daily AQI prediction, termed VMD-CSA-CNN-LSTM, which employed advanced machine learning techniques, including convolutional neural networks (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks, and leveraged the chameleon swarm algorithm (CSA) for hyperparameter optimization, integrated through a variational mode decomposition approach. The model was developed using data from Lanzhou, with a split ratio of 8:1:1 into training, validation, and test sets, achieving an RMSE of 2.25, MAPE of 0.02, adjusted R-squared of 98.91%, and training efficiency of 5.31%. The model was further externally validated in the other eight cities, yielding comparable results, with an adjusted R-squared above 96%, MAPE below 0.1, and RMSE below 7.5. Additionally, we employed a random forest algorithm to identify the primary pollutants contributing to AQI levels. Our results indicated that PM2.5 was the most significant pollutant in Beijing, Taiyuan, and Xi’an, while PM10 was dominant in Hohhot, Yinchuan, and Lanzhou. In Shanghai, Nanjing, and Wuhan, both PM2.5 and PM10 were critical, with ozone also identified as a major air pollutant. This study not only advances the predictive accuracy of AQI models but also aids policymakers by providing a reliable tool for air quality management and strategic planning aimed at pollution reduction. The integration of these advanced computational techniques into environmental monitoring practices offers a promising avenue for enhancing air quality and mitigating pollution-related risks.

Abstract The migratory insertion of metal-hydride into alkene has allowed regioselective access to organometallics, readily participating in subsequent functionalization as one conventional pathway of hydroalkylation, whereas analogous process with feedstock alkyne is drastically less explored. Among few examples, the regioselectivity of metal-hydride insertion is mostly governed by electronic bias of alkynes. To alter the regioselectivity and drastically expand the intermediate pools that we can access, one aspirational design is through alternative nickel-alkyl insertion, providing opposite regioselectivity induced by steric demand. Leveraging in situ formed nickel-alkyl species, we herein report the regio- and enantioselective hydroalkylation of alkynes with broad functional group tolerance, excellent regio- and enantioselectivity, enabling efficient route to diverse valuable chiral allylic amines motifs. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicate the aminoalkyl radical species can participate in metal-capture and lead to formation of nickel-alkyl, of which the migratory insertion is key to reverse regioselectivity observed in metal-hydride insertion.

Abstract Background Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) pose a significant threat to public health. Intensive Care Units (ICU), characterized by the extensive use of antimicrobial agents and a high prevalence of bacterial resistance, are hotspots for MDRO proliferation. Timely identification of patients at high risk for MDRO can aid in curbing transmission, enhancing patient outcomes, and maintaining the cleanliness of the ICU environment. This study focused on developing a machine learning (ML) model to identify patients at risk of MDRO during the initial phase of their ICU stay. Methods Utilizing patient data from the First Medical Center of the People’s Liberation Army General Hospital (PLAGH-ICU) and the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC-IV), the study analyzed variables within 24 h of ICU admission. Machine learning algorithms were applied to these datasets, emphasizing the early detection of MDRO colonization or infection. Model efficacy was evaluated by the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC), alongside internal and external validation sets. Results The study evaluated 3,536 patients in PLAGH-ICU and 34,923 in MIMIC-IV, revealing MDRO prevalence of 11.96% and 8.81%, respectively. Significant differences in ICU and hospital stays, along with mortality rates, were observed between MDRO positive and negative patients. In the temporal validation, the PLAGH-ICU model achieved an AUROC of 0.786 [0.748, 0.825], while the MIMIC-IV model reached 0.744 [0.723, 0.766]. External validation demonstrated reduced model performance across different datasets. Key predictors included biochemical markers and the duration of pre-ICU hospital stay. Conclusions The ML models developed in this study demonstrated their capability in early identification of MDRO risks in ICU patients. Continuous refinement and validation in varied clinical contexts remain essential for future applications.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to review echocardiography-based diagnosis of persistent fifth aortic arch (PFAA) in children. Methods From January 2015 to December 2022, we retrospectively analyzed the echocardiographic findings and the relevant clinical data during follow-up of patients with PFAA who were treated in the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. The diagnosis was confirmed by computed tomography angiography or surgery. Results Seven PFAA cases included two Weinberg type A and five Weinberg type B. The anatomical details of PFAA were assessed using a combination of the long-axis view of the left ventricular outflow tract (from the left high parasternal window) and the long-axis view of the aortic arch (from the suprasternal window). In Weinberg type A, the distal fifth and fourth aortic arches were connected to the descending aorta, which was associated with aortic coarctation. In Weinberg type B, the upper arch of the fourth aorta was interrupted, and only the lower arch of the fifth aorta was connected to the descending aorta. Surgical repair of PFAA was indicated in five patients with blood flow disruption, among which four had good postoperative results and one refused surgery. Two patients with unobstructed PFAA blood flow required follow-up rather than surgery. Conclusions It is feasible to diagnose PFAA by echocardiography. Combined application of the high parasternal left ventricular outflow tract view and the suprasternal aortic arch view can improve timely detection of different types of PFAA in children.

Abstract Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanisms of miR-155 in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Methods The expression level of miR-155 in the skin tissues of patients with CSU and experimental rats were detected by RT-qPCR, followed by the measurement of the histamine release rate in the serum through the histamine release test. Besides, hematoxylin & eosin staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the skin tissues; Corresponding detection kits and flow cytometry to measure the changes of immunoglobulins, inflammatory cytokines and T cell subsets in the serum of rats in each group; and western blot to check the expression level of proteins related to JAK/STAT signaling pathway in the skin tissues. Results Knockdown of miR-155 reduced the number and duration of pruritus, alleviated the skin damage, and decreased the number of eosinophils in CSU rats. Moreover, knockdown of miR-155 elevated the serum levels of IgG and IgM, decreased the levels of IgA and inflammatory cytokines, and reduced the proportion of CD4 + and CD4 + CD25 + T cells, as well as the CD4+/CD8 + ratio in CSU rats. However, Tyr705 intervention could reverse the effects of knockdown of miR-155 on CSU model rats. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of miR-155 significantly reduced the protein expression of IRF-9, as well as the P-JAK2/JAK2 and P-STAT3/STAT3 ratios in the skin tissues of CSU rats. Conclusion Knockdown of miR-155 can alleviate skin damage and inflammatory responses and relieve autoimmunity in CSU rats by inhibiting the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.

A typical industrial park in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which is 70 km from the Chongqing urban center, was used to investigate the occurrence and exposure of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs). An exposure risk method and a risk-oriented source apportionment approach were performed to assess the inhalation risks and apportion VOC sources, respectively. The quantitative relationships between risk factors and pollution sources were established, identifying key pathogenic and odorous VOCs. The quantitative emission reduction strategies were developed based on risk thresholds. Residents within the industrial parks face potential health risks due to pathogenic VOCs and nuisance odors, and workers in specific sectors experience two to six times higher risks than those in residential areas. Six risk sources were identified in the industrial park, ranked according to their contribution to VOC concentrations as follows: industrial sewage treatment (IST) (32.59 %), natural gas chemical industry (NGCI) (27.77 %), diesel vehicle exhaust (DVE) (12.04 %), pharmaceutical manufacturing industry (PMI) (11.14 %), chemical raw materials manufacturing (CRMM) (9.96 %), and iron and steel industry (ISI) (6.5 %). Among these, NGCI, IST, and CRMM were the top contributors to pathogenic risks, with contributions of 32.13 %, 29.71 %, and 21.71 % to non-carcinogenic risks, and 18.15 %, 19.87 %, and 27.99 % to carcinogenic risks, respectively. DVE produced significantly higher odor pollution compared to other sources, with intensities that were 3 to 10 times greater. The key pathogenic and odorous VOCs differ by source, resulting in varying control priorities for different VOC species. Reducing emissions from these six sources for 20 high-risk species (e.g., acrolein, 2-chlorotoluene, 1,2-dibromoethane, dichloromethane, and p-diethylbenzene) will simultaneously lower pathogenic and odor risks, with cumulative reduction rates ranging from 4.11 % to 93.75 %. This study provides quantitative control targets for VOCs from a health risk perspective, offering valuable guidance for developing risk management policies in industrial parks.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the prognosis value of the clinical parameters and immunohistochemical markers of patients with early-onset endometrial cancer (EC) and establish a nomogram to accurately predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) of early-onset EC after resection.MethodsA training dataset containing 458 patients and an independent testing dataset consisting of 170 patients were employed in this retrospective study. The independent risk factors related to RFS were confirmed using Cox regression models. A nomogram model was established to predict RFS at 3 and 5 years post-hysterectomy. The C-index, area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and calibration curve were calculated to assess the predictive accuracy of the nomogram.ResultsIn all early-onset EC patients, more than half (368/628, 58.6%) were diagnosed in the age range of 45-49 years. Meanwhile, the recurrence rate of early-onset EC is approximately 10.8%. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that histological subtype, FIGO stage, myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), P53 expression, and MMR status were independent prognostic factors related to RFS (all P < 0.05) and established the nomogram predicting 3- and 5-year RFS. The C-index and calibration curves of the nomogram demonstrated a close correlation between predicted and actual RFS. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the model of RFS.ConclusionsCombining clinical parameters and immunohistochemical markers, we developed a robust nomogram to predict RFS after surgery for early-onset EC patients. This nomogram can predict prognosis well and guide treatment decisions.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and genomic characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (V. parahaemolyticus) isolates from outbreaks in Huzhou, China.MethodsThis study aims to analyze the epidemiological data on V. parahaemolyticus outbreaks reported in Huzhou from 2019 to 2023. A total of 70 V. parahaemolyticus outbreak isolates were collected. The antibiotic resistance, serotypes, molecular typing, and genomic characteristics of these isolates were analyzed.ResultsMost outbreaks of V. parahaemolyticus infection occurred in the summer, and the majority of outbreaks occurred in restaurants and rural banquets. High resistance rates were observed for ampicillin (AMP, 24.29%), followed by tetracycline (TET, 15.71%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT, 15.71%). The newly emerged serotype O10:K4 became dominant from 2021 to 2023, with most isolates belonging to ST3. The resistance gene blaCARB was frequently detected among these isolates. The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphisms (wgSNPs) effectively differentiated the nine outbreaks.ConclusionThe newly emerged serotype O10:K4 became dominant from 2021 to 2023, with most isolates being ST3. PFGE and WGS technologies provided reliable methods for typing and identifying V. parahaemolyticus for outbreaks.

Four novel species of subgenus Russula crown clade collected from northwestern China are described based on morphological and phylogenetic evidence. Morphologically, R. griseorosea Y.Song sp. nov. (subsection Puellarinae) is characterized by its brown pileus with a grayish pink tint, basidiospores with warts often connected by fine lines, orthochromatic pileipellis with long terminal cells and septate pileocystidia; R. micangshanensis Y.Song sp. nov. (subsection Olivaceinae) is diagnosed by its large basidia, hymenial cystidia and basidiospores, and spore ornamentations with unequal crests and often twinned warts, which give the spore distinctive appearance; R. minirosea Y.Song sp. nov. (subsection Laricinae) has very small basidiocarp with pileus less than 3.3 cm in diameter, basidiospores with fine reticulum, small basidia, and septate pileocystidia; R. purpureomarginalis F.Li & Y.Song sp. nov. (subsection Xerampelinae) has large basidiospores with often isolated ornamentations, slim basidia and often septate flexuous pileocystidia. Differences between the four novel species and their closely related taxa were analyzed. Phylogenetic analyses based on both ITS and multi-locus (LSU, rpb2 and tef1) were carried out to confirm the distinct taxonomic status of the four novel species.

Abstract Background The prevalence of hypertensive heart disease (HHD) is high and there is currently no easy way to detect early HHD. Explore the application of radiomics using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) non-enhanced cine sequences in diagnosing HHD and latent cardiac changes caused by hypertension. Methods 132 patients who underwent CMR scanning were divided into groups: HHD (42), hypertension with normal cardiac structure and function (HWN) group (46), and normal control (NOR) group (44). Myocardial regions of the end-diastolic (ED) and end-systolic (ES) phases of the CMR short-axis cine sequence images were segmented into regions of interest (ROI). Three feature subsets (ED, ES, and ED combined with ES) were established after radiomic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator feature selection. Nine radiomic models were built using random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and naive Bayes. Model performance was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curves, and metrics like accuracy, area under the curve (AUC), precision, recall, and specificity. Results The feature subsets included first-order, shape, and texture features. SVM of ED combined with ES achieved the highest accuracy (0.833), with a macro-average AUC of 0.941. AUCs for HHD, HWN, and NOR identification were 0.967, 0.876, and 0.963, respectively. Precisions were 0.972, 0.740, and 0.826; recalls were 0.833, 0.804, and 0.863, respectively; and specificities were 0.989, 0.863, and 0.909, respectively. Conclusions Radiomics technology using CMR non-enhanced cine sequences can detect early cardiac changes due to hypertension. It holds promise for future use in screening for latent cardiac damage in early HHD.

[Objective] In recent decades, with the rapid industrial growth and urbanization in China, pollution incidents like oil spills and heavy metal contamination have become frequent. Under this background, accurate assessment of the entire pollution process and control of polluted sites are crucial steps in achieving pollution site remediation and restoration. [Methods] This study adopts an object-based perspective and a systematic analysis approach to describe the migration of pollutants from source to sink, emphasizing the environmental behavior during their migration. It abstractly represents contaminated sites and associated entities as spatiotemporal objects, focusing on pollutant concentrations and their attributes. It also explores the interrelationships among spatiotemporal objects from temporal, spatial, and attribute perspectives, as well as describes their dynamic influences. [Results] (1) Taking the real incident of an oil spill in 2014 as an example, an object-based representation model of the contaminated site was constructed using the XML structure. (2) A visualization method for expressing contaminated site objects has been established, which displays the interrelationships and attribute characteristics of various spatiotemporal objects. (3) Attempts to apply the respresentation model to conduct attribution analysis of pollutant concentrations have been made, allowing for the rapid acquisition of relevant calculation parameters for exposure assessment indicators, thereby facilitating more convenient health risk evaluations. [Conclusion] The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed object-based representation method can effectively describe and model contaminated sites, facilitating the comprehensive analysis and evaluation of pollution processes from source to sink. It provides significant support for the management and remediation of contaminated sites. Furthermore, the object-based representation method proposed offers practical guidance in addressing complex problems. By considering the research subject as an object and analyzing and expressing it from various aspects such as composition, attribute features, interrelationships, and behavioral dynamics, a better understanding of the internal relationships and interactions within the research object can be achieved, thereby providing a clear perspective for the analysis and evaluation of related issues.