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Abstract Objective To investigate the prevalence and risk factors of psychological symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in early patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Methods From September 2021 to May 2022, a unified questionnaire was developed to collect clinical data from early patients with IBD from 42 tertiary care hospitals. The influencing factors of psychological symptoms and poor QoL are screened by logistic regression analysis for constructing model in predicting poor QoL. The consistency index, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to evaluate the performance of the model. Results A total of 939 early patients with IBD were surveyed, Among them, 20.3% exhibited anxiety, 21.7% had depression, 57.3% experienced sleep disturbance, and 41.9% reported poor QoL. The factors influencing psychological symptoms varied between ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. The QoL was primarily affected by disease activity, income level and depression. The AUC value of the model in the training group was 0.781 (95% CI: 0.748–0.814). The calibration diagram of the model closely matched the ideal curve. Compared to other prediction models, our model showed superior predictive capability, with NRI and IDI values of 0.324 (95%CI:0.196–0.4513) and 0.026 (95%CI:0.014–0.038), respectively. DCA indicated that the nomogram model could provide clinical benefits. Conclusion Early patients with IBD exhibit a high prevalence of psychological symptoms and poor QoL. The nomogram prediction model we constructed demonstrates high accuracy and performance in predicting QoL in early patients with IBD.

Bainbridge–Ropers syndrome (BRPS) is a recently described neurodevelopmental genetic disorder associated with de novo truncating variants in additional sex combs like 3 (ASXL3) on chromosome 18q12.1. Trio-based exome sequencing was conducted on patients admitted to the Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University and diagnosed with unexplained intellectual disabilities or developmental delay between June 2022 and January 2024. De novo truncation of ASXL3 was identified in four patients, and the pathogenic variants and their de novo status were validated using Sanger sequencing. Comprehensive clinical phenotype–genotype information of all previously reported patients with BRPS was collected and summarized. The common clinical manifestations observed in the four patients included language and intellectual disabilities or psychomotor retardation. Genetic analysis revealed that patient 1 carried a de novo heterozygous variant, c.1667_1668del (p.Thr556Arpfs*3), whereas patient 2 had a novel heterozygous frameshift variant of ASXL3, c.3324del (p.Lys1109Serfs*34). These two variants have not been documented to date. Additionally, patients 3 and 4 exhibited a de novo variant, c.4678C > T (p.Arg1560Ter). Based on the combined assessment of clinical phenotypes and genetic testing results, it was postulated that all four children presented with BRPS syndrome caused by pathogenic variations in ASXL3. The present study complements the range of ASXL3 mutational and phenotypic spectra in the population, highlighting subtle distinctions in clinical manifestations between Chinese patients and other racial groups. The reporting of additional cases will contribute to further elucidating the function of ASXL3 and establishing a solid foundation for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract Currently, the relationship between household size and incident dementia, along with the underlying neurobiological mechanisms, remains unclear. This prospective cohort study was based on UK Biobank participants aged ≥ 50 years without a history of dementia. The linear and non-linear longitudinal association was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression and restricted cubic spline models. Additionally, the potential mechanisms driven by brain structures were investigated by linear regression models. We included 275,629 participants (mean age at baseline 60.45 years [SD 5.39]). Over a mean follow-up of 9.5 years, 6031 individuals developed all-cause dementia. Multivariable analyses revealed that smaller household size was associated with an increased risk of all-cause dementia (HR, 1.06; 95% CI 1.02–1.09), vascular dementia (HR, 1.08; 95% CI 1.01–1.15), and non-Alzheimer’s disease non-vascular dementia (HR, 1.09; 95% CI 1.03–1.14). No significant association was observed for Alzheimer’s disease. Restricted cubic splines demonstrated a reversed J-shaped relationship between household size and all-cause and cause-specific dementia. Additionally, substantial associations existed between household size and brain structures. Our findings suggest that small household size is a risk factor for dementia. Additionally, brain structural differences related to household size support these associations. Household size may thus be a potential modifiable risk factor for dementia.

Abstract In recent years, there has been a global trend of aging, which has resulted in significant changes to the burden of gastritis and duodenitis (GD). Using the global burden of disease (GBD) database spanning 1990 to 2019, we evaluated the temporal trends of age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR), age-standardized death rates (ASDR), and age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (AS-DALYs) for GD using estimated annual percentage changes (EAPC). Additionally, we examined the burden of GD across various strata, including social demographic index (SDI), age, and sex. Finally, the risk factors linked to the incidence and mortality of GD, utilizing Pearson correlation analysis. In 2019, there were 31 million GD patients globally, a notable increase of 12 million from 1990, while the ASIR, ASDR, and AS-DALYs for GD all showed a decrease. Correlation analysis showed a significant negative relationship between ASIR and SDI. Factors like hand hygiene and vitamin A deficiency had significant positive correlations with ASIR and ASDR in 2019. Over the past thirty years, the burden of GD has increased alongside global population aging. Future efforts should focus on exploring prevention for GD, with special attention to the elderly population in low SDI regions.

ABSTRACTPortal vein tumor thrombosis (PVTT) frequently leads to malignant ascites (MA) in individuals with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), remaining a bottleneck in the treatment. This study aimed to explore the differences in microbes in paired groups and provide novel insights into PVTT and MA-related treatments. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedding ascite samples were collected from MA secondary to HCC and benign ascites (BA) secondary to liver cirrhosis (LC). Ascitic microbiota profiles were determined in the HCC and LC groups by 16S rRNA sequencing. Prognostic risk factors were screened using survival analysis. The correlation between the significantly different microbial signatures in the groups with PVTT (WVT) and non-PVTT (NVT) and clinical characteristics was explored. The expression of different immune cells was determined by labeling four markers in the MA tissue chips using multiplex immunohistochemistry. A total of 240 patients (196 with HCC with MA and 44 with LC with BA) were included in this study. Microbial profiles differed between the HCC and LC groups. PVTT and Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage were shown to be prognostic risk factors. Significant differences in the alpha and beta diversities were observed between the WVT and NVT groups. Gammaproteobacteria and Acinetobacter were the most abundant in the HCC MA. Differences in microbial signatures between the WVT and NVT groups were correlated with the level of C-reactive protein and apolipoprotein A1. This study revealed the microbial differences in the tumor microenvironment of MA secondary to HCC and BA secondary to LC.IMPORTANCEFirst, we explored the alteration of the ascites ecosystem through the microbiota in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver cirrhosis. Second, this is the first clinical study to investigate the differences between patients with HCC with and without portal vein tumor thrombosis via 16S rRNA sequencing. These results revealed a decreased microbial diversity and metabolic dysregulation in individuals with HCC and portal vein tumor thrombosis. Gammaproteobacteria and Acinetobacter were the most abundant in the HCC malignant ascitic fluid. Our study provides a new perspective on treating malignant ascites secondary to HCC.

Hyperglycemia is correlated with worse in-hospital outcomes in acute infectious diseases such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). This study assessed the relationship between fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and in-hospital mortality, disease type, and secondary infections among individuals with SFTS without preexisting diabetes. The clinical data and laboratory results upon admission of 560 patients with SFTS without preexisting diabetes meeting the inclusion criteria at Wuhan Union Hospital were collected. FPG levels in surviving patients with SFTS subjects were significantly lower than those in patients with SFTS who had died (P

Abstract Objective Vitamins and homocysteine (Hcy) are involved in liver metabolism and related to the pathogenesis of autoimmune liver disease (AILD), but consensus is lacking. This study aims to systematically summarize relevant evidence to clarify the association of serum vitamins and Hcy levels with AILD. Methods The English and Chinese literature was searched until August 29, 2023. Studies were included if they were observational studies of investigating serum vitamins and Hcy levels in patients with AILD and their healthy comparisons. Quality assessment was performed by using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale, and a meta‐analysis was conducted using ReviewManager 5.3. The protocol was registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO), with registration number CRD42023455367. Results A total of 25 case–control studies comprising 3487 patients (1673 patients and 1814 healthy controls) were included for analysis. There were 548 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) cases, 1106 primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) cases, and 19 primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) cases. We found that serum A and E were decreased in both AIH and PBC/PSC; but vitamin C was reduced only in patients with PBC, not AIH. In addition, decreased content of 25(OH)D3 was found in both AIH and PBC. However, levels of 25(OH)D did not differ between the patients and controls, and were independent of disease types and the country. Only one study that met the inclusion criteria reported vitamin B6, B9, B12, and Hcy changes, and found that vitamin B6 and B9 were significantly decreased in patients with PBC, while serum vitamin B12 and Hcy levels were significantly elevated in them. One eligible study each confirmed a reduction in plasma vitamin K1 and 1,25(OH)2D3 in patients with PBC. Conclusion Most vitamins are deficient in AILD, so appropriate vitamin supplementation should be necessary. Further studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.

ObjectiveUlcerative colitis (UC) and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are closely intertwined; however, the precise molecular mechanisms governing their coexistence remain unclear.MethodsWe obtained UC (GSE75214) and MASLD (GSE151158) datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were acquired by the ‘edgeR’ and ‘limma’ packages of R. We then performed functional enrichment analysis of common DEGs. Hub genes were selected using the cytoHubba plugin and validated using GSE87466 for UC and GSE33814 for MASLD. Immunohistochemistry was employed to validate the hub genes’ expression in clinical samples. Immune infiltration and gene set enrichment analyses of the hub genes were performed. Finally, we estimated the Spearman’s correlation coefficients for the clinical correlation of the core genes.ResultsWithin a cohort of 26 differentially regulated genes in both UC and MASLD, pathways involving cytokine-mediated signaling, cell chemotaxis, and leukocyte migration were enriched. After further validation, CXCR4, THY1, CCL20, and CD2 were identified as the hub genes. Analysis of immune infiltration patterns highlighted an association between elevated pivotal gene expression and M1 macrophage activation. Immunohistochemical staining revealed widespread expression of pivotal genes in UC- and MASLD-affected tissues. Furthermore, significant correlations were observed between the increased expression of hub genes and biochemical markers, such as albumin and prothrombin time.ConclusionThis bioinformatics analysis highlights CXCR4, THY1, CCL20, and CD2 as crucial genes involved in the co-occurrence of UC and MASLD, providing insights into the underlying mechanisms of these two conditions.

Abstract Background This study aimed to identify a novel inflammatory index and construct a nomogram for predicting in‐hospital mortality due to severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). Methods This cohort included 610 patients with SFTS hospitalized in Wuhan Union Hospital between March 2017 and November 2022. The ratio of C‐reactive protein (CRP) to the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) was calculated and used to reflect patients' inflammatory status. Propensity score matching (PSM) was utilized to balance confounding factors between the low‐ and high‐CRP/PNI groups. SFTS individuals from Jinyinhu Hospital were used as the validation cohort. Results Patients with SFTS and high CRP/PNI were significantly correlated with a higher percentage of severe and critical SFTS types and higher in‐hospital mortality rates than those with low CRP/PNI. CRP/PNI was the potent risk indicator for in‐hospital mortality in individuals with SFTS. The CRP/PNI nomogram showed a good predictive value for in‐hospital mortality in patients with SFTS. After PSM, the predictive performance of CRP/PNI for 28‐day mortality was excellent. Finally, the CRP/PNI could still assess patients with SFTS at different risks based on SFTS data from another medical center. Conclusion The CPR/PNI ratio exhibited a strong positive correlation with the SFTS disease type and could predict in‐hospital mortality in the early stages of SFTS. The CPR/PNI ratio could substantially help clinicians facilitate the early identification of patients with high‐risk SFTS and the timely initiation of intensive therapy.

Objective: To investigate the effect of combined repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation on upper extremity function in subacute stroke patients. Design: Pilot study. Subjects: Subacute stroke patients. Methods: Included patients were randomized into 3 groups: a central-associated peripheral stimulation (CPS) group, a central-stimulation-only (CS) group, and a control (C) group. The CPS group underwent a new paired associative stimulation (combined repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation), the CS group underwent repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and the C group underwent sham stimulation. All 3 groups received physiotherapy after the stimulation or sham stimulation. The treatment comprised 20 once-daily sessions. Primary outcome was the Fugl-Meyer Assessment Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score, and secondary outcomes were the Barthel Index and Comprehensive Functional Assessment scores, and neurophysiological assessments were mainly short-interval intracortical inhibition. A 3-group (CPS, CS, C) × 2-time (before, after intervention) repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to determine whether changes in scores were significantly different between the 3 groups. Results: A total of 45 patients were included in the analysis. Between-group comparisons on the FMA-UE demonstrated a significant improvement (group × time interaction, F2,42 = 4.86; p = 0.013; C vs CS, p = 0.020; C vs CPS, p = 0.016; CS vs CPS, p = 0.955). Correlation analysis did not find any substantial positive correlation between changes in FMA-UE and short-interval intracortical inhibition variables (C, r = –0.196, p = 0.483; CS, r = –0.169, p = 0.546; CPS, r = –0.424, p = 0.115). Conclusion: This study suggests that the real-stimulus (CS and CPS) groups had better outcomes than the control (C) group. In addition, the CPS group showed a better trend in clinical and neurophysiological assessments compared with the CS group.

Pressure ulcers, which can result from prolonged sitting, pose a significant challenge for wheelchair users. Soft robotics has considerable potential in preventing pressure ulcers. However, current soft robotics, constructed from flexible materials, face limitations including insufficient proprioception and controllability. Herein, a vacuum‐powered proprioceptive soft–rigid hybrid actuator (PSHA) module and a modular pressure redistribution cushion (MPRC) developed using this module are introduced. This PSHA module is capable of detecting both position and force. Each module within the MPRC is equipped with onboard control, proprioceptive sensation, and inter‐module communication. The MPRC incorporates a closed‐loop control system, enabling it to actively redistribute pressure, thereby preventing prolonged compression of local soft tissue during periods of inactivity. The proposed PSHA module, as evidenced in its application in pressure redistribution cushions, offers a promising approach for designs intent on reducing the risk of pressure ulcers. This study significantly contributes to the advancement of assistive technology, with the potential to enhance the quality of life for individuals with immobility or limited mobility.

Abstract Background Liver failure is severe hepatic cellular damage caused by multiple factors that leads to clinical manifestations. Hepatic infiltration by malignancy is rarely reported as a cause of liver failure. Case presentation A 51-year-old male patient was admitted to the Wuhan Union Hospital complaining of bloating and jaundice. He had been diagnosed with polymyositis ten prior and was taking oral glucocorticoids. Physical examination revealed seroperitoneum and icteric sclera; laboratory tests revealed liver dysfunction, a coagulopathy, and negative results for the common causes of liver failure. Moreover, an ascitic tap and bone marrow aspirate and trephine confirmed a metastatic, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. These findings indicate that malignant infiltration is the most likely cause of liver failure. Regrettably, the patient refused complete liver and lymph node biopsies and was discharged on day 31. Conclusion Clinicians should consider the possibility of malignant infiltration when approaching a case of liver failure with prodromal symptoms or imaging abnormalities, especially in patients with autoimmune diseases, such as polymyositis.

Abstract Postharvest senescence and disease development can reduce the nutritional value of fresh jujube fruit. Herein, four different disease-controlling agents (chlorothalonil, CuCl2, harpin and melatonin) were separately applied to fresh jujube fruit, and all improved postharvest quality (evaluated by disease severity, antioxidant accumulation and senescence) relative to controls. Disease severity was drastically inhibited by these agents, in the order chlorothalonil > CuCl2 > harpin > melatonin. However, chlorothalonil residues were detected even after storage for 4 weeks. These agents increased the activities of defense enzymes including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, polyphenol oxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase, as well as accumulation of antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, glutathione, flavonoids and phenolics, in postharvest jujube fruit. The enhanced antioxidant content and antioxidant capacity (evaluated by Fe3+ reducing power) was ordered melatonin > harpin > CuCl2 > chlorothalonil. All four agents significantly delayed senescence (evaluated by weight loss, respiration rate and firmness), with the effect ordered CuCl2 > melatonin > harpin > chlorothalonil. Moreover, treatment with CuCl2 also increased copper accumulation ~ threefold in postharvest jujube fruit. Among the four agents, postharvest treatment with CuCl2 could be considered most appropriate for improving postharvest jujube fruit quality under low temperature conditions without sterilization.

The safety of people and property in mountainous regions can be affected by landslides, and measurement of vertical ground formation is a vital component of landslide monitoring and forecasting. Over the past few years, UAV images have gained increasing popularity in the landslide monitoring; however, studies on the measurement accuracy of UAV image-based landslide surface deformation monitoring are relatively limited. In this study, a series of outdoor model tests are conducted to investigate the measurement accuracy of the digital difference-based software of CloudCompare, Global Mapper, and PolyWorks in UAV image-based vertical ground deformation measurement. The results indicate that when the resolution of the input UAV image is better than 3.0 cm/pixel, all the selected software can recognize the ground deformation zones with vertical ground deformation larger than 5.0 cm; under different vertical ground deformation scenarios, the vertical ground deformation measurement obtained with Global Mapper tends to be more accurate, and the medium error of the measurement ranges from 1.5 cm to 4.0 cm. Neither the medium error of measurement nor the standard deviation of measurement error is greatly affected by the magnitude of vertical ground deformation. The statistical analysis of measurement error suggests that the measurement errors of the selected software all follow normal distributions; then, based on the statistics of the measurement errors, the 95% confidence intervals of the vertical ground deformations obtained from the selected software could be obtained. Furthermore, Global Mapper software is applied to identify and measure the vertical deformation of the Dangchuan landslides in Heifangtai, and the results indicate that this software can accurately identify the landslide deformation area and locate the related ranges.

Objective To predict the 28-day mortality of critically ill, elderly patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) using five machine learning approaches. Methods Data were extracted from the eICU Collaborative Research Database (eICU-CRD) (version 2.0) for a training cohort and from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) and Wuhan Union hospital for validation cohorts. Clinical information (i.e., demographics; initial laboratory tests; vital signs; outcomes) were collected. Five machine learning algorithms (LightGBM, decision tree, XGBoost, random forest, and ensemble model) and a logistic regression were applied for the prediction of 28-day mortality. Results Overall, 693 patients were included from the eICU cohort, 181 patients from the MIMIC-IV cohort and 95 from the Wuhan Union cohort. Among the six machine learning models, the ensemble model exhibited the best predictive ability (AUC, 0.86), followed by random forest (AUC, 0.83) and LightGBM (AUC, 0.82) in the training cohort. The models also obtained the good predictive performance for the 28-day mortality in the validation cohorts. Conclusions We showed that machine learning algorithms can be used for the 28-day mortality prediction in critically ill, elderly patients with CRC.

Climate and land-use changes and their interactions have a profound effect on biodiversity, especially in biodiverse areas such as Southeast Asia (SEA) where aggregations of endemic species are widespread. To increase the effectiveness of biodiversity protection, it is crucial to understand the effect of climate and land-use changes on biodiversity. In the present study, we predicted future land-use changes based on a Cellular automaton Markov chain model (CA-MARKOV), and took Galliformes species as an example to assess the impact of climate and land-use changes on the effectiveness of protected areas in SEA. In addition, we used an ensemble of species distribution models (SDMs) to assess the potential habitats and their dynamics of 62 Galliformes species currently and in the 2070s. Our results showed that climate and land-use changes would reduce the suitable habitats of these Galliformes species. Among them, 22 or 31 species would migrate upward because of a decrease in habitat suitability at lower elevations caused by climate and land-use changes, while other 40 or 30 species were predicted to migrate downward because of land use changes under two dispersal scenarios. These changes would expand the area with low and high diversity, but there would be a mismatch between the current protected areas (PAs) and future suitable habitats with high diversity. In order to effectively ensure biodiversity protection and conserve 30% of the planet by 2030, our findings suggest that we should establish new PAs or adjust the range of PAs based on the impact of climate and land-use changes.

Abstract The relationship between systemic inflammation and tumor-associated bacteria is largely unknown in colorectal cancer (CRC). The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic effects of the systemic inflammation response index (SIRI) on the survival outcomes of CRC patients who experienced surgical therapy, and the second aim was to reveal the potential association between SIRI levels and tumor-associated bacteria in CRC. We recruited a cohort of 298 CRC patients who experienced surgical resection in Wuhan Union Hospital. These patients were assigned to the low and high groups based on the cut-off value of SIRI. We utilized 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) to reduce the potential confounding factors between the low SIRI group (N = 83) and the high SIRI group (N = 83). The total DNA of 166 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues and 24 frozen tumor tissues was extracted and amplified, and 16 S rRNA sequencing was employed to uncover the composition of microbiota between low and high SIRI groups. Survival analysis uncovered that the high SIRI cohort exhibited significantly shorter overall and disease-free survival time than low SIRI companions after PSM. The ROC analyses showed that the prediction abilities of SIRI were much higher than other serum inflammatory biomarkers for survival outcomes. The microbial richness and diversity in the low SIRI group were remarkably higher than those in the high SIRI group. At the phylum level, we found that Proteobacteria, Synergistetes, WPS-2, Thermil, Fusobacteria were enriched in the high SIRI group. Cupriavidus, Thermus, Ochrobactrum, Cupriavidus, Acidovorax were enriched in the high SIRI group at the genus level. 16 S rRNA based on frozen samples also obtained similar results. SIRI is a promising and novel prognostic biomarker among CRC sufferers who underwent surgical removal. There existed significant differences in the diversity and compositions of tumor-associated bacteria between the low and high SIRI groups.

The role of exogenous adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) in the regulation of antioxidant response in plants under heavy metal stress is unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of exogenous ATP application on plant growth, antioxidant response, and Cd accumulation in maize seedlings. Treatment with 0.1 mM CdCl2 moderately reduced dry weight, decreased chlorophyll content, impaired photosynthesis, and increased lipid peroxidation in maize seedlings compared with controls. However, toxicity due to Cd was alleviated after 10–200 µM ATP treatment. Subsequently, the activity of Cd-regulated antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant metabolite accumulation, and total antioxidant capacity were drastically enhanced after 50 µM ATP treatment. Similar patterns were observed in the ADP-treated group but not in the AMP-treated group under Cd stress. However, the ATP-induced elevation in antioxidant defense ability was decreased by the inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX). ATP-induced elevation in NOX activity and H2O2 production was partly reversed by the inhibition of NOX in maize seedlings under Cd stress. Furthermore, ATP promoted Cd accumulation in the roots and shoots of maize seedlings. However, the ATP-induced increase in Cd accumulation was partly abolished by the inhibition of NOX. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the role and mechanism of exogenous ATP in regulating plant growth, antioxidant response, and heavy metal phytoextraction. The study provides a new method based on exogenous ATP for enhancing heavy metal tolerance in plants.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on viral RNAs has a profound impact on infectivity. m6A is also a highly pervasive modification for influenza viral RNAs. However, its role in virus mRNA splicing is largely unknown. Here, we identify the m6A reader protein YTHDC1 as a host factor that associates with influenza A virus NS1 protein and modulates viral mRNA splicing. YTHDC1 levels are enhanced by IAV infection. We demonstrate that YTHDC1 inhibits NS splicing by binding to an NS 3' splicing site and promotes IAV replication and pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo. Our results provide a mechanistic understanding of IAV-host interactions, a potential therapeutic target for blocking influenza virus infection, and a new avenue for the development of attenuated vaccines.

IntroductionEye-tracking technology provides a reliable and cost-effective approach to characterize mental representation according to specific patterns. Mental rotation tasks, referring to the mental representation and transformation of visual information, have been widely used to examine visuospatial ability. In these tasks, participants visually perceive three-dimensional (3D) objects and mentally rotate them until they identify whether the paired objects are identical or mirrored. In most studies, 3D objects are presented using two-dimensional (2D) images on a computer screen. Currently, visual neuroscience tends to investigate visual behavior responding to naturalistic stimuli rather than image stimuli. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology used to provide naturalistic stimuli, allowing the investigation of behavioral features in an immersive environment similar to the real world. However, mental rotation tasks using 3D objects in immersive VR have been rarely reported.MethodsHere, we designed a VR mental rotation task using 3D stimuli presented in a head-mounted display (HMD). An eye tracker incorporated into the HMD was used to examine eye movement characteristics during the task synchronically. The stimuli were virtual paired objects oriented at specific angular disparities (0, 60, 120, and 180°). We recruited thirty-three participants who were required to determine whether the paired 3D objects were identical or mirrored.ResultsBehavioral results demonstrated that the response times when comparing mirrored objects were longer than identical objects. Eye-movement results showed that the percent fixation time, the number of within-object fixations, and the number of saccades for the mirrored objects were significantly lower than that for the identical objects, providing further explanations for the behavioral results.DiscussionIn the present work, we examined behavioral and eye movement characteristics during a VR mental rotation task using 3D stimuli. Significant differences were observed in response times and eye movement metrics between identical and mirrored objects. The eye movement data provided further explanation for the behavioral results in the VR mental rotation task.

Curcumin is a natural polyphenol that is widely used in food and medicine. Here, we investigated the effects of curcumin on the antioxidant accumulation and enzymatic browning of soybean sprouts after storage at 4 °C for 2 weeks. Curcumin drastically reduced the water loss, browning index, and peroxide accumulation, increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase, decreased the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and polyphenol oxidase, elevated the contents of ascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, nonprotein thiol, phenolics and isoflavones, and enhanced the total antioxidant capacity of soybean sprouts during storage. These curcumin-induced changes were partly but dramatically attenuated by inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX). Curcumin induced NOX activity and H2O2 burst in soybean sprouts during the first 24 h after treatment. The curcumin-induced antioxidants and -inhibited enzymatic browning are closely associated with NOX-dependent H2O2 signaling. The findings provide a new method for improving soybean sprout quality during storage.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought massive shifts in human activities through a global blockade, directly affecting wildlife survival. However, the indirect impacts of changes in human activities are often easily overlooked. We conducted surveys of Reeves’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) and its sympatric species by camera traps in forest-type nature reserves in three different scenarios: pre-lockdown, lockdown and post-lockdown. An increase in livestock activities observed during the lockdown and post-lockdown period in our study area provided us an opportunity to investigate the indirect impact of the lockdown on wildlife. The pre-lockdown period was used as a baseline to compare any changes in trends of relative abundance index, activity patterns and temporal spacing of targeted species and livestock. During the lockdown period, the relative abundance index of livestock increased by 50% and there was an increase in daytime activity. Reeves's Pheasant showed avoidance responses to almost all sympatric species and livestock in three different periods, and the livestock avoidance level of Reeves's Pheasant during the lockdown period was significantly and positively correlated with the relative abundance index of livestock. Species-specific changes in activity patterns of study species were observed, with reduced daytime activities of Hog Badger and Raccoon Dog during and after the confinement periods. This study highlights the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the responses of wildlife by considering the changes in their temporal and spatial use before, during and after lockdown. The knowledge gained on wildlife during reduced human mobility because of the pandemic aids in understanding the effect of human disturbances and developing future conservation strategies in the shared space, to manage both wildlife and livestock.

BackgroundExploring the brain reorganization patterns associated with language recovery would promote the treatment of global aphasia. While functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) has been widely used in the study of speech and language impairment, its application in the field of global aphasia is still limited.AimsWe aimed to identify cortical activation patterns of patients with global aphasia during naming and repetition tasks.Methods and proceduresWe recruited patients with post-stroke aphasia from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at Huashan Hospital. These individuals were diagnosed with global aphasia without cognitive impairments, as assessed by speech-language pathology evaluations. Age- and sex-matched healthy controls were recruited from the greater Shanghai area. During fNIRS measurement, patients and healthy controls completed the picture-naming and phrase repetition task. Cortical activation patterns on each of these language tasks were then compared between groups.Outcomes and resultsA total of nine patients with global aphasia and 14 healthy controls were included in this study. Compared with the healthy subjects, patients with global aphasia showed increased activation in the left Broca's area, middle temporal gyrus (MTG), superior temporal gyrus (STG), and pre-motor and supplementary motor cortex (SMA) (p < 0.05) in the picture-naming task. Furthermore, the latency of the oxyhemoglobin (HbO) concentration in the left supramarginal gyrus (SMG) region had a strong negative correlation with their score of the naming task (p < 0.01). In the phrase repetition task, decreased activation was detected in the left SMA and SMG (p < 0.05) of patients relative to controls.ConclusionThe left SMG plays a critical role in the language function of patients with global aphasia, especially in their abilities to name and repeat. fNIRS is a promising approach to revealing the changes in brain activities in patients with aphasia, and we believe it will contribute to a deeper understanding of the neurological mechanisms and the establishment of a novel treatment approach for global aphasia.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) modulation over the cerebellum, primary motor cortex, and supplementary motor cortex individually can improve the balance function of patients with stroke. However, whether their combination could have a better balance modulation effect is uncertain. Therefore, we hypothesized that performing TMS over a combination of these targets can regulate the balance function of patients with stroke. We compared the effects of one-session TMS on eye-open and eye-closed balance conditions in patients with stroke, using different target pairs of unilateral cerebellar (CB-single), cerebellar–primary motor cortex (CB-M1), and cerebellar–supplementary motor area (CB-SMA) targets. A total of 31 patients with stroke were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups to receive single sessions of intermittent theta burst stimulation each. Functional near-infrared spectrum data on resting and standing task states (eye-open and eye-closed) and center of pressure parameters (eye-open and eye-closed) were collected before and after the intervention. Compared with the results in the CB-single group, five intergroup differences in the changes in the center of pressure parameters in the CB-M1 group and two significant differences in the CB-SMA group were observed after one session of intermittent theta burst stimulation. In the CB-SMA group, 12 out of the 14 parameters improved significantly in the EC condition after the intervention. Meanwhile, the functional near-infrared spectrum results showed that the CB-SMA group exhibited a significant inhibitory pattern in the resting-state functional connectivity, which was not observed in the other two groups. In conclusion, we believe that paired targeting of the CB-SMA can reshape the brain network and improve the balance function of patients with stroke.

PurposeThis study aimed to develop and validate a scoring system based on a nomogram of common clinical metrics to discriminate between active pulmonary tuberculosis (APTB) and inactive pulmonary tuberculosis (IPTB).Patients and methodsA total of 1096 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) admitted to Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 were included in this study. Of these patients with PTB, 744 were included in the training cohort (70%; 458 patients with APTB, and 286 patients with IPTB), and 352 were included in the validation cohort (30%; 220 patients with APTB, and 132 patients with IPTB). Data from 744 patients from the training cohort were used to establish the diagnostic model. Routine blood examination indices and biochemical indicators were collected to construct a diagnostic model using the nomogram, which was then transformed into a scoring system. Furthermore, data from 352 patients from the validation cohort were used to validate the scoring system.ResultsSix variables were selected to construct the prediction model. In the scoring system, the mean corpuscular volume, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, albumin level, adenosine deaminase level, monocyte-to-high-density lipoprotein ratio, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein-to-lymphocyte ratio were 6, 4, 7, 5, 5, and 10, respectively. When the cut-off value was 15.5, the scoring system for recognizing APTB and IPTB exhibited excellent diagnostic performance. The area under the curve, specificity, and sensitivity of the training cohort were 0.919, 84.06%, and 86.36%, respectively, whereas those of the validation cohort were 0.900, 82.73, and 86.36%, respectively.ConclusionThis study successfully constructed a scoring system for distinguishing APTB from IPTB that performed well.

Antioxidant activities of five essential oils (cinnamon, thyme, clove, lavender and peppermint oils) and their major components (eugenol, thymol, linalool, and menthol) were evaluated on scavenging DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) free radicals, inhibiting polyunsaturated fatty acid oxidation in fish oil emulsion (FOE), and reducing oxidative stress in human red blood cells (RBC). The essential oils from cinnamon, thyme, clove and their main components, eugenol and thymol, exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in the FOE and RBC systems. It was found that the antioxidant activity of essential oils was positively correlated to the content of eugenol and thymol, while lavender and peppermint oils and their main components, linalool and menthol, had very low antioxidant activity. Compared with scavenging DPPH free radical activity, the antioxidant activity in FOE and RBC systems could better reflect the actual antioxidant potential of essential oil in preventing lipid oxidation and reducing oxidative stress in biological system.

BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of death in the world, characterized by high morbidity, poor prognosis and high mortality. Histone modifications regulate intracellular gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, and disturbances in the regulatory pattern of histone modifications at individual locus or across the genome can lead to tumorigenesis of HCC. In this study, we constructed a prognosis-related histone phosphorylation regulated (HPR) genes signature and elucidated whether HPR genes can predict overall survival in HCC patients.MethodsDifferentially expressed genes were screened using TCGA, ICGC and GEO databases, and a new risk signature was constructed by univariate Cox regression and Lasso regression analysis. Predictive nomograms were established by multivariate Cox regression of risk scores and clinical parameters, calibration curve and decision curve analysis were used to evaluate the models. The ssGSEA methods were used to determine the effect of risk scores on the tumor immune microenvironment. Data for HCC single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) have been downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to understand the role of HPR genes in tumorigenesis.ResultsOur analyses of nine HPR genes provided prognostic insights. Overall survival in the low-risk and high-risk groups was statistically higher, respectively (P

Understanding the impact of human disturbance on the breeding habitat selection of endangered species is critical to improving their conservation. Blue-crowned Laughingthrush Pterorhinus courtoisi (Ménégaux, 1923) syn. Garrulax courtoisi (Passeriformes: Leiotrichidae) is an endangered species in China. To explore the nesting habitat selection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush and its response to human disturbance during the breeding period, we conducted a field survey at its nesting sites in Wuyuan County and Dexing City, Jiangxi Province, from March to July 2021 and in June 2022. At the home range scale (200 m) the results of a principal component analysis (PCA) showed that this species had a clear preference for infrastructure construction, grassland, farmland and bare land. At the microhabitat scale (12.26 m), we compared the ecological parameters of a nest plot and control plot using a Kruskal–Wallis H test and found that there were significant differences in the vegetation coverage, crown breadth, shrub coverage, herb maximum height, herb average height and herb species number of the nesting area between the two groups. Ensemble species distribution models showed that the suitable habitat of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush covered an area of 108.67 km2. Distance to waterways, deciduous broadleaved forests and roads were the main factors impacting the habitat distribution of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush. Our study suggests that (1) it is highly important to improve the protection of breeding sites and suitable living areas close to the settlements and preserve a certain nesting habitat selection space for the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush during the breeding period; and (2) it is necessary to continue to monitor the potential suitable breeding habitat. This study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Blue-crowned Laughingthrush by local forestry bureaus and conservation departments in the future.

Abstract Background Epidemiological and clinical features of patients with corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were well delineated. However, no researches described the patients complicated with pleural effusion (PE). In the present study, we aimed to clinically characterize the COVID-19 patients complicated with PE and to create a predictive model on the basis of PE and other clinical features to identify COVID-19 patients who may progress to critical condition. Methods This retrospective study examined 476 COVID-19 inpatients, involving 153 patients with PE and 323 without PE. The data on patients’ past history, clinical features, physical checkup findings, laboratory results and chest computed tomography (CT) findings were collected and analyzed. LASSO regression analysis was employed to identify risk factors associated with the severity of COVID-19. Results Laboratory findings showed that patients with PE had higher levels of white blood cells, neutrophils, lactic dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein and D-dimer, and lower levels of lymphocytes, platelets, hemoglobin, partial pressure of oxygen and oxygen saturation. Meanwhile, patients with PE had higher incidence of severe or critical illness and mortality rate, and longer hospital stay time compared to their counterparts without pleural effusion. Moreover, LASSO regression analysis exhibited that pleural effusion, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer and total bilirubin (TBIL) might be risk factors for critical COVID-19. Conclusions Pleural effusion could serve as an indicator for severe inflammation and poor clinical outcomes, and might be a complementary risk factor for critical type of COVID-19.

Abstract Zn metals have gained the immense attention of researchers for their wide employment as the anode of high‐performance aqueous batteries. Nonetheless, the Zn anodes suffer from uncontrollable dendrite growth and parasitic side reactions, which substantially shorten the battery lifespan. This study proposes an interfacial assembly of a metal‐polyphenol coordination coating on Zn anodes to regulate Zn2+ deposition behavior. Bismush‐coordinated polyphenolic ligands (i.e., tannic acid, TA) create a functional interface that could promote Zn's uniform nucleation and plating/striping kinetics. Moreover, the artificial coating acts as a physical barrier to inhibit surface corrosion. As a consequence, the TA‐Bi‐modified Zn anodes display a small voltage hysteresis of ~38 mV at 1 mA cm−2 over 2600 h and an ultra‐long lifespan for 3100 h (~4.3 months) even at a high‐current density of 10 mA cm−2. When assembled with a vanadium‐based cathode, the full Zn‐ion batteries achieve improved electrochemical performance.

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may cause pathogenic changes in the placentas during human pregnancy, such as decreased placental weight, intraplacental hematoma, ischemic hypoxic change, placental infarction, and decidual vasculopathy, which contribute to high maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Sex-specific adaptations of the fetus are associated with SLE pregnancies. The present study aimed to determine the transcriptomic profiles of female and male placentas from women with SLE.MethodsRNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed to identify differentially expressed protein-coding genes (DEGs) in placentas from women with SLE vs. normal term (NT) pregnancies with female and male fetuses (n = 3-5/sex/group). Real-time-quantitative PCR was performed (n = 4 /sex/group) to validate the RNA-seq results. Bioinformatics functional analysis was performed to predict the biological functions and pathways of SLE-dysregulated protein-coding genes.ResultsCompared with NT-female (NT-F) placentas, 119 DEGs were identified in SLE-female (SLE-F) placentas. Among these 119 DEGs, five and zero are located on X- and Y-chromosomes, respectively, and four are located on the mitochondrial genome. Compared with NT-male (NT-M) placentas, 458 DEGs were identified in SLE-male (SLE-M) placentas, among which 16 are located on the X-chromosome and zero on the Y-chromosome and mitochondrial genome. Twenty-four DEGs were commonly dysregulated in SLE-F and -M placentas. Functional analysis showed that SLE-dysregulated protein-coding genes were associated with diverse biological functions and pathways, including angiogenesis, cellular response to growth factor stimulus, heparin-binding, HIF (hypoxia-inducible factor)-1 signaling pathway, and Interleukin-17 (IL-17) signaling pathway in both SLE-F and -M placentas. Biological regulations were differentially enriched between SLE-F and -M placentas. Regulation of blood circulation, response to glucocorticoid, and rhythmic process were all enriched in SLE-F, but not SLE-M placentas. In contrast, tumor necrosis factor production, Th17 cell differentiation, and MDA (melanoma differentiation-associated gene)-5 signaling pathway were enriched in SLE-M but not SLE-F placentas.ConclusionThis report investigated the protein-coding gene profiles of placenta tissues from SLE patients using RNA-seq. The results suggest that the SLE-dysregulated protein-coding genes in placentas may contribute to the pathophysiological progress of SLE pregnancies in a fetal sex-specific manner, leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Abstract Background Numerous literatures have demonstrated that circular RNAs (circRNAs) are involved in multiple types of tumors. However, the effects of circRNAs in melanoma are not very clear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of circ-FOXM1 in melanoma. Methods Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was conducted to determine the expression of circ-FOXM1, microRNA-143-3p (miR-143-3p), and Flotillin 2 (FLOT2) mRNA. 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometry analysis, and transwell assay were employed to test cell proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion, respectively. The glucose consumption and lactate production were examined by specific kits. Western blot assay was utilized for the detection of hexokinase2 (HK2), pyruvate kinase isozyme type M2 (PKM2), and FLOT2. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were employed to verify the targeting association between miR-143-3p and circ-FOXM1 or FLOT2. A murine xenograft model was established to explore the effect of circ-FOXM1 in vivo. Results Circ-FOXM1 was elevated and miR-143-3p was reduced in melanoma tissues and cells. Circ-FOXM1 deficiency impeded cell proliferation, invasion, and glycolysis and facilitated cell apoptosis in melanoma in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Circ-FOXM1 acted as a sponge of miR-143-3p and the impacts of circ-FOXM1 silencing on cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and glycolysis were overturned by miR-143-3p deletion. Moreover, FLOT2 was a target gene of miR-143-3p and FLOT2 overexpression rescued the inhibitory effect of miR-143-3p on melanoma progression. Conclusion Circ-FOXM1 facilitated the development of melanoma by upregulating FLOT2 through miR-143-3p.

Abstract Motivated by the application of viral marketing, the topic-aware influence maximization (TIM) problem has been proposed to identify the most influential users under given topics. In particular, it aims to find k seeds (users) in social network G, such that the seeds can maximize the influence on users under the specific query topics and diffusion model such as independent cascade (IC) or linear threshold (LT). This problem has been proved to be NP-hard, and most of the proposed techniques suffer from the efficiency issue due to the lack of generalization. Even worse, the design of these algorithms requires significant specialized knowledge which is hard to be understood and implemented. To overcome these issues, this paper aims to learn a generalized heuristic framework to solve TIM problems by meta-learning. To this end, we first propose two topic-aware social influence propagation models based on IC and LT model, respectively, which is conducive to better advertising injections. We then encode the feature of each node by a vector and introduce a model, called deep influence evaluation model , to evaluate the user influence under different circumstances. Based on this model, we can construct the solution according to the influence evaluations efficiently, rather than spending a high cost to compute the exact influence by considering the complex graph structure. We conducted experiments on generated graph instances and real-world social networks. The results show the superiority in performance and comparable quality of our framework.

The 4D trajectory is a multi-dimensional time series with plentiful spatial-temporal features and has a high degree of complexity and uncertainty. Aiming at these features of aircraft flight trajectory and the problem that it is difficult for existing trajectory prediction methods to extract spatial-temporal features from the trajectory data at the same time, we propose a novel 4D trajectory prediction hybrid architecture based on deep learning, which combined Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM). An 1D convolution is used to extract the spatial dimension feature of the trajectory, and LSTM is used to mine the temporal dimension feature of the trajectory. Hence the high-precision prediction of the 4D trajectory is realized based on the sufficient fusion of the above features. We use real Automatic Dependent Surveillance -Broadcast (ADS-B) historical trajectory data for experiments and compare the proposed method with a single LSTM model and BP model on the same data set. The experimental results show that the trajectory prediction accuracy of the CNN-LSTM hybrid model is superior to a single model. The prediction error is reduced by an average of 21.62% compared to the LSTM model and by an average of 52.45% compared to the BP model. It provides a certain reference for the trajectory prediction research and Air Traffic Management decision-making.

Wings are the main source of lift for Underwater Gliders (UGs) and play a decisive role in their motion performance. The wings of UGs are generally rectangular and symmetrical airfoils. In this study, a mini-UG with flexible camber trailing-edge wings was proposed and developed to investigate the influence of the trailing edge of the wings on the motion performance of UGs. Flexible deformation of the trailing edge was realized using a steer-by-wire actuator. The test results showed that the trailing edge of the wing could realize maximum upward/downward sloping angles of +16°/−16°. By combining computational fluid dynamics simulations and tank experiments, this study obtained the glide efficiency (in lift-drag ratio) and stable margins of a mini-UG with variable camber trailing-edge wings. The results showed that the angles of attack corresponding to the minimum lift-to-drag ratio were all negative in cases of downward sloping and positive in cases of upward sloping. Moreover, the suitable camber of the trailing edge, that is, downward-sloping trailing edge on descending glides and upward-sloping trailing edge on ascending glides, can not only greatly improve glide efficiency but also benefit flight stability. Tank experiments showed that the lift-to-drag ratio of the mini-UG with appropriate variable camber trailing-edge wings can be increased by at least 25% compared to those with a symmetrical airfoil.

Ubiquitin-specific protease 25 (USP25) plays an important role in inflammation and immunity. However, the role of USP25 in acute pancreatitis (AP) is still unclear. To evaluate the role of USP25 in AP, we conducted research on clinical AP patients, USP25wild-type(WT)/USP25 knockout (USP25−/−) mice, and pancreatic acinar cells. Our results showed that serum USP25 concentration was higher in AP patients than in healthy controls and was positively correlated with disease severity. AP patients’ serum USP25 levels after treatment were significantly lower than that at the onset of AP. Moreover, USP25 expression was upregulated in cerulein-induced AP in mice, while USP25 deficiency attenuates AP and AP-related multiple organ injury. In vivo and in vitro studies showed that USP25 exacerbates AP by promoting the release of pro-inflammatory factors and destroying tight junctions of the pancreas. We showed that USP25 aggravates AP and AP-related multiple organ injury by activating the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Targeting the action of USP25 may present a potential therapeutic option for treating AP.

Classified as a class B infectious disease by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), bovine viral diarrhea/mucosal disease is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Sporadic endemics of BVDV often lead to huge economic losses to the dairy and beef industries. To shed light on the prevention and control of BVDV, we developed two novel subunit vaccines by expressing bovine viral diarrhea virus E2 fusion recombinant proteins (E2Fc and E2Ft) through suspended HEK293 cells. We also evaluated the immune effects of the vaccines. The results showed that both subunit vaccines induced an intense mucosal immune response in calves. Mechanistically, E2Fc bonded to the Fc γ receptor (FcγRI) on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and promoted IgA secretion, leading to a stronger T-cell immune response (Th1 type). The neutralizing antibody titer stimulated by the mucosal-immunized E2Fc subunit vaccine reached 1:64, which was higher than that of the E2Ft subunit vaccine and that of the intramuscular inactivated vaccine. The two novel subunit vaccines for mucosal immunity developed in this study, E2Fc and E2Ft, can be further used as new strategies to control BVDV by enhancing cellular and humoral immunity.

Abstract Zn metal holds grand promise as the anodes of aqueous batteries for grid‐scale energy storage. However, the rampant zinc dendrite growth and severe surface side reactions significantly impede the commercial implementation. Herein, a universal Zn‐metal oxide Ohmic contact interface model is demonstrated for effectively improving Zn plating/stripping reversibility. The high work function difference between Zn and metal oxides enables the building of an interfacial anti‐blocking layer for dendrite‐free Zn deposition. Moreover, the metal oxide layer can function as a physical barrier to suppress the pernicious side reactions. Consequently, the proof‐of‐concept CeO2‐modified Zn anode delivers ultrastable durability of over 1300 h at 0.5–5 mA cm−2 and improved Coulombic efficiency, the feasibility of which is also evidenced in MoS2//Zn full cells. This study enriches the fundamental comprehension of Ohmic contact interfaces on the Zn deposition, which may shed light on the development of other metal battery anodes.

Half-squat parachuting landing is a kind of activity with high impact force. Injuries on lower-extremity joints are common in half-squat parachuting landing and would be increased with a backpack. An ankle brace was used to prevent ankle injuries in landing. However, few quantitative studies reported about the protection of an ankle brace for lower-extremity joints in half-squat parachuting landing with a backpack. This study focused on evaluating the protective effects of an ankle brace in half-squat parachuting landing with a backpack. Seven male participants landed from 120 cm with a backpack and an ankle brace. Each participant performed three landing trials on every experimental condition. Kinetics and kinematics of the hip, knee, and ankle were analyzed. It was found that the ankle brace did not significantly affect the ground reaction force with backpack but increased the ground reaction force from 14.7 ± 2.0 bodyweight to 16.2 ± 1.9 bodyweight (p = 0.017) without the backpack. The ankle brace significantly (p < 0.05) decreased the angular displacement, angular velocity, and angular acceleration of the ankle both without and with the backpack. In conclusion, the ankle brace could restrict ankle motion and significantly increase ground reaction force without the backpack. However, the ankle brace did not significantly influence ground reaction force and still restricted ankle motion with the backpack. Therefore, the ankle brace was more effective in half-squat parachuting landing with the backpack than no-backpack landing.

Background: To reduce the high incidence and mortality of gastric cancer (GC), we aimed to develop deep learning-based models to assist in predicting the diagnosis and overall survival (OS) of GC patients using pathological images. Methods: 2333 hematoxylin and eosin-stained pathological pictures of 1037 GC patients were collected from two cohorts to develop our algorithms, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (RHWU) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Additionally, we gained 175 digital pictures of 91 GC patients from National Human Genetic Resources Sharing Service Platform (NHGRP), served as the independent external validation set. Two models were developed using artificial intelligence (AI), one named GastroMIL for diagnosing GC, and the other named MIL-GC for predicting outcome of GC. Findings: The discriminatory power of GastroMIL achieved accuracy 0.920 in the external validation set, superior to that of the junior pathologist and comparable to that of expert pathologists. In the prognostic model, C-indices for survival prediction of internal and external validation sets were 0.671 and 0.657, respectively. Moreover, the risk score output by MIL-GC in the external validation set was proved to be a strong predictor of OS both in the univariate (HR = 2.414, P

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent fatal malignancy, and it has a poor prognosis. Apolipoprotein 1 (APOA-1), the main protein component of high-density lipoproteins, is involved in numerous biological processes. Thus, this study was performed to detect the clinical significance of APOA-1 mRNA, APOA-1 expression, and APOA-1DNA methylation in patients with HCC.Methods: Data mining was performed using clinical and survival data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Oncomine databases. The serum concentration of APOA-1 was measured in 316 patients with HCC and 100 healthy individuals at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, and the intact clinical information was reviewed and determined using univariate and multivariate Cox hazard models.Results: Bioinformatic analysis revealed that APOA-1 mRNA was present at lower levels in the serum of patients with HCC than in that of healthy individuals, and there was a strong negative correlation between levels of APOA-1 mRNA and APOA-1 DNA methylation. High expression of APOA-1 transcription correlated with better overall survival (p = 0.003), and APOA-1 hypermethylation correlated with progress-free survival (p = 0.045) in HCC sufferers. Next, the clinical data analysis demonstrated that APOA-1 protein levels in the serum were significantly lower in patients with HCC than in healthy controls. Furthermore, the expression of APOA-1 was significantly associated with some significant clinical indexes, and elevated APOA-1 expression was significantly associated with favorable (OS; HR:1.693, 95% CI: 1.194–2.401, p = 0.003) and better progression-free survival (PFS; HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.194–2.401, p = 0.045). Finally, enrichment analysis suggested that co-expressed genes of APOA-1 were involved in lipoprotein metabolism and FOXA2/3 transcription factor networks.Conclusion: APOA-1 mRNA expression is negatively regulated by DNA methylation in HCC. Low expression of APOA-1 might be a potential risk biomarker to predict survival in patients with HCC.

AimThe Gustave Roussy Immune Score (GRIm-Score) was originally designed to select cancer patients for immunotherapy, and later was reported to be a novel prognostic scoring system in lung cancer and esophageal cancer. This study was aimed to determine the prognostic role and predictive performance of GRIm-Score in colorectal cancer (CRC) CRC patients.MethodsWe conducted a single-institution study of 1,579 adult CRC patients receiving surgical removal, and those patients were divided into low GRIm-Score group (scores 0, 1) and high GRIm-Score group (scores 2, 3). Propensity score matching (PSM) was executed to balance the potential confounding factors between the two groups. Survival and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (Td-ROC) analyses were applied to depict the prognostic role and predictive significance of GRIm-Score in CRC patients.ResultsThere were 200 cases CRC patients in high GRIm-Score group and 1,379 cases in low GRIm-Score group. CRC patients with high GRIm-Score correspond with higher level of CEA, CA125, and inflammatory indexes, such as NLR, PLR, SII, PNI, and ALRI. Correlation analysis exhibited that GRIm-Score correlated well with the established inflammatory indexes. Survival analysis revealed that CRC patients in high GRIm-Score group showed worse overall survival (OS, P

PurposeGamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) family genes play crucial roles in the formation and progression of several solid tumors. However, the expression patterns and the prognostic significance of GGT members in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unknown. This study was designed to determine the expression profiles of GGT family members in HCC and validate the prognostic value of serum GGT protein in patients with HCC.MethodWe comprehensively searched public resources based on the LIHC dataset to determine the expression patterns, prognostic significance, DNA methylation status, immune infiltration, and biological pathways of GGT family genes in HCC. Subsequently, we validated the prognostic value of serum GGT protein in 85 patients with early-stage HCC subjected to curative hepatectomy from the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University.ResultsExcept for GGT1, other GGT family members (GGT5, GGT6, and GGT7) were found to be differentially expressed in primary HCC samples (N = 371) and normal control tissues (N = 50). Furthermore, a positive relationship was not only observed between GGT1 and GGT5 (Spearman coefficient: 0.24, P = 5.143 × 10−6) but also between GGT5 and GGT6 (Spearman coefficient: 0.38, P = 1.24 × 10−13). The expression of GGT1, GGT5, and GGT7 was correlated with overall survival (OS), and GGT7 was associated with disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with HCC. Negative associations between DNA methylation and expression of mRNA were observed for GGT1 (Spearman coefficient: −0.38, P = 6.24e-14), GGT6 (Spearman coefficient: −0.29, P = 1.23e-8), and GGT7 (Spearman coefficient: −0.34, P=6.7e-11). GGT family genes were well correlated with the infiltration levels of immune cells in HCC, especially CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. Finally, when validated with clinical data from the Renmin cohort, a high expression of serum GGT protein was identified as a strong prognostic element of unfavorable OS (HR = 3.114, P = 0.025), but not of DFS (HR = 1.198, P = 0.05) in patients with HCC subjected to curative hepatectomy.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive analysis of the expression patterns and clinical value of GGT family genes in patients with HCC. Our study laid the foundation for the clinical application of the GGT protein in the survival assessment of patients with HCC.

Objective: This study examined the activation difference of muscles innervated by cervical cord 5-6 (C5-C6) and cervical cord 8- thoracic cord 1 (C8-T1) in upper limb flexion synergy after stroke.Methods: Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals were collected during elbow flexion in stroke patients and healthy controls. The study compared normalized activation of two pairs of muscles that could cause similar joint movement but which dominated different spinal cord segments (clavicular part of the pectoralis major, PC vs. Sternocostal part of the pectoralis major, PS; Flexor carpi radialis, FCR vs. Flexor carpi ulnaris, FCU). In each muscle pair, one muscle was innervated by the same spinal cord segment (C5-C6), dominating the elbow flexion and the other was not. The comparison of the activation of the same muscle between patients and healthy controls was undertaken after standardization based on the activation of the biceps brachii in elbow flexion.Results: There was no difference between the PC and PS's normalized activation in healthy controls while the PC's normalized activation was higher than PS in stroke patients during elbow flexion. Similarly, there was no significant difference in normalized activation between FCR and FCU in healthy controls, and the same is true for stroke patients. However, the standardized activation of both FCR and FCU in stroke patients was significantly lower than that in healthy controls.Conclusion: After stroke, the activation of the distal muscles of the upper limb decreased significantly regardless of the difference of spinal cord segments; while the activation of the proximal muscles innervated by the same spinal cord segment (C5-C6) dominating the elbow flexion showed higher activation during flexion synergy. The difference in muscle activation based on spinal cord segments may be the reason for the stereotyped joint movement of upper limb flexion synergy.

PurposeWe examined the diagnostic significance, prognostic value, and potential function of AMAP1 in gastric cancer (GC).MethodsComprehensive bioinformatic analysis was conducted to investigate differential expression of AMAP1 mRNA and protein in GC. Meta-analyses were utilized to determine the overall prognostic correlation of AMAP1 mRNA in patients with GC. A panel of vitro assays was applied to assess target microRNA and AMAP1 protein in GC cell lines and tissues, respectively.ResultsAMAP1 mRNA and protein levels were upregulated in GC specimens, compared to matched normal tissues. AMAP1 mRNA exhibited promising results regarding differential diagnosis of GC and normal tissue. Meta-analysis based on the TCGA and GEO databases revealed that high AMAP1 mRNA abundance was associated with poor overall survival (HR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.06–1.89) and was correlated with reduced progression-free survival (HR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.51–2.36) in GC patients. Moreover, AMAP1 was negatively correlated with miR-192-3p (r = −0.3843; P < 0.0001). A dual-luciferase assay revealed that miR-192-3p targeted AMAP1. Levels of miR-192-3p were significantly higher in GC tissues and GC cells than in normal tissues and cells. Moreover, AMAP1 silencing resulted in reduced GC proliferation, migration, and invasion.ConclusionAMAP1 is a novel oncogene in GC and is negatively correlated with by miR-192-3p. AMAP1 may act as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of GC.

Uncertainty theory is a branch of mathematics for modeling indeterminacy, especially belief degrees. This paper considers an application of uncertainty theory in team orienteering problem with time windows. In the problem, travel time is uncertain with known uncertainty distribution, and the impact of uncertainties on visit time and total profit cannot be ignored. Based on the uncertainty theory, a model of uncertain team orienteering problem with time windows (UTOPTW) is established. Since the UTOPTW cannot be solved to optimality within polynomial time, an improved iterated search algorithm is designed considering uncertainties in the insertion step. Finally, several numerical instances are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm.

Human disturbance has a strong impact on the movement of wild animals. However, it remains unclear how the movement patterns of the Reeves’s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) respond to human disturbance in human-dominated landscapes. We tracked the movement of 40 adult individual Reeves’s Pheasants during the breeding season, and used the dynamic Brownian bridge motion model and kernel density estimation to analyze the diurnal movement patterns of Reeves’s Pheasants and their response to human presence. We analyzed the paths of Reeves’s Pheasants based on a partial least squares path model, considering habitat conditions, body characteristics, and reproductive behaviors. We found that males had two clear diurnal movement peaks, whereas reproductive and non-reproductive females did not show such movement peaks. Males shifted their movement peaks to earlier times in the day to avoid the presence peaks of humans. The correlation between human-modified habitat and the movement intensity of Reeves’s Pheasant differed between sexes. For males, the distance to forest paths had a positive correlation with their movement intensity through affecting body conditions. For females, the distance to forest paths and farmland had a negative correlation with their movement intensity through affecting habitat conditions and reproductive behaviors. Our study provides a scientific basis for the protection of the Reeves’s Pheasant and other related terrestrial forest-dwelling birds.

RIPK2 is a 62 kDa protein and a member of the receptor interacting protein kinases (RIPK) family. It was previously demonstrated that RIPK2 might play a role in promoting malignant tumor progression; however, the precise function of RIPK2 in the onset and progression of gastric cancer (GC) remains unclear. In the current study, we investigated the role of RIPK2 in GC. First, we explored the expression levels of RIPK2 in multiple cancers, including GC, using a bioinformatics approach. We constructed the RIPK2-associated protein-protein interaction network using the search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins for gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis. Next, we compared the RIPK2 expression levels between GC cells and normal gastric mucosal epithelial cell (GES-1) using reverse transcription quantitative PCR analysis. We downregulated the expression of RIPK2 in GC cells to determine the effects of RIPK2 on cell growth, migration, and apoptosis. Finally, we used western blotting to investigate the RIPK2 downstream signaling pathway involved in the regulation of GC progression. Our results showed that RIPK2 was overexpressed in various tumor tissues, including GC, compared to non-cancer tissues. Moreover, RIPK2 expression was significantly upregulated in all four GC cell lines (MGC-803,SGC-7901, HGC-27 and AGS) comparing the GES-1 cells. Silencing of RIPK2 suppressed GC cell growth by inhibiting migration, and inducing apoptosis through the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In summary, we demonstrate that RIPK2 plays an important role in modulating GC cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, RIPK2 functions as a potential oncogene. We believe that RIPK2 can be used as a candidate biomarker, as well as a diagnostic tool, and the therapeutic target for GC.