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Abstract The poor corrosion resistance of magnesium limits its clinical applications. Accordingly, in the present study, carbon ions were incorporated into a AZ31b magnesium alloy surface via carbon plasma immersion ion-implantation to improve its corrosion resistance and biocompatibility. The surface morphology and properties of the modified alloy were evaluated by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle measurement, Raman scattering, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Furthermore, compositional depth profiles were obtained by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, revealing a Gaussian-like distribution of carbon concentration. Electrochemical and hydrogen-evolution analysis demonstrated the successfully improved corrosion resistance of the AZ31b Mg alloy, while its biocompatibility was demonstrated by MTT and cell-adherence assays.

Abstract Background Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Autotransplantation has emerged as a potential surgical intervention in select cases, with the aim of achieving curative outcomes. This case report describes a novel approach combining lung autotransplantation with postoperative chemotherapy and immunotherapy, delineating the patient's journey over a period of three years. Case presentation We report on a 37-year-old patient with stage IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent lung autotransplantation. Despite the complexity of the procedure, the patient had a favorable postoperative course. Adjuvant therapy included a PD-1 inhibitor and a standard chemotherapy regimen. The patient’s follow-up involved regular clinical assessment, imaging, and functional status evaluation, demonstrating a remarkable disease-free survival at the three-year mark postoperatively. Conclusion This case highlights the potential for lung autotransplantation coupled with immunotherapy and chemotherapy to yield significant long-term survival benefits in patients with NSCLC. The favorable outcome suggests that this integrative treatment strategy warrants further investigation and may offer hope to patients with similarly advanced lung cancer.

Abstract Aims Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, a therapy for end‐stage heart failure, is associated with platelet (PLT) activation. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic impact of PLT count in patients with LVAD implantation. Methods and Results Data from the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) registry were investigated, and patients were divided into three groups according to tertiles. The dynamic change of PLT counts and its associations with long‐term outcomes were analysed. The primary outcome was long‐term mortality. A total of 19 517 patients who received the first continuous‐flow LVAD were identified from the INTERMACS registry. The PLT count underwent a dynamic change towards normalization after LVAD implantation. Compared with intermediate, both high (hazard ratio [HR], 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01 to 1.17, P = 0.033) and low (HR, 1.18, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.27, P

Tissue engineering technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, offering opportunities to construct biologically active tissues or organ substitutes to repair or even enhance the functions of diseased tissues and organs. Tissue-engineered scaffolds rebuild the extracellular microenvironment by mimicking the extracellular matrix. Fibrin-based scaffolds possess numerous advantages, including hemostasis, high biocompatibility, and good degradability. Fibrin scaffolds provide an initial matrix that facilitates cell migration, differentiation, proliferation, and adhesion, and also play a critical role in cell-matrix interactions. Fibrin scaffolds are now widely recognized as a key component in tissue engineering, where they can facilitate tissue and organ defect repair. This review introduces the properties of fibrin, including its composition, structure, and biology. In addition, the modification and cross-linking modes of fibrin are discussed, along with various forms commonly used in tissue engineering. We also describe the biofunctionalization of fibrin. This review provides a detailed overview of the use and applications of fibrin in skin, bone, and nervous tissues, and provides novel insights into future research directions for clinical treatment.

In the demand response process involving multi-agent participation, multiple parties’ interests are involved and response execution status supervision is required. Traditional centralized demand response systems lack trust attributes. At the same time, traditional centralized cloud management can no longer support massive terminal services, resulting in delays in demand response services. We build a distributed trusted demand response architecture based on blockchain, illustrating the information interaction process in the demand bidding process and container-based edge-side heterogeneous resource management. We also propose a demand bidding algorithm that takes into account both the day-ahead market and the intraday market, aiming to maximize the aggregator’s benefits. In addition, a virtual resource management algorithm to support demand response tasks is also proposed to optimize computing resource allocation and meet business latency requirements. Simulation results demonstrate that compared with only cloud computing or edge computing, the solution we proposed can reduce response delay by more than 39% for the sample system. Energy cost is saved by about 10.25% during container scheduling.

Differential privacy is an essential approach for privacy preservation in data queries. However, users face a significant challenge in selecting an appropriate privacy scheme, as they struggle to balance the utility of query results with the preservation of diverse individual privacy. Customizing a privacy scheme becomes even more complex in dealing with queries that involve multiple data attributes. When adversaries attempt to breach privacy firewalls by conducting multiple regular data queries with various attribute values, data owners must arduously discern unpredictable disclosure risks and construct suitable privacy schemes. In this paper, we propose a visual analysis approach for formulating privacy schemes of differential privacy. Our approach supports the identification and simulation of potential privacy attacks in querying statistical results of multi-dimensional databases. We also developed a prototype system, called DPKnob, which integrates multiple coordinated views. DPKnob not only allows users to interactively assess and explore privacy exposure risks by browsing high-risk attacks, but also facilitates an iterative process for formulating and optimizing privacy schemes based on differential privacy. This iterative process allows users to compare different schemes, refine their expectations of privacy and utility, and ultimately establish a well-balanced privacy scheme. The effectiveness of this study is verified by a user study and two case studies with real-world datasets.

Abstract The engineered TadA variants used in cytosine base editors (CBEs) present distinctive advantages, including a smaller size and fewer off-target effects compared to cytosine base editors that rely on natural deaminases. However, the current TadA variants demonstrate a preference for base editing in DNA with specific motif sequences and possess dual deaminase activity, acting on both cytosine and adenosine in adjacent positions, limiting their application scope. To address these issues, we employ TadA orthologs screening and multi sequence alignment (MSA)-guided protein engineering techniques to create a highly effective cytosine base editor (aTdCBE) without motif and adenosine deaminase activity limitations. Notably, the delivery of aTdCBE to a humanized mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) mice achieves robust exon 55 skipping and restoration of dystrophin expression. Our advancement in engineering TadA ortholog for cytosine editing enriches the base editing toolkits for gene-editing therapy and other potential applications.

Abstract Device-to-device (D2D) communications allow short-range communication devices to multiplex cellular-licensed spectrum to directly establish local connections for ultra-high number of terminal connections and greater system throughput. However, spectrum sharing also brings serious interference to the network. Therefore, a reliable and efficient resource allocation strategy is important to mitigate the interference and improve the system spectral efficiency. In this paper, we investigated spectrum access and power allocation in D2D communications underlay cellular networks based on deep reinforcement learning with the aim of finding a feasible resource allocation strategy to maximize data rate and system fairness. We proposed a value decomposition network-based resource allocation scheme for D2D communication networks. Our proposed scheme avoids frequent information exchanges among D2D users by centralized training, while allowing D2D users to make distributed joint resource allocation decisions. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme has stable convergence and good scalability, and can effectively improve the system capacity.

Shaped charge liner (SCL) has been extensively applied in oil recovery and defense industries. Achieving superior penetration capability through optimizing SCL structures presents a substantial challenge due to intricate rate-dependent processes involving detonation-driven liner collapse, high-speed jet stretching, and penetration. This study introduces an innovative optimization strategy for SCL structures that employs jet penetration efficiency as the primary objective function. The strategy combines experimentally validated finite element method with machine learning (FEM-ML). We propose a novel jet penetration efficiency index derived from enhanced cutoff velocity and shape characteristics of the jet via machine learning. This index effectively evaluates the jet penetration performance. Furthermore, a multi-model fusion based on a machine learning optimization method, called XGBOOST-MFO, is put forward to optimize SCL structure over a large input space. The strategy's feasibility is demonstrated through the optimization of copper SCL implemented via the FEM-ML strategy. Finally, this strategy is extended to optimize the structure of the recently emerging CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy conical liners and hemispherical copper liners. Therefore, the strategy can provide helpful guidance for the engineering design of SCL.

Abstract The simultaneous construction of multiple stereogenic elements in a single step is highly appealing and desirable in the field of asymmetric synthesis. Furthermore, the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral calix[n]arenes with high enantiopurity has long been a challenging endeavor. Herein, we report an enantioselective cobalt-catalyzed C–H activation/annulation for the efficient construction of inherently chiral calix[4]arenes bearing multiple C–N axially chiral element. By employing the benzamide tethered calix[4]arene as the substrate, the C–H annulation with alkynes can be successfully accomplished, leading to the generation of multiple stereogenic elements. A wide range of calix[4]arenes and alkynes are found to be well compatible, and exhibit good yields, high enantioselectivity and excellent diastereoselectivity. Notably, the gram-scale reaction, catalytic application, synthetic transformations, and chiral recognition further showcase the potential applications of this protocol.

Abstract Background The role of the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) as a prognostic factor in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) remains uncertain. Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the GNRI on mortality outcomes in critically ill patients with AKI. Methods For this retrospective study, we included 12,058 patients who were diagnosed with AKI based on ICD-9 codes from the eICU Collaborative Research Database. Based on the values of GNRI, nutrition-related risks were categorized into four groups: major risk (GNRI

Eriocheir sinensis, commonly known as the Chinese mitten crab, is widely distributed in China from the Liaohe River in the north to the Pearl River in the south and in the shallow waters of the estuary into the sea, among which the population in the Yangtze River system has the largest yield and the most delicious taste, and is favored by domestic consumers. It is an important breeding species in the Chinese fishing industry. Since artificial breeding began in the 1980s, the production of Chinese mitten crabs has increased, and this species has become one of the most economically important crabs in the world and the most economically important freshwater crab in China. From the perspective of aquaculture areas, the Yangtze River Basin region accounts for over 80% of the total output in China, with Jiangsu and Anhui provinces ranking first and third, respectively. Therefore, the culture of Chinese mitten crabs in Jiangsu and Anhui plays a pivotal role in the country. After more than 30 years of development, China has established ecological and large-scale breeding systems for juvenile crabs. Therefore, artificial seedlings dominate the market but are mainly distributed in coastal areas such as Jiangsu. However, to reduce production costs, some breeding farms blindly introduce Chinese mitten crabs to one another, and do not perform germplasm detection during breeding, causing germplasm resources to be random and mixed, which directly affects the quality of juvenile crabs and results in the risk of germplasm decline. To evaluate the genetic background of cultured Chinese mitten crab populations in Jiangsu and Anhui in odd-number years, and to provide a scientific basis for subsequent genetic improvement and breeding of new varieties, 10 pairs of highly polymorphic microsatellite markers (simple sequence repeats) were used to analyze the genetic diversity and genetic structure of six cultured populations with 177 individuals in total. Each population contained 28–30 adult individuals with an approximate sex ratio. The leg muscle of the sampled crabs was extracted, and genomic DNA was extracted according to the instructions of the genome extraction kit (TianGen DP304). The microsatellite primers were modified using fluorescent labels (FAM and HEX) prior to PCR, and the PCR products were subjected to capillary electrophoresis. Genemarker 2.2 software was used to interpret typing results. The number of alleles (Na), effective number of alleles (Ne), expected heterozygosity (He), observed heterozygosity (Ho), inbreeding coefficient (Fis), and genetic distance (Dn) were calculated using Popgene 1.32 software, and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium analysis was performed using the Markov chain method. PIC_CALC 0.6 software calculates polymorphism information content (PIC). Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and the coefficient of genetic differentiation (Fst) were performed using Arlequin 3.5 software. A UPGMA tree was constructed based on inter-population genetic distance using MEGA 4.0 software. According to the frequency of alleles, mutation-drift equilibrium was detected using Bottleneck software. Genetic structure analysis was performed using the Structure 2.3.4 software. The results showed that the genetic diversity levels of the six cultured populations of E. sinensis were high and similar (Na=16.0–18.4, Ne=10.1–12.4, Ho=0.759–0.836, He=0.897–0.916, PIC=0.870–0.892). Genetic distance among populations (0.015–0.277) and the coefficient of genetic differentiation (Fst: 0.001–0.011) were low, and genetic variation among populations accounted for only 0.47% of the total variation in AMOVA. These analyses consistently indicated no significant genetic differentiation among the populations. The phylogenetic tree showed that the six cultured populations had a common ancestor and that the Gaochun population had further relationships with the other populations. Owing to its high genetic diversity, the Gaochun population can be used as a base population for mass selection. Genetic structure analysis showed that the genetic composition of each cultured population was diverse, and the proportions were similar. In this study, the inbreeding coefficient (Fis) of 10 loci in six populations had 43 positive values and 17 negative values, and there were both positive and negative values in each population, indicating that there was not only inbreeding to a certain extent but also a small amount of distant breeding in the six cultured populations of Chinese mitten crabs.The results of genetic structure analysis showed that the number of optimal genetic cluster groups was K=3. However, the chaotic genetic structures among the three groups failed to gather into a relatively independent group. Furthermore, each population had a genetic composition similar to those of the three genetic lineage sources. Considering the high level of genetic diversity in these populations, it is possible that the parental population sources are more complex. This indicated that the cultured population of Chinese mitten crabs had a large number of exogenous genetic hybrids.In conclusion, the genetic diversity of cultured Chinese mitten crab populations in the Jiangsu and Anhui areas is still high, which has potential development and utilization value, but there may be germplasm confounding. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further studies on the breeding population during the subsequent breeding of improved varieties, such as using molecular markers with high sensitivity that can be used to identify different water systems to analyze the sources of mixed germplasm, and conducting germplasm detection before breeding to purify the germplasm and make reasonable and sustainable use of its germplasm resources.

Abstract The search for baryon-number-violating (BNV) nucleon decay is an intriguing probe of new physics beyond the SM in future neutrino experiments with enhanced sensitivity. The dark sector states such as an axion or axion-like particle (ALP) can induce nucleon decays with distinct signature and kinematics from the conventional nucleon decays. In this work, we study the ALP effective field theories (EFTs) with baryon number violation and the impact of light ALP on BNV nucleon decays. We revisit the dimension-8 BNV operators in the extended EFTs with an ALP field a respecting shift symmetry. The low-energy EFT operators with |∆(B – L)| = 2 and |∆(B – L)| = 0 are matched to the baryon chiral perturbation theory. We obtain the effective chiral Lagrangian and the BNV interactions between ALP and baryons/mesons. The ALP interactions lead to two-body baryon decays B → ℓ (or ν) a and three-body nucleon decays N → M ℓ (or ν) a. We obtain the constraints on the UV scale from the invisible Λ0 decay search at BESIII, the invisible neutron decay search at KamLAND and proton decay search at Super-K. We also show the projections of some other baryon/nucleon decays and present the distinct distributions of kinematic observable.

Abstract Fusarium oxysporum (Schl.) f.sp. melonis, which causes muskmelon wilt disease, is a destructive filamentous fungal pathogen, attracting more attention to the search for effective fungicides against this pathogen. In particular, Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have strong antimicrobial properties and they are not easy to develop drug resistance, which provides new ideas for the prevention and control of muskmelon Fusarium wilt (MFW). This paper studied the effects of AgNPs on the growth and development of muskmelon, the control efficacy on Fusarium wilt of muskmelon and the antifungal mechanism of AgNPs to F. oxysporum. The results showed that AgNPs could inhibit the growth of F. oxysporum on the PDA and in the PDB medium at 100–200 mg/L and the low concentration of 25 mg/L AgNPs could promote the seed germination and growth of muskmelon seedlings and reduce the incidence of muskmelon Fusarium wilt. Further studies on the antifungal mechanism showed that AgNPs could impair the development, damage cell structure, and interrupt cellular metabolism pathways of this fungus. TEM observation revealed that AgNPs treatment led to damage to the cell wall and membrane and accumulation of vacuoles and vessels, causing the leakage of intracellular contents. AgNPs treatment significantly hampered the growth of mycelia in the PDB medium, even causing a decrease in biomass. Biochemical properties showed that AgNPs treatment stimulated the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in 6 h, subsequently producing malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing protective enzyme activity. After 6 h, the protective enzyme activity decreased. These results indicated that AgNPs destroy the cell structure and affect the metabolisms, eventually leading to the death of fungus.

Abstract Aims To explore rare and difficult cases of undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) in children in a single centre, summarize the diagnosis and treatment experience and analyse the role of a computer-assisted surgery system (Hisense CAS), thus providing a new global vision and three-dimensional perspective. Methods We retrospectively collected the clinical data including the diagnoses and treatment processes, of children with UESL confirmed by histopathological examination in our hospital from January 2009 to December 2020. The relationship between the tumour volume and important blood vessels and between the liver volume and tumour volume, as well as other three-dimensional characteristics in the reconstructed three-dimensional model were analysed using Hisense CAS. The findings from this analysis can be used to aid in surgical decision-making and preoperative planning. Results Four children—3 girls and 1 boy—with UESL were included in the study. The age at onset ranged from 6 to 8 years. All four children presented with symptoms of abdominal discomfort, and abdominal masses were detected during physical examination. Owing to the wishes of their parents and the possibility that the disease was benign, all four children underwent one-stage radical surgery. For patient 1, a three-dimensional reconstruction was created during the initial diagnosis, which made accurate evaluation and planning of the preoperative procedure challenging. In patient 2, the tumour was located in the middle lobe of the liver and involved the first and second hepatic hilum. For patient 3, the pathological diagnosis of the tumour after surgery was challenging, but eventually, the diagnosis was confirmed through histochemistry and consultation with higher-level hospitals. Patient 4 had a giant tumour, which had a preoperative simulated future liver remnant volume (FLV) that was 21.0% of the total volume of the liver and tumour (TLTV). According to the standard liver volume (SLV) for children, the FLV was 77.0% of the SLV, making surgery feasible. All four children underwent complete resection, and only patient 4 experienced recurrence below the diaphragm 19 months after surgery. Currently, the 3-year overall survival rate is 100%, and the 3-year event-free survival rate is 75%. Conclusion UESL in children is rare, and the key to diagnosis and treatment is complete surgical resection. Through individualized three-dimensional surgical planning, accurate and complete resection of difficult and complex UESL in children can be achieved, leading to a favourable prognosis.

Abstract Mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by elevated oxidative stress, impaired energy balance, and dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics, is a hallmark of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its comorbidities. Ferulic acid (FA), a principal phenolic compound found in whole grains, has demonstrated potential in ameliorating oxidative stress and preserving energy homeostasis. However, the influence of FA on mitochondrial health within the context of MetS remains unexplored. Moreover, the impact of FA on autophagy, which is essential for maintaining energy homeostasis and mitochondrial integrity, is not fully understood. Here, we aimed to study the mechanisms of action of FA in regulating mitochondrial health and autophagy using palmitate-treated HepG2 hepatocytes as a MetS cell model. We found that FA improved mitochondrial health by restoring redox balance and optimizing mitochondrial dynamics, including biogenesis and the fusion/fission ratio. Additionally, FA was shown to recover autophagy and activate AMPK-related cell signaling. Our results provide new insights into the therapeutic potential of FA as a mitochondria-targeting agent for the prevention and treatment of MetS.

Abstract Existing knowledge graph-based recommendation algorithms either use Knowledge Graphs (KGs) as auxiliary information or use KG prediction tasks as regular terms to constrain recommendation with multi-task learning. However, the first method, which introduces multi-hop neighbors to enhance item representations, also weakens the relationship information within individual triples to some extent. The second method ignores neighboring information and thus fails to capture the long-range connectivity between items, which leads to a lack of utilization of the structural information in the KG. In response to the limitations of existing recommendation algorithms that do not fully leverage the relational and structural information within KGs, we propose a novel method named Knowledge-Enhanced Multi-Task Parallelized Recommendation Algorithm Incorporating Attention-Embedded Propagation (KMPR-AEP). It employs a parallel approach to simultaneously incorporate KG as auxiliary information and a regular term. We take into account the multi-hop neighbor information of users and items as well as enhance the relations among individual triples, which considers both the structural and relational information of KG. Extensive experiments conducted on three real-world datasets for CTR prediction and Top-K recommendation scenarios demonstrate the superiority of our proposed method over the state-of-the-art. On average, our KMPR-AEP shows improvements of 2.44% in AUC, 3.49% in ACC, and 2.64% in F1.

Abstract Corynespora cassiicola is a highly diverse fungal pathogen that commonly occurs in tropical, subtropical, and greenhouse environments worldwide. In this study, the isolates were identified as C. cassiicola, and the optimum growth and sporulation were studied. The phenotypic characteristics of C. cassiicola, concerning 950 different growth conditions, were tested using Biolog PM plates 1–10. In addition, the strain of C. cassiicola DWZ from tobacco hosts was sequenced for the using Illumina PE150 and Pacbio technologies. The host resistance of tobacco Yunyan 87 with different maturity levels was investigated. In addition, the resistance evaluation of 10 common tobacco varieties was investigated. The results showed that C. cassiicola metabolized 89.47% of the tested carbon source, 100% of the nitrogen source, 100% of the phosphorus source, and 97.14% of the sulfur source. It can adapt to a variety of different osmotic pressure and pH environments, and has good decarboxylase and deaminase activities. The optimum conditions for pathogen growth and sporulation were 25–30 °C, and the growth was better on AEA and OA medium. The total length of the genome was 45.9 Mbp, the GC content was 51.23%, and a total of 13,061 protein-coding genes, 202 non-coding RNAs and 2801 and repeat sequences were predicted. Mature leaves were more susceptible than proper mature and immature leaves, and the average diameter of diseased spots reached 17.74 mm at 12 days. None of the tested ten cultivars exhibited obvious resistance to Corynespora leaf spot of tobacco, whereby all disease spot diameters reached > 10 mm and > 30 mm when at 5 and 10 days after inoculation, respectively. The phenotypic characteristics, genomic analysis of C. cassiicola and the cultivar resistance assessment of this pathogen have increased our understanding of Corynespora leaf spot of tobacco.

Understanding interactions between viruses and their hosts is conducive to enabling better application of viruses as biocontrol agents. Certain viruses carried by parasitic wasps enhance the parasitic efficiency of wasp-larvae by protecting them against the immune system of their Lepidopteran host. However, the relationship between prey pests and viruses found in predatory natural enemies remains unclear. Herein, we report the interaction between Arma chinensis virus-1 (AcV-1), originally isolated from a predatory natural enemy, Arma chinensis (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), and one of its prey species, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The results showed that the AcV-1 virus appeared harmful to the novel host S. frugiperda by inhibiting larval diet consumption and increasing pupal mortality. Meanwhile, sequencing data indicated that the virus altered the gene expression profiles of S. frugiperda. KEGG analysis showed that the proteasome and phagosome pathways related to protein degradation and immune response were significantly enriched. Although the expression levels of digestive enzyme genes did not change significantly, the total protease activity of AcV-1 virus-positive individuals was significantly decreased, suggesting that the virus inhibited diet consumption of S. frugiperda via the down-regulation of digestive enzyme activities. These results indicate that a virus initially isolated in a predatory natural enemy can decrease the fitness of its prey species. The virus was found to impact the host proteasome and phagosome pathways related to protein degradation and immunity, providing a potential mechanism to enhance controlling efficiency.

Abstract Objective This study aimed at evaluating the effects of online and offline hybrid weight management approach based on the Fogg behavior model on total gestational weight gain and perinatal outcomes. Methods Pregnant women in Hainan, the southernmost province of China, were recruited into a randomized controlled trial, which was designed to develop a WeChat platform for pregnancy weight management, and implement individualized and continuous pregnancy weight management services for pregnant women under the guidance of the Fogg behavior model. All pregnant women participating in the study were included in the full analysis set (FAS) for analysis. The pregnant women who completed the intervention and provided all outcome indicators were included in the per protocol set (PPS) for outcome evaluation. Results Fifty-eight pregnant women were included in FAS analysis, and 52 pregnant women were finally included in PPS analysis. There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between the two groups at baseline. The gestational weight gain of the intervention group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P

Abstract Background The epidemiology and risk factors for postoperative complications related to free flap reconstruction in head and neck cancer patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are unknown. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients with free flap reconstruction of head and neck cancer between September 2015 and April 2023 admitted to the ICU of Beijing Tongren Hospital. The univariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore the risk factors for postoperative complications related to free flap reconstruction admitted to ICU, including flap necrosis, bleeding, fistula, and infection. Results A total of 239 patients were included in this study, and 38 (15.9%) patients had postoperative complications related to free flap reconstruction. The median length of ICU stay was 1 day (interquartile range, 1–2 days). Multivariate analysis found that low BMI (P

Abstract This paper presents a multi-strategy improved grasshopper optimization algorithm (MSIGOA), which aims to address the shortcomings of the grasshopper optimization algorithm (GOA), including its slow convergence, vulnerability to trapping into local optima, and low accuracy. Firstly, to improve the uniformity of the population distribution in the search space, the MSIGOA uses circle mapping for the population initialization. A nonlinear decreasing coefficient is utilized instead of an original linear decreasing coefficient to improve the local exploitation and global exploration capabilities. Then, the modified golden sine mechanism is added during the position update stage to change the single position update mode of GOA and enhance the local exploitation capability. The greedy strategy is added to greedily select the new and old positions of the individual to retain a better position and increase the speed of convergence. Finally, the quasi-reflection-based learning mechanism is utilized to construct new populations to improve population multiplicity and the capability to escape from the local optima. This paper verifies the efficacy of MSIGOA by comparing it with other advanced algorithms on six engineering design problems, CEC2017 test functions, and 12 classical benchmark functions. The experimental results show that MSIGOA performs better than the original GOA and other compared algorithms and has stronger comprehensive optimization capabilities.

Abstract Background The dirigent (DIR) genes encode proteins that act as crucial regulators of plant lignin biosynthesis. In Solanaceae species, members of the DIR gene family are intricately related to plant growth and development, playing a key role in responding to various biotic and abiotic stresses. It will be of great application significance to analyze the DIR gene family and expression profile under various pathogen stresses in Solanaceae species. Results A total of 57 tobacco NtDIRs and 33 potato StDIRs were identified based on their respective genome sequences. Phylogenetic analysis of DIR genes in tobacco, potato, eggplant and Arabidopsis thaliana revealed three distinct subgroups (DIR-a, DIR-b/d and DIR-e). Gene structure and conserved motif analysis showed that a high degree of conservation in both exon/intron organization and protein motifs among tobacco and potato DIR genes, especially within members of the same subfamily. Total 8 pairs of tandem duplication genes (3 pairs in tobacco, 5 pairs in potato) and 13 pairs of segmental duplication genes (6 pairs in tobacco, 7 pairs in potato) were identified based on the analysis of gene duplication events. Cis-regulatory elements of the DIR promoters participated in hormone response, stress responses, circadian control, endosperm expression, and meristem expression. Transcriptomic data analysis under biotic stress revealed diverse response patterns among DIR gene family members to pathogens, indicating their functional divergence. After 96 h post-inoculation with Ralstonia solanacearum L. (Ras), tobacco seedlings exhibited typical symptoms of tobacco bacterial wilt. The qRT-PCR analysis of 11 selected NtDIR genes displayed differential expression pattern in response to the bacterial pathogen Ras infection. Using line 392278 of potato as material, typical symptoms of potato late blight manifested on the seedling leaves under Phytophthora infestans infection. The qRT-PCR analysis of 5 selected StDIR genes showed up-regulation in response to pathogen infection. Notably, three clustered genes (NtDIR2, NtDIR4, StDIR3) exhibited a robust response to pathogen infection, highlighting their essential roles in disease resistance. Conclusion The genome-wide identification, evolutionary analysis, and expression profiling of DIR genes in response to various pathogen infection in tobacco and potato have provided valuable insights into the roles of these genes under various stress conditions. Our results could provide a basis for further functional analysis of the DIR gene family under pathogen infection conditions.

The use of antiscalants in reverse osmosis (RO) systems is essential to prevent the crystallization and precipitation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, which can lead to undesirable consequences such as an increase in the required dosages of hydroxide and carbonate for hardness removal, increase operational costs, and negatively impact the evaporation–crystallization of salt. This study aimed to investigate the industrial antiscalant ingredients and antiscaling mechanism in RO systems, which is crucial for achieving thorough hardness removal and no industrial wastewater discharge. We comprehensively analyzed the water quality of RO concentrate and fractionated it using ultrafiltration based on molecular weights. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), and excitation–emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (EEM) results revealed that the primary constituents of the dissolved organic matter (DOM) were microbial metabolites and humic acid substances with a molecular weight of

Abstract Background Limited research has examined the impact of lower limb length discrepancy (LLLD) alteration on spinopelvic compensation in individuals with developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). This study aimed to investigate the effects of LLLD on spinopelvic compensation following total hip arthroplasty (THA) and elucidate the complex biomechanical adaptations in the spinopelvic structures. Methods A retrospective review of DDH patients undergoing THA from January 2014 to December 2021 categorized individuals with Crowe type I and II into the low dislocation group (LDG, n = 94) and those with Crowe type III and IV into the high dislocation group (HDG, n = 43). Demographic data, as well as preoperative, postoperative, and last follow-up imaging data, including lower limb length (LLL), sacral obliquity (SO), iliac obliquity (IO), hip obliquity (HO), Cobb angle, apical vertebral translation (AVT), and coronal decompensation (CD), were collected for analysis. Results Patients in the LDG had a significantly higher surgical age and shorter disease duration (P0.05). The variation in LLLD correlated significantly with the variations in SO, IO, and HO (P0.05). The variation in LLLD correlated significantly with the variations in SO, IO, HO, and CD (P

Abstract DNA base editors enable direct editing of adenine (A), cytosine (C), or guanine (G), but there is no base editor for direct thymine (T) editing currently. Here we develop two deaminase-free glycosylase-based base editors for direct T editing (gTBE) and C editing (gCBE) by fusing Cas9 nickase (nCas9) with engineered human uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) variants. By several rounds of structure-informed rational mutagenesis on UNG in cultured human cells, we obtain gTBE and gCBE with high activity of T-to-S (i.e., T-to-C or T-to-G) and C-to-G conversions, respectively. Furthermore, we conduct parallel comparison of gTBE/gCBE with those recently developed using other protein engineering strategies, and find gTBE/gCBE show the outperformance. Thus, we provide several base editors, gTBEs and gCBEs, with corresponding engineered UNG variants, broadening the targeting scope of base editors.

Abstract Background Ciprofol is a promising sedative. This study aims to explore the median effective dose (ED50) of ciprofol in inhibiting responses to fiberoptic bronchoscopy in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) of different genders and ages when combined with 0.15 μg/kg sufentanil, and to evaluate its efficacy and safety, providing a reference for the rational use of ciprofol in clinical practice. Methods PTB patients who underwent bronchoscopy examination and treatment at The Third People’s Hospital of Changzhou between May 2023 and June 2023 were selected and divided into four groups using a stratified random method. All patients received intravenous injection of 0.15 μg/kg sufentanil followed by injection of the test dose of ciprofol according to Dixon’s up-and-down method. The initial dose of ciprofol in all four groups was 0.4 mg/kg, with an adjacent ratio of 1:1.1. The next patient received a 10% increase in the dose of ciprofol if the previous patient in the same group experienced positive reactions such as choking cough, frowning, and body movements during the endoscopy. Otherwise, it was judged as a negative reaction, and the next patient received a 10% decrease in the dose of ciprofol. The transition from a positive reaction to a negative reaction was defined as a turning point, and the study of the group was terminated when seven turning points occurred. Hemodynamic parameters, oxygen saturation and adverse reactions were recorded at different time points in all groups. The Probit regression analysis method was used to calculate the ED50 of ciprofol in the four groups and compare between the groups. Results The ED50 of ciprofol combined with 0.15 μg/kg sufentanil for bronchoscopy in the four groups were 0.465 mg/kg, 0.433 mg/kg, 0.420 mg/kg and 0.396 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion The ED50 of ciprofol used for fiberoptic bronchoscopy varied among PTB patients of different genders and ages. Trial registration The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2300071508, Registered on 17 May 2023.

Abstract Background The pathogenesis of thyroid-associated orbitopathy (TAO) remains incompletely understand. The interaction between immunocytes and orbital fibroblasts (OFs) play a critical role in orbital inflammatory and fibrosis. Accumulating reports indicate that a significant portion of plasma exosomes (Pla-Exos) are derived from immune cells; however, their impact upon OFs function is unclear. Methods OFs were primary cultured from inactive TAO patients. Exosomes isolated from plasma samples of patients with active TAO and healthy controls (HCs) were utilized for functional and RNA cargo analysis. Functional analysis in thymocyte differentiation antigen-1+ (Thy-1+) OFs measured expression of inflammatory and fibrotic markers (mRNAs and proteins) and cell activity in response to Pla-Exos. RNA cargo analysis was performed by RNA sequencing and RT-qPCR. Thy-1+ OFs were transfected with miR-144-3p mimics/inhibitors to evaluate its regulation of inflammation, fibrosis, and proliferation. Results Pla-Exos derived from active TAO patients (Pla-ExosTAO−A) induced stronger production of inflammatory cytokines and hyaluronic acid (HA) in Thy-1+ OFs while inhibiting their proliferation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) suggested that the difference in mRNA expression levels between Pla-ExosTAO−A and Pla-ExosHC was closely related to immune cells. Differential expression analysis revealed that 62 upregulated and 45 downregulated miRNAs in Pla-ExosTAO−A, with the elevation of miR-144-3p in both Pla-Exos and PBMCs in active TAO group. KEGG analysis revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed miRNA and miR-144-3p enriched in immune-related signaling pathways. Overexpression of the miR-144-3p mimic significantly upregulated the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and HA in Thy-1+ OFs while inhibiting their proliferation. Conclusion Pla-Exos derived from patients with active TAO were immune-active, which may be a long-term stimulus casual for inflammatory and fibrotic progression of TAO. Our finding suggests that Pla-Exos could be used as biomarkers or treatment targets in TAO patients.

Objectives The micro‐nano structure of 3D‐printed porous titanium (Ti) alloy with excellent performance in avoiding stress shielding and promoting bone tissue differentiation provides a new opportunity for the development of bone implants, but it necessitates higher requirements for bone tissue differentiation and the antibacterial properties of bone implants in clinical practice. Methods This study investigated the preparation, antimicrobial properties, and osteogenesis‐promoting ability of the 3D printed porous Ti alloy anodic oxidized Ag‐carrying (Ag@3D‐TiO2) scaffolds. The 3D printed porous Ti alloy (3D‐Ti), anodized 3D printed porous Ti alloy (3D‐TiO2), and Ag@3D‐TiO2 scaffolds were synthesized using electron beam melting. The antimicrobial properties of the scaffolds were examined using antibacterial tests and their cytocompatibility was assessed using a cell proliferation assay and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. In vitro cellular assays were used to investigate the effects of the scaffold microstructural features on cell activity, proliferation, and osteogenesis‐related genes and proteins. In vivo animal experiments were used to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory and osteogenesis‐promoting abilities of the scaffolds. Results The Ag@3D‐TiO2 scaffolds exhibited sustained anti‐microbial activity over time, enhanced cell proliferation, facilitated osteogenic differentiation, and increased extracellular matrix mineralization. In addition, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I (COL‐I), and osteocalcin (OCN)‐related genes and proteins were upregulated. In vivo animal implantation experiments, the anti‐inflammatory effect of the Ag@3D‐TiO2 scaffolds were observed using histology, and a large amount of fibrous connective tissue was present around it; the Ag@3D‐TiO2 scaffolds were more bio‐compatible with the surrounding tissues compared with 3D‐Ti and 3D‐TiO2; a large amount of uniformly distributed neoplastic bone tissue existed in their pores, and the chronic systemic toxicity test showed that the 3D‐Ti, 3D‐TiO2, and Ag@3D‐TiO2 scaffolds are biologically safe. Conclusion The goal of this study was to create a scaffold that exhibits antimicrobial properties and can aid bone growth, making it highly suitable for use in bone tissue engineering.

BackgroundWe performed a network meta-analysis of phase III trials to compare the efficacy and safety of first-line regimens for patients with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).MethodsA systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis were conducted by retrieving relevant literature from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science. We included published sources of randomized clinical trials comparing immunotherapy combinations for treating advanced ESCC.ResultsWe analyzed seven studies involving eight immunotherapy combinations and 4688 patients. For patients without programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) selection, it was found that the combination of toripalimab and chemotherapy provided better overall survival than chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.43-0.78). Compared with chemotherapy alone, Sintilimab or camrelizumab plus chemotherapy seemed to achieve the best progression-free survival (hazard ratio = 0.56, 95% CI 0.46-0.68). Nivolumab plus chemotherapy appeared to provide the best objective response rate, with significant differences versus chemotherapy alone (odds ratio = 0.49, 95% CI 0.38-0.64). Nivolumab plus ipilimumab resulted in a relatively lower incidence of adverse events of grade ≥3 than other regimens.ConclusionsThe combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with chemotherapy provided a high probability of more effective treatment in comparison with chemotherapy alone for patients with advanced ESCC. Toripalimab and sintilimab plus chemotherapy were ranked as providing the highest OS and PFS benefit in the first-line setting, respectively.

Detecting consciousness in clinically unresponsive patients remains a significant challenge. Existing studies demonstrate that electroencephalography (EEG) can detect brain responses in behaviorally unresponsive patients, indicating potential for consciousness detection. However, most of this evidence is based on chronic patients, and there is a lack of studies focusing on acute coma cases. This study aims to detect signs of residual consciousness in patients with acute coma by using bedside EEG and electromyography (EMG) during an auditory oddball paradigm. We recruited patients with acute brain injury (either traumatic brain injury or cardiac arrest) who were admitted to the intensive care unit within two weeks after injury, with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 8 or below. Auditory stimuli included the patients' own names and other common names (referred to as standard names), spoken by the patients’ relatives, delivered under two conditions: passive listening (where patients were instructed that sounds would be played) and active listening (where patients were asked to move hands when heard their own names). Brain and muscle activity were recorded using EEG and EMG during the auditory paradigm. Event-related potentials (ERP) and EMG spectra were analyzed and compared between responses to the subject’s own name and other standard names in both passive and active listening conditions. A total of 22 patients were included in the final analysis. Subjects exhibited enhanced ERP responses when exposed to their own names, particularly during the active listening task. Compared to standard names or passive listening, distinct differences in brain network connectivity and increased EMG responses were detected during active listening to their own names. These findings suggest the presence of residual consciousness, offering the potential for assessing consciousness in behaviorally unresponsive patients.

Background: Lung cancer screening is not limited to low dose computed tomography (LDCT). Recently, molecular biomarkers have been shown to have the potential to improve the current state of early lung cancer detection. The current study determined the efficiency of seven autoantibodies against tumor-associated antigens (7-AABs) and tumor markers in patients with lung cancer. Materials and Methods: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of 7-AABs and tumor markers in 354 patients with lung cancer and 108 patients with benign pulmonary disease under care at Ethics Committee of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital. Results: The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 7-AABs were 30.0%, 84.3%, 86.3%, and 0.61, respectively. When combining the 7-AABs and tumor markers, the sensitivity was 68.6%, the specificity was 52.8%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.72. The 7-AABs positive expression rate in lung cancer patients was significantly higher than patients with benign pulmonary diseases (30.1% vs 15.7%); however, the 7-AABs positive expression rate was affected by clinical features and pathologic stages. When combining 7-AABs and tumor markers, the combined 7-AABs and tumor marker positive expression rate increased to 68.6%. Conclusion: Based on this study and previous literature, the supplemental diagnostic value of 7-AABs has been confirmed; however, due to the low sensitivity, the value of 7-AABs alone in lung cancer screening is limited. The combination of 7-AABs and tumor markers has improved sensitivity and positivity, but decreased specificity, which makes their performance in cancer screening and early detection worthy of further research.

Abstract With the widespread adoption of metagenomic sequencing, new perspectives have emerged for studying microbial ecological networks, yielding metabolic evidence of interspecies interactions that traditional co‐occurrence networks cannot infer. This protocol introduces the integrated Network Analysis Pipeline 2.0 (iNAP 2.0), which features an innovative metabolic complementarity network for microbial studies from metagenomics sequencing data. iNAP 2.0 sets up a four‐module process for metabolic interaction analysis, namely: (I) Prepare genome‐scale metabolic models; (II) Infer pairwise interactions of genome‐scale metabolic models; (III) Construct metabolic interaction networks; and (IV) Analyze metabolic interaction networks. Starting from metagenome‐assembled or complete genomes, iNAP 2.0 offers a variety of methods to quantify the potential and trends of metabolic complementarity between models, including the PhyloMint pipeline based on phylogenetic distance‐adjusted metabolic complementarity, the SMETANA (species metabolic interaction analysis) approach based on cross‐feeding substrate exchange prediction, and metabolic distance calculation based on parsimonious flux balance analysis (pFBA). Notably, iNAP 2.0 integrates the random matrix theory (RMT) approach to find the suitable threshold for metabolic interaction network construction. Finally, the metabolic interaction networks can proceed to analysis using topological feature analysis such as hub node determination. In addition, a key feature of iNAP 2.0 is the identification of potentially transferable metabolites between species, presented as intermediate nodes that connect microbial nodes in the metabolic complementarity network. To illustrate these new features, we use a set of metagenome‐assembled genomes as an example to comprehensively document the usage of the tools. iNAP 2.0 is available at https://inap.denglab.org.cn for all users to register and use for free.

Background Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are common and varied in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Here, the authors describe CMB findings in patients receiving ECMO and their association with clinical factors. Methods and Results A total of 138 patients receiving ECMO were enrolled and categorized as venovenous and venoarterial. Blood coagulation profiles during ECMO support and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores within 7 days were recorded. Patients with CMBs exhibited prolonged activated clotting time (P

The detection of apple leaf diseases plays a crucial role in ensuring crop health and yield. However, due to variations in lighting and shadow, as well as the complex relationships between perceptual fields and target scales, current detection methods face significant challenges. To address these issues, we propose a new model called YOLO-Leaf. Specifically, YOLO-Leaf utilizes Dynamic Snake Convolution (DSConv) for robust feature extraction, employs BiFormer to enhance the attention mechanism, and introduces IF-CIoU to improve bounding box regression for increased detection accuracy and generalization ability. Experimental results on the FGVC7 and FGVC8 datasets show that YOLO-Leaf significantly outperforms existing models in terms of detection accuracy, achieving mAP50 scores of 93.88% and 95.69%, respectively. This advancement not only validates the effectiveness of our approach but also highlights its practical application potential in agricultural disease detection.

Spatio-temporal permittivity modulation can simultaneously impart wave vector and frequency shifts during an indirect photonic transition process where nonreciprocal responses are accomplished. Here, we combine the nonreciprocity with exceptional points (EPs) by employing line parameter trajectory to a spatio-temporally modulated waveguide. The instantaneous state evolutions on direction-dependent Riemann sheets are thus different in forward and backward directions. Light propagates through the structure is nonreciprocal. Forwardly, an arbitrary incident wave will convert to a combination of the two waveguide modes with same intensity. Backwardly, the waves almost entirely convert to one specific mode. The conversion efficiency is more than 80% and robust to the line design. The operating wavelength is in the telecommunications band, conducive to integration with other chips. Compared to the widely used loop path, the line path has the merit of easy preparation in experiments as only one parameter is changed. The research sheds light on the optical devices such as isolator and amplifier.

This study investigates the effect of normal feeding (starvation for 0 days, control), starvation for 3 (S3), 9 (S9), 15 days (S15) and refeeding for 3 (S9R3), 9 (S9R9), 15 days (S15R15) on the expression of genes related to lipid and glycogen metabolism, the content of biochemical molecules, the activities of enzymes and the morphological structure of the hepatopancreas of C. sinensis. Results showed that the expression levels of cpt-I, acox, gdh, tre and pepck in hepatopancreas, cpt-I and acc in gonads, and tre and pepck in mantle initially increased and then decreased during starvation. the expression levels of gdh and pkm gradually increased with the duration of starvation. the mRNA level of cpt-I, dgat1 and acc reached a peak level in the S15R15 group, while the expression levels of gdh and pepck in mantle increased in the S9R3 and S9R9 groups. The hepatopancreatic LPS, LPL, and HK activity in the hepatopancreas and mantle of C. sinensis increased during starvation. Moreover, the TG content in the hepatopancreas and GN content in the mantle decreased with the prolongation of starvation. After refeeding, TG levels in the hepatopancreas increased slightly but remained significantly lower than in controls. The GN content in the hepatopancreas and mantle of the S9R9 and S15R15 groups was higher than those of the control group. The number of lipid droplets in the hepatopancreatic tubular decreased with prolonged starvation, but the content of lipid droplets in the hepatopancreatic tubular increased slightly after refeeding. However, with the increase in the duration of starvation, the wall of the hepatopancreatic tubular becomes thin and the number of vacuoles increases. These results indicate that lipid and glycogen metabolism are involved in this clam’s physiological regulation in response to starvation stress.

Abstract Phytophthora root rot, caused by oomycete pathogens in the Phytophthora genus, poses a significant threat to soybean productivity. While resistance mechanisms against Phytophthora sojae have been extensively studied in soybean, the molecular basis underlying immune responses to Phytophthora sansomeana remains unclear. In this study, we investigated transcriptomic and epigenetic responses of two resistant (Colfax and NE2701) and two susceptible (Williams 82 and Senaki) soybean lines at four time points (2, 4, 8, and 16 h post inoculation [hpi]) after P. sansomeana inoculation. Comparative transcriptomic analyses revealed a greater number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) upon pathogen inoculation in resistant lines, particularly at 8 and 16 hpi. These DEGs were predominantly associated with defense response, ethylene, and reactive oxygen species‐mediated defense pathways. Moreover, DE transposons were predominantly upregulated after inoculation, and more of them were enriched near genes in Colfax than other soybean lines. Notably, we identified a long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) within the mapped region of the resistance gene that exhibited exclusive upregulation in the resistant lines after inoculation, potentially regulating two flanking LURP‐one‐related genes. Furthermore, DNA methylation analysis revealed increased CHH (where H = A, T, or C) methylation levels in lncRNAs after inoculation, with delayed responses in Colfax compared to Williams 82. Overall, our results provide comprehensive insights into soybean responses to P. sansomeana, highlighting potential roles of lncRNAs and epigenetic regulation in plant defense.

Monolayer 2D metal‐organic framework (MOF) nanosheets, characterized by abundant exposed active sites and tunable structure and function (such as altering the metal nodes or organic ligands), have emerged as a pivotal class of 2D materials, demonstrating irreplaceable applications across diverse research domains in materials and chemistry. This review provides a comprehensive survey of the latest research progress in the synthesis of monolayer 2D MOF nanosheets. Specifically, recent synthetic strategies, including top‐down and bottom‐up methods, are delved and their applications in gas separation, catalysis, sensing platforms, and energy storage are explored. Additionally, the challenges faced in the investigation of monolayer 2D MOF nanosheets are elucidated and future opportunities for these materials as a novel generation of 2D materials are outlined.

Climate change is profoundly impacting Himalayan ecosystems, with substantial challenges to keystone species like Rhododendron arboreum. Present study attempted to investigate R. arboreum response to varying environmental conditions at altitudes between 1500 and 3000 m in three western Himalayan temperate forests, through evaluating plant functional traits. IPCC's internal vulnerability framework, characterised by two dimensions: sensitivity and adaptive capacity was applied. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to elucidate the relationship between traits and the dimensions. Sensitivity was analysed using sub components like Light Harvesting, Nutrient and Gas Fluxes, while adaptive capacity by Resource Efficiency, Architecture and Defence, Resource Limitation and Resource Facilitation. The results revealed high sensitivity (0.64) in moru oak forests, high adaptive capacity in moist temperate deciduous forests (0.59), and high vulnerability in ban oak forests (0.54). SEM Models for sensitivity and adaptive capacity were significant. Sensitivity exhibited positively significant influence of Nutrient and Gas Fluxes with path coefficient of 1.07 and 0.80, respectively. Adaptive capacity showed a positive relationship with the Resource Limitation and Architecture and Defence, while a negative relationship with Resource Facilitation, with a path coefficient of 0.94, 0.42 and −0.11, respectively. Overall, the vulnerability of R. arboreum to environmental changes is shaped by a complex interplay of physical characteristics (morphological), biological functions (physiological), and interactions with surroundings (ecological). These insights underscore the importance of understanding trait vulnerability dynamics for effective forest management strategies amidst changing environmental conditions.

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a common form of light pollution worldwide, and the intensity, timing, duration, and wavelength of light exposure can affect biological rhythms, which can lead to metabolic, reproductive, and immune dysfunctions and consequently, host–pathogen interactions. Insect vector-borne diseases are a global problem that needs to be addressed, and ALAN plays an important role in disease transmission by affecting the habits and physiological functions of vector organisms. In this work, we describe the mechanisms by which ALAN affects host physiology and biochemistry, host–parasite interactions, and vector-borne viruses and propose preventive measures for related infectious diseases to minimize the effects of artificial light on vector-borne diseases.

Abstract The axion-like particle (ALP) may induce flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNCs) when the fermions’ Peccei-Quinn charges are not generation universal. The search for flavor-violating ALP couplings with a bottom quark so far focused on FCNC processes of B mesons at low energies. The recent measurements of B → K + X rare decays place stringent bounds on the quark flavor violations of a light ALP in different decay modes. In this work we propose a novel direct search for bottom flavor-violating interaction of a heavy ALP at the LHC and its upgrades, namely QCD production of an ALP associated with one b jet and one light jet p p → b j a. We consider the decay of the ALP to photons, muons and invisible ALP decays. The Boosted Decision Tree (BDT) algorithm is used to analyze the events and we train the BDT classifier by feeding in the kinematic observables of signal and backgrounds. Finally, we show the complementarity between the search prospects of hadron colliders and the low-energy B meson constraints from B meson mixing and B meson decays to a light ALP.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (Mets) is commonly seen in bipolar disorder (BD). As the key component and early biological index of Mets, insulin resistance (IR) among BD has received more and more attention. However, little is known about the prevalence of IR and its associated factors in drug-naïve patients with (BD), especially among Han Chinese population. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 125 drug-naïve patients with bipolar disorder (BD) and 85 healthy controls (HC). The Homeostatic Model Assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated, and IR was defined as HOMA-IR greater than the 75th percentile value for health controls (2.35). Clinical characteristics of BD were collected through semi-structural interview performed by a trained interviewer with background of psychiatric education. Results Among the measured anthropocentric variables including BMI, waist circumference, abdomen circumference, hipline, and hip-waist ratio, waist circumference was found to be the most closely related to IR (0R = 1.070, 95%CI = 1.031–1.110, P

Abstract The neural network method is a type of machine learning that has made significant advances over the past few years in a variety of fields, particularly text, speech, images, videos, etc. In areas where data is unstructured, traditional machine learning has not been able to surpass the ’glass ceiling’; therefore, researchers have turned to neural networks as auxiliary tools to achieve significant breakthroughs or develop new research methods. An array of computational chemistry challenges can be addressed using neural networks, including virtual screening, quantitative structure-activity relationships, protein structure prediction, materials design, quantum chemistry, and property prediction, among others. This paper proposes a strategy for predicting the chemical properties of fruits by using graph neural networks, and it aims to provide some guidance to researchers and streamline the identification process.

Emerging research suggests a potential association of progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with alterations in synaptic currents and mitochondrial dynamics. However, the specific associations between these pathological changes remain unclear. In this study, we utilized Aβ42-induced AD rats and primary neural cells as in vivo and in vitro models. The investigations included behavioural tests, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis, Nissl staining, thioflavin-S staining, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Golgi-Cox staining, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunofluorescence staining, proteomics, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) assessment, mitochondrial morphology analysis, electrophysiological studies, Western blotting, and molecular docking. The results revealed changes in synaptic currents, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dynamics in the AD models. Remarkably, intervention with Dengzhan Shengmai (DZSM) capsules emerged as a pivotal element in this investigation. Aβ42-induced synaptic dysfunction was significantly mitigated by DZSM intervention, which notably amplified the frequency and amplitude of synaptic transmission. The cognitive impairment observed in AD rats was ameliorated and accompanied by robust protection against structural damage in key brain regions, including the hippocampal CA3, primary cingular cortex, prelimbic system, and dysgranular insular cortex. DZSM intervention led to increased IDE levels, augmented long-term potential (LTP) amplitude, and enhanced dendritic spine density and length. Moreover, DZSM intervention led to favourable changes in mitochondrial parameters, including ROS expression, MMP and ATP contents, and mitochondrial morphology. In conclusion, our findings delved into the realm of altered synaptic currents, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dynamics in AD, concurrently highlighting the therapeutic potential of DZSM intervention.

Abstract The present study aimed to accelerate the humification and to investigate how MnO2 modification of biochar (MBC) drives the humus formation during composting with chicken manure. In this study, compared with the control group (CK), the addition of MBC caused an increase in the concentration of both humus and humic acid (HA), with a respective enhancement of 29.1% and 37.2%. In addition, MBC also improved the stability of compost products. Hetero two-dimensional correlation spectra further exhibited that the MBC could alter the formation mechanism of humus fractions during composting. Random forest analysis showed that Microbacterium, Bacteroides, Kroppenstedtia, Gracilibacillus, and Lentibacillus were significantly related to humus formation (P

Abstract Objective To investigate the factors associated with brain frailty and the effect of brain frailty in patients with anterior circulation large artery occlusion (AC-LAO). Methods 1100 patients with AC-LVO consecutively admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, North China between June 2016 and April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The variables associated with brain frailty and stroke outcome were analyzed by ANOVA analysis, the Mann-Whitney U test and multiple linear regression. Based on previous research. Brain frailty score comprises 1 point each for white matter hyperintensity (WMH), old infarction lesions, and cerebral atrophy among 983 participants with baseline brain magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. Results Among AC-LAO participants, baseline brain frailty score ≥ 1 was common (750/983, 76.3%). Duration of hypertension > 5 years (mean difference [MD] 0.236, 95% CI 0.077, 0.395, p = 0.004), multiple vessel occlusion (MD 0.339, 95% CI 0.068, 0.611, p = 0.014) and basal ganglia infarction (MD -0.308, 95% CI -0.456, -0.160, p 5 years, and multiple vessel occlusion influenced the brain frailty score. Brain frailty score was independently associated with the occurrence of stroke events in AC-LAO patients.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the learning curve and complications in unilateral biportal endoscopic transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (ULIF) using the Cumulative Sum (CUSUM) analysis and Risk-adjusted Cumulative Sum (RA-CUSUM) analysis. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 184 consecutive patients who received ULIF in our hospital, including 104 males and 80 females. CUSUM analysis and RA-CUSUM analysis were used to evaluate the learning curve of ULIF based on the operation time and surgical failure rate, respectively. All postoperative complications were defined as surgical failure. Variables of different phases were compared based on the learning curve. Results The CUSUM analysis showed the cutoff point for ULIF was 29 cases, and the RA-CUSUM analysis showed the cutoff point for ULIF was 41 cases. Operating time and hospital stay were significantly decreased as the learning curve progressed (P