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Abstract Crop production is among the most extensive human activities on the planet – with critical importance for global food security, land use, environmental burden, and climate. Yet despite the key role that croplands play in global land use and Earth systems, there remains little understanding of how spatial patterns of global crop cultivation have recently evolved and which crops have contributed most to these changes. Here we construct a new data library of subnational crop-specific irrigated and rainfed harvested area statistics and combine it with global gridded land cover products to develop a global gridded (5-arcminute) irrigated and rainfed cropped area (MIRCA-OS) dataset for the years 2000 to 2015 for 23 crop classes. These global data products support critical insights into the spatially detailed patterns of irrigated and rainfed cropland change since the start of the century and provide an improved foundation for a wide array of global assessments spanning agriculture, water resource management, land use change, climate impact, and sustainable development.

Abstract Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) constitute a new form of immunotherapy that has shown great success in long-term tumour control. These injectable drugs are managed and compounded by the Pharmacy Intravenous Admixture Services (PIVAS) staff in a specified sterile environment. This study utilized failure mode and effect analysis (FMEA) as a risk management tool to manage mAb drugs within the PIVAS. The nine-member multidisciplinary team mapped the processes; evaluated the severity, occurrence, and detection of each subprocess; and calculated the risk priority number (RPN). Further corrective actions were taken for high-risk steps, followed by re-evaluation and scoring to achieve a low-risk process. We identified seven major processes and twenty-eight subprocesses involved in the management of mAb drugs in PIVAS. A total of thirteen high-risk failure modes with an assigned RPN 1 were selected. This selection represents the first calculated RPN values, resulting in a total score of 3375. After a first round of evaluation and implementation of corrective actions, the RPN 2 score decreased to 464. Following a second round of the FMEA process, the RPN 3 score was further reduced to 51. Through refinement, we successfully mitigated the occurrence of high-risk failure modes of mAb drugs in PIVAS. These efforts are aimed at enhancing the safety and efficacy of mAb drugs, ultimately ensuring patient safety.

Abstract Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent cancers globally. Some studies have found that arthritis could reduce the risk of CRC through inflammatory immune mediation. However, there have been no reports on whether arthritis is related to CRC. Therefore, the correlation between arthritis and CRC was investigated to provide some theoretical support for understanding the prevention and diagnosis of CRC. Methods This study utilized data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to investigate the relationship between arthritis and CRC among Americans. A total of 300,106 adults participated in the study, and through a questionnaire survey, they were categorized into the control group and the CRC group. In this study, arthritis was considered the exposure variable, and 17 covariates were included. The relationship between the variables and CRC was then revealed through baseline characteristic analysis, association analysis, and stratified analysis. The predictive efficiency of arthritis for the CRC was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Finally, nomogram was created to evaluate the predictive capacity. Results A total of 297,681 control subjects and 2,425 CRC subjects within this survey. Significant disparities were observed between the two groups for all variables except for drink and poverty income ratio (PIR). Three models demonstrated a clear association between arthritis and CRC (model 1: odds ratio (OR) = 3.57, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.5–5.1, P = 0.00000000025; model 2: OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.15–2.53, P = 0.008; model 3: OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.03–2.38, P = 0.0369), indicating that the effect of arthritis on CRC was not significantly confounded by other covariates across the three models. Stratified analysis showed that arthritis was positively associated with CRC, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.818, indicating that arthritis was more effective in the prognosis of CRC. Finally, the decision curve and calibration curve indicated that the nomogram could effectively predict CRC. Conclusion This study found that arthritis had a strong association with the occurrence of CRC, providing ideas and strategies for its early detection.

With the vigorous development of artificial intelligence, knowledge-based engineering (KBE), as an engineering technology discipline that studies the intelligent processing of knowledge, has gradually become a research hotspot, and KBE-based ship design method have also received increasing attention. This article systematically summarizes and analyzes the application and development of KBE in the field of ship design in three aspects: overall conceptual ship design, hull structure design, and ship layout design. It also introduces two typical cases of the KBE application in ship hull form design and shipyard-institute collaborative design. Meanwhile, it summarizes and refines the main problems and constraints in the KBE application, and looks forward to the promotion of KBE development by large language model (LLM) technology. Through KBE technology, ship design can be intelligentized, relevant specifications and requirements can be quickly invoked, and the existing ship design knowledge that has been fully proven through practice can be stored and derived, thereby improving design efficiency and shortening the design cycle. However, the full application of KBE techniques still faces numerous challenges and requires further exploration and improvement.

Abstract Pluripotent stem cells possess a unique nuclear architecture characterized by a larger nucleus and more open chromatin, which underpins their ability to self-renew and differentiate. Here, we show that the nucleolus-specific RNA helicase DDX18 is essential for maintaining the pluripotency of human embryonic stem cells. Using techniques such as Hi-C, DNA/RNA-FISH, and biomolecular condensate analysis, we demonstrate that DDX18 regulates nucleolus phase separation and nuclear organization by interacting with NPM1 in the granular nucleolar component, driven by specific nucleolar RNAs. Loss of DDX18 disrupts nucleolar substructures, impairing centromere clustering and perinucleolar heterochromatin (PNH) formation. To probe this further, we develop NoCasDrop, a tool enabling precise nucleolar targeting and controlled liquid condensation, which restores centromere clustering and PNH integrity while modulating developmental gene expression. This study reveals how nucleolar phase separation dynamics govern chromatin organization and cell fate, offering fresh insights into the molecular regulation of stem cell pluripotency.

Acute mastitis is one of the common diseases of postpartum lactating women, also known as lactational mastitis, which can occur during breastfeeding, especially in the postpartum 3–4 weeks. Acute mastitis can lead to the cessation of breastfeeding. Improving breastfeeding behavior and extending breastfeeding duration have become a global strategy to promote maternal and child health. Manual lactation traditional Chinese medicine technology is one of the important measures to improve the rate of breastfeeding, which can solve the problems of breast swelling, pain, and reduction of milk production. This article introduces the definition, indications, standard operating procedures, precautions, and treatment of adverse events of manual lactation in traditional Chinese medicine technology, so as to provide more comprehensive guidance for clinical workers to carry out manual lactation operations.

Abstract Photovoltaic (PV) installations have rapidly and extensively been deployed worldwide as a promising alternative renewable energy source. However, weather anomalies could expose them to challenges in supply security by causing very low power production. Using reanalysis weather data from 1986 to 2021 and a high-resolution global inventory of PV installations, we assess the impact of extreme low-production (ELP) events across various regions. Our results reveal that regions between 60°N and 60°S experience an average of 27 ELP events annually, with 17% of these events being high-intensity. Regions with dense PV installations—including Southern China, Central and Northern Europe, Central and Eastern America, and Japan—are particularly affected. These areas, which collectively host approximately half of the global PV installations, see 44% of ELP events being high-intensity. Maintaining a daily backup supply equivalent to the average event intensity could recover 39% to 81% of events across different sites. This strategy helps ensure a stable energy supply despite the unpredictability of extreme weather events.

Context Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have emerged as potential adjuvant therapies to treat non-small cell lung cancer. More direct comparative studies must be conducted among various oral TCMs.Objective This network meta-analysis evaluates the efficacy and safety of seven oral TCMs combined with chemotherapy in treating NSCLC.Methods The analysis included Zilongjin, Banmao, Hongdoushan, Huachansu, Kanglaite, Xihuang, and Pingxiao TCMs. Randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from the following databases: China National Infrastructure, Wanfang, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library up to April 2023. Two researchers independently extracted data.Results Sixty-eight RCTs (5,099 patients) were included. Compared to chemotherapy, Banmao capsules [odds ratio (OR) = 2.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.96–3.69)] and Huachansu tablets [OR = 2.35, 95%CI (1.81, 3.05)] ranked in the top two in terms of increasing disease control rate. The two main TCMs to improve the objective response rate were Banmao capsules [OR = 3.49, 95%CI (2.17, 5.60)] and Zilongjin tablets [OR = 2.62, 95%CI (1.92, 3.57)]. Zilongjin tablets [OR = 3.47, 95%CI (2.14, 5.63)] and Huachansu tablets [OR = 3.30, 95%CI (1.65, 6.60)] were ranked as the top two in improving Karnofsky performance status. Hongdoushan capsules (SUCRA = 18.8%) and Banmao capsules (SUCRA = 19.8%) were the top two in reducing gastrointestinal toxicity. Zilongjin tablets (SUCRA = 18.9%) and Banmao capsules (SUCRA = 26.6%) were the top two to reduce liver and kidney toxicity. Hongdoushan capsules (SUCRA = 15.7%) and Huachansu tablets (SUCRA = 16.8%) ranked the top two in reducing thrombocytopenia. Banmao capsules (SUCRA = 14.3%) and Zilongjin tablets (SUCRA = 26.3%) were the top two decreasing leukopenia.Conclusions Combining oral TCMs with platinum-based chemotherapy has shown superior efficacy compared to platinum-based chemotherapy alone in treating NSCLC.

Abstract Objective To determine the incidence of secondary vertebral compression fracture (SVCF) after percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) and its correlative risk factors, and to provide theoretical evidence for clinical practice. Methods A retrospective analysis of 288 cases of PVA completed in our hospital from June 2020 to June 2023 was performed, and the patients were divided into the non-secondary vertebral compression fracture group (N-SVCF group) and the secondary vertebral compression fracture group (SVCF group) according to whether SVCF occurred during the postoperative follow-up review. Gender, age, body mass index (BMI), T value of bone mineral density (BMD-T), underlying diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), intravertebral vacuum cleft (IVC), amount of bone cement injected, classification of cement diffusion, anterior vertebral recovery ratio, local Cobb angle correction rate, leakage of bone cement into the intervertebral space, and fat infiltration rate (FIR) of paraspinal muscles were collected from the patients. The incidence and risk factors of SVCF after PVA were evaluated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the predictive value of the independent risk factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) to determine the cut-off points at which they were meaningful for the development of SVCF. Results In our study, the incidence of SVCF was 14.60% (42/288) in 288 patients who underwent PVA. Univariate analysis showed that age, BMI, fat infiltration rate of paraspinal muscles, cement leakage into the intervertebral space, unilateral/bilateral pedicle puncture approach and presence of IVC were statistically different between N-SVCF and SVCF (P

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the impact of physical activity indicators monitored by the POLAR accelerometer on body obesity indicators, metabolic syndrome parameters, and energy metabolism hormones in postmenopausal women. Was included 71 participants from this study program (68.8 ± 4.3 years). We divided participants into LPA and MVPA groups based on their level of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week; Physical activity levels over 7 days were assessed using a POLAR accelerometer, with daily step counts and sedentary time recorded. Measurements included waist circumference, visceral fat volume, body fat percentage, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride levels, HDL cholesterol, and energy metabolism hormone levels (leptin, resistin, adiponectin). The MVPA group displayed lower waist circumference, body fat percentage, abdominal fat, and BMI compared to the LPA group (p

Abstract Neurexin, a molecule associated with autism spectrum disorders, is thought to function mainly in neurons. Recently, it was reported that Neurexin is also present in muscle, but the role of Neurexin in muscle is still poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the overexpression of Neurexin in muscles effectively restored the locomotor function of Drosophila neurexin mutants, while rescuing effects are observed within the nervous. Notably, the defects in muscle structure and function caused by Neurexin deficiency were similar to those caused by mutations in dystroglycan, a gene associated with progressive muscular dystrophy. The absence of Neurexin leads to muscle attachment defects, emphasizing the essential role of Neurexin in muscle integrity. Furthermore, Neurexin deficiency reduces Dystroglycan glycosylation on the cell surface, which is crucial for maintaining proper muscle structure and function. Finally, Neurexin guides Dystroglycan to the glycosyltransferase complex through interactions with Rotated Abdomen, a homolog of mammalian POMT1. Our findings reveal that Neurexin mediates muscle development and function through Dystroglycan glycosylation, suggesting a potential association between autism spectrum disorders and muscular dystrophy.

Abstract Social memory impairment is a key symptom of many brain disorders, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Neuroligins (NLGs) are a family of cell adhesion molecules essential for synapse development and function and their dysfunctions are linked to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. Although NLGs are extensively studied in neurons, their role in glial cells is poorly understood. Here we show that astrocytic deletion of NLG3 in the ventral hippocampus of adult male mice impairs social memory, attenuates astrocytic Ca2+ signals, enhances the expression of EAAT2 and prevents long-term potentiation, and these impairments are rescued by increasing astrocyte activity, reducing EAAT2 function or enhancing adenosine/A2a receptor signaling. This study has revealed an important role of NLG3 in astrocyte function, glutamate homeostasis and social memory and identified the glutamate transporter and adenosine signaling pathway as potential therapeutic strategies to treat brain disorders.

The novel active flow control technology based on plasma synthetic jet (PSJ) has great application potential in the field of shock wave control due to its advantages such as no gas source, strong control ability, and wide excitation frequency band. The control effect of single-pulsed PSJ on head bow shock and wing shock of a hypersonic vehicle model and the drag reduction effect were experimentally studied in a hypersonic wind tunnel. The results show that the opposing PSJ can significantly increase the standoff distance of the head bow shock, and the transverse PSJ can basically eliminate the wing shock completely. The maximum instantaneous drag reduction rate of the vehicle measured by the dynamic force sensor is about 15.5%, but the drag change measured by the sensor has a delay of about 250 μs. The influence of discharge energy, incoming flow total pressure, exit diameter, and cavity volume on the control effect of the head bow shock was also studied.

Abstract Background T-cell leukemia homeobox protein 1 (TLX1) has been revealed as a hub transcription factor in leukemia, while its function in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well described. Here, we investigated the regulation and function of TLX1 in HCC. Methods TLX1 and its possible upstream and downstream molecules in HCC were identified using bioinformatics tools, which were then verified by RT-qPCR assay. CCK-8, wound healing, and Transwell invasion assays were performed to detect the effects of TLX1 knockdown on HCC cells. The interactions between TLX1 and trafficking protein particle complex subunit 9 (TRAPPC9) or Zinc finger protein 69 homolog B (ZFP69B) were further probed by ChIP and luciferase reporter assays. Rescue experiments were finally conducted in vitro and in vivo. Results TLX1 was highly expressed in HCC cells, and the knockdown of TLX1 led to reduced malignant biological behavior of HCC cells. TLX1 bound to the promoter region of TRAPPC9, thereby promoting TRAPPC9 expression. Overexpression of TRAPPC9 attenuated the effect of TLX1 reduction on suppressing malignant behavior of HCC cells. ZFP69B was also highly expressed in HCC cells and bound to the promoter region of TLX1 to induce TLX1 expression. Knockdown of ZFP69B inhibited the viability and mobility of HCC cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, and overexpression of TLX1 rescued this inhibition. Conclusion These findings suggest that ZFP69B promotes the proliferation of HCC cells by directly upregulating the expression of TLX1 and the ensuing TRAPPC9.

The prolonged mechanical performance degradation and failure of elastic components in mechanical systems can pose significant safety risks and disrupt related operations. While helical compression springs' mechanical behavior and failure mechanisms at high temperatures have been well-studied, their mechanical properties and microstructural deformation mechanisms at extreme cryogenic temperatures remain largely unexplored. This paper conducts experiments to investigate the detailed mechanical properties and microstructural evolution of Ti-6Al-4V helix springs under such conditions. Initially, we examined the mechanical properties at cryogenic temperatures and compared them with those at high temperatures. It was observed that the logarithmic constitutive model applicable at high temperatures does not suitably describe the spring's mechanical behavior at cryogenic temperatures. At extremely low temperatures, the mechanical properties of the spring were enhanced. Furthermore, we characterized the microstructural deformation mechanisms using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), including twinning, slip activation, and dislocation evolution. The findings suggest that the deformation mechanism in Ti-6Al-4V springs under cryogenic conditions is predominantly governed by twinning and basal and prismatic slip. Due to the significant increase in the critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) of the pyramidal slip systems at cryogenic temperatures, these slip systems may not be activated during the deformation process. Additionally, the volume fraction of twinning shows a significant positive correlation with both cryogenic temperature and mechanical stress.

BackgroundThe clinical spectrum of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is notably heterogeneous. Some DLBCL patients initially present with neurological manifestations, leading to their preliminary diagnosis within neurology departments. However, the overlap of clinical and auxiliary examination findings with those of various neurological entities—such as cerebral infarction, demyelination, viral encephalitis, and peripheral neuropathy—often results in diagnostic misattribution.Case presentationWe delineate six pathologically-confirmed DLBCL cases, each heralded by neurological deficits, including limb paresis, sensory loss, vertigo, seizure activity, and aphasia. These presentations precipitated multiple erroneous diagnoses pertaining to nervous system pathologies, culminating in a median diagnostic latency of 8 months.ConclusionThe differential diagnostic process for the misdiagnosed conditions in these cases has been meticulously revisited, enhancing the diagnostic acumen of neurologists. These cases underscore the imperative for neurologists to maintain a high index of suspicion for lymphoma in atypical presentations and to judiciously integrate multimodal diagnostic modalities—such as comprehensive imaging, cerebrospinal fluid analysis, and biopsy—to expedite diagnosis and initiate timely intervention.

Abstract Restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) is a primary symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which poses a significant risk to individuals' health and is becoming increasingly prevalent. However, the specific cellular and neural circuit mechanisms underlying the generation of RRB remain unclear. In this study, it is reported that the absence of the ASD‐related protein Neuroligin 1 (NLGN1) in dopamine receptor D2‐expressing medium spiny neurons (D2‐MSNs) in the dorsal striatum is associated with the duration and frequency of self‐grooming and digging behaviors. The Nlgn1‐deficient D2‐MSNs are hyperactivated, which correlates with excessive self‐grooming and digging behaviors. Inhibiting the activity of D2‐MSNs reduces the duration and frequency of these RRBs. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the generation of self‐grooming and digging behaviors depends on distinct patterns of D2‐MSN activity. Finally, through single‐nucleus RNA sequencing (sn‐RNAseq) and protein detection verification, it is revealed that the overactivation of protein kinase C (PKC) in Nlgn1‐deficient mice contributes to excessive repetitive behaviors and increased neuronal excitability. In this study, potential mechanisms are proposed for the generation of self‐grooming and digging behaviors, as well as suggest possible treatments and interventions ASD.

ObjectivesGeriatric hip fractures, known as osteoporotic fractures, are associated with nutritional deficiencies such as vitamin D (VitD). However, the relationship between other vitamins besides VitD and fracture is still lacking. Therefore, we intended to identify various vitamin levels and deficiencies in elderly patients with hip fractures and compared those with healthy elderly individuals.MethodsA total of 210 geriatric hip fracture continuous patients and 402 healthy elderly individuals aged ≥65 years old and with complete serum vitamin records were enrolled in this study. The levels of serum VitA, VitB1, VitB2, VitB3, VitB5, VitB6, VitB9, VitE, VitK1, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-HO-VitD) and nutritional markers, such as prognostic nutritional index (PNI), were compared between geriatric hip fracture patients and healthy control. The correlation between vitamin level and the nutritional markers was explored. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between vitamin levels and hip fracture.ResultsThe levels of VitA, VitB1, VitB3, VitB5, VitB9, 25-HO-VitD, 25-HO-VitD3, E, and K1 were all lower in the hip fracture group (p

BackgroundThe increased risks for cardiovascular comorbidities and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in populations with normal weight obesity (NWO) have not been well-identified. We aimed to study their associations in an adult population in South China.MethodsBased on the CVD prevalence of 4% in Shenzhen and a calculated sample size of 6,000, a cross-sectional study with a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was conducted in Shenzhen City. The cardiovascular comorbidities being studied were abdominal obesity (AO), diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome, and chronic kidney disease, while the CVD events were occurrences of myocardial infarction and strokes. Questionnaire surveys, physical examinations, and laboratory tests were performed. NWO was defined as a condition with the highest tertile of body fat percentage (BF%) among the normal body mass index (BMI) range (18.5-23.9 kg/m2). Continuous data were reported as mean [standard deviation (SD)] and categorical data as percentages (%). CVD comorbidities and CVD events and their detection rates in different groups were compared using ANONA analysis and Chi-squared test. Spearman's correlation coefficients between BF% and cardiometabolic abnormalities were calculated by partial correlation analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for BF%, CVD comorbidities, and CVD events, adjusted for multiple confounders.ResultsAmong the total 6,240 subjects who completed the study and had BMI and BF% data available, 3,086 had normal BMI. The prevalence of NWO was 16.36%, with 13.15% for men and 19.54% for women. With confounders adjusted, the risks of AO (OR = 6.05, 95%CI = 3.40-10.75), essential hypertension (OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.09-2.22), dyslipidemia (OR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.49-2.29), and metabolic syndrome (OR = 4.61, 95%CI = 2.32-9.18) were significantly increased in the populations with NWO compared with the population without NWO (P < 0.05). BF% was not significantly associated with the risk of CVD events in the total (OR = 1.56, 95%CI = 0.83-2.93), male (OR = 1.00, 95%CI = 0.44-2.30), and female populations (OR = 2.53, 95%CI = 0.91-7.06).ConclusionNWO was found to be positively associated with CVD comorbidities but not with CVD events. The current study provides a ground to conduct further studies on whether body fat affects the risk of occurrence of CVD events and the underlying mechanisms in the future.

Chlorfenapyr, an arylpyrrole-based insecticide, disrupts mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation to deprive the target organism of energy. Chlorfenapyr poisoning in humans causes distinct clinical signs such as hyperhidrosis, malignant hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, and delayed neurological symptoms that worsen over time and can be fatal. When treating acute chlorfenapyr poisoning, physicians must consider the latent period and not assume that a patient is safe after an initial response to treatment. It is important to take measures before sudden, fatal symptoms appear. This paper presents three cases of chlorfenapyr poisoning as a warning for physicians to understand its clinical course and treatment.

BackgroundSeeking sexual partners in men who have sex with men (MSM) venues has been regarded as a high-risk behavior for HIV among MSM. Nevertheless, with the implementation of venue-based interventions and the change in the way MSM seek sexual partners, the continued status of MSM venues as the HIV risk factor remains inconclusive. This study endeavors to delve into this ambiguity by examining the MSM sexual contact network (SCN) as a foundation.MethodsA series of cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Shenzhen in the period 2010–2022. MSM sexual contact network and venue network were acquired, and network metrics were employed to identify core MSM and core venues. We compared the risk of HIV and risk behaviors between MSM who sought sexual partners in core venues and those who did not, with subgroup analyses based on different time periods.ResultsThe overall HIV prevalence among the 4,408 MSM surveyed in this study was 14.6%. Notably, 17 core venues were identified out of the 68 reported MSM venues, with 1,486 MSM who had sought sexual partners in core venues. These MSM had significantly higher risk of HIV and were more likely to take HIV testing and receive intervention services. Subgroup analyses showed that the heightened HIV risk associated with seeking partners in core venues was specific to the period 2010–2014, while HIV testing and service access remained consistently higher across all-period subgroups. Multiple sexual partners, seeking partners in core venues, receptive or both sexual roles, drug abuse, absence of HIV test, unprotected anal intercourse (UAI), and lower education levels were associated with elevated HIV risk among MSM.ConclusionFollowing the implementation of differentiated venue-based interventions, the risk of HIV among MSM who had sought sexual partners in core venues decreased to a level comparable to that of MSM who had not. The accessibility of HIV testing and intervention services remains uneven between MSM who had sought sexual partners in core venues and those who had not. As the Internet sex-seeking behavior gains prevalence among MSM, strategic adjustments of public health resource allocation may be necessary to address this imbalance.

BackgroundA significant proportion of hypertensive patients also suffer from comorbid dyslipidemia, which critically influences their treatment outcomes and overall prognosis. Given its implications, the lipid profiles of hypertensive individuals warrant increased attention for more effective clinical management.MethodsWe analyzed data from 92,443 hypertensive patients registered at primary community health institutions in 2021. Employing a cross-sectional study design, we assessed the distribution of lipid levels and the prevalence of various dyslipidemia subtypes. Stepwise forward logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with dyslipidemia, adjusting for gender, age, body size, and other relevant characteristics.ResultsAccording to the 2023 Chinese Guidelines for the Management of Lipids, the overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 37.5%. Subtype analysis revealed prevalence of high total cholesterol (TC) at 11.2%, high triglycerides (TG) at 16.0%, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) at 16.0%, and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) at 10.2%. TG abnormalities were more common among males (16.8%), whereas TC abnormalities predominated in females (14.4%). Notably, hypertensive patients with diabetes had higher levels of TG compared to non-diabetics (p = 0.009). Those with stroke and liver disease comorbidities exhibited lower TG levels than their counterparts (p = 0.018 and p

Real-time monitoring technologies of surface deformation represented by the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) are essential for landslides early warning. Monitoring methods such as GNSS require on-site manual installation. Therefore, it becomes nearly impossible to deploy surface monitoring equipment when landslides are located in high mountain valleys that are challenging for personnel to access, and/or in hazardous situations. We propose an intelligent real-time monitoring and early-warning technology that employs an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) as a carrier to deploy GNSS equipment. A system was initially designed with five components: an adaptive sampling GNSS receiver, an intelligent cooperative network transmission module, UAV-dropped GNSS equipment, special delivery UAV, and an intelligent monitoring and early warning cloud platform. This new technology was applied to a real landslide in Gansu Province, China, in 2020. The mean absolute error of 30 days in the east, north, and upward directions were 1.2, 1.3, and 2.9 mm/d, respectively, comparing the deformation velocity between the traditional monitoring station and the UAV-dropped monitoring station. This observation facilitated the successful prediction of a landslide hazard on 27 January 2021, allowing for a timely alert to be issued. Collectively, the results of this study established that UAV-deployed GNSS technology can accomplish unmanned deployment of GNSS equipment for landslide monitoring to ensure early warning issuance in inaccessible and/or high-risk areas.

Aggregate segregation compromises the homogeneity of asphalt pavement, which diminishes the road performance of the asphalt mixture. The segregation behavior and damage mechanism of asphalt mixture are complex. To investigate the mechanical properties and cracking behavior of asphalt mixtures with varying degrees of aggregate segregation, the dense-graded asphalt mixture with the nominal maximum size of 13.2 mm (AC-13) and Open Graded Friction Course with the nominal maximum size of 16.0 mm (OGFC-16) with varying degrees of segregation were designed. Indirect tensile test and the digital image correlation (DIC) technology was employed to analyze the strain distribution and strain evolution at the crack initiation point within the asphalt mixtures. The parameters were also proposed to evaluate the resistance to cracking for the segregated asphalt mixtures at a mesoscopic scale. The results show that increased segregation of coarse aggregates in AC-13 mixtures leads to decreased indirect tensile strength, lower maximum tensile strain along the horizontal direction (E11), and reduced failure displacement. Conversely, segregation of fine aggregates in OGFC-16 mixtures results in increased tensile strength, maximum strain, and failure displacement. Higher amount of coarse aggregates in the asphalt mixture contributes to a more intricate strain distribution and a greater number of strain peaks. Dense-graded mixtures show larger strain concentration zones prior to cracking, while smaller stress concentration zones are observed in open-graded mixtures. The horizontal strain-time curve displays distinct stages of stable growth, rapid growth, and rapid decline. Aggregate segregation results in more intricate crack patterns with larger inclination angles, influenced by the random distribution and shapes of coarse aggregates. Novel indexes such as strain uniformity (P1,2) and strain density during crack development (DW) effectively evaluate mesoscopic cracking resistance of asphalt mixtures. The results offer valuable insights into cracking behavior and improve evaluation methods for the mechanical performance of aggregate-segregated asphalt mixtures.

Abstract Neurexin-3 (Nrxn3) has been genetically associated with obesity, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the role of Nrxn3 in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) in regulating energy balance and glucose homeostasis. We found that Nrxn3 expression in the PVN was upregulated in response to metabolic stressors, including cold exposure and fasting. Using Cre-loxP technology, we selectively ablated Nrxn3 in CaMKIIα-expressing neurons of the PVN in male mice. This genetic manipulation resulted in marked weight gain attributable to increased adiposity and impaired glucose tolerance, without affecting food intake. Our findings identify PVN CaMKIIα-expressing neurons as a critical locus where Nrxn3 modulates energy balance by regulating adipogenesis and glucose metabolism, independently of appetite. These results reveal a novel neural mechanism potentially linking Nrxn3 dysfunction to obesity pathogenesis, suggesting that targeting PVN Nrxn3-dependent neural pathways may inform new therapeutic approaches for obesity prevention and treatment.

The impact of steaming time on the lipid oxidation and flavor of sturgeon dorsal meat were investigated. The study characterized the degree of lipid oxidation using peroxide value, acid value, malondialdehyde, and conjugated dienes. The effects of changes in fatty acid on volatile compounds and nutritional quality were examined and lipid profile was identified in a non-targeted metabolomics approach. Finally, an oxidation model was established to explore the specific effects of phospholipids on flavor formation. Results showed that the steaming sturgeon dorsal meat for 16 minutes resulted in moderate levels of lipid oxidation, which was conducive to the formation of characteristic flavors and high nutritional value due to the presence of abundant unsaturated fatty acids. The main unsaturated fatty acids found in association with phospholipids were linoleic acid (C18:2), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6), oleic acid (C18:1), and arachidonic acid (C20:4), while the phospholipids were the primary precursors of volatile flavor compounds. Simulation of steaming conditions showed that the oxidation of phospholipids produced a large amount of pyrazine and furan compounds, providing roasted aromas for sturgeon dorsal meat steamed. In conclusion, moderate levels of lipid oxidation were beneficial for enhancing the flavor and nutritional quality of steamed sturgeon dorsal meat, and phospholipid oxidation had a significant impact on the formation of flavor. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving the flavor of sturgeon meat.

Abstract Objective The early identification and diagnosis of transplant-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) are essential yet difficult in patients underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). To develop an evidence-based, nurse-leading early warning model for TA-TMA, and implement the healthcare quality review and improvement project. Methods This study was a mixed-methods, before-and-after study. The early warning model was developed based on quality evidence from literature search. The healthcare quality review and improvement project mainly included baseline investigation of nurse, improvement action and effectiveness evaluation. The awareness and knowledge of early parameter of TA-TMA among nurses and the prognosis of patients underwent HSCT were compared before and after the improvement. Results A total of 1 guideline, 1 evidence synthesis, 4 expert consensuses, 10 literature reviews, 2 diagnostic studies, and 9 case series were included in the best evidence. The early warning model including warning period, high-risk characteristics and early manifestation of TA-TMA was developed. The improvement action, including staff training and assessment, suspected TA-TMA identification and patient education, was implemented. The awareness and knowledge rate of early parameter of TA-TMA among nurses significantly improved after improvement action (100% vs. 26.7%, P

The path planning of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a critical issue in emergency communication and rescue operations, especially in adversarial urban environments. Due to the continuity of the flying space, complex building obstacles, and the aircraft's high dynamics, traditional algorithms cannot find the optimal collision-free flying path between the UAV station and the destination. Accordingly, in this paper, we study the fast UAV path planning problem in a 3D urban environment from a source point to a target point and propose a Three-Step Experience Buffer Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TSEB-DDPG) algorithm. We first build the 3D model of a complex urban environment with buildings and project the 3D building surface into many 2D geometric shapes. After transformation, we propose the Hierarchical Learning Particle Swarm Optimization (HL-PSO) to obtain the empirical path. Then, to ensure the accuracy of the obtained paths, the empirical path, the collision information and fast transition information are stored in the three experience buffers of the TSEB-DDPG algorithm as dynamic guidance information. The sampling ratio of each buffer is dynamically adapted to the training stages. Moreover, we designed a reward mechanism to improve the convergence speed of the DDPG algorithm for UAV path planning. The proposed TSEB-DDPG algorithm has also been compared to three widely used competitors experimentally, and the results show that the TSEB-DDPG algorithm can archive the fastest convergence speed and the highest accuracy. We also conduct experiments in real scenarios and compare the real path planning obtained by the HL-PSO algorithm, DDPG algorithm, and TSEB-DDPG algorithm. The results show that the TSEB-DDPG algorithm can archive almost the best in terms of accuracy, the average time of actual path planning, and the success rate.

Abstract Background Acute monocytic leukemia-M5 (AML-M5) remains a challenging disease due to its high morbidity and poor prognosis. In addition to the evidence mentioned earlier, several studies have shown that programmed cell death (PCD) serves a critical function in treatment of AML-M5. However, the role and relationship between ferroptosis and necroptosis in AML-M5 remains unclear. Methods THP-1 cells were mainly treated with Erastin and IMP-366. The changes of ferroptosis and necroptosis levels were detected by CCK-8, western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, and electron microscopy. Flow cytometry was applied to detect the ROS and lipid ROS levels. MDA, 4-HNE, GSH and GSSG were assessed by ELISA kits. Intracellular distribution of FSP1 was studied by immunofluorescent staining and western blot. Results The addition of the myristoylation inhibitor IMP-366 to erastin-treated acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 cell not only resulted in greater susceptibility to ferroptosis characterized by lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) depletion and mitochondrial shrinkage, as the FSP1 position on membrane was inhibited, but also increased p-RIPK1 and p-MLKL protein expression, as well as a decrease in caspase-8 expression, and triggered the characteristic necroptosis phenomena, including cytoplasmic translucency, mitochondrial swelling, membranous fractures by FSP1 migration into the nucleus via binding importin α2. It is interesting to note that ferroptosis inhibitor fer-1 reversed necroptosis. Conclusion We demonstrated that inhibition of myristoylation by IMP-366 is capable of switching ferroptosis and ferroptosis-dependent necroptosis in THP-1 cells. In these findings, FSP1-mediated ferroptosis and necroptosis are described as alternative mechanisms of PCD of THP-1 cells, providing potential therapeutic strategies and targets for AML-M5.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Many studies have identified the risk factors associated with DR, but there is not much evidence on the importance of these factors for DR. This study aimed to investigate the associated factors for patients with type 2 DM (T2DM) and calculate the importance of the identified factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using probability proportionate to size sampling method in this community-based cross-sectional study, 22 community health service centers were selected from 10 administrative districts in Shenzhen, China. Approximately 60 T2DM patients were recruited from each center. The participants completed a structural questionnaire, had their venous blood collected, and underwent medical examinations and fundus photography. Logistic regression models were used to identify the risk factors of DR. The classification and regression tree (CART) model was used to calculate the importance of the identified risk factors. RESULTS: This study recruited 1097 T2DM patients, 266 of whom were identified as having DR, yielding a prevalence rate of 24.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 21.7%–26.9%). Results showed that a longer duration of DM, indoor-type lifestyle, and higher levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) or urea increased the risk of DR. Patients with HbA1c values ≥7% were about 2.45 times (odds ratio: 2.45; 95% CI: 1.83–3.29) more likely to have DR than their counterparts. The CART model found that the values of variable importance for HbA1c, DM duration, lifestyle (i.e., indoor type), and urea were 48%, 37%, 10%, and 4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of DR is high for T2DM patients who receive DM health management services from the primary healthcare system. HbA1c is the most important risk factor for DR. Integration of DR screening and HbA1c testing into the healthcare services for T2DM to reduce vision impairment and blindness is urgently warranted.

Abstract Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is believed to be associated with a notable disruption of cellular energy metabolism. By detecting the changes of energy metabolites in the serum of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, we aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic value of energy metabolites in IPF, and further elucidated the mechanism of their involvement in pulmonary fibrosis. Through metabolomics research, it was discovered that the TCA cycle intermediates changed dramatically in IPF patients. In another validation cohort of 55 patients with IPF compared to 19 healthy controls, it was found that succinate, an intermediate product of TCA cycle, has diagnostic and prognostic value in IPF. The cut-off levels of serum succinate were 98.36 μM for distinguishing IPF from healthy controls (sensitivity, 83.64%; specificity, 63.16%; likelihood ratio, 2.27, respectively). Moreover, a high serum succinate level was independently associated with higher rates of disease progression (OR 13.087, 95%CI (2.819–60.761)) and mortality (HR 3.418, 95% CI (1.308–8.927)). In addition, accumulation of succinate and increased expression of the succinate receptor GPR91 were found in both IPF patients and BLM mouse models of pulmonary fibrosis. Reducing succinate accumulation in BLM mice alleviated pulmonary fibrosis and 21d mortality, while exogenous administration of succinate can aggravate pulmonary fibrosis in BLM mice. Furthermore, GPR91 deficiency protected against lung fibrosis caused by BLM. In vitro, succinate promoted the activation of lung fibroblasts by activating ERK pathway through GPR91. In summary, succinate is a promising biomarker for diagnosis and prognosis of IPF. The accumulation of succinate may promote fibroblast activation through GPR91 and pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract Background Microbial adaptation to salinity has been a classic inquiry in the field of microbiology. It has been demonstrated that microorganisms can endure salinity stress via either the “salt-in” strategy, involving inorganic ion uptake, or the “salt-out” strategy, relying on compatible solutes. While these insights are mostly based on laboratory-cultured isolates, exploring the adaptive mechanisms of microorganisms within natural salinity gradient is crucial for gaining a deeper understanding of microbial adaptation in the estuarine ecosystem. Results Here, we conducted metagenomic analyses on filtered surface water samples collected from a typical subtropical short residence-time estuary and categorized them by salinity into low-, intermediate-, and high-salinity metagenomes. Our findings highlighted salinity-driven variations in microbial community composition and function, as revealed through taxonomic and Clusters of Orthologous Group (COG) functional annotations. Through metagenomic binning, 127 bacterial and archaeal metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) were reconstructed. These MAGs were categorized as stenohaline—specific to low-, intermediate-, or high-salinity—based on the average relative abundance in one salinity category significantly exceeding those in the other two categories by an order of magnitude. Those that did not meet this criterion were classified as euryhaline, indicating a broader range of salinity tolerance. Applying the Boruta algorithm, a machine learning-based feature selection method, we discerned important genomic features from the stenohaline bacterial MAGs. Of the total 12,162 COGs obtained, 40 were identified as important features, with the “inorganic ion transport and metabolism” COG category emerging as the most prominent. Furthermore, eight COGs were implicated in microbial osmoregulation, of which four were related to the “salt-in” strategy, three to the “salt-out” strategy, and one to the regulation of water channel activity. COG0168, annotated as the Trk-type K+ transporter related to the “salt-in” strategy, was ranked as the most important feature. The relative abundance of COG0168 was observed to increase with rising salinity across metagenomes, the stenohaline strains, and the dominant Actinobacteriota and Proteobacteria phyla. Conclusions We demonstrated that salinity exerts influences on both the taxonomic and functional profiles of the microbial communities inhabiting the estuarine ecosystem. Our findings shed light on diverse salinity adaptation strategies employed by the estuarine microbial communities, highlighting the crucial role of the “salt-in” strategy mediated by Trk-type K+ transporters for microorganisms thriving under osmotic stress in the short residence-time estuary. Video Abstract

Chinese social psychology developed vigorously, and its scientific achievement showed explosive growth from 2000 to 2015. Based on typical Chinese social psychology articles published between 2006 and 2015, the development trend of this discipline was investigated in this article by means of citation analysis. There were 61,284 references in 1,982 typical Chinese social psychology essays, which were retrieved from the database of China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Web of Science (WoS) and general literature database. The results were as follows: (a) The primary types of journal citation in the discipline of Chinese social psychology were English journals rather than Chinese journals; (b) The research hotspot of social psychology in China, as reflected by the top cited authors, involved both indigenous psychology and social psychology of culture; (c) The literature obsolescence rate of Chinese citations was declining and much lower than before; (d) Collaborations increased in Chinese social psychology articles, but remained significantly lower than collaborations in English articles.

Summary: Irisin, an exercise-induced myokine, is known to be able to regulate bone metabolism. However, the underlying mechanisms regarding the effects of irisin on senile osteoporosis have not been fully elucidated. Here, we demonstrated that irisin can inhibit bone mass loss and bone microarchitecture alteration in senile osteoporosis mouse model. In addition, irisin has effects on bone remodeling that is in favor of bone formation. Remarkably, irisin induced autophagy in osteocytes demonstrated by increased LC3-positive osteocytes, and increased autophagy-related genes and proteins. In vitro analysis revealed that Irisin can prevent mitochondrial oxidative damage. Furthermore, irisin can obviously induce osteocyte mitophagy and increased phosphorylation of Ampk and Ulk1. Inhibition of Ampk signaling recapitulated the biological effect of irisin loss, accompanied by the markedly lower expression of Ulk1. Taken together, our findings show that irisin reduces age-related bone loss by inducing osteocyte mitophagy via Ampk-dependent activation of Ulk1.

Two‐dimensional polymers (2DPs) and their layer‐stacked 2D covalent organic frameworks have recently emerged as nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for potential applications in optics. However, the chemistry for designing third‐order NLO 2DP films with large nonlinear absorption coefficient (β) has remained a mystery. Herein, three highly crystalline porphyrin‐integrated 2D polyimines (named as 2DPI‐Zn‐Azo, 2DPI‐2H‐Azo, and 2DPI‐Zn), which are homogeneous films showing large lateral areas over cm2, uniform transparency, and thickness of tens of nanometers are reported. Particularly, the 2DPI‐Zn‐Azo film comprising zinc porphyrin and –NN– displays a large saturable absorption under 532 nm and the highest β (−1.88 × 105 cm GW−1) among the three 2D polyimines, that is also 2–5 orders of magnitude higher than the state‐of‐art performance of photoactive small molecules, porphyrin‐integrated 2DPs, and inorganic 2D materials. Control experiments in combination with theoretical calculation discover that the embedding of metal centers and –NN– results in highly delocalized π‐electrons and narrow bandgap in 2DPI‐Zn‐Azo, which enables fast transfer of the photogenerated electrons after the light‐excited charge separation, thus boosting the NLO performance. This work opens up a new path for the construction of highly efficient third‐order NLO film materials, and pushes the development of 2DPs for optics and optoelectronics.

Background Heilongjiang Province is a major soybean production area in China. To improve soil structure and increase soybean yield, this study examined the effects of combined biochar and chemical fertilizer application on the biochemical properties of soil in a maize-soybean rotation system. Methods The research were conducted from 2021 to 2022 at Heshan Farm Science Park in Heilongjiang Province, this field plot experiment utilized two soybean varieties, Heihe 43 (a high-protein variety) and Keshan 1 (a high-oil variety). In 2021, two plots with similar fertility levels were selected for planting soybeans and maize. In 2022, a maize-soybean rotation was implemented with five treatments: conventional fertilization (CK), increased biochar+reduced fertilizer 1 (F1+B), reduced fertilizer 1 (F1), increased biochar+reduced fertilizer 2 (F2+B), and reduced fertilizer 2 (F2). The study systematically analyzed the effects of combined biochar and chemical fertilizer application on soil chemical properties and microbial characteristics. Results Over 2 years, results showed that combined application effectively improved soil chemical traits. Compared to conventional fertilization (CK) and reduced fertilization (F1, F2), t he combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer (F1+B, F2+B) increased soil pH, EC and the absolute value of zeta potential of soil surface, the CEC of soil significantly increased by 15.6–44.3%, the soil surface charge density and the soil surface charge quantity significantly increased by 16.4–73.5%. The combined application of biochar and chemical fertilizer also effectively enhanced the abundance and diversity of soil microbes. Dominant bacterial groups in soybean field soils under different treatments included Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Proteobacteria; while dominant fungal groups were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Mortierellomycota. Alpha and Beta diversity analyses revealed that the F1+B treatment significantly enhanced the species richness and diversity of bacteria and fungi in the soil, increasing the proportion and evenness of dominant and beneficial genera.

ObjectiveNeuroendoscopic surgery (NES) has been proven to be safe and effective in hematoma evacuation for cerebral hemorrhage. However, its efficacy for thalamic hemorrhage accompanied by intraventricular hematoma (THAVH) remains unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of NES in treating THAVH.MethodA retrospective study was carried out. The data of patients diagnosed with THAVH were collected from January 1st, 2019, to January 1st, 2022. Patients received the NES or external ventricle drainage (EVD) treatment were assigned to the NES or EVD group, respectively. As primary outcomes, the hematoma evacuation volume, residual hematoma volume, and hematoma clearance rate were separately calculated based on the hematoma site; and the 180-day-mRS score was assessed. As secondary outcomes, the length of stay in the ICU and hospital, and the adverse events were also compared.ResultsThirty-five patients, aged 66.37 ± 6.62 years, were in the NES group; and 40 patients, aged 68.75 ± 7.22 years, were in the EVD group. The baseline characteristics in the two groups were similar (P > 0.05). The gross hematoma evacuation volume, volume of hematoma evacuated in the thalamus or the ventricle, and the hematoma clearance rate were greater in the NES group than in the EVD group on the 1st day after surgery (P 3, the mean residual hematoma volume in the thalamus of patients with mRS ≤3 on the 1st and 7th day were less in each group (P 3 in the EVD group on the 1st day after surgery (P

Abstract Objective We aimed to screen novel gene signatures for ovarian cancer (OC) and explore the role of biomarkers in OC via regulating pyroptosis using bioinformatics analysis. Methods Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of OC were screened from GSE12470 and GSE16709 datasets. Hub genes were determined from protein–protein interaction networks after bioinformatics analysis. The role of Centromeric protein M (CENPM) in OC was assessed by subcutaneous tumor experiment using hematoxylin–eosin and immunohistochemical staining. Tumor metastasis was evaluated by detecting epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related proteins. The proliferation, migration, and invasion were determined using cell counting kit and transwell assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was applied to measure inflammatory factors. The mRNA and protein expression were detected using real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. Results We determined 9 hub genes (KIFC1, PCLAF, CDCA5, KNTC1, MCM3, OIP5, CENPM, KIF15, and ASF1B) with high prediction value for OC. In SKOV3 and A2780 cells, the expression levels of hub genes were significantly up-regulated, compared with normal ovarian cells. CENPM was selected as a key gene. Knockdown of CENPM suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of OC cells. Subcutaneous tumor experiment revealed that CENPM knockdown significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, pyroptosis was promoted in OC cells and xenograft tumors after CENPM knockdown. Furthermore, CENPM knockdown activated cGAS-STING pathway and the pathway inhibitor reversed the inhibitory effect of CENPM knockdown on viability, migration, and invasion of OC cells. Conclusion CENPM was a novel biomarker of OC, and knockdown of CENPM inhibited OC progression by promoting pyroptosis and activating cGAS-STING pathway.

Abstract Damage to the ribosome or an imbalance in protein biosynthesis can lead to some human diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other eye diseases. Here, we reported that the kri1l gene was responsible for retinal development. The kri1l gene encodes an essential component of the rRNA small subunit processome. The retinal structure was disrupted in kri1l mutants, which resulted in small eyes. The boundaries of each layer of cells in the retina were blurred, and each layer of cells was narrowed and decreased. The photoreceptor cells and Müller glia cells almost disappeared in kri1l mutants. The lack of photoreceptor cells caused a fear of light response. The development of the retina started without abnormalities, and the abnormalities began two days after fertilization. In the kri1l mutant, retinal cell differentiation was defective, resulting in the disappearance of cone cells and Müller cells. The proliferation of retinal cells was increased, while apoptosis was also enhanced in kri1l mutants. γ-H2AX upregulation indicated the accumulation of DNA damage, which resulted in cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. The kri1l mutation reduced the expression of some opsin genes and key retinal genes, which are also essential for retinal development.

Abstract The accurate prediction of a lithium-ion battery’s State of Health is of critical importance for efficient battery health management. Existing data-driven estimation methodologies grapple with issues such as high model complexity and a dearth of guidance from prior knowledge, which impose constraints on their efficacy. This work introduces a novel cross-modal distillation network for battery State of Health estimation, structured around a TransformerEncoder as the teacher network and a Convolutional Neural Network as the student network. Initially, the teacher model is pre-trained offline using State of Health degradation data to learn the degradation patterns. The directly measurable feature data (such as voltage, temperature, and current) is subsequently fed into the student network for online training and computation of a hard loss. the student network’s output is then directed into the pre-trained the teacher network to compute a soft loss, thereby offering prior knowledge of degradation laws and steering the optimization process of the student network. Rigorous experiments are conducted utilizing various datasets, with the outcomes validating the superior estimation accuracy and degradation rule adherence of the model. Notably, among five different models, this model demonstrates the best performance on almost all datasets, achieving an RMSE of 0.0097 and an MAE of 0.0065 on Cell1 of the Oxford dataset. Moreover, the model also demonstrates robust performance across different usage scenarios, inclusive of multi-battery estimation. Furthermore, this paper also introduces a fine tuning method for State of Health predictions only using the first half of the data. Comparative analysis with other models underscores the competitiveness of the proposed model, showcasing its potential for broader application.

Abstract Background Hypertension is one of the major public health problems in China. Limited evidence exists regarding sex differences in the association between hypertension and air pollutants, as well as the impact of dietary factors on the relationship between air pollutants and hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the sex-specific effects of dietary patterns on the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone(O3) and hypertension in adults residing in Jiangsu Province of China. Methods A total of 3189 adults from the 2015 China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance in Jiangsu Province were included in this study. PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were estimated using satellite space-time models and assigned to each participant. Dietary patterns were determined by reduced rank regression (RRR), and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the associations of the obtained dietary patterns with air pollutants and hypertension risk. Results After adjusting for confounding variables, we found that males were more sensitive to long-term exposure to PM2.5 (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.42 95%CI:1.08,1.87), and females were more sensitive to long-term exposure to O3 (OR = 1.61 95%CI:1.15,2.23). Traditional southern pattern identified through RRR exhibited a protective effect against hypertension in males (OR = 0.73 95%CI: 0.56,1.00). The results of the interaction between dietary pattern score and PM2.5 revealed that adherence to traditional southern pattern was significantly associated with a decreased risk of hypertension in males (P

Abstract Background Both epidemiological and clinical studies have indicated that headache and sleep disturbances share a complex relationship. Although headache and sleep share common neurophysiological and anatomical foundations, the mechanism underlying their interaction remains poorly understood. The structures of the diencephalon and brainstem, particularly the locus coeruleus (LC), are the primary sites where the sleep and headache pathways intersect. To better understand the intricate nature of the relationship between headache and sleep, our study focused on investigating the role and function of noradrenergic neurons in the LC during acute headache and acute sleep disturbance. Method To explore the relationship between acute headache and acute sleep disturbance, we primarily employed nitroglycerin (NTG)-induced migraine-like headache and acute sleep deprivation (ASD) models. Initially, we conducted experiments to confirm that ASD enhances headache and that acute headache can lead to acute sleep disturbance. Subsequently, we examined the separate roles of the LC in sleep and headache. We observed the effects of drug-induced activation and inhibition and chemogenetic manipulation of LC noradrenergic neurons on ASD-induced headache facilitation and acute headache-related sleep disturbance. This approach enabled us to demonstrate the bidirectional function of LC noradrenergic neurons. Results Our findings indicate that ASD facilitated the development of NTG-induced migraine-like headache, while acute headache affected sleep quality. Furthermore, activating the LC reduced the headache threshold and increased sleep latency, whereas inhibiting the LC had the opposite effect. Additional investigations demonstrated that activating LC noradrenergic neurons further intensified pain facilitation from ASD, while inhibiting these neurons reduced this pain facilitation. Moreover, activating LC noradrenergic neurons exacerbated the impact of acute headache on sleep quality, while inhibiting them alleviated this influence. Conclusion The LC serves as a significant anatomical and functional region in the interaction between acute sleep disturbance and acute headache. The involvement of LC noradrenergic neurons is pivotal in facilitating headache triggered by ASD and influencing the effects of headache on sleep quality.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major global health burden, and co-infection with other pathogens further complicates the diagnosis and treatment of this infectious disease. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of nanopore sequencing in identifying co-infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and other pathogens. Methods Patients with M.tb co-infection from December 2021 to March 2023 at the Jiangxi Provincial Chest Hospital were retrospectively studied. Data were collected including demographics, symptoms, imaging findings, pathogen diagnosis tests, and treatment history. Pathogen tests involved culture, AFB smear, Xpert MTB/RIF, and nanopore sequencing. Results The enrolled patients included 20 M.tb cases and three nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cases co-infected with other pathogens. Common clinical symptoms included cough (47.83%), expectoration (34.78%), and asthma (17.39%). Radiological examinations showed typical features of pulmonary tuberculosis, including nodules (73.91%), cord-like shadows (34.78%), cavities (34.78%), and destroyed lung manifestations (17.39%). Nanopore sequencing identified M.tb in a significant majority of the cases (86.96%), outperforming traditional culture tests (39.13%), acid-fast bacilli (AFB) tests (27.27%), and Xpert MTB/RIF (53.84%) tests. Notably, nanopore sequencing revealed that M.tb was frequently co-infected with Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium abscessus. Three specific cases of co-infection with distinct diagnosis and treatment characteristics were presented in detail. They illustrated the complexity of TB co-infection management and the potential of nanopore sequencing for accurate diagnosis and informing the tailored therapeutic approaches. Conclusion Nanopore sequencing-based metagenomics method can help clinicians to identify TB co-infection patterns and formulate a rational drug regimen in time.

Abstract Background Cox‐Maze procedure is currently the gold standard treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on the effectiveness of the Cox‐Maze procedure after concomitant mitral valve surgery (MVS) are not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of Cox-Maze procedure versus no-maze procedure n in AF patients undergoing mitral valve surgery through a systematic review of the literature and meta‐analysis. Methods A systematic search on PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials (Cochrane Library, Issue 02, 2017) databases were performed using three databases from their inception to March 2023, identifying all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing Cox-Maze procedure versus no procedure in AF patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Data were extracted and analyzed according to predefined clinical endpoints. Results Nine RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review with 663 patients in total (341 concomitant Cox‐Maze with MVS and 322 MVS alone). Across all studies with included AF patients undergoing MV surgery, the concomitant Cox‐Maze procedure was associated with significantly higher sinus rhythm rate at discharge, 6 months, and 12 months follow‐up when compared with the no-Maze group. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the Cox‐Maze and no-Maze groups in terms of 1 year all-cause mortality, pacemaker implantation, stroke, and thromboembolism. Conclusions Our systematic review suggested that RCTs have demonstrated the addition of the Cox‐Maze procedure for AF leads to a significantly higher rate of sinus rhythm in mitral valve surgical patients, with no increase in the rates of mortality, pacemaker implantation, stroke, and thromboembolism.

Abstract The destruction of the microvascular structure and function can seriously affect the survival and prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nuciferine has a potentially beneficial effect in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, albeit its role in microvascular structure and function during AMI remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect and the related mechanisms of nuciferine in microvascular injury during AMI. Cardiac functions and pathological examination were conducted in vivo to investigate the effect of nuciferine on AMI. The effect of nuciferine on permeability and adherens junctions in endothelial cells was evaluated in vitro, and the phosphorylation level of the PI3K/AKT pathway (in the presence or absence of PI3K inhibitors) was also analyzed. In vivo results indicated that nuciferine inhibited ischemia-induced cardiomyocyte damage and vascular leakage and improved cardiac function. In addition, the in vitro results revealed that nuciferine could effectively inhibit oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) stimulated breakdown of the structure and function of human coronary microvascular endothelial cells (HCMECs). Moreover, nuciferine could significantly increase the phosphorylation level of the PI3K/AKT pathway. Finally, the inhibitor wortmannin could reverse the protective effect of nuciferine on HCMECs. Nuciferine inhibited AMI-induced microvascular injury by regulating the PI3K/AKT pathway and protecting the endothelial barrier function in mice.

Global warming affects crop growth and development, threatening food security. As one of the essential food crops, rice is severely affected by high temperature stress, which compromises both its yield and quality. Therefore, gaining a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which rice responds to heat stress and breeding rice varieties that are tolerant to such stress is crucial for maintaining food security. This review summarizes the impacts of heat stress on yield and quality-related traits at different growth and development stages of rice, the molecular mechanisms of rice perception and response to heat stress, and the improvement in and breeding of heat-tolerant rice varieties using existing superior alleles/QTLs. We also discuss the opportunities and challenges in creating highly heat-tolerant rice germplasm, providing new ideas and insights for the future breeding of heat-tolerant rice varieties.

Web application fuzzing faces significant challenges in achieving comprehensive test interface (attack surface) coverage, primarily due to the complexity of user interactions and dynamic website architectures. While web crawlers can automatically access and extract critical website information—including form fields and request parameters—which are essential for generating effective fuzzing test cases, current crawler technologies exhibit three primary limitations: (i) insufficient capabilities in analyzing page relationships and determining page states; (ii) lack of functionality-aware exploration capabilities, resulting in generated inputs with poor contextual relevance; (iii) generation of unstructured operation sequences that fail to execute effectively due to their incompatibility with state-based testing logic. To address these challenges, we propose CrawlMLLM, a framework using multi-modal large language models to simulate human web browsing. It includes three core components: page state mining, functionality analysis, and automatic operation generation. Evaluations show 163% code coverage improvements over SOTA work. When integrated with vulnerability audit tools, CrawlMLLM found 44 vulnerabilities in three vulnerable web applications versus 34 by the baseline. In six real-world applications, CrawlMLLM detected 20 vulnerabilities while the next best method found six.

We consider the quantum memory assisted quantum state verification task, where an adversary prepares independent multipartite entangled states and sends them to the local verifiers, who then store several copies in the quantum memory and measure them collectively to make a decision. We establish an exact analytic formula for optimizing two-copy state verification, where the verifiers store two copies, and give a globally optimal two-copy strategy for multiqubit graph states involving only Bell measurements. When the verifiers can store arbitrarily many copies, we present a dimension expansion technique that designs efficient verification strategies for this case, showcasing its application to efficiently verifying Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ)-like states. These strategies become increasingly advantageous with growing memory resources, ultimately approaching the theoretical limit of efficiency. Our findings demonstrate that quantum memories enhance state verification efficiency, shedding light on error-resistant strategies and practical applications of large-scale quantum memory assisted verification.

Plasma synthetic jet (PSJ) is widely employed in flow control due to its advantages of zero-mass and fast-response. A novel measurement method for high-frequency dynamic drag variation was adopted in a Mach 8 wind tunnel experiment, demonstrating that the opposing PSJ can achieve a maximum drag reduction of 40.27% and an average drag reduction of 13.25% within one discharge cycle. Subsequently, the numerical method was verified in detail and the effects of different discharge energies and nozzle diameters on the drag reduction characteristics of the opposing PSJ were studied. The results show that an increase in discharge energy is beneficial for the drag reduction characteristics of the opposing PSJ, although the efficiency remains relatively low. In contrast, increasing the nozzle diameter enhances the average drag reduction but significantly reduces the duration of effective control. The drag reduction mechanism of the opposing PSJ can be attributed to the combined effects of pushing the strong bow shock away to form a weaker oblique shock, followed by the reattachment of the shock downstream.