Search

Objectives: To determine the alteration of peripheral T and B cell subsets in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to evaluate their correlation with the progression of SSc. Methods: We recruited 47 SSc patients and 45 healthy controls (HCs) in this study. Demographic and clinical data were then collected. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportions of 44 different T and B cell subsets in circulating blood. Results: The proportion of total B cells (p =.043) decreased in SSc patients, together with similar frequencies of total T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells in both groups. Several subsets of T and B cells differed significantly between these two groups. Follicular helper T cells‐1 (Tfh1) (p <.001), helper T cells‐1 (Th1) (p =.001), regulatory T cells (Treg) (p =.004), effector memory CD8+ T cells (p =.041), and cytotoxic T cells‐17 (Tc17) (p =.01) were decreased in SSc patients. Follicular helper T cells‐2 (Tfh2) (p =.001) and, helper T cells‐2 (Th2) (p =.001) levels increased in the SSc group. Regulatory B cells (Breg) (p =.015) were lower in the SSc group, together with marginal zone (MZ) B cells (p <.001), memory B cells (p =.001), and non‐switched B cells (p =.005). The modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) correlated with helper T cells‐17 (Th17) (r = −.410, p =.004), Tfh1 (r = −.321, p =.028), peripheral helper T cells (Tph) (r = −.364, p =.012) and plasma cells (r = −.312, p =.033). Conclusions: The alterations in T and B cells implied immune dysfunction, which may play an essential role in systemic sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles, as bioactive molecules, have been extensively studied. There are abundant studies in the literature on their biogenesis, secretion, structure, and content, and their roles in pathophysiological processes. Extracellular vesicles have been reviewed as biomarkers for use in diagnostic tools. Saliva contains many extracellular vesicles, and compared with other body fluids, it is easier to obtain in a non-invasive way, making its acquisition more easily accepted by patients. In recent years, there have been numerous new studies investigating the role of salivary extracellular vesicles as biomarkers. These studies have significant implications for future clinical diagnosis. Therefore, in this paper, we summarize and review the potential applications of salivary extracellular vesicles as biomarkers, and we also describe their other functions (e.g., hemostasis, innate immune defense) in both oral and non-oral diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Altered interleukin (IL)-18 levels are associated with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), but no studies have investigated their causal relationship. This study aimed to examine the causal associations between IL-18 and IMIDs. Methods: We performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Genetic variants were selected from genome-wide association study datasets following stringent assessments. We then used these variants as instrumental variables to estimate the causal effects of IL-18 levels on the risk of developing five common IMIDs: rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and psoriasis. We used the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method as the primary analysis, with sensitivity analyses performed to avoid potential bias. Reverse-direction MR analyses were performed to rule out the possibility of reverse associations. Results: We found that genetically determined higher circulating IL-18 levels were causally associated with a higher risk for SLE (PIVW = 0.009; OR, 1.214; 95% CI, 1.049 − 1.404) and IBD (PIVW < 0.001; OR, 1.142; 95% CI, 1.062 − 1.228), but found no significant associations of IL-18 with RA (PIVW = 0.496; OR, 1.044; 95% CI, 0.923 − 1.180), AS (PIVW = 0.021; OR, 1.181; 95% CI, 1.025 − 1.361), or psoriasis (PIVW = 0.232; OR, 1.198; 95% CI, 0.891 − 1.611). In the reverse direction, no causal relationship existed between SLE or IBD and IL-18 levels. Globally, sensitivity studies using alternative MR methods supported the results that were robust and reliable. The Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger intercept, and MR-Pleiotropy RESidual Sum and Outlier excluded the influence of heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy, and outliers. Conclusions: We have demonstrated that elevated IL-18 levels increase the risk of SLE and IBD but not RA, AS, or psoriasis. The results enhanced our understanding of IL-18 in the pathology of IMIDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To investigate the effect of high-frequency chest wall oscillatory expectoration system (HFCWO) on pulmonary rehabilitation and cortisol function in patients with severe acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). Methods. The 65 severe AECOPD patients admitted to our hospital from January 2019 to May 2020 were divided into group A with 33 cases and group B with 32 cases by random number table method. After 14 days of intervention, the improvement time of clinical symptoms in the two groups was recorded, and blood gas, lung function, inflammatory, and cortisol function-related indicators were evaluated before and after treatment. Results. The remission time of expectoration, pulmonary signs, and hospital stay in group A were significantly shorter than those in group B (P < 0.05). Compared with before treatment, blood oxygen partial pressure (PaO2), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume at 1 s (EFV1), and EFV1/FVC increased significantly; blood carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), white blood cell count (WBC), plasma cortisol (COR), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels were significantly decreased, and the above indicators in group A increased or decreased more significantly than those in group B (P < 0.05); there was no significant difference in tolerance and adverse reactions between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion. HFCWO has good pulmonary rehabilitation effect in the treatment of severe AECOPD and can significantly improve the blood gas indexes, inflammation, and cortisol function of patients, which is safe and feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Agricultural soil multifunctionality is greatly impacted by belowground processesdriven by a complex group of microorganisms that change during plant growth. While most studies in microbial diversity and multifunctionality have focused on soil bacteria or fungi, they have largely overlooked the influence of key microbiome predators- the protists and other microorganisms.We manipulated microbial alpha diversity using a dilution-to-extinction approach. Wheat varieties were employed to investigate the effects of manipulated microbial alpha diversity on rhizosphere microbes (including bacteria and eukaryotes-fungi and protists) and soil multifunctionality (nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant productivity) during a two-month re-colonization period.The recovery and re-colonization of the belowground microbial communities were primarily influenced by dilution rather than wheat variety. Random forest (RF) analysis indicated that changes induced by dilution and plant variety in bacterial and protistan assembly in the rhizosphere had stronger effects on soil multifunctionality than those in bulk soil and root endosphere. Reduced microbial diversity led to a decrease in specific functions, such as phosphorus mineralization and nitrification, but did not affect broad functions like microbial respiration and organic decomposition. The rare taxa, such as those belonging to bacterial Burkholderiaceae, Rhizobiaceae, and Sphingobacteriaceae, and protistan Cercozoa, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta crucially influenced soil multifunctionality.The critical role of rhizosphere protistan and bacterial communities in soil multifunctionality underscores the importance of plant-induced shifts in belowground microbial assembly for the resilience of soil multifunctionality to biodiversity loss Moreover, rhizosphere rare bacterial and protistan taxa contributed more to ecosystem functions than expected based on their abundance.Methods: Agricultural soil multifunctionality is greatly impacted by belowground processesdriven by a complex group of microorganisms that change during plant growth. While most studies in microbial diversity and multifunctionality have focused on soil bacteria or fungi, they have largely overlooked the influence of key microbiome predators- the protists and other microorganisms.We manipulated microbial alpha diversity using a dilution-to-extinction approach. Wheat varieties were employed to investigate the effects of manipulated microbial alpha diversity on rhizosphere microbes (including bacteria and eukaryotes-fungi and protists) and soil multifunctionality (nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant productivity) during a two-month re-colonization period.The recovery and re-colonization of the belowground microbial communities were primarily influenced by dilution rather than wheat variety. Random forest (RF) analysis indicated that changes induced by dilution and plant variety in bacterial and protistan assembly in the rhizosphere had stronger effects on soil multifunctionality than those in bulk soil and root endosphere. Reduced microbial diversity led to a decrease in specific functions, such as phosphorus mineralization and nitrification, but did not affect broad functions like microbial respiration and organic decomposition. The rare taxa, such as those belonging to bacterial Burkholderiaceae, Rhizobiaceae, and Sphingobacteriaceae, and protistan Cercozoa, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta crucially influenced soil multifunctionality.The critical role of rhizosphere protistan and bacterial communities in soil multifunctionality underscores the importance of plant-induced shifts in belowground microbial assembly for the resilience of soil multifunctionality to biodiversity loss Moreover, rhizosphere rare bacterial and protistan taxa contributed more to ecosystem functions than expected based on their abundance.Results: Agricultural soil multifunctionality is greatly impacted by belowground processesdriven by a complex group of microorganisms that change during plant growth. While most studies in microbial diversity and multifunctionality have focused on soil bacteria or fungi, they have largely overlooked the influence of key microbiome predators- the protists and other microorganisms.We manipulated microbial alpha diversity using a dilution-to-extinction approach. Wheat varieties were employed to investigate the effects of manipulated microbial alpha diversity on rhizosphere microbes (including bacteria and eukaryotes-fungi and protists) and soil multifunctionality (nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant productivity) during a two-month re-colonization period.The recovery and re-colonization of the belowground microbial communities were primarily influenced by dilution rather than wheat variety. Random forest (RF) analysis indicated that changes induced by dilution and plant variety in bacterial and protistan assembly in the rhizosphere had stronger effects on soil multifunctionality than those in bulk soil and root endosphere. Reduced microbial diversity led to a decrease in specific functions, such as phosphorus mineralization and nitrification, but did not affect broad functions like microbial respiration and organic decomposition. The rare taxa, such as those belonging to bacterial Burkholderiaceae, Rhizobiaceae, and Sphingobacteriaceae, and protistan Cercozoa, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta crucially influenced soil multifunctionality.The critical role of rhizosphere protistan and bacterial communities in soil multifunctionality underscores the importance of plant-induced shifts in belowground microbial assembly for the resilience of soil multifunctionality to biodiversity loss Moreover, rhizosphere rare bacterial and protistan taxa contributed more to ecosystem functions than expected based on their abundance.Conclusion: Agricultural soil multifunctionality is greatly impacted by belowground processesdriven by a complex group of microorganisms that change during plant growth. While most studies in microbial diversity and multifunctionality have focused on soil bacteria or fungi, they have largely overlooked the influence of key microbiome predators- the protists and other microorganisms.We manipulated microbial alpha diversity using a dilution-to-extinction approach. Wheat varieties were employed to investigate the effects of manipulated microbial alpha diversity on rhizosphere microbes (including bacteria and eukaryotes-fungi and protists) and soil multifunctionality (nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and plant productivity) during a two-month re-colonization period.The recovery and re-colonization of the belowground microbial communities were primarily influenced by dilution rather than wheat variety. Random forest (RF) analysis indicated that changes induced by dilution and plant variety in bacterial and protistan assembly in the rhizosphere had stronger effects on soil multifunctionality than those in bulk soil and root endosphere. Reduced microbial diversity led to a decrease in specific functions, such as phosphorus mineralization and nitrification, but did not affect broad functions like microbial respiration and organic decomposition. The rare taxa, such as those belonging to bacterial Burkholderiaceae, Rhizobiaceae, and Sphingobacteriaceae, and protistan Cercozoa, Ochrophyta, and Chlorophyta crucially influenced soil multifunctionality.The critical role of rhizosphere protistan and bacterial communities in soil multifunctionality underscores the importance of plant-induced shifts in belowground microbial assembly for the resilience of soil multifunctionality to biodiversity loss Moreover, rhizosphere rare bacterial and protistan taxa contributed more to ecosystem functions than expected based on their abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of biofertilizers as a cost-effective crop yield enhancer can be compromised by residual soil pollutants. However, the impact of accumulated polyadipate/butylene terephthalate microplastics (PBAT-MPs) from biodegradable mulch films on biofertilizer application and the consequent growth of crop plants remains unclear. Here, the effects of different levels of PBAT-MPs in soil treated with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens biofertilizer were assessed in a four-week potted experiment. PBAT-MPs significantly decreased the growth-promoting effect of the biofertilizer on Brassica chinensis L., resulting in a notable reduction in both above- and belowground biomass (up to 52.91% and 57.53%, respectively), as well as nitrate and crude fiber contents (up to 12.18% and 13.64%, respectively). In the rhizosphere microenvironment, PBAT-MPs increased soil organic carbon by 2.63-fold and organic matter by 2.68-fold, while enhancing sucrase (from 67.55% to 108.89%) and cellulase (from 31.26% to 49.10%) activities. PBAT-MPs also altered the rhizospheric bacterial community composition/diversity, resulting in more complex microbial networks. With regard to microbial function, PBAT-MPs impacted carbon metabolic function by inhibiting the 3-hydroxypropionate/4-hydroxybutyrate fixation pathway and influencing chitin and lignin degradation processes. Overall, the rhizospheric microbial profiles (composition, function, and network interactions) were the main contributors to plant growth inhibition. This study provides a practical case and theoretical basis for rational use of biodegradable mulch films and indicates that the residue of biodegradable films needs pay attention. [Display omitted] • PBAT-MPs attenuated the crop growth promotion effect of biofertilizers more then 50%. • PBAT-MPs changed the structure, function and network complexity of rhizospheric microbes. • PBAT-MPs inhibited carbon fixation/degradation efficience of soil microorganisms. • Scientific basis is necessary for the safe and rational use of biodegradable film mulch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the fabrication procedures of lanthanide-doped materials involve thermal treatment that often results in crystallite regrowth, stabilizing the specific crystal structure and resulting in luminescence enhancement. The efficiency and intensity of up-conversion luminescence are closely related to the structure and synthesis process of the materials. Herein, well-crystallized and pure tetragonal NaY(MoO4)2 microcrystals with a uniform octahedral shape have been successfully synthesized via an environmentally friendly hydrothermal method, followed by annealing treatment. The phases, structures, morphologies, and compositions of the synthesized products annealed at 500–1000 °C remain unchanged, indicating high thermal stability. Furthermore, the NaY(MoO4)2:Yb3+/Er3+ microcrystals exhibit strong green emission when irradiated using infrared (980 nm) or ultraviolet (378 nm) wavelengths. Upon 980 nm excitation, up to 37-fold luminescence enhancement is achieved when the samples are annealed at about 700 °C. Interestingly, the high colour purity of the strong green emission is not only independent of the dopant concentration and heat treatment temperature, but it is also independent of the excitation conditions, including power and wavelength, and this makes it particularly suitable as a green safety signal light and luminescent security ink in paintings. As-prepared safety inks with NaY(MoO4)2:Yb3+/Er3+ microcrystals were used for visual fingerprint recognition printed on A4 paper with three-level fingerprint security features, significantly increasing the difficulty of illegal imitation and enhancing the levels of anti-counterfeiting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been extensively used as molecular markers in determining the insect phylogenetic relationships. In order to resolve the relationships among tribes and subtribes of Satyrinae at the mitochondrial genomic level, we obtained the complete mitogenome of Aulocera merlina (Oberthür, 1890) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Satyrinae) with a size of 15,259 bp. The mitogenome consisted of 37 typical genes, including 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and an A + T‐rich region. The gene organization and arrangement were similar to those of all other known Satyrinae mitogenomes. All PCGs were initiated with the canonical codon pattern ATN, except for the cox1 gene, which used an atypical CGA codon. Nine PCGs used the complete stop codon TAA, while the remaining PCGs (cox1, cox2, nad4, and nad5) were terminated with a single T nucleotide. The canonical cloverleaf secondary structures were found in all tRNAs, except for trnS1 which lacked a dihydrouridine arm. The 448 bp A + T‐rich region was located between rrnS and trnM, and it included the motif ATAGA followed by a 19‐bp poly‐T stretch and a microsatellite‐like (TA)6 element preceded by the ATTTA motif. The phylogenetic tree, inferred using Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood methods, generated similar tree topologies, revealing well‐supported monophyletic groups at the tribe level and recovering the relationship ((Satyrini + Melanitini) + ((Amathusiini + Elymniini) + Zetherini)). The close relationship between Satyrina and Melanargiina within the Satyrini was widely accepted. Additionally, Lethina, Parargina, and Mycalesina were closely related and collectively formed a sister group to Coenonymphina. Moreover, A. merlina was closely related to Oeneis buddha within the Satyrina. These findings will provide valuable information for future studies aiming to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships of Satyrinae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The angular non-critical phase-matching (A-NCPM) second-harmonic-generation (SHG) properties of Ba 3 (ZnB 5 O 10)PO 4 (BZBP) crystal were investigated. Based on the small signal solution formula of SHG, the effective nonlinear coefficient d eff along z -axis was corrected to 1.43 p.m./V. Combining the theoretical SHG PM conditions, BZBP crystal can be achieved type-I A-NCPM with the fundamental wavelength of 750 nm on y -axis, and 1012 nm on z -axis. Using an OPO laser as pump source, the BZBP crystal could realize the 506 nm and 375 nm SHG lasers with the conversion efficiencies of 35 % and 45.5 % respectively. The acquired results demonstrated that BZBP is a promising NLO crystal for A-NCPM frequency conversion applications in the output spectral regions of Ti:sapphire laser and near-infrared lasers. • Ba 3 (ZnB 5 O 10)PO 4 crystal was grown by the top-seeded solution growth method. • Based on the small signal solution formula of SHG, the NLO coefficient of BZBP crystal was corrected to 1.43 p.m/V along z -axis. • This work demonstrated the NCPM of BZBP crystal with the conversion efficiencies of 35 % and 45.5 % at the wavelength of 1012 nm and 750 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High quality sesquioxide Er:LuScO 3 crystals were grown successfully by the laser floating zone method. • The Er3+ doping concentration showed an effective spectral broadening in the solid solution mixed crystal. • This work was the first to demonstrate a diode-end-pumped Er:LuScO 3 crystal laser operation at 2.7 μm. High quality sesquioxide Er:LuScO 3 crystals were grown successfully by the laser floating zone method. Based on the analysis of luminescence spectra and fluorescence lifetimes at the temperatures of 77 K and 300 K. The Er3+-doped sesquioxide shows an effective spectral broadening in the solid solution mixing. Additionally, the local polarization and electron-phonon coupling will be impacted by the increase of Er3+ ions, both of which are favorable for the broadening of spectra. The 10 at% Er:LuScO 3 was optimized to operate the 2.7 μm laser, and the largest output power of 326 mW can be acquired with a slope efficiency of 11.3%. To the best of our knowledge, this work was the first to demonstrate a diode-end-pumped Er:LuScO 3 crystal laser operation around 3.0 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) has been widely used in the voltage-source-converter-based high-voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC). However, the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by its fast switching process affects the normal operation of the surrounding power equipment. The switching voltage and current of IGBT are the main sources of EMI. Different driving circuit parameters result in different IGBT switching characteristics. In this article, the switching model of IGBT is introduced first and the influence of driving parameters on EMI sources is analyzed. Based on the conducted EMI experiment platform of an IGBT module, the time-domain waveforms of switching voltage and current under different driving parameters are obtained and compared with the model. Then the interference voltage spectrums are measured by an EMI receiver under different driving parameters. The influence of driving parameters on conducted EMI in 0.15–30 MHz is then analyzed and explained by combining the result of time domain and frequency domain. This article comprehensively analyzes the relationship between driving parameters and EMI sources and summarizes the influence characteristics of driving parameters on common-mode (CM) and differential-mode (DM) noise. The conclusions can help the parameters design of driving board, which can effectively reduce the conducted EMI of the converter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hemagglutinin (HA), as the surface immunogenic protein, is the most important component of influenza viruses. Previous studies showed that the stability of HA was significant for HA's immunogenicity, and many efforts have been made to stabilize the expressed HA proteins. Methods: In this study, the protein disulfide isomerases (PDIs) were investigated for the ability to improve the stability of HA protein. Two members of the PDIs family, PDI and ERp57, were over-expressed or down-expressed in 293 T cells. The expression of H3 HA and PDIs were investigated by real-time qPCR, western-blot, immunofluorescence assay, and flow cytometry. The stability of HA was investigated by western-blot under non-reducing condition. Moreover, BALB/c mice were immunized subcutaneously twice with the vaccine that contained HA proteins from the ERp57-overexpressed and conventional 293 T cells respectively to investigate the impact of ERp57 on the immunogenicity of H3N2 HA. Results: The percentage of the disulfide-bonded HA trimers increased significantly in the PDIs-overexpressed 293 T cells, and ERp57 was more valid to the stability of HA than PDI. The knockdown of ERp57 by small interfering RNA significantly decreased the percentage of the disulfide-bonded HA trimers. HA proteins from ERp57-overexpressed 293 T cells stimulated the mice to generate significantly higher HA-specific IgG against H1N1 and H3N2 viruses than those from the conventional cells. The mice receiving H3 HA from ERp57-overexpressed 293 T cells showed the better resistance against H1N1 viruses and the higher survival rate than the mice receiving H3 HA from the conventional cells. Conclusion: ERp57 could improve the stability and immunogenicity of H3N2 HA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cobalt atoms dispersed on hierarchical carbon nitride support are prepared and introduced as the cathode electrocatalyst of lithium-polysulfide batteries. They promote the rapid interconversion of solvated polysulfides, and as a result enable batteries with large capacity, good rate performance and impressive cycling stability. Lithium-sulfur batteries are promising candidates for next-generation energy storage but are confronted with several challenges. One of the possible solutions is to design proper cathode electrocatalysts to accelerate the redox interconversion of solvated polysulfide intermediates. Herein, we report cobalt atoms dispersed on hierarchical carbon nitride support as an effective cathode electrocatalyst for lithium-polysulfide batteries. The electrocatalyst material is prepared from the simple reaction between melamine and cyanuric acid in the presence of Co2+, followed by the Ar annealing. The product has a unique hierarchical structure consisting of many thin and porous C 3 N 4 nanosheets finely dispersed with Co atoms. The atomic dispersion of Co species is confirmed by X-ray absorption experiments. Electrochemical measurements reveal that it can promote the interconversion of polysulfides. As a result, batteries using this cathode electrocatalyst achieve large capacity (∼1400 mAh/g at 1.6 mA/cm2), good rate performance (∼800 mAh/g at 12.8 mA/cm2) and impressive cycling stability under different current densities and different sulfur loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) provides an efficient pathway to convert CO2 into desirable products, yet its commercialization is greatly hindered by the huge energy cost due to CO2 loss and regeneration. Performing CO2RR under acidic conditions containing alkali cations can potentially address the issue, but still causes (bi)carbonate deposition at high current densities, compromising product Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) in present‐day acid‐fed membrane electrode assemblies. Herein, we present a strategy using a positively charged polyelectrolyte—poly(diallyldimethylammonium) immobilized on graphene oxide via electrostatic interactions to displace alkali cations. This enables a FE of 85 %, a carbon efficiency of 93 %, and an energy efficiency (EE) of 35 % for CO at 100 mA cm−2 on modified Ag catalysts in acid. In a pure‐water‐fed reactor, we obtained a 78 % CO FE with a 30 % EE at 100 mA cm−2 at 40 °C. All the performance metrics are comparable to or even exceed those attained in the presence of alkali metal cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) provides an efficient pathway to convert CO2 into desirable products, yet its commercialization is greatly hindered by the huge energy cost due to CO2 loss and regeneration. Performing CO2RR under acidic conditions containing alkali cations can potentially address the issue, but still causes (bi)carbonate deposition at high current densities, compromising product Faradaic efficiencies (FEs) in present‐day acid‐fed membrane electrode assemblies. Herein, we present a strategy using a positively charged polyelectrolyte—poly(diallyldimethylammonium) immobilized on graphene oxide via electrostatic interactions to displace alkali cations. This enables a FE of 85 %, a carbon efficiency of 93 %, and an energy efficiency (EE) of 35 % for CO at 100 mA cm−2 on modified Ag catalysts in acid. In a pure‐water‐fed reactor, we obtained a 78 % CO FE with a 30 % EE at 100 mA cm−2 at 40 °C. All the performance metrics are comparable to or even exceed those attained in the presence of alkali metal cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza A H7N9 virus is the latest emerging pandemic threat, and has rapidly diverged into three clades, demanding a H7N9 virus vaccine with broadened protection against unmatched strains. Hemagglutinin (HA)-based structural design approaches for stabilizing HA proteins have provided excitingly promising results. However, none of the HA-based structural design approaches has been applied to a recombinant replicative influenza virus. Here we report that our HA-based structural design approach is a first in the field to generate a recombinant replicative H7N9 virus (H7N9-53TM) showing broadened protection. The H7N9-53TM contains a replaced H3 HA transmembrane domain (TM) in its HA protein. In mice, the inactivated H7N9-53TM vaccine induced significantly higher HI titers, HA-specific IgG titers, and IFN-γ production than the corresponding H7N9-53WT inactivated virus vaccine containing wild-type HA. More excitingly, mice immunized with the H7N9-53TM showed full protection against homologous (H7N9-53) and interclade (H7N9-MCX) challenges with minimal weight loss, no detectable lung viral loads, and no apparent pulmonary lesions and inflammation, while mice immunized with the H7N9-53WT showed partial protection (only 60% against H7N9-MCX) with severe weight loss, detectable lung viral loads, and severe pulmonary lesions and inflammation. In summary, this study presents a better vaccine candidate (H7N9-53TM) against H7N9 pandemics. Furthermore, our HA-based structural design approach would be conceivably applicable to other subtype influenza viruses, especially the viruses from emerging pandemic and epidemic influenza viruses such as H5N1 and H1N1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Meta-analysis and US FAERS pharmacovigilance data both suggested that immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs) were associated with increased risk of acute kidney injury(AKI). Subgroup analysis indicated that risk ratio of ICI-related AKI did not vary significantly by cancer type, treatment regimen (monotherapy or combination of ICIs), study design (double-blind or open-label), individual ICIs and publication status (published or unpublished). • The median onset time of AKI was 48 days, with 77.5 % of patients discontinued use of ICIs, and 15.9 % of patients resulted in death. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a rare but severe adverse event of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). With the increasing reports of ICIs, it's necessary to put new insights into ICIs-related AKI. We conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials(RCTs) and a real-world study by extracting data from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. We explored ICIs-related AKI events in RCTs available in ClinicalTrials.gov and electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase) up to August 2021. Meta-analysis was performed by using risk ratios (RRs) with 95 %CIs. In a separate retrospective pharmacovigilance study of FAERs, disproportionality was analyzed using the proportional reports reporting odds ratio (ROR) and information components (IC). A total of 79 RCTs (500,09 patients) were included, and ICIs were associated with increased risk of all-grade (RR = 1.37, 95 %CI:1.14–1.65) and high-grade AKI (RR = 1.60, 95 %CI:1.16–2.20). Results of subgroup analysis indicated that RR of ICI-related AKI did not vary significantly by cancer type, treatment regimen (monotherapy or combination of ICIs), study design (double-blind or open-label), individual ICIs and publication status (published or unpublished). FAERS pharmacovigilance data identified 1918 cases of AKI related to ICIs therapy. ICIs were significantly associated with over-reporting frequencies of AKI (ROR = 2.38, 95 %CI:2.27–2.49; IC = 1.22, 95 %CI:1.16–1.27). The median onset time of AKI was 48 days, 77.5 % of patients discontinued the use of ICIs, and 15.9 % of patients resulted in death. These data suggest that ICIs were significantly associated with increased risk of AKI in both trial settings and clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Impaired autophagy is an important cause of Mycobacterium tuberculosis survival in macrophages. VPS11 is an important regulator of autophagy; decreased VPS11 expression has been observed in macrophages after tuberculosis (TB) infection. Gene ontology data revealed that various miRNAs (for example, miR-542-3p) were upregulated in macrophages upon TB infection; thus, these miRNAs were likely to reduce VPS11 expression. In this study, both TB patients and healthy subjects were enrolled, and the levels of VPS11 and some miRNAs in their blood macrophages were measured. Moreover, various macrophages were cultured and infected with M. tuberculosis. Luciferase reporter, RNA pulldown, and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were performed to determine the regulatory effect of miR-542-3p on VPS11 expression. Results showed that VPS11 expression was downregulated, whereas miR-542-3p expression was upregulated in blood macrophages after TB infection. TB infection reduced VPS11 levels in two human macrophages in vitro , but not in mouse macrophages. This might be because the seed sequence exists in the VPS11 3' untranslated region in humans, but is absent in mice and rats. miR-542-3p promoted M. tuberculosis survival in human macrophages, but VPS11 overexpression antagonized the promoting effect of miR-542-3p. Further, VPS11 was confirmed as a target of miR-542-3p. Overexpression of VPS11 or depletion of miR-542-3p promoted autophagy, which was suppressed upon TB infection. In summary, VPS11 overexpression antagonized the promoting effect of miR-542-3p on M. tuberculosis survival in macrophages by regulating autophagy. • VPS11 expression was downregulated, whereas miR-542-3p expression was upregulated in blood macrophages after TB infection. • VPS11 was confirmed as a target of miR-542-3p. TB infection reduced VPS11 levels in two human macrophages in vitro. • miR-542-3p promoted M. tuberculosis survival in human macrophages, but VPS11 overexpression antagonized the promoting effect of miR-542-3p. • Overexpression of VPS11 or depletion of miR-542-3p promoted autophagy, which was suppressed upon TB infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) can exert pro-inflammatory effects in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this study was to determine if the inhibition of COX-2 attenuates hepatocyte apoptosis in steatohepatitis and to examine the underlying molecular mechanism. Male wild type C57BL6/J mice and COX-2 knock out (COX-2−/−) mice were fed a methionine choline deficient (MCD) diet for 3 weeks. The wild type mice were also treated with celecoxib or a combination of celecoxib and a Akt specific inhibitor, miltefosine (MTF). After that, liver histology, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels, hepatocyte apoptosis, phosphorylated Akt (Ser473, pAkt) and p53 protein levels in mice livers were assessed. Celecoxib attenuated the severity of liver steatohepatitis and reduced the number of apoptotic cells, accompanied by increasing the activity of Akt and decreasing expression of p53. On the contrary, MTF can abrogate the effects of celecoxib on anti-apoptosis and anti-steatohepatitis. Moreover, the effects on the COX-2−/− mice that were fed the MCD diet were similar to that for celecoxib. The findings suggested that suppressing COX-2 can improve steatohepatitis by inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis in mice via regulating the Akt/p53 pathway. Celecoxib treatment may be a favorable treatment option for NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that both white matter disruption and the corresponding cortical dysfunction are involved in the cognitive impairments associated with periventricular white matter lesions (PWMLs). Twenty-two PWMLs subjects were divided into cognitively impaired (PWMLs-CI) and normal (PWMLs-CN) groups. Twelve subjects with normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognition were recruited as controls. After cognitive evaluation, diffusion tension image (DTI) and resting-state functional MRI (rfMRI) scans, the fractional anisotropy (FA) values of DTI and the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) values of rfMRI were measured. Finally, correlations between the cognitive scores and MRI values were analyzed in PWMLs subjects. Our results demonstrated that compared with the other groups, the PWMLs-CI group demonstrated significantly decreased scores in Trail-Making Test (TMT), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) and Logical Memory Test (LMT). Compared with the PWMLs-CN group, the PWMLs-CI group displayed decreased FA values in the right splenium of the corpus callosum and right posterior cingulum bundle; lower fALFF values in the left frontal middle gyrus, left precentral gyrus, right angular gyrus and right precuneus; and higher fALFF values in the right mid cingulum cortex, right hippocampus amygdala, right cerebellar hemisphere and left vermis. Meanwhile, the cognitive assessment scores were significantly correlated with the FA or fALFF values in some of the above-mentioned white matter or cortical regions. Conclusively, our results indicate that specific regions of WMLs and cortical dysfunction are involved in the cognitive impairments associated with PWMLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) on the survival of uterine carcinosarcoma (UCS) patients. Methods: We analyzed 3207 patients with uterine carcinosarcoma without distant metastasis after surgery from 2004 to 2015 by utilizing data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Generally, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) outcomes were analyzed by Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression models. Further subgroup survival analysis was performed for those receiving RT and chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Results: In general, both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age, race, marital status, stage, lymph node metastasis, lymphadenectomy (LND), RT, and chemotherapy (CT) were associated with improved CSS and OS (P < 0.05). Further subgroup analysis showed that CRT exhibited a survival advantage over RT or CT alone in different groups. Various RT modalities, including brachytherapy (BT), external radiotherapy (EBRT), and EBRT + BT, were correlated with improved survival for patients aged 60–69 years with stage III–IV disease and lymph node metastasis. Patients with stage I–II disease aged > 70 years seemed to gain survival benefits from brachytherapy (BT) alone. BT with or without external radiotherapy was associated with improved survival for those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy. Conclusion: For UCS without distant metastasis after surgery, CRT should be considered. Regarding RT, BT alone is efficient in improving survival, especially for patients with stage I–II disease aged > 70 years old. EBRT alone does not show results in survival improvement for patients who did not undergo LND and those with lymph node metastasis. However, considering the limitation of SEER database, further studies with more large sample size and strict study design are needed to confirm it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral cortical neurons have a heightened sensitivity to hypoxia and their survival depends on their ability to accommodate to changes in the concentration of oxygen in their environment. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) is a serine proteinase that activates the zymogen plasminogen into plasmin. Hypoxia induces the release of tPA from cerebral cortical neurons, and it has been proposed that tPA mediates hypoxic and ischemic neuronal death. Here, we show that tPA is devoid of neurotoxic effects and instead is an endogenous neuroprotectant that renders neurons resistant to the effects of lethal hypoxia and ischemia. We present in vitro and in vivo evidence indicating that endogenous tPA and recombinant tPA induce the expression of neuronal tumor necrosis factor-α. This effect, mediated by plasmin and the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, leads to increased expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 and p21-mediated development of early hypoxic and ischemic tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (2D-TMDs) possess appropriate bandgaps and interact via van der Waals (vdW) forces between layers, effectively overcoming lattice compatibility challenges inherent in traditional heterojunctions. This property facilitates the creation of heterojunctions with customizable bandgap alignments. However, the prevailing method for creating heterojunctions with 2D-TMDs relies on the low-efficiency technique of mechanical exfoliation. Sb2Te3, recognized as a notable p-type semiconductor, emerges as a versatile component for constructing diverse vertical p–n heterostructures with 2D-TMDs. This study presents the successful large-scale deposition of 2D Sb2Te3 onto inert mica substrates, providing valuable insights into the integration of Sb2Te3 with 2D-TMDs to form heterostructures. Building upon this initial advancement, a precise epitaxial growth method for Sb2Te3 on pre-existing WS2 surfaces on SiO2/Si substrates is achieved through a two-step chemical vapor deposition process, resulting in the formation of Sb2Te3/WS2 heterojunctions. Finally, the development of 2D Sb2Te3/WS2 optoelectronic devices is accomplished, showing rapid response times, with a rise/decay time of 305 μs/503 μs, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) from the incomplete degradation of agricultural mulch can stress the effectiveness of biofertilizers and ultimately affect the rhizosphere environment of crops. Yet, the involved mechanisms are poorly known and robust empirical data is generally lacking. Here, conventional polyethylene (PE) MPs and poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) / poly(lactic acid) (PLA) biodegradable MPs (PBAT-PLA BioMPs) were investigated to assess their potential impact on the rhizosphere environment of Brassica parachinensis in the presence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens biofertilizer. The results revealed that both MPs caused different levels of inhibited crop both above- and belowground crop biomass (up to 50.11% and 57.09%, respectively), as well as a significant decrease in plant height (up to 48.63% and 25.95%, respectively), along with an imbalance of microbial communities. Transcriptomic analyses showed that PE MPs mainly affected root's vitamin metabolism, whereas PBAT-PLA BioMPs mainly interfered with the lipid's enrichment. Metabolomic analyses further indicated that PE MPs interfered with amino acid synthesis that involved in crops' oxidative stress, and that PBAT-PLA BioMPs mainly affected the pathways associated with root growth. Additionally, PBAT-PLA BioMPs had a bigger ecological negative impact than did PE MPs, as evidenced by more pronounced alterations in root antioxidant abilities, a higher count of identified differential metabolites, more robust interrelationships among rhizosphere parameters, and a more intricate pattern of impacts on rhizosphere metrics. This study highlights the MPs' impact on crop rhizosphere in a biofertilizer environment from a rhizosphere multi-omics perspective, and has theoretical implications for scientific application of biofertilizers. [Display omitted] • Both PE and PBAT-PLA BioMPs inhibited Brassica parachinensis growth. • MPs mainly affected rhizospheric bacterial communities and biodiversity. • MPs disrupted genes expression and related metabolic function in B. parachinensis. • PBAT-PLA BioMPs had bigger rhizosphere ecological responses than PE MPs. • The mulches' using with biofertilizer requires attention to rhizosphere profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of microplastics (MPs) on the allocation of rice photosynthetic carbon (C) in paddy systems and its utilization by soil microorganisms remain unclear. In this study, 13C-CO 2 pulse labeling was used to quantify the input and allocation of photosynthetic C in a rice–soil system under MPs amendment. Rice was pulse-labeled at tillering growth stage under 0.01% and 1% w/w polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) MP amendments. Plants and soils were sampled 24 h after pulse labeling. Photosynthesized C in roots in MP treatments was 30–54% lower than that in no-MP treatments. The 13C in soil organic C (SOC) in PVC-MP-amended bulk soil was 4.3–4.7 times higher than that in no-MP treatments. PVC and high-dose PE increased the photosynthetic C in microbial biomass C in the rhizosphere soil. MPs altered the allocation of photosynthetic C to microbial phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) groups. High-dose PVC increased the 13C gram-positive PLFAs. Low-dose PE and high-dose PVC enhanced 13C in fungal PLFAs in bulk soil (including arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and Zygomycota) by 175% and 197%, respectively. The results highlight that MPs alter plant C input and microbial utilization of rhizodeposits, thereby affecting the C cycle in paddy ecosystems. [Display omitted] • Microplastics (MPs) reduce the belowground allocation of rice photosynthetic C. • MPs promote the microbial utilization of rice rhizodeposits in rhizosphere soil. • MP alter the use of rice rhizodeposits by microbial groups. • Low PE and high PVC contents enhance utilization of rice rhizodeposits by fungi. • PVC MP promote the incorporation of rice photosynthetic C in SOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wide band gap semiconductor device silicon carbide (SiC) metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) have many advantages and are considered to be the most promising alternative to silicon (Si) insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) in low-/medium-voltage fields. However, a faster switching speed results in more serious electromagnetic disturbance problems in the application of SiC MOSFET. In this paper, an experiment system is established to measure the radiated disturbance of a single SiC MOSFET module operating at 9 kHz–300 MHz. The radiated electric fields of the SiC MOSFET module are mainly concentrated within 160 MHz. The switching voltage and radiated disturbance of the Si IGBT module are measured and compared with those of the SiC MOSFET module. The voltage of the SiC MOSFET has a faster change rate and a higher overshoot, which results in the radiated electric fields of SiC MOSFET module being 5–10 dB higher than those of the Si IGBT module below 8 MHz. The measurement results in the time-domain and frequency-domain correspond. A detailed model of a SiC MOSFET module is established and the radiated electric fields are calculated using the method of moments (MOM). The calculated results show the effectiveness of the model for radiated disturbance prediction. In this paper, the radiated electric fields of a SiC MOSFET module are measured and analyzed, and the calculation model can be used to further evaluate the radiated disturbance characteristics of SiC MOSFET and influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To delineate the landscape of diagnostic delay in Chinese axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), investigate its associated factors, and explore its potential impact on medication modalities. Methods: A total of 1295 patients fulfilling the ASAS classification criteria were obtained. Demographic and clinical data were collected through face‐to‐face interviews, based on predesigned questionnaires and available medical records. Logistic regression analyses under univariate and multivariable model were performed, using the median of diagnostic delay as the cut‐off point for group classification. Differences between early‐ and late‐diagnosed groups were subsequently compared by the Pearson chi‐square test or Mann–Whitney U test. Results: Of 1295 axSpA patients, 80.3% were male and the median of disease duration was 8.0 years. The median (IQR) diagnostic delay in Chinese axSpA was 3.0 (1.0 ~ 7.0) years and 24.8% of them reported a history of misdiagnosis. Older age at onset (OR = 0.97, p <.001) and higher education attainment (p =.001) were correlated with early diagnosis of axSpA, whereas coming from less developed areas (p =.002), a history of peripheral arthritis at the time of diagnosis (OR = 1.58, p =.002) and history of misdiagnosis (OR = 1.98, p <.001) increased the risk of diagnostic delay. Oral medication modalities were similar between two groups, but the proportion with no medication ever was higher in the late‐diagnosed group (26.5% vs. 20.7%, p =.02). Conclusion: Our findings depicted a detailed spectrum of diagnostic delay in Chinese axSpA, verified five associated factors that may help facilitate timely diagnosis of axSpA, and pinpointed that timely medication was unsatisfying, especially in the late diagnosis group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the aging of the population, the number of total hip replacement surgeries is increasing globally. Hip replacement has undergone revolutionary advancements in surgical methods and materials. Due to the short length of hospitalization, rehabilitation care is mainly home-based. The needs and concerns about such home-based rehabilitation are constantly changing, requiring continuous attention. Objective: To explore effective methods for comprehensively identifying older patients' self-reported outcomes after home-based rehabilitation for hip replacement, in order to develop appropriate intervention strategies for patient rehabilitation care in the future. Methods: This study constructed a corpus of patients' self-reported rehabilitation care problems after hip replacement, based on the Omaha classification system. This study used the Python development language and implemented artificial intelligence to match the corpus data on the cooperation platform, to identify the main health-related problems reported by the patients, and to perform statistical analyses. Results: Most patients had physical health-related problems. More than 80% of these problems were related to neuromusculoskeletal function, interpersonal relationships, pain, health care supervision, physical activity, vision, nutrition, and residential environment. The most common period in which patients' self-reported problems arose was 6 months post-surgery. The relevant labels that were moderately related to these problems were: Physiology-Speech and Language and Physiology-Mind (r = 0.45), Health-Related Behaviors-Nutrition and Health-Related Behaviors-Compliance with Doctors' Prescription (r = 0.40). Conclusion: Physiological issues remain the main health-related issues for home-based rehabilitation after hip replacement in older patients. Precision care has become an important principle of rehabilitation care. This study used a machine learning method to obtain the largest quantitative network data possible. The artificial intelligence capture was fully automated, which greatly improved efficiency, as compared to manual data entering. Summary table: What was already known on the topic: As the population ages, total hip replacement surgeries are increasingly performed. Due to the short length of hospitalization, rehabilitation care is mainly home-based. The needs and concerns about such home-based rehabilitation are constantly changing, and should be continuously evaluated. What this study added to our knowledge: The corpus of patients' self-reported rehabilitation care problems after hip replacement constructed based on the Omaha system in this study will provide a reference for the unified identification of issues related to hip replacement. The methods provided in this study provide a reference for future assessments of self-reported outcomes and intervention needs of patients. In a medical environment with limiting conditions, the mining of online clinical medical data can provide new ideas and evidence supporting precision care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduced the concept of soundscape, investigated sound environment of old urban residential districts, and explored soundscape elements and soundscape designs. In view of current sound environment features of old urban residential districts and different population groups' preferences for different sound elements, this paper proposed soundscape design methods to improve sound environment of old urban residential districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of metformin on human esophageal normal and carcinoma cells remains poorly understood. We aim to investigate the different antiproliferation effects and underlying distinct molecular mechanisms between these two types of cells. Human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell line, EC109, and normal esophageal epithelial cell line, HEEC, were used in the experiment. The cell survival rate was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8). Cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) were detected by real-time quantitative PCR and western blot. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was added to activate Stat3. The level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed by a DCFH-DA fluorescent probe. Metformin had more significant inhibitory effects on cell proliferation in EC109 cells than HEECs. Metformin induced apoptosis of EC109 cells in a dose-dependent manner instead of HEECs. The expression of Stat3 in both mRNA and protein levels was higher in EC109 cells than HEECs. Further study revealed that metformin may attenuate the phosphorylation of the Stat3 and the Bcl-2 expression, which was restored by IL-6 partly in EC109 cells but not HEECs. On the contrary, metformin increased the level of ROS in both the cell lines, but this intracellular ROS variation had no effect on apoptosis. Metformin has different functional roles on the apoptosis in esophageal carcinoma cells and normal esophageal cells. Therefore, the Stat3/Bcl-2 pathway-mediated apoptosis underlies the cell-type-specific drug sensitivity, suggesting metformin possesses a therapeutic activity and selectivity on esophageal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since February 2013, H7N9 influenza virus, causing human infections with high mortality in China, has been a potential pandemic threat. The H7N9 viruses are found to diverge into distinct genotypes as other influenza viruses; thus a vaccine that can provide sufficient cross-protection against different genotypes of H7N9 viruses is urgently needed. Our previous studies demonstrated that the HA-based structural design approach by introducing a CFLLC minidomain into transmembrane domain (TM) of H1, H5 or H9 hemagglutinin (HA) proteins by replacing with H3 subtype HA TM could enhance their cross-protection. In this study, we used Sf9 insect cell expression system to express recombinant H7 HA proteins H7-53WT, in which HA gene was derived from H7N9-53 strain, and H7-53TM containing CFLLC minidomian by replacing its TM domain with H3 HA TM. We investigated whether introduction of CFLLC minidomain into H7 HA (H7-53TM) could increase its cross-reactivity and cross-protection against different genotypes of H7N9 viruses. The results showed that the H7-53TM either with or without squalene adjuvant induced increased HI antibodies, serum IgG antibodies, and IFN-γ production to a panel of 7 H7N9 viruses in mice. Vaccinated animals with H7-53TM alone showed complete protection against challenge with heterologous H7N9-MCX strain, while H7-53WT alone showed incomplete protection (80%). Furthermore, mice vaccinated with H7-53TM HA showed less body weight loss and less pulmonary lesions and inflammation after challenge with homologous or heterologous H7N9 viruses, comparing to H7-53WT. In summary, this study presents a better subunit vaccine candidate (H7-53TM) against potential H7N9 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In Parkinson's disease (PD), walking may depend on the activation of the cerebral cortex. Understanding the patterns of interaction between cortical regions during walking tasks is of great importance. Objective: This study investigated differences in the effective connectivity (EC) of the cerebral cortex during walking tasks in individuals with PD and healthy controls. Methods: We evaluated 30 individuals with PD (62.4±7.2 years) and 22 age-matched healthy controls (61.0±6.4 years). A mobile functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to record cerebral oxygenation signals in the left prefrontal cortex (LPFC), right prefrontal cortex (RPFC), left parietal lobe (LPL), and right parietal lobe (RPL) and analyze the EC of the cerebral cortex. A wireless movement monitor was used to measure the gait parameters. Results: Individuals with PD demonstrated a primary coupling direction from LPL to LPFC during walking tasks, whereas healthy controls did not demonstrate any main coupling direction. Compared with healthy controls, individuals with PD showed statistically significantly increased EC coupling strength from LPL to LPFC, from LPL to RPFC, and from LPL to RPL. Individuals with PD showed decreased gait speed and stride length and increased variability in speed and stride length. The EC coupling strength from LPL to RPFC negatively correlated with speed and positively correlated with speed variability in individuals with PD. Conclusion: In individuals with PD, the left prefrontal cortex may be regulated by the left parietal lobe during walking. This may be the result of functional compensation in the left parietal lobe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• fNIRS-based functional analysis quantifies DBS neuromodulation on DOC patients. • A greater improvement of consciousness was observed in patients with trauma. • Brain communication efficiency can serve as a DOC functional marker. While deep brain stimulation (DBS) has proved effective for certain patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC), the working neural mechanism is not clear, the response varies for patients, and the assessment is inadequate. This paper aims to quantify the DBS-induced changes of consciousness in DOC patients at the neural functional level. Ten DOC patients were included for DBS surgery. The DBS target was the right centromedian-parafascicular (CM-pf) nuclei for four patients and the bilateral CM-pf nuclei for six patients. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was taken to measure the neural activation of patients, in parallel with Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R), before the DBS surgery and one month after. The fNIRS signals were recorded from the frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes. Functional connectivity analysis quantified the communication between brain regions, area communication strength, and global communication efficiency. Linear regression analysis was conducted between the changes of indices based on functional connectivity analysis and the changes of the CRS-R index. Patients with trauma (n = 4) exhibited a greater increase of CRS-R scores after DBS treatment compared with patients with hemorrhage (n = 4) and brainstem infarction (n = 2). Global communication efficiency changed consistently with the CRS-R index (slope = 57.384, p < 0.05, R 2 =0.483). No significant relationship was found between the changes of area communication strength of six brain lobes and the changes of the CRS-R index. The cause of DOC is essential for the outcome of DBS treatment, and brain communication efficiency is a promising functional marker for DOC recovery. fNIRS-based functional connectivity analysis on brain network signifies changes of consciousness in DOC patients after DBS treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain–computer interface (BCI) based on motor imagery electroencephalogram (EEG) has been widely used in various applications. Despite the previous efforts, the remained major challenges are effective feature extraction and the time-consuming calibration procedure. To address these issues, a novel multiattention adaptation network integrating the multiple attention mechanism and transfer learning is proposed to classify the EEG signals. First, the multiattention layer is introduced to automatically capture the dominant brain regions relevant to mental tasks without incorporating any prior knowledge about the physiology. Then, a multiattention convolutional neural network is employed to extract deep representation from raw EEG signals. Especially, a domain discriminator is applied to deep representation to reduce the differences between sessions for target subjects. The extensive experiments are conducted on three public EEG datasets (Dataset IIa and IIb of BCI Competition IV, and High Gamma dataset), achieving the competitive performance with average classification accuracy of 81.48%, 82.54%, and 93.97%, respectively. All the results outperform the state-of-the-art algorithms demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method. Importantly, we confirm that it is easier and more appropriate to transfer the information from local brain regions than from the whole brain. This enhances the transfer ability of deep features and, hence, it improves the performance of BCI systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gait disorders are common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), and objective, quantifiable, and portable evaluation methods are needed in clinical practice. We assessed the differences in gait characteristics between patients with PD and healthy controls (HCs) using two-dimensional (2D) video and explored the diagnostic value of 2D video for early-stage PD.Methods: Sixty-eight patients with PD and 48 HCs were recruited. All participants walked a standard 5-m track while recorded using mobile phones. The differences in gait characteristics between the groups and gait parameters of patients with early-stage PD were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the discrimination activity of gait parameters.Results: Compared with HCs, patients with PD had shorter step length (S/M, p < 0.001/0.001), faster cadence (p = 0.044), slower walking speed (p < 0.001), smaller arm-swing angle (S/M, p < 0.001/0.001), slower arm-swing velocity (S/M, p < 0.001/0.001), and greater variability and asymmetry. The patients with early-stage PD had similar characteristics. After combined step length and variability and asymmetry of arm-swing angle, diagnostic sensitivity and specificity reached 84.6% and 89.6%, respectively, and an area under the curve of 0.91 (0.84-0.97).Conclusion: We proposed a new method to improve the sensitivity of early-stage PD diagnosis using 2D video, which, as a portable and objective method, could be used to evaluate gait disorders in PD, including in early-stage PD. Combined diagnostic analysis of step length and variability and asymmetry of arm-swing angle could improve the sensitivity of PD diagnosis and was helpful in distinguishing patients with early-stage PD from HCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A thrust vector control test system with four-point support dynamometer is proposed. • The deflection flange structure is used to realize the large loading of vector force. • Three-way static calibration test of dynamometer was carried out on the test system. • Nonlinear/repeatability error and interphase interference all meet test requirements. The accurate measurement of thrust vector is very important to improve the life and safety of aircraft engine. In order to meet the requirements of thrust vector test of a solid rocket engine and overcome the contradiction between large thrust (>50 kN) and high-frequency response (≫30 Hz)/high precision measurement (<3%), a thrust vector control test system utilizing a four-point support piezoelectric dynamometer (FSPD) and a deflected flange structure was proposed. The test system mainly consists of a four-point support piezoelectric dynamometer and some vector force simulation loading devices. The theoretical mechanical model and the thrust vector control test system was set up to study the performance of solid rocket engine. Firstly, the piezoelectric elements and four-point support piezoelectric dynamometer were calibrated by the three-direction force calibration loading device. Secondly, the rationality and feasibility of the thrust vector control test system were proved by the simulated loading experiment. The research results show that the static and dynamic performance of the test system meet the test requirements, and it has good linearity and repeatability, errors are less than 1.00 %, and interphase interference is less than 2.00 %. The measuring system proposed in this paper provides a new idea for the accurate measurement of vector force with large load and high-frequency response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gait initiation (GI) includes automatic and voluntary movements. However, research on their impact on the first step in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their relationship to freezing of gait (FOG) is lacking. We examined the effects of automatic movements (anticipatory postural adjustments [APAs]) and voluntary movements (limits of stability [LOS]) on the first step (first-step duration and first-step range of motion), along with their early recognition and prediction of slight FOG. Twenty-three patients with PD and slight freezing (PD + FOG) and 25 non-freezing patients with PD (PD-FOG) were tested while off medications and compared with 24 healthy controls (HC). All participants completed a 7-m Stand and Walk Test (7 m SAW) and wore inertial sensors to quantify the APAs and first step. LOS was quantified by dynamic posturography in different directions using a pressure platform. We compared differences among all three groups, analysed correlations, and evaluated their predictive value for slight FOG. In PD + FOG, APAs and LOS were worse than those in the PD-FOG and HC groups (p < 0.001), and the first step was worse than that in HC (p < 0.001). APAs were correlated mainly with the first-step duration. APAs and LOS were correlated with the first-step range of motion. APAs have been recognized as independent predictors of FOG, and their combination with LOS enhances predictive sensitivity. APAs and LOS in patients with PD directly affect the first step during GI. In addition, the combination of APAs and LOS helped predict slight FOG. • Anticipatory postural adjustments and limits of stability in patients with PD directly affected first-step duration and first-step range during the gait initiation. • Automatic movements such as anticipatory postural adjustments are more sensitive for predicting the occurrence of FOG than voluntary movements such as limits of stability. • The combination of anticipatory postural adjustments and limits of stability was helpful for predicting slight FOG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripheral inflammation plays a significant role in Parkinson's disease (PD). Conflicting studies on whether inflammatory indicators in blood could serve as biomarkers to distinguish PD. Include a wider range of biomarkers and control confounding factors to comprehensively evaluate the value of peripheral inflammation-related indicators. A total of 80 PD patients were recruited and 80 one-to-one matched healthy controls (HCs). The levels of B-cell, T-cell, and natural killer (NK)-cell in blood were measured using flow cytometry. The levels of neurodegeneration-related proteins in serum were detected and clinical blood test results were collected. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the role of significant variables in PD. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the potential value of these variables. Compared to HCs, PD patients showed lower levels of lymphocyte, B-cell, T-cell, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, while the levels of neutrophil, NK-cell, β-amyloid40, neurofilament light chain, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and neutrophil-to-HDL-C ratio (NHR) were increased. A higher B-cell count was associated with a lower risk of PD, while higher levels of NK-cell and NHR were associated with a higher risk of PD. B-cell, NK-cell and NHR have potential value in distinguishing PD from non-PD. B-cell and NHR levels were significantly correlated with PD dyskinesia scores. B-cell, NK-cell, and NHR may potentially contribute to distinguishing PD patients from HCs. There could be a correlation between the number of B-cell, the level of NHR, and the severity of PD dyskinesia. • NLR, NHR, and LMR have been observed to be associated with systemic inflammation. • Peripheral inflammation plays a significant role in Parkinson's disease. • B-cell, NK-cell, and NHR play a role in distinguishing PD patients from HCs. • B cell count and NHR level are potential biomarkers of the severity of PD dyskinesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • GdOF:Yb,Er porous spheres was synthesized by calcining NaGdF 4 :Yb,Er microrods. • GdOF:Yb,Er exhibited a near single-band red UC emission and nearly two orders of luminescence enhancement. • GdOF:Yb,Er exhibited a greater loading capacity (0.25 g/g) of Cu-Cy photosensitizer than NaGdF 4 :Yb,Er (0.12 g/g). • GdOF:Yb,Er presented a tremendous potential in drug loading, anti-counterfeiting and imaging applications. Precise tuning of the structure, luminescence intensity, and color of lanthanides-doped up-conversion (UC) micro/nanomaterials is essential for many applications. Herein, a porous material with enhanced UC emission was achieved by calcining the hexagonal phase NaGdF 4 :Yb,Er microrods synthesized by the hydrothermal method. Under excitation at 980 nm, compared to the as-synthesized NaGdF 4 :Yb,Er microcrystal, the 700 ℃ calcined products exhibit a single-band red UC luminescence and nearly two orders of luminescence enhancement. However, the XRD patterns of the calcined products are simultaneously consistent with the cubic phase NaGdF 4 and rhombohedral phase GdOF, which makes the composition of calcined products be an open question. We have carefully designed and carried out some experiments, and then verified the GdOF identity of the calcined products. Interestingly, GdOF:Yb,Er porous spheres exhibit a greater loading capacity (0.25 g/g) of Cu-Cy photosensitizer than the as-synthesized NaGdF 4 :Yb,Er (0.12 g/g) microcrystals. Furthermore, after loading the photosensitizer, GdOF:Yb,Er porous spheres still emit a strong single-band red luminescence upon 980 nm excitation. These phosphors can also be used as security inks for printing luminescent patterns. This study provides a novel way towards the preparation of the GdOF:Yb,Er porous phosphors with a tremendous potential in drug loading, anti-counterfeiting and imaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the interactions between plants and microbes during pathogen infection is crucial for plant health improvement. However, the integrated role of soil nutrients, root exudates, and plant microbiomes in plant health during disease outbreaks remains unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that root exudate-mediated healthy microbiomes (HealthyBiome) would facilitate the escape of soil-borne pathogen infection, whereas a root exudate-mediated disease-conductive microbiome (PathoBiome) would induce disease occurrence. Using watermelon wilt disease caused by Fusarium oxysporum as a model, we investigated these interactions and their implications in plant disease. We examined the pathogen load across plant compartments during the pathogen accumulation (AH) and disease outbreak periods. We analyzed the plant microbiomes and root exudates during the outbreak, which was associated with the emergence in both healthy (BH) and diseased (BD) plants. Compared with AH and BD plants, BH plants had the lowest F. oxysporum density in the root–soil system (0.74–0.84 times that of AH and BD plants). BD plants showed an elevated amino acid metabolism (2.84–3.38 times that of healthy plants), whereas BH plants showed a higher metabolism of phenolic compounds (1.73 times that of diseased plants). BH plants secreted more palmitic acid (1.53 times that of diseased plants) and recruited more nitrogen (N)-fixing bacteria (e.g., Paenarthrobacter , Sphingomonas), which potentially alleviated N scarcity in the soil, promoted plant growth, and improved the plant defense. Structural equation modeling highlighted the interactions among soil nutrients, root metabolites, and plant nutrients in recruiting pro-growth bacteria to the rhizosphere and roots for healthy plant growth. Our findings provide novel evidence of how root exudates influence plant–microbiome interactions during pathogen infections, highlighting the importance of a balanced root exudate profile and its associated "HealthyBiome" in promoting plant health and growth. [Display omitted] • Bacteria was significantly higher sensitivity to time and health status compared to fungi. • High Fusarium wilt incidence is partly due to N limitation during the outbreak period. • Healthy plants significantly reduced amino acid and increased secondary metabolite. • Healthy plants recruited more N-fixing and growth-promoting bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• In this paper, a mechanical property analysis method based on multistage decomposition − equivalence − modeling − reconstruction of structures is presented. • The transfer mechanism of force identified the weak stiffness link and the main flexible function area of the component under different stress directions. • Based on the basic theory of elastic mechanics and material mechanics, the deformation function model under the action of forces in different directions is established. • Subsequently, the mechanical model of the component is reconstructed, leading to the derivation of FMC global deformation function. • Finally, the accuracy of the deformation function is verified through a deformation measurement experiment conducted on the FMC. The force measuring component (FMC) is the key structure of the thrust vector measuring device. The precise analysis of FMCs' performance is crucial in elucidating the mechanism of vector force measurement and decoupling output data. The current testing technology solely utilizes FMCs, with no investigation into their mechanical properties. This paper presents an innovative and comprehensive mechanical analysis and modeling of FMC performance. The force transfer mechanism within the FMC is examined in each direction, and the structure is decomposed into its functional components, which are then treated as thin plate and beam structures. By applying principles of elastic mechanics, the local structure's deformation function is analyzed. The complete deformation function for the FMC is established based on incorporating local and global deformation regulations. Finally, force-loading experiments were conducted, and deformation measurements were used to validate the FMC's deformation function. The experimental results demonstrate a strong agreement between the theoretical calculations and experimental results. The maximum errors of axial and lateral deformation function is less than values of 4.77 % and 5.19 %, respectively, confirming that the theoretical function accurately characterizes the mechanical properties of the FMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early identification of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is essential for its treatment and the prevention of dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD). Existing approaches are mostly based on neuropsychological assessments, while brain activation and connection have not been well considered. This paper presents a neuroimaging-based graph frequency analysis method and the generated features to quantify the brain functional neurodegeneration and distinguish between PD-MCI patients and healthy controls. The Stroop color-word experiment was conducted with 20 PD-MCI patients and 34 healthy controls, and the brain activation was recorded with functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Then, the functional brain network was constructed based on Pearson's correlation coefficient calculation between every two fNIRS channels. Next, the functional brain network was represented as a graph and decomposed in the graph frequency domain through the graph Fourier transform (GFT) to obtain the eigenvector matrix. Total variation and weighted zero crossings of eigenvectors were defined and integrated to quantify functional interaction between brain regions and the spatial variability of the brain network in specific graph frequency ranges, respectively. After that, the features were employed in training a support vector machine (SVM) classifier. The presented method achieved a classification accuracy of 0.833 and an F1 score of 0.877, significantly outperforming existing methods and features. Our method provided improved classification performance in the identification of PD-MCI. The results suggest that the presented graph frequency analysis method well identify PD-MCI patients and the generated features promise functional brain biomarkers for PD-MCI diagnosis. • Graph frequency features were extracted for healthy and PD-MCI patients' fNIRS data. • PD-MCI patients exhibited decreased frontal and frontoparietal interaction. • Spatial variability of brain network correlated with cognitive decline of patients. • fNIRS-based graph frequency analysis promises functional biomarkers for PD-MCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The release of the serine proteinase tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) from cerebral cortical neurons has a neuroprotective effect in the ischemic brain. Because excitotoxicity is a basic mechanism of ischemia-induced cell death, here we investigated the effect of tPA on excitotoxin-induced neuronal death. We report that genetic overexpression of neuronal tPA or treatment with recombinant tPA renders neurons resistant to the harmful effects of an excitotoxic injury in vitro and in vivo. We found that at concentrations found in the ischemic brain, tPA interacts with synaptic but not extrasynaptic NMDARs. This effect is independent of tPA''s proteolytic properties and leads to a rapid and transient phosphorylation of the extracellular signal regulated kinases1/2 (ERK1/2), with ERK1/2-mediated activation of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) and induction of the neuroprotective CREB-regulated activating transcription factor 3 (Atf3). In line with these observations, Atf3 down-regulation abrogates the protective effect of tPA against excitotoxin-induced neuronal death. Our data indicate that tPA preferentially activates synaptic NMDARs via a plasminogen-independent mechanism turning on a cell signaling pathway that protects neurons from the deleterious effects of excitotoxicity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Endoscopically assisted extracapsular dissection through a single incision along the cephaloauricular furrow has been adapted as a method of access for operating on benign parotid gland tumors. However, no study has compared the immune and stress responses after surgery between the endoscopic procedure and conventional open surgery. Methods: Through a randomized method, 50 patients with benign parotid gland tumors were assigned to undergo either endoscopically assisted extracapsular dissection or open parotidectomy. The postoperative inflammatory changes and hormonal response in the patients were analyzed at serum level during the preoperative period and at 12, 24, and 72 hr after either surgery. Results: Twenty‐three patients received an endoscopic procedure, while 27 underwent open surgery. The size of the incision, amount of intraoperative bleeding, volume of drainage, postoperative pain score, and satisfaction with appearance were all improved in the endoscopic procedure group. Additionally, the serum levels of C‐reactive protein, interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐10, and cortisol were significantly lower in the endoscopy group in comparison with those in the open surgery group. Conclusion: Endoscopically assisted extracapsular dissection on patients with benign parotid gland tumors is associated with lower inflammatory changes and hormone responses than open surgery, thereby reducing perioperative pathophysiological disturbance and enhancing recovery after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective was to identify the comorbidities of gout, to compare gender difference and independent factors of frequent gout attacks (> 20 times). Method: Demographic, clinical variables, self-reported comorbidities, and biochemical variables (i.e., initial serum uric acid (UA) and UA at visit) were collected in this cross-sectional study. Gout attack times were recorded as ≤ 5, 6–10, 11–20, and > 20. Adjusted odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to explore the association between selected risk factors and frequent gout attacks. Results: Six hundred fifty-three gout patients with a mean age of 48.3 ± 15.8 years were included, 84.7% of whom were males. The median gout duration was 6.0 (3.0–12.0) years. The most common comorbidities involved hypertension (166, 25.4%), coronary artery disease (CAD) (67, 10.3%), chronic kidney disease (66, 10.1%), and hyperlipidemia (57, 8.7%). Abnormalities including nephrolithiasis (29.4%), hydronephrosis (3.2%), and gallstones (11.9%) were also found. Although female patients had a longer disease duration and more CAD, they had a lower level of UA, creatine, and C-reactive protein (CRP) but higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (p < 0.05). A positive correlation between UA and triglycerides was found in females (p = 0.039). Patients with renal insufficiency or nephrolithiasis had longer disease duration and more gout attacks (p < 0.001). In multivariable regression analysis, only gout duration (OR = 7.89, p < 0.001) and UA (OR = 1.48, p < 0.001) was independent factors of frequent gout attacks. Conclusions: Comorbidity screening involving dyslipidemia is often neglected in gout patients. Gout duration and UA are the risk factors of frequent gout attacks. Key Points • Comorbidities can be overlooked if the screening for lipid levels, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease is not completed. • There are differences in comorbidities and biochemical findings between male and female patients with gout. • Gout duration and serum uric acid level are independent risk factors of frequent gout attacks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Postural instability is commonly observed in Parkinson's disease, leading to an increasing risk of falling and worsening as the disease progresses. We found that limit of stability can be applied to reflect the dynamic evolution of postural instability in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods. Forty-three patients (9 of Hoehn and Yahr stage I, 12 of stage II, 14 of stage III, and 8 of stage IV) met the criteria for the diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease and could stand independently for at least 10 minutes. Twelve healthy controls with no sign of parkinsonism were also recruited. Postural instability was assessed by posturography in different directions (forward, backward, right, left, forward-right, forward-left, backward-right, and backward-left). This study trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (no. ChiCTR1900022715). Results. All participants were able to complete the limit of stability tasks without any complications. Patients in stages II to IV exhibited smaller end point excursion and slower time to complete than controls, suggesting an impaired limit of stability. The patients in stage II exhibited a remarkable decline in most directions compared to controls, except for right and left, and forward and backward decline occurred the earliest. For patients in stage III, right was the only direction with no significant difference from controls. In stage IV patients, the limit of stability declined significantly in all directions (p < 0.05). Conclusions. The postural abnormalities of Parkinson's disease can occur at early stages, and the pattern of decline is more severe in the forward-backward direction. This trial is registered with ChiCTR1900022715. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with peripheral inflammation and abnormal peripheral blood lymphocyte immune responses. Peripheral blood B-lymphocyte subset distributions and whether they are associated with PD are unclear. Sixty-one PD patients and sixty-one one-to-one paired healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. We used flow cytometry to perform immunophenotyping of peripheral B-lymphocyte, in vitro stimulation and measured serum cytokine. The relationship between variables and PD were assessed. The percentage of naive B cells in blood of PD patients was decreased, whereas the percentages of regulatory B cells (Bregs), plasma blast cells (PBCs), and double-negative (DN) B cells were increased. The absolute counts of B-lymphocyte and naive B cells in blood of PD patients were decreased. Regression analysis revealed that alterations in the absolute counts of B-lymphocyte and the percentage of Bregs and DN B cells were associated with PD. After stimulation, the percentages of Bregs, PBCs, and switched memory (SwM) B cells increased in PD patients. Additionally, increases in GM-CSF-producing B-cell, IFN-γ-producing B-cell, and TNF-α-producing B-cell percentages were noted in PD. Serum levels of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) were elevated in PD and correlated negatively with the UPDRS III score. Abnormal B-lymphocyte immune responses in peripheral blood may contribute to PD development. Alterations in the absolute counts of B-lymphocyte and the percentage of Bregs and DN B cells are associated with PD. Furthermore, APRIL, BAFF, and sCD40L could be potential targets for intervention in PD. • Abnormal distribution of B lymphocytes and their subsets in PD patients. • Enhanced immune response of B lymphocytes in PD patients. • B lymphocytes and certain subsets have diagnostic value for PD. • APRIL, BAFF, and sCD40L could be potential targets for intervention in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motor imagery (MI) is an important part of brain-computer interface (BCI) research, which could decode the subject's intention and help remodel the neural system of stroke patients. Therefore, accurate decoding of electroencephalography- (EEG-) based motion imagination has received a lot of attention, especially in the research of rehabilitation training. We propose a novel multifrequency brain network-based deep learning framework for motor imagery decoding. Firstly, a multifrequency brain network is constructed from the multichannel MI-related EEG signals, and each layer corresponds to a specific brain frequency band. The structure of the multifrequency brain network matches the activity profile of the brain properly, which combines the information of channel and multifrequency. The filter bank common spatial pattern (FBCSP) algorithm filters the MI-based EEG signals in the spatial domain to extract features. Further, a multilayer convolutional network model is designed to distinguish different MI tasks accurately, which allows extracting and exploiting the topology in the multifrequency brain network. We use the public BCI competition IV dataset 2a and the public BCI competition III dataset IIIa to evaluate our framework and get state-of-the-art results in the first dataset, i.e., the average accuracy is 83.83% and the value of kappa is 0.784 for the BCI competition IV dataset 2a, and the accuracy is 89.45% and the value of kappa is 0.859 for the BCI competition III dataset IIIa. All these results demonstrate that our framework can classify different MI tasks from multichannel EEG signals effectively and show great potential in the study of remodelling the neural system of stroke patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Gout is the most common inflammatory arthritis and the worldwide incidence is increasing. By revealing the metabolic alterations in serum and urine of gout patients, the first aim of our study was to discover novel molecular biomarkers allowing for early diagnosis. We also aimed to investigate the underlying pathogenic pathways. Methods Serum and urine samples from gout patients (n  = 30) and age-matched healthy controls (n  = 30) were analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) to screen the differential metabolites and construct a diagnostic model. Next, the model was verified and optimized in the second validation cohort (n  = 100). The pathways were illustrated to understand the underlying pathogenesis of gout. Results In general, serum metabolomics demonstrated a clearer distinction than urine metabolomics. In the discovery cohort, 40 differential serum metabolites were identified that could distinguish gout patients from healthy controls. Among them, eight serum metabolites were verified in the validation cohort. Through regression analysis, the final model consisted of three serum metabolites—pyroglutamic acid, 2-methylbutyryl carnitine and Phe-Phe—that presented optimal diagnostic power. The three proposed metabolites produced an area under the curve of 0.956 (95% CI 0.911, 1.000). Additionally, the proposed metabolic pathways were primarily involved in purine metabolism, branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) metabolism, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies, bile secretion and arachidonic acid metabolism. Conclusion The metabolomics signatures could serve as an efficient tool for early diagnosis and provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of gout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of study was to detect antinuclear antibodies (ANA) using indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA), linear immunoassay (LIA), chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA), multiple microbead immunoassay (MBI) and to compare these four methods in the performance of diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serum ANA were detected in 147 SLE cases and 42 healthy controls (HCs). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and agreement, the area under the curve of four methods in diagnosing were calculated. Finally, a diagnostic model through logistic regression was constructed. The sensitivity of CMIA and IIFA in diagnosing SLE was 89.08% and 89.12%, higher than other two methods (P <.01), while highest specificity lied in CMIA (95.24%) and LIA (95.24%). The accuracy was highest in CMIA (91.01%), and lowest in LIA (83.07%). CMIA and the other three methods had good agreement, especially with LIA (κ =.798, 95% CI, 0.708‐0.88). ANA‐IIFA (OR = 1.016, P <.001) and anti‐SSA antibodies (OR = 1.017, P =.043) were finally included in the SLE diagnostic model, with AUC value of 0.964 (95% CI, 0.936‐0.991). SLE patients exhibited 14 various ANA patterns, especially AC‐1, AC‐4, and AC‐5. Antibodies against SSA and dsDNA were mostly seen with AC‐1 and AC‐4 patterns, while antibodies against RNP, Sm, SSA, dsDNA, nucleosome and PO were most frequently observed with AC‐5 pattern in SLE. CMIA method is a reliable screening test for detections of antibodies related to SLE. Using ANA‐IIFA and anti‐SSA antibodies by CMIA can discriminate SLE patients from HCs effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]