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Aim: To explore the link between the RBP4 rs3758539 genotype and metabolic syndrome risk factors and whether the impact of this genetic variation displays any potential race discrepancy. Materials and Methods: This meta‐analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and was registered with PROSPERO (registration no. CRD42023407999). PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Airiti Library and CINAHL databases were used for the study search until October 2023. We evaluated the methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist and determined the correlation using a random‐effects meta‐analysis. Results: The results indicated that individuals with the rs3758539 GA/AA genotype had a higher risk profile, including lower high‐density lipoprotein levels [correlation: −0.045, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.080 to −0.009, p =.015, I2 = 46.9%] and higher body mass index (correlation: 0.117, 95% CI: 0.036‐0.197, p =.005, I2 = 82.0%), body fat (correlation: 0.098, 95% CI: 0.004‐0.191, p =.041, I2 = 64.0%), and low‐density lipoprotein levels (correlation: 0.074, 95% CI: 0.010‐0.139, p =.024, I2 = 0%), of developing metabolic syndrome than those with the GG genotype. The subgroup analysis maintained a significantly positive correlation between the rs3758539 GA/AA genotype and body mass index (correlation: 0.163, 95% CI: 0.031‐0.289, p =.016, I2 = 88.9%) but a negative correlation with high‐density lipoprotein levels (correlation: −0.047, 95% CI: −0.087 to −0.006, p =.025, I2 = 65.7%) in the Asian group only. Conclusion: The current meta‐analysis supports a significant link between the RBP4 rs3758539 GA/AA genotype and the metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we fix the complex structure and explore the moduli space of the heterotic system by considering two different yet “dual” deformation paths starting from a Kähler solution. They correspond to deformation along the Bott–Chern cohomology class and the Aeppli cohomology class, respectively. Using the implicit function theorem, we prove the stability of the existence of heterotic solutions under these two deformations and hence establish an initial step in constructing local moduli coordinates around a Kähler solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high‐value utilization of biomass feedstock is fascinating but limited by efficient C─H activation to break C─C bonds. Herein, F‐Fe2O3‐Mn photoanodes with modulable compressive strain are fabricated by gradient infusion of Mn into F‐doped hematite (F‐Fe2O3), which is illustrated to be highly efficient for oxidative C─C bond cleavage of various bio‐based 1,2‐diols to produce benzoic acids or aromatic ketones (94.5–97.2% yields) in photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) device, coupling with a high H2 production of 1180 μmol cm−2 (≈96% yield). The gradient doping of Mn species into the photoelectrode bulk results in improved photoexcited carriers separation and transfer efficiency of the photoelectrode (3.41 mA cm−2). On the other hand, the lattice distortion induced by Mn doping also leads to a strain effect on F─Fe2O3─Mn, which can precisely modulate the photoelectrode electronic structure. Control experiments, in situ characterization, and theoretical calculations elaborate that compressive strain is capable of adjusting the position of the d‐band center to facilitate C─H activation, remarkably enabling PEC oxidative C─C bond breaking of 1,2‐diol and the desorption of the oxidized product. This "one‐stone‐two‐bird" strategy presents a straightforward protocol for efficiently breaking C─C bonds in organic and biomass transformations via PEC oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Methods Results Conclusion Female voiding dysfunction with cystocele have been widely studied, but there are no data regarding women without cystoceles. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of detrusor underactivity (DU) and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) without cystoceles in a large sample size.This was a retrospective cohort study. Between April 1996 and September 2018, 602 neurologically intact women with voiding dysfunction without cystoceles were enrolled. Detrusor pressure (DU) at the maximum flow rate (PdetQmax) <20 cmH2O, maximum flow rate (Qmax) <15 mL/s, and a bladder voiding efficiency <90% and BOO (PdetQmax ≥40 cmH2O and Qmax <12 mL/s) were diagnosed by urodynamic study. Otherwise, a non‐DU/BOO diagnosis was made. The prevalence of DU and BOO was the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes were the analyses of the differences between these three groups in objective UDS parameters and subjective questionnaires and bladder diary parameters.This study included 100 (17%) women with DU, 60 (10%) with BOO, and 442 (73%) with a non‐DU/BOO diagnosis. DU increased with age, but BOO decreased as age increased. The women in the DU group were older, had higher parity and pad weights, and lower PdetQmax, maximum urethral closure pressure, and functional profile length than the BOO group. The urodynamic findings did not correlate well to subjective questionnaire parameters. None of the symptoms revealed a significant difference between the groups. The retrospective design was the limitation of the study.The prevalence of DU increased with age in women with voiding dysfunction without advanced cystoceles. Conversely, BOO decreased with age. Prevalence intersected in the fourth decade. Diagnosis requires urodynamic evaluation, as subjective symptoms are inconclusive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to compare the developmental-behavioral profiles of 2-year-olds of mothers who experienced postpartum and/or current depression with profiles of toddlers of mothers without depression at either time using population-based Rhode Island data. Weighted data from Rhode Island Department of Health's Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System and Rhode Island's follow-up Toddlers Wellness Overview Survey distributed to mothers giving birth between 2006 and 2008 were analyzed. Compared with non-depressed mothers, those with any depression following childbirth reported more concerns with their toddlers' receptive language, social-emotional development, and their sleep and feeding behaviors. When adjusted for demographics, persistent depression remained associated with social-emotional (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 7.53, 2.78-20.34) and feeding concerns (aOR = 3.13, 1.36-7.22), and current depression was associated with social-emotional concerns (aOR = 2.52, 1.26-5.01). We conclude that pediatric providers should explore maternal mental health as a mediating and potentially modifiable factor beyond the postpartum period when toddlers present with developmental-behavioral challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many design guidelines have been proposed for piled embankments, most of which consider piles or columns as rigid inclusions. In this study, a small-scale physical model test was performed to investigate the load transfer mechanism of a geotextile-reinforced sand layer over a soft subsoil improved by semirigid columns. A multi-stage load was applied at the top of the sand layer until the columns started to yield. When the columns yielded, a reverse load transfer was observed. Vertical stresses were measured and analyzed in terms of efficacy and stress reduction ratio (SRR) with a comparison of existing design guidelines for assessing soil arching. Among the reviewed guidelines, the approach recommended by the Dutch guidelines provided the closest results to the experimental data, whereas the one adopted by the American guidelines predicted well the change in efficacy and SRR under different surcharge loads. However, the load transfer mechanism after the yielding of columns is beyond the scope of the existing design guidelines. In addition, it was found through regression analysis that the increment of vertical stresses on columns and surrounding soil followed an inclined line under partially undrained conditions during loading stages and a curve during consolidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we synthesized a transition metal sulfide (TMS) with a spinel structure, i.e., MnIn2S4 (MIS), using a two-step hydrothermal and sintering process. In the context of lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications, ternary TMSs are being considered as interesting options for anode materials. This consideration arises from their notable attributes, including high theoretical capacity, excellent cycle stability, and cost-effectiveness. However, dramatic volume changes result in the electrochemical performance being severely limited, so we introduced single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and prepared an MIS/SWCNT composite to enhance the structural stability and electronic conductivity. The synthesized MIS/SWCNT composite exhibits better cycle performance than bare MIS. Undergoing 100 cycles, MIS only yields a reversible capacity of 117 mAh/g at 0.1 A/g. However, the MIS/SWCNT composite exhibits a reversible capacity as high as 536 mAh/g after 100 cycles. Moreover, the MIS/SWCNT composite shows a better rate capability. The current density increases with cycling, and the SWCNT composite exhibits high reversible capacities of 232 and 102 mAh/g at 2 A/g and 5 A/g, respectively. Under the same conditions, pristine MIS can only deliver reversible capacities of 21 and 4 mAh/g. The results indicate that MIS/SWCNT composites are promising anode materials for LIBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synaptopodin (SP), an actin-associated protein found in telencephalic neurons, affects activity-dependant synaptic plasticity and dynamic changes of dendritic spines. While being required for long-term depression (LTD) mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR-LTD), little is known about its role in other forms of LTD induced by low frequency stimulation (LFS-LTD) or spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). Using electrophysiology in ex vivo hippocampal slices from SP-deficient mice (SPKO), we show that absence of SP is associated with a deficit of LTD at Sc-CA1 synapses induced by LFS-LTD and STDP. As LTD is known to require AMPA- receptors internalization and IP3-receptors calcium signaling, we tested by western blotting and immunochemistry if there were changes in their expression which we found to be reduced. While we were not able to induce LTD, long-term potentiation (LTP), albeit diminished in SPKO, can be recovered by using a stronger stimulation protocol. In SPKO we found no differences in NMDAR, which are the primary site of calcium signalling to induce LTP. Our study shows, for the first time, the key role of the requirement of SP to allow induction of activity-dependant LTD at Sc-CA1 synapses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Points: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is characterized by a patent nasal airway and a sense of nasal obstruction.ENS and psychological symptoms improved after surgery and remained stable for up to three years.Identifying residual disease is necessary for enhancing therapeutic outcomes in ENS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ritodrine hydrochloride is a widely used beta-adrenergic agonist used to stop preterm labor in Taiwan. Many side effects causing maternal morbidity and mortality have been reported. We report a case complicated with ritodrine-induced side effects and mirror syndrome that was associated with placental chorioangioma. Case presentation: A 36-year-old singleton pregnant woman at 25 6/7 weeks of gestation, with an undiagnosed placental chorioangioma, underwent tocolysis due to preterm uterine contractions. Her clinical condition deteriorated, attributed to mirror syndrome and adverse events induced by ritodrine. An emergency cesarean section was performed at 27 1/7 weeks of gestation, delivering an infant with generalized subcutaneous edema. A placental tumor measuring 8.5 cm was discovered during the operation, and pathology confirmed chorioangioma. Gradual improvement in her symptoms and laboratory data was observed during the postpartum period. Identifying mirror syndrome and ritodrine-induced side effects poses challenges. Therefore, this case is educational and warrants discussion. Conclusion: Our case demonstrates mirror syndrome induced by chorioangioma, which is rare, and ritodrine-induced side effects. The cessation of intravenous ritodrine and delivery are the best methods to treat maternal critical status due to fluid overload. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP3) is vital in regulating several biological processes. TIMP3 exerts antitumour effects via matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-dependent and MMP-independent pathways. Due to promoter methylation and miRNA binding, TIMP3 expression has been observed to decrease in various cancers. Consequently, the migration and invasion of cancer cells increases. Conflicting results have reported that expression levels of TIMP3 in primary and advanced cancers are higher than those in healthy tissues. Therefore, the role of TIMP3 in cancer biology and progression needs to be elucidated. This review provides an overview of TIMP3, from its biological function to its effects on various cancers. Moreover, gynaecological cancers are discussed in detail. TIMP3 has been associated with cervical adenocarcinoma as well as cancer development in serous ovarian cancer and breast cancer metastasis. However, the relationship between TIMP3 and endometrial cancers remains unclear. TIMP3 may be a useful biomarker for gynaecological cancers and is a potential target for future cancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cells serve as versatile platforms for the production of high-value recombinant proteins. This study explored the efficacy of utilizing an endogenous αAmy3 promoter for the expression of a bioactive pharmaceutical protein, specifically the mature region of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2m). Utilizing a refined CRISPR/Cas9-mediated intron-targeting insertion technique, which incorporates an artificial 3' splicing site upstream of the target gene, we achieved a transformation efficiency of 13.5% in rice calli that carried the rice-codon optimized mature region of hBMP2 cDNA (rhBMP2m) in the αAmy3 intron 1. Both homozygous and heterozygous rhBMP2m knock-in rice suspension cell lines were generated. These lines demonstrated the endogenous αAmy3 promoter regulated rhBMP2m mRNA and rhBMP2m recombinant protein expression, with strongly upregulation in respond to sugar depletion. The homozygous rhBMP2m knock-in cell line yielded an impressive 21.5 μg/mL of rhBMP2m recombinant protein, accounting for 1.03% of the total soluble protein. The high-yield expression was stably maintained across two generations, indicating the genetic stability of rhBMP2m gene knock-in at the αAmy3 intron 1 locus. Additionally, the rice cell-derived rhBMP2m proteins were found to be glycosylated, capable of dimer formation, and bioactive. Our results indicate that the endogenous rice αAmy3 promoter–signal peptide-based expression system is an effective strategy for producing bioactive pharmaceutical proteins. Key points: • The endogenous αAmy3 promoter-based expression system enhanced the yield of BMP2 • The increased yield of BMP2 accounted for 1.03% of the total rice-soluble proteins • The rice-produced BMP2 showed glycosylation modifications, dimer formation, and bioactivity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactoferrin (LF) stands as one of the extensively investigated iron-binding glycoproteins within milk, exhibiting diverse biological functionalities. The global demand for LF has experienced consistent growth. Biotechnological strategies aimed at enhancing LF productivity through microbial expression systems offer substantial cost-effective advantages and exhibit fewer constraints compared to traditional animal bioreactor technologies. This study devised a novel recombinant plasmid, wherein the AOX1 promoter was replaced with a glucose-inducible G1 promoter (PG1) to govern the expression of recombinant porcine LF (rpLF) in Pichia pastoris GS115. High-copy-number PG1-rpLF yeast clones were meticulously selected, and subsequent induction with 0.05 g/L glucose demonstrated robust secretion of rpLF. Scaling up production transpired in a 5 L fermenter, yielding an estimated rpLF productivity of approximately 2.8 g/L by the conclusion of glycerol-fed fermentation. A three-step purification process involving tangential-flow ultrafiltration yielded approximately 6.55 g of rpLF crude (approximately 85% purity). Notably, exceptional purity of rpLF was achieved through sequential heparin and size-exclusion column purification. Comparatively, the present glucose-inducible system outperformed our previous methanol-induced system, which yielded a level of 87 mg/L of extracellular rpLF secretion. Furthermore, yeast-produced rpLF demonstrated affinity for ferric ions (Fe3+) and exhibited growth inhibition against various pathogenic microbes (E. coli, S. aureus, and C. albicans) and human cancer cells (A549, MDA-MB-231, and Hep3B), similar to commercial bovine LF (bLF). Intriguingly, the hydrolysate of rpLF (rpLFH) manifested heightened antimicrobial and anticancer effects compared to its intact form. In conclusion, this study presents an efficient glucose-inducible yeast expression system for large-scale production and purification of active rpLF protein with the potential for veterinary or medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tangerine pathotype of Alternaria alternata produces the Alternaria citri toxin (ACT), which elicits a host immune response characterized by the increase in harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. ROS detoxification in A. alternata relies on the degradation of peroxisomes through autophagy and iron acquisition using siderophores. In this study, we investigated the role of autophagy in regulating siderophore and iron homeostasis in A. alternata. Our results showed that autophagy positively influences siderophore production and iron uptake. The A. alternata strains deficient in autophagy-related genes 1 and 8 (ΔAaatg1 and ΔAaatg8) could not thrive without iron, and their adaptability to high-iron environments was also reduced. Furthermore, the ability of autophagy-deficient strains to withstand ROS was compromised. Notably, autophagy deficiency significantly reduced the production of dimerumic acid (DMA), a siderophore in A. alternata, which may contribute to ROS detoxification. Compared to the wild-type strain, ΔAaatg8 was defective in cellular iron balances. We also observed iron-induced autophagy and lipid peroxidation in A. alternata. To summarize, our study indicates that autophagy and maintaining iron homeostasis are interconnected and contribute to the stress resistance and the virulence of A. alternata. These results provide new insights into the complex interplay connecting autophagy, iron metabolism, and fungal pathogenesis in A. alternata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, various halogen-substituted Grignard reagents were assessed as deprotonating agents for the oxazoline-amido-phenolate ligand, leading to the formation of magnesium complexes. The newly synthesized complexes with halogen substituents displayed three distinct coordinative modes, all extensively characterized through crystallographic methods. The introduction of halogen substituents induced changes in the Lewis acid properties of the complexes, thereby impacting their structural attributes and catalytic behavior during the initiation and propagation of ring polymerization of cyclic esters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with facial pressure injury (FPI) in patients receiving non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) during hospitalisation in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify predictors of FPI. Background: Non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation is a method of treating patients with acute and chronic respiratory failure. However, FPI may occur due to unsuitable nasal‐oral NIPPV masks and discomfort in contact with the skin surface. Design: A retrospective case–control study. Methods: From January 2018 to October 2020, a total of 397 patients admitted to a national hospital in Taiwan were enrolled. Patients received NIPPV and routinely used under‐mask prophylactic dressings during hospitalisation. Patients were divided into the non‐FPI group (n = 357) and the FPI group (n = 40). Demographic, clinical characteristics, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores, and Braden Scale scores were collected from medical records. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the contribution of each factor to the FPI, and odds ratios were reported. The STROBE checklist was used in this retrospective case–control study. Results: There were significant differences between the groups in age, serum albumin, C‐reactive protein, body mass index (BMI), disease severity, Braden Scale score, length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and use of corticosteroids. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factor for FPI was the Braden Scale score [OR = 1.630 (1.176–2.260)], BMI [OR = 0.396 (0.210–1.784)] and corticosteroids [OR = 0.394 (0.159–1.811)], which were predictors of FPI in patients with NIPPV. Conclusions: Facial pressure injury may still occur in patients who routinely use prophylactic dressings under NIPPV masks. This study provides information on continuing education training for FPI to more accurately identify high‐risk and timely preventive measures to reduce FPI. Relevance to Clinical Practice: Addressing FPI‐related factors to prevent facial skin damage and reduce comorbidities in patients using NIPPV masks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant cells serve as versatile platforms for the production of high-value recombinant proteins. This study explored the efficacy of utilizing an endogenous αAmy3 promoter for the expression of a bioactive pharmaceutical protein, specifically the mature region of human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (hBMP2m). Utilizing a refined CRISPR/Cas9-mediated intron-targeting insertion technique, which incorporates an artificial 3’ splicing site upstream of the target gene, we achieved a transformation efficiency of 13.5% in rice calli that carried the rice-codon optimized mature region of hBMP2 cDNA (rhBMP2m) in the αAmy3 intron 1. Both homozygous and heterozygous rhBMP2m knock-in rice suspension cell lines were generated. These lines demonstrated the endogenous αAmy3 promoter regulated rhBMP2m mRNA and rhBMP2m recombinant protein expression, with strongly upregulation in respond to sugar depletion. The homozygous rhBMP2m knock-in cell line yielded an impressive 21.5 μg/mL of rhBMP2m recombinant protein, accounting for 1.03% of the total soluble protein. The high-yield expression was stably maintained across two generations, indicating the genetic stability of rhBMP2m gene knock-in at the αAmy3 intron 1 locus. Additionally, the rice cell-derived rhBMP2m proteins were found to be glycosylated, capable of dimer formation, and bioactive. Our results indicate that the endogenous rice αAmy3 promoter–signal peptide-based expression system is an effective strategy for producing bioactive pharmaceutical proteins. Key points: • The endogenous αAmy3 promoter-based expression system enhanced the yield of BMP2 • The increased yield of BMP2 accounted for 1.03% of the total rice-soluble proteins • The rice-produced BMP2 showed glycosylation modifications, dimer formation, and bioactivity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient synthesis of chromeno[4,3‐b]pyrrolidines has been successfully developed. This strategy involves a base‐catalyzed reaction of p‐VQMs and o‐hydroxy azomethine ylides via (3 + 2) cycloaddition/oxa‐1,6‐addition reaction sequence. The reaction condition is mild, and a series of chromeno[4,3‐b]pyrrolidines were obtained in 49‐95% yields with excellent diastereoselectivity (dr > 20:1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignancy in Taiwan. This study aimed to investigate the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the development of uterine EC among Taiwanese women. A nationwide population cohort research approach was employed, leveraging longitudinal health insurance databases (LHID 2007 and 2015) from the National Health Insurance Research Database alongside data from the Taiwan Cancer Registry datasets. A comparative analysis examined 472,420 female patients with HPV infection and 944,840 without HPV infection. The results demonstrated that the HPV cohort exhibited a significantly elevated risk of uterine EC, as evidenced by an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 1.588 (95% CI: 1.335–1.888). Furthermore, this elevated risk extended to type 1 EC with an aHR of 1.671 (95% CI: 1.376–2.029), specifically the endometrioid adenocarcinoma subtype with an aHR 1.686 (95% CI: 1.377–2.065). Importantly, these findings were statistically significant (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this research unveils a potential association between HPV infection and an increased risk of uterine EC, particularly the type 1 endometrial cancer subtype, within the Taiwanese female population. These findings have implications for preventive measures and screening programs targeting HPV infection to reduce the risk of this prevalent gynecological malignancy in Taiwan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood nerve barrier (BNB) participates in the development of neuropathic pain. AQP1 is involved in peripheral pain perception and is negatively correlated with HIF-1α phenotype, which regulates endothelial permeability. However, the role of HIF-1α-AQP1-mediated BNB dysfunction in Chronic Postsurgical Pain (CPSP) has not been reported. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 5 groups: (i) Naive group; (ii) Sham group; (iii) SMIR group: skin/muscle incision and retraction for one hour. Behavioral tests were performed for the three groups, BNB vascular permeability and western blotting were conducted to determine HIF-1α and AQP1 protein expression. (iv) The SMIR + HIF-1α inhibitor group; (v) SMIR + DMSO group. Rats in the two groups were administered with HIF-1α inhibitor (2ME2) or DMSO intraperitoneally on the third day post-SMIR surgery followed by performance of behavioral tests, BNB permeability assessment, and determination of HIF-1α, AQP1 and NF200 protein levels. Results: The permeability of BNB was significantly increased and the expression of AQP1 was downregulated on the 3rd and 7th days post-operation. AQP1 is mainly located in neurons and NF200, CGRP-positive nerve fibers. HIF-1α was highly expressed on the third day post-operation. HIF-1α inhibitor reversed the decrease in AQP1 expression and increase in NF200 expression, barrier permeability and hyperalgesia induced by SMIR on the 3rd day post-surgery. Conclusions: Early dysfunction of BNB mediated by HIF-1α/AQP1 activated by SMIR may be an important mechanism to promote acute postoperative painful transformation of CPSP. Preadaptive protection of endothelial cells around nerve substructures may be an important countermeasure to inhibit CPSP transformation. Early impairment of BNB function mediated by HIF-1α/AQP1 activated by SMIR may be an important mechanism for promoting acute postoperative pain transformation of CPSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 8-hydroxydaidzein (8-OHD) is a compound derived from daidzein, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties in K562 human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells. However, its effects on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells have not been fully understood. Method: To investigate its potential anti-AML mechanism, we employed an integrated in vitro–in silico approach. Results: Our findings demonstrate that 8-OHD suppresses the expression of CDK6 and CCND2 proteins and induces cell apoptosis in U-937 cells by activating Caspase-7 and cleaving PARP-1. Microarray analysis revealed that 8-OHD downregulates differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with rRNA processing and ribosome biogenesis pathways. Moreover, AML-target genes, including CCND2, MYC, NPM1, FLT3, and TERT, were downregulated by 8-OHD. Additionally, molecular docking software predicted that 8-OHD has the potential to interact with CDK6, FLT3, and TERT proteins, thereby reducing their activity and inhibiting cell proliferation. Notably, we discovered a synergic pharmacological interaction between 8-OHD and cytarabine (Ara-C). Conclusions: Overall, this study provides insights into the therapeutic applications of 8-OHD in treating AML and elucidates its underlying mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of endometrial cancer has been rising in recent years. Gene mutation and high protein expression of β‐catenin are commonly detected in endometrioid endometrial cancer. ICG‐001 is a β‐catenin inhibitor via blocking the complex formation of β‐catenin and cAMP response element‐binding protein (CREB)‐binding protein (CBP). This study aims to investigate the effect of ICG‐001 on endometrial cancer inhibition. First, endometrial carcinoma patient‐derived xenograft (PDX)‐derived organoids and primary cells were used to verify the inhibiting ability of ICG‐001 on endometrial cancer. Furthermore, endometrial cancer cell lines were used to investigate the anticancer mechanism of ICG‐001. Using MTT assay and tumor spheroid formation assay, ICG‐001 significantly reduced the cell viability of HEC‐59 and HEC‐1A cells. ICG‐001 enhanced cisplatin‐mediated cytotoxicity. ICG‐001 decreased cancer stem cell sphere formation. ICG‐001 decreased the protein expressions of CD44, hexokinase 2 (HK2), and cyclin A. ICG‐001 lowered the cell cycle progression by flow cytometer analysis. Autophagy, but no apoptosis, was activated by ICG‐001 in endometrial cancer cells. Autophagy inhibition by ATG5 silencing enhanced ICG‐001‐mediated suppression of cell viability, tumor spheroid formation, and protein expression of cyclin A and CD44. This study clarified the mechanism and revealed the clinical potential of ICG‐001 against endometrial cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adjuvant therapy may improve survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after curative resection. This study compared safety and efficacy outcomes between patients at high risk of recurrence who received different types of adjuvant therapy or no such therapy after hepatic resection for HCC. Methods: Recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival, and adverse events were compared among patients who received adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) alone, ICIs with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), or no adjuvant therapy between 13 March 2019 and 19 March 2022. This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05221398). Results: Of the 517 patients in final analysis, 432 (83.6%) received no adjuvant therapy, 53 (10.2%) received ICIs alone, and 32 (6.2%) received adjuvant ICIs and TKIs. During median follow-up of 34.0 months (IQR 27.8 to 41.6 months), RFS was significantly longer among patients who received either type of adjuvant therapy (25.2 months, 95%CI 16.4–34.0) than among those who received none (16.1 months, 95%CI 12.9–19.4), and this difference remained significant after propensity score matching (HR 0.52, 95%CI 0.35–0.76, P = 0.004). Overall survival was unaffected by either type of adjuvant therapy, while significant difference was observed between patients who received adjuvant therapy or not after propensity score matching (HR 0.31, 95%CI 0.17–0.59, P = 0.005). The rate of grade 3 or 4 adverse events was similar between the two types of adjuvant therapy. Conclusions: ICIs alone or with TKIs may improve RFS of patients at high risk of HCC recurrence after curative resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Big Three Perfectionism Scale (BTPS) is one of commonly used measures for assessing individuals' perfectionism. The main purpose of this current study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Big Three Perfectionism Scale (BTPS) within the framework of the Rasch model. The sample consisted of 502 adolescents (53% males and 47% females). This study revealed were several important findings. First, adolescents interpreted the categories of the rating scales of the BTPS as intended and items demonstrated good targeting with the operating ranges from − 4.79 to 4.47 logits for rigid perfectionism, from − 3.84 to 3.76 logits for self-critical perfectionism and from − 4.04 to 3.92 logits for narcissistic perfectionism. Second, rigid perfectionism, self-critical perfectionism and narcissistic perfectionism exhibited unidimensionally, providing justification for the use of summed scores for each scale. Third, the average item difficulty of facets was different within each scale, with the facets of self-worth contingencies, socially prescribed perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism being more difficult to endorse in their belonging scale. Fourth, there were no DIF items across sex, suggesting that items in three scales functioned equally across boys and girls. Fifth, rigid perfectionism (r = 0.15) and self-critical perfectionism (r = 0.55) were positively associated with neuroticism, but self-critical perfectionism (r = − 0.24) and narcissistic perfectionism (r = − 0.29) were negatively related with agreeableness. Finally, sex moderated the associations between rigid perfectionism and neuroticism. In sum, the findings in this study enhance psychometric properties of the BTPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hunger among senior citizens is emerging as a considerable global problem, but social-welfare organizations' efforts are limited by the complexities of safely collecting surplus food and targeting it to those in need. However, these logistical problems have received scant attention in the literature, an absence that this study addresses. This study develops a logistics approach to tackling the problems of long-term care operations' surplus food collection and meal distribution, with the wider aim of achieving sustainable food security. The analytical results reveal that hub-and-spoke meal distribution was found to have better logistics performance than direct shipment. The critical logistics behaviors associated with long-term care organizations' meal operations were also identified. Specifically, delivery times, donor numbers, and vehicle-loading rates were found to be the essential factors in determining optimal fleet size for long-term care logistics in the sharing economy. However, the results of this study also imply that social-welfare organizations should categorize senior citizens into groups that will facilitate the identification of suitable centers for hub-and-spoke shipment. Moreover, the major decision-making parameters of the proposed approaches can be tailored to other sets of specific circumstances that necessitate surplus-food collection and meal distribution. This pioneering study scrutinizes some critical issues involved in sustainable food security and provides effective approaches for overcoming them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: Compounds 1—12, including seven complex monoterpenoid indole‐quinoline and bisindole alkaloids, suadimins D—J (1—7) with previously unreported carbon‐carbon linkages, were isolated and identified from the twigs and leaves of Melodinus suaveolens. Their structures were elucidated by a combination of diverse methods, especially the extensive spectroscopic data analysis and electric circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The cytotoxicity of these compounds against three cancer cell lines was evaluated, some of which showed moderate activities with IC50 values ranging from 2.4 to 8.0 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present experimental and theoretical evidence demonstrating the Mie resonance effect in the terahertz (THz) range, utilizing Fe3O4/Kerosene ferrofluid. Our findings indicate a significant and rapid change in the complex refractive indices at 0.5 THz with an increase in the magnetic field strength. Moreover, we observed a prominent absorption peak at 0.5 THz in transmittance and absorption coefficient measurements, corresponding to a magnetic field intensity of 178.0 mT. This phenomenon occurs due to the adjustment of particle spacing, leading to resonance under different magnetic field conditions. These research results hold immense potential in advancing the development of magneto-optical THz modulators for imaging and communication applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The United States Corn Belt consists of large monoculture corn fields. The use of insecticides and insecticidal toxins like Bt to control corn pests such as the western corn rootworm (WCR) has led to increased levels of resistance. While protocols exist for rearing WCR in the laboratory for use in pesticide trials and testing resistance to transgenic crops, they are not optimal for performing genetic engineering. Here we report the development of an optimized rearing system for use in WCR functional genomics research, specifically the development of a system that facilitates the collection of precellular embryos for microinjection as well as gathering large larvae and pupae for downstream phenotypic screening. A quality control system was also established to monitor colony health. This study also provides a model for the development of new rearing systems and the establishment of highly controlled processes for specialized purposes. Western corn rootworm (WCR), a major pest of corn, has been reared in laboratories since the 1960s. While established rearing methods are appropriate for maintaining WCR colonies, they are not optimal for performing germline transformation or CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing. Here we report the development of an optimized rearing system for use in WCR functional genomics research, specifically the development of a system that facilitates the collection of preblastoderm embryos for microinjection as well as gathering large larvae and pupae for downstream phenotypic screening. Further, transgenic-based experiments require stable and well-defined survival rates and the ability to manipulate insects at every life stage. In our system, the WCR life cycle (egg to adult) takes approximately 42 days, with most individuals eclosing between 41 and 45 days post oviposition. Over the course of one year, our overall survival rate was 67%. We used this data to establish a quality control system for more accurately monitoring colony health. Herein, we also offer detailed descriptions for setting up single-pair crosses and conducting phenotypic screens to identify transgenic progeny. This study provides a model for the development of new rearing systems and the establishment of highly controlled processes for specialized purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A broadband high‐efficiency high‐gain empty substrate integrated waveguide cavity‐backed filtenna with dual beams is proposed. The antenna is vertically stacked by three cavities. Two rectangular slots are etched above the uppermost cavity to realize the radiation function. Since the interior of the cavity is covered with metal, the characteristics of the antenna are independent of the used dielectric substrate. The fractional bandwidth of the proposed filtenna is 21.1%, and the efficiency can reach more than 90% in the operational band. The antenna has good frequency selection properties, and the ratio of the −10 dB impedance bandwidth to the −3 dB impedance bandwidth is 0.88. Good gain flatness is obtained, the maximum gain of the filtenna within the operational band is 8 dBi. The proposed dual‐beam filtenna can realize broadband and filtering simultaneously, with low cost and high efficiency. It can be used in wireless communication systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • After 180 days of storage, up to 63.5 % of nitrogen in pig slurry was lost. • Covering with wheat straw effectively reduced N loss during pig slurry storage. • The wheat straw size significantly affected the N loss during pig slurry storage. • The used wheat straw covering can be reused for biochar production. Storing pig slurry (PS) and returning it to the field is one of the most important ways to recycle PS. However, during the storage of PS, the NH 3 emissions cause a large loss of nitrogen (N), which reduces the fertilizer value of stored PS and cause environmental pollution. To reduce N loss during PS storage, we added different amounts of wheat straw powder (WSP) and wheat straw segments (WSSs) to the PS. The wheat straw cover was used for biochar production, and then, the biochar was used for N adsorption from the PS. The results showed that the N loss of PS was significantly decreased by use of the wheat straw covering. The N losses in treatments of WSP covering and WSSs covering were reduced by 4.8–53.1 and 0.8–14.2 percentage points compared with that in the control, respectively. Ammonia adsorption is an important reason for the reduction in N loss by straw covering during PS storage. After covering for 180 days in storage, the NH 4 +-N content in both the WSP covering and WSSs covering increased greatly, and the cover was reused for biochar production. The biochar yield was inversely proportional to the pyrolysis temperature, and the specific surface area and pore volume of the biochar were proportional to the pyrolysis temperature. We achieved the highest amount of NH 4 +-N adsorption (1.9 mg/g) with a biochar dosage of 0.2 g/L (treatment Y-400). This study provides a new straw-covered PS storage method to achieve straw recycling and low N loss during PS storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at greater risk of abnormal birth weight. Since the level of biochemical indicators could often affect the intrauterine growth and development of the fetus, it is of great practical significance to understand the changes of biochemical levels across pregnancy in women with GDM and to find out the indicators that play an important role in predicting birth weight. Methods: The data source of this study was from the Xi'an Longitudinal Mother–Child Cohort study (XAMC), in which women with GDM with normal and high pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and their newborns between January 1st and March 31st in 2018 were included. The data of ferritin, serum lipid profile and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of mothers in the three trimesters of pregnancy, as well as birth weight of newborns were all collected from medical records. Multiple linear regression and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association of the biochemical indexes and birth weight. A P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: A total of 782 mother-infant pairs were finally included and divided into normal weight group (NG) (n = 530, 67.8%) and overweight/obesity group (OG) (n = 252, 32.2%) according to maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. The level of ferritin in both NG and OG decreased during pregnancy (P for trend < 0.001 for all), whereas the levels of total cholesterol (TC), high density cholesterol (HDL-C), low density cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) all showed an upward trend (P for trend < 0.05 for all). The levels of FPG in the two groups remained in a relatively stable during the whole pregnancy even though it was higher in OG during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, whilst HbAlc levels in NG women increased (P for trend = 0.043) during pregnancy. Meanwhile, the risk of macrosomia and large-for-gestational-age (LGA) increased with the increase of FPG level (P for trend < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analyses results showed that only FPG level in the 3rd trimester was correlated with birth weight, with birth weight increased by 44.9 g for each SD increase in FPG level. Conclusion: Maternal FPG in the 3rd trimester is an independent predictor of newborn birth weight, and a higher level of that is associated with an increased risk of macrosomia and LGA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online health communities (OHCs) provide knowledge for users, enabling conversations across a broad range of health topics. The development of OHCs depends on users' motivations to share health knowledge. Yet little literature has explored how perceived benefits and costs affect users' motivations for sharing both general and specific knowledge. Based on social exchange theory, we propose a research model that comprises intrinsic benefits (sense of self-worth, satisfaction), extrinsic benefits (social support, reputation, and online attention), cognitive cost, and executional cost to investigate the effects of these factors on users' motivations for general and specific knowledge sharing. We compare the different effects of these factors on users' motivations for knowledge sharing. Results demonstrate positive effects of intrinsic and extrinsic benefits on users' motivations for general and specific knowledge sharing. Differences exist in the negative effects of cognitive and executional costs on users' motivations for general and specific knowledge sharing. This study contributes to promoting the enrichment of online health knowledge and provides implications for the development of OHCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For soft soils, creep settlement plays an important role in the full life cycle performance of infrastructures, which is a serious concern for engineers and researchers. Columns such as deep cement mixed (DCM) soil columns are commonly adopted to treat soft grounds in order to reduce the life cycle settlement of the infrastructures. However, the creep behavior of soft grounds treated by DCM soil columns is often ignored, inducing underestimated total settlements or unexpected differential settlements. In this study, a new calculation method is developed for the life cycle settlement of column-improved soft grounds by considering the creep of soft soils and load transfer between the columns and the surrounding soils. A physical model test with double-layer soil improved by DCM soil columns is designed and performed to demonstrate the feasibility of the calculation method. It is found that the settlements calculated by the proposed method show good agreement with the measured data in the physical model. A parametric study is conducted, revealing that the calculated settlement of the double-layer soil improved by DCM columns can be largely influenced by the stress concentration ratio, the permeability of the DCM columns, and the area replacement ratio. Finally, the proposed method is applied to calculate the settlement in a real project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A photoelectrochemical system is a promising method for biomass valorization but is still in its infancy. Herein, a Mo–BVO–TiCoNO–CoFeOxy photoanode with a nanowire structure was prepared for the first time to efficiently convert bio-based benzyl alcohol (BA) to benzoic acid (97.7% yield) in water while coupling H2 production of 136.8 μmol cm−2. The nanowire structure enables a significant increase in the exposed active sites on the photoelectrode surface to enhance the BA oxidation capacity, whereas its large aspect ratio increases visible light absorption, and the thermal effect (resulting from the size effect) increases H2 production at the counter electrode. DFT calculations and further experiments revealed that Co species of the CoFeOxy layer functioned as stabilizers of photoelectrode properties, while Fe species acted as catalytic site providers in the BA oxidation. The analysis of steady-state photoluminescence with variable temperature showed the generation of hot carriers and conversion to photocurrent over the non-noble bimetallic material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is a syndrome of paradoxical nasal obstruction that is thought to be mostly caused by inappropriate turbinate procedures. This study aimed to investigate depression- and anxiety-associated psychological symptoms in patients with ENS before and after surgical reconstruction, and to compare them with those of control subjects. Methods: Patients with ENS were prospectively enrolled. The Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-25 (SNOT-25), Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item questionnaire (ENS6Q), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) were used to evaluate the participants before and after reconstruction surgery with submucosal Medpor implantation (Stryker, Kalamazoo, MI), as well as control subjects at enrollment. Results: Forty patients with ENS and forty age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. Patients with ENS experienced significant improvement in SNOT-25, ENS6Q, BDI-II, and BAI scores after surgery, but all were significantly greater than those in the control group. Nine patients with ENS (22.5%) had postoperative residual psychological symptoms. Preoperative BDI-II and BAI scores were significant predictors of postoperative residual psychological symptoms. The optimal cut-off value was BDI-II > 28.5 (sensitivity, 77.8%; specificity, 77.4%) in receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Conclusions: The nasal and psychological evaluations in patients with ENS significantly improved after nasal reconstruction surgery, but both were significantly greater than those in the control group. Identifying individuals who may experience postoperative residual symptoms and providing a multimodal approach, including surgical reconstruction and psychiatric treatment, are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A GATA zinc finger-containing repressor (AaSreA) suppresses siderophore biosynthesis in the phytopathogenic fungus Alternaria alternata under iron-replete conditions. In this study, targeted gene deletion revealed two bZIP-containing transcription factors (AaHapX and AaAtf1) and three CCAAT-binding proteins (AaHapB, AaHapC, and AaHapE) that positively regulate gene expression in siderophore production. This is a novel phenotype regarding Atf1 and siderophore biosynthesis. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed that only AaHapX and AaSreA were regulated by iron. AaSreA and AaHapX form a transcriptional feedback negative loop to regulate iron acquisition in response to the availability of environmental iron. Under iron-limited conditions, AaAtf1 enhanced the expression of AaNps6, thus playing a positive role in siderophore production. However, under nutrient-rich conditions, AaAtf1 plays a negative role in resistance to sugar-induced osmotic stress, and AaHapX plays a negative role in resistance to salt-induced osmotic stress. Virulence assays performed on detached citrus leaves revealed that AaHapX and AaAtf1 play no role in fungal pathogenicity. However, fungal strains carrying the AaHapB, AaHapC, or AaHapE deletion failed to incite necrotic lesions, likely due to severe growth deficiency. Our results revealed that siderophore biosynthesis and iron homeostasis are regulated by a well-organized network in A. alternata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies is high. The risk factors for this were inconsistent across several previous studies, and there is currently no accepted consensus around risk factors for these patients. We aimed to identify which prognostic factors were associated with ICU mortality in critically ill patients with hematologic malignancies, nearly half of which were allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) recipients. In addition, we aimed to compare the characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients with and without allogenic allo-HSCT. In total, 217 patients with hematologic malignancies were enrolled consecutive, 119 (54.8%) of whom underwent HSCT (allo-HSCT: n = 115). All survivors were followed up with until August 1, 2022. The rate of ICU mortality in this cohort was 54.4%: 55.5 and 53.1% for the patients with and without HSCT, respectively (p = 0.724). The probabilities of survival after ICU admission were also comparable between the patients who had allo-HSCT and those who did not. A multivariable analysis revealed that cerebrovascular disease, hyperlactic acidemia on the day of ICU admission, lower platelet count, use of vasoactive drugs, and absence of noninvasive ventilation on the day of ICU admission were independent risk factors for ICU mortality. For patients with three to five of these risk factors, the rate of ICU mortality was as high as 84.6%, which was significantly higher than that of other patients. In this study, the ICU mortality rate in patients with hematologic malignancies was still high, particularly for those with multiple risk factors. However, allo-HSCT was not found to be a risk factor for ICU mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The threshold degree of a Boolean function f : {0, 1} n → {0, 1} is the minimum degree of a real polynomial p that represents f in sign: sgn p(x) = (−1)f(x) . A related notion is sign-rank, defined for a Boolean matrix F = [Fij ] as the minimum rank of a real matrix M with sgn Mij = (−1)Fij . Determining the maximum threshold degree and sign-rank achievable by constant-depth circuits (AC0 ) is a well-known and extensively studied open problem with complexitytheoretic and algorithmic applications. We give an essentially optimal solution to this problem. For any ϵ > 0, we construct an AC0 circuit in n variables that has threshold degree Ω(n 1−ϵ ) and sign-rank exp(Ω(n 1−ϵ )), improving on the previous best lower bounds of Ω(√ n) and exp(Ω( ˜ √ n)), respectively. Our results subsume all previous lower bounds on the threshold degree and sign-rank of AC0 circuits of any given depth, with a strict improvement starting at depth 4. As a corollary, we also obtain near-optimal bounds on the discrepancy, threshold weight, and threshold density of AC0, strictly subsuming previous work on these quantities. Our work gives some of the strongest lower bounds to date on the communication complexity of AC0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) endemic to the inshore and estuarine waters of western Taiwan was identified as a subspecies (Sousa chinensis ssp. taiwanensis) and designated as "Critically Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This population is at a high risk of extirpation, faces being impacted by some major anthropogenic threats, and numbers fewer than 65 individuals. Through a combination of long-term observations and photographic monitoring of identifiable individuals and stranding responses, accurate identification and classification of human-induced injuries and skin lesions is an effective approach and is particularly important to the management of the declining population. The results showed that the prevalence of skin marks is higher or comparable to the previous studies on the coastal cetacean populations across the globe. As the total population comprises dozens of individuals, radical measures to conserve the population and reduce environmental hazards are considered indispensable. As long-lived apex predators, Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis) are key indicators of marine coastal environmental health. Skin marks can be observed on dorsal body surfaces that are visible during mark–recapture studies that rely on photo-identification (photo-ID) methods. Skin mark prevalence may be an indicator of environmental or anthropogenic stressors in the ecosystem, which may lead to individual and/or population-level health concerns. The prevalence of marks of anthropogenic origin was assessed in the Critically Endangered S. chinensis taiwanensis population along the coasts of central Taiwan. Fifty, twenty-eight, and thirty-four individuals were identified in 2018, 2019, and 2021, respectively. At least one category of injuries was observed in 47 of 57 distinctive individuals (82%), and adults showed a higher prevalence of deep injuries than the other coloration stages. At least one category of skin lesion was observed in 33 of 57 distinctive individuals (58%), and high prevalence of skin lesions was found in mature individuals. Given the difficulty in taking direct observations, skin mark prevalence is proposed as a proxy for estimating habitat health and anthropogenic stressors upon S. chinensis taiwanensis. The moderate-to-high prevalence of skin marks in this study was designated as a warning of risks. This study provides important updated information for the assessment of the health and survival of this population. More effective management measures are urgently needed to reverse the observed population decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study used trait-state-occasion TSO models to explore longitudinal personality stability in young adolescents with the onset of depressive symptoms and to quantify time-invariant and time-varying personality components in predicting the course of depressive symptoms. A total of 326 young clinical adolescents were recruited from high schools, and only 290 adolescents (112 boys; 178 girls) were followed up for 4 time points. Personality measures were implemented twice each year with an interval of 6 months, providing four assessment waves (T1 to T4); depression measures were administered at the initial stage (T1) and the third wave (T3), respectively. The results showed that five domains of personality in adolescents with depressive symptoms were largely characterized by the stable trait factor (65%–81%). The average autoregressive effects across the four waves were significant for all Big Five personality domains except openness. Moreover, excluding time-varying variance, conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness were negatively associated with T1 depressive symptoms; however, only the latter two domains retained significant relationships in the second year of intervention. An elevated level of neuroticism was consistently associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms over interventions. Trait factors of extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism were associated with depressive symptoms in early adolsecnets, providing some implications for clinical practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Previous studies have demonstrated that drug-eluting stents (DESs) are more effective than bare metal stents (BMSs) in reducing the risk of myocardial infarction in the short term, but the long-term preventive benefits for myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and mortality are not clear. Objective: This study deeply analyzed the long-term (within 3 years) advantages of the use of DESs in preventing the risk of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and mortality in various populations compared with those of using BMSs. Methods: This was a retrospective observational cohort study. We used the 2015–2019 claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. Patients over the age of 18 who underwent coronary stent placement (both DESs and BMSs) for the first time in 2016 were included in the study population. Propensity-score matching was applied to increase the comparability of the DES and BMS groups. We used a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis to compare the effectiveness of DESs and BMSs in preventing myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and all-cause mortality. A subgroup analysis was also performed. Results: In total, 21,608 cases were included in this study. Overall, the risk of myocardial infarction (aHR = 0.82; 95% CI: 0.78–0.85), ischemic stroke (aHR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.81–0.95), and mortality (aHR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.57–0.65) in the DES group were significantly lower than those in the BMS group. However, in some special cases, the results were not statistically significant. In particular, in patients with obesity (aHR = 2.61; 95% CI: 1.20–5.69), the DES group appeared to have a significantly higher long-term intermediate ischemic risk than the BMS group. Conclusions and Relevance: In conclusion, although DESs were more effective than BMSs in reducing the risk of long-term myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and mortality, this study also found that, in some cases, the advantages of DESs over BMSs were not clearly observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Online health communities (OHCs) are becoming effective platforms for people to seek health information. Existing studies divide health information into general and specific information in OHCs. However, few studies discuss the effects of different types of information seeking in OHCs on users' electronic satisfaction (e-satisfaction). Objective: This study explores the effects of general and specific information seeking on users' e-satisfaction with OHCs through the mediating roles of perceived benefits and costs drawing on the social information processing theory and the social exchange theory. Methods: This study conducted an online survey to collected data from individuals who used OHCs to seek information. The structural equation model was used to analyze the collect data and the research model. Specifically, this study examined the common method bias and conducted a robustness check. Results: Results show that general and specific information seeking affect e-satisfaction through the mediating roles of perceived benefits and costs. An interesting result is that general information seeking has a stronger effect on e-satisfaction than specific information seeking. Conclusions: This study suggests that e-satisfaction should be further enhanced by information seeking as online healthcare practices evolve and change. Managers of OHCs should focus on increasing users' perceived benefits, thereby increasing their e-satisfaction. Besides, this study discusses implications, limitations, and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play a crucial role in endogenous angiogenesis besides the regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Associations between TIMP-2 gene polymorphisms and the risk of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) were examined. Premature infants born between 2009 and 2018 were included. Five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TIMP-2 were analyzed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Multivariate logistic regression was applied to model associations between TIMP-2 polymorphisms and ROP susceptibility and severity. The GA+AA genotype in individuals with the TIMP-2 polymorphism of rs12600817 was associated with a higher risk of ROP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.518, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.028–2.242) compared with their wild-type genotypes. The AA genotype (OR: 1.962, 95% CI: 1.023–3.762) and the AA+GA genotype (OR: 1.686, 95% CI: 1.030–2.762) in individuals with the rs12600817 polymorphism had higher risks of severe, treatment-requiring ROP relative to their wild-type counterparts. In patients with treatment-requiring ROP, the AG+GG genotypes in the TIMP-2 polymorphism of rs2889529 were correlated with the treatment response (p = 0.035). The TIMP-2 polymorphism of rs12600817 help in predicting ROP risks in preterm infants, while the polymorphism of rs2889529 can serve as a genetic marker in evaluating the ROP treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid mechanics is an important area where deep learning produces excellent results and can bring about scientific innovation because of its high dimensionality, significant nonlinearity, and ability to process an enormous amount of data. Deep learning technology is currently being used to study fluid mechanics, and its application potential is gradually being demonstrated. We propose a novel multi-resolution convolutional interaction network (MCIN), a hierarchical forecast framework based on a convolutional neural network. This structure can capture temporal dependencies at multiple temporal resolutions to enhance the forecasting performance of the original time series. The high-dimensional data of the flow around a cylinder are projected into a low-dimensional subspace using a variational autoencoder (VAE) as a nonlinear order-reduction technique. Then, the data of the subspace are used as the input to MCIN to forecast future velocity fields. The proposed MCIN is compared to non-intrusive reduced-order models based on dynamic mode decomposition and long short-term memory, combined with a VAE. The results demonstrate that MCIN has superior stability to other models in forecasting the evolution of complicated fluid flows and has the potential to forecast a greater number of future outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer is a common male cancer with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. According to current research, the integration of long non-coding RNA (lncRNAs) and microRNA(miRNAs) can be expressed in a variety of cancers and play an important role in diagnosis. Based on this, this study explored the clinical role of lncRNA MAGI2-AS3 (MAGI2-AS3) in prostate cancer. By detecting the expression levels of MAGI2-AS3 and miR-142-3p, the correlation between the MAGI2-AS3 expression and the characteristics of clinical data was analyzed. ROC curve analysis was performed and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the diagnostic value of MAGI2-AS3 in distinguishing prostate cancer patients from healthy controls. The function of MAGI2-AS3 in prostate cancer cells was explored through CCK-8 and Transwell assays, and the relationship between MAGI2-AS3 and miR-142-3p was investigated by luciferase activity assay. MAGI2-AS3 has descended expression while miR-142-3p has an ascendant one in prostate cancer serum samples and cells. ROC curve analysis revealed that the AUC was 0.953 for MAGI2-AS3, with a sensitivity of 91.5% and specificity of 84.7%. Overexpression of MAGI2-AS3 in LNCaP and PC3 cells suppressed the biological function of the cell including proliferation capacity, migration level, and invasion. MAGI2-AS3 was considered a diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer patients and inhibited prostate cancer progression by targeting miR-142-3p. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The efficacy of selenium supplementation was elusive for polycystic ovary syndrome. This meta-analysis aimed to explore the efficacy of selenium supplementation for polycystic ovary syndrome. Methods: PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, Cochrane library database, CNKI, Chongqing VIP database and Wanfang databases have been searched through July 2022 and we included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) reporting the effect of selenium supplementation versus placebo in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Results: Five RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with placebo group for polycystic ovary syndrome, selenium supplementation was associated with significantly reduced total testosterone (SMD=-0.42; 95% CI=-0.78 to −0.06; p = 0.02) and cholesterol (SMD=-0.71; 95% CI=-1.41 to −0.02; p = 0.04), but revealed no remarkable influence on SHBG (SMD=-0.52; 95% CI=-1.29 to 0.25; p = 0.19), triglyceride (SMD=-1.45; 95% CI=-3.62 to 0.73; p = 0.19), LDL (SMD=-0.17; 95% CI=-0.72 to 0.37; p = 0.53), FPG (SMD=-0.95; 95% CI=-3.72 to 1.82; p = 0.50) or HOMA-IR (SMD=-0.51; 95% CI=-3.79 to 2.77; p = 0.76). Conclusions: Selenium supplementation may be able to improve the metabolic response for polycystic ovary syndrome, and this finding should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: anxiety; depression; empty nose syndrome; Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item Questionnaire; Epworth Sleepiness Scale EN anxiety depression empty nose syndrome Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item Questionnaire Epworth Sleepiness Scale 1447 1450 4 11/15/22 20221101 NES 221101 INTRODUCTION Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is described as a paradoxical nasal obstruction that is currently thought to be caused by previous turbinate surgery.1 Abnormal sensory input from the sense of nasal airflow plays a key role.1 Previous studies have also revealed significantly impaired sleep quality and sleepiness experienced by patients with ENS.2-4 It is possible that poor sleep quality due to empty nose symptoms can lead to or aggravate the psychological burden in these patients.3 Besides, the psychological burden is an important determining factor for the surgical outcomes and residual disease after surgery.3 In this study, we hypothesize that there is a significant association between sleep dysfunction and psychological burden and aimed to simultaneously investigate the sleep quality and psychological symptoms in patients with ENS before and after surgical reconstruction. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective case series enrollment of patients who were diagnosed with ENS and subsequently underwent nasal reconstruction by submucosal Medpor implantation between 2016 and 2021, was undertaken. The ENS6Q, BDI-II, BAI, EpSS, and MSQI scores in the ENS patients significantly improved after surgery. [Extracted from the article]

The (Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is reportedly involved in hepatic lipid metabolism and hepatocyte PRR knockdown protects mice against hepatosteatosis. However, the impact of PRR inhibition on liver inflammation and fibrosis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) remains unclear. Herein, C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal chow diet or fast food diet (FFD) for 24 weeks. Lentivirus‐mediated PRR short hairpin RNA (shRNA) or handle region peptide (HRP), a PRR blocker, was administered for PRR inhibition. Mouse primary hepatocytes were cultured with palmitic acid, prorenin, siRNA‐targeted PRR, and HRP. In FFD‐fed mice, PRR inhibition via lentivirus‐mediated PRR knockdown or HRP significantly attenuated liver steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Mechanistically, PRR knockdown or HRP decreased hepatic acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC) abundance and upregulated peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐alpha (PPARα). HRP treatment also decreased hepatic PRR expression. In addition, intrahepatic oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammatory cell recruitment were ameliorated by PRR knockdown or HRP treatment, along with suppression of proinflammatory cytokine expression. PRR inhibition downregulated the hepatic expression of profibrotic factors, as well as TGF‐β1/SMAD3 pathway. In primary mouse hepatocytes, PRR knockdown with siRNA or HRP downregulated cellular ACC and increased PPARα expression. In conclusion, our findings revealed that PRR inhibition attenuated hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in mice with NASH. Accordingly, targeting PRR signaling may serve as a potential treatment for NASH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the numerical ranges of (finite) Hankel matrices and Hankel operators (on an infinite-dimensional space). The main concern is which nonempty bounded convex set △ in the plane is the numerical range W (A) of a Hankel matrix or a Hankel operator A. In Section 1 below, we prove results for △ a line segment, an elliptic disc, or a polygonal region. For example, we show that if △ is a closed elliptic disc in the plane, then a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of an n -by- n Hankel matrix A n with W (A n) equal to △ for all n ≥ 2 is that 0 is in △. In Section 2, we use the Megretskiĭ–Peller–Treil characterization of Hermitian Hankel operators to obtain an analogous condition for △ a (finite) line segment in the plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]