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STUDY QUESTION How does ectopic endometrial stromal cell (Ecto-ESC)-derived extracellular vesicular Legumain pseudogene 1 (EV-LGMNP1), a newly identified pseudogene of Legumain (LGMN), contribute to M2-phenotype macrophage polarization, and does it predict recurrence in patients with ovarian endometriosis (EMs)? SUMMARY ANSWER EV-LGMNP1, which is abundant in Ecto-ESCs and serum from ovarian EMs, can direct macrophages towards an M2 phenotype by upregulating LGMN expression and is a promising biomarker for predicting ovarian EMs recurrence. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can mediate cell-to-cell crosstalk to promote disease progression via cargo molecule transport. Recently, LGMNP1, a newly identified pseudogene of LGMN, has been reported to promote cancer progression by upregulating LGMN. LGMN is a well-studied protein that can induce M2-like polarization. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION An in vitro study was conducted with Ecto-ESCs isolated from ectopic endometrial samples, collected from two patients with ovarian EMs (diagnosed by laparoscopy and histological analysis). A clinical retrospective cohort study of 52 ovarian EMs patients and 21 controls with available preoperative serum samples was carried out (2013–2017). The follow-up period ended either at the time of recurrence or on 31 December 2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Ecto-ESC-derived EVs (EV/Ecto-ESCs) were characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy and western blotting. EV internalization by THP-1 cells, which are the most widely used primary human macrophages model, was detected by fluorescence labelling. After EV treatment, THP-1 cell polarization was detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot analyses of CD86 (M1-related marker) and CD206 (M2-related marker). LGMNP1 mRNA expression level in EVs from both primary ectopic endometrioc stromal cells and serum was examined using qRT-PCR. Additionally, the expression of LGMN, the downstream target gene of LGMNP1, in THP-1 cells was evaluated using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Kaplan–Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were applied to evaluate the independent predictive factors of EMs recurrence-free survival. A novel nomogram model based on serum EV-LGMNP1 was then formulated to predict EMs recurrence. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In vitro assays demonstrated that EV/Ecto-ESCs drove macrophages towards an M2-like phenotype. Moreover, LGMNP1 contributed to EV/Ecto-ESC-induced M2 macrophage polarization by upregulating LGMN mRNA expression levels. Clinically, serum EV-LGMNP1 was more highly expressed in recurrent EMs patients than in controls and EMs patients without recurrence. Survival analysis and our novel nomogram reconfirmed that serum EV-LGMNP1 was a novel promising and meaningful non-invasive biomarker for predicting EMs recurrence. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION In vitro experiments were only performed on samples from two patients with ovarian endometriosis, and a larger sample size is needed. ESCs isolated from the eutopic endometrium of EMs and non-EMs patients should be studied in the future. Additionally, in vitro experiments should be performed using endometrial epithelium cells and further in vivo experiments, such as using mice endometriotic models to investigate whether EV/Ecto could induce M2 macrophage polarization, should be conducted. Moreover, multicentre, large-sample data are needed to validate our predictive nomogram model. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our study provides novel insights into the mechanism of M2 polarization involved in ovarian EMs progression mediated by an ‘EV-shuttled pseudogene LGMNP1’ mode. In addition, serum EV-LGMNP1 may serve as a novel non-invasive biomarker for predicting recurrence, providing a new therapeutic target for ovarian EMs. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was supported by funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81971361), the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai Science and Technology (19ZR1406900), the Shanghai ‘Rising Stars of Medical Talent’ Youth Development Program (AB83030002019004), the Clinical Research Plan of SHDC (SHDC2020CR4087), the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission (202040498), the Research and Innovation Project of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (2019-01-07-00-07-E00050) and the Clinical Research Plan of SHDC (SHDC2020CR1045B). There are no competing interests to declare.

As one of the most polluted provinces in China, air pollution events occur frequently in Shandong. Based on the hourly (or daily) concentrations of six air pollutants (PMThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13762-022-04651-5.

This article presents a novel decoupling technique for the circularly polarized multiple-inputmultiple- output (CP-MIMO) system composed of Guoshaped patch antennas. A comparative study has been conducted on antenna performance as a function of packing distance before and after applying the technique. A prototype of two-element Guo-shaped patch MIMO at a small inter-element spacing of 12.5 mm has devised aiming for the 5G new radio n38 (2.57-2.62 GHz) applications. Simulation reinforced with experimental results confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed technique, whereas the two Guo-shaped patch elements packed in such small spacing can be operated independently. Both the envelope correlation coefficient and diversity gain are approaching their ideal values.

To investigate对山东省人感染猪链球菌菌株开展基因组流行病学及病原学分析，为制定合理、精准的猪链球菌预防、控制措施提供依据。本研究对分离的猪链球菌菌株开展分子分型、基因组系统进化树、毒力基因型别、耐药谱、耐药基因及其传播元件等方面的分析，并通过比较菌株刺激宿主细胞产生细胞因子的能力评价不同菌株的致病力。结果显示，血清2型、ST1型是山东患者来源猪链球菌的优势型别，其主要临床表现为脑膜炎。系统进化树分析表明山东菌株主要由5个分枝组成。山东菌株均属高致病型菌株，但细胞因子试验表明分枝2的菌株致病力显著强于其他山东菌株。除分枝3的SD2与SD4菌株外，其余山东菌株均携带不同种类的耐药基因及其传播元件。综上，山东猪链球菌的来源及进化途径存在多样性的特征，且致病能力有显著差异，需要在基因组水平开展菌株监测的工作。.

目的 比较伴骨相关髓外（EM-B）和骨外髓外（EM-E）病变的初诊多发性骨髓瘤（NDMM）患者的临床特征及预后，并探讨影响预后的因素。 方法 回顾性分析2009年11月至2019年3月江苏省人民医院血液科诊治的80例伴髓外病变的NDMM患者的临床特征、预后及影响预后的因素。 结果 80例累及髓外的NDMM患者中伴EM-B者51例，伴EM-E者29例。与EM-B组相比，EM-E组β2-微球蛋白水平（5.82 mg/L对3.99 mg/L，P＝0.030）、乳酸脱氢酶水平（256 U/L对184 U/L，P＝0.003）、1q21扩增发生率（78.6％对53.1％，P＝0.035）、肿瘤细胞Ki-67增殖指数（50％对25％，P＝0.002）升高，CD56阳性率（14.3％对66.7％，P＝0.057）和治疗总有效率（60.0％对82.3％，P＝0.034）降低。EM-E组和EM-B组的中位总生存（OS）时间分别为14.5、49.5个月，中位无进展生存（PFS）时间分别为9.0、18.0个月。与EM-B组患者相比，EM-E组患者的OS、PFS时间均明显缩短（P值分别为0.035和

目的 分析比较CTD方案（环磷酰胺+沙利度胺+地塞米松）与PCD方案（硼替佐米+环磷酰胺+地塞米松）治疗新诊断多发性骨髓瘤（NDMM）患者的疗效、预后及安全性。 方法 回顾性分析2013年7月至2016年1月收治的88例NDMM患者的临床资料，其中CTD方案组49例，PCD方案组39例，比较两组患者的疗效、预后以及不良反应。 结果 CTD与PCD组患者治疗后的总缓解率（ORR，≥部分缓解）分别为65.3%（32/49）和84.6%（33/39），非常好的部分缓解（VGPR）及以上疗效分别为30.6%（15/49）和53.8%（21/39），差异均有统计学意义（P值分别为0.041、0.028）。中位随访11.5（3~33）个月，CTD组与PCD组患者的无进展生存（PFS）时间差异有统计学意义[（23.0±4.5）个月对未达到，P=0.050]；中位总生存（OS）时间均未达到，差异无统计学意义（P=0.257）。CTD组获得≥微小缓解（MR）与未达MR患者的中位OS时间差异有统计学意义（未达到对12.3个月，P=0.005）；PCD组获得≥VGPR与未达VGPR患者的中位OS时间差异有统计学意义（未达到对29.0个月，P=0.042）。感染是两组患者最常见的不良反应，PCD组患者周围神经病变、带状疱疹发生率明显高于CTD组，而CTD组患者血栓、心慌、皮疹等发生率偏高。 结论 CTD与PCD方案均为治疗NDMM患者有较好疗效的一线诱导化疗方案；PCD方案治疗强度和缓解深度优于CTD方案。

We find a combinatorial setting for the coefficients of the Boros–Moll polynomials P m (a) in terms of partially 2-colored permutations. Using this model, we give a combinatorial proof of a recurrence relation on the coefficients of P m (a). This approach enables us to give a combinatorial interpretation of the log-concavity of P m (a) which was conjectured by Moll and confirmed by Kauers and Paule.

Brillouin scattering has been used to study the elastic properties of a rare-earth pentaphosphate crystal ${\mathrm{LaP}}_{5}$${\mathrm{O}}_{14}$ that has periodic arrays of ferroelastic domains. Measurements of sound velocities for longitudinal and transverse acoustic waves showed that these velocities are lower than those in the ordinary polydomained crystal, due to the presence of coherent strains throughout whole crystal. In order to study the influence of the periodic ferroelastic domains on acoustic-wave propagation, we consider an infinite periodic ferroelastic-domain structure, with two types of a-type domains designated by basic elements A and B, respectively, and have successively determined the effective elastic tensor, specifically for ${\mathrm{LaP}}_{5}$${\mathrm{O}}_{14}$, in the long-wavelength regime. The theoretical results show that the softening of the sound velocity should be attributed to the effect of the periodic ferroelastic domains on the elastic constants.

Using the bijection between partitions and vacillating tableaux, we establish a correspondence between pairs of noncrossing free Dyck paths of length $2n$ and noncrossing partitions of $[2n+1]$ with $n+1$ blocks. In terms of the number of up steps at odd positions, we find a characterization of Dyck paths constructed from pairs of noncrossing free Dyck paths by using the Labelle merging algorithm., Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, revised version, to appear in Discrete Mathematics

Due to the problem of lacking hydraulic control devices, pump as turbine (PAT) has the disadvantage of optimum operation only within a small range discharge where the net head utilization and operating efficiency are the highest. Variable speed operation offers a good solution to this problem. Pump manufactures normally do not provide performance curves of their pumps working as turbines, especially when working at variable speed condition. Therefore, establishing a correlation between PAT's performance curve and rotational speed is essential. In this paper, a method of predicting PAT's performance at different rotational speeds was first developed using theoretical analysis. In the second step, a single stage centrifugal pump operated as a turbine was tested at different rotational speeds. Typical performance curves of PAT operating at variable speed condition were acquired. Finally computational fluid dynamics (CFD) had been used in this research. The accuracy of CFD prediction was proved when compared with experimental data. The validity of presented method by theoretical analysis was validated using test and CFD results.

A rapid spectrophotometric method based on FIA for the content uniformity test of atropine sulfate tablets has been developed. By means of the self-designed FIA system with an on-line extraction device, many difficulties resulting from extraction, such as slow analytical rate, environmental pollution, poor reproducibility, etc, were overcome, and the routine procedure of the official content uniformity test was tremendously simplified. Results obtained with the proposed method agree well with those obtained with the official test. Furthermore, the proposed method attained a sampling rate of 60 samples per hour, a recovery of 100.0%, a relative standard deviation of 0.7%, and a detection limit of 0.24 micrograms/ml. Uniform design proves effective to optimize complex FIA conditions, and FIA promises a new approach to test the content uniformity of pharmaceutical tablets.

A graph G is called quasi-claw-free if for any two vertices x and y with distance two there exists a vertex u∈N(x)∩N(y) such that N[u]⊆N[x]∪N[y]. This concept is a natural extension of the classical claw-free graphs. In this paper, we present two sufficient conditions for vertex pancyclicity in quasi-claw-free graphs, namely, quasilocally connected and almost locally connected graphs. Our results include some well-known results on claw-free graphs as special cases. We also give an affirmative answer to a problem proposed by Ainouche.