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Abstract Background To investigate the impact of using contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CHCT) in the dosimetry of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for liver metastases treated with MR-Linac. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 21 liver cancer patients treated with SBRT (50 Gy in 5 fractions) using a 1.5 Tesla Unity MR-Linac. The clinical treatment plans optimised on plain computed tomography (pCT) were used as reference. The electronic density (ED) of regions of interest (ROIs) including the liver, duodenum, esophagus, spinal cord, heart, ribs, and lungs, from pCT and CHCT, was analysed. The average ED of each ROI from CHCT was used to generate synthetic CT (sCT) images by assigning the average ED value from the CHCT to the pCT. Clinical plans were recalculated on sCT images. Dosimetric comparisons between the original treatment plan (TPpCT) and the sCT plan (TPsCT) were performed using dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters, and gamma analysis. Results Significant ED differences (p

Abstract Background Magnetic resonance-guided adaptive radiotherapy (MRgART) at MR-Linac allows for plan optimisation on the MR-based synthetic CT (sCT) images, adjusting the target and organs at risk according to the patient’s daily anatomy. Conversely, conventional linac image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) involves rigid realignment of regions of interest to the daily anatomy, followed by the delivery of the reference computed tomography (CT) plan. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of MRgART versus IGRT for rectal cancer patients undergoing short-course radiotherapy, while also assessing the dose accumulation process to support the findings and determine its usefulness in enhancing treatment accuracy. Methods Nineteen rectal cancer patients treated with a 1.5 Tesla MR-Linac with a prescription dose of 25 Gy (5 Gy x 5) and undergoing daily adapted radiotherapy by plan optimization based on online MR-based sCT images, were included in this retrospective study. For each adapted plan ( $$\:{\text{T}\text{P}}_{\text{a}\text{d}\text{a}\text{p}}$$ ), a second plan ( $$\:{\text{T}\text{P}}_{\text{I}\text{G}\text{R}\text{T}}$$ ) was generated by recalculating the reference CT plan on the daily MR-based sCT images after rigid registration with the reference CT images to simulate the IGRT workflow. Dosimetry of $$\:{\text{T}\text{P}}_{\text{a}\text{d}\text{a}\text{p}}$$ and $$\:\:{\text{T}\text{P}}_{\text{I}\text{G}\text{R}\text{T}}$$ was compared for each fraction. Cumulative doses on the first and last fractions were evaluated for both workflows. The dosimetry per single fraction and the cumulative doses were compared using dose-volume histogram parameters. Results Ninety-five fractions delivered with MRgART were compared to corresponding simulated IGRT fractions. All MRgART fractions fulfilled the target clinical requirements. IGRT treatments did not meet the expected target coverage for 63 out of 94 fractions (67.0%), with 13 fractions showing a V95 median point percentage decrease of 2.78% (range, 1.65-4.16%), and 55 fractions exceeding the V107% threshold with a median value of 15.4 cc (range, 6.0-43.8 cc). For the bladder, the median $$\:{\text{D}}_{15\text{c}\text{c}}$$ values were 18.18 Gy for the adaptive fractions and 19.60 Gy for the IGRT fractions. Similarly the median $$\:{\text{D}}_{5\text{c}\text{c}}$$ values for the small bowel were 23.40 Gy and 25.69 Gy, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in the doses accumulated on the first or last fraction for the adaptive workflow, with results consistent with the single adaptive fractions. In contrast, accumulated doses in the IGRT workflow showed significant variations mitigating the high dose constraint, nevertheless, more than half of the patients still did not meet clinical requirements. Conclusions MRgART for short-course rectal cancer treatments ensures that the dose delivered matches each fraction of the planned dose and the results are confirmed by the dose accumulation process, which therefore seems redundant. In contrast, IGRT may lead to target dose discrepancies and non-compliance with organs at risk constraints and dose accumulation can still highlight notable dosimetric differences.

BackgroundBacteria are the most diverse and widely sourced microorganisms in the indoor air of subway stations, where pathogenic bacteria can spread through the air, leading to increased health risks. ObjectiveTo understand the status and distribution characteristics of indoor air bacterial pollution in subway stations and compartments in a city of Central South China, and to provide a scientific basis for formulating intervention measures to address indoor air bacteria pollution in subways. MethodsThree subway stations and the compartments of trains parking there in a city in Central South China were selected according to passenger flow for synchronous air sampling and monitoring. Temperature, humidity, wind speed, carbon dioxide (CO2), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and inhalable particulate matter (PM10) were measured by direct reading method. In accordance with the requirements of Examination methods for public places-Part 3: Airborne microorganisms (GB/T 18204.3-2013), air samples were collected at a flow rate of 28.3 L·min−1, and total bacterial count was estimated. Bacterial microbial species were identified with a mass spectrometer and pathogenic bacteria were distinguished from non-pathogenic bacteria according to the Catalogue of pathogenic microorganisms transmitted to human beings issued by National Health Commission. Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the subway hygiene indicators in different regions and time periods, and Bonferroni test was used for pairwise comparison. Spearman correlation test was used to evaluate the correlation between CO2 concentration and total bacterial count. ResultsThe pass rates were 100.0% for airborne total bacteria count, PM2.5, and PM10 in the subway stations and train compartments, 94.4% for temperature and wind speed, 98.6% for CO2, but 0% for humidity. The overall median (P25, P75) total bacteria count was 177 (138,262) CFU·m−3. Specifically, the total bacteria count was higher in station halls than in platforms, and higher during morning peak hours than during evening peak hours (P

The pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes has become an essential topic in heart failure research. The abnormal accumulation of these biological factors, including angiotensin II, advanced glycation end products, and various growth factors (such as connective tissue growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor beta, among others), activates the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway in cardiovascular diseases, ultimately leading to pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes. Therefore, exploring the underlying molecular biological mechanisms is essential for developing novel drugs and therapeutic strategies. However, our current understanding of the precise regulatory mechanism of this complex signaling pathway in cardiomyocyte pyroptosis is still limited. Given this, this study reviews the milestone discoveries in the field of pyroptosis research since 1986, analyzes in detail the similarities, differences, and interactions between pyroptosis and other cell death modes (such as apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy, and ferroptosis), and explores the deep connection between pyroptosis and heart failure. At the same time, it depicts in detail the complete pathway of the activation, transmission, and eventual cardiomyocyte pyroptosis of the NF-κB signaling pathway in the process of heart failure. In addition, the study also systematically summarizes various therapeutic approaches that can inhibit NF-κB to reduce cardiomyocyte pyroptosis, including drugs, natural compounds, small molecule inhibitors, gene editing, and other cutting-edge technologies, aiming to provide solid scientific support and new research perspectives for the prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Objectives: Locally advanced bulky unresectable head neck cancer causes significant tumor mass effects, leading to severe symptoms. This study aims to report the safety and outcomes in patients undergoing Lattice spatially fractionated radiotherapy (Lattice SFRT) for locally advanced bulky unresectable head and neck cancer. Methods: Patients with bulky head and neck cancer received Lattice SFRT between June 2022 and June 2023. Lattice SFRT was administered in 2–3 fractions of 12 Gy (Gy) using 6-megavolt (MV) photon beams through a multileaf collimator (MLC) based on VMAT technology. The primary endpoints were symptomatic and tumor response rates. Secondary endpoints were overall survival, local control, and acute and late toxicity rates. Results: 19 consecutive patients meeting the study criteria were identified, predominantly with squamous cell carcinoma histology. The median patient age was 62 years (range 39–79 years), and the median tumor volume was 208 cc (cc) (range 48–701 cc). All patients completed radiotherapy. Among all investigated patients, 16 of 19 (84.2 %) patients achieved an objective response, including 10 individuals achieved a partial response (PR), with 3 of them exhibiting regression exceeding 75 %. 17 patients showed symptom improvement to varying degrees. Acute toxicity of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grade 1 or higher occurred in 5 patients, while no grade 3 adverse events was observed. Conclusions: Lattice SFRT proves to be a viable treatment option for the palliative management of bulky head and neck cancer. In the palliative setting, Lattice SFRT offers timely symptom relief, enhancing patient quality of life. Treatment toxicity remains within an acceptable range. Continued optimization of Lattice SFRT delivery and patient selection can benefit from further data on the feasibility and efficacy of this radiation modality.

The heart is a multicellular system, and the intercellular crosstalk mechanism is very important for the growth and development of the heart and even the organs, tissues, and cells at a distance. As a kind of extracellular vesicle, exosomes are released by different types of cells and can carry specific genetic material, endosomal proteins, cytokines, etc., which are the main material basis for mediating cell crosstalk mechanism. Among them, microRNA carried by cardiac cells-derived exosomes have highly conserved sequences and play a key role in regulating the function of organs, tissues, and cells related to cardiovascular diseases and their complications and comorbidities, which have attracted extensive attention in the medical community in recent years. Following up on the latest research progress at home and abroad, this review systematically summarized the regulatory role of microRNA from cardiac cells-derived exosomes in various cell crosstalk, including not only cardiac cells (including cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, myofibroblast, cardiac progenitor cells, cardiac microvascular endothelial cells, cardiosphere-derived cells, etc.) but also tumor cells, bone marrow progenitor cells, and other tissue cells, in order to provide a reference for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and their complications and comorbidities.

ABSTRACT We focus here on the problem of poor real-time performance and low accuracy of seed box allowance detection during wheat sowing operations, and present a real-time weighing system for a seed box allowance. The proposed weighing system obtains the seed box allowance using an ultrasonic sensor and load cell, and displays it in real time via a computer. Based on the proposed weighing system, the weighing structure is also designed for the seed box. At the software level, three filtering methods are proposed to condition the signal, namely mean filtering, median filtering, and the acceleration method, and models of these three filtering algorithms are implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. Experiments to assess the accuracy of the system and filtering algorithm were carried out on the test bench; the results show that the system error is initially in the range −16.3 g to 63.8 g, and is reduced to the range −13.4 g to 15.1 g after correction. No significant difference between the three filtering algorithms is found, but since the acceleration method can improve the response speed of the system, this is selected as the final filtering method.

ABSTRACT Fertilization at the large bell stage of maize is the key to increasing maize yield and improving fertilizer use efficiency. To achieve fast and accurate recognition of maize stems by intelligent agricultural equipment in complex field environments, an improved YOLO v4 maize stem recognition model with an increased CBAM, which can achieve real-time identification and positioning of maize stems, is proposed. In this paper, first, we collected images of maize stems under different conditions in the field, expanded the maize stem images and produced a maize stem image dataset by adding Gaussian noise, changing the brightness and performing other data enhancement methods, and manually annotated the maize stem via LabelImg software. Second, a convolutional block attention module (CBAM) and SIoU loss function were added to the original YOLO v4 target detection network to obtain the CB-YOLO v4 target detection network. Last, this network was compared with the original YOLO v4, Faster-RCNN, SSD and YOLO v3 target detection networks, and it achieved 93.1%, 92.4% and 92.6% precision, recall and mAP (mean average precision), respectively, for maize root recognition, which is significantly better than the other algorithms and is suitable for practical maize interrow operation systems.

The discovery of regulatory cell death processes has driven innovation in cardiovascular disease (CVD) therapeutic strategies. Over the past decade, ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death driven by excessive lipid peroxidation, has been shown to drive the development of multiple CVDs. This review provides insights into the evolution of the concept of ferroptosis, the similarities and differences with traditional modes of programmed cell death (e.g., apoptosis, autophagy, and necrosis), as well as the core regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis (including cystine/glutamate transporter blockade, imbalance of iron metabolism, and lipid peroxidation). In addition, it provides not only a detailed review of the role of ferroptosis and its therapeutic potential in widely studied CVDs such as coronary atherosclerotic heart disease, myocardial infarction, myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and aortic aneurysm but also an overview of the phenomenon and therapeutic perspectives of ferroptosis in lesser-addressed CVDs such as cardiac valvulopathy, pulmonary hypertension, and sickle cell disease. This article aims to integrate this knowledge to provide a comprehensive view of ferroptosis in a wide range of CVDs and to drive innovation and progress in therapeutic strategies in this field.

ObjectiveAs a topic of widespread concern in the fields of mental health and public health, social anxiety has many negative impacts on the physical and mental health of contemporary college students. Therefore, this study aims to provide new ideas for solving the problem of social anxiety among college students by exploring the potential mediating role of social support and psychological capital in the relationship between physical activity and social anxiety.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted on 874 college students from five universities in Shandong Province. Various self-report tools such as physical activity rating scale, social support scale, positive psychological capital scale, and social anxiety scale were used to collect information needed for this study. Related data. Use this to conduct descriptive statistical analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation effect analysis.ResultsThe results showed that physical activity was significantly positively correlated with college students’ social support (r = 0.354, p

Abstract Background Optimized New Shengmai Powder (ONSMP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula with significant anti-heart failure and myocardial fibrosis effects, but the specific molecular biological mechanisms are not fully understood. Methods In this study, we first used network pharmacology to analyze the ONSMP's active ingredients, core signaling pathways, and core targets. Second, calculate the affinity and binding modes of the ONSMP components to the core targets using molecular docking. Finally, the heart failure rat model was established by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery and assessing the effect of ONSMP on myocardial fibrosis in heart failure using echocardiography, cardiac organ coefficients, heart failure markers, and pathological sections after 4 weeks of drug intervention. The cAMP level in rat myocardium was determined using Elisa, the α-SMA and FSP-1 positive expression determined by immunohistochemistry, and the protein and mRNA levels of the cAMP/Rap1A signaling pathway were detected by Western Blotting and quantitative real-time PCR, respectively. Results The result shows that the possible mechanism of ONSMP in reducing myocardial fibrosis also includes the use of 12 active ingredients such as baicalin, vitamin D, resveratrol, tanshinone IIA, emodin, 15,16-dihydrotanshinone-i to regulate β1-AR, AC6, EPAC1, Rap1 A, STAT3, and CCND1 on the cAMP/Rap1A signaling pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of cardiac fibroblasts and reduce the excessive secretion of collagen, effectively improve cardiac function and ventricular remodeling in heart failure rats. Conclusion This research shows that ONSMP can inhibit myocardial fibrosis and delay heart failure through the cAMP/Rap1A signaling pathway.

Myocardial fibrosis is a significant pathological basis of heart failure. Overactivation of the ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 signaling pathways of MAPK family members synergistically promotes the proliferation of myocardial fibroblasts and accelerates the development of myocardial fibrosis. In addition to some small molecule inhibitors and Western drugs, many Chinese medicines can also inhibit the activity of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2, thus slowing down the development of myocardial fibrosis, and are generally safe and effective. However, the specific biological mechanisms of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 signaling pathways in myocardial fibrosis still need to be fully understood, and there is no systematic review of existing drugs and methods to inhibit them from improving myocardial fibrosis. This study aims to summarize the roles and cross-linking mechanisms of ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 signaling pathways in myocardial fibrosis and to systematically sort out the small-molecule inhibitors, Western drugs, traditional Chinese medicines, and non-pharmacological therapies that inhibit ERK1/2 and JNK1/2 to alleviate myocardial fibrosis. In the future, we hope to conduct more in-depth research from the perspective of precision-targeted therapy, using this as a basis for developing new drugs that provide new perspectives on the prevention and treatment of heart failure.

Abstract Background COVID-19 lockdown measures have had a great negative impact on the development of sports competition in China, as well as on the quality of life of football referees. This study aims to explore the impact of lockdown measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of football referees in China and its mechanism of action. Methods The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Effort–Reward Imbalance Scale (ERI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). The scale was used from August to September 2022. Using an online questionnaire, 350 questionnaires were sent out and 338 were returned, for a return rate of 96.57%. Invalid questionnaires were excluded, and 307 football referees with referee grades in 29 provinces registered with the CFA were surveyed. SPSS 24.0 and Mplus 8.0 were used for data analysis and structural equation model testing in this study. Results The results showed that the COVID-19 lockdown had no significant impact on the quality of life of Chinese football referees. However, the COVID-19 lockdown can affect the quality of life of Chinese football referees through occupational stress or job burnout. Occupational stress and job burnout also play a chain intermediary role between the COVID-19 lockdown and the quality of life of Chinese football referees. In addition, this study further explores the quality of life by dividing it into four dimensions (physical, social, psychological, and environmental). The results show that all four dimensions satisfy the chain mediation model. Conclusions Therefore, the quality of life of Chinese football referees can be improved by reducing their occupational stress and job burnout during the COVID-19 lockdown.

ObjectiveThis meta-analysis aimed to examine the effect of high-intensity interval training on cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity, and to explore the optimal dose of high-intensity interval training to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.MethodsRandomized controlled trials on the effects of HIIT on cardiorespiratory fitness in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity were retrieved from six electronic databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP. The quality assessment of the included studies was conducted following the revised quality evaluation method based on the PRISMA principles. Keywords for literature search mainly include high-intensity interval, cardiorespiratory fitness, overweight, obese, children, and adolescent, etc.Results(1) A total of 18 studies, comprising 581 participants (288 in the intervention group and 293 in the control group), were included and all of them were of moderate to high quality. (2) HIIT had a positive effect on the cardiorespiratory fitness levels of in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity (SMD = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.15; p

ABSTRACT In this study, a device was designed for tillage of compacted soil in wheel ruts formed by the repeated passage of agricultural machines.[Ed1] Soil parameters were measured, and then the wheel rut tillage device was divided into two parts, the soil lifting unit and the soil breaking unit, for separate simulation tests to study the tillage process. EDEM[Ed2] simulations were applied to the soil lifting device to compare and analyze the microscopic movement of the simulated soil particles and the operational resistance of the device. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed using Design-Expert10 [Ed3] software to obtain the optimum combination of parameters of 125 mm device offset distance, 43.6° entry angle and 28° lifting angle. A full-factor test was conducted on the soil crushing device using EDEM coupled with RecuDyn multi-body system dynamics simulation software. The number of bond breaks and the traction resistance of the soil crushing device were used as the test indicators, and the optimum parameters were obtained for a soil crushing knife blade thickness of 6 mm and a cutting edge angle of 30° for the largest number of bond breaks and least traction resistance. The results of this study will provide technical support for the reduction of compaction zones in wheel ruts after tire travel on agricultural machinery in real time.

The strip rotary tillage method effectively reduces the occurrence of straw clogging and creates a favorable seed bed environment. However, the mixture of crushed straw and soil in the seeding area results in inadequate seed-soil contact following compaction by the press wheels. A chisel-type opener furrow side pick-up blade was proposed to improve seed-soil contact by picking up wet soil from the furrow's side. The discrete element method was used to investigate the impact of earth blade surface parameters on soil dynamics. The key factors of the blade, including forward velocity, endpoint tangent angle, and angle of soil entry, were determined through theoretical analysis. Soil cover thickness and straw ratio in the seed furrow were evaluated using orthogonal rotation regression tests. The results show that the endpoint tangent angle and angle of soil entry have the greatest influence on soil cover thickness, while the angle of soil entry has the greatest influence on the straw ratio. The optimal values for the forward velocity, endpoint tangent angle, and angle of soil entry are 4.86 km/h, 107.17°, and 5.46°, respectively, resulting in a soil cover thickness of 40 mm and a straw ratio of 21.46%. Confirmatory soil bin tests showed similar results, with a soil cover thickness of 40.4 mm and a straw ratio of 18.03%. These results provide a viable solution for improving seed-soil contact after strip rotary tillage planter seeding.

Abstract Background The purpose of this work was to obtain the dosimetric parameters of the new GZP3 60Co high-dose-rate afterloading system launched by the Nuclear Power Institute of China, which is comprised of two different 60Co sources. Methods The Monte Carlo software Geant4 and EGSnrc were employed to derive accurate calculations of the dosimetric parameters of the new GZP3 60Co brachytherapy source in the range of 0–10 cm, following the formalism proposed by American Association of Physicists in Medicine reports TG43 and TG43U1. Results of the two Monte Carlo codes were compared to verify the accuracy of the data. The source was located in the center of a 30-cm-radius theoretical sphere water phantom. Results For channels 1 and 2 of the new GZP3 60Co afterloading system, the results of the dose-rate constant (Λ) were 1.115 cGy h−1 U−1 and 1.112 cGy h−1 U−1, and for channel 3 they were 1.116 cGy h−1 U−1 and 1.113 cGy h−1 U−1 according to the Geant4 and EGSnrc, respectively. The radial dose function in the range of 0.25–10.0 cm in a longitudinal direction was calculated, and the fitting formulas for the function were obtained. The polynomial function for the radial dose function and the anisotropy function (1D and 2D) with a $$\uptheta$$ θ of 0°–175° and an r of 0.5–10.0 cm were obtained. The curves of the radial function and the anisotropy function fitted well compared with the two Monte Carlo software. Conclusion These dosimetric data sets can be used as input data for TPS calculations and quality control for the new GZP3 60Co afterloading system.

Abstract Background High-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary-interstitial brachytherapy (IC-ISBT) is an effective treatment for bulky, middle, and advanced cervical cancer. In this study, we compared the differences between 60Co and 192Ir HDR IC-ISBT plans in terms of radiobiological and dosimetric parameters, providing a reference for clinical workers in brachytherapy. Methods A total of 30 patients with cervical cancer receiving HDR IC-ISBT were included in this study, and IC-ISBT plans for each individual were designed with both 60Co and 192Ir at a prescribed dose of CTV D90 = 6 Gy while keeping the dose to OARs as low as possible. Physical dose and dose–volume parameters of CTV and OARs were extracted from TPS. The EQD2, EUBED, EUD, TCP, and NTCP were calculated using corresponding formulas. The differences between the 60Co and 192Ir IC-ISBT plans were compared using the paired t-test. Results In each patient's 60Co and 192Ir IC-ISBT plan, the average physical dose and EQD2 of 60Co were lower than those of 192Ir, and there were statistically significant differences in D2cc and D1cc for the OARs (p 0.05). The EUBED ratio (60Co/192Ir) at the CTV was mostly close to 1 when neither 60Co or 192Ir passed their half-lives or when both passed two half-lives, and the difference between them was not significant; at the OARs, the mean value of 60Co was lower than that of 192Ir. There was no statistical difference between 60Co and 192Ir in the EUD (93.93 versus 93.92 Gy, p > 0.05) and TCP (97.07% versus 97.08%, p > 0.05) of the tumors. The mean NTCP value of 60Co was lower than that of 192Ir. Conclusions Considering the CTV and OARs, the dosimetric parameters of 60Co and 192Ir are comparable. Compared with 192Ir, the use of 60Co for HDR IC-ISBT can ensure a similar tumor control probability while providing better protection to the OARs. In addition, 60Co has obvious economic advantages and can be promoted as a good alternative to 192Ir.

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is a high-risk factor for a variety of cardiovascular events. Due to its complex aetiology and concealability, knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanism of CMD is still limited at present, which greatly restricts its clinical diagnosis and treatment. Studies have shown that CMD is closely related to a variety of cardiovascular diseases, can aggravate the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases, and is closely related to a poor prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Improving coronary microvascular remodelling and increasing myocardial perfusion might be promising strategies for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, the pathogenesis and functional assessment of CMD are reviewed first, along with the relationship of CMD with cardiovascular diseases. Then, the latest strategies for the treatment of CMD and cardiovascular diseases are summarized. Finally, urgent scientific problems in CMD and cardiovascular diseases are highlighted and future research directions are proposed to provide prospective insights for the prevention and treatment of CMD and cardiovascular diseases in the future.

Background and objectives: Ischemic heart failure (HF) has become a disease that seriously endangers people's life and health. As a herbal formula widely used in clinical practice, new optimized Sheng-Mai-San (NO-SMS) has been shown to be significantly effective in improving cardiac function, increasing exercise tolerance, and slowing the progression of myocardial fibrosis in heart failure patients in multi-center clinical studies in various regions of China. In our previous pharmacodynamic and toxicological studies, we found that a medium-dose formulation (8.1 g of raw drug/kg) was the most effective in the treatment of heart failure, but its mechanism of action is still being investigated. The present study is exploring its relationship with cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Materials and methods: We investigated and verified this through two parts of experiments, in vivo and in vitro. Firstly, we prepared male SD rats with heart failure models by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery (EF ≤ 50%), which were treated with NO-SMS Formula (8.1 g of raw drug/kg/d), Ifenprodil (5.4 mg/kg/d) or Enalapril (0.9 mg/kg/d) prepared suspensions by gavage for 4 weeks. The cardiac and structural changes were evaluated by echocardiography, H&E, and MASSON staining. The apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in each group was detected by Western blot, qRT-PCR, and ELISA. In vitro cell experiments include H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury induced by H2O2 and NMDA respectively, and the groups were incubated with NO-SMS and Ifenprodil-containing serum for 24 h. Apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double-staining method, and the rest of the assays were consistent with the in vivo experiments. Results: Compared with the model group, the NO-SMS formula group and the Ifenprodil group could significantly improve cardiac function, delay myocardial fibrosis, reduce the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, mRNA, and the concentration levels of Ca2+ and ROS in heart failure rats and H9c2 cardiomyocytes with H2O2 and NMDA-induced injury, which could significantly reduce the apoptosis rate of damaged cardiomyocytes and effectively inhibit the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Conclusion: NO-SMS Formula improved cardiac function, inhibited ventricular remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in HF rats, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of the NMDAR signaling pathway, inhibition of large intracellular Ca2+ inward flow, and ROS production in cardiomyocytes.

Permutation flowshop design and optimization are crucial in industry as they have a direct impact on production scheduling and efficiency. The ultimate goal is to model the production system (PSM) based on revealing the fundamental principles of the production process, and to schedule or reschedule production release plans in real time without interrupting work-in-progress (WIP). Most existing PSMs are focused on static production processes which fail to describe the dynamic relationships between machines and buffers. Therefore, this paper establishes a PSM to characterize both the static and transient behaviors of automatic and manual machines in the permutation flowshop manufacturing system. Building upon the established PSM, based on Bernoulli’s theory, discrete event model predictive control is proposed in this paper; its aim is to realize real-time optimization of production release plans without interfering with work-in-progress. According to the results of numerical examples, the discrete event model predictive control proposed in this paper is feasible and effective. The model established in this paper provides a theoretical basis for optimizing the effective operation of work-in-progress and replacement process systems.

Hypertension has become one of the major public health problems in the world. At present, the pathogenesis of hypertension has still not been completely elucidated. In recent years, an increasing evidence shows that intestinal microecology is closely related to hypertension, which provides a new thinking for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has unique advantages in the treatment of hypertension. Taking intestinal microecology as the target, it is possible to interpreting the scientific connotation of TCM prevention and treatment of hypertension by updating the treatment concept of hypertension, so as to improve the therapeutic effect. In our study, the clinical evidence for TCM treatment of hypertension was systematicly summarized. And the relationship among TCM, intestinal microecology and hypertension was analyzed. In addition, the methods by which TCM regulates intestinal microecology to prevent and treat hypertension were presented, to provide new research ideas for prevention and treatment of hypertension.

IntroductionDecreased exercise tolerance is a common symptom in patients with heart failure, which is closely related to protein degradation and apoptosis regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome signaling (UPS) pathway. In this study, the effect of Chinese medicine, optimized new Shengmai powder, on exercise tolerance in rats with heart failure was investigated via the UPS pathway.MethodsThe heart failure model was prepared by ligating the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery in rats, in which the sham-operated group was only threaded and not ligated. Rats (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤ 45%) were randomly divided into the following groups: model group, YHXSMS group, Benazepril group, and proteasome inhibitor Oprozomib group, and they were administered the corresponding drugs by gavage for 4 weeks. The cardiac function of rats was evaluated by performing an echocardiography examination and a hemodynamic test and the exercise tolerance was done by conducting an exhaustive swimming test. The mechanism was revealed by TUNEL detection, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence analysis, Western blot, and quantitative real-time PCR.ResultsThe study showed that there was a decrease in cardiac function and exercise tolerance of rats in the model group and also destruction of cardiac and skeletal muscle fibers, a proliferation of collagen tissue, and an increment of apoptosis. Our study suggested that optimized new Shengmai powder could exert antiapoptotic effects on myocardial and skeletal muscle cells and improve myocardial contractility and exercise tolerance by inhibiting the overactivation of the UPS pathway, downregulating MAFbx, and Murf-1 overexpression, inhibiting the activation of the JNK signaling pathway, upregulating bcl-2 expression, and decreasing bax and caspase-3 levels.ConclusionsThe study showed that the optimized new Shengmai powder could improve cardiac function and exercise tolerance in rats with heart failure through the UPS pathway.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction accounts for a large proportion of heart failure, and it is closely related to a high hospitalization rate and high mortality rate of cardiovascular disease. Although the methods and means of modern medical treatment of HFpEF are becoming increasingly abundant, they still cannot fully meet the clinical needs of HFpEF patients. Traditional Chinese medicine is an important complementary strategy for the treatment of diseases in modern medicine, and it has been widely used in clinical research on HFpEF in recent years. This article reviews the current situation of HFpEF management, the evolution of guidelines, the clinical evidence and the mechanism of TCM in the treatment of HFpEF. The purpose of this study is to explore the application of TCM for HFpEF, to further improve the clinical symptoms and prognosis of patients and to provide a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Abstract The stress–strain curves and mechanical properties of Shuangjiangkou granite were obtained using five groups of conventional triaxial tests under various confining pressures using MTS815 rock test equipment. From the microscale, mesoscale, and macroscale perspectives, four types of mechanisms that contribute to energy dissipation during granite deformation were investigated. Based on the energy dissipation ratio, a new approach for estimating crack closure stress and damage stress is proposed. The energy dissipation ratio was substituted into the Weibull distribution function, and then a new nonlinear statistical damage constitutive model of granite based on the energy dissipation ratio was constructed after Biot’s theory was modified per the Lemaitre strain equivalence principle. By comparing experimental data with theoretical values estimated by the model, the model’s rationality and correctness were confirmed.

Wheat sowing has the characteristics of wide and short sowing periods, and there are situations in which the suitable sowing period is missed. In order to meet the needs of high-speed sowing, a centrifugal wheat strip seeding device was designed, the principle of which is that rotating parts were mainly composed of centrifugal concave plate and guide strip rotating in the shell to provide the mechanical force and drive the airflow and then realize high-speed seeding. The influence of the rotational speed of the seed discharging plate, the seed feed rate, and the dip angle of the guide strip on the distribution of the flow field and trajectory of seeds in the device was analyzed. The aerodynamic characteristics of seeds and the distribution of the gas-phase flow field inside the seed displacer under airflow were analyzed by CFD–DEM coupled simulation. The effects of three operating parameters on the coefficient of variation of sowing uniformity (CVSU) and the row-to-row seeding amount coefficient of variation (RSCV) were clarified, and the simulation results were verified by bench experiments after secondary optimization. When the centrifugal concave plate rotational speed, seed feed rate, and guide strip angle were 408 rpm, 4938 grains/s, and 69°, the results showed that CVSU and RSCV were 1.12% and 2.39%, respectively, which was in line with the standards for grain strip seeders stipulated. The designed seed discharge device can sow 3.4 ha per hour. This study provides a reference for research of centrifugal airflow-assisted high-speed seeding devices for wheat.

Physical activity has been demonstrated to promote cognitive performance. However, the relationship between physical activity and executive function (EF) in sedentary individuals is not fully understood. This meta-analysis examined the impact of physical activity on EF in sedentary individuals and evaluated potential moderators of the relationship between physical activity and EF. In accordance with the PRISMA guidelines, the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched. Included studies had to report sedentary individuals randomized to either a physical activity group or a control group. Subgroup analyses of EF sub-domains, exercise prescription and age were conducted alongside the overall meta-analysis. Thirteen RCT studies were included, with a total of 752 participants. Results showed a small to moderate beneficial effect of physical activity on EF (SMD = 0.24, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.40). In subgroup analysis by EF sub-domains, physical activity enhanced inhibitory control (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.63) and working memory (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.49), but not cognitive flexibility (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI -0.18 to 0.41). Interventions with an intervention length > 12 weeks improved overall EF (SMD = 0.26, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.46), but intervention length ≤ 12 weeks did not (SMD = 0.20, 95% CI -0.08 to 0.47). Interventions with session time ≥ 45 minutes improved overall EF (SMD = 0.47, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.77), but session time < 45 minutes did not (0.17, 95% CI -0.11 to 0.44). Physical activity improves EF for older adults (age ≥ 60 years) (SMD = 0.25, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.42), but not for younger individuals (age < 60 years) (SMD = 0.17, 95% CI -0.25 to 0.59). Overall, physical activity has a beneficial effect on EF in sedentary individuals, although the influence may be domain specific and influenced by exercise prescription and age. These findings have practical implications for those seeking to improve EF in sedentary individuals through physical activity.

IntroductionIn recent years, traditional Chinese exercises have been passed down and reformed to play a significant role in the study of interventions for the treatment of falls in older people. However, few studies have evaluated the efficacy of various Chinese traditional exercises in the intervention of falls behavior in the elderly. In this study, four Chinese traditional exercises commonly used in clinical practice were selected as subjects to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of Tai Chi, Ba Duan Jin, Yi Jin Jing and Wu Qin Xi in intervening in the treatment of fall behavior in the elderly.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Four published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of traditional Chinese exercise interventions for the treatment of falls behavior in older adults were searched through authoritative databases such as CNKI, Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase and the Cochrane Library, all from the time of construction to November 2022.ResultsA total of 45 studies with 4 traditional interventions were included. Ba Duan Jin was more effective in improving TUGT [SMD = −1.93 (−2.49, −1.38), P < 0.05] and MFES [SMD = −33.45 (−63.93, −2.97), P < 0.05], while Yi Jin Jing was more effective in enhancing ECLSB [SMD = −0.19 (−5.12, −4.74), P < 0.05] and BBS [SMD = −5.79 (−10.80, −0.78), P < 0.05], both of which showed better effects.DiscussionThe present evidence suggests that all four traditional Chinese body-building exercise therapies have a preventive effect on fall behavior in older adults. In clinical treatment and daily physical exercise, two exercises, BaDuan Jin and Yi Jin Jing, may be preferred to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly, but the exercise regimen of Qigong should be selected scientifically and rationally according to their actual conditions.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#myprospero.

Tangzhiqing formula (TZQ) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescribed to treat glucose and lipid metabolism disorders. A significant effect of TZQ on diabetes and hyperlipidemia has been demonstrated, but its effect on atherosclerosis (AS) remains unknown. This study combines pyroptosis with metabolomics to elucidate the effect and mechanism of TZQ on AS. A model of AS was developed using ApoE−/− mice fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. After 6 weeks of atorvastatin (Ator) or TZQ treatment, aortic lumen diameter, aortic lesion size, serum lipid profile, cytokines, and Nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis were analyzed. Serum metabolomics profiles were obtained to examine the effect of TZQ on AS and the correlation between pyroptosis and metabolites was further analyzed. As a result, TZQ significantly reduced the diameter of the common carotid artery during diastole and the blood flow velocity in the aorta during systole; reduced blood lipid levels, arterial vascular plaques, and the release of inflammatory cytokines; and inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. According to metabolomics profiling, TZQ is engaged in the treatment of AS via altering arachidonic acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, steroid hormone production, and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. The cytochrome P450 enzyme family and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) are two major metabolic enzymes associated with pyroptosis.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased the burden on many healthcare systems and in the process, exposed the need for medical resources and physical space. While few studies discussed the efficient utilization of medical resources and physical space so far. Therefore, this study aimed to summarize experiences related to facilities used for centralized isolation for medical observation and treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic in China and to provide suggestions to further improve the management of confirmed cases, suspected cases, and close contacts. In China, three types of facilities for centralized isolation (Fangcang shelter hospitals, refitted non-designated hospitals, and quarantine hotels) underwent retrofitting for the treatment and isolation of confirmed and suspected cases. These facilities mitigated the immediate high demand for space. Moreover, in order to minimize infection risks in these facilities, regulators and governmental agencies implemented new designs, management measures, and precautionary measures to minimize infection risk. Other countries and regions could refer to China's experience in optimally allocating social resources in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a conclusion, government should allocate social resources and construct centralized isolation and quarantine facilities for an emergency response, health authorities should issue regulations for centralized isolation facilities and pay strict attention to the daily management of these facilities, a multidisciplinary administration team is required to support the daily operation of a centralized isolation facility, in-depth studies and international collaboration on the centralized isolation policy are encouraged.

Hypertension is a major threat to human health. Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. (EU) is a small tree and EU extract is widely used to improve hypertension in East Asia. However, its major constituents have poor absorption and stay in the gut for a long time. The role of the gut microbiota in the anti-hypertensive effects of EU is unclear. Here, we examined the anti-hypertensive effects of EU in high-salt diet and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced mice. After receiving EU for 6 weeks, the blood pressure was significantly reduced and the kidney injury was improved. Additionally, EU restored the levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as serum interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17A, and renal IL-17A. The diversity and composition of the gut microbiota were influenced by administration of EU; 40 significantly upregulated and 107 significantly downregulated amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were identified after administration of EU. ASV403 (Parabacteroides) was selected as a potential anti-hypertensive ASV. Its closest strain XGB65 was isolated. Furthermore, animal studies confirmed that Parabacteroides strain XGB65 exerted anti-hypertensive effects, possibly by reducing levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as renal IL-17A. Our study is the first to report that EU reduces blood pressure by regulating the gut microbiota, and it enriches the Parabacteroides strain, which exerts anti-hypertensive effects. These findings provide directions for developing novel anti-hypertensive treatments by combining probiotics and prebiotics.

Coronary microvascular disease (CMVD) is common in patients with cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events. Although the study of CMVD in modern medicine is ongoing, there is still no effective treatment for it. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has some clinical advantages based on syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment. In this review, we review the clinical significance, pathogenesis, and current treatments of CMVD and systematically summarize the clinical efficacy and potential action mechanisms of TCM for CMVD. In addition, the scientific problems that need to be solved urgently and the research strategy of TCM for CMVD are described. CMVD has great clinical significance, but there are still many gaps in the related research. This review aims to attract the attention of clinicians to CMVD and promote research on CMVD in TCM.

Abstract Aims Qishen Yiqi dripping pills (QSYQ) may be beneficial in patients with ischaemic heart failure (IHF). We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of QSYQ administered together with guideline‐directed medical therapy in patients with IHF. Methods and results This prospective randomized, double‐blind, multicentre placebo‐controlled study enrolled 640 patients with IHF between March 2012 and August 2014. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 6 months of QSYQ or placebo in addition to standard treatment. The primary outcome was 6 min walking distance at 6 months. Among the 638 IHF patients (mean age 65 years, 72% men), the 6 min walking distance increased from 336.15 ± 100.84 to 374.47 ± 103.09 m at 6 months in the QSYQ group, compared with 334.40 ± 100.27 to 340.71 ± 104.57 m in the placebo group (mean change +38.32 vs. +6.31 m respectively; P

Background: Heart failure as an important issue in global public health, has brought a heavy economic burden. Traditional Chinese medicine injections (TCMIs) have significant effects on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, it is difficult for clinicians to identify the differences in clinical efficacy and safety of various TCMIs. The purpose of this study is to compare the efficacy and safety of various TCMIs for treating HFrEF by conducting a Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) and to further provide references for clinical decision-making.Methods: The clinical randomized controlled trials of TCMIs for treating HFrEF were searched in seven database from inception to August 3rd, 2021. The Cochrane collaboration’s tool was used to assess the risk of bias. NMA was performed in a Bayesian hierarchical framework. The surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), the multi-dimensional efficacy analysis, the comparison-adjusted funnel plot, and the node-splitting analysis were conducted using R software.Results: A total of 107 eligible RCTs involving 9,073 HFrEF patients and 6 TCMIs were included. TCMIs include Huangqi injection (HQ) also called Astragalus injection, Shenfu injection (SF), Shengmai injection (SGM), Shenmai injection (SM), Xinmailong injection (XML), and Yiqifumai lyophilized injection (YQFM). The results of NMA and SUCRA showed that with conventional treatment (CT) as a common control, in terms of clinical efficacy, CT + XML was most effective in New York Heart Association cardiac functional classification efficiency, brain natriuretic peptide, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide; the CT + SM was most effective in 6-min walking test, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and cardiac output; the CT + YQFM was most effective in left ventricular ejection fraction; the CT + HQ was most effective in stroke volume; the CT + SF was most effective in Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire. In terms of safety, there was no significant difference between CT + TCMIs and CT.Conclusion: This Bayesian network meta-analysis results show that the combination of qualified TCMIs and CT is more effective for HFrEF patients than CT alone, and CT + XML and CT + SM may be one of the potential optimal treatments. Also, the safety of these TCMIs needs to be further observed. However, due to some limitations, the conclusions need to be verified by more large-sample, double-blind, multi-center RCTs.

Background: Residential airborne fungi may present obvious risk to human health. However, many countries do not recognize the necessarily need to control residential airborne culturable fungi (RAF). In China, few systemic investigations have been conducted to illustrate the distribution of residential airborne fungi and identify the association between indoor influencing variables and RAF under general living scenario in China. Objective: This study aimed to investigate RAF with the on-site research of 12 typical cities in China, and provided the latest characteristics and potential influencing factors of RAF under general living scenario. Methods: We measured RAF and investigated residential characteristics in 12 typical cities in China, 2018. At least 50 resident families were randomly selected both from downwind and upwind districts in each city with pre-proposed requirements. The RAF were sampled by the six-stage Anderson impactor. PM2.5 and PM10 were monitored by calibrated light-scattering dust meters. CO and CO2 were monitored by non-dispersive infrared analyzer method. NO2 was determined by Saltzman method. General linear model was used to evaluate the association between RAF exposure and residential characteristics with adjustment for potential confounders. Results: The RAF concentrations ranged from 0 to 9371 CFU/m3 with a median concentration of 396 CFU/m3. The median concentrations of RAF in the warm season were statistically higher than the cold season in Panjin, Qingdao, Lanzhou and Luoyang, but lower than the cold season in Shijiazhuang, Ningbo and Nanning. RAF in the bedrooms were more than the living rooms in all cities except Xi'an. Temperature and humidity had an interactive effect on the RAF (OR = 1.0006, 95% CI: 1.0005, 1.0006). Some residential environmental pollutants, including PM2.5 (OR = 0.9989, 95% CI: 0.9988, 0.9989), PM10 (OR = 0.9993, 95% CI: 0.9993, 0.9993), and CO2 (OR = 0.0236, 95% CI: 0.0230, 0.0243), were negatively correlated with RAF. CO (OR = 1.1450, 95% CI: 1.1433, 1.1467) and NO2 (OR = 1.0026, 95% CI: 1.0024, 1.0028) were positively correlated with RAF. Architectural characteristics (sunlight exposure, building history, longitude, latitude, total living area, living floor, distance from the road, house type, the layers of window glass and decoration), family-related information (income) and lifestyle behaviors (keeping pets, growing plants, cooking, using insecticide, burning incense, heating, using air conditioner and cleaning frequencies) were also significantly related with RAF. Conclusions: This study reported nation-wide baseline condition of RAF and related influencing factors under general living scenario with quantitative details, which are exceedingly promising for evidence-driven standard and reasonable control strategy of residential airborne culturable in China.

Objective This study aimed to quantify the effect of the dwell time deviation constraint (DTDC) on brachytherapy treatment for cervical cancer. Methods A retrospective study was carried out on 20 patients with radical cervical cancer. The DTDC values changed from 0.0 to 1.0 by a step size of 0.2. We adjusted the optimization objectives to ensure that all plans were optimized to a high-risk clinical target volume (HRCTV) D 90 (the dose to 90% of the HRCTV) = 6 Gy, while keeping the dose to the organs at risk as low as possible. The dose–volume histogram parameters and the dwell time data were compared between plans with different DTDC values. Results The HRCTV volume covered by 150% of the prescription dose gradually increased with increasing DTDC values. As the DTDC value increased from 0.0 to 1.0, the effective dwell point proportion increased from 61.78% to 90.30%. The mean dwell time initially decreased with an increase in the DTDC value, reached the minimum value at DTDC = 0.8, then slightly increased at DTDC = 1.0. Conclusions When using inverse planning simulated annealing optimization for radical cervical cancer cases, the recommended DTDC value is approximately 0.6 if the organ dose needs to be limited.

The traffic-induced soil compaction in the field has gradually become an important constraint to sustainable agricultural development. A field experiment was conducted to acquire the stress transmitted caused by multiple passes with different types of tractors and to investigate the impact of these stresses on soil bulk density and crop growth. The experiment applied two tractors with different masses: LOVOL M904 (HC) and John Deer 280 (LC), and six different treatments of 0 (C0), 1 (C1), 3 (C3), 5 (C5), 7 (C7), and 9 (C9) tractor passes for each tractor. The results showed that at each number of passes, tractors with small axle-loads at 0–20 cm depth generated higher soil additional stress, while tractors with large axle-loads at 20–80 cm depth generated higher soil additional stress. In the 0–20 cm soil layer, when the number of continuous passes is less than 7 times, the passes of a small axle-load tractor lead to larger soil bulk density, and when the number of continuous passes is more than 7, the compaction of large axle-load tractor leads to larger soil bulk density. At depths of 20–80 cm, compaction by large axle-load tractors results in larger soil bulk density. In this study, different levels of tractor compaction inhibited key growth indicators of maize, resulting in yield reductions. The effect of different tractor load compaction on maize yield increased significantly with the number of compaction passes, with 1–5 tractor passes having no significant effect on yield and 7–9 passes producing greater yield reductions for HC. This study will provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the selection of agricultural machinery and reasonable tillage technology.

Aiming to solve the problems of easy generation of clods, poor soil fluidity and poor soil-covering effect in the no-tillage seeding operation mode, this study has designed a soil-covering device with a soil-closing function for the chisel-type furrow opener of a corn no-tillage planter. Theoretical analysis and design of the soil dividing plate and the soil-covering disc were carried out, and the key parameters were determined. Then, the soil-covering device with soil-closing function and the soil movement model was constructed in Altair EDEM, and the spatial soil particle mobility was analyzed. The numerical simulation method was combined with the center plane composite response test scheme to carry out the simulation test, and the optimal working parameter combination was obtained. The operating speed was 6.35 km·h−1, the inclination angle of the soil-covering disc was 60°, the opening angle of the soil-covering disc was 70°, and the inclination angle of the soil dividing plate was 40°. A comparative test of the soil-covering effect and performance was carried out, and the results showed that the designed device was better than the traditional soil-covering device in terms of the consistency of soil-covering thickness and the stability of seed position deviation. The relative errors of the soil bin experiment results and the simulation optimization results for the cover soil thickness and seed position deviation were 5.7% and 11.1%, respectively. The operation effect of the designed soil-covering device with soil-closing function meets the requirements of soil covering under no-tillage conditions and provides a basis for the research and development of soil-covering suppression technology and devices under no-tillage seeding mode.

Malignant tumors rank as a leading cause of death worldwide. Accurate diagnosis and advanced treatment options are crucial to win battle against tumors. In recent years, Cherenkov luminescence (CL) has shown its technical advantages and clinical transformation potential in many important fields, particularly in tumor diagnosis and treatment, such as tumor detection in vivo, surgical navigation, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and the evaluation of therapeutic effect. In this review, we summarize the advances in CL for tumor diagnosis and treatment. We first describe the physical principles of CL and discuss the imaging techniques used in tumor diagnosis, including CL imaging, CL endoscope, and CL tomography. Then we present a broad overview of the current status of surgical resection, radiotherapy, photodynamic therapy, and tumor microenvironment monitoring using CL. Finally, we shed light on the challenges and possible solutions for tumor diagnosis and therapy using CL.

PurposeTo investigate an implementation method and the results of an inverse dose optimization algorithm, Gradient Based Planning Optimization (GBPO), for three-dimensional brachytherapy.MethodsThe GBPO used a quadratic objective function, and a dwell time modulation item was added to the objective function to restrict the dwell time variance. We retrospectively studied 4 cervical cancer patients using different applicators and 15 cervical cancer patients using the Fletcher applicator. We assessed the plan quality of GBPO by isodose lines for the patients using different applicators. For the 15 patients using the Fletcher applicator, we utilized dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters of HR-CTV (D100%, V150%) and organs at risk (OARs) (D0.1cc, D1cc, D2cc) to evaluate the difference between the GBPO plans and the IPSA (Inverse Planning Simulated Annealing) plans, as well as the GBPO plans and the Graphic plans.ResultsFor the 4 patients using different applicators, the dose distributions are conformable. For the 15 patients using the Fletcher applicator, when the dwell time modulation factor (DTMF) is less than 20, the dwell time deviation reduces quickly; however, after the DTMF increased to 100, the dwell time deviation has no remarkable change. The difference in dosimetric parameters between the GBPO plans and the IPSA plans is not statistically significant (P>0.05). The GBPO plans have a higher D100% (3.57 ± 0.36, 3.38 ± 0.34; P

Introduction Heart failure (HF) has always been an important issue in global public health. The research and development of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) provide more possibilities for improving the prognosis of HF patients. Because multiple TCM injections (TCMIs) are being widely applied in clinical work, it is important to choose the right TCMIs for HF patients. The purpose of this study is to assess and compare the effect of different TCMIs for HF using network meta-analysis (NMA) and further provide references for clinical decision-making.Methods and analysis The clinical randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses of TCMIs for treating HF will be searched in the relevant database, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library (No. 2 of 2020), Chinese BioMedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database and Chinese Scientific Journal Database from inception to 29 February 2020. The outcomes of interest include all-cause mortality, rehospitalisation rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), N-terminal pro-BNP, cardiac output, stroke volume, 6 min walking distance and adverse events. The risk of bias assessment of the included RCTs will be conducted according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias. NMA will be performed in a Bayesian hierarchical framework using R V.3.6.1 with the gemtc package. Finally, we will rank the efficacy of these treatment programmes according to the surface under the cumulative ranking curve, and perform quality assessment and recommendation grading of the evidence according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system.Ethics and dissemination This study will extract data from the published literature and will not involve private information from individuals or compromise their rights. Therefore, the study does not require ethical approval. The results will eventually be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated at relevant conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42020166900.

When precision cutting titanium alloy, the cutting part of cutting tool is mainly concentrated in the cutting edge area, so there is a strong emphasis upon the cutting edge’s geometric parameters. Studies have found that putting a micro-texture on the cutting surface can reduce the cutting force. This article looks at the milling force involved in cutting titanium alloy with a micro-textured ball-end milling cutter with different shaped cutting edges. First, a milling model relating to different cutting edges is established based on the traditional model of milling force. Then, the effects of different cutting edge geometry parameters and micro-texture parameters on milling force are simulated and tested using a finite element method. With milling force serving as the evaluation index, the optimum micro-texture parameters for a blunt circular cutting edge are a micro-pit diameter of 40 μm, a distance between micro-pits of 175 μm, a distance from the cutting edge of 110 μm, and a blunt circle radius of 60 μm. For a negative chamfer edge, the optimum parameters were a micro-pit diameter of 50 μm, a distance between micro-pits of 175 μm, a distance from the cutting edge of 120 μm, an edge width of 200 μm, and an edge angle of 10°.

The common cold is an acute, self-limited viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, it is a heterogeneous group of diseases caused by numerous viruses that belong to several different families. A total of 292 households with children aged 7–9 years from Harbin, Xi’an, Ningbo, Nanning, and Shenzhen, China were investigated and 877 air samples from both bedrooms and living rooms in study area were tested to reveal indoor air quality level in 2017. The mean indoor temperature, relative humidity, CO, CO2, NO2, formaldehyde, total count of colonies, and total count of fungi levels were 21.00 ​± ​4.05 ​°C, 54.66 ​± ​16.28%, 0.85±+2.99 mg/m3, 0.08 ​± ​0.06%, 0.03 ​± ​0.02 ​mg/m3, 0.03 ​± ​0.02 ​mg/m3, 173.14 ​± ​4.28 ​cfu/m3, and 241.21 ​± ​4.20 ​cfu/m3, respectively. Of the 292 children, 1.72% had >5 common colds in the past year, 12.04% 3–5 per year, and rest

This article is about a 6-day-old male infant admitted to the hospital presented with a 2-day history of worsening widespread spitting. After a series of treatments, we found that the diagnosis was “broncho-esophageal fistula”. So he was recommended to receive surgical treatment. After preoperative preparation, thoracoscopic ligation of esophagus and bronchospasm was performed.The fistula was 1.5 cm long. The broncho-esophageal fistula was often found in adults, which was often misdiagnosed as pneumonia with bad effective treatment, especially in a newborn, but the non-invasive CT three-dimensional imaging technology can provide a reliable basis for the clear diagnosis of esophageal bronchospasm. Keywords: Neonate, Thoracoscopic surgery, Broncho-esophageal fistula

Abstract Background Epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that exposure to particulate air pollution may promote progression of atherosclerosis. Methods In the present study, the characteristics and trends of the research field of particulate matter (PM) and atherosclerosis were analyzed using bibliometric indicators. Bibliometric analysis was based on original papers obtained from PubMed/MEDLINE search results (from 1973 to 2014) using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. A fully-detailed search strategy was employed, and articles were imported into the Thomson Data Analyzer (TDA) software. Results The visualizing network of the collaborative researchers was analyzed by Ucinet 6 software. Main research topics and future focuses were explored by co-word and cluster analysis. The characteristics of these research articles were summarized. The number of published articles has increased from five for the period 1973–1978 to 89 for the period 2009–2014. Tobacco smoke pollution, smoke and air PM were the most studied targets in this research field. Coronary disease was the top health outcome posed by PM exposure. The aorta and endothelium vascular were the principal locations of atherosclerotic lesions, which were enhanced by PM exposure. Oxidative stress and inflammation were of special concern in the current mechanistic research system. The top high-frequency MeSH terms were clustered, and four popular topics were further presented. Conclusion Based on the quantitative analysis of bibliographic information and MeSH terms, we were able to define the study characteristics and popular topics in the field of PM and atherosclerosis. Our analysis would provide a comprehensive background reference for researchers in this field of study.

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the dosimetric and clinical feasibility of image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) combined with high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) to improve dose distribution in cervical cancer treatment. Material and methods: For 42 cervical cancer patients, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired after completion of whole pelvic irradiation 45-46 Gy and 5 fractions of B + I (ICBT + IGRT) treatment were subsequently received. The high risk clinical target volume (HRCTV), intermediate risk clinical target volume (IRCTV), bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were contoured on the computed tomography (CT) scans. The total planning aim doses for HRCTV was D 90% > 85 Gy, whilst constraints for rectum and sigmoid were D 2cc < 75 Gy and D 2cc < 90 Gy for bladder in terms of an equivalent dose in 2 Gy (EQD2) for external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy boost. The IGRT plan was optimized on top of the ICBT dose distribution. A dosimetric comparison was made between B + I and optimized ICBT (O-ICBT) only. Results: The mean D 90% of HRCTV was comparable for B + I and O-ICBT (p = 0.82). For B + I plan, HRCTV D100%, IRCTV D 100% , and IRCTV D 90% were significantly increased by a mean of 10.52 Gy, 5.61 Gy, and 2.70 Gy, respectively (p < 0.01). The D 2cc for bladder, rectum, and sigmoid were lower by a mean of 21.36, 6.78, and 10.65 Gy, respectively (p < 0.01). The mean rectum V60 Gy value over 42 patients was almost the same for both techniques but for bladder and sigmoid B + I had higher V60 Gy mean values as compared with the O-ICBT. Conclusions : B + I can improve dose distribution in cervical cancer treatment; it could be useful for tumors extended beyond the reach of intracavitary/interstitial brachytherapy (IC/ISBT) or for centers that are inexperienced or ill-equipped with IC/ISBT techniques. Additional confirmatory prospective studies with larger numbers of patients and longer follow-up are required to validate the durability.