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Abstract Many plants associate with endophytic microbes that improve root phosphorus (P) uptake. Understanding the interactions between roots and endophytes can enable efforts to improve P utilization. Here, we characterize the interactions between lateral roots of endophytes in a core collection of 50 rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) genotypes with differing sensitivities to low P conditions. With the correlation analysis result between bacterial abundance and plant physiological indices of rapeseeds, and inoculation experiments on plates and soil, we identify one Flavobacterium strain (C2) that significantly alleviates the P deficiency phenotype of rapeseeds. The underlying mechanisms are explored by performing the weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), and conducting genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using Flavobacterium abundance as a quantitative trait. Under P-limited conditions, C2 regulates fatty acid and lipid metabolic pathways. For example, C2 improves metabolism of linoleic acid, which mediates root suberin biosynthesis, and enhances P uptake efficiency. In addition, C2 suppresses root jasmonic acid biosynthesis, which depends on α-linolenic acid metabolism, improving C2 colonization and activating P uptake. This study demonstrates that adjusting the endophyte composition can modulate P uptake in B. napus plants, providing a basis for developing agricultural microbial agents.

Abstract Rituximab occasionally induces reactivation of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with resolved HCV infection, sometimes with fatal consequences. As rituximab has become one of the first-line therapies for the treatment of phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R)-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) and is more widely used, there is a lack of studies reporting the effectiveness and safety of rituximab in patients with PLA2R-associated MN and resolved HCV infection. A single-center retrospective study was conducted on PLA2R-associated membranous nephropathy (MN) patients who were HCVAb positive but HCV-RNA negative and treated with rituximab. A total of 598 adult patients with PLA2R-associated MN who underwent rituximab therapy were screened. General clinical information, including gender, age, pathological data, and previous treatment plans, was collected from medical records. Routine blood tests, liver and kidney function assessments, blood lipid profiles, 24-h urine protein levels, anti-PLA2R antibody titers, circulating B-cell counts, and HCV viral loads were measured at the time of rituximab infusion and repeated at intervals of 1–3 months post-rituximab administration. A total of 8 patients were enrolled, with a median follow-up period of 19.00 (range: 16.00–25.25) months. Among the 8 patients, 5 were male, and the mean age was 50.13 ± 4.29 years. Histological findings indicated that tubuloreticular inclusions, mesangial deposits, intramembranous deposits, and subendothelial deposits were not observed in any of the 8 patients. The overall 1-year remission rate for these patients was 75%, accompanied by a significant reduction in proteinuria. Additionally, blood albumin levels increased significantly, and renal function remained stable. No increase in HCV viral load and stable liver function tests were observed throughout the entire follow-up period. This study suggested that on the basis of successful eradication of HCV virus with antiviral drugs, rituximab can effectively induce clinical remission of patients with PLA2R associated MN and resolved HCV infection, and does not lead to a significant increase in HCV virus load. However, this finding is based on a very small sample size and should be confirmed in larger clinical trials.

PURPOSE: The present study compares the diagnostic performance of unenhanced computed tomography (CT) radiomics-based machine learning (ML) classifiers and a radiologist in cystic renal masses (CRMs). METHODS: Patients with pathologically diagnosed CRMs from two hospitals were enrolled in the study. Unenhanced CT radiomic features were extracted for ML modeling in the training set (Guangzhou; 162 CRMs, 85 malignant). Total tumor segmentation was performed by two radiologists. Features with intraclass correlation coefficients of >0.75 were screened using univariate analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and bidirectional elimination to construct random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN) models. External validation was performed in the Zhuhai set (45 CRMs, 30 malignant). All images were assessed by a radiologist. The ML models were evaluated using calibration curves, decision curves, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Of the 207 patients (102 women; 59.1 ± 11.5 years), 92 (41 women; 58.0 ± 13.7 years) had benign CRMs, and 115 (61 women; 59.8 ± 11.4 years) had malignant CRMs. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the radiologist’s diagnoses were 85.5%, 84.2%, and 91.1%, respectively [area under the (ROC) curve (AUC), 0.87]. The ML classifiers showed similar sensitivity (94.2%–100%), specificity (94.7%–100%), and accuracy (94.3%–100%) in the training set. In the validation set, KNN showed better sensitivity, accuracy, and AUC than DT and RF but weaker specificity. Calibration and decision curves showed excellent and good results in the training and validation set, respectively. CONCLUSION: Unenhanced CT radiomics-based ML classifiers, especially KNN, may aid in screening CRMs.

Abstract A comprehensive emergency medical service (EMS) system significantly enhances a city’s capacity to prevent and mitigate disasters. Using Huangshi as a case study, this research evaluated the service radium coverage rate of the current EMS system by examining its transport capacity, population density, and prevalence rate, finding it to be only 61.49% with an inefficient spatial layout. To address this, we proposed transforming urban brownfields into EMS parks. By selecting the most suitable brownfields based on capacity and service radius, we increased the coverage rate to 90.21%. We introduced a new "consultation-referral" model, where existing EMS facilities serve as pre-diagnosis and triage centers, and the urban brownfield EMS parks function as isolation and centralized treatment centers. GIS network analysis confirmed the feasibility, showing all transit times to be under 30 min. The methodology outlined in this study—comprising "demand assessment, supply optimization, and feasibility verification"—not only strengthens the city’s EMS system but also facilitates the renewal of urban brownfields. This approach can serve as a valuable reference for enhancing EMS systems in other cities.

Abstract Background Pretransplant type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality after heart transplant (HT), but the underlying causes of this association remain unclear. The purpose of this research was to examine the impact of T2DM on left ventricular (LV) myocardial deformation and myocardial perfusion following heart transplantation using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. Methods We investigated thirty-one HT recipients with pretransplant T2DM [HT(DM+)], thirty-four HT recipients without pretransplant T2DM [HT(DM−)] and thirty-six controls. LV myocardial strains, including the global longitudinal, radial, and circumferential strain (GLS, GRS and GCS, respectively), were calculated and compared among groups, as were resting myocardial perfusion indices, which included time to peak myocardial signal intensity (TTM), maximum signal intensity (MaxSI), and Upslope. The relationships between LV strain parameters or perfusion indices and biochemical indicators were determined through Spearman’s analysis. The impact of T2DM on LV strains in HT recipients was assessed using multivariable linear regression analyses with backward stepwise selection. Results In the HT(DM+) group, the LV GLS, GRS, and GCS exhibited significantly lower magnitudes than those in both the HT(DM−) and control groups. TTM was higher in the HT(DM+) group than in both the HT(DM−) and control groups, while no significant differences were observed among the groups regarding Upslope and MaxSI. There was a negative correlation between glycated hemoglobin and the magnitude of strains (longitudinal, r = − 0.399; radial, r = − 0.362; circumferential, r = − 0.389) (all P

Growing environmental concerns and the rise of sustainable development have made planners shift focus from prioritizing economic and social benefits to incorporating ecological consciousness into urban planning. Ecological challenges, such as habitat degradation from unchecked urban expansion and insufficient green spaces, underscore gaps in ecological awareness among urban planners. Issues, like urban heat islands and water mismanagement, further exemplify the need for enhanced ecological planning. To address these challenges, the paper proposes several governance strategies. It advocates for comprehensive planning for ecological civilization cities, including green infrastructures and natural landscape restoration to mitigate environmental impacts. Enhancing ecological responsibility, through education and community engagement, is vital for fostering a culture of sustainability. Developing an ecological circular economy addresses resource inefficiency and waste problems, while promoting low-carbon transportation options aims to reduce urban carbon footprints. Guided by the concept of ecological consciousness, this analysis offers actionable paths for improving urban ecological governance.

The prediction for Multivariate Time Series (MTS) explores the interrelationships among variables at historical moments, extracts their relevant characteristics, and is widely used in finance, weather, complex industries and other fields. Furthermore, it is important to construct a digital twin system. However, existing methods do not take full advantage of the potential properties of variables, which results in poor predicted accuracy. In this paper, we propose the Adaptive Fused Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network (AFSTGCN). First, to address the problem of the unknown spatial-temporal structure, we construct the Adaptive Fused Spatial-Temporal Graph (AFSTG) layer. Specifically, we fuse the spatial-temporal graph based on the interrelationship of spatial graphs. Simultaneously, we construct the adaptive adjacency matrix of the spatial-temporal graph using node embedding methods. Subsequently, to overcome the insufficient extraction of disordered correlation features, we construct the Adaptive Fused Spatial-Temporal Graph Convolutional (AFSTGC) module. The module forces the reordering of disordered temporal, spatial and spatial-temporal dependencies into rule-like data. AFSTGCN dynamically and synchronously acquires potential temporal, spatial and spatial-temporal correlations, thereby fully extracting rich hierarchical feature information to enhance the predicted accuracy. Experiments on different types of MTS datasets demonstrate that the model achieves state-of-the-art single-step and multi-step performance compared with eight other deep learning models.

Abstract Background Expanding new nurse training and education is a priority for nursing educators as well as a critical initiative to stabilize the nursing workforce. Given that there is currently no standardized program for the training of new nurses in China, we investigated the effectiveness of the bridge-in, objective, pre-assessment, participatory learning, post-assessment, and summary model combined with case-based learning ((BOPPPS-CBL) for the standardized training of new nurses. Methods The mixed method approach with explanatory sequential (quantitative-qualitative) method was used. A questionnaire was used to compare the impact of the BOPPPS-CBL model and the Traditional Learning Model (TLM) on the core competencies of 185 new nurses for two years of standardized training. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Focus group interviews were used with four groups of new nurses and perceptions of BOPPPS-CBL training were recorded. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results According to the quantitative data, more new nurses agreed that the BOPPPS-CBL model stimulated their learning and improved their core nursing competencies than the TLM. The BOPPPS-CBL group outperformed the TLM group on theoretical knowledge tests. Qualitative data revealed that 87.5% of new nurses agreed on the value of BOPPPS-CBL training, and three themes were extracted: (1) role promotion; (2) formation of new thinking to solve clinical problems; and (3) suggestions for improvement. Conclusion BOPPPS-CBL training had a significant impact on improving new nurses’ core competencies and promoting the transition of new nurses to clinical practice nurses in China. The study recommends BOPPPS-CBL training as an effective teaching model for the standardized training and education of new nurses.

ABSTRACTColorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide. eIF3a is highly expressed in a variety of cancer types, yet its role in CRC remains unclear. We introduced ectopic eIF3a expression in CRC cells to investigate its relevance to various malignant behaviors. Further, we silenced eIF3a to explore its effect on tumor growth in a nude mouse tumor xenograft model. Finally, the molecular mechanisms through which eIF3a regulates malignancy in CRC cells were explored through bioinformatics analysis combined with the use of a specific PI3K inhibitor (LY294002). eIF3a was highly expressed in the peripheral blood and cancer tissue of CRC patients. Malignancy and tumor growth were significantly inhibited by silencing eIF3a, while overexpression promoted malignant behaviors, with a positive correlation between PI3K/AKT activation and eIF3a expression. Taken together, eIF3a plays an oncogenic role in CRC by regulating PI3K/AKT signaling and is a potential biomarker for CRC diagnosis and prognostic monitoring.

Abstract In this study, we characterize Designed Ankyrin Repeat Proteins (DARPins) as investigative tools to probe botulinum neurotoxin A1 (BoNT/A1) structure and function. We identify DARPin-F5 that completely blocks SNAP25 substrate cleavage by BoNT/A1 in vitro. X-ray crystallography reveals that DARPin-F5 inhibits BoNT/A1 activity by interacting with a substrate-binding region between the α- and β-exosite. This DARPin does not block substrate cleavage of BoNT/A3, indicating that DARPin-F5 is a subtype-specific inhibitor. BoNT/A1 Glu-171 plays a critical role in the interaction with DARPin-F5 and its mutation to Asp, the residue found in BoNT/A3, results in a loss of inhibition of substrate cleavage. In contrast to the in vitro results, DARPin-F5 promotes faster substrate cleavage of BoNT/A1 in primary neurons and muscle tissue by increasing toxin translocation. Our findings could have important implications for the application of BoNT/A1 in therapeutic areas requiring faster onset of toxin action combined with long persistence.

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to explore the association between the ratio of serum creatinine to cystatin C to waist circumference (CCR/WC) and hypertension.MethodsThe study utilized data extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. In the cross-sectional analysis, logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the association between the CCR/WC ratio and hypertension. By utilizing restricted cubic splines, potential non-linear associations between the CCR/WC ratio and hypertension were explored. In the longitudinal analysis, the association between CCR/WC quartiles (Q1–Q4) and the risk of new-onset hypertension was evaluated by Cox proportional-hazards models.ResultsIn total, 7,253 participants were enrolled. The study unveiled an inverse association with hypertension, demonstrating an odds ratio (OR) of 0.29 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23–0.37, P < 0.001). Among males, an OR of 0.38 (95% CI: 0.25–0.58, P < 0.001) was observed, while among females, an OR of 0.41 (95% CI: 0.28–0.60, P < 0.001) was noted. There was an absence of a nonlinear association between the CCR/WC ratio and hypertension. Cox regression analysis unveiled a reduced risk of hypertension in Q3 (Hazard ratios [HR]: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.58–0.82, P < 0.001) and Q4: (HR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.59–0.83, P < 0.001) in compared to the Q1 of the CCR/WC ratio, and sex-specific analysis yielded consistent results.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the potential association between an elevated CCR/WC ratio and a reduced risk of hypertension.

Objective To understand the current level of social alienation among patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and analyse the influencing factors to provide a foundation for better clinical support for patients’ reintegration into society.Methods We conducted a comprehensive survey and analysis involving 230 patients with SUI using a general information questionnaire, a general sense of alienation scale and a social impact scale.Results The general sense of alienation scale score of patients with SUI was 25.43±13.994, while the social impact score was 39.25±12.167. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that marital status, primary caregiver, presence of concurrent illnesses and severity of urinary incontinence were the key influencing factors contributing to SUI-related social alienation (p

Chitin is a polysaccharide similar to cellulose that contains abundant hydrogen bonds. Expansin-like proteins disrupt hydrogen bond networks, causing cellulose to swell and accelerating its degradation. We examined the effects of pretreatment with two expansin-like proteins, CxEXL22 (Arthrobotrys sp. CX1) and HcEXL (Hahella chejuensis), on chitin depolymerisation and enzymatic degradation. The efficiency of chitin degradation increased more than two-fold after pretreatment with expansin-like proteins. Following pretreatment with expansin-like proteins, chitin had a lower crystallinity index, greater d-spacing and crystallite size, and weaker hydrogen bonds, and the loosened porous microfibrils were more exposed than in untreated chitin. The rupture characterisation of crystalline chitin indicated that expansin-like proteins loosened the hydrogen bonds of the chitin polysaccharide chains, causing significant depolymerisation to expose more porous structures and enhance chitin accessibility.

Abstract Lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LEDVT) affects patient’s quality of life for a long time, and even causes pulmonary embolism, which threatens human health. Current anticoagulant drugs in clinical treatment are hampered by the risk of bleeding due to poor targeting and low drug penetration. Here, we used platelet (PLT)-like biological targeting to enhance the delivery and accumulation of nanomedicines in thrombus and reduce the risk of bleeding. Meanwhile, the parallel strategy of “thrombus thermal ablation and anticoagulation” was applied to increase the permeability of drugs in thrombus and achieve the optimal antithrombotic effect. Polypyrrole (PPy) and rivaroxban (Riv, an anticoagulant drug) were co-assembled into platelet membrane-coated nanoparticles (NPs), PLT-PPy/Riv NPs, which actively targeted the thrombotic lesion at multiple targets in the platelet membrane and were thermally and drug-specific thrombolysed by 808 nm laser irradiation. The combination therapy resulted in up to 90% thrombolysis in a femoral vein thrombosis model compared to single phototherapy or drug therapy. The results showed that the nanoformulation provided a new direction for remote precise and controlled sustained thrombolysis, which was in line with the trend of nanomedicine towards clinical translation.

Background: Cannabinoid compounds have been approved as prescription drugs for treating various human ailments. However, the production using both microbial and plant-based sources is time-consuming and expensive because their yield is extremely low. Tetraketide synthase (TKS), the key enzyme in the biosynthesis of cannabinoid compounds, produces only 4% of the intermediate compound olivetolic acid. However, it may be possible to rearrange the carbon metabolic flux of TKS using genetic methods to increase the overall yields of cannabinoid compounds. In this context, protein engineering is an economically beneficial and viable solution to improve the catalytic activity of TKS. However, the ability to produce enzyme variants significantly exceeds the capacity to screen and identify high producers, creating a bottleneck in the enzyme engineering process. Results: This study constructed an Escherichia coli-based biosensor workflow for detecting the byproduct pentyl diacetic acid lactone (PDAL). Rational design was used to generate E. coli strains with mutant regulatory protein AraC and an altered effector PDAL to control the transcription of gfp and kanamycin. The developed biosensor could detect PDAL at the concentrations of the operational range from microbial cell culture and cell-free catalytic system. Conclusions: The E. coli-based biosensor developed in this study efficiently detected PDAL with high throughput and low cost.How to cite: Gao M, Zhang Y, Xue L, et al. Screening microbially produced pentyl diacetic acid lactone using an Escherichia coli biosensor workflow. Electron J Biotechnol 2023;66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejbt.2023.09.002.

Abstract Objectives Exploring the relationship between intake of probiotics and the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Methods Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, dietary supplement labels were examined to identify products containing probiotics and prebiotics. Statistical methods were used to analyze the factors influencing the prevalence of allergic rhinitis, and further stratified analysis was conducted to control for confounding factors. Results The proportion of individuals not consuming probiotics was significantly higher in the allergic rhinitis (AR) group than in those consuming them, suggesting a correlation between probiotics and AR. In the male subgroup with probiotic intake, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 0.28 (0.10–0.75), p = .02, indicating that probiotic intake was a protective factor for AR in the male population. In the probiotic‐intake group, the odds ratio for age

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) are seen as a superior substitute for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their excellent safety, low cost, and eco-friendliness. However, problems such as zinc dendrite growth, hydrogen evolution reaction and electrode corrosion hinder the commercialization of batteries. Electrolyte as a link to other parts of the battery, has been widely concerned. Hydrogel is a kind of cross-linked product filled with water, which has the advantages of high theoretical capacity, good flexibility, good water retention and good mechanical properties, and becomes a potential candidate for ZIBs. By summarizing the development of hydrogel electrolytes, the cross-linking types of gel electrolytes and their applications in ZIBs were reviewed in this paper. Finally, the application of gel electrolyte in ZIBs is summarized and prospected, which brings a meaningful reference for the development of ZIBs. Copyright © 2023 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Abstract Global climate change has led to a significant increase in the frequency of extreme rainfall events in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), thus potentially increasing the annual rainfall amounts and, consequently, affecting the net soil nitrogen (N) mineralization process. However, few studies on the responses of the soil net N mineralization rates to the increases in rainfall amounts and frequencies in alpine wet meadows have been carried out. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the effects of rainfall frequency and amount changes on the N fixation capacity of wet meadow soils by varying the rainfall frequency and amount in the Gahai wet meadow in the northeastern margin of the QTP during the plant-growing season in 2019. The treatment scenarios consisted of ambient rain (CK) and supplementary irrigation at a rate of 25 mm, with different irrigation frequencies, namely weekly (DF1), biweekly (DF2), every three weeks (DF3), and every four weeks (DF4). According to the obtained results, the increased rainfall frequency and amount decreased the soil mineral N stock and increased the aboveground vegetation biomass (AB) amounts and soil water contents in the wet meadows of the QTP. Ammonium (NH4 +-N) and nitrate N (NO3 –-N) contributed similarly to the mineral N contents. However, the ammonification process played a major role in the soil mineralization process. The effects of increasing rainfall amount and frequency on N mineralization showed seasonal variations. The N mineralization rate showed a single-peaked curve with increasing soil temperature during the rapid vegetation growth phase, reaching the highest value in August. In addition, the N mineralization rates showed significant positive correlations with soil temperatures and NH4 +-N contents and a significant negative correlation with AB (P

PURPOSEThis study aimed to compare the variability of the uterus during the menses phase (MP), follicular phase (FP), and luteal phase (LP) of the menstrual cycle using intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI).METHODSThis prospective study was conducted at the Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine between January 2022 and January 2023. Women of childbearing age (18–45 years) with appropriate progesterone levels were included in this study. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging and IVIM-DWI scans were performed during the MP, FP, and LP. The differences in IVIM-DWI-derived parameters between these phases were then compared, and the overlap was quantitatively described.RESULTSThe apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and pure molecular diffusion coefficient (D) values from the endometrium, uterine junctional zone (UJZ), and myometrium indicated statistical differences between the MP and FP and the MP and LP (ADC: endometrium, both P < 0.001; UJZ, P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively; myometrium, P = 0.033 and P = 0.006, respectively; D: endometrium, both P < 0.001; UJZ, P = 0.008 and P = 0.006, respectively; myometrium, P = 0.041 and P = 0.045, respectively). The perfusion-related diffusion coefficient (D*) values from the myometrium indicated statistical differences between the FP and MP and the FP and LP (D*: myometrium, P = 0.049 and P = 0.009, respectively). The overlapping endometrium ratios between the MP and FP or LP were lower than 50% in the ADC and D values (ADC: overlapping of MP and FP: 33.33%, overlapping of MP and LP: 23.33%; D: overlapping of MP and FP: 40.00%, overlapping of MP and LP: 43.33%).CONCLUSIONThe ADC and IVIM-derived parameters indicated differences in the uterus in diverse phases of the menstrual cycle, especially in the endometrium in relation to ADC and D values.

In the current context of fossil energy depletion and the requirement for low carbon emissions, the efficient use of energy and a diversified energy mix have become increasingly important. The use of cleaner and low-carbon alternative fuels is rapidly growing. However, corrosion remains a key issue limiting the large-scale application of alternative fuels. This paper describes the corrosion characteristics of different alternative fuels. Also, the mechanisms of fuel corrosion, corrosion measurement methods, and the future of corrosion inhibitor applications are discussed. Corrosion causes changes in material weight and surface morphology and generates electrical signals as it progresses. Although there are well-established methods to characterize corrosion by recognizing these changes, there is still a need to identify a universal standard signal for their detailed description. For the foreseeable future, corrosion in fuels will continue to be mitigated by the addition of corrosion inhibitors. The research on corrosion inhibitors focuses on green corrosion inhibitors and multifunctional corrosion inhibitors. However, further analysis is needed to understand the active ingredients in green corrosion inhibitors, and the mechanism of corrosion inhibition for different types of corrosion inhibitors needs further research.

The n-butanol/low-carbon alcohol/diesel microemulsion system is a good alternative fuel to diesel. In this study, the microemulsions were formulated in four ways: ultrasonication, vortex oscillation, shaker mixing and spontaneous formation. The results reveal that the ultrasonication method is significantly influenced by temperature. Specifically, at 45 °C, the quantity of cosolvent added during the ultrasonic process can be reduced by a maximum of 25% compared to that at 25 °C. However, while the amount of cosolvent required is the lowest at 45 °C, the stability of the emulsion is the poorest. In all cases of this study, the stability of the microemulsion increases when the volume ratio of the lower carbon alcohol exceeds 60%. The lowest amount of co-solvent and high stability were achieved using the shaker mixing method at both 25 °C and 35 °C. Although the quantity of cosolvent required at 45 °C is second only to the lowest, its stability surpasses that of the ultrasonication method. Therefore, it is more effective to choose the shaker mixing method that provides uniform and ordered forces for the preparation of microemulsion liquids.

Drought is the most important factor limiting the growth and production of wheat in China. Arid and semi-arid regions and high water consumption in the agricultural sector have led to various deficit irrigation strategies. The effect of the hydrological process on yield production has been evaluated in rainfed cultivation of wheat for the three climatic stations of Gansu Province, Yellow River Valley, China. A general framework was provided for rainfed cultivation of wheat in arid and semi-arid regions. Moreover, the best time and amount of complementary irrigation and its effect on increasing yield production have been evaluated using grey wolf optimization algorithm. The results showed that rainfed cultivation of wheat in a humid regime could be suggested without complementary irrigation. Conducting two complementary irrigations in semi-humid regime can increase the final yield of wheat by more than 150 kg/ha. The maximum yields in sustainable management were obtained 4,844, 4,510, and 4,408 kg/ha for Longnan, Tianshui, and Dingxi, respectively. HIGHLIGHTS This paper focuses on the modeling of the soil, water, and crop system with more details to improve the applicability.; The proposed method is an optimal policy by applying rainfed management and complementary irrigation.;

Abstract The transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells-derived secretome, particularly extracellular vesicles is a promising therapy to suppress spinal cord injury-triggered neuroinflammation. However, efficient delivery of extracellular vesicles to the injured spinal cord, with minimal damage, remains a challenge. Here we present a device for the delivery of extracellular vesicles to treat spinal cord injury. We show that the device incorporating mesenchymal stem cells and porous microneedles enables the delivery of extracellular vesicles. We demonstrate that topical application to the spinal cord lesion beneath the spinal dura, does not damage the lesion. We evaluate the efficacy of our device in a contusive spinal cord injury model and find that it reduces the cavity and scar tissue formation, promotes angiogenesis, and improves survival of nearby tissues and axons. Importantly, the sustained delivery of extracellular vesicles for at least 7 days results in significant functional recovery. Thus, our device provides an efficient and sustained extracellular vesicles delivery platform for spinal cord injury treatment.

Abstract Structure elucidation of inactive-state GPCRs still mostly relies on X-ray crystallography. The major goal of our work was to create a new GPCR tool that would provide receptor stability and additional soluble surface for crystallization. Towards this aim, we selected the two-stranded antiparallel coiled coil as a domain fold that satisfies both criteria. A selection of antiparallel coiled coils was used for structure-guided substitution of intracellular loop 3 of the β3 adrenergic receptor. Unexpectedly, only the two GPCR variants containing thermostable coiled coils were expressed. We showed that one GPCR chimera is stable upon purification in detergent, retains ligand-binding properties, and can be crystallized. However, the quality of the crystals was not suitable for structure determination. By using two other examples, 5HTR2C and α2BAR, we demonstrate that our approach is generally suitable for the stabilization of GPCRs. To provide additional surface for promoting crystal contacts, we replaced in a structure-based approach the loop connecting the antiparallel coiled coil by T4L. We found that the engineered GPCR is even more stable than the coiled-coil variant. Negative-staining TEM revealed a homogeneous distribution of particles, indicating that coiled-coil-T4L receptor variants might also be promising candidate proteins for structure elucidation by cryo-EM. Our approach should be of interest for applications that benefit from stable GPCRs.

Objective: The EKAN is a reliable and validated tool for objectively measuring the evidence-based practice (EBP) knowledge of nurses. Thus, we set out to translate and culturally modify the Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge Assessment in Nursing (EKAN), and then evaluate its validity and reliability among Chinese practicing nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of two phases. The first phase involved translating the EKAN into Chinese (EKAN-Chinese), using a process of forward translation, back translation, review, cultural adjustment as well as a pilot study. The second phase aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the EKAN-Chinese and establish a baseline measure of EBP knowledge among 120 nurses from a large general hospital in Beijing, China. Data were collected from August to November 2022 and analyzed with Rasch software. This study was reported using the cross-sectional STROBE checklist. Results: The newly translated, EKAN-Chinese was pilot-tested after slight modification of four items without altering the intended meaning. The outfit unweighted mean square was 1.03 (SD = −0.13), the infit weighted mean square was 1.00 (−0.17), and the mean difficulty index ranged from −3.43 to 2.85 according to validity indices. The results of the reliability indices revealed low person reliability (0.49), high item reliability (0.96), moderate person separation index (0.99), and sufficient item separation index (4.71). The mean EKAN-Chinese sum score was 9.8 (max score = 20, SD = 2.9). Conclusion: The newly translated EKAN-Chinese showed sufficient psychometric evidence to support use in practicing Chinese nurses. The EKAN-Chinese can be used by nurse leaders in China as a potential screening tool to 1) objectively identify nurses who need educational training in evidence-based nursing practice, and 2) gauge the effectiveness of education and training programs to improve EBP knowledge and ultimately, evidence-based care.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a machine learning algorithm in diagnosing OSA in children based on clinical features that can be obtained in nonnocturnal and nonmedical environments.Patients and methodsThis study was conducted at Beijing Children's Hospital from April 2018 to October 2019. The participants in this study were 2464 children aged 3–18 suspected of having OSA who underwent clinical data collection and polysomnography(PSG). Participants’ data were randomly divided into a training set and a testing set at a ratio of 8:2. The elastic net algorithm was used for feature selection to simplify the model. Stratified 10-fold cross-validation was repeated five times to ensure the robustness of the results.ResultsFeature selection using Elastic Net resulted in 47 features for AHI ≥5 and 31 features for AHI ≥10 being retained. The machine learning model using these selected features achieved an average AUC of 0.73 for AHI ≥5 and 0.78 for AHI ≥10 when tested externally, outperforming models based on PSG questionnaire features. Linear Discriminant Analysis using the selected features identified OSA with a sensitivity of 44% and specificity of 90%, providing a feasible clinical alternative to PSG for stratifying OSA severity.ConclusionsThis study shows that a machine learning model based on children's clinical features effectively identifies OSA in children. Establishing a machine learning screening model based on the clinical features of the target population may be a feasible clinical alternative to nocturnal OSA sleep diagnosis.

Using arc-directed energy deposition (ADED) to manufacture parts with cross-structures is common in the aviation field. Inter-layer hammering with lower load demand has proved to be a promising technology to improve the microstructure and mechanical properties. At present, the residual stress (RS) evolution mechanism during inter-layer hammering hybrid ADED of the crosse-structures is not clear. In this study, a finite element model for inter-layer hammering hybrid ADED is developed to simulate two distinct hybrid manufacturing strategies for cross-structure: Alternating Inter-layer Hammering (AIH) and Complete Inter-layer Hammering (CIH). The accuracy of the hybrid model has been validated through assessments of thermal history, residual stress (RS), and warping. The hammering-introduced tensile plastic strain mitigates the compressive plastic strain caused by the cross-structure shrinkage during the deposition process and then reduces the tensile stress. The “Stress self-relief” helps to reduce the magnitude of stress under the CIH. Compared to the cross-structure manufactured by ADED alone, the stress at the cross-position is reduced to 79 Mpa and 39 Mpa under AIH and CIH strategies, respectively, from an initial 164 Mpa. Additionally, both of the two hammering strategies eliminate warping in the crosse-structure.

Background. Although the latest European and US guidelines recommend that early enteral nutrition (EN) be attempted in critically ill patients, there is still a lack of research on feeding strategies for patients after cardiac arrest (CA). Due to the unique pathophysiology following CA, it remains unknown whether evidence from other diseases can be applied in this condition. Objective. We aimed to explore the relationship between the timing of EN (within 48 hours or after 48 hours) and clinical outcomes and safety in CA. Method. From the MIMIC-IV (version 2.2) database, we conducted this retrospective cohort study. A 1 : 1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was also conducted to prevent potential interference from confounders. Moreover, adjusted proportional hazards model regression models were used to adjust for prehospital and hospitalization characteristics to verify the independence of the association between early EN initiation and patient outcomes. Results. Of the initial 1286 patients, 670 were equally assigned to the early EN or delayed EN group after PSM. Patients in the early EN group had improved survival outcomes than those in the delayed EN group within 30 days (HR = 0.779, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.611-0.994], p=0.041). Similar results were shown at 90 and 180 days. However, there was no significant difference in neurological outcome between the two groups at 30 days (51% vs. 57%, odds ratio [OR] = 0.786, 95% CI [0.580–1.066], p=0.070). Patients who underwent early EN had a lower risk of ileus than patients who underwent delayed EN (4% vs. 8%, OR = 0.461, 95% CI [0.233–0.909], p=0.016). Moreover, patients who underwent early EN had shorter hospital stays. Conclusion. Early EN could be associated with improved survival outcomes for patients after CA. Further studies are needed to verify it. However, at present, we might consider early EN to be a more suitable feeding strategy for CA.

IntroductionLigninolytic bacteria can secrete extracellular enzymes to depolymerize lignin into small-molecular aromatics that are subsequently metabolized and funneled into the TCA cycle. Carbohydrates, which are the preferred carbon sources of bacteria, influence the metabolism of lignin-derived aromatics through bacteria.MethodsIn this study, untargeted metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses were performed to investigate the effect of carbohydrates on lignin degradation mediated by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens MN-13, a strain with lignin-degrading activity that was isolated in our previous work.ResultsThe results demonstrated that the cell growth of the MN-13 strain and lignin removal were promoted when carbohydrates such as glucose and sodium carboxymethyl cellulose were added to an alkaline lignin-minimal salt medium (AL-MSM) culture. Metabolomics analysis showed that lignin depolymerization took place outside the cells, and the addition of glucose regulated the uptake and metabolism of lignin-derived monomers and activated the downstream metabolism process in cells. In the transcriptomics analysis, 299 DEGs were screened after 24 h of inoculation in AL-MSM with free glucose and 2 g/L glucose, respectively, accounting for 8.3% of the total amount of annotated genes. These DEGs were primarily assigned to 30 subcategories, including flagellar assembly, the PTS system, RNA degradation, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, the TCA cycle, pyruvate metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. These subcategories were closely associated with the cell structure, generation of cellular energy, and precursors for biosynthetic pathways, based on a − log 10 (P adjust) value in the KEGG pathway analysis.ConclusionIn summary, the addition of glucose increased lignin degradation mediated by the MN-13 strain through regulating glycolysis, TCA cycle, and central carbon metabolism.

Resource-transfer connections among bacteria, fungi, and microbivorous nematodes play an integral role in the decomposition pathways of soil micro-foodweb. Exploring the response of soil bacteria, fungi, and nematodes to grassland degradation is crucial for predicting the direction and trajectory of degradation. However, the knowledge about soil bacteria-fungi-nematode interactions in ecosystem function and nutrient cycling must be highlighted properly, especially in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Therefore, this study focuses on four alpine meadows at different degenerate gradients (non-degraded grassland, slightly degraded grassland, moderately degraded grassland, and severely degraded grassland) on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The investigation of soil bacteria-fungi-nematode interactions uses high-throughput sequencing and correlation network analysis. The results demonstrate significant variations in the composition of soil nematode genera, and bacterial and fungal phyla, across different degradation stages. Moreover, the diversity of nematodes, bacteria and fungi declined as grassland degradation worsened. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that alpine meadows with varying degradation gradients significantly influenced the community structure of bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. Mantel analysis indicated that soil water content (P

PurposeTo investigate the dynamic visual acuity (DVA) after implantation of toric bifocal or trifocal intraocular lens in age-related cataract patients.MethodsThis was a prospective randomized controlled trial. Of one hundred and twenty-four patients enrolled and randomized to receive unilateral phacoemulsification and toric trifocal (939 M/MP, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) or toric bifocal (909 M, Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) intraocular lenses (IOL) implantation, ninety-nine patients completed the follow-up and were included in final analysis. Postoperatively, uncorrected and corrected distance (UDVA and CDVA), intermediate (UIVA and DCIVA) and near (UNVA and DCNVA) static visual acuity, manifest refraction and uncorrected and corrected distance DVA (UDDVA and CDDVA) at 20, 40 and 80 degrees per second (dps) were evaluated at one week, one month and three months.ResultsThree months postoperatively, the UDVA were 0.13 ± 0.11 and 0.14 ± 0.13 in the toric trifocal and bifocal IOL group, respectively. Significant better UIVA (trifocal, 0.17 ± 0.13 vs. bifocal, 0.23 ± 0.13, p = 0.037) and DCIVA (trifocal, 0.16 ± 0.11 vs. bifocal, 0.20 ± 0.12, p = 0.048) were observed in patients implanting toric trifocal than bifocal IOL at three months postoperatively. Patients implanted with toric bifocal IOL obtained better CDDVA at 80 dps (0.5607 ± 0.2032) than the trifocal group (0.6573 ± 0.2450, p = 0.039) at three months. Postoperative UDDVA and CDDVA at 20, 40 and 80 dps were significantly associated with age (p

BackgroundCo-infection has been a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in previous influenza pandemics. However, the current influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus pandemic, as the first major outbreak following the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, may differ epidemiologically. Further investigation is necessary to understand the specific features and impact of this influenza A pandemic. Study design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a Chinese hospital between January and April 2023, focusing on patients with lower respiratory tract infections. Pathogen detection employed targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) or sputum samples.ResultsThis study enrolled 167 patients with lower respiratory tract infections, and the overall positivity rate detected through tNGS was around 80%. Among them, 40 patients had influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus infection, peaking in March. In these patients, 27.5% had sole infections, and 72.5% had co-infections, commonly with bacteria. The frequently detected pathogens were Aspergillus fumigatus, SARS-CoV-2, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. For non-influenza A virus-infected patients, the co-infection rate was 36.1%, with 42.3% having SARS-CoV-2. Patients with influenza A virus infection were younger, had more females and diabetes cases. Among them, those with sole infections were older, with less fever and asthma but more smoking history. Regarding prognosis, compared to sole influenza A virus infection, co-infected patients demonstrated higher 21-day recovery rates and a higher incidence of heart failure. However, they exhibited lower proportions of respiratory failure, acute kidney failure, septic shock, and hospital stays lasting more than 10 days. Interestingly, patients with non-influenza A virus infection had a significantly lower 21-day recovery rate. Correlation analysis indicated that the 21-day recovery rate was only associated with influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus.ConclusionDuring the current pandemic, the influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus may have been influenced by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and did not exhibit a strong pathogenicity. In fact, patients infected with influenza A virus showed better prognoses compared to those infected with other pathogens. Additionally, tNGS demonstrated excellent detection performance in this study and showed great potential, prompting clinical physicians to consider its use as an auxiliary diagnostic tool.

Background: The ability to predict how patient characteristics influence vulnerability for other potential health hazards would lead to more effective clinical preventions and better outcomes. In this study, we examined how gynecological malignancies and patient traits influence fall risk perception. Methods: Patients with gynecological cancers aged >18 years were surveyed using 5 tools: a predesigned questionnaire to collect general information (demographic characteristics and disease characteristics), the fall risk perception scale, the Morse fall risk assessment scale (Chinese), the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory, and a medical coping strategy questionnaire. Results: Fall risk perception among patients with gynecological malignancies was scored 16.51 ± 17.647 (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) by the fall risk perception survey and 11.28 ± 15.270 (mean ± SD) by the Morse fall risk assessment scale. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that additional comorbidities, specific personality traits, and coping methods are positively correlated with patient perception of fall risk (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients with gynecological cancers have low perceived risk to fall, which is decreased further in specific subgroupings of patients lacking other chronic comorbidities, with neurotic personality traits, and who exhibit avoidant or submissive coping methods. These subgroups are good candidates for additional education designed to raise awareness of falling risk. This methodology can be applied to study the relationships between patient traits and other health hazards.

Vaccines typically work by eliciting an immune response against larger antigens like polysaccharides or proteins. Small molecules like nicotine, on their own, usually cannot elicit a strong immune response. To overcome this, anti-nicotine vaccines often conjugate nicotine molecules to a carrier protein by carbodiimide crosslinking chemistry to make them polymeric and more immunogenic. The reaction is sensitive to conditions such as pH, temperature, and the concentration of reactants. Scaling up the reaction from laboratory to industrial scales while maintaining consistency and yield can be challenging. Despite various approaches, no licensed anti-nicotine vaccine has been approved so far due to the susboptimal antibody titers. Here, we report a novel approach to conjugate maleimide-modified nicotine hapten with a disulfide bond-reduced carrier protein in an organic solvent. It has two advantages compared with other approaches: (1) The protein was unfolded to make the peptide conformation more flexible and expose more conjugation sites; (2) thiol–maleimide “click” chemistry was utilized to conjugate the disulfide bond-reduced protein and maleimide-modified nicotine due to its availability, fast kinetics, and bio-orthogonality. Various nicotine conjugate vaccines were prepared via this strategy, and their immunology effects were investigated by using MPL and QS-21 as adjuvants. The in vivo study in mice showed that the nicotine–BSA conjugate vaccines induced high anti-nicotine IgG antibody titers, compared with vaccines prepared by using traditional condensation methods, indicating the success of the current strategy for further anti-nicotine or other small-molecule vaccine studies. The enhancement was more significant by using MPL and QS-21 than that of traditional aluminum adjuvants.

Laser deposition manufacturing (LDM) has drawn unprecedented attention for its advantages in manufacturing large-scale and complex metal components. During the process of LDM, a large thermal gradient is generated due to thermal cycling and heat accumulation. As a result, large residual stress and deformation are formed in the LDM metal components. Then, the dimensional accuracy of the metal components becomes poor. To achieve deformation control and increase dimensional accuracy, the deformation prediction of metal components is very meaningful and directional. However, the traditional thermoelastic–plastic method can only achieve deformation prediction for small-scale LDM metal components. Because of the low computational efficiency, it is extremely difficult to meet deformation prediction demand for large-scale metal components. Based on feature partitioning and the inherent strain method, a rapid deformation prediction method is proposed for large-scale metal components in this manuscript. Firstly, to solve the problem of poor consistency of formation quality due to the randomness of the partition process, the partitioning process was established according to typical geometric features. Secondly, the inherent strain values for different partitions were obtained by considering the effects of the extraction method, mesh size, equivalent value layer, and partition size on the inherent strain values. Then, using the inherent strain method, the deformation of large-scale components was predicted rapidly. Comparing the simulation results with the experimental results, the following conclusions were obtained. The deformation predicted by the method proposed in this manuscript is consistent with the deformations predicted using the traditional thermoelastic–plastic method and the experimental method. Significantly, applying the method proposed in this manuscript to predict the deformation of LDM metal components, computational efficiency is improved by 27.25 times compared with results using the conventional thermoelastic–plastic method.

Abstract Aim To explore factors associated with decision regret after cystectomy among Chinese bladder cancer patients. Methods This cross‐sectional study involved 112 patients, who had received radical bladder cancer resection. Participants were recruited from August 2021 until January 2022. The decision regret scale (DRS), decision conflict scale (DCS), and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Bladder cancer (FACT‐BL) form were used to measure decision regret, decision conflict, and quality of life. Investigator‐designed items further explored perceptions involved in decision‐making participation and outcomes. Results The average score for decision regret was 26.21 (SD 15.886), while decision conflict was 20.27 (SD 13.375) and quality of life was 94.74 (SD 20.873). 57.1% of our participants had a little knowledge about the quality of life of patients who chose an alternate urinary diversion method; however, only 13.4% reported having a clear understanding. In addition, 8.9%, 26.8%, and 36.6% thought that quality of life related to alternate decisions was poor, average, or good, respectively. Multiple regression analysis suggested that decision regret is associated with decision conflict, quality of life, and the perceptions that others (who took alternate urinary diversion decisions) had a better quality of life. Conclusion Decision regret is common among Chinese bladder cancer patients, after cystectomy. The prevalence of regret appears to be much higher in Chinese bladder cancer patients compared to similar studies from other regions. Decisions in mainland China are often made by the treating physician or by family members which may cause more profound regret. However, education and economic status are positively related to higher levels of regret which creates questions around knowing, participation, and expectations, which must be explored.

Abstract Background Defect in proofreading exonuclease activity of polymerases epsilon and delta (Pols ε and δ) leads to mutagenesis and genomic instability and has been described in several cancer types. Somatic POLE exonuclease domain mutations (EDMs) have been reported in 7–12% endometrial cancers (ECs) and defined a subgroup of endometrial cancers with ultrahigh somatic mutation frequencies, high tumor infiltrated lymphocytes and favorable outcomes. Case presentation Herein, we presented a novel somatic mutation in POLE exonuclease domain associated with ultra-mutational signature and MMR deficiency in endometrial cancer. A novel POLE EDM (p.T278K) was found by a 11-gene NGS panel. The MSS status detected by the MSI test was inconsistent with the dMMR status by IHC. The loss of MSH6 expression in the tumor could be interpreted by the two nonsense mutations (p.E1234* and p.E1322*) of the MSH6 gene which may lead to truncated proteins. The T278K mutation was pathogenic identified by a 602-gene NGS panel with 27.3% of C > A substitution, 0.6% of indels, 0.6% of C > G substitution and a high TMB of 203.8 mut/Mb. Conclusions We report an endometrial cancer patient harbored a novel somatic POLE T278K mutation. This mutation was a novel pathogenic POLE EDM should be considered as “POLE (ultramutated)” in clinical practice for the molecular classification of EC.

Abstract Background The aim was to compare the diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) indices derived from human hearts between 1.5 T and 3.0 T scanners. Additionally, the reproducibility of DTI indices was assessed between 1.5 T and 3.0 T scanners. Methods A total of 18 ex-vivo hearts were derived from patients who underwent heart transplantation. The DTI schemes were performed at 1.5 T and 3.0 T, respectively. Then, the same slices from each ex-vivo heart were selected for image analysis. The student’s t-test or Wilcoxon-rank test was used to compare the statistical differences. The agreement of DTI indices was mainly reported as the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results No significant differences (all P > 0.05) were found in the DTI indices between 1.5 T and 3.0 T scanners. Interestingly, the ICC of all DTI indices was relatively lower with a low b-value. The reproducibility of the helix angle (HA) was relatively lower when compared to the other DTI indices. Conclusion The DTI indices of ex-vivo human hearts between 1.5 T and 3.0 T scanners had no significant differences. The consistency of DTI indices needed caution using a low b-value with different field strengths, and the relatively low reproducibility of HA should be considered.

Objective: To study the factors associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in emergency department (ED) nurses. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in female ED nurses in China. Data gathering questionnaires included the Daily Record of Severity of Problems, Chinese Nurses Stressor Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale. All questionnaires were used to assess the symptoms prospectively over 2 months. Results: A total of 289 ED nurses were recruited. The incidence of PMS was 67.47%. The most common symptoms were tiredness (76.90%), anger (76.90%), restlessness (75.40%), snoring (69.20%). Univariate analysis showed that the BMI and occupational stress score was significantly higher, and the age was significantly younger in the PMS group compared with the non-PMS group. According to the multiple linear regression, the symptoms of PMS were positively associated with the occupational stress score and anxiety score, and negatively with the level of education received. Conclusions: occupational stress, anxiety, and education level may associated with the occurrence of PMS in ED nurses.

Abstract Background: The effectiveness of online classes is always a concern, and it can be overcome by opting for active learning strategies like team-based learning (TBL). This study was conducted to find out the effectiveness of online TBL as an active learning strategy. We also aimed to explore the satisfaction and perception of students toward TBL. Methods: This is a mixed-method study conducted among 29 third-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students of Gandaki Medical College using purposive sampling method in the duration of January to September 2021. Three two hours online TBL sessions were used for teaching introduction to medical ethics. The individual readiness assurance test (IRAT) scores were compared to the group readiness assurance test (GRAT) scores to evaluate the effect of TBL through cooperative learning. Learner reactions and satisfaction of students towards TBL were assessed using a validated questionnaire comprising of a five-point Likert scale. An open-ended question asking the participants to describe their overall experience of the TBL sessions was also included to explore their perceptions towards TBL. The data were collected using Google form and exported to Microsoft Excel and the quantitative data were then analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0. To check the normal distribution of the data, Kolmogorov Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk test were used. Non-parametric tests were used for the non-normally distributed data. P value of

Characterizing the photosynthetic capacity of grassland is essential for exploring the carbon cycle under climate change. However, little research has been conducted to date on photosynthetic accumulation per leaf area (NPP/LAI) in spatial and temporal terms, especially on how they respond to climate change. Hence, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns of NPP/LAI based on MODIS products, explored the partial correlation of NPP/LAI with climatic factors for the annual and growing season, and quantified the time lag effects of climatic factors on NPP/LAI for seasonal in alpine grassland ecosystems at the source of the Yellow River Basin. The results indicated that NPP, LAI, and NPP/LAI of growing season increased in the study area between 2000 and 2021 whiles annual NPP/LAI decreased. At the same time, the spatial distribution of the multiannual mean values of precipitation and temperature approximately reversed and gradually increased on the time scale. The annual NPP/LAI for each grassland type gradually decreased between 2000 and 2021, with the mean of the growing season in NPP/LAI ranging from montane meadows (12.595 g C·m–2) > swamps (11.859 g C·m–2) > alpine meadows (11.718 g C·m–2) > temperate steppes (10.994 g C·m–2). It is also interesting to note that the mean values for montane meadows and alpine meadows were slightly higher in summer than in autumn, while the opposite was true for temperate steppes and swamps. Regarding the effects of climate, the response of NPP/LAI to temperature and precipitation varied among grassland types on an annual and seasonal basis. In addition, the seasonal lag effect of climate factors showed that the overall degree of effect of winter temperature on NPP/LAI in subsequent seasons increased as the seasonal interval progressed, while the opposite was true for precipitation, meaning that temperature affected NPP/LAI over a longer period compared to precipitation. Moreover, the seasonal time lag effects of climatic factors in different grassland types had varying degrees of influence on NPP/LAI, with the NPP/LAI of montane meadows and alpine grasslands being more closely related to climatic factors than those of temperate steppes and swamps. This study provides a basis for effective monitoring of photosynthetic capacity dynamics and helps develop policies to cope with climate change in alpine grasslands.

In the present study, different intensities of UV-A were applied to compare their effects on growth, bioactive compounds and hypoglycemia-related enzyme activities in broccoli and radish sprouts. The growth of sprouts was decreased after UV-A irradiation. A total of 12 W of UV-A irradiation resulted in the highest content of anthocyanin, chlorophyll, polyphenol and ascorbic acid in broccoli and radish sprouts. The highest soluble sugar content was recorded in sprouts under 8 W of UV-A irradiation, while no significant difference was obtained in soluble protein content among different UV-A intensities. Furthermore, 12 W of UV-A irradiation induced the highest glucosinolate accumulation, especially glucoraphanin and glucoraphenin in broccoli and radish sprouts, respectively; thus, it enhanced sulforaphane and sulforaphene formation. The α-amylase, α-glucosidase and pancrelipase inhibitory rates of two kinds of sprouts were enhanced significantly after UV-A irradiation, indicating UV-A-irradiation-treated broccoli and radish sprouts have new prospects as hypoglycemic functional foods.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a dose-limiting painful neuropathy that occurs commonly during cancer management, which often leads to the discontinuation of medication. Previous studies suggest that the α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR)-specific antagonist αO-conotoxin GeXIVA[1,2] is effective in CIPN models; however, the related mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we analyzed the preventive effect of GeXIVA[1,2] on neuropathic pain in the long-term oxaliplatin injection-induced CIPN model. At the end of treatment, lumbar (L4-L6) spinal cord was extracted, and RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analysis were performed to investigate the potential genes and pathways related to CIPN and GeXIVA[1,2]. GeXIVA[1,2] inhibited the development of mechanical allodynia induced by chronic oxaliplatin treatment. Repeated injections of GeXIVA[1,2] for 3 weeks had no effect on the mice’s normal pain threshold or locomotor activity and anxiety-like behavior, as evaluated in the open field test (OFT) and elevated plus maze (EPM). Our RNA sequencing results identified 209 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the CIPN model, and simultaneously injecting GeXIVA[1,2] with oxaliplatin altered 53 of the identified DEGs. These reverted genes were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways represented by the cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction pathway. Our findings suggest that GeXIVA[1,2] could be a potential therapeutic compound for chronic oxaliplatin-induced CIPN management.

Sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) are master transcription factors that play a crucial role in regulating genes involved in the biogenesis of cholesterol, fatty acids, and triglycerides. As such, they are implicated in several serious liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). SREBPs are subject to regulation by multiple cofactors and critical signaling pathways, making them an important target for therapeutic interventions. In this review, we first introduce the structure and activation of SREBPs, before focusing on their function in liver disease. We examine the mechanisms by which SREBPs regulate lipogenesis, explore how alterations in these processes are associated with liver disease, and evaluate potential therapeutic strategies using small molecules, natural products, or herb extracts that target these pathways. Through this analysis, we provide new insights into the versatility and multitargets of SREBPs as factors in the modulation of different physiological stages of liver disease, highlighting their potential targets for therapeutic treatment.

Abstract Aims The cardiac injury and sequelae of Delta Variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remain unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of cardiac involvement in patients recovering from Delta Variant of COVID‐19 based on multi‐parametric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods and results We prospectively assessed patients recovering from Delta Variant of COVID‐19 using multi‐parametric cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between June 2021 and July 2021. Comparison was made with 25 healthy controls. Forty‐four patients (median age 51 years, 28 women) recovering from Delta Variant were recruited and had a median time of 35 days between diagnosis and cardiac MRI. There were no patients with chest pain (0/44, 0%) and high sensitivity cardiac troponin T troponin elevation (median levels 2.20 pg/mL, IQR levels 0.85–4.40 pg/mL). Regarding the cardiac imaging findings, a total of 14 (32%) patients presented cardiac tissue feature abnormalities, and a total of 9 (20%) patients had a myocarditis‐like injury based on cardiac MRI 2018 Lake Louise criteria. When we further assessed the T1 and T2 mapping values for of patients' individual, abnormal raised global native T1, T2, and extracellular volume were seen in 6 (14%), 6 (14%), and 4 (9%) patients, respectively. Comparing with controls, the patients had lower LV global longitudinal strain and (−22.2 ± 2.8% vs. −24.6 ± 2.0%, P

Background: Urinary catheterization after vaginal prolapse surgery can cause inconvenience for patients, elevate the risk of urinary tract infections, and potentially prolong the hospitalization. In China, there is no consensus on the optimal time to remove the urinary catheter after vaginal prolapse surgery. Thus, it will be valuable to gain insight into the nationwide catheterization management after the vaginal prolapse surgery. Methods: From March to May 2020, an online questionnaire was shared and purposive non-probabilistic sampling was used to recruit the participants. The urogynecologists currently performing vaginal prolapse surgery and involved nurses were included in this study. Results: 1363 urogynecologists and 436 nurses responded and 99.5% of them reported using transurethral indwelling catheters (TIC) for post-operative bladder drainage in their practices. The duration of initial catheterization after vaginal prolapse surgery was generally 1–7 days, with a median duration of 3 days for anterior colporrhaphy (AC) and anterior & posterior colporrhaphy (APC), and 2 days for other procedures. For the same type of surgery, the median duration of catheterization varied by region. For AC, it was shorter by 1 day in West China and South China (P ​

With the deepening and expansion of semiconductor technology and research, in order to continuously optimize the structure and performance of semiconductor detectors, a high-precision hexagonal spiral silicon drift detector (SDD) is proposed in this paper. In order to obtain a more accurate spiral ring structure, this paper goes beyond the first-order formula in the Taylor expansion for calculating the radius of the spiral ring. Based on the first-order formula, the second-order formula for calculating the radius of the spiral ring is further developed and derived. The point coordinates are obtained by combining the radius, angle, and ring spacing change formula to obtain a more accurate spiral ring structure. The actual number of turns is more accurate than that obtained from first-order approximation, which better solves the problem of accurate calculation of the number of spiral rings and the structure of the spiral SDD in the existing technology, that is, the accurate calculation of the radius of the spiral ring. In order to verify the abovementioned theory, we model this new structure and use Technology Computer-Aided Design to system simulate and study its electrical properties, including potential distribution, electric field distribution, and electron concentration distribution. According to the simulation results, compared with the first-order formula, the second-order formula has better electrical properties; more uniform distribution of potential, electric field, and electron concentration; and a clearer electron drift channel.