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Quantifying planting layouts during the seedling stage of mung beans (Vigna radiata L.) is crucial for assessing cultivation conditions and providing support for precise management. Traditional information extraction methods are often hindered by engineering workloads, time consumption, and labor costs. Applying deep-learning technologies for information extraction reduces these burdens and yields precise and reliable results, enabling a visual analysis of seedling distribution. In this work, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was employed to capture visible light images of mung bean seedlings in a field across three height gradients of 2 m, 5 m, and 7 m following a time series approach. To improve detection accuracy, a small target detection layer (p2) was integrated into the YOLOv8-obb model, facilitating the identification of mung bean seedlings. Image detection performance and seedling information were analyzed considering various dates, heights, and resolutions, and the K-means algorithm was utilized to cluster feature points and extract row information. Linear fitting was performed via the least squares method to calculate planting layout parameters. The results indicated that on the 13th day post seeding, a 2640 × 1978 image captured at 7 m above ground level exhibited optimal detection performance. Compared with YOLOv8, YOLOv8-obb, YOLOv9, and YOLOv10, the YOLOv8-obb-p2 model improved precision by 1.6%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 2%, respectively, and F1 scores improved by 2.8%, 0.5%, 0.5%, and 3%, respectively. This model extracts precise information, providing reliable data for quantifying planting layout parameters. These findings can be utilized for rapid and large-scale assessments of mung bean seedling growth and development, providing theoretical and technical support for seedling counting and planting layouts in hole-seeded crops.

Abstract Background Cryptosporidium spp. are common protozoa causing diarrhea in humans and animals. There are currently only one FDA-approved drug and no vaccines for cryptosporidiosis, largely due to the limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in the invasion of the pathogens. Previous studies have shown that GP60, which is cleaved into GP40 and GP15 after expression, is an immunodominant mucin protein involved in the invasion of Cryptosporidium. The protein is highly O-glycosylated, and recombinant proteins expressed in prokaryotic systems are non-functional. Therefore, few studies have investigated the function of GP40 and GP15. Methods To obtain recombinant GP40 with correct post-translational modifications, we used CRISPR/Cas9 technology to insert GP40 and GP15 into the UPRT locus of Toxoplasma gondii, allowing heterologous expression of Cryptosporidium proteins. In addition, the Twin-Strep tag was inserted after GP40 for efficient purification of GP40. Results Western blotting and immunofluorescent microscopic analyses both indicated that GP40 and GP15 were stably expressed in T. gondii mutants. GP40 localized not only in the cytoplasm of tachyzoites but also in the parasitophorous vacuoles, while GP15 without the GPI anchor was expressed only in the cytoplasm. In addition, a large amount of recTgGP40 was purified using Strep-TactinXT supported by a visible band of ~ 50 kDa in SDS-PAGE. Conclusions The establishment of a robust and efficient heterologous expression system of GP40 in T. gondii represents a novel approach and concept for investigating Cryptosporidium mucins, overcoming the limitations of previous studies that relied on unstable transient transfection, which involved complex steps and high costs. Graphical Abstract

The recent global concerns over environmental degradation spark interest in sustainable financial mechanisms, with momentum behind environmentally-friendly financing initiatives growing as a potential solution to ecological sustainability. This study analyzes asymmetric green finance-ecological footprint nexus in ten leading European nations with substantial investments in green finance. Previous investigations explored this relationship using panel data analysis, although few economies could not show such a relation separately. In contrast, this investigation employs the “Quantile-on-Quantile” technique, which dissects the interaction of time series data within every nation. The findings demonstrate a negative impact of green finance on ecological footprint, particularly within specific segments of the data distribution. The findings highlight the imperative for policymakers to exercise careful consideration while implementing policies related to green finance and ecological sustainability. Targeted regulatory frameworks, incentivization strategies for sustainable investments, and promoting eco-conscious financial products could be critical aspects to consider within the policy framework.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer replacing part of the nitrogen fertilizers on the structure and diversity of the inter-root soil fungal communities of potatoes. By carrying out a field trial in Gaoquan Village, Tuanjie Town, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, the main potato-producing area in China, the optimal proportion of organic fertilizer to replace nitrogen fertilizer was determined to provide a scientific basis for the rational use of organic fertilizer to improve the structure and function of soil fungal communities. The experiment was laid out with six treatments: CK (no nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate and potash fertilizer applied), CF (nitrogen fertilizer alone, control), T1 (25% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer), T2 (50% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer), T3 (75% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer), and T4 (100% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer). A systematic study of the inter-root soil fungal community structure, diversity, and soil physicochemical properties during potato harvesting was conducted using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results show that the organic fertilizer replacing part of the nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased the content of alkaline dissolved nitrogen, quick-acting potassium, quick-acting phosphorus, and organic matter in the inter-root soil of the potatoes, and significantly reduced the pH value of the soil. There was a trend of decreasing soil fungal abundance and a significant decrease in the Alpha diversity of the soil fungi. The treatment groups in the soil had as their core fungi Acomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and others. The organic fertilizers replacing the nitrogen fertilizers significantly altered the structural composition of the inter-root soil fungal community of the potatoes, and increased the differential fungi in the soil. The number of functionally diverse and complex fungi in the soil gradually increased, and the function of the fungal community gradually changed from Singularity to diversification and complexity. A redundancy analysis showed that the soil pH was the main environmental factor affecting the inter-root soil fungal communities of potatoes under organic fertilizer replacing N fertilizer.

ObjectiveTo investigate the interaction between atosiban and growth hormone (GH) as adjuvants in frozen-thawed embryo transfer (FET) cyclesMethodA total of 11627 patients who underwent FET at Xiamen University Affiliated Chenggong Hospital between January 2018 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 482 patients received atosiban and 275 patients received GH. The interactions were estimated by comparing the odds ratio (OR) for pregnancy comparing patients with or without atosiban adjuvant in cohorts stratified according to the presence of GH use in either the overall cohort or a propensity score (PS) matched cohort. An interaction term (atosiban × GH) was introduced to a multivariate model to calculate the ratio of OR (ORR) adjusted for confounders.ResultsFor all patients receiving atosiban administration, no obvious effect on pregnancy was observed in comparison with either matched or unmatched controls. However, when the patients were stratified according to GH administration, atosiban showed a significant association with clinical pregnancy in comparison with either matched or unmatched controls among patients with GH treatment with rate ratios (RR) of 1.32 (95%CI: 1.05,1.67) and 1.35 (95%CI: 1,1.82), respectively. On the other hand, however, the association was absent among patients without GH treatment. The adjusted ORRs in both matched and unmatched cohorts were 2.44 (95%CI: 1.07,5.84) and 1.95 (95%CI: 1.05, 3.49) respectively.ConclusionThe combination use of atosiban and GH in FET cycles is potentially beneficial to the pregnancy. However, indications for the use of atosiban and GH may need further assessment.

Abstract Chromosome rearrangements play an important role in the speciation of plants and animals, and the recognition of chromosome rearrangement patterns is helpful to elucidate the mechanism of species differentiation at the chromosome level. However, the existing chromosome rearrangement recognition methods have some major limitations, such as low quality, barriers to parental selection, and inability to identify specific rearrangement patterns. Based on the whole genome protein sequences, we constructed the combined figure according to the slope of the collinear fragment, the number of homologous genes, the coordinates in the top left and bottom right of the collinear fragment. The standardized combination figure is compared with the four standard pattern figures, and then combined with the information entropy analysis strategy to automatically classify the chromosome images and identify the chromosome rearrangement pattern. This paper proposes an automatic karyotype analysis method EntroCR (intelligent recognition method of chromosome rearrangement based on information entropy), which integrates rearrangement pattern recognition, result recommendation and related chromosome determination, so as to infer the evolution process of ancestral chromosomes to the existing chromosomes. Validation experiments were conducted using whole-genome data of Gossypium raimondii and Gossypium arboreum, Oryza sativa and Sorghum bicolor. The conclusions were consistent with previous results. EntroCR provides a reference for researchers in species evolution and molecular marker assisted breeding as well as new methods for analyzing karyotype evolution in other species.

Abstract The embryo transfer depth may affect the chance of pregnancy. However, embryo dislodging caused by uterine contraction may occur after the transfer. The aim of the retrospective study was to investigate whether the factors associated with uterine contractilities, such as endometrial thickness and progesterone elevation, affect the association between transfer depth and implantation. A total of 7849 fresh transfer cycles on conventional stimulation in a single in vitro fertilization (IVF) center during the period 2013–2015 was reviewed. Patients were categorized according to quartiles of embryo transfer depth (≤ 9 mm, n = 1735, 9.1–11 mm, n = 2557, 11.1–14 mm, n = 1933, ≥ 1.4 mm, n = 1624, respectively). Adjusted for confounding factors, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% confidence interval, CI) for clinical pregnancy was 0.90 (0.79–1.02), 0.86 (0.74–0.99), and 0.70 (0.60–0.82) respectively in quartiles 2 through 4, comparing with quartile 1. However, the aORs were significantly increased when the endometrial thickness was

Objective To investigate whether dexmedetomidine (Dex) can reduce the severity of tourniquet-induced lung injury. Methods 36 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty with a tourniquet were randomly assigned to the control (ischemia/reperfusion [I/R]) group and Dex group. Patients in the Dex group received a loading dose of Dex (0.8 μg/kg over 10 min intravenously) followed by continuous infusion of Dex (0.5 μg/kg/h intravenously) until the end of the surgery. The I/R group received an equal amount of 0.9% saline instead of Dex. The serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), Clara cell protein (CC-16), soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured and arterial blood gas analysis was performed before anesthesia and 30 min, 6 h, and 24 h after tourniquet release. Results In the I/R group, compared with baseline, the TNF-α, CC-16, and sRAGE concentrations were higher ( p < 0.05) and the BDNF concentration was lower ( p < 0.05) at most time points. In the Dex group, the TNF-α, CC-16, and sRAGE concentrations were lower than those in the I/R group ( p < 0.05), whereas the concentration of BDNF was higher ( p < 0.05). In the arterial blood gas analysis, the Dex group showed a significantly higher partial pressure of oxygen and arterial/alveolar oxygen tension ratio ( p < 0.05) and a significantly lower alveolar/arterial oxygen tension difference than the I/R group ( p < 0.05). Conclusion Dex administration partly inhibits the release of proinflammatory cytokines, affording protection against tourniquet-induced lung injury.

As an important step in image processing, image segmentation can be used to determine the accuracy of object counts, and area and contour data. In addition, image segmentation is indispensable in seed testing research. Due to the uneven grey level of the original image, traditional watershed algorithms generate many incorrect edges, resulting in oversegmentation and undersegmentation, which affects the accuracy of obtaining seed phenotype information. The DMR-watershed algorithm, an improved watershed algorithm based on distance map reconstruction, is proposed in this paper. According to the grey distribution characteristics of the image, the grey reduction amplitude h was selected to generate the mask image with the same grey distribution trend as that of the original image. The original greyscale map was reconstructed with corresponding thresholds selected according to the false minima of different regions that are to be segmented, which generates an accurate distance map that eliminates the wrong edges. An adzuki bean (Vigna angularis L.) image was selected as the experimental material and the residual rate of the segmentation counting results of each algorithm was investigated in two cases of two-particle adhesion and multiparticle adhesion. The results of the proposed algorithm were compared with those of the traditional watershed algorithm, edge detection algorithm and concave point analysis algorithm which are commonly used for seed segmentation. In the case of two-particle adhesion, the residual rates of the watershed algorithm and edge detection algorithm were 0.233 and 0.275, respectively, while the residual rate of the concave point analysis algorithm was 0 which proved to be suitable for two-particle adhesion. In the case of multiparticle adhesion, the concave point analysis algorithm was not applicable because it would destroy the seed image. The residual rates of the watershed algorithm and edge detection algorithm were 0.063 and 0.188, respectively, while the residual rate of the proposed algorithm in the two-particle adhesion cases was 0 and the counting accuracy reached 100%, which proved the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The algorithm in this paper significantly improves the accuracy of image segmentation of adherent seeds, and provides a new reference for image segmentation processing in seed testing.

Abstract Background While single embryo transfer (SET) is widely advocated, double embryo transfer (DET) remains preferable in clinical practice to improve IVF success rate, especially in poor prognosis patients with only poor quality embryos (PQEs) available in addition to one or no good quality embryos (GQEs). Furthermore, previous studies suggest PQE might adversely affect the implantation of a GQE when transferred together. This study aims to evaluate the effect of transferring an additional PQE with a GQE on the outcomes in poor prognosis patients. Methods A total of 5037 frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT) cycles between January 2012 and May 2019 were included. Propensity score matching was applied to control for potential confounders, and we used generalized estimating equations (GEE) models to identify the association between the effect of an additional PQE and the outcomes. Results Overall, transferring a PQE with GQE (Group GP) achieved significantly higher pregnancy rate (PR), live birth rate (LBR) and multiple pregnancy rate (MPR) than GQE only (group G). The addition of a PQE increased LBR in patients aged 35 and over and in patients who received over 3 cycles of embryo transfer (ET) (48.1% vs 27.2%, OR:2.56, 95% CI: 1.3–5.03 and 46.6% vs 35.4%, OR:1.6, 95% CI: 1.09–2.35), but not in women under 35 and in women who received less than 3 cycles of ET (48.7% vs 43.9%, OR:1.22, 95% CI: 0.93–1.59 and 48.3% vs 41.4%, OR:1.33, 95% CI: 0.96–1.85). Group GP resulted in significantly higher MPR than group G irrespective of age and the number of previous IVF cycles. Conclusions An additional PQE does not negatively affect the implantation potential of the co-transferred GQE. Nevertheless, the addition of a PQE contributes to both live birth and multiple birth in poor prognosis patients. Physicians should still balance the benefits and risks of DET.

Background We aimed to obtain a set of health state utility scores of patients with esophageal cancer (EC) and precancerous lesions in China, and to explore the influencing factors of health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods A hospital‐based multicenter cross‐sectional study was conducted. From 2013 to 2014, patients with EC or precancerous lesions were enrolled. HRQoL was assessed using a European quality of life‐5 dimension (EQ‐5D‐3L) instrument. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to explore the influencing factors of the EQ‐5D utility scores. Results A total of 2090 EC patients and 156 precancer patients were included in the study. The dimension of pain/discomfort had the highest rate of self‐reported problems, 60.5% in EC and 51.3% in precancer patients. The mean visual analog scale (VAS) score for EC and precancer patients were 68.4 ± 0.7 and 64.5 ± 3.1, respectively. The EQ‐5D utility scores for EC and precancer patients were estimated as 0.748 ± 0.009 and 0.852 ± 0.022, and the scores of EC at stage I, stage II, stage III, and stage IV were 0.693 ± 0.031, 0.747 ± 0.014, 0.762 ± 0.015, and 0.750 ± 0.023, respectively. According to the multivariable analyses, the factors of region, occupation, household income in 2012, health care insurance type, pathological type, type of therapy, and time points of the survey were statistically associated with the EQ‐5D utility scores of EC patients. Conclusions There were remarkable decrements of utility scores among esophageal cancer patients, compared with precancer patients. The specific utility scores of EC would support further cost‐utility analysis in populations in China.

Abstract Background To study the kinetic profile and clinicopathological implications of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) in cervical cancer patients who underwent surgery by a self-developed SCC-Ag single molecule assay (Simoa) prototype immunoassay. Methods Participants were prospectively enrolled between 04/2016 and 06/2017. Consecutive serum samples were collected at five points: day 0 (the day before surgery), postoperative day 4, weeks 2–4, months 2–4 and months 5–7. In total, 92 patients and 352 samples were included. The kinetic change in SCC-Ag levels and their associations with clinicopathological characteristics were studied. Results Simoa SCC-Ag was validated by comparison with the Architect assay. SCC-Ag levels measured by the Simoa assay were highly correlated with the Architect assay’s levels (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.979, Passing-Bablok regression slope 0.894 (0.847 to 0.949), intercept − 0.009 (− 0.047 to 0.027)). The median values for each time-point detected by the Simoa assay were 2.49, 0.66, 0.61, 0.72, and 0.71 ng/mL, respectively. The SCC-Ag levels decreased dramatically after surgery and then stabilized and fluctuated to some extent within 6 months. Patients with certain risk factors had significantly higher SCC-Ag values than their negative counterparts before surgery and at earlier time points after surgery, while no difference existed at the end of observation. Furthermore, although patients with positive lymph nodes had sustained higher SCC-Ag levels compared to those with negative lymph nodes, similar kinetic patterns of SCC-Ag levels were observed after surgery. Patients who received postoperative treatment had significantly higher SCC-Ag values than those with surgery only at diagnosis, while no difference existed after treatment. Conclusions The Simoa SCC-Ag prototype was established for clinical settings. The SCC-Ag levels were higher in patients with risk factors, whereas the kinetic trend of SCC-Ag might be mainly affected by postoperative adjuvant therapy. These data indicate that the SCC-Ag level might be a good predictor for the status of cervical cancer, including disease aggressiveness and treatment response.

The authors show an important role for iron in B cell proliferation via histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) demethylation at the cyclin E1 promoter. Using a measles vaccination murine model, they show that iron-deficient individuals have a significantly reduced antibody response to the vaccine when compared to iron-normal controls.

Objectives: The pathogenesis of Graves’ disease (GD) remains unclear. In terms of environmental factors, GD development may be associated with chronic inflammation caused by alteration of the intestinal flora. This study explored the association of intestinal flora alteration with the development of GD among the Han population in southwest China. Design and methods: Fifteen GD patients at the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical College between March 2016 and March 2017 were randomly enrolled. Additionally, 15 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers were selected as the control group during the same period. Fresh stool samples were collected, and bacterial 16S RNA was extracted and amplified for gene sequencing with the Illumina MiSeq platform. The sequencing results were subjected to operational taxonomic unit-based classification, classification verification, alpha diversity analysis, taxonomic composition analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Results: The diversity indices for the GD group were lower than those for the control group. The GD group showed significantly higher abundances of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacillus and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio than the control group. PLS-DA suggested the satisfactory classification of the flora between the GD group and the control group. The abundances of the genera Oribacterium, Mogibacterium, Lactobacillus, Aggregatibacter and Mogibacterium were significantly higher in the GD group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The intestinal flora of GD patients was significantly different from that of the healthy population. Thus, alteration of intestinal flora may be associated with the development of GD.

In this study, a novel hexagonal-YFeO3 (abbreviated as h-YFeO3) nanomaterial with stable room temperature ferromagnetic properties was synthesized by a two-step self-assembly approach. This nanomaterial with three-dimensional (abbreviated as 3D) frame architecture is homogeneously assembled by h-YFeO3 nanocrystalline with a diameter around 10–20 ​nm. As the annealing temperature rose from 823 ​K to 923 ​K, the structure of YFeO3 transformed from amorphous phase to P63/mmc hexagonal crystal type during the self-assembly process due to the combustion of urea, while P63cm type crystal generated at 873 ​K. The magnetic hysteresis loops recorded by vibrating sample magnetometry at 273–303 ​K, which displayed a transition from antiferromagnetic (paramagnetic) to ferromagnetic order. This ferromagnetic behavior related to the violation in inversion symmetry of hexagonal YFeO3 structure, causing by a greater distortion in nanocrystal boundary of perovskite-like structure and an increase in asymmetric covalent Y–O bonding. The ferromagnetic properties of h-YFeO3 3D nanomaterial were tested and found to be stable at room temperature (273 ​K–303 ​K), with maximum magnetization (Mm) value of h-YFeO3 3D nanomaterial reaching 2.6 ​A ​m2/g, 11 times higher than YFeO3 nanoparticle (20–50 ​nm). In sum, these findings look promising for future large-scale production of the advanced and inexpensive ferromagnetic perovskite-structure materials at room temperature as well as in magnetic application.

Guided by social learning theory and general aggression model, this work aims to explore the impact of childhood psychological abuse on cyberbullying perpetration attitudes of college students and the mediating role of moral personality. Using stratified cluster random sampling method, 527 college students were tested by using the Childhood Psychological Abuse Scale, Moral Personality Adjective Evaluation Questionnaire for college students, and the revised Chinese version of Cyberbullying Attitude Questionnaire. Results: (1) Childhood psychological abuse was significantly positively correlated with cyberbullying perpetration attitudes and showed a significant negative correlation with positive moral personality traits. (2) Positive moral personality traits had a significant negative correlation with cyberbullying perpetration attitudes. (3) Positive moral personality traits had a significant mediating effect between childhood psychological abuse and cyberbullying attitudes of college students. The mediating effect accounted for 11.11% of the total effect.

Rare-earth is an efficient refiner for surface modification of steel material. This study presents the synergistic influence of Y2O3 nanoparticles (YNPs) and Mn-oxide secondary phase on the microstructure and mechanical properties of 14CrSiMnV coating fabricated by plasma transfer arc cladding process. The results indicated that the residual Y accumulated with Mn, forming a secondary phase oxide particle instead of inclusions or slags during rapid cooling solidification of the coating. Due to enlarged equiaxed grains, declining long-range dendritic grains, and secondary phase strengthening, steel coatings present hybrid-type fracture mechanism, less plastic deformation, and third-body interaction. With an optimal addition of YNPs (0.4 wt.%), the mechanical properties of the steel coating are improved, as indicated by the increase of 92.0% in the tensile strength, increase of 55.6% in the elongation, increase of 11.3% in the microhardness, decrease of 22.2% in wear weight loss, and increase of 28.3% in relative wear resistance.

Based on Social Learning Theory and the General Aggression Model, this study aims to explore the relationship between parental emotional warmth and the cyberbullying perpetration attitudes of college students and the mediating roles of trait gratitude and empathy. Using the stratified cluster random sampling method, 1198 college students (716 boys and 482 girls with an average age of 20.44 years) were tested using the subscale of the Parenting Styles Instrument, the Basic Empathy Scale, the Gratitude Questionnaire-6, and the Cyberbullying Attitude Questionnaire. Results: Emotional warmth, trait gratitude, cognitive empathy, and affective empathy all demonstrated significantly positive relationships with each other (rs from .175 to .403, ps < 0.01) and negative correlations with cyberbullying perpetration attitudes (rs from -.137 to -.306, ps < 0.01). Emotional warmth can exert an impact on cyberbullying perpetration attitudes through three fully mediating paths: the mediating roles of trait gratitude (41.91% of the total effect), cognitive empathy (14.5% of the total effect), and the chain mediating roles of trait gratitude-cognitive empathy (19.5% of the total effect). The results may have important implications for future studies to develop effective interventions for cyberbullying.

Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) were recognized as a promising source of diagnostic biomarker. However, there are limited studies published in this area, partly due to the limited number of detection platforms capable of detecting extracellular vesicles. In this study, extracellular vesicle immunoassays were developed using the Single Molecule array technology (SiMoa) and their clinical applications to cancer diagnosis were evaluated. Two extracellular vesicle detection assays, CD9-CD63 and Epcam-CD63, were designed to detect universal extracellular vesicles and tumour-derived extracellular vesicles, respectively. Our results show that CD9-CD63 and Epcam-CD63 SiMoa assays specifically detect extracellular vesicles but not free proteins with high sensitivities. The Epcam-CD63 levels detected in cancer cell culture media were consistent with levels of Epcam-expressing EVs isolated from the same cancer cell lines and detected by Western blot. Furthermore, the assays distinguish cancerous from non-cancerous plasma samples. The highest CD9-CD63 and Epcam-CD63 signals were observed in colorectal cancer patients comparing to healthy and benign controls. Both assays showed superior diagnostic performance for colorectal cancer. In addition, our results show that CD9-CD63 detection is an independent prognosis factor for both progression free survival and overall survival, while Epcam-CD63 detectionis an independent prognosis factor for OS.

Based on Attachment Theory, the Barlett and Gentile Cyberbullying Model and General Aggression Model, the present study explored the relationship between childhood psychological maltreatment and cyberbullying perpetration attitudes among undergraduates, as well as the mediating roles of empathy and immorality. Using a stratified cluster random sampling method, 626 college students were tested. Structural equation modeling was used for multiple mediation analysis. Results: (1) The positive rate of childhood psychological maltreatment, referring to sustained and repeated experiencing at least one kind of psychological maltreatment, was reported by accounted for 33.87% of participants; (2) a significant positive correlation existed between childhood psychological maltreatment, immorality, and cyberbullying perpetration attitudes. However, these variables were negatively correlated with empathy (cognitive and affective empathy); and (3) there were three mediating paths: childhood psychological maltreatment was linked to cyberbullying perpetration attitudes of male college students through the mediating roles of cognitive empathy and immorality and the chain-mediating role of cognitive empathy and immorality. Conclusions: Greater experience of childhood psychological maltreatment predicted more favorable attitudes toward cyberbullying perpetration among male college students, mediated by cognitive empathy and immorality. These findings may assist parents and educators by providing effective intervention for cyberbullying perpetration attitudes.

Chemerin is an adipocytokine that participates in glycolipid metabolism; however, its association with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with lower extremity macroangiopathy (T2DM-V) has rarely been reported. This study explored the association of chemerin and inflammatory factors with body fat parameters, glucolipid metabolism, and insulin resistance (IR) in T2DM and T2DM-V. Patients were classified into normal glucose regulation (NGR), T2DM, and T2DM-V groups. Serum chemerin, glucolipid metabolic parameters, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, interleukin (IL)-6, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and fasting insulin levels were measured along with HOMA-IR, body mass index (BMI), and waist-to-stature ratio (WSR). Serum chemerin, TGF-β, IL-6, and MCP-1 levels were significantly higher in T2DM groups than in NGR group, and BMI, WSR, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2hPG, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), triglycerides (TG), and HOMA-IR were higher in T2DM-V subgroups with moderate or severe lower extremity macroangiopathy than in NGR group, simple T2DM group, and T2DM-V subgroup with mild macroangiopathy. FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c, TG, and HOMA-IR were higher in T2DM-V subgroup with severe macroangiopathy than in T2DM-V with moderate macroangiopathy (p < 0.05). In all groups, serum chemerin levels were positively correlated with BMI, WSR, FPG, 2hPG, HbA1c, fasting insulin, aspartate transaminase, TG, TGF-β, IL-6, and HOMA-IR (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c] (p < 0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that 2hPG, HbA1c, and HDL-c were independent predictors of serum chemerin levels (β = -0.768, -0.122, -0.115, and 3.261, respectively; p < 0.01). Collectively, chemerin, factors associated with obesity, pathological and physiological changes in glucolipid metabolism, and inflammatory factors may promote the development of T2DM macroangiopathy.

Background. Antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment occupies the cornerstone therapeutic modality of Graves’ disease (GD) with a high relapse rate after discontinuation. This study aimed to assess potential risk factors for GD relapse especially serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) expression. Methods. Consecutive newly diagnosed GD patients who were scheduled to undergo ATD therapy from May 2011 to May 2014 were prospectively enrolled. Risk factors for GD relapse were analyzed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analyses. The association between serum IL-17 expression at cessation and GD relapse was analyzed with relapse-free survival (RFS) by the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test. Results. Of the 117 patients, 72 (61.5%) maintained a remission for 12 months after ATD withdrawal and 45 (38.5%) demonstrated GD relapse. The final multivariate Cox analysis indicated elevated IL-17 expression at cessation to be an independent risk factor for GD relapse within 12 months after ATD withdrawal (HR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.14–7.67, p=0.021). Patients with higher expressions of IL-17 (≥median value) at cessation demonstrated a significantly higher RFS than those with lower levels by the Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank test (p=0.028). Conclusions. This present study indicated elevated serum IL-17 expression at cessation to be a predictor for GD relapse within 12 months.

Fried bread sticks (FBS) are one of the most widely consumed deep fried food products in China. Understanding the fat and moisture content in FBS will help consumers make healthy food choices as well as assist food processors to provide FBS with desirable quality. Rapid Fourier transform near-infrared methods (FT-NIR) were developed for determining fat and moisture content in FBS collected from 123 different vendors in Shanghai, China. FBS samples with minimum sample preparation (either finely or coarsely ground) were used for NIR analyses. Spectra of FBS were treated with different mathematic pretreatments before being used to build models between the spectral information and fat (7.71%–30.89%) or moisture (17.39%–32.65%) content in FBS. Finely ground samples may lead to slightly more robust PLS models, but the particle sizes of ground FBS samples did not seriously affect the predictability of the models with appropriate mathematical treatments. The fat and moisture content in FBS predicted by FT-NIR methods had very good correlation with their values determined via traditional methods (fat, R2=0.965; moisture, R2=0.983), which clearly indicated that FT-NIR methods could be used as an effective tool for rapid determination of fat and moisture content in FBS.