Search

Abstract Objective To investigate indications and surgical procedures of keratoplasty in a tertiary comprehensive hospital in northern part of China over a 20-year period. Methods All patients undergoing keratoplasty between January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2021 in a tertiary comprehensive hospital in northern part of China were retrospectively reviewed. The annual proportion of keratoplasty indications and surgical procedures was recorded and analyzed. Results A total of 8266 keratoplasty procedures were included. Leading indications were keratoleukoma (n = 2108, 25.50%), followed by regraft (n = 1453 ,17.58%), corneal endothelial dysfunction (n = 1085, 13.13%), and keratoconus (n = 922,11.15%). A decreasing trend was observed for keratoleukoma (P

Abstract Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has emerged as a pivotal tool for exploring cellular landscapes across diverse species and tissues. Precise annotation of cell types is essential for understanding these landscapes, relying heavily on empirical knowledge and curated cell marker databases. In this study, we introduce MarkerGeneBERT, a natural language processing (NLP) system designed to extract critical information from the literature regarding species, tissues, cell types, and cell marker genes in the context of single-cell sequencing studies. Leveraging MarkerGeneBERT, we systematically parsed full-text articles from 3702 single-cell sequencing-related studies, yielding a comprehensive collection of 7901 cell markers representing 1606 cell types across 425 human tissues/subtissues, and 8223 cell markers representing 1674 cell types across 482 mouse tissues/subtissues. Comparative analysis against manually curated databases demonstrated that our approach achieved 76% completeness and 75% accuracy, while also unveiling 89 cell types and 183 marker genes absent from existing databases. Furthermore, we successfully applied the compiled brain tissue marker gene list from MarkerGeneBERT to annotate scRNA-seq data, yielding results consistent with original studies. Conclusions: Our findings underscore the efficacy of NLP-based methods in expediting and augmenting the annotation and interpretation of scRNA-seq data, providing a systematic demonstration of the transformative potential of this approach. The 27323 manual reviewed sentences for training MarkerGeneBERT and the source code are hosted at https://github.com/chengpeng1116/MarkerGeneBERT .

Abstract Background Genomic structural variations (GSVs), notably copy number variations (CNVs), significantly shape genetic diversity and facilitate adaptation in cattle populations. Despite their importance, the genome-wide characterization of CNVs in indigenous Ethiopian cattle breeds—Abigar, Fellata, and Gojjam-Highland remains largely unexplored. In this study, we applied a read-depth approach to whole genome sequencing (WGS) data to conduct the first comprehensive analysis of CNVs in these populations. Results We identified 3,893 CNV regions (CNVRs) covering 19.15 Mb (0.71% of the cattle genome). These CNVRs ranged from 1.60 kb to 488.0 kb, with an average size of 4.92 kb. These CNVRs included deletions (1713), duplications (1929), and mixed events (251) showing notable differences in distribution among the breeds. Four out of five randomly selected CNVRs were successfully validated using real time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Further analyses identified candidate genes associated with high-altitude adaptation (GBE1 and SOD1), heat stress adaptation (HSPA13, DNAJC18, and DNAJC8) and resistance to tick infestations (BoLA and KRT33A). In addition, variance stabilizing transformation (V ST ) statistics highlighted population-specific CNVRs, emphasizing the unique genetic signatures of high-altitude adaptation in the Gojjam-Highland cattle breed. Among the detected CNVRs, 4.93% (192 out of 3,893) overlapped with 520 quantitative traits loci (QTLs) associated with six economically important trait categories suggesting that these CNVRs may significantly contribute to the genetic variation underlying these traits. Conclusions Our comprehensive analysis reveals significant CNVRs associated with key adaptive traits in Ethiopian cattle breeds highlighting their genetic diversity and resilience. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic basis of adaptability and can inform sustainable breeding practices and conservation efforts. Future research should prioritize the functional validation of these CNVRs and their integration into breeding programs to enhance traits such as disease resistance and environmental adaptability.

Abstract Background The initiation time and formula for supplemental parenteral nutrition after surgery require optimization, especially in older patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery. This study aimed to assess the effect of early supplementation with a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-enriched formula (BAF) on short-term postoperative outcomes in older patients undergoing gastric surgery. Methods This single-center, prospective, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial was conducted from March 10, 2020, to September 15, 2022. Patients aged 65–80 years with gastric cancer scheduled for curative resection were assessed for eligibility and randomly allocated to a high-proportion BCAA (HBCAA) (early supplementation with the BAF) or control (routine nutrition) group. The primary outcome was the standardized length of hospital stay (LOS). Results A total of 150 patients were randomized. Thirteen patients were excluded due to the resection of other organs, presence of metastasis, or withdrawal of consent. Finally, we included 70 and 67 patients in the HBCAA and control groups, respectively (mean age: 70.5 ± 4.2 years; 96 men [70.1%]). The standardized LOS was significantly shorter in the treatment group than in the control group (median [interquartile range]: 8.0 [7.8, 8.0] vs. 8.5 [8.0, 9.0] days; mean difference, 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02–0.74 days; P

Abstract Background Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is typically characterised as the fetus’ inability to reach its inherent growth potential. A growing body of evidence points to the important role of the maternal gut microbiota in FGR development. However, comprehensive research on changes in maternal–fetal gut and intrauterine microbiota related to FGR is lacking. Methods In this case–control study, we sequenced bacterial 16S rRNA from 35 maternal faecal, 35 meconium, and 31 amniotic fluid samples collected from 19 pregnant women diagnosed with FGR and 16 healthy controls. We identified putative bacterial taxonomic and functional characteristics associated with FGR by comparing these to control samples. Results We identified 34 differential operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in amniotic fluid, seven differential OTUs in maternal faecal matter, and two differential OTUs in meconium. Compared to controls, FGR subjects exhibited enriched bacterial OTUs of the genus Bacteroides in the maternal gut. They also had depleted OTUs of the order Enterobacterales and genus Pseudomonas in the amniotic fluid and genus Stenotrophomonas in the fetal gut. These altered bacterial OTUs showed a significant correlation with neonatal weight and fetal ultrasonographic indexes. Additionally, we identified differential microbial functional pathways related to glycan and lipid metabolism in the maternal gut. We developed diagnostic biomarkers for FGR based on the maternal–fetal gut and amniotic fluid microbiota. Conclusions This study offers a comprehensive overview of the shifts in microbial composition and functional pathways in the maternal–fetal gut and amniotic fluid microbiota related to FGR, and present novel insights into the development and screening of FGR. However, the assessment of contamination’s impact on meconium and amniotic fluid remains inconclusive, necessitating further rigorous experimentation to address this scientific inquiry in future studies.

Xiaofang Dan,1– 3 Ke Li,1– 3 Jiali Xu,4 Pijun Yan1– 3,5,6 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolism, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Gastroenterology, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 5Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 6Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Luzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Pijun Yan, Email peter2007110361@126.comAbstract: Neuregulin 4 (Nrg4), a novel adipokine produced primarily by brown adipose tissue (BAT), has been functionally characterized to exert beneficial effects on modulating energy homeostasis and glucolipid metabolism, and is closely associated with the development and progression of obesity and obesity-associated metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there has been a growing focus on the relationship between circulating Nrg4 levels and T2DM-related vascular complications. In this review, we discussed the known and potential roles of Nrg4 in various physiological and pathological processes, and its association with vascular complications in T2DM, in the aim of finding a potential biomarker recommended for the clinical diagnosis, prognosis and follow-up of T2DM patients at high risk of developing vascular complications as well as providing new therapeutic approaches.Keywords: neuregulin 4, adipokine, diabetes, type 2, vascular complications

Hydrogen energy, with its abundant reserves, green and low-carbon characteristic, high energy density, diverse sources, and wide applications, is gradually becoming an important carrier in the global energy transformation and development. In this paper, the off-grid wind power hydrogen production system is considered as the research object, and the operating characteristics of a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis cell, including underload, overload, variable load, and start- stop are analyzed. On this basis, the characteristic extraction of wind power output data after noise reduction is carried out, and then the self-organizing mapping neural network algorithm is used for clustering to extract typical wind power output scenarios and perform weight distribution based on the statistical probability. The trend and fluctuation components are superimposed to generate the typical operating conditions of an off-grid PEM electrolytic hydrogen production system. The historical output data of an actual wind farm are used for the case study, and the results confirm the feasibility of the method proposed in this study for obtaining the typical conditions of off-grid wind power hydrogen production. The results provide a basis for studying the dynamic operation characteristics of PEM electrolytic hydrogen production systems, and the performance degradation mechanism of PEM electrolysis cells under fluctuating inputs.

In this paper, the characteristics of a squall line that occurred in central and northern Zhejiang on 21 July 2022 are analyzed by using S-band dual-polarization radar, X-band phased array radar data, wind retrieval, lightning location and ERA5 reanalysis data. The results show that: The squall line affected the area for up to 6 hours, causing large-scale winds of 8-10 levels along the way. The pressure surge ahead of the strong winds and precipitation at the extremely strong wind station served as a precursor to extreme winds. The squall line occurred under the control of the subtropical high. The dry and cold air at the bottom of the high-level cold vortex invaded, with the high-energy and high humidity in the low-level forming an unstable layer structure, which provided favourable environmental conditions for the generation and maintenance of the squall line. The observation of the S-band dual polarisation radar showed that the evolution of squall lines went through processes such as initiation, merging, growth, maturity, and disappearance. The initial convection was formed in the mesoscale convergence lines in the northwest and east of Hangzhou. Strong storms in the northwest of Hangzhou moved faster than those in the east, leading to the rapid merging and development of the two into squall lines. After the squall line entered the south bank of the Hangzhou Bay, the storm outflow overlapped with the mesoscale convergence centre on the south bank of the Hangzhou Bay, leading to the rapid development of the squall line to its mature stage. In addition, the growth of vertical wind shear was also conducive to the rapid development of the squall line. Strong winds often occurred in areas with dense cloud flashes. The X-band phased array radar could finely detect the vertical structure of strong cells before and after extreme winds occurred. The development of ZDR and KDP columns in mature strong cells represented storm intensification, and the rapid decline of the echo centroid could indicate surface winds. The falling and dragging of precipitation particles intensified the sinking motion, which further enhanced the strong winds. The configuration of inclined upward and downward airflow in strong squall lines ensured that the falling of precipitation particles did not affect the upward airflow, which was beneficial for the development and maintenance of storms. The oblique sinking airflow met the near-surface environmental wind, triggering the development of frontal convection, which was conducive to the propagation of squall lines downstream.

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to measure the long-diameter of tumors for evaluating treatment response. Methods Our study included 48 patients with lung-specific target lesions and conducted 277 measurements. The radiologists recorded the long-diameter in axial imaging plane of the target lesions for each measurement. Meanwhile, AI software was utilized to measure the long-diameter in both the axial imaging plane and in three dimensions (3D). Statistical analyses including the Bland-Altman plot, Spearman correlation analysis, and paired t-test to ascertain the accuracy and reliability of our findings. Results The Bland-Altman plot showed that the AI measurements had a bias of -0.28 mm and had limits of agreement ranging from − 13.78 to 13.22 mm (P = 0.497), indicating agreement with the manual measurements. However, there was no agreement between the 3D measurements and the manual measurements, with P

Abstract Background The latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) burden is still unclear in schoolchildren and adolescents in China. Previous study and daily surveillance data indicate a LTBI detection gap. The research objective was to evaluate the LTBI burden and detection gap among schoolchildren and adolescents in China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 69,667 schoolchildren and adolescents in Chongqing, China between September 2022 and December 2023 implemented by Chongqing Municipal Institute of Tuberculosis using tuberculin skin test (TST) and creation tuberculin skin test (C-TST). To evaluate the LTBI detection gap, the pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) screening data implemented by Chongqing Municipal Institute of Tuberculosis have been compared with the data in 2021 implemented by community-level medical and health care institutions. Results The LTBI prevalence rate using TST and C-TST implemented by Chongqing Municipal Institute of Tuberculosis was 12.8% (95%CI, 12.5-13%) and 6.4% (95%CI, 6-6.8%) respectively. The LTBI prevalence rate by Chongqing Municipal Institute of Tuberculosis was 9.6% higher than that by community-level medical and health care institutions (χ 2 = 2931.9, P

Taking TiCp/Al-5Cu-1.9Mg-0.9Mn composite materials reinforced with 0.27%（volume fraction）TiC particles as the matrix， the effects of different Sm element contents on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the composite material were investigated. The results show that the addition of the Sm element significantly refines the dendritic microstructure and facilitates the dissolution of the second phase during the solid solution treatment. Consequently， an increase in the density of precipitated phases， including T-Al20Cu2Mn3 and S'-Al2CuMg， was observed in the aged microstructure. When the Sm element content is high （0.3%， mass fraction， the same below）， the microstructure exhibits blocky insoluble rare earth-containing compounds. With the addition of the Sm， the composite materials show a gradual increase in yield strength at both room temperature and 250 ℃. However， it will cause a decrease in plasticity. When the Sm element content is 0.3%， the yield strength at room temperature increases from 246 MPa to 310 MPa， and the yield strength at 250 ℃ increases from 191 MPa to 220 MPa. The analysis suggests that the increase in strength is attributed to the microstructural refinement and the increased density of precipitated phases induced by Sm. Conversely， the reduction in plasticity is attributed to the presence of coarse blocky insoluble rare earth compounds cutting through the matrix， leading to the easy generation of crack sources.

China has a wealth of abundant coalbed methane (CBM) resources at great depths. However, the low permeability of these deep coal seams coupled with the challenges posed by high-stress pressure environments, hampers efficient gas extraction. Water jet punching and cavitation in horizontal wells is a new technology for relieving pressure and enhancing the permeability of coal seam over a wide area. Nevertheless, the mechanisms underlying rock breaking and pore formation in deep environment remain to be studied. Because the deep coal seam exists in the geological environment of high ground stress and high stress difference, it is difficult to carry out the physical simulation experiment in the laboratory. Consequently, a numerical model of water jet punching and rock breaking is established based on the viscoelastic-plastic theory and material point method. The model integrates the advantages of the Lagrange and Euler algorithms, proficiently simulating the whole process of momentum exchange, large deformation of coal, rock breaking, fluid erosion and rock carrying and reverse drainage throughout the process of jet rock breaking. Subsequently, based on this numerical model, the mechanism and influencing factors of rock breaking and pore-forming by water jet in deep coal seams are studied, and the conclusions are as follows: ① the shear failure caused by high in-situ stress load in deep coal seams is the leading mechanism of rock breaking, while jet mainly plays the role of erosion and rock carrying and reverse drainage. The tensile failure caused by stress wave generated by water jet collision with coal rock is the leading mechanism of rock breaking when there is no stress load. Due to the strong plasticity of coal rock, water wedge effect is not obvious. ② The high in-situ stress load accelerates the rock breaking process of deep coal seams. The amount of rushed-out coal under high in-situ stress load is higher than that without stress load. Meanwhile, the stress load causes the coal body to move towards the opening direction, resulting in a decrease in cavity volume, but the plastic damage zone is significantly increased compared with that without stress load. ③ The amount of rushed-out coal and the area of plastic damage zone increase with the increase of jet time, but the increase rate gradually slows down. The amount of rushed-out coal and the area of plastic damage zone show a downward trend with the increase of incident angle. The smaller the jet angle, the better the effect of water jet punching and rock breaking. The vertical incidence of jet is not the best way to break rock. ④ The amount of rushed-out coal and the area of plastic damage area increase with the increase of stress difference and the width of coal-rock opening, but the increase of stress difference has little effect on jet rock breaking in deep coal seams. The width of coal seam opening should not be too high, and the rock breaking efficiency of jet can be improved by increasing the width of the opening hole appropriately.

Purposes In this study, a functional resonance imaging adaptation (fMRIa) experiment was conducted to examine the multi-level adaptation mechanism in 16 ROIs of the human brain cortex. Methods Random dot stereograms were defined by horizontal binocular disparity as visual stimuli. And six different adaptation conditions were designed to separate different adaptation sources. Adaptation strengthes were measured as changes in the BOLD signal between adaptation and test periods. Findings ANOVA results show that both the dorsal and ventral pathways exhibit advanced adaptation effects to shape attributes. Additionally, adaptations to average disparity information in the V7 and IPS regions along the dorsal visual pathway exist, indicating that low-level disparity computations in these regions are used to precisely encode the depth structure of 3D shapes, while the ventral pathway is used for shape classification. Conclusions These evidences validate the multi-evel adaptation for stereo-curvature aftereffects. The findings can provide guidance for optimizing the construction of stereoscopic scenes in virtual reality.

Jia Wei,1,&ast; Mingfen Song,1,&ast; Hong Jing Mao,1 Ruobing Qi,1 Lili Yang,1 You Xu,1 Pan Yan,1 Linlin Hu2 1Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310013, People’s Republic of China; 2Sleep Medicine Center, Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310013, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Jing Mao, Email maohongjing@hz7hospital.comBackground: The effectiveness of medication combined with smartphone-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has been well verified, but there are few studies on the sequence of remission of insomnia symptoms. This study aims to understand the sequence of symptom improvement and the factors influencing the treatment effectiveness in patients with insomnia.Methods: Smartphone-delivered CBT, as a form of Online CBT, allows for training through mobile devices at any time and place. We utilized the Good Sleep 365 app to conduct a survey, involving 2820 patients who met the baseline inclusion criteria. These patients were assessed using a general demographic questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to evaluate general demographic information and insomnia symptoms, and subsequently underwent CBT training using the Good Sleep 365 app. A total of 1179 patients completed follow-ups at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks.Results: At 4 weeks and 8 weeks, the descending order of the reduction rates of PSQI components (excluding component 6: use of sleeping medication) was: sleep latency, subjective sleep quality, sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, sleep maintenance, and daytime dysfunction. At 16 weeks and 24 weeks, the descending order was subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep efficiency, daytime dysfunction, sleep maintenance, and sleep disturbance. There were significant differences in the reduction rates of PSQI components (excluding component 6: use of sleeping medication) both at the same follow-up times and at different follow-up times (all P< 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that patients older than 30 years and those with a college degree or above had better treatment outcomes, whereas those with a disease duration of more than three years had worse outcomes.Conclusion: The sequence of symptom improvement in patients with insomnia changes over time, and age, educational level, and duration of disease are factors influencing treatment outcomes.Keywords: insomnia, CBT-I, PSQI, influencing factors

Abstract Revealing the heterogeneity among tissues is the greatest advantage of single-cell-sequencing. Marker genes not only act as the key to correctly identify cell types, but also the bio-markers for cell-status under certain experimental imputations. Current analysis methods such as Seurat and Monocle employ algorithms which compares one cluster to all the rest and select markers according to statistical tests. This pattern brings redundant calculations and thus, results in low calculation efficiency, specificity and accuracy. To address these issues, we introduce starTracer, a novel algorithm designed to enhance the efficiency, specificity and accuracy of marker gene identification in single-cell RNA-seq data analysis. starTracer operates as an independent pipeline, which exhibits great flexibility by accepting multiple input file types. The primary output is a marker matrix, where genes are sorted by the potential to function as markers, with those exhibiting the greatest potential positioned at the top. The speed improvement ranges by 2 ~ 3 orders of magnitude compared to Seurat, as observed across three independent datasets with lower false positive rate as observed in a simulated testing dataset with ground-truth. It’s worth noting that starTracer exhibits increasing speed improvement with larger data volumes. It also excels in identifying markers in smaller clusters. These advantages solidify starTracer as an important tool for single-cell RNA-seq data, merging robust accuracy with exceptional speed.

Abstract This study examines tuberculosis (TB) incidence among students in Jilin Province, China, focusing on spatial, temporal, and demographic dynamics in areas of social inequality. Variation in incidence rate of TB was analyzed using the joinpoint regression method. Spatial analyses techniques included the global and local Moran indices and Getis-Ord Gi* analysis. Demographic changes in new cases were analyzed descriptively, and the Geodetector method measured the influence of risk factors on student TB incidence. The analysis revealed a declining trend in TB cases, particularly among male students. TB incidence showed geographical heterogeneity, with lower rates in underdeveloped rural areas compared to urban regions. Significant spatial correlations were observed, with high-high clusters forming in central Jilin Province. Hotspots of student TB transmission were primarily concentrated in the southwestern and central regions from 2008 to 2018. Socio-economic factors exhibited nonlinear enhancement effects on incidence rates, with a dominant bifactor effect. High-risk zones were predominantly located in urban centers, with university and high school students showing higher incidences than other educational stages. The study revealed economic determinants as being especially important in affecting TB incidence among students, with these factors having nonlinear interacting effects on student TB incidence.

Objective Shield tunneling may cause displacement and deformation of the nearby viaduct foundation and reduce its bearing capacity. Therefore, the deformation effect caused by shield tunnel closely side-passing viaduct foundation is studied based on an actual project. Method Relying on the project of Hefei Metro Line 5 in which the shield tunnel passes the pile foundation of the viaduct on the side, a three-dimensional numerical model is established to analyze the horizontal displacement,the longitudinal displacement and the settlement pattern of the pile foundation caused by shield construction. Result & Conclusion The research results show that the horizontal displacement at the pile bottom presents dynamic changes of leaving, approaching and leaving the tunnel. The horizontal displacement of the pile body is similar to a C shape flexture curve. The displacement increases first and then decreases along with the pile depths, and the extreme value is located at the pile depth of 9~10 m. The longitudinal displacement at the pile bottom （parallel to the tunnel axis） shows a bimodal curve. After the shield passing the pile foundation, the pile body undergoes longitudinal deformation in the opposite direction of the excavation. After the shield passing through the pile foundation for 12m and further, the horizontal displacement of the pile body in longitudinal direction rebounds, indicating that the influence of shield tunneling on the longitudinal deformation of the pile foundation is reversible to a certain extent. The settlement of the pile foundation presents a steep trend. The closer the pile foundation at the same side is to the tunnel, the greater the settlement. Moreover, the excavation of the far side tunnel will cause secondary settlement of the pile top. The maximum settlement occurs at the bottom of the No.4 pile foundation, and the settlement value is 4.94 mm.

Objective: To investigate the potential role of the regulator of G protein signaling 20 (RGS20) in radioresistance of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: A total of 35 lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), who underwent radiotherapy, were enrolled and divided into radiosensitive (n ​= ​16) and radioresistant (n ​= ​19) groups based on clinical prognosis. The expression and prognosis of RGS20 were analyzed by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) database. A radioresistant cell line (A549R) was constructed by irradiating A549 ​cells with 6 ​Gy X-rays for 10 fractions. Cell survival was measured by colony formation assay. The regulatory effect of RGS20 on pyroptosis were verified by LDH release and Western blot assay, and the underlying mechanism was investigated by transfecting RGS20 siRNA and applying a GSDMD inhibitor). Results: A total of 2,181 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by analyzing the data of radiosensitive and radioresistant individuals from the TCGA-LUAD dataset. These DEGs were enriched in G alpha (z) signalling events analyzed by Reactome database. RGS20 exhibited significant upregulation among the DEGs, and its higher expression predicted poor prognosis in LUAD patients. In vitro, the expression of RGS20 protein was increased by irradiation in A549 ​cells, whereas it remained at much high levels in A549R cells regardless of irradiation. After irradiation, the expressions of pyroptosis-related proteins were significantly increased in A549 cells (P ＜ 0.05), with no significant changes were observed in A549R cells. Treatment with LDC7559 significantly reduced LDH release (P ＜ 0.01) and improved the survival rate of irradiated A549 cells (P ＜ 0.01). Furthermore, knockdown of RGS20 gene in A549R cells significantly increased LDH release (P ＜ 0.001) and enhanced radiosensitivity (P ＜ 0.01), while LDC7559 administration reversed LDH release (P ＜0.01) and radiation-induced cell death increased by siRGS20 (P ＜0.05). Meantime, the increased expression level of GSDMD-NT was observed in A549 and A549R cells transfected with siRGS20 (P ＜ 0.05). Conclusion: RGS20 contributes to the radioresistance of NSCLC cells, which might be a potential target for NSCLC radiotherapy.

[Objective] Biochar application can change soil physicochemical properties. The study of the effects of different biochar application methods on soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity (EC) distribution, which can provide basis for the scientific management of seasonally frozen soil. [Methods] The effects of different biochar application methods on soil liquid water content, temperature and EC during freezing period were studied by field experiment and long-term observation in black soil region of northeast. Biochar application methods included one-time biochar mixed application of 40 t/hm2(HO), biochar bottom application of 40 t/hm2(HE), and the blank was 0 t/hm2(CK). [Results] Both biochar application methods increased the mean soil liquid water content during the freezing period (p < 0.05), as HO > HE > CK. The application of biochar application significantly increased soil EC throughout the experimental cycle, and the average soil EC increased by 17.73% and 6.89% in the HO and HE treatments, respectively, compared to CK. The two biochar application methods had different effects on the soil temperature. Compared with CK, the mean soil temperature increased by 0.32 ℃ in the HE treatment, while the mean soil temperature decreased by 0.46 ℃ in the HO treatment. In addition, the HE treatment weakened the range of change in soil liquid water, temperature and EC during the freezing period compared to HO and CK treatments. [Conclusion] Both heterogeneous and homogeneous biochar application were beneficial to increase the liquid water content and EC of degraded black soil during freezing period. Especially heterogeneous biochar application was also beneficial to increase the soil temperature of the tillage layer during freezing period, homogeneous biochar application can also reduce the soil freezing during freezing effect during the same period. Both of the two biochar application modes may have an important impact on the soil moisture-salt transport and material transformation process during the freezing period, and even have an important effect on the spring emergence and early growth of crops.

Abstract Background Investigating immune cell infiltration in the brain post-ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is crucial for understanding and managing the resultant inflammatory responses. This study aims to unravel the role of the RPS27A-mediated PSMD12/NF-κB axis in controlling immune cell infiltration in the context of cerebral I/R injury. Methods To identify genes associated with cerebral I/R injury, high-throughput sequencing was employed. The potential downstream genes were further analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) analyses. For experimental models, primary microglia and neurons were extracted from the cortical tissues of mouse brains. An in vitro cerebral I/R injury model was established in microglia using the oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) technique. In vivo models involved inducing cerebral I/R injury in mice through the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method. These models were used to assess neurological function, immune cell infiltration, and inflammatory factor release. Results The study identified RPS27A as a key player in cerebral I/R injury, with PSMD12 likely acting as its downstream regulator. Silencing RPS27A in OGD/R-induced microglia decreased the release of inflammatory factors and reduced neuron apoptosis. Additionally, RPS27A silencing in cerebral cortex tissues mediated the PSMD12/NF-κB axis, resulting in decreased inflammatory factor release, reduced neutrophil infiltration, and improved cerebral injury outcomes in I/R-injured mice. Conclusion RPS27A regulates the expression of the PSMD12/NF-κB signaling axis, leading to the induction of inflammatory factors in microglial cells, promoting immune cell infiltration in brain tissue, and exacerbating brain damage in I/R mice. This study introduces novel insights and theoretical foundations for the treatment of nerve damage caused by I/R, suggesting that targeting the RPS27A and downstream PSMD12/NF-κB signaling axis for drug development could represent a new direction in I/R therapy.

Abstract Aims Compared to primary breast sarcoma (BSs), radiotherapy-induced sarcoma (RIS) is a less frequent type of secondary breast sarcoma. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is an even rarer occurrence within the RIS category. This study aimed to present the clinicopathologic and molecular features of breast radiotherapy-induced UPS. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University to analyze three patients with radiation-induced undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) following breast cancer, spanning from 2006 to 2023. The clinical and pathological variables were extracted from the medical records, while immunohistochemistry was employed to analyze the immunophenotypes of these tumors. Genomic characteristics were assessed through DNA and RNA sequencing techniques. Another 15 cases from the literature were also reviewed to better characterize the tumor. Results The affected areas encompass the chest wall and breasts, with an incubation period ranging from 6 to 17 years. The tumor cells exhibit pleomorphism and demonstrate a high degree of pathological mitosis. Notably, two cases displayed an accelerated disease progression, characterized by recurrent tumors and metastases occurring within short intervals of 48 and 7 months respectively subsequent to the initial diagnosis. The two prevailing identified genes were TP53 (2/3, 66.7%) and RB1 (1/3, 33.3%). Through analysis of somatic copy number variation (CNV), it was discovered that two oncogenes, MCL1 (1/3, 33.3%) and MYC (1/3, 33.3%), had experienced gains in CNV. The Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) values for case 1, case 2, and case 3 were 5.9 mut/Mb, 1.0 mut/Mb, and 3.0 mut/Mb, respectively. Moreover, the analysis of RNA-NGS (next-generation sequencing) revealed the presence of a novel gene fusion, named COL3A1-GULP1, in case 2. Conclusions Based on our thorough analysis of research findings and previous reports, it is evident that radiotherapy-induced UPS exhibits a highly diverse and frequently severe clinical and biological behavior. Identifying tumor formation using genome sequencing can help understand its biological behavior and determine personalized treatments.

Abstract Motor learning (ML), which plays a fundamental role in growth and physical rehabilitation, involves different stages of learning and memory processes through different brain regions. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie ML are not sufficiently understood. Here, a previously unreported neuronal projection from the dorsal hippocampus (dHPC) to the zona incerta (ZI) involved in the regulation of ML behaviors is identified. Using recombinant adeno‐associated virus, the projections to the ZI are surprisingly identified as originating from the dorsal dentate gyrus (DG) and CA1 subregions of the dHPC. Furthermore, projection‐specific chemogenetic and optogenetic manipulation reveals that the projections from the dorsal CA1 to the ZI play key roles in the acquisition and consolidation of ML behaviors, whereas the projections from the dorsal DG to the ZI mediate the retrieval/retention of ML behaviors. The results reveal new projections from the dorsal DG and dorsal CA1 to the ZI involved in the regulation of ML and provide insight into the stages over which this regulation occurs.

Abstract Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is a pyretic ailment predominantly observed in children aged below 5 years. There is currently a dearth of precise markers for timely identification of incomplete Kawasaki disease (IKD). It is imperative to develop updated, comprehensive, and evidence-based guidelines to effectively direct clinical practice. Methods The guideline development group comprised individuals with diverse expertise in both content and methodology and carried out an extensive exploration of the following digital repositories: CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data, UpToDate, BMJ, Clinical Evidence, National Guideline Clearinghouse, Joanna Briggs Institute Library, Cochrane Library, and PubMed. The entire period from the establishment of these databases until January 1, 2024 was covered. To evaluate IKD, systematic reviews and randomised controlled trials were assessed using the risk of prejudice instrument specified in the Cochrane Handbook, along with the evidence robustness framework established by the GRADE group. The recommendations were formulated based on the findings, considering the evidence strength. After several iterations of expert consensus, the relevant professional committees in China endorsed the ultimate guideline. Results These guidelines address clinical questions regarding the classification and definition of KD, diagnosis of IKD, treatment during the acute phase of IKD, and follow-up of IKD. Conclusions To provide healthcare professionals with guidance and decision-making bases for the diagnosis and treatment of IKD in China, 13 recommendations were formulated based on expert consensus and evidence of best practices.

Because the deformation parameters (temperature, strain rate) in the actual manufacturing process are non-constant. We investigate meta-dynamic recrystallization behavior under the transient mutation state. First, based on a single-pass thermal deformation experiment and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique, this study establishes a quantitative calculation method for the volume fraction of meta-dynamic recrystallization under different deformation conditions, and find the GOS threshold basis for judging the occurrence of meta-dynamic recrystallization. Comparing the experimental results with the numerical simulation results, it is found that the MDRX behavior of the material could be accurately described. The meta-dynamic recrystallization evolution law of the material in the thermal deformation insulation stage under the variable strain rate state is investigated by continuous variable rate thermal deformation experiment and numerical simulation. It is observed that an increase of the average strain rate in the continuous variable strain rate state would promote the meta-dynamic recrystallization softening behavior of the material in comparison with the steady state deformation stage, and vice versa.

Abstract We study properties of the innermost photonsphere in the regular compact star background. We take the traceless energy–momentum tensor and dominant energy conditions. In the regular compact star background, we analytically obtain an upper bound on the radius of the innermost photonsphere as $$r_{\gamma }^{in}\leqslant \frac{12}{5}M,$$ r γ in ⩽ 12 5 M , where $$r_{\gamma }^{in}$$ r γ in is the radius of the innermost photonsphere and M is the total ADM mass of the asymptotically flat compact star spacetime.

Hong Lu,&ast; Yanmei Mao,&ast; Ying Zeng, Pengyu Li, Pan Yan, Qunzhi Shi, Lin Liu Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors have contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hong Lu, Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Changsha Central Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China, Email 1430368@qq.comPurpose: Voriconazole, a first-line therapeutic agent for chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, is metabolized by the cytochrome 450 enzymes, specifically CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. Rifampicin and rifapentine act as inducers of the cytochrome P450 enzyme. The current study explored the potential drug interactions arising from the co-administration of voriconazole with either rifampicin or rifapentine, as well as the duration of this effect on serum voriconazole levels after discontinuation of rifampicin or rifapentine.Patients and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in tuberculosis patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis. These patients underwent a combination therapy involving voriconazole and rifampicin or rifapentine, or they were treated with voriconazole after discontinuation of rifampicin or rifapentine. The serum concentrations of voriconazole at steady-state were monitored. Data on demographic characteristics and the serum voriconazole levels were used for statistical analyses.Results: A total of 124 serum voriconazole concentrations from 109 patients were included in the study. The average serum concentration of voriconazole fell below the effective therapeutic range in patients treated with both voriconazole and rifampicin or rifapentine. Notably the co-administration of rifapentine led to a substantial (> 70%) decrease in serum voriconazole levels in two patients. Moreover, this interfering effect persisted for at least 7 days following rifampicin discontinuation, while it endured for 5 days or more after discontinuation of rifapentine.Conclusion: Concomitant use of voriconazole and rifampicin or rifapentine should be avoided, and it is not recommended to initiate voriconazole therapy within 5 or 7 days after discontinuation of rifapentine or rifampicin. Therapeutic drug monitoring not only provides a basis for the adjustment of clinical dose, but also serves as a valuable tool for identifying drug interactions.Keywords: voriconazole, rifampicin, rifapentine, serum concentration, discontinuation

For numerous viruses, their capsid assembly is composed of two steps. The first step is that virus structural protein monomers are polymerized to building blocks. Then, these building blocks are cumulative and efficiently assembled to virus capsid shell. These building block polymerization reactions in the first step are fundamental for virus assembly, and some drug targets were found in this step. In this work, we focused on the first step. Often, virus building blocks consisted of less than six monomers. That is, dimer, trimer, tetramer, pentamer, and hexamer. We presented mathematical models for polymerization chemical reactions of these five building blocks, respectively. Then, we proved the existence and uniqueness of the positive equilibrium solution for these mathematical models one by one. Subsequently, we also analyzed the stability of the equilibrium states, respectively. These results may provide further insight into property of virus building block polymerization chemical reactions in vivo.

Ying Miao,1– 6 Yu Wang,7 Yi Wang,8 Pijun Yan,1– 6 Zhuang Chen,9 Qin Wan1– 6 1Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Metabolic Vascular Disease Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 4Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Diabetes and Metabolism, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 5Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Nephropathy, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 6Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Key Laboratory of Luzhou, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 7Department of Cardiology, Luzhou People’s Hospital, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 8Department of Pharmacy, Luzhou People’s Hospital, Luzhou, People’s Republic of China; 9Experimental Medicine Center, the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qin Wan, Email wanqin3@126.comBackground: Lower extremity peripheral artery disease (LEAD) is a significant chronic complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) that significantly contributes to disability and mortality. The subtle presentation of LEAD symptoms often leads to underrecognition and misdiagnosis. Therefore, identifying simple and effective evaluation indicators is essential for the early detection and management of LEAD. Insulin resistance is closely associated with diabetes and its complications. However, the specific relationship between insulin resistance—measured by the triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index—and obesity indicators in relation to LEAD remains unclear.Objective: This study aims to investigate the association between the TyG index and its combination with obesity indicators in participants with T2DM and LEAD.Methods: We performed a univariate analysis on 3176 T2DM patients to identify risk factors for LEAD. Patients were then divided into quartiles based on the TyG index combined with various obesity indicators. The chi-square test was used to compare the prevalence of LEAD across these groups. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between the TyG index, in combination with different obesity indicators, and the occurrence of LEAD. Finally, we assessed the predictive ability of the TyG index combined with obesity indicators for LEAD by comparing the area under the ROC curve (AUC).Results: The study included 3176 T2DM patients (1691 males and 1485 females) with a mean age of 56.16± 10.60 years. Among them, 106 individuals had LEAD. The prevalence of LEAD varied significantly across quartiles of the TyG index, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHR (Q4 > Q3 > Q2 > Q1; P < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the TyG index, TyG-WC, and TyG-WHR were positively associated with the risk of LEAD in T2DM patients. ROC curve analysis identified the best cutoff values for predicting LEAD: 9.8059 for the TyG index (sensitivity: 49.1%, specificity: 67.9%, AUC: 0.583), 808.8397 for TyG-WC (sensitivity: 70.8%, specificity: 47.8%, AUC: 0.603), and 8.8543 for TyG-WHR (sensitivity: 75.5%, specificity: 44.6%, AUC: 0.607).Conclusion: In T2DM patients, the TyG index, TyG-WHR, and TyG-WC are positively associated with the occurrence of LEAD. TyG-WHR and TyG-WC exhibit a stronger correlation with LEAD compared to the TyG index alone, indicating their superior diagnostic value.Keywords: type 2 diabetes mellitus, lower extremity peripheral artery disease, TyG-WC, TyG-WHR, insulin resistance

Abstract Indigenous animal genetic resources play a crucial role in preserving global genetic diversity and supporting the livelihoods of millions of people. In Ethiopia, the majority of the cattle population consists of indigenous breeds. Understanding the genetic architecture of these cattle breeds is essential for effective management and conservation efforts. In this study, we sequenced DNA samples from 70 animals from seven indigenous cattle breeds, generating about two terabytes of pair-end reads with an average coverage of 14X. The sequencing data were pre-processed and mapped to the cattle reference genome (ARS-UCD1.2) with an alignment rate of 99.2%. Finally, the variant calling process produced approximately 35 million high-quality SNPs. These data provide a deeper understanding of the genetic landscape, facilitate the identification of causal mutations, and enable the exploration of evolutionary patterns to assist cattle improvement and sustainable utilization, particularly in the face of unpredictable climate changes.

Abstract This study aims to refine clinical designs within clear aligner therapy, exploring the appropriate ratio of anterior tooth retraction to intrusion under maximum anchorage. Using a three-dimensional finite element model and evaluating 19 load scenarios with first premolar extraction, the research identifies the optimal force angle for anterior tooth retraction as 45 to 55°. For clinical planning, it is recommended to design a retraction of 0.19 mm combined with an intrusion of 0.16 mm to achieve anterior tooth retraction. This investigation is crucial for enhancing understanding of biomechanical principles in clear aligner orthodontics, offering significant insights for effective treatments.

Summary: Capturing the genetic diversity of different wild populations is crucial for unraveling the mechanisms of adaptation and establishing links between genome evolution and local adaptation. The Asian corn borer (ACB) moth has undergone natural selection during its adaptative evolution. However, structural variants (SVs), which play significant roles in these adaptation processes, have not been previously identified. Here, we constructed a multi-assembly graph pan-genome to highlight the importance of SVs in local adaptation. Our analysis revealed that the graph pan-genome contained 176.60 Mb (∼37.33%) of unique sequences. Subsequently, we performed an analysis of expression quantitative trait loci (QTLs) to explore the impact of SVs on gene expression regulation. Notably, through QTL mapping analysis, we identified the FTZ-F1 gene as a potential candidate gene associated with the traits of larval development rate. In sum, we explored the impact of SVs on the local adaptation of pests, therefore facilitating accelerated pest management strategies.

Summary: Many insect species, including the economically important pest Helicoverpa armigera, avoid unfavorable conditions by suspending development. This form of phenotypic plasticity—facultative diapause—is a complex trait, though its evolution and intricate genetic architecture remain poorly understood. To investigate how such a polygenic trait could be locally adapted, we explore its genetic architecture. We map a large-effect diapause-associated locus to the Z chromosome by crossing high- and low-latitude populations. By generating multiple chromosome-scale assemblies, we identify an ∼5.93-Mb chromosomal inversion that constitutes the locus. Within this inversion, 33 genes harbor divergent non-synonymous mutations, notably including three circadian rhythm genes: Period, Clock, and Cycle. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout experiments confirm that each gene is independently essential for pupal diapause. Thus, a diapause supergene arose within H. armigera via a Z chromosome inversion, enabling local climatic adaptation in this economically important crop pest.

Abstract Objective The relationship between systemic immune‐inflammation index (SII) and psoriasis and its prognosis is not yet clear. In this study, the correlation between SII and psoriasis, psoriasis comorbidities, and all‐cause mortality was investigated based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Methods The study population was derived from five NHANES cycles: 2003–2006, 2009–2014, and survival follow‐up was as of December 31, 2019. The association between SII and psoriasis and its comorbidities was analyzed using weighted multivariate logistic regression models. Weighted COX regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Restricted cubic spline, subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also used. Logarithmic conversion was performed on SII(log2SII) to reduce the impact of outliers. Results A total of 21,431 participants were included in this study. As a continuous variable, log2SII was significantly associated with psoriasis in the fully adjusted model [OR = 1.20(1.04–1.39), p = .01]. log2SII remained positively associated with psoriasis after excluding participants with a history of cancer or cardiovascular disease (CVD), or non‐Hispanic black participants. Among psoriasis patients, log2SII was significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) [OR = 1.68(1.19,2.38), p = .004] and all‐cause mortality [HR = 1.48(1.09,1.99), p = .01]. Similar results were consistently observed when SII was analyzed as a categorical variable (in quartiles). Conclusion This study suggested a positive association between SII and the prevalence of psoriasis. Among psoriasis patients, SII was positively correlated with MetS and all‐cause mortality.

Abstract Fire significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. The current global burned area (BA) products mainly have coarse native spatial resolution, which leads to underestimation of global BA and carbon emissions from biomass burning. Performances of BA products in Africa from GABAM (30 m), MCD64A1 (500 m), GFED4s (0.25°), FireCCI51 (250 m), and GFED5 (0.25°) were compared. From 2014 to 2020, GFED5 detected the most BA, 1.58 times more than GABAM during the same period. GABAM detected 0.09 Mkm2 more burned area than FireCCI51 on average. From 2014 to 2016, GABAM detected an average of 2.99 Mkm2 of BA in Africa, which was 1.03 times more than GFED4s. From 2014 to 2021, the average African BA derived from GABAM was 2.89 Mkm2, 1.22 times more than MCD64A1. The increase in BA will inevitably lead to an increase in the estimation of carbon emissions from biomass burning. Based on GABAM products and GFED framework, we estimated the average vegetation burning carbon emissions in Africa from 2014 to 2021 to be 1113.25 Tg, which is higher than GFED4s' carbon emissions in the same time period. This shows that the use of high‐resolution (30 m) burned area products to estimate carbon emissions can effectively avoid the underestimation of overall fire carbon emissions.

IntroductionN-phenyl-2-(aniline) analog N53 is a previously discovered dual inhibitor of Topo I and COX-2, which exhibited significant anti-colon cancer activity in vitro, but the poor solubility and moderate anti-cancer activity in vivo hindered its further development.MethodsTo rectify the suboptimal drug properties of N53, a series of salt forms were developed and further evaluated through in vivo and in vitro experiments.ResultsThe hydrochloride (N53·HCl) has a well-characterized crystal structure and its solubility reached 540.1 μg/mL, which is nearly 1,700 times higher than that of N53 (0.32 μg/mL). Increasing the N53 solubility consistently promotes its effective concentration, further enhancing the COX-2/Topo I inhibitory activity and the anti-tumor activity in vitro (IC50 values of 2.95 ± 0.08 μM for HT29 cells, 7.99 ± 0.85 μM for RKO cells, 10.94 ± 1.30 μM for HCT116 cells), as well as the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic activity. Meanwhile, its oral pharmacokinetic property in vivo is also improved. The elimination half-life (T1/2) is prolonged from 10.78 to 22.29 h, the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) is increased 2-fold, and the area under the plasma drug concentration-time curve (AUC0–∞) is increased 3-fold. In colon cancer xenograft mouse models, the tumor inhibition rate of N53·HCl was 53.7%, superior to that of N53 (34.7%). Moreover, the results of HE staining showed that N53·HCl had no obvious toxic effects and side effects on other organs, indicating that it was safe in vivo.DiscussionThis study demonstrated that N53·HCl exhibits superior pharmacokinetic properties, anti-colon cancer efficacy, and safety, providing a promising drug candidate for colon cancer therapy.

Perinatal depression (PD), which affects about 10–20 percent of women, often goes unnoticed because related symptoms frequently overlap with those commonly experienced during pregnancy. Moreover, identifying PD currently depends heavily on the use of questionnaires, and objective biological indicators for diagnosis has yet to be identified. This research proposes a safe and non-invasive method for diagnosing PD and aims to delve deeper into its underlying mechanism. Considering the non-invasiveness and clinical convenience of electroencephalogram (EEG) for mothers-to-be and fetuses, we collected the resting-state scalp EEG of pregnant women (with PD/healthy) at the 38th week of gestation. To compensate for the low spatial resolution of scalp EEG, source analysis was first applied to project the scalp EEG to the cortical-space. Afterwards, cortical-space networks and large-scale networks were constructed to investigate the mechanism of PD from two different level. Herein, differences in the two distinct types of networks between PD patients and healthy mothers-to-be were explored, respectively. We found that the PD patients illustrated decreased network connectivity in the cortical-space, while the large-scale networks revealed weaker connections at cerebellar area. Further, related spatial topological features derived from the two different networks were combined to promote the recognition of pregnant women with PD from those healthy ones. Meanwhile, the depression severity at patient level was effectively predicted based on the combined spatial topological features as well. These findings consistently validated that the two kinds of networks indeed played off each other, which thus helped explore the underlying mechanism of PD; and further verified the superiority of the combination strategy, revealing its reliability and potential in diagnosis and depression severity evaluation.

Over the past decade, the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has significantly increased, making early detection crucial for improving patient survival rates. Medical research suggests that changes in the human gut microbiome are closely linked to IBD onset, playing a critical role in its prediction. However, the current gut microbiome data often exhibit missing values and high dimensionality, posing challenges to the accuracy of predictive algorithms. To address these issues, we proposed the comprehensive data optimization and risk prediction framework (CDORPF), an ensemble learning framework designed to predict IBD risk based on the human gut microbiome, aiding early diagnosis. The framework comprised two main components: data optimization and risk prediction. The data optimization module first employed triple optimization imputation (TOI) to impute missing data while preserving the biological characteristics of the microbiome. It then utilized importance-weighted variational autoencoder (IWVAE) to reduce redundant information from the high-dimensional microbiome data. This process resulted in a complete, low-dimensional representation of the data, laying the foundation for improved algorithm efficiency and accuracy. In the risk prediction module, the optimized data was classified using a random forest (RF) model, and hyperparameters were globally optimized using improved aquila optimizer (IAO), which incorporated multiple strategies. Experimental results on IBD-related gut microbiome datasets showed that the proposed framework achieved classification accuracy, recall, and F1 scores exceeding 0.9, outperforming comparison models and serving as a valuable tool for predicting IBD onset risk.

BackgroundLaparoscopic pyeloplasty is a minimally invasive approach for the therapy of infant ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), reliant on CO2 pneumoperitoneum insufflation. While the impact of CO2 insufflation on adult and older pediatric populations has been studied, its effects on infants remain less explored.MethodsThis prospective randomized controlled trial included infants with UPJO undergoing laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Patients were allocated to low pneumoperitoneum pressure (LPP, 5 mmHg) or high pneumoperitoneum pressure (HPP, 8 mmHg) groups. Surgical parameters, postoperative complications, acid-base balance, stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress markers were evaluated and compared.ResultsA total of 116 infants were analyzed. Preoperative characteristics were comparable between LPP and HPP groups. No significant differences in blood loss, operation time, or hospitalization time were observed. Postoperative complications were similar between groups. Acid-base balance analysis revealed a decrease in pH after pneumoperitoneum in both groups, with greater reductions in actual base excess and standard base excess in the HPP group. Stress markers, cytokines, and oxidative stress markers increased postoperatively in both groups, with higher levels in the HPP group.ConclusionHPP leads to more pronounced physiological responses, including acid-base alterations, stress reactions, and inflammatory cytokine elevations.

Abstract A fundamental understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in biological invasions is crucial to developing effective risk assessment and control measures against invasive species. The fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is a highly invasive pest that has rapidly spread from its native Americas into much of the Eastern Hemisphere, with a highly homogeneous nuclear genetic background. However, the exact mechanism behind its rapid introduction and propagation remains unclear. Here, a systematic investigation is conducted into the population dynamics of FAW in China from 2019 to 2021 and found that FAW individuals carrying “rice” mitochondria (FAW‐mR) are more prevalent (>98%) than that with “corn” mitochondria (FAW‐mC) at the initial stage of the invasion and in newly‐occupied non‐overwintering areas. Further fitness experiments show that the two hybrid‐strains of FAW exhibit different adaptions in the new environment in China, and this may have been facilitated by amino acid changes in mitochondrial‐encoded proteins. FAW‐mR used increases energy metabolism, faster wing‐beat frequencies, and lower wing loadings to drive greater flight performance and subsequent rapid colonization of new habitats. In contrast, FAW‐mC individuals adapt with more relaxed mitochondria and shuttle energetics into maternal investment, observed as faster development rate and higher fecundity. The presence of two different mitochondria types within FAW has the potential to significantly expand the range of damage and enhance competitive advantage. Overall, the study describes a novel invasion mechanism displayed by the FAW population that facilitates its expansion and establishment in new environments.

The white paper on China’s Arctic Policy, which proposed the joint construction of the Polar Silk Road (PSR), was officially published in January 2018. As a short and economically feasible sea route, the PSR will inevitably affect the carrier’s market choice behaviour, thereby affecting the foreland network structure and foreland pattern of China’s coastal container ports (CCCP). Grasping the evolution trend of CCCP foreland under the PSR will help predict the development trend of the port and shipping market in advance and enable measures to be taken to adapt to the changing market environment. This paper constructs the port foreland network evolution (PFNE) model and presents a complex network delineation method of port foreland to simulate the effects of PSR on CCCP foreland evolution in different scenarios. Results show that the PSR’s addition to the CCCP foreland network will improve shipping connectivity, increase the connection between long-distance ports, reshape the clustering groups, promote the orderliness of the network and help the development of small and medium-sized ports. China’s global maritime transport pattern will change, which is mainly reflected in the enhanced shipping links between CCCP and Asia, Europe and Africa, while the importance of the Americas for CCCP weaken. PSR has a more obvious role in promoting the establishment of maritime links between China’s northern ports and the world ports. In the discussion, we propose the development policy of CCCP under the PSR.

Neuroinflammation is associated with the development of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). Parecoxib has powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, which may reduce the occurrence of POCD. We hypothesized that parecoxib could reduce the incidence of POCD and relieve postoperative pain without increasing postoperative complications in elderly patients with gastrointestinal cancer. The study analyzed the effect of parecoxib on elderly patients undergoing elective radical resection of gastrointestinal tumors. Patients were divided into the NSAIDs group and the non-NSAIDs group according to whether parecoxib was administered. Demographic and clinical data were collected and compared. The incidence of POCD was set as the primary outcome, and postoperative pain as the secondary outcome. Among the 440 enrolled patients, the POCD incidence rates within 7 days after surgery in the NSAIDs and non-NSAIDs groups were 42.60% and 40.30%, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05). Patients in the NSAIDs group experienced significantly less pain on the first and second days after surgery compared to the non-NSAIDs group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative adverse events between the two groups (P > 0.05). Parecoxib had no significant negative effect on early postoperative cognitive function, effectively alleviating early postoperative acute pain without increasing postoperative complications. The findings have implications for the broader use of parecoxib in postoperative pain management in elderly patients undergoing major surgery.

Energy systems are currently undergoing a transformation towards new paradigms characterized by decarbonization, decentralization, democratization, and digitalization. In this evolving context, energy blockchain, aiming to enhance efficiency, transparency, and security, emerges as an integrated technological solution designed to address the diverse challenges in this field. Data security is essential for the reliable and efficient functioning of energy blockchain. The pressing need to address challenges related to secure data storage, effective data management, and efficient data utilization is increasingly vital. This paper offers a comprehensive survey of academic discourse on energy blockchain data security over the past five years, adopting an all-encompassing perspective that spans data storage, management, and utilization. Our work systematically evaluates and contrasts the strengths and weaknesses of various research methodologies. Additionally, this paper proposes an integrated hierarchical on-chain and off-chain security energy blockchain architecture, specifically designed to meet the complex security requirements of multi-blockchain business environments. Concludingly, this paper identifies key directions for future research, particularly in advancing the integration of storage, management, and utilization of energy blockchain data security.

Abstract Background To fight the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries have implemented various mitigation measures to contain the spread of the disease. By engaging with health service providers, the community’s participation in adherence to preventive measures is certainly required in the implementation of COVID-19 mitigation strategies. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and its associated factors among the residents, Yangon Region, Myanmar. Methods A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out among 636 residents in Yangon Region, Myanmar, from October to December 2021. A multistage non-probability sampling method, purposively selected for three townships in Yangon Region and convenience sampling for 212 participants from each township, was applied and the data were collected by face-to-face interviews using structured and pretested questionnaires. Data were entered, coded, and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Simple and multiple logistic regression analysis were performed to identify the significant variables of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Results As a level of adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures, the proportion of residents who had good adherence was 39.3% (95% CI 35.5–43.2%), moderate adherence was 37.6% (95% CI 33.8–41.5%), and poor adherence was 23.1% (95% CI 19.9–26.6%). The age group of 31–40 years (AOR: 3.13, 95% CI 1.62–6.05), 30 years and younger (AOR: 3.22, 95% CI 1.75–5.92), Burmese ethnicity (AOR: 2.52, 95% CI 1.44–4.39), own business (AOR: 3.19, 95% CI 1.15–8.87), high school education level and below (AOR: 1.64, 95% CI 1.02–2.69), less than 280.90 USD of monthly family income (AOR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.01–2.29), low knowledge about COVID-19 (AOR: 1.90, 95% CI 1.26–2.88) were significantly associated with poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Conclusions In this study, nearly one-fourth of the residents were experiencing poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Therefore, building up the risk communication through the community using widely used mainstream media, the continuation of disease surveillance and announcement of updated information or advice for the public to increase awareness towards COVID-19, and enforcement to follow the recommended directions and regulations of health institutions are vital to consider for improving the adherence to preventive measures against COVID-19 among the residents.

Objective: DNA damage response (DDR) deficiency has emerged as a prominent determinant of tumor immunogenicity. This study aimed to construct a DDR-related immune activation (DRIA) signature and evaluate the predictive accuracy of the DRIA signature for response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. Methods: A DRIA signature was established based on two previously reported DNA damage immune response assays. Clinical and gene expression data from two published GI cancer cohorts were used to assess and validate the association between the DRIA score and response to ICI therapy. The predictive accuracy of the DRIA score was validated based on one ICI-treated melanoma and three pan-cancer published cohorts. Results: The DRIA signature includes three genes (CXCL10, IDO1, and IFI44L). In the discovery cancer cohort, DRIA-high patients with gastric cancer achieved a higher response rate to ICI therapy than DRIA-low patients (81.8% vs. 8.8%; P < 0.001), and the predictive accuracy of the DRIA score [area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.845] was superior to the predictive accuracy of PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, and Epstein–Barr virus status. The validation cohort demonstrated that the DRIA score identified responders with microsatellite-stable colorectal and pancreatic adenocarcinoma who received dual PD-1 and CTLA-4 blockade with radiation therapy. Furthermore, the predictive performance of the DRIA score was shown to be robust through an extended validation in melanoma, urothelial cancer, and pan-cancer. Conclusions: The DRIA signature has superior and robust predictive accuracy for the efficacy of ICI therapy in GI cancer and pan-cancer, indicating that the DRIA signature may serve as a powerful biomarker for guiding ICI therapy decisions.

Abstract Immunotherapy is the first-line therapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), yet many patients do not respond due to drug resistance and the lack of reliable predictive markers. We collected 73 ESCC patients (including discovery cohort and validation cohort) without immune thrombocytopenia and undergoing anti-PD1 immunotherapy. Proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of 73 ESCC treatment-naive samples by mass spectrometry-based label-free quantification were applied to explore the potential resistant and sensitive mechanisms, and identify predictive markers of ESCC immunotherapy. Comparative analysis found the pathways related to immune and mitochondrial functions were associated with ESCC immunotherapy sensitivity; while platelet activation bioprocess showed negative correlation with CD8+ T cells and related to ESCC immunotherapy non-sensitivity. Finally, we identified 10 ESCC immunotherapy predictive biomarkers with high accuracy (≥ 0.90) to predict the immunotherapeutic response, which was validated in the independent cohort.

Abstract Background Fruquintinib is a highly selective inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). Currently, there are no reported cases of fruquintinib causing kidney-restrictive thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) in the available Chinese and foreign literature. Case presentation In this case report, we presented a 73-year-old patient receiving fruquintinib for metastatic colon cancer, manifesting abundant proteinuria, in which kidney-restrictive TMA was also diagnosed through renal biopsy. As far as we were concerned, this was the frst reported in terms of fruquintinib-induced kidney-restrictive TMA confrmed by renal biopsy. Conclusion This case indicates that fruquintinib may result in kidney-restrictive TMA, which is a rare but life-threatening complication of cancer treatment drug. Therefore, regular monitoring of proteinuria and blood pressure is imperative for all patients undergoing anti-VEGF drug therapy. And renal biopsy should be promptly conducted to facilitate early detection of thrombotic microangiopathy.

A wearable walking aid for lower limbs is designed, which is mainly used to assist patients with lower limb movement disorders such as stroke hemiplegia to carry out daily walking activities. First of all, based on the analysis of the lower limb motion mechanism, joint structure and the composition of degrees of freedom, the three-dimensional structure model of the lower limb wearable walker is established. The 3D infrared motion capture system is used to collect the gait data of normal people and fit the corresponding joint angle curve. The simplified D-H model of the walker is established, and the kinematics modeling analysis of the walker is carried out. Taking the gait data collected from the motion capture experiment as the simulation driving force, the kinematics simulation verification of the walker is carried out. The results show that the joint angle change curve is basically consistent with the angle curve collected from the experiment, and the angular velocity change curve and the ankle joint centroid position change curve are consistent with the normal human walking law, which verify the rationality of the structure design of the lower limb wearable walker.

Abstract Background White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is an excellent leguminous cool-season forage with a high protein content and strong nitrogen-fixing ability. Despite these advantages, its growth and development are markedly sensitive to environmental factors. Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) is the major growth hormone in plants, regulating plant growth, development, and response to adversity. Nevertheless, the specific regulatory functions of Aux/IAA genes in response to abiotic stresses in white clover remain largely unexplored. Results In this study, we identified 47 Aux/IAA genes in the white clover genome, which were categorized into five groups based on phylogenetic analysis. The TrIAAs promoter region co-existed with different cis-regulatory elements involved in developmental and hormonal regulation, and stress responses, which may be closely related to their diverse regulatory roles. Collinearity analysis showed that the amplification of the TrIAA gene family was mainly carried out by segmental duplication. White clover Aux/IAA genes showed different expression patterns in different tissues and under different stress treatments. In addition, we performed a yeast two-hybrid analysis to investigate the interaction between white clover Aux/IAA and ARF proteins. Heterologous expression indicated that TrIAA18 could enhance stress tolerance in both yeast and transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana. Conclusion These findings provide new scientific insights into the molecular mechanisms of growth hormone signaling in white clover and its functional characteristics in response to environmental stress.