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Abstract Age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and mean heart rate during sleep were found to be risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and a variety of methods have been applied to predict the occurrence of OSA. This study aimed to develop and evaluate OSA prediction models using simple and accessible parameters, combined with multiple machine learning algorithms, and integrate them into a cloud-based mobile sleep medicine management platform for clinical use. The study data were obtained from the clinical records of 610 patients who underwent polysomnography (PSG) at the Sleep Medicine Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University between January 2021 and December 2022. The participants were randomly divided into a training-test group (80%) and an independent validation group (20%). The logistic regression, artificial neural network, naïve Bayes, support vector machine, random forest, and decision tree algorithms were used with age, gender, BMI, and mean heart rate during sleep as predictors to build a risk prediction model for moderate-to-severe OSA. To evaluate the performance of the models, we calculated the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC), accuracy, recall, specificity, precision, and F1-score for the independent validation set. In addition, the calibration curve, decision curve, and clinical impact curve were generated to determine clinical usefulness. Age, gender, BMI, and mean heart rate during sleep were significantly associated with OSA. The artificial neural network model had the best efficacy compared with the other prediction algorithms. The AUROC, accuracy, recall, specificity, precision, F1-score, and Brier score were 80.4% (95% CI 76.7–84.1%), 69.9% (95% CI 69.8–69.9%), 86.5% (95% CI 81.6–91.3%), 61.5% (95% CI 56.6–66.4%), 53.2% (95% CI 47.7–58.7%), 65.9% (95% CI 60.2–71.5%), and 0.165, respectively, for the artificial neural network model. The AUROCs for the LR, NB, SVM, RF, and DT models were 80.2%, 79.7%, 79.2%, 78.4%, and 70.4%, respectively. The six models based on four simple and easily accessible parameters effectively predicted moderate-to-severe OSA in patients with PSG screening, with the artificial neural network model having the best performance. These models can provide a reliable tool for early OSA diagnosis, and their integration into a cloud-based mobile sleep medicine management platform could improve clinical decision making.

Abstract Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients exhibit significant heterogeneity in tumor burden, physical condition, and responses to initial treatment. This diversity in treatment responses can result in varying treatment outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to explore the patient demographics associated with improved survival outcomes through radiotherapy. Based on the SEER database, we identified 42,824 SCLC patients enrolled between 2004 and 2015. These patients were stratified into radiotherapy (n = 20,360) and non-radiotherapy groups (n = 22,464). We controlled for confounding factors using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Subsequently, Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis was employed to evaluate the impact of radiotherapy on patients’ overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Cancer-specific mortality was further analyzed using competitive risk models. Cox analysis was also conducted to examine additional variables potentially affecting the survival of SCLC patients. We identified a total of 42,824 eligible patients, and following PSM, 13,329 patients were successfully matched in both the radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy groups. The KM analysis showed that the median OS was 9 months in the radiotherapy group and 6 months in the non-radiotherapy group. The median CSS was 10 months in the radiotherapy group and 7 months in the non-radiotherapy group. The 5-year OS and 10-year OS rates were 6.2% versus 1.6% in the radiotherapy group and 2.6% versus 0.8% in the non-radiotherapy group (P

The consumption of chemical fertilizers has increased eight-fold since the 19th century, outstripping crop yields increases and, emphasizing the need for precise nitrogen (N) assessment in crops to optimize fertilization and mitigate environmental impacts. This study developed a model using chlorophyll fluorescence technology to accurately evaluate the N status in maize leaves while addressing the limitations of current labor-intensive and environmentally sensitive methods. Based on a long-term experiment initiated in 2011, maize hybrid Fumin 985 was sampled in 2021 and 2022 under two crop-straw management strategies (SM: no tillage with surface straw mulch, SP: plough tillage with straw incorporation) and six N application rates. Partial least squares regression (PLSR) models were formulated using chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (ChlF) to assess leaf N content (N leaf). The results indicated that a N application rate of 270 kg ha−1 sufficed to meet crop N requirements. Leaf characteristics such as N leaf, total pigment content (TP), and leaf dry weight (DW leaf) changed significantly with increasing N application rates, influencing rapid chlorophyll fluorescence (OJIP) dynamics. Principal component analysis (PCA) reduced ChlF from 35 to 21, and four models were developed, among which, the model using ChlF and TP was more accurate than the model using DW alone. Key ChlF parameters for PLSR model performance included ABS/RC, φ(Eo), ETo/CSm, and δ(Ro)/(1–δ(Ro)). Although non-destructive N leaf detection using chlorophyll fluorescence technology proved feasible, additional leaf characteristics, such as TP, are necessary to improve model accuracy. Considering local field conditions is essential for the application of this technology at a larger scale. Precise evaluation of N status using chlorophyll fluorescence is beneficial for a more efficient N management and sustainable agriculture.

Background: The sleep quality of medical staff was severely affected during COVID-19, but the factors influencing the sleep quality of frontline staff involved in medical assistance remained unclear, and screening tools for their sleep quality were lacking. Methods: From June 25 to July 14, 2022, we conducted an Internet-based cross-sectional survey. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a self-designed general information questionnaire, and a questionnaire regarding the factors influencing sleep quality were combined to understand the sleep quality of frontline medical staff in Fujian Province supporting Shanghai in the past month. A chi-square test was used to compare participant characteristics, and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to determine the predictors of sleep quality. Stratified sampling was used to divide the data into a training test set ( n = 1061, 80%) and an independent validation set ( n = 265, 20%). Six models were developed and validated using logistic regression, artificial neural network, gradient augmented tree, random forest, naive Bayes, and model decision tree. Results: A total of 1326 frontline medical staff were included in this survey, with a mean PSQI score of 11.354 ± 4.051. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was 80.8% ( n = 1072, PSQI >7). Six variables related to sleep quality were used as parameters in the prediction model, including type of work, professional job title, work shift, weight change, tea consumption during assistance, and basic diseases. The artificial neural network (ANN) model produced the best overall performance with area under the curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, F1 score, and kappa of 71.6%, 68.7%, 66.7%, 69.2%, 34.0%, 45.0%, and 26.2% respectively. Conclusions: In this study, the ANN model, which demonstrated excellent predictive efficiency, showed potential for application in monitoring the sleep quality of medical staff and provide some scientific guidance suggestions for early intervention.

Fungal meroterpenoids are diverse structurally intriguing molecules with various biological properties. One large group within this compound class is derived from the aromatic precursor 3,5-dimethylorsellinic acid (DMOA). In this study, we constructed engineered metabolic pathways in the fungus Aspergillus oryzae to expand the molecular diversity of meroterpenoids. We employed the 5-methylorsellinic acid (5-MOA) synthase FncE and three additional biosynthetic enzymes for the formation of (6R,10′R)-epoxyfarnesyl-5-MOA methyl ester, which served as a non-native substrate for four terpene cyclases from DMOA-derived meroterpenoid pathways. As a result, we successfully generated six unnatural 5-MOA-derived meroterpenoid species, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach in the generation of structural analogues of meroterpenoids.

As one of the most landslide-prone countries, China is significantly affected by climate change worldwide. Understanding the influences of climate change on landslides and optimizing the corresponding countermeasures cannot be overstated. In this article, an overview of climate change’s influences on landslides in China is presented, and the developing trends of landslides in various natural topographical regions were analyzed based on two decades of historical recordings. The regions and major categories of landslides that are potentially influenced by climate change are summarized. The results indicate a growing trend of climate change is affecting the geo-environment, leading to the corresponding increase in severity, complexity, and spatial-temporal uncertainties of landslides in China. Accordingly, a proactive response is warranted to establish a more dynamic, efficient, and integrated framework of landslide risk control. This framework should encompass the entire risk control process from landslide identification, risk assessment, monitoring, early warning and mitigation, to address the issues of ‘What-Where-When-Why’ landslides would occur, ‘Who’ are the vulnerable elements, and ‘How’ the mitigation should be performed scientifically. This article is expected to help better understand the influences of climate changes on landslides in China and highlight the countermeasures responding to the challenges.

Thiamine serves as a cofactor of key enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, and its regulatory role in high-carbohydrate diet has not been reported in crustaceans. In this study, six types of isonitrogen and isolipid diets were formulated at two carbohydrate levels (15 % corn starch for the low-carbohydrate group; 30 % corn starch for the high-carbohydrate group) and three concentrations of thiamine (0, 80 and 160 mg/kg) in Macrobrachium nipponense. The carbohydrate metabolism, antioxidant status, and mRNA expression of genes involved in thiamine transport and autophagy of prawns were investigated. The high-carbohydrate diet supplemented with 160 mg/kg thiamine increased the thiamine transporter 1 (SLC19A2) expression compared to a low-carbohydrate diet or other thiamine concentrations. Supplementation with 160 mg/kg thiamine under a high carbohydrate level significantly increased the pyruvate and lactate content in the hepatopancreas. When supplemented with either 0 or 160 mg/kg thiamine, a high dietary carbohydrate significantly increased glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) and hexokinase (HK) mRNA expressions compared to a low-carbohydrate diet. Among the high-carbohydrate groups, prawns fed with 160 mg/kg thiamine showed significantly higher mRNA expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase-E1-α (PDH-E1-α) compared to those fed with 0 mg/kg thiamine. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was found to be highest in prawns fed 160 mg/kg thiamine. Supplementation of the carbohydrate diet with either 80 or 160 mg/kg thiamine led to a significant decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) content accompanied by a significant decrease in glutathione (GSH) level, regardless of low or high carbohydrate levels. The unc-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1) mRNA expression was markedly influenced by both carbohydrate levels and thiamine concentration. Hence, the administration of 160 mg/kg thiamine can improve the thiamine transport, carbohydrate absorption, glycolysis and the antioxidant properties of M. nipponense when fed a high-carbohydrate diet.

The success of an organism depends on the molecular and ecological adaptations that promote its beneficial fitness. Parasitoids are valuable biocontrol agents for successfully managing agricultural pests, and they have evolved diversified strategies to adapt to both the physiological condition of hosts and the competition of other parasitoids. Here, we deconstructed the parasitic strategies in a highly successful parasitoid, Trichopria drosophilae, which parasitizes a broad range of Drosophila hosts, including the globally invasive species D. suzukii. We found that T. drosophilae had developed specialized venom proteins that arrest host development to obtain more nutrients via secreting tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), as well as a unique type of cell—teratocytes—that digest host tissues for feeding by releasing trypsin proteins. In addition to the molecular adaptations that optimize nutritional uptake, this pupal parasitoid has evolved ecologically adaptive strategies including the conditional tolerance of intraspecific competition to enhance parasitic success in older hosts and the obligate avoidance of interspecific competition with larval parasitoids. Our study not only demystifies how parasitoids weaponize themselves to colonize formidable hosts but also provided empirical evidence of the intricate coordination between the molecular and ecological adaptations that drive evolutionary success.

ABSTRACT Transmission of Yersinia pestis by fleas depends on the formation of condensed bacterial aggregates embedded within a gel-like matrix that localizes to the proventricular valve in the flea foregut and interferes with normal blood feeding. This is essentially a bacterial biofilm phenomenon, which at its end stage requires the production of a Y. pestis exopolysaccharide that bridges the bacteria together in a cohesive, dense biofilm that completely blocks the proventriculus. However, bacterial aggregates are evident within an hour after a flea ingests Y. pestis, and the bacterial exopolysaccharide is not required for this process. In this study, we characterized the biochemical composition of the initial aggregates and demonstrated that the yersinia murine toxin (Ymt), a Y. pestis phospholipase D, greatly enhances rapid aggregation following infected mouse blood meals. The matrix of the bacterial aggregates is complex, containing large amounts of protein and lipid (particularly cholesterol) derived from the flea’s blood meal. A similar incidence of proventricular aggregation occurred after fleas ingested whole blood or serum containing Y. pestis, and intact, viable bacteria were not required. The initial aggregation of Y. pestis in the flea gut is likely due to a spontaneous physical process termed depletion aggregation that occurs commonly in environments with high concentrations of polymers or other macromolecules and particles such as bacteria. The initial aggregation sets up subsequent binding aggregation mediated by the bacterially produced exopolysaccharide and mature biofilm that results in proventricular blockage and efficient flea-borne transmission.IMPORTANCEYersinia pestis, the bacterial agent of plague, is maintained in nature in mammal-flea-mammal transmission cycles. After a flea feeds on a mammal with septicemic plague, the bacteria rapidly coalesce in the flea’s digestive tract to form dense aggregates enveloped in a viscous matrix that often localizes to the foregut. This represents the initial stage of biofilm development that potentiates transmission of Y. pestis when the flea later bites a new host. The rapid aggregation likely occurs via a depletion-aggregation mechanism, a non-canonical first step of bacterial biofilm development. We found that the biofilm matrix is largely composed of host blood proteins and lipids, particularly cholesterol, and that the enzymatic activity of a Y. pestis phospholipase D (Ymt) enhances the initial aggregation. Y. pestis transmitted by flea bite is likely associated with this host-derived matrix, which may initially shield the bacteria from recognition by the host's intradermal innate immune response.

Forecasting stock market movements is a challenging task from the practitioners’ point of view. We explore how model selection via the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) approach can be better used to forecast stock closing prices using real-world datasets of daily stock closing prices of three major international airlines. Combining the LASSO method with multiple external data sources in our model leads to a robust and efficient method to predict stock behavior. We also compare our approach with ridge, tree, and support vector machine regressions, as well as neural network approaches to model the data. We include lags of each external variable and response variable in the model, resulting in a total of 870 predictor variables. The empirical results indicate that the LASSO-fitted model is the most effective when compared to other approaches we consider. The results show that the closing price of an airline stock is affected by its closing price for the previous days and those of other types of airlines and is significantly correlated with the Shanghai Composite Index for the previous day and 3 days prior. Other influencing factors include the positive impact of the Shanghai Composite Index daily share volume, the negative impact of loan interest rates, the amount of highway passenger and railway freight turnover, etc.

Optical wireless video transmission technology combines the advantages of high data rates, enhanced security, large bandwidth capacity, and strong anti-interference capabilities inherent in optical communication, establishing it as a pivotal technology in contemporary data transmission networks. However, video data comprises a large volume of image information, resulting in substantial data flow with significant redundant bits. To address this, we propose an adaptive block sampling compressive sensing algorithm that overcomes the limitations of sampling inflexibility in traditional compressive sensing, which often leads to either redundant or insufficient local sampling. This method significantly reduces the presence of redundant bits in video images. First, the sampling mechanism of the block-based compressive sensing algorithm was optimized. Subsequently, a wireless optical video transmission experimental system was developed using a Field-Programmable Gate Array chip. Finally, experiments were conducted to evaluate the transmission of video optical signals. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm improves the peak signal-to-noise ratio by over 3 dB compared to other algorithms, with an enhancement exceeding 1.5 dB even in field tests, thereby significantly optimizing video transmission quality. This research contributes essential technical insights for the enhancement of wireless optical video transmission performance.

As a typical pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), β-1,3-glucan can engage with pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) to initiate an immune response. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary β-1,3-glucan on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, immune response, intestinal health, and bacterial resistance in juvenile Macrobrachium nipponense. Prawns were fed with five experimental diets containing 0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% β-1,3-glucan for eight weeks. The findings demonstrated that the inclusion of β-1,3-glucan improved weight gain and survival rate in prawns. Prawns fed with β-1,3-glucan exhibited elevated activities of hepatopancreatic ACP (acid phosphatase), AKP (alkaline phosphatase), and SOD (superoxide dismutase), while MDA (malondialdehyde) content was reduced. Expression levels of PRRs related genes including LGBP (lipopolysaccharide and β-1,3-glucan binding protein), lectin, and LBP (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein) were significantly increased in prawns fed with β-1,3-glucan. Intestinal flora analysis revealed suppression of Cyanobacteria abundance at the Phylum level and enhancement in Rhodobacter abundance at the genus level in prawns fed with a 0.2% β-1,3-glucan diet. Furthermore, prawns fed with 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% β-1,3-glucan demonstrated significantly higher survival rates following Aeromonas hydrophila infection. In conclusion, β-1,3-glucan can activate PRRs to improve immune responses in M. nipponese. Within the range of β-1,3-glucan concentrations set in this experiment, it is recommended to add 0.18% of β-1,3-glucan to the diet, taking into account the positive effect of β-1,3-glucan on the survival rate of M. nipponensecu.

Changes in the flavor and taste profiles of Paddy Field Carp after deodorization with perilla juice (PJ), cooking wine (CW) and a mixture of the two (PJ-CW) were analyzed using the E-nose, E-tongue, gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS), free amino acid analysis and taste nucleotide analysis. The E-nose and E-tongue revealed that deodorization reduced the content of sulfur-containing compounds, enhanced umami, bitterness, sourness and astringency, and decreased saltiness. PCA and OPLS-DA analysis successfully distinguished between the effects of the treatments. Free amino acids increased from 8777.67 to 11,125.98 mg/100 g and umami amino acids increased from 128.24 to 150.37 mg/100 g after PJ-CW deodorization (p < 0.05). Equivalent umami concentration (EUC) comparisons showed that PJ-CW treatment produced the greatest synergistic umami enhancement (to 3.15 g MSG equiv./100 g). GC-IMS detected 52 aroma compounds; PJ treatment produced the greatest diversity of aldehydes, including heptanal, nonanal, hexanal, 3-methylbutanal, (E)-2-heptenal and (E,E)-2,4-heptadienal. The total content of volatile flavor compounds was the highest after PJ-CW treatment, and the content of many characteristic flavor substances (3-hydroxy-2-butanone, benzaldehyde, 5-methyl-2(3H)-furanone) increased. These findings provided a theoretical basis for the further development of deodorization methods for Paddy Field Carp.

The issue of haze in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration has significant implications for China. Concurrently, co-agglomeration and technological innovation are key factors influencing haze pollution. Using the panel data composed of PM2.5 concentration and other data from 27cities in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River urban agglomeration between 2010 and 2020, this paper empirically investigates the impact of co-agglomeration and technological innovation on haze pollution. From this rigorous analysis, several conclusions crystallize: (1)the co-agglomeration of productive services and manufacturing accentuates haze pollution, showcasing notable regional variances;(2)the haze pollution has a significant positive correlation with the co-agglomeration levels in local and neighboring regions;(3)the negative consequences of co-agglomeration on environments reduce as the agglomeration of productive services and economic development increases;(4)technological innovation significantly moderates the pollution effects of co-agglomeration.

During shield construction in underground spaces, synchronous grouting slurry is poured between the surrounding rock and tunnel lining to ensure stability. For synchronous grouting slurries, few studies have investigated the relationship between the rheological parameters and physical properties, grout-segregation mechanism, and anti-segregation performance. Therefore, we explored the relationships between the slurry rheological parameters, segregation rate, and bleeding rate. Cement, sand, fly ash, and bentonite were used to prepare the slurry, and the effects of different polycarboxylate water-reducing agents and dispersible latex powder dosages were studied. The rheological parameters of 16 groups of uniformly designed slurries were tested, and the data were fit using the Herschel–Bulkley model. The optimal mix ratio lowered the slurry segregation rate, and its rheological behaviour was consistent with the Herschel–Bulkley fluid characteristics. High-yield-shear-stress synchronous grouting slurries with high and low viscosity coefficients were less likely to bleed and segregate, respectively. The optimised slurry fluidity, 3 h bleeding rate, 24 h bleeding rate, segregation rate, coagulation time, and 28 days compressive strength were 257.5 mm, 0.71%, 0.36%, 3.1%, 6.7 h, and 2.61 MPa, respectively, which meet the requirements of a synchronous grouting slurry of shield tunnels for sufficiently preventing soil disturbance and deformation in areas surrounding underground construction sites.

The increasing integration of Inverter Interfaced Distributed Generators (IIDGs) into distribution networks has led to a more active nature of the grid. However, the accuracy-speed trade-off caused by iterative algorithms and simplified models in the short-circuit current calculation method for active distribution networks (ADNs) is becoming more prominent. To address this issue, we propose a novel approach that utilizes Graph Convolutional Neural Networks (GCNs) for short-circuit current calculation in ADNs. Our study explores the characteristics of short-circuit current in different network structures and evaluates the feasibility of representing electrical quantities using a graph data format. The proposed method employs the GCN model to calculate multi-output ADN short-circuit current and investigates the block construction of the GCN model. Algorithm analysis demonstrates that our method effectively calculates network-wide short-circuit current under various network structures, IIDG penetration rates, and fault conditions, meeting both accuracy and computational speed requirements. The proposed method offers several advantages, including superior precision, rapid computation, minimal hardware resource utilization, and robust resistance to interference.

Abstract The anode-free design is a promising strategy to increase the energy density of aqueous Zn metal batteries (AZMBs). However, the scarcity of Zn-rich cathodes and the rapid loss of limited Zn greatly hinder their commercial applications. To address these issues, a novel anode-free Zn-iodine battery (AFZIB) was designed via a simple, low-cost and scalable approach. Iodine plays bifunctional roles in improving the AFZIB overall performance: enabling high-performance Zn-rich cathode and modulating Zn deposition behavior. On the cathode side, the ZnI2 serves as Zn-rich cathode material. The graphene/polyvinyl pyrrolidone heterostructure was employed as an efficient host for ZnI2 to enhance electron conductivity and suppress the shuttle effect of iodine species. On the anode side, trace I3 − additive in the electrolyte creates surface reconstruction on the commercial Cu foil. The in situ formed zincophilic Cu nanocluster allows ultralow-overpotential and uniform Zn deposition and superior reversibility (average coulombic efficiency > 99.91% over 7,000 cycles). Based on such a configuration, AFZIB exhibits significantly increased energy density (162 Wh kg−1) and durable cycle stability (63.8% capacity retention after 200 cycles) under practical application conditions. Considering the low cost and simple preparation methods of the electrode materials, this work paves the way for the practical application of AZMBs.

Abstract Background Influenza A viruses (IAV) exhibit vast genetic mutability and have great zoonotic potential to infect avian and mammalian hosts and are known to be responsible for a number of pandemics. A key computational issue in influenza prevention and control is the identification of molecular signatures with cross-species transmission potential. We propose an adjusted entropy-based host-specific signature identification method that uses a similarity coefficient to incorporate the amino acid substitution information and improve the identification performance. Mutations in the polymerase genes (e.g., PB2) are known to play a major role in avian influenza virus adaptation to mammalian hosts. We thus focus on the analysis of PB2 protein sequences and identify host specific PB2 amino acid signatures. Results Validation with a set of H5N1 PB2 sequences from 1996 to 2006 results in adjusted entropy having a 40% false negative discovery rate compared to a 60% false negative rate using unadjusted entropy. Simulations across different levels of sequence divergence show a false negative rate of no higher than 10% while unadjusted entropy ranged from 9 to 100%. In addition, under all levels of divergence adjusted entropy never had a false positive rate higher than 9%. Adjusted entropy also identifies important mutations in H1N1pdm PB2 previously identified in the literature that explain changes in divergence between 2008 and 2009 which unadjusted entropy could not identify. Conclusions Based on these results, adjusted entropy provides a reliable and widely applicable host signature identification approach useful for IAV monitoring and vaccine development.

BackgroundCOVID-19 has been reported to affect the sleep quality of Chinese residents; however, the epidemic’s effects on the sleep quality of college students during closed-loop management remain unclear, and a screening tool is lacking. ObjectiveThis study aimed to understand the sleep quality of college students in Fujian Province during the epidemic and determine sensitive variables, in order to develop an efficient prediction model for the early screening of sleep problems in college students. MethodsFrom April 5 to 16, 2022, a cross-sectional internet-based survey was conducted. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale, a self-designed general data questionnaire, and the sleep quality influencing factor questionnaire were used to understand the sleep quality of respondents in the previous month. A chi-square test and a multivariate unconditioned logistic regression analysis were performed, and influencing factors obtained were applied to develop prediction models. The data were divided into a training-testing set (n=14,451, 70%) and an independent validation set (n=6194, 30%) by stratified sampling. Four models using logistic regression, an artificial neural network, random forest, and naïve Bayes were developed and validated. ResultsIn total, 20,645 subjects were included in this survey, with a mean global PSQI score of 6.02 (SD 3.112). The sleep disturbance rate was 28.9% (n=5972, defined as a global PSQI score >7 points). A total of 11 variables related to sleep quality were taken as parameters of the prediction models, including age, gender, residence, specialty, respiratory history, coffee consumption, stay up, long hours on the internet, sudden changes, fears of infection, and impatient closed-loop management. Among the generated models, the artificial neural network model proved to be the best, with an area under curve, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 0.713, 73.52%, 25.51%, 92.58%, 57.71%, and 75.79%, respectively. It is noteworthy that the logistic regression, random forest, and naive Bayes models achieved high specificities of 94.41%, 94.77%, and 86.40%, respectively. ConclusionsThe COVID-19 containment measures affected the sleep quality of college students on multiple levels, indicating that it is desiderate to provide targeted university management and social support. The artificial neural network model has presented excellent predictive efficiency and is favorable for implementing measures earlier in order to improve present conditions.

In order to study the control effect of γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) coating treatment on the storage quality of postharvest ‘Golden Younai’ plum fruit and its relationship with respiration metabolism, 4 g/L γ-PGA was used to treat the postharvest ‘Golden Younai’ plum fruit, to evaluate the changes in fruit quality indicators and respiration rate during cold storage, and to further study the changes in important intermediate metabolites and key enzyme activities of the fruit respiration metabolism glycolysis-tricarboxylic acid cycle pathway. The results showed that the γ-PGA treatment delayed the decrease of the firmness of fruit during the early storage period, increased and maintained the soluble solid content during the storage period, slowed the increase in the weight loss rate and the decrease in the good fruit rate, and inhibited the respiratory intensity; further research found that, γ-PGA treatment inhibited the activity of hexokinase in the glycolysis of fruit, maintained the activities of phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase, delayed the decrease of glucose and pyruvate content, and also promoted the decrease of α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase activity and succinic acid content, while maintaining high citrate synthase activity, slowing down the decrease of citric acid and malic acid content. Therefore, 4 g/L γ-PGA coating treatment can reduce the loss of the respiratory substrates and intermediates via affecting the EMP-TCA pathway, which contributed to less material consumption during the storage, maintaining the quality and prolonging the shelf-life of harvested ‘Golden Younai’ plum fruit.

The invasive golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata has a strong reproductive capacity and has rapidly spread in Asian countries. Current control methods include physical, chemical, and biological approaches, but there has been limited research on the control of P. canaliculata in its different life stages. This study assessed the effectiveness of using giant river prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii in controlling juveniles of P. canaliculata through a controlled indoor experiment. The density, size, and dispersal range of recently hatched juvenile snails were significantly lower among those kept with prawns than those kept without prawns, indicating a control effect of M. rosenbergii at least on P. canaliculata juveniles. Furthermore, the study speculates on the potential application of M. rosenbergii in the context of a rice–prawn symbiotic system of ecological farming to control invasive P. canaliculata. In terms of effectiveness and safety, its application might lead to a win-win situation for both rice-farm profits and the ecological benefits of invasive species control.

Abstract Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is one of the most common and severe genetic diseases. SMA carrier screening is an effective way to identify couples at risk of having affected children. Next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based expanded carrier screening could detect SMN1 gene copy number without extra experiment and with high cost performance. However, its performance has not been fully evaluated. Here we conducted a systematic comparative study to evaluate the performance of three common methods. 478 samples were analyzed with multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and NGS, simultaneously. Taking MLPA-based results as the reference, for 0 copy, 1 copy and ≥ 2 copy SMN1 analysis with NGS, the sensitivity, specificity and precision were all 100%. Using qPCR method, the sensitivity was 100%, 97.52% and 94.30%, respectively; 98.63%, 95.48% and 100% for specificity; and 72.72%, 88.72% and 100% for precision. NGS repeatability was higher than that of qPCR. Moreover, among three methods, NGS had the lowest retest rate. Thus, NGS is a relatively more reliable method for SMN1 gene copy number detection. In expanded carrier screening, compared with the combination of multiple methods, NGS method could reduce the test cost and simplify the screening process.

RPA protects the integrity of single stranded DNA during DNA repair processes. Here the authors show how RPA actively participates in DNA transactions through its interactions with the endonuclease Dna2.

With the change of climate issues and the needs of economic development, the idea of practicing green and low-carbon behaviors sinks deeper and deeper into people's hearts. This paper based on the social cost of carbon (SCC) model, this paper constructs a new carbon social cost model by adding the impact of green low-carbon behavior. Classify climate states, based on Bayesian statistical knowledge, study the posterior probability distribution of climate state transitions, and discuss the optimal carbon policy for different climate states by balancing emission utility costs and utility weighted carbon marginal products. This article also discusses the damage caused by rising temperatures and explores their impact on carbon price policies. then, the paper calculates SCC under four kinds of climate states, which will be visually displayed with graphs. Finally, we compare SCC obtained in this paper with that in other researches. The results show that: (1) Climate status has a significant impact on carbon policy, and carbon price predictions will dynamically change with climate status. (2) Green low-carbon behavior has a positive impact on climate status. (3) There are differences in the impact of the three types of damage caused by rising temperatures on carbon price policies. (4) Green development is conducive to stabilizing the value of SCC. (5) Close monitoring of the climate state helps to update the probability of damage in time so that we can precisely adjust the corresponding policies on SCC. This study provides theoretical and empirical reference for the government to formulate carbon price policies and promote the development of social green behavior.

Usage of inefficient and unsafe cookstoves is a cause of significant health losses and injuries in low-income communities. Efforts to develop and disseminate clean cookstoves have concentrated on optimizing thermal and emission performance, but minimal attention was given to safety aspects. Discussions conducted by the ISO TC285 Technical Committee are ongoing on the derivation of a universal biomass cooking stove standard that aims to guide the development and marketing of products that are safe and efficient with clean burning. Under this, cooking stove safety guidelines addressing a range of hazards have been issued to the community of practice. This work critically addressed the current guideline on cooking stove stability by pointing out the inadequacy of the test and suggesting extra tests for an improved rating of a candidate stove. With a pot and fuel introduced to the research, there may be three different failure modes for various pot and stove combinations, which were tipping, sliding, or spilling. The tests were conducted on an inexpensive purposely built “tiltometer” that allowed testing the angles for stove tipping and sliding, as well as cooking pot sliding and spilling failure. The results indicated that tipping angles for a selected list of modern stoves varied widely based on different shapes and masses, from 18° to 72.2°. Also, the performance of the three different failure modes would place the same stove in different tiers by the current safety protocol. Theoretical geometric calculations for the tipping angle were conducted, and the relative errors were within 2.9%–12.7% for the three different orientations. It is suggested that a revision of the interim stove safety standard should be promoted to incorporate the findings of this study.

BackgroundNocardia is a ubiquitous soil saprophyte transmitted through airborne or direct cutaneous inoculation routes. Although Nocardia is more common in immunocompromised patients, Nocardia may also arise in apparently immunocompetent patients.Case presentationWe report a rare case of Nocardia infection presenting as a large mediastinal mass in an immunocompetent ceramic worker. A 54-year-old man with no previous history of immune dysfunction, a ceramic worker by profession, was referred and admitted to our hospital because of a persistent fever for 19 days. Chest CT showed a large middle mediastinal mass. However, conventional anti-infective treatment was ineffective. Under the guidance of the Virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) system, he underwent Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The purulent exudate obtained by EBUS-TBNA was further identified as Nocardia by weak acid-fast and metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). He was subsequently treated with intravenous imipenem/amikacin, switched to intravenous imipenem and oral trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and the clinical symptoms were significantly improved.ConclusionsEven in immunocompetent patients, Nocardiosis cannot be excluded. For the public, especially soil contact workers, precautions should be taken to avoid Nocardia infection from occupational exposure. This rare case may provide a diagnosis and treatment reference for clinicians.

ABSTRACT Mitochondria are critical cellular organelles that perform a wide variety of functions, including energy production and immune regulation. To perform these functions, mitochondria contain approximately 1,500 proteins, the majority of which are encoded in the nuclear genome, translated in the cytoplasm, and translocated to the mitochondria using distinct mitochondrial targeting sequences (MTS). Bacterial proteins can also contain MTS and localize to the mitochondria. For the obligate intracellular human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis, interaction with various host cell organelles promotes intracellular replication. However, the extent and mechanisms through which Chlamydia cells interact directly with mitochondria remain unclear. We investigated the presence of MTS in the C. trachomatis genome and discovered 30 genes encoding proteins with around 70% or greater probability of mitochondrial localization. Five are translocated to the mitochondria upon ectopic expression in HeLa cells. Mass spectrometry of isolated mitochondria from infected cells revealed that two of these proteins localize to the mitochondria during infection. Comparison of mitochondria from infected and uninfected cells suggests that chlamydial infection affects the mitochondrial protein composition. Around 125 host proteins were significantly decreased or absent in mitochondria from infected cells. Among these were proapoptotic factors and those related to mitochondrial fission/fusion dynamics. Conversely, 82 host proteins were increased in or specific to mitochondria of infected cells, many of which act as antiapoptotic factors and upregulators of cellular metabolism. These data support the notion that C. trachomatis specifically targets host mitochondria to manipulate cell fate decisions and metabolic function to support pathogen survival and replication. IMPORTANCE Obligate intracellular bacteria have evolved multiple means to promote their intracellular survival and replication within the otherwise harsh environment of the eukaryotic cell. Nutrient acquisition and avoidance of cellular defense mechanisms are critical to an intracellular lifestyle. Mitochondria are critical organelles that produce energy in the form of ATP and regulate programmed cell death responses to invasive pathogenic microbes. Cell death prior to completion of replication would be detrimental to the pathogen. C. trachomatis produces at least two and possibly more proteins that target the mitochondria. Collectively, C. trachomatis infection modulates the mitochondrial protein composition, favoring a profile suggestive of downregulation of apoptosis.

Coreoperca liui as an approximate species of the genus Siniperca, provides an important source for the genetic diversity of the mandarin fish, which is valuable for the protection of biodiversity and utilization of germplasm resources. The complete mitochondrial genome of C. liui is 16,482 bp long and it consists of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and a control region (D-loop). Phylogenetic analysis using the maximum-likelihood method, based on 13 PCGs and two rRNA from 13 species produced three major clades. The phylogenetic tree showed that C. liui is most closely related to Coreoperca whiteheadi. Our results provide useful information for understanding the phylogeny of the genus Coreoperca, as well as for conducing conservation studies of Sinipercidae and related species.

The influence of distributing micro-energy access on power grid voltage and peak is analyzed. For the over-voltage and under-voltage problems caused by the distributed micro-power access distribution network, which proposes a reactive control algorithm based on fuzzy logic. In this algorithm, the fuzzy logic control algorithm is used to control the reactive power,which is based on the sensitivity matrix. For the peak shaving problem caused by distributed power access to the distribution network, a strategy of storing photovoltaic power generation energy in an air source heat pump is proposed. By setting air source heat pumps with different parameters, a multi-objective scheduling model of control strategy for photovoltaic power generation energy consumption and the air source heat pump are proposed. And the improved non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms) is used to optimize the model. Through the introduction of fuzzy logic control to the research on the node voltage, the no-voltage control and the change of the node voltage of the introduction of fuzzy logic control are analyzed. The voltage fluctuation range of the introduction of fuzzy control is between 0.9–1.05, which is 0.1v less than the no-voltage control. The introduction of fuzzy logic control can solve the problem of voltage over-limit. In the process of peak shaving simulation analysis, using the improved algorithm NSGA-II, through the joint operation of wind power, photovoltaic power generation, air source heat pump and so on. The output power of the net load is 500 MW lower than the output power of the load, which is realized through the coordinated operation of various energy sources. The net load output power is relatively stable. From the analysis of the simulation results, the proposed algorithm can solve the voltage and peak problems, which caused by the participation of distributed resources in the micro-energy grid. And it realizes the balance of local energy production and energy load.

Evolutionary arms races can drive adaptations in hosts and parasites as well as among competing parasites. A combination of multi-omics and functional tests identifies a set of genes that allow a parasitic wasp to minimize intraspecific competition by inducing hosts to escape before more wasps can parasitize them.

Federated learning has attracted much attention in fault diagnosis since it can effectively protect data privacy. However, efficient fault diagnosis performance relies on the uninterrupted training of model parameters with massive amounts of perfect data. To solve the problems of model training difficulty and parameter negative transfer caused by data corruption, a novel cross-device fault diagnosis method based on repaired data is proposed. Specifically, the local model training link in each source client performs random forest regression fitting on the fault samples with missing fragments, and then the repaired data is used for network training. To avoid inpainting fragments to produce the wrong characteristics of faulty samples, joint domain discrepancy loss is introduced to correct the phenomenon of parameter bias during local model training. Considering the randomness of the overall performance change brought about by the local model update, an adaptive update is proposed for each round of global model download and local model update. Finally, the experimental verification was carried out in various industrial scenarios established by three sets of bearing data sets, and the effectiveness of the proposed method in terms of fault diagnosis performance and data privacy protection was verified by comparison with various currently popular federated transfer learning methods.

Quality-related prediction in the continuous-casting process is important for the quality and process control of casting slabs. As intelligent manufacturing technologies continue to evolve, numerous data-driven techniques have been available for industrial applications. This case study was aimed at developing a machine-learning algorithm, capable of predicting slag inclusion defects in continuous-casting slabs, based on process condition sensor data. A large dataset consisting of sensor data from nearly 7300 casting samples has been analyzed, with the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm utilized to process the multi-modal time series. The following machine-learning algorithms have been examined: K-Nearest neighbors, support vector classifier (linear and nonlinear kernels), decision trees, random forests, AdaBoost, and Artificial Neural Networks. Four over-sampling or under-sampling algorithms have been adopted to solve imbalanced data distribution. In the experiment, the optimized random forest outperformed other machine-learning algorithms in terms of recall and ROC AUC, which could provide valuable insights for quality control.

Abstract Background Intensive aquaculture farming has caused significant degradation of coastal wetlands and has been proposed as a reservoir for pathogenic Vibrio spp. Results Gut pathogens including Vibrio spp., Salmonella spp., and Klebsiella spp. were isolated from bird feces, shrimp and wetland water in two typical coastal regions of China in 2015 and 2017 and were subsequently subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Meanwhile, local patient isolates were also selected to confirm the epidemiological links. Bacterial community composition analyses of the sediments that were sampled in 2015 and 2017 were conducted by the hypervariable region 4 of the 16S rRNA gene. Together with the local clinical isolates, we observed highly related Vibrio isolates from waterbirds, wetlands and shrimp. Phylogenetic genome comparisons also demonstrated that sequence types ST3 and ST2414 Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates obtained from aquatic animals were clonally related to patient isolates. Likewise, three Salmonella typhimurium isolates were also genomically related to one clinical strain. The results showed that farming activities significantly altered the community composition and resulted in the emergence of several pathogens, including Acinetobacter, Mycobacterium and Legionella. Conclusions In conclusion, our results demonstrated that intensive shrimp farming in wetlands has two devastating impacts: pathogen dissemination from aquatic animals into migratory birds and transmission of foodborne pathogens into local communities.

Abstract Background Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase-4 (ACSL4) is involved in fatty acid metabolism, and aberrant ACSL4 expression could be either tumorigenic or tumor-suppressive in different tumor types. However, the function and clinical significance of ACSL4 in lung adenocarcinoma remain elusive. Results ACSL4 was frequently downregulated in lung adenocarcinoma when analyzing both the TCGA database and the validation samples, and the lower ACSL4 expression was correlated with a worse prognosis. Using gene set enrichment analysis, we found that high ACSL4 expression was frequently associated with the oxidative stress pathway, especially ferroptosis-related proteins. In vitro functional studies showed that knockdown of ACSL4 increased tumor survival/invasiveness and inhibited ferroptosis, while ACSL4 overexpression exhibited the opposite effects. Moreover, high-fat treatment could also inhibit erastin-induced ferroptosis by affecting ACSL4 expression. The anti-tumor effects of ferroptosis inducers and the anti-ferroptosis effects of the high-fat diet were further validated using the mouse xenograft model. Conclusions ACSL4 plays a tumor-suppressive role in lung adenocarcinoma by suppressing tumor survival/invasiveness and promoting ferroptosis. Our study provided a theoretical reference for the application of ferroptotic inducers and dietary guidance for lung adenocarcinoma patients.

This study proposes an approach to minimize the maximum makespan of the integrated scheduling problem in flexible job-shop environments, taking into account conflict-free routing problems. A hybrid genetic algorithm is developed for production scheduling, and the optimal ranges of crossover and mutation probabilities are also discussed. The study applies the proposed algorithm to 82 test problems and demonstrates its superior performance over the Sliding Time Window (STW) heuristic proposed by Bilge and the Genetic Algorithm proposed by Ulusoy (UGA). For conflict-free routing problems of Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), the genetic algorithm based on AGV coding is used to study the AGV scheduling problem, and specific solutions are proposed to solve different conflicts. In addition, sensors on the AGVs provide real-time data to ensure that the AGVs can navigate through the environment safely and efficiently without causing any conflicts or collisions with other AGVs or objects in the environment. The Dijkstra algorithm based on a time window is used to calculate the shortest paths for all AGVs. Empirical evidence on the feasibility of the proposed approach is presented in a study of a real flexible job-shop. This approach can provide a highly efficient and accurate scheduling method for manufacturing enterprises.

Parasitism is a widespread evolutionary strategy. A study that spans functional and evolutionary genomics identifies the molecular basis and history underlying two genes that have mediated divergent parasitic strategies (specialist vs generalist) between two sister species of parasitoid wasp.

Abstract Rechargeable aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (ZIBs) are promising candidates for advanced electrical energy storage systems owing to low cost, intrinsic safety, environmental benignity, and decent energy densities. Currently, significant research efforts are being made to develop high‐performance positive electrodes for ZIBs. Nevertheless, there are still many obstacles to be overcome in pursuit of the comprehensive performance of cathode materials, including specific capacity, structural stability, rate performance, and so forth. Many manganese‐based compounds have become the hotspots in the study of ZIB cathodes due to their advantages of natural abundance, less toxicity, and high operating voltage. Here, different energy storage mechanisms of various kinds of manganese‐based compounds are summarized. Electrochemical results of manganese‐based cathodes are compared and analyzed. Moreover, optimization strategies for addressing existing issues of these materials and improving ZIBs are discussed in detail.

ABSTRACT: Skin grafting, although a relatively classic and well-known technique, still has multiple disadvantages such as secondary contracture of the skin graft, sunken depression, poor elasticity, and color mismatch. Adding adipose tissues significantly improved the graft appearance compared to traditional skin grafting methods. Herein, we report two cases of modified skin graft procedures, both showing positive outcomes. In case 1, a mechanically processed fat-derived product was injected into the lower half of the skin graft area. In case 2, left upper eyelid blepharoplasty was performed, and the orbital fat strip was transferred and placed under the recipient area on the right side. Hair growth was observed only in case 1, whereas the extent of sunken depression was significantly reduced in both cases. Compared to traditional skin grafting methods, adding fat components to the skin graft recipient area improved the appearance and blood supply, together with enhancing the regenerative rate.

Background Aspirin is a classic anti‐inflammatory drug and its anticancer effect has been previously explored in many types of cancer including colorectal cancer therapy. Programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) is widely expressed in tumor cells and displays an inhibitory role in antitumor immunity. This study aimed to clarify the role of PD‐L1 in aspirin‐suppressed lung cancer. Methods The inhibitory effect of aspirin on lung cancer cell proliferation was assessed using an MTT cell viability assay. The role of aspirin in the modulation of PD‐L1 expression was analyzed by western blot or RT‐PCR assays. In lung cancer cells, the influence of aspirin on PD‐L1 promoter activity was detected using a luciferase reporter assay. The interaction of TAZ with PD‐L1 promoter in the cells, with or without aspirin administration, was tested via chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis. The function of PD‐L1 in aspirin‐mediated growth inhibition of lung cancer was examined using a cell viability assay. Results Following treatment with aspirin, lung cancer cell growth was markedly suppressed. Aspirin was able to markedly decrease the expression of PD‐L1 at the mRNA and protein levels in lung cancer cells. For the mechanism study, we found that the promoter of PD‐L1 was inactivated by aspirin via TAZ transcriptional coactivator in the cells. With regard to the functional investigation, aspirin was capable of resisting cell proliferation and PD‐L1 overexpression abolished aspirin‐depressed cell proliferation in lung cancer. Conclusions Aspirin suppressed the growth of lung cancer cells via targeting the TAZ/PD‐L1 axis.

BackgroundPatients with progressive thoracic malignancy characterized by large irregular tumors with necrosis and life-threatening symptoms lack effective treatments. We set out to develop a single needle cone puncture method for the Iodine-125 seed (SNCP-125I) brachytherapy, and aim to report the initial results.Methods294 patients with advanced thoracic malignancy were treated with local SNCP-125I brachytherapy between March 2009 and July 2020, followed by thorough evaluation of clinical outcome, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and procedure-related complications after treatment.ResultsThe overall response rate (ORR) among the treated patients was 81.0% (238/294). Life-threatening symptoms due to tumor oppression, hemoptysis and large irregular tumor with necrosis were successfully alleviated after the SNCP-125I treatment with a remission rate at 91% to 94%. The median OS and PFS were 13.6 months and 5.8 months, respectively. Procedure-related side effects including pneumothorax (32/294), blood-stained sputum (8/294), subcutaneous emphysema (10/294), puncture site bleeding (16/294) and chest pain (6/294) were observed. Patients who were able to follow with chemotherapy or immunotherapy experienced extended OS and PFS, as compared with patients who opted to receive hospice care (16.5 months Vs. 11.2 months). Further pathological and immunological analysis showed that SNCP-125I induced tumor lymphocytes infiltration and long-term tumor necrosis.ConclusionSNCP-125I brachytherapy effectively eliminates life-threatening symptoms due to local tumor oppression, hemoptysis and large irregular and necrotic tumors in patients with unresectable chest malignancy and significantly induces local tumor regression. SNCP-125I brachytherapy combines with chemotherapy significantly prolong OS and PFS compare with SNCP-125I brachytherapy alone.

Background: The rapid outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) posed a serious threat to China, followed by compulsive measures taken against the national emergency to control its further spread. This study was designed to describe residents' knowledge, attitudes, and practice behaviors (KAP) during the outbreak of COVID-19.Methods: An anonymous online questionnaire was randomly administrated to residents in mainland China between Mar 7 and Mar 16, 2020. Residents' responses to KAP were quantified by descriptive and stratified analyses. A Multiple Logistic Regression model was employed to identify risk factors associated with KAP scores.Results: A total of 10,195 participants were enrolled from 32 provinces of China. Participants of the ≥61 years group had higher KAP scores [adjusted Odds Ratio (ORadj) = 4.8, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 3.0–7.7, P < 0.0001], and the married participants and those in low-income families had higher scores of KAP (ORadj = 1.2, 95% CI: 1.1–1.3; ORadj = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.6–2.2, respectively, both P < 0.0001). The participants living with more than two family members had higher scores in an increasing ORs when the family members increased (ORadj = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.6, P = 0.013; ORadj = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.6, P = 0.003; ORadj = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.6, P = 0.02; for groups of 2, 3–4 and ≥5, respectively).Conclusions: Out of the enrolled participants who completed the survey, 85.5% responded positively toward the mandatory public health interventions implemented nationwide by the Chinese authorities. These effective practices seem to be related to a proper attitude generated by the increased knowledge and better awareness of the risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent need for safe and responsible behavior.

ABSTRACT Vibrio parahaemolyticus is becoming the leading cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis, but its population dynamics in aquafarms have received limited attention. To address this research gap, we selected three shellfish farms to examine the impacts of ocean currents and the transport of live aquatic animals on the transmission and microevolution of V. parahaemolyticus by using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and whole-genome sequencing. MLST and genomic analysis revealed that the community structure of V. parahaemolyticus in Dalian and Donggang was relatively stable in the presence of ocean currents; however, horizontal gene transfer of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) between Dalian and Donggang was very common. Further analysis indicated that the transport of live aquatic animals from Dalian to Xiamen not only introduced new V. parahaemolyticus populations but also allowed the exchange of genetic material between the two sites. More interestingly, Dalian-originated strain ST722 was introduced to Xiamen farms, resulting in one MLST allele change and the acquisition of two genomic islands from indigenous isolates in Xiamen within 8 months; such alterations are thought to promote the adaptation of V. parahaemolyticus. These results provide direct observations of how ocean currents and the transport of live aquatic animals contribute to the dissemination and genetic mixture of V. parahaemolyticus, which provides insights into the dynamics and microevolution of V. parahaemolyticus in aquacultural environments. IMPORTANCE Globally, V. parahaemolyticus-related gastroenteritis outbreaks caused by seafood consumption represent an increasing threat to human health. Despite advances in our understanding of the global epidemiology of pandemic V. parahaemolyticus, fundamental questions about the key driving forces for the spread of V. parahaemolyticus at regional and national scales remain unanswered. This study revealed that the transregional transport of aquatic animals and the movement of ocean currents both contributed to the mixing of V. parahaemolyticus populations. More importantly, this study demonstrated how genetic mixture occurred between introduced and endemic V. parahaemolyticus populations via the transport of aquatic animals, which accelerated bacterial adaptation by transferring ecologically important functions. These results suggest that human activities entail a risk of the emergence of new virulent populations for both aquatic animals and humans by horizontal gene transfer and provide important insights into the microevolution and population mixing of V. parahaemolyticus.

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic nosocomial pathogen that is the causative agent of several serious infections in humans, including pneumonia, sepsis, and wound and burn infections. A. baumannii is also capable of forming proteinaceous biofilms on both abiotic and epithelial cell surfaces. Here, we investigate the response of A. baumannii toward sodium sulfide (Na2S), known to be associated with some biofilms at oxic/anoxic interfaces. The addition of exogenous inorganic sulfide reveals that A. baumannii encodes two persulfide-sensing transcriptional regulators, a primary σ54-dependent transcriptional activator (FisR), and a secondary system controlled by the persulfide-sensing biofilm growth-associated repressor (BigR), which is only induced by sulfide in a fisR deletion strain. FisR activates an operon encoding a sulfide oxidation/detoxification system similar to that characterized previously in Staphylococcus aureus, while BigR regulates a secondary persulfide dioxygenase (PDO2) as part of yeeE-yedE-pdo2 sulfur detoxification operon, found previously in Serratia spp. Global S-sulfuration (persulfidation) mapping of the soluble proteome reveals 513 persulfidation targets well beyond FisR-regulated genes and includes five transcriptional regulators, most notably the master biofilm regulator BfmR and a poorly characterized catabolite regulatory protein (Crp). Both BfmR and Crp are well known to impact biofilm formation in A. baumannii and other organisms, respectively, suggesting that persulfidation of these regulators may control their activities. The implications of these findings on bacterial sulfide homeostasis, persulfide signaling, and biofilm formation are discussed. IMPORTANCE Although hydrogen sulfide (H2S) has long been known as a respiratory poison, recent reports in numerous bacterial pathogens reveal that H2S and more downstream oxidized forms of sulfur collectedly termed reactive sulfur species (RSS) function as antioxidants to combat host efforts to clear the infection. Here, we present a comprehensive analysis of the transcriptional and proteomic response of A. baumannii to exogenous sulfide as a model for how this important human pathogen manages sulfide/RSS homeostasis. We show that A. baumannii is unique in that it encodes two independent persulfide sensing and detoxification pathways that govern the speciation of bioactive sulfur in cells. The secondary persulfide sensor, BigR, impacts the expression of biofilm-associated genes; in addition, we identify two other transcriptional regulators known or projected to regulate biofilm formation, BfmR and Crp, as highly persulfidated in sulfide-exposed cells. These findings significantly strengthen the connection between sulfide homeostasis and biofilm formation in an important human pathogen.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major serious malignant tumor and is commonly diagnosed in older men. Identification of novel cancer-related genes in PCa is important for understanding its tumorigenesis mechanism and developing new therapies against PCa. Here, we used RNA sequencing to identify the specific genes, which are upregulated in PCa cell lines and tissues. The cell division cycle associated protein (CDCA) family, which plays a critical role in cell division and proliferation, is upregulated in the PCa cell lines of our RNA-Sequencing data. Moreover, we found that CDCA2 is overexpressed, and its protein level positively correlates with its histological grade, clinical stage, and Gleason Score. CDCA2 was further found to be upregulated and correlated with poor prognosis and patient survival in multiple cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. The functional study suggests that inhibition of CDCA2 will lead to apoptosis and lower proliferation in vitro. Silencing of CDCA2 also repressed tumor growth in vivo. Loss of CDCA2 affects several oncogenic pathways, including MAPK signaling. In addition, we further demonstrated that CDCA2 was induced in hypoxia and directly regulated by the HIF-1α/Smad3 complex. Thus, our data indicate that CDCA2 could act as an oncogene and is regulated by hypoxia and the HIF-1αpathway. CDCA2 may be a useful prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for PCa.

Comparing to the water fracturing fluid regularly used in the hydraulic fracturing operation, supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) as a promising nonaqueous fracturing fluid has the great potential for the improvement of production and protection of shale reservoir. This paper presents an experimental study of the mechanical response and fracture propagation of shale fractured using water and SC-CO2 under the different stress status and injection rate. According to the experimental results, SC-CO2 fracturing is more time-consuming due to its compressibility which takes about 20 times more time than hydraulic fracturing using water under the same preset conditions. The breakdown pressure of shale can be affected by not only the anisotropy of itself but also the external factors like injection rate and deviator stress. Similar tendency of the breakdown pressure with the variation of bedding orientation can be observed in both of the fracturing using water and SC-CO2. However, all of the shale specimens fractured using SC-CO2 show smaller breakdown pressure if compared with the shale specimens fractured using water. According to the results of fracture width evolution monitored by circumference during the fracturing, the fracture propping and proper size of the proppant are really important for the hydraulic fracturing.

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide. The five-year survival rate of HNSCC has not improved even with major technological advancements in surgery and chemotherapy. Currently, docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluoruracil (TPF) treatment has been the most popular chemotherapy method for HNSCC; but only a small percentage of HNSCC patients exhibit a good response to TPF treatment. Unfortunately, at present, no reasonably effective prediction model exists to assist clinicians with patient treatment. For this reason, patients have no other alternative but to risk neoadjuvant chemotherapy in order to determine their response to TPF. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression profile in TPF-sensitive and non-sensitive patient samples. We identified a gene expression signature between these two groups. We further chose 10 genes and trained a support vector machine (SVM) model. This model has 88.3% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity to predict the response to TPF treatment in our patients. In addition, four more TPF responsive and four more TPF non-sensitive patient samples were used for further validation. This SVM model has been proven to achieve approximately 75.0% sensitivity and 100% specificity to predict TPF response in new patients. This suggests that our 10-genes SVM prediction model has the potential to assist clinicians to personalize treatment for HNSCC patients.

Abstract Background To explore the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH), which mimics sleep apnea syndrome, on the cardiac renin angiotensin system (RAS), and to investigate the cardiac protection of an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)telmisartan (TERT) against CIH. Methods 32 healthy male C57B6J mice were randomly divided into CIH, ARB, blank and air control groups. CIH lasted for 12 weeks. Cardiac angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE 2) and angiotensin II (Ang II) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Myocardial apoptosis were assessed by TUNEL assay and myocardial cell ultrastructure were observed under transmission electron microscope. Results Cardiac ACE expression was higher in the CIH group than in blank and air control groups, which was decreased with TERT treatment. TERT treatment elevated the expression of cardiac ACE 2 and Ang II compared with CIH group. Myocardial cell and capillary endothelial cell apoptosis, mitochondrial injury were most severe in CIH groups, which were mitigated with TERT treatment. Conclusions CIH changes the expression of cardiac ACE, ACE2 and Ang II, which may cause myocardial damage. TERT protects mice from CIH-linked cardiac damage via modulating the activity of RAS in the hearts.

Hydraulic fracturing using freshwater is difficult for the commercial exploitation of a shale oil reservoir in Jianghan Basin with a continental saline lake basin sedimentary background. Supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) is a promising fracturing fluid under consideration for the reservoir stimulation, especially in the case of the presence of water sensible salt layers. In this study, SC-CO2 fracturing experiments on the inter-salt-shale and salt specimens, which were obtained from the drilling well, were carried out in the laboratory. The characteristics of fracture propagation, including morphology and width variation, were analyzed based on the observations of a stereoscopic microscope, X-ray micro-CT scanner, and 3D scanner. The existing weak planes in the shale can really impact the fracture propagation in SC-CO2 fracturing. Deflection, branching, and approaching can occur during the process of fracture propagation. The average width value of the reactivated natural fracture is bigger than that of a newly created fracture. In addition, the fracturing results indicate the greater breakdown pressure of rock salt if compared with the inter-salt-shale. The induced fractures in the salt specimen are compact and smaller in average width than those in the shale specimen. The higher breakdown pressure and relatively smaller fracture width of rock salt are real challenges for the fracturing of an inter-salt-shale oil reservoir.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is thought to signal through protein S-sulfuration (persulfidation; S-sulfhydration) in both mammalian systems and bacteria. We previously profiled proteome S-sulfuration in Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and identified two thioredoxin-like proteins, designated TrxP and TrxQ, that were capable of reducing protein persulfides as a potential regulatory mechanism. In this study, we further characterize TrxP, TrxQ and the canonical thioredoxin, TrxA, by identifying candidate protein substrates in S. aureus cells using a mechanism-based profiling assay where we trap mixed disulfides that exist between the attacking cysteine of a FLAG-tagged Trx and a persulfidated cysteine on the candidate substrate protein in cells. Largely non-overlapping sets of four, 32 and three candidate cellular substrates were detected for TrxA, TrxP, and TrxQ, respectively, many of which were previously identified as global proteome S-sulfuration targets including for example, pyruvate kinase, PykA. Both TrxA (kcat = 0.13 s-1) and TrxP (kcat = 0.088 s-1) are capable of reducing protein persulfides on PykA, a model substrate detected as a candidate substrate of TrxP; in contrast, TrxQ shows lower activity (kcat = 0.015 s-1). This work reveals that protein S-sulfuration, central to H2S and reactive sulfur species (RSS) signaling, may impact cellular activities and appears to be regulated in S. aureus largely by TrxP under conditions of sulfide stress.