Search

ObjectiveThis study aims to explore the association between alcohol intake and cognitive function in elderly Americans, including potential nonlinear relationships and interactions across different subgroups.MethodsThe study analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2011 to 2014. The sample included 2,675 Americans aged 60 or older. Multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between alcohol intake and cognitive function. Smooth curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were employed to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were conducted to examine the stability of the results across different subgroups.ResultsThe results indicate a significant negative correlation between alcohol intake and cognitive function. In the CERAD total word recall test, for every unit increase in alcohol intake, the score decreased by 0.15 points (−0.15, 95% CI: −0.25, −0.04), and in the CERAD delayed recall test, it decreased by 0.07 points (−0.07, 95% CI: −0.12, −0.01). Compared to Non-Heavy Drinkers, Heavy Drinkers showed a reduction in their CERAD total word recall scores by-0.77 points (−0.77, 95% CI: −1.23, −0.32) and in their CERAD delayed recall scores by-0.28 points (−0.28, 95% CI: −0.52, −0.04). Smooth curve fitting analysis revealed a nonlinear relationship between alcohol intake and cognitive function, with breakpoints at 10.7 for the CERAD total word recall test, 4.7 for the Animal fluency test, and 3.85 for the Digit symbol substitution test. Additionally, subgroup analysis indicated that gender, educational level, and smoking status significantly moderated the relationship between alcohol intake and cognitive function, while marital status, race, hypertension, diabetes, and cancer status showed no significant interactions.ConclusionThe association between alcohol intake and cognitive function in the elderly is complex, influenced by both the amount of intake and individual subgroup characteristics.

BackgroundRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) have unequivocally established the therapeutic advantages of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with chemotherapy in the treatment of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Presently, numerous perioperative immunotherapy regimens centered around the integration of ICIs and chemotherapy have undergone clinical trials. Nonetheless, due to the absence of direct comparative RCTs among these treatment regimens, this study aims to employ Bayesian network meta-analysis to ascertain the optimal combination of ICIs and chemotherapy.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science databases, and major international conference publications up to April 10, 2024. This comprehensive search yielded a total of 1434 studies. Following a rigorous screening process that involved evaluating the studies for relevance, methodological quality, and alignment with our research objectives, 8 studies were carefully selected for inclusion in the final analysis. Based on these curated search results, a systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted.Results8 RCTs were included, encompassing 7 treatments and involving 3699 operable NSCLC patients at stages I-III. Compared to chemotherapy alone, perioperative immunotherapy demonstrated higher efficacy. The combination of toripalimab and chemotherapy showed the most significant improvement in event-free survival (EFS) (HR= 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.58). The regimen that most notably enhanced overall survival (OS) was Nivolumab combined with chemotherapy (HR = 0.62; 95% CI, 0.36-1.07). In terms of pathological complete response (pCR), the combination of Toripalimab and chemotherapy exhibited the highest benefit (OR = 32.89; 95% CI, 7.88-137.32). Regarding the improvement in R0 resection, Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy performed most prominently(OR=2.15; 95% CI, 1.30-3.56). In terms of the incidence of grade 3 or higher adverse events, durvalumab combined with chemotherapy had the lowest incidence (OR = 1.05; 95% CI, 0.79-1.38), while the incidence for other regimens was higher than chemotherapy alone.ConclusionThe efficacy of perioperative immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in patients with early NSCLC is significantly improved compared to chemotherapy alone. Although there is a certain risk of adverse events, the safety is within a controllable range. After a comprehensive evaluation of five endpoints in this study, it is believed that the combination of Toripalimab or Nivolumab with chemotherapy may be the optimal immunotherapy regimen for the treatment of stage Ib-IIIb NSCLC. These findings will help guide the design of clinical treatment plans and ICIs selection.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42024536799.

The goal of the study involved the comparison of clinical efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) in the treatment of malignant lymphoma (ML). The effectiveness of allo-HSCT versus auto-HSCT in the treatment of ML was compared by searching EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies. The confidence intervals (CI) and odds ratio (OR) of the article’s outcomes were described by a forest plot. Finally, 972 patients in seven articles were included. Overall survival (OS) did not differ significantly between allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT groups (OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.66–1.14, P = 0.31). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in adverse reactions (AR) between the two groups (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 0.81–2.24, P = 0.25). We observed a significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) between the two groups (OR = 4.14, 95% CI: 2.93–5.35, P < 0.01). There was no evidence of publication bias in this meta-analysis. The incidence of OS and AR differ significantly between allo-HSCT and auto-HSCT, but the PFS was longer in ML patients who received allo-HSCT.

Diffractive optics devices are optical devices in which the amplitude or phase of the incident light is spatially modulated periodically by a micro-nanomaterial based structure. The study of diffractive optics devices in the field of micro and nano can change the spectroscopic behavior of micro and nano diffractive optics devices by varying the microstructure of the structure and the optical wave properties, which can effectively and reasonably modulate the optical wave signal. To study the effect of different parameter structures on the performance of micro-nano diffraction optical devices, in this paper, two three-dimensional array structures of diffractive optical devices are proposed, which are a vertex-intersecting regular tetrahedron structure and a base-intersecting regular frustum structure. Using the Finite-Difference Time-Domain method, the spectroscopic images of the diffractive optics of the constructed micro-nano diffractive devices are studied in the near-infrared band by varying the height of the constructed structures, the type of structures, the wavelength of the incident light waves, and the polarization direction of the light waves in different 3D height coordinates. The effects of different parameter changes on the performance of the micro-nano diffractive optics devices were analyzed by image comparison. The results show that the best diffraction effect is achieved at a structure height of 0.9 μm for both models with different structure types. The study of both structures at this structure height reveals that the location of diffraction occurrence and the intensity of diffraction can be tuned by varying the structure and the relevant parameters such as the polarization of the light wave. This paper has some theoretical applications for the study of high-performance diffractive optics.

BackgroundA multitude of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted in both the initial and subsequent treatment settings for patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have provided clinical evidence supporting the efficacy of immunotherapy with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In light of these findings, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of several ICIs in specific subpopulations of mCRC patients. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of direct comparative RCTs evaluating various treatment options. Consequently, the most effective ICI therapeutic strategy for microsatellite-stable (MSS) subgroup and microsatellite instability (MSI) subgroup in the first- and second-line therapies remains undefined. To address this gap, the present study employs a Bayesian network meta-analysis to ascertain the most effective first- and second-line ICI therapeutic strategies.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, with the retrieval date ranging from the databases’ inception to August 20, 2024. A total of 875 studies were identified, and seven were ultimately included in the analysis after a screening process. A systematic review and network meta-analysis were conducted on the basis of the search results.ResultsThis comprehensive analysis, comprising seven RCTs, evaluated first-line and second-line immunotherapy regimens in 1,358 patients diagnosed with mCRC. The treatments under investigation consisted of five initial treatments, including three focusing on MSS patients and two on MSI patients, as well as two secondary immunotherapy regimens, both focusing on MSS patients. A total of 1051 individuals underwent first-line treatment, while 307 received second-line treatment. The application of ICIs proved to offer varying degrees clinical benefits when compared to standard-of-care therapy alone, both in two subgroups of the first and the second treatment phases. Of particular note is the performance of Nivolumab combination with ipilimumab, which demonstrated superior efficacy in improving progression-free survival (PFS) (HR=0.21; 95% CI, 0.13-0.34),. Moreover, the treatment demonstrated an optimal safety profile, with a relatively low risk of adverse events (OR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.19–0.56), compared to other first-line treatment modalities for MSI subgroup. Regarding MSS subgroup, the improvement of PFS by Nivolumab plus standard-of-care (SOC) was relatively significant (HR = 0.74; 95% CI, 0.53-1.02). In the realm of second-line therapies for MSS subgroup, the administration of Atezolizumab plus SOC has proven to be an effective approach for prolonging PFS, exhibiting an HR of 0.66 (95% CI, 0.44–0.99). These findings underscore the clinical benefits and safety profiles of ICIs in the treatment of mCRC across various treatment lines.ConclusionsThe clinical application of ICIs in both first- and second-line treatment strategies for patients with mCRC yields substantial therapeutic benefits. A detailed assessment in this study indicates that first-line treatment with Nivolumab combination with ipilimumab may represent an efficacious and well-tolerated therapeutic approach for MSI subgroup. In terms of MSS subgroup in first-line therapy, Nivolumab plus SOC may be a relative superior choice. In the context of second-line therapy for MSS subgroup, it is evident that a combination of Atezolizumab and SOC represents a preferable option for enhancing PFS. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that other ICIs treatment regimens also exhibit great value in various aspects, with the potential to inform the development of future clinical treatment guidelines and provide a stronger rationale for the selection of ICIs in both first- and second-line therapeutic strategies for mCRC.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails, identifier CRD42024543400.

Organoids, characterized by their high physiological attributes, effectively preserve the genetic characteristics, physiological structure, and function of the simulated organs. Since the inception of small intestine organoids, other organoids for organs including the liver, lungs, stomach, and pancreas have subsequently been developed. However, a comprehensive summary and discussion of research findings on gastrointestinal tract (GIT) organoids as disease models and drug screening platforms is currently lacking. Herein, in this review, we address diseases related to GIT organoid simulation and highlight the notable advancements that have been made in drug screening and pharmacokinetics, as well as in disease research and treatment using GIT organoids. Organoids of GIT diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, necrotizing enterocolitis, and Helicobacter pylori infection, have been successfully constructed. These models have facilitated the study of the mechanisms and effects of various drugs, such as metformin, Schisandrin C, and prednisolone, in these diseases. Furthermore, GIT organoids have been used to investigate viruses that elicit GIT reactions, including Norovirus, SARS-CoV-2, and rotavirus. Previous studies by using GIT organoids have shown that dasabuvir, gemcitabine, and imatinib possess the capability to inhibit viral replication. Notably, GIT organoids can mimic GIT responses to therapeutic drugs at the onset of disease. The GIT toxicities of compounds like gefitinib, doxorubicin, and sunset yellow have also been evaluated. Additionally, these organoids are instrumental for the study of immune regulation, post-radiation intestinal epithelial repair, treatment for cystic fibrosis and diabetes, the development of novel drug delivery systems, and research into the GIT microbiome. The recent use of conditioned media as a culture method for replacing recombinant hepatocyte growth factor has significantly reduced the cost associated with human GIT organoid culture. This advancement paves the way for large-scale culture and compound screening of GIT organoids. Despite the ongoing challenges in GIT organoid development (e.g., their inability to exist in pairs, limited cell types, and singular drug exposure mode), these organoids hold considerable potential for drug screening. The use of GIT organoids in this context holds great promises to enhance the precision of medical treatments for patients living with GIT diseases.

Using 304 stainless steel mesh as the outer support bed and serrated stainless steel mesh as the inner support structure，and filling coke in the serrated voids of the composite serrated mesh，a filled-bed electrode coupled with two materials of coke and stainless steel was prepared for solving the problem that the cathode for electrochemical water softening could not be operated efficiently in the long term. The optimal electrode structural parameters were explored，and the results showed that the electrode achieved the optimal softening rate of 46.873 g/（m2·h） for simulated circulating cooling water with a total hardness of 700 mg/L when the cathode-anode spacing，the number of mesh of the outer flat mesh，and the apparent current density were 1.5 cm，20 mesh，and 80 A/m2，respectively. When the surface of the electrode was covered by a scale layer resulting in a significant decrease in the softening rate，the electrode was regenerated by vibration，and the service life of the electrode was investigated，and the results showed that maintaining the electrode in continuous operation for 37 d，the electrode still maintained a high softening rate for the circulating cooling water，which could maintain the long-term efficient operation of the electrochemical water softening system. This study can provide a reference for solving the performance degradation problem of electrochemical water softening system caused by ineffective regeneration of electrochemical water softening cathode.

Objective To investigate the potential caries prevention mechanism of the Xinjiang Mori cortex and to analyze its effect on the main cariogenic bacteria. Methods The active components of the Xinjiang Mori cortex and the main targets were predicted and screened using the TCMSP database. The GeneCards, DisGENET and TTD databases were used to obtain caries-related targets. The common targets were derived, and core genes were screened. The enrichment analysis was performed using the DAVID data platform. Molecular docking was performed using AutoDock software. In in vitro antibacterial experiments, first, the 50% minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus were determined and the growth curves were measured. The effects of the Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract on acid production, polysaccharide production and adhesion ability of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus in the planktonic state were determined. The 50% minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC50) and 50% minimum biofilm reduction concentration (MBRC50) were determined by crystal violet staining, and biofilm morphology was visualized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results The main active components of the Xinjiang Mori cortex included quercetin, kaempferol, and β-sitosterol. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) could be the most important targets of the Xinjiang Mori cortex for the prevention of dental caries. The enrichment analysis results showed that Mori cortex extract may have effects on the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway. The antibacterial experiment results showed that the MIC50 values of Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis and Actinomyces viscosus were 0.5, 0.5 and 0.25 mg/mL, respectively, and the MBCs were 4.0, 2.0 and 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. The inhibitory effect of Xinjiang Mori Cortex extract on the acid production, polysaccharide production and adhesion ability of three major cariogenic bacteria in the planktonic state was stronger than that of the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P

The response capacities of urban flood forecasting and risk control can be improved by strengthening the computational abilities of urban flood numerical models. In this work, a GPU-based hydrodynamic model is developed to simulate urban rainstorm inundations. By simulating rainstorm floods in a certain area of Xixian New City, the established model can implement high-resolution urban rainstorm inundation simulations with significantly accelerated computing performances. The accelerated computation efficiencies of the different rainstorm event simulations under resolutions of 5 and 2 m are quantitatively analysed, showing that the absolute and relative speedup ratios for all scenarios of applying two GPUs range from 10.8 to 12.6 and 1.32 to 1.68 times as much as those of a CPU and a single GPU, respectively. The application of a large-scale rainstorm inundation simulation shows the excellent acceleration performance of the model compared to previous research. In addition, the greater the number of computational grids included in the simulation, the more significant the effect on the acceleration computing performance. The proposed model efficiently predicts the spatial variation in the inundation water depth. The simulation results provide guidance for urban rainstorm inundation management, and they improve the time and efficiency of urban flood emergency decision-making. HIGHLIGHTS The GPU-based hydrodynamic model is used to evaluate sponge city rainstorm inundation.; Significant speedup of the model executed on multi-GPU compared to a single GPU.; The model is efficient for performing high-resolution sponge city inundation simulation.; Validation and speedup computing performance tests on real urban city-scale areas.;

ABSTRACT: E2F transcription factor 5 (E2F5) gene is a transcription factor, plays an important role in the development of a variety of cells. E2F5 is expressed in human and mouse adipocytes, but its specific function in adipogenesis is unclear. Krüppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) facilitates proliferation and inhibits differentiation in chicken preadipocytes. Our previous KLF7 chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing analysis revealed a KLF7-binding peak in the 3′ flanking region of the E2F5, indicating a regulatory role of KLF7 in this region. In the present study, we investigated E2F5 potential role, the overexpression and knockdown analyses revealed that E2F5 inhibited the differentiation and promoted the proliferation of chicken preadipocytes. Moreover, we identified enhancer activity in the 3′ flanking region (nucleotides +22661/+22900) of E2F5 and found that KLF7 overexpression increased E2F5 expression and luciferase activity in this region. Deleting the putative KLF7-binding site eliminated the promoting effect of KLF7 overexpression on E2F5 expression. Further, E2F5 reversed the KLF7-induced decrease in preadipocyte differentiation and increase in preadipocyte proliferation. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that KLF7 inhibits differentiation and promotes proliferation in preadipocytes by enhancing E2F5 transcription.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine decoction as an adjunctive treatment for diabetic nephropathy in systematic evaluations.Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang databases, covering the period from January 2013 to July 2023. The search was restricted to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) conducted within the past decade that investigated the use of TCM decoction as an adjunctive treatment for diabetic nephropathy. The control group received western medicine treatment, while the intervention group received TCM decoction in addition to the conventional treatment. Endnote and Excel were employed for literature management and data organization, and Revman 5.3 and Stata 16 software were used for the analyses.Results: 66 RCTs involving 6,951 participants were included in this study. The clinical efficacy of TCM decoction as an adjunctive treatment for diabetic nephropathy was found to be significantly higher than that of the control group (OR = 3.12, 95% CI [2.70, 3.60], I2 = 0%, p < 0.00001). The incidence of adverse events did not differ significantly between the intervention group and the control group (OR = 0.94, 95% CI [0.60, 1.48], I2 = 0%, p = 0.94). According to the secondary outcomes of renal function and blood glucose indicators, the intervention group showed better therapeutic efficacy compared to the control group. The most frequently used TCM categories were tonifying medicine, blood-activating medicine, astringent medicine, diuretic medicine, heat-clearing medicine, and laxative medicine. Among them, the top five frequently used Chinese medicine were Astragalus mongholicus Bunge [Fabaceae; Astragali mongholici radix](58 times), Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge [Lamiaceae; Radix et rhizoma salviae miltiorrhizae] (42 times), Dioscorea oppositifolia L. [Dioscoreaceae; Dioscoreae rhizoma] (38 times), Poria cocos (Schw.) Wolf [Polyporaceae; Poria] (38 times), and Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. [Cornaceae; Corni fructus] (35 times).Conclusion: The combined use of TCM decoction with western medicine in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy can enhance clinical effectiveness and 2 This is a provisional file, not the final typeset article achieve superior therapeutic effects in comparison to western medicine alone, without significant risks.Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/#recordDetails, identifier [CRD42022529144].

C50H74N2O4, orthorhombic, P1 (no. 1), a = 7.3320(3) Å, b = 11.8132(4) Å, c = 13.1604(5) Å, α = 99.1910(10)°, β = 95.039(1)°, γ = 95.8560(10)°, V = 1113.06(7) Å3, Z = 1, Rgt(F) = 0.0662, wRref(F2) = 0.1655, T = 273(2) K.

Abstract Dual-interfacial structure within catalysts is capable of mitigating the detrimentally completive adsorption during the catalysis process, but its construction strategy and mechanism understanding remain vastly lacking. Here, a highly active dual-interfaces of CeO2-x /CoO1-x /Co is constructed using the pronounced interfacial interaction from surrounding small CeO2-x islets, which shows high activity in catalyzing the water-gas shift reaction. Kinetic evidence and in-situ characterization results revealed that CeO2-x modulates the oxidized state of Co species and consequently generates the dual active CeO2-x /CoO1-x /Co interface during the WGS reaction. A synergistic redox mechanism comprised of independent contribution from dual functional interfaces, including CeO2-x /CoO1-x and CoO1-x /Co, is authenticated by experimental and theoretical results, where the CeO2-x /CoO1-x interface alleviates the CO poison effect, and the CoO1-x /Co interface promotes the H2 formation. The results may provide guidance for fabricating dual-interfacial structures within catalysts and shed light on the mechanism over multi-component catalyst systems.

In this study, zein-based gluten-free model dough (Z dough) was prepared with zein, corn starch, and wormwood gum. Based on the flour quality test, the kneading torque, water composition and protein distribution of the zein simulated dough with different lactic acid content were compared when finish dough (torque up to 1.1 Nm; set as ZS dough) and kneading for 12 minutes (set as ZL dough) conditions. The optimal amount of lactic acid added to kneadable dough was explored, and the physical and chemical properties of zein in dough with different lactic acid content were discussed under the action of kneading for a certain period of time, which could and provide reference for the preparation of related cereal products. Studies have shown that adding a small amount of lactic acid could promote zein to build a protein network in the dough, but long-term kneading would lead to decreasing the strength of the acidified dough, destroying the continuity of the zein network in the dough, reducing the level of zein wrapping on starch granules and weak bonding in the dough. The proportion of water decreased and the proportion of free water increased. The surface hydrophobicity increased and the relative molecular weight decreased, when the deamidation reaction of zein occurred. The analysis showed that the dough gradually weakened after a long time of kneading, because the kneading effect would expand the effect of lactic acid on zein in the dough, which would increase the hydrophobicity of the protein surface and fragment the protein, and lead to a decrease in the coherence of the zein network.

Characterizing dynamics of evapotranspiration (ET) and energy exchange is of particular importance for the water resource use and management in the water-limited agricultural areas under global climate change. Based on eddy covariance method, this study analyzed the seasonal and interannual variations of ET and energy fluxes over a rain-fed spring maize cropland in the Chinese Loess Plateau during 2 years which presented contrasting precipitation (P) totals and patterns in 2019 (drought year) and 2020 (normal year). Results showed obvious intra- and inter-annual variabilities of ET and energy fluxes related with crop phenology and water availability. Annual ET were 339.3 and 386.5 mm yr–1 in 2019 and 2020, respectively, with separate annual ET/P ratios of 0.84 and 0.70. Annual ET was dominated by ET during growing season (May−September), with close proportions of 75.8% and 72.9% for the two years. The partitioning of net radiation (Rn) was dominated by latent heat flux (LE) during growing season, but was primarily driven by sensible heat flux (H) during non-growing season. Annual ratios of LE/Rn and H/Rn were comparable in the drought year (0.46 −0.47), while LE/Rn (0.52) dominated over H/Rn (0.46) in the normal year. Similar seasonal courses were observed in surface conductance (gs), decoupling factor (Ω), and Priestley-Taylor coefficient (α), consistently peaking during the rapid growth period of maize (July−August). The low annual means of Ω (0.20 −0.25) and α (0.44 −0.45) implied the strongly aerodynamical coupling and biophysical control on ET for the study area. Moreover, daily α in this study increased significantly with increasing gs until a threshold around 10 mm s−1. Structural equation modelling revealed that the environmental constraints on ET were mainly affected by Rn, soil water content and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) in the drought year, and prone to be dominated by Rn, leaf area index (LAI) and VPD in the normal year. These results indicated that drought may increase the sensitivity of maize ET to water supply condition, and decrease the sensitivity to changes in available energy, aerodynamic condition and vegetation coverage. This study will provide insights into the effects of drought on energy partitioning and the environmental and biophysical controls on ET in the region.

This paper first gives the financial management strategy of enterprise investment, mainly from determining the financial management model of enterprise investment, improving the centralized management level of funds and optimizing the enterprise investment decision-making process in three aspects. Then, build the financial management model based on integer linear programming through the enterprise investment theory to find the effective investment of assets, the use of absolute deviation risk measurement model to reduce the risk of investment so that the maximization of returns and maintain the stability of returns. Lastly, we utilize Enterprise B as the research object for empirical analysis. From the analysis of investment efficiency, the increment of total assets and net profit is increasing; the increment of total assets in 2022 is 58 million more than that of 2015, and the increment of net profit in 2022 is 49 million more than that of 2015. The data shows that the financial management strategy of business investment improves the investment efficiency of the company and enhances the overall operation of the company’s space.

In today’s era of digital development of big data information, cross-cultural and cross-regional communication are becoming more and more frequent, and human beings have the right and desire to enjoy certain common cultural information, and it has been 38 years since China and Thailand established diplomatic relations in 1975. Cultural differences in Sino-Thai translation based on big data are studied in four aspects: inter-translation of personal names, inter-translation of geographical names, inter-translation of quantity sets, and inter-translation of date and time. This paper focuses on the research of cultural differences in Sino-Thai mutual translation based on big data analysis, constructing a bilingual word translation model with monolingual word vectors under the big data platform Spark, and conducting data analysis on the accuracy and efficiency of translation by collecting Chinese dataset and Thai dataset in parallelization algorithm in two structures SchemeA and SchemeB . The results show that the accuracy of the bilingual word vectors generated by either SchemeA or SchemeB improves as the size of the dataset increases. In addition, SchemeA is better than SchemeB in terms of accuracy and SchemeB is better than SchemeA in terms of efficiency performance, so Sche A me is suitable for translation tasks with high accuracy requirements, while Sche B me is suitable for translation tasks on large data sets. This study can improve the efficiency and accuracy of mutual translation between China and Thailand and train more translators. Today’s high technology brings much convenience to people, and social knowledge is constantly updated and developed. It is necessary to study in order to keep up with the changes of the times and to grasp the updates of the words of the times in order to translate well and more accurately, and this study not only contributes to the translation work in China but also has an important historical significance to the cultural exchange and communication between China and Thailand.

Background: The rhizome of Atractylodes chinensis (RAC), also known as “Cangzhu”, is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine (CHMs). Due to the scarcity of wild resources, cultivated RAC and counterfeit products derived from the rhizome of Atractylodes japonica (RAJ) are also prevalent on the market. Diverse origins lead to varying quality. At present, the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (2020 edition) uses atractylodin as the only quantitative index component for RAC, and there is a lack of research on quality markers (Q-markers) that are closely related to efficacy. Purpose: This work aims to discover the Q-markers of RAC based on chemical and pharmacological strategies. Methods: The chemical composition of RAC was analyzed and identified through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The ″Chromatographic Fingerprint Similarity Evaluation System for Traditional Chinese Medicine″ was utilized to assess the similarity of the samples and identify the characteristic peaks. Network pharmacology was employed to screen targets and pathways for characteristic components of the RAC, construct “active ingredients–targets–pathways” network diagrams, and predict the Q-markers. The Q-markers for RAC were identified through an integrated analysis of the chemical components, network pharmacology, pharmacological activities and clinical applications. In addition, a preliminary evaluation of 28 batches of “Cangzhu” from different origins were conducted by GC–MS and chemical pattern recognition. Results: A total of 16 specific components of RAC were identified by GC–MS fingerprint. The network pharmacology study found that these 16 components primarily function through 29 core targets and 23 pathways. Three compounds, hinesol, atractylon, and β-eudesmol were identified as the potential Q-markers for RAC. The evaluation of 28 batches of “Cangzhu” showed that these three Q-markers could effectively distinguish RAC from RAJ, and RAJ could not be used as a substitute for RAC. There was no significant difference between cultivated RAC and wild RAC, and the quality of cultivated RAC was more uniform than wild RAC. Conclusion: This study identified and verified three potential Q-markers for RAC by using a comprehensive strategy combing of “GC–MS fingerprinting – network pharmacology – chemical pattern recognition”. It provides a basis for the establishment of a more reasonable RAC quality evaluation system. Furthermore, it provides a reference for the discovery of Q-markers in other CHMs.

Objective To explore dental caries-related factors among children aged 3-5 years in Urumqi City and to provide evidence for the etiological study and primary prevention of caries among local children. Methods A multistage stratified cluster sampling method was used to randomly select children aged 3-5 years in Urumqi City for oral examination, physical examination and questionnaire survey. Data were collected and analyzed by principal component logistic regression using SPSS 23.0 software. Results Principal component analysis showed that there were seven risk factors whose characteristic root value was greater than 1: oral hygiene habits, family education level, sugar intake, bedtime eating habits, age, gestational age, feeding mode, and cumulative contribution were 66.486% of the total variance. Principal component logistic regression analysis indicated that five factors, namely, oral hygiene habits (OR = 0.795, P = 0.044), family education level (OR = 0.667, P = 0.019), sugar intake (OR = 1.260, P = 0.006), bedtime eating habits (OR = 5.432, P

Wound healing is one of the major global health concerns in patients with diabetes. Overactivation of pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages is associated with delayed wound healing in diabetes. miR-29ab1 plays a critical role in diabetes-related macrophage inflammation. Hence, inhibition of inflammation and regulation of miR-29 expression have been implicated as new points for skin wound healing. In this study, the traditional Chinese medicine, puerarin, was introduced to construct an injectable and self-healing chitosan@puerarin (C@P) hydrogel. The C@P hydrogel promoted diabetic wound healing and accelerated angiogenesis, which were related to the inhibition of the miR-29 mediated inflammation response. Compared to healthy subjects, miR-29a and miR-29b1 were ectopically increased in the skin wound of the diabetic model, accompanied by upregulated M1-polarization, and elevated levels of IL-1β and TNF-α. Further evaluations by miR-29ab1 knockout mice exhibited superior wound healing and attenuated inflammation. The present results suggested that miR-29ab1 is essential for diabetic wound healing by regulating the inflammatory response. Suppression of miR-29ab1 by the C@P hydrogel has the potential for improving medical approaches for wound repair.

C28H41NO, triclinic, P1 $P1$ (no. 1), a = 6.3144(8) Å, b = 9.7315(13) Å, c = 10.5867(14) Å, α = 111.561(4)°, β = 96.486(4)∘ $96.486{(4)}^{\circ }$ , γ = 97.128(4)°, V = 591.41(14) Å3, Z = 1, Rgt ${R}_{\mathit{g}\mathit{t}}$ (F) = 0.0579, wRref $w{R}_{\mathit{r}\mathit{e}\mathit{f}}$ (F 2) = 0.1687, T = 273(2) K.

INTRODUCTION. Low back pain (LBP) is a common discomfort in young women during pregnancy and after childbirth. These female patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) have unique clinical manifestations, but few studies have been reported. AIM. To investigate the clinical characteristics of female patients with LDH after childbirth and to provide basis for rehabilitation andtreatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We collected the clinical data of 58 female patients with LDH, analyzed the clinical characteristics. We usedCT scan to determine the location and type of LDH, observed the dural sac of lumbar intervertebral disc, serum 25 hydroxyvitaminD (25[OH] D) levels were measured and compared with healthy women and pregnant women. RESULTS. Our results showed that according to the age distribution of patients with low back pain was the most common among 30-34years old, accounting for 43.1% of all patients. Patients with LDH accounted for the highest proportion of patients with LBP, up to 55.2%.L4-L5 segment was the most common part of LDH, accounting for 46.9%, followed by L5-S1 segment, accounting for 31.3%. Protrusionwas the most common type of LDH, accounting for 84.4%. Among 34 patients with LDH, 15 patients (46.9%) had dural sac compression.The serum 25(OH) D level of patients with LDH was 11.36±5.16 ng/ml, lower than that of healthy women (first control group, 15.22±3.42ng/ml, p=0.022), and pregnant women (second control group, 18.95±6.94 ng/ml, p

Background Current pediatric cardiac arrest guidelines recommend depressing the chest by one‐third anterior–posterior diameter (APD), which is presumed to equate to absolute age‐specific chest compression depth targets (4 cm for infants and 5 cm for children). However, no clinical studies during pediatric cardiac arrest have validated this presumption. We aimed to study the concordance of measured one‐third APD with absolute age‐specific chest compression depth targets in a cohort of pediatric patients with cardiac arrest. Methods and Results This was a retrospective observational study from a multicenter, pediatric resuscitation quality collaborative (pediRES‐Q [Pediatric Resuscitation Quality Collaborative]) from October 2015 to March 2022. In‐hospital patients with cardiac arrest ≤12 years old with APD measurements recorded were included for analysis. One hundred eighty‐two patients (118 infants >28 days old to

A thousand-meter-high megatall building, which consists of three tear-drop-shaped towers arranged in an equilateral triangle and a central circular tower, has ten outdoor platforms along the height at an interval of 100 m to connect the four towers. As the pedestrian-level wind environment around the outdoor platforms of high-rise buildings has been less studied for higher incoming wind speeds than those of the ground wind, it is necessary to conduct the related research and evaluations of the pedestrian-level wind environment around outdoor platforms to ensure pedestrian comfort and safety. First, based on the flow field analysis of the megatall building model, potential aerodynamic measures are proposed to improve the pedestrian-level wind environment of outdoor platforms. Then, the wind tunnel test and CFD simulation of outdoor platforms are conducted with five aerodynamic measures, and an averaged adjustment coefficient is put forward to establish the link between the full model and the sub-configuration model for the wind speed amplification factor, Ri, greater than 1.0, so the data obtained from the wind tunnel test can be transformed for further assessment of the pedestrian-level wind environment. Finally, the Lawson criterion was used to quantitatively analyze and compare the effects of five aerodynamic measures to improve the wind environment, thus providing a design that satisfies the requirements of “wind comfort” and “wind safety” for the thousand-meter-high megatall pedestrian platform. This study contributes to the further understanding of pedestrian-level wind environment characteristics of outdoor platforms and the potential aerodynamic measures to improve wind comfort and wind danger.

Objective To explore the medication law and mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine compounds in the treatment of periodontal disease through data mining, network pharmacology, and molecular docking. Methods First, data mining was used to search single medicinal materials for the treatment of periodontal disease, and the active components and their action targets were screened. Second, the disease target database was employed to download the targets related to the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, map them with the action targets of traditional Chinese medicine, and obtain the targets that are considered potential targets of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of periodontal disease. Potential targets were analyzed for gene ontology function and signaling pathway. They were then screened to obtain the key targets for the treatment of periodontal disease. Finally, the active components were docked with key targets. Results Among the traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for the treatment of periodontal disease, Shudihuang, Mudanpi, Danggui, Fuling, Jinyinhua, Shanyao and Zhimu had the highest frequencies. Forty-three active components and 118 action targets were screened, and 52 potential targets were obtained by intersection with 856 disease targets. The molecular functions and biological processes in which potential targets may participate mainly focus on vitamin D biosynthesis and RNA polymerase Ⅱ regulation and involve 96 signaling pathways. Through the analysis of network topology parameters, 11 key targets were obtained. The results of molecular docking showed that the active components and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), and mitogen-activated protein kinase-1 (MAPK-1) have good binding activity. Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine compounds may play a role in the treatment of periodontal disease by inhibiting alveolar bone absorption, have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and promote tissue repair. The effective treatment of periodontal disease by traditional Chinese medicine compounds provides a more scientific reference to the sustainable development of traditional Chinese medicine.

The imbalance of gastrointestinal microbial composition has been identified as the main factor of chronic inflammatory diseases. At present, probiotics have a beneficial effect on the microbial composition of the human gastrointestinal tract, but it is still controversial and the specific mechanism is unknown. The purpose of this network meta-analysis is to compare the mechanism of different probiotics on ulcerative colitis. PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched till 16 November 2022. The SYRCLE risk bias assessment tool was used to assess the quality of the research studies. A total of 42 studies, 839 ulcerative colitis models, and 24 kinds of probiotics were finally included. The results showed that L. rhamnosus has the best effect in relieving weight loss and improving the Shannon index in the ulcerative colitis model. E. faecium has the best effect in reducing colon injury; L. reuteri has the best effect in reducing the DAI; L. acidophilus has the best effect in reducing the HIS index and increasing the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1; and L. coryniformis has the best effect in reducing the content of serum pro-inflammatory factor TNF-α. It indicated that probiotics can improve ulcerative colitis by improving histopathological manifestations, reducing inflammatory reaction, and repairing the mucosal barrier, and different probiotics showed different effects. However, considering the limitations of this study, preclinical studies that require more large samples and high-quality and more reliable and rigorous experimental designs and reports need to be conducted in the future.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#record details, identifier CRD42022383383.

Objective To compare the effects and characteristics of cigarette smoke exposure (CSE) alone and CSE combined with airway instillation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Male SD rats were randomly divided into control, CSE, and CSE+LPS groups, with 10 rats in each group. After 24 weeks, the models were established and the lung function of the rats was measured. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the airway and lung tissue. The ELISA method was used to detect the level of serum interleukin-8 (IL-8) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in peripheral blood.Results Airway resistance (RI), functional residual capacity (FRC), and chord compliance (Cchord) of the CSE and LPS+CSE groups were higher than those of the control group (all P < 0.05), while the tidal volume (TV), minute volume (MV), and forced expiratory volume in 50 ms (FEV50) / forced vital capacity (FVC) of the CSE and LPS+CSE groups were lower than those of the control group (all P < 0.05). HE staining of lung tissue showed that the average alveolar intercept and thickness of the small airway walls were higher in the CSE and LPS+CSE groups than those in the control group. Compensatory enlargement was evident in the alveolar cavity of the CSE and CSE+LPS groups, and the alveolar septum widened, with a fusion of pulmonary alveoli in the CSE+LPS group. The levels of IL-8 and TNF-α in serum of the CSE and CSE+LPS groups were higher than those of the control group (all P < 0.05). The level of TNF-α in serum of the CSE+LPS group was higher than that of the CSE group (P < 0.05).Conclusion The CSE combined with LPS method is superior to CSE alone for establishing the COPD rat model, and the combined model is closer to clinical manifestations.

Adipose tissue composition contributes greatly to the quality and nutritional value of meat. Transcriptomic and lipidomic techniques were used to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the differences in fat deposition in Ningxiang pigs, Berkshires and F1 offspring. Transcriptomic analysis identified 680, 592, and 380 DEGs in comparisons of Ningxiang pigs vs. Berkshires, Berkshires vs. F1 offspring, and Ningxiang pigs vs. F1 offspring. The lipidomic analysis screened 423, 252, and 50 SCLs in comparisons of Ningxiang pigs vs. Berkshires, Berkshires vs. F1 offspring, and Ningxiang pigs vs. F1 offspring. Lycine, serine, and the threonine metabolism pathway, fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism-related pathways were significantly enriched in comparisons of Berkshires vs. Ningxiang pigs and Berkshires vs. F1 offspring. The DEGs (PHGDH, LOC110256000) and the SCLs (phosphatidylserines) may have a great impact on the glycine, serine, and the threonine metabolism pathway. Moreover, the DEGs (FASN, ACACA, CBR4, SCD, ELOV6, HACD2, CYP3A46, CYP2B22, GPX1, and GPX3) and the SCLs (palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and icosadienoic acid) play important roles in the fatty acid biosynthesis and metabolism of fatty acids. Thus, the difference in fat deposition among Ningxiang pig, Berkshires, and F1 offspring may be caused by differences in the expression patterns of key genes in multiple enriched KEGG pathways. This research revealed multiple lipids that are potentially available biological indicators and screened key genes that are potential targets for molecular design breeding. The research also explored the molecular mechanisms of the difference in fat deposition among Ningxiang pig, Berkshires, and F1 pigs, and provided an insight into selection for backfat thickness and the fat composition of adipose tissue for future breeding strategies.

Ningxiang pigs exhibit a diverse array of fatty acids, making them an intriguing model for exploring the genetic underpinnings of fatty acid metabolism. We conducted a genome-wide association study using a dataset comprising 50,697 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and samples from over 600 Ningxiang pigs. Our investigation yielded novel candidate genes linked to five saturated fatty acids (SFAs), four monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and five polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Significant associations with SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs were found for 37, 21, and 16 SNPs, respectively. Notably, some SNPs have significant PVE, such as ALGA0047587, which can explain 89.85% variation in Arachidic acid (C20:0); H3GA0046208 and DRGA0016063 can explain a total of 76.76% variation in Elaidic Acid (C18:1n-9(t)), and the significant SNP ALGA0031262 of Arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6) can explain 31.76% of the variation. Several significant SNPs were positioned proximally to previously reported genes. In total, we identified 11 candidate genes (hnRNPU, CEPT1, ATP1B1, DPT, DKK1, PRKG1, EXT2, MEF2C, IL17RA, ITGA1 and ALOX5), six candidate genes (ALOX5AP, MEDAG, ISL1, RXRB, CRY1, and CDKAL1), and five candidate genes (NDUFA4L2, SLC16A7, OTUB1, EIF4E and ROBO2) associated with SFAs, MUFAs, and PUFAs, respectively. These findings hold great promise for advancing breeding strategies aimed at optimizing meat quality and enhancing lipid metabolism within the intramuscular fat (IMF) of Ningxiang pigs.

Adding particles to the Ni - P coating for forming a composite coating could further improve the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and lubricating properties of the coating. Hence, Ni - P/WS2 composite coatings were prepared by chemical coprecipitation on the surface of Q235 steel, and the coatings were post - treated by heating. Subsequently, the influence mechanism of WS2 content in plating solution and heat treatment after precipitation on the hardness and self - lubrocating performance of Ni - P/WS2 composite coating was studied by electron microprobe (EPMA), X - ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and hardness tester. Results showed that the content of P in the plating solution was stable, which was not affected by the concentration of WS2 particles in plating solution, and it was beneficial to precipitation of a proper amount of body centered cubic Ni3P hardening phase in the subsequent heat treatment, causing that the surface hardness of the composite coating was effectively improved. Moreover, WS2 particles in the coating played a lubricating role on the surface of the coating, which could effectively reduce the friction coefficient of the coating surface, and the heat treatment enabled the precipitation of body centered cubic Ni3P phase in the coating. Thus, the surface support for WS2 particles was enhanced, which was conducive to increase the self - lubrication of the coating surface and effectively reduce the friction coefficient.

This study focused on the radioprotective effects of Lanzhou lily polysaccharide fragment (LLP) on murine bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs) subjected to X-ray-induced injury. The lily polysaccharide extract was prepared using the ultrasonic auxiliary hot water method, followed by purification using ultrafiltration and Sephadex G-150 chromatography. The average molecular weight of the extract was 8 629.8 Da. Unlike the control and simple irradiation groups, the murine model of acute radioactive injury model was treated with different amounts of LLPs. Each group was evaluated for the number of BMNCs, micronucleus ratio, DNA injury, and cyclical changes. The results revealed increased injury in the simple irradiation group than in the LLP-treated group. The number of BMNCs increased by 45.5% (p

Objective To explore the potential mechanism of the main active component Tripterygium wilfordii in the treatment of oral lichen planus based on network pharmacology. Methods The components of Tripterygium wilfordii and targets were searched through the Traditional Chinese Medicine system pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP) and the Traditional Chinese Medicine integrated database (TCMID) databases. The related targets of oral lichen planus (OLP) were obtained through databases such as Gene Cards. The OLP targets were mapped by Venn analysis to the targets of Tripterygium wilfordii to screen out the common targets as the treatment of OLP targets of Tripterygium wilfordii. The Cytoscape software and STRING were used to construct a chemical component-target network and protein-protein interaction network, a network analyzer was used to compute the network topology properties, a cluster profiler software was used to analyze the GO classification enrichment analysis and KEGG signal path analysis, and a Tripterygium wilfordii chemical components-targets-pathway network diagram was constructed. Results Twenty-three components and 44 OLP treatmenttargets of Tripterygium wilfordii were obtained. The key active ingredients of Tripterygium wilfordii in the treatment of OLP are triptolide, kaempferol, and tangerine peel. The key targets include TNF and AKT1. The GO classification enrichment analysis obtained 63 GO terms, which are mainly involved in the leukocyte differentiation and reaction to lipopolysaccharides. The KEGG analysis identified 111 signaling pathways, which are mainly related to the TNF signaling pathway and IL17 signaling pathway. Conclusion Based on the network pharmacology, this study preliminarily revealed themain components, targets and pathways of Tripterygium wilfordii in the treatment of OLP. This study can provide a theoretical basis for further research to explore drugs with high activity and low toxicity to treat OLP from Tripterygium wilfordii.

Der Beitrag geht auf die Diskussion über die Universalität oder die Kulturgebundenheit von Fachtexten sowie die Relativitätshypothese über Fachtexte in der Fachsprachenforschung ein und vertritt die Ansicht, dass wissenschaftliche Texte durch die Kultur geprägt sind. Im Beitrag werden deutsche und chinesische linguistische Zeitschriftenartikel hinsichtlich der Makrostruktur kontrastiv analysiert, um zu zeigen, dass in derselben wissenschaftlichen Gemeinschaft wissenschaftliche Texte auch sprachkulturell bedingte Unterschiede aufweisen.

Recommendation system,as a very effective technique to solve the information overload,has received a great deal of attention from researchers.However,the real application of recommending systems can be modeled as heterogeneous networks with multi-typed nodes and relations.Thus,heterogeneous network embedding based recommendation becomes a very hot research topic in recent years.However,most of the existing studies do not fully explore the auxiliary information and complex relations which are valuable for enhancing recommending performance.To address the above problems,a recommendation algorithm based on heterogeneous information network embedding and attention neural network is proposed.First,this paper proposes a heterogeneous information network embedding method that maintains semantic relationship and topological structure simultaneously.Then,it designs a meta-path based random walk strategy to extract node sequences from heterogeneous information networks.All the sequences are filtered and then employed to learn the embeddings for each user and item in different meta-paths.At last,this paper presents a recommendation algorithm based on attention neural network with the above embeddings as input.The attention network composed of attention layers and hidden layers is able to explore the complex relationships and hence enhance the performance of recommendation.To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method,this paper conducts experiments on two kinds of real-world datasets and makes a comparison with three competitive algorithms.The results show that the proposed algorithm improves the recommending performance in terms of MAE and RMSE,with a maximum increase of 8.9%.

To meet the development needs of advanced aeroengines,the structure of aeroengine turbine blades is becoming increasingly complex, and the content of refractory elements is increasing in single crystal superalloys, which are the preferred materials for turbine blades. As a result, the tendency to form the grain defects increases during the preparation of single crystal turbine blades, which directly affects the quality of single crystal turbine blades. In this paper, a kind of grain defect that appears in the directional solidification process of single crystal superalloys—freckle was discussed. The research works on the formation mechanism, the criterion model and the control method of freckles formation during the directional solidification of single crystal superalloys in recent years was reviewed. The influence of the alloy composition, blade structure, directional solidification process and crystal orientation of single crystal castings on the formation of freckles was analyzed. Considering the influence of the alloying elements in different alloy systems and the parameters of the directional solidification process on the freckle formation, further studying the freckle formation mechanism of the single crystal turbine blade with complex structures, establishing an effective method for prediction and control of freckles are the future research directions.

Chronic periodontitis is an infectious disease caused by plaque as the initiating factor. Clinically, it manifests as irreversible loss of hard tissue, leading to the destruction of surrounding periodontal tissue, including the deep periodontal pocket, loss of attachment, and finally, tooth loss. Interleukin-18 (IL-18) can promote inflammation and regulate immune function and plays an important role in mediating the host immune response and inflammatory response. An increase in IL-18 in vivo can induce the production of interferon and inflammatory factors, such as interleukin, tumor necrosis factor and matrix metalloproteinase, thus mediating the dual reaction of immunity and inflammation. These inflammatory factors are involved in the occurrence and development of chronic periodontitis. Many clinical studies have shown that the levels of IL-18 in serum, saliva, gingival crevicular fluid and gingival tissue samples of patients with chronic periodontitis may be positively correlated with the severity of periodontitis; however, as a candidate gene, IL-18 is involved in the susceptibility polymorphism of periodontitis. Understanding how to quantify the level of IL-18 in clinical studies and apply it to diagnostic tools and new sites identified by new methods (genome-wide association studies and omics research) will also deepen our understanding of the pathogenesis of IL-18 in chronic periodontitis and provide new ideas for future precision medicine and the formulation of personalized programs. In this paper, the structure, biological function and association between IL-18 and periodontitis are reviewed.

Gradient metasurfaces have been extensively applied in the unprecedented control of light beams over thin optical components. However, these metasurfaces suffer from low efficiency when bending light through large angles and high fabrication demand when it requires fine discretion. In this work, we investigate all-dielectric metagratings based on the generalized Kerker effect induced by interference between Mie-type resonances. It allows extraordinary optical diffraction for beam steering through ultralarge angles. The coupling inside and between the lattices in the metagrating can be used to tune the excited states of the electric and magnetic resonances, including both the fundamental dipoles and high-order multipoles, leading to an ideal asymmetrical scattering pattern that redistributes the energy between the diffraction channels as required. The quadrupole and hexadecapole not only significantly enhance the working efficiency but also enable distinctive possibilities for wave manipulation that cannot be reached by dipoles. Utilizing a thin array of silicon rods, large-angle negative refraction and reflection are realized with almost unity efficiency under both transverse magnetic and transverse electric polarization. Compared with conventional metasurfaces, such an all-dielectric metagrating has the merits of high flexibility, high efficiency, and low fabrication requirements. The coupling and interactions among the multipoles may serve as a foundation for various forms of on-chip optical wave control.

Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the occurrence of mycotoxins is the largest food safety threat to malting and brewing grains. Worldwide surveys of commercial beers have reported that the trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most frequent contaminant in beer. Although the DON content of grain generally declines during steeping due to its solubilization, Fusarium spp. can continue to grow and produce DON from steeping through the early kilning stage of malting. DON present on malt is largely extracted into beer. The objective of the current study was to localize the growth of Fusarium spp. within FHB-infected kernels by developing an improved method and to associate fungal growth with the production of DON during malting. FHB-infected barley, wheat, rye, and triticale grains that exhibited large increases in the amount of Fusarium Tri5 DNA and trichothecene mycotoxins following malting were screened for hyphal localization. The growth of fungal hyphae associated with grain and malt was imaged by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser-scanning microscopy assisted with WGA-Alexa Fluor 488 staining, respectively. In barley, hyphae were present on or within the husk, vascular bundle, and pericarp cavities. Following malting, vast hyphal growth was observed not only in these regions but also in the aleurone layer, endosperm, and embryo. Extensive fungal growth was also observed following malting of wheat, rye, and triticale. However, these grains already had an extensive internal presence of Fusarium hyphae in the unmalted grain, thus representing an enhanced chance of fungal expansion during the malting.[Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

This paper reviewed the clinical data of a patient with sleep disorder caused by insomnia. Based on the psychological, physical and social assessment, the Traditional Chinese Medicine techniques acupoint massage combined with ginger-partitioned moxibustion were conducted to improve the sleep quality of the patient. Comprehensive nursing interventions such as basic nursing, dietary management, emotional care were carried out during the treatment. (本文回顾1例因失眠导致睡眠紊乱患者的临床资料, 总结穴位按摩联合隔姜灸的干预效果和相关护理经验。在心理、生理、社会评估的基础上, 医护人员采用中医特色护理技术穴位按摩联合隔物灸进行干预, 同时配合实施常规护理、饮食护理、情志护理等综合干预措施, 有效改善患者失眠症状。)

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic and relapsing inflammatory bowel disease without satisfactory therapy available recently. Renshen Baidu powder (RSBDP) is a classic Chinese medicinal formula used since Chinese Song dynasty and has been proven as an effective treatment of ulcerative colitis in clinics. However, the active ingredients and the molecular mechanism have not been fully disclosed. It is imperative to explore the active ingredients and the mechanism of RSBDP. In this study, the potential active components for ulcerative colitis treatment in RSBDP were determined and predicted in silicon, and its molecular mechanisms were also presented, in which the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway was recognized to be vital. Basically, the pharmacodynamics and mechanistic studies of RSBDP for ulcerative colitis were implemented on TNBS-induced experimental rats. The results showed that RSBDP could ameliorate the disease activity index and colon weight, as well as improve colonic shortening and colon histology. In addition, the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), diamine oxidase, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and endotoxin in serum were also reduced. It is worth mentioning that the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway was inhibited after RSBDP administration via inhibiting the phosphorylation of proteins. In conclusion, RSBDP effectively ameliorates TNBS-induced colitis rats by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

It is very important to monitor the infection of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae as a potential threat to the sheep industry. Southern Xinjiang is a major sheep breeding base in China, however, there is no relevant information concerning the infection of the region’s ovine stock with this bacteria at present. This study aimed to address this knowledge gap.

Magnesium batteries with the advantages of low cost, high energy density and high safety are expected to be applied in large-scale energy storage and power vehicles in the future. However, magnesium batteries are still in the early development, and cathode is the key reason that limits the battery performance. The high charge density of Mg2+ results in slow diffusion of Mg2+ in cathode materials. Therefore, how to improve the electrochemical performance of cathode materials is the focus and difficulty in the field of magnesium batteries. By analysing the related researches, six strategies for improving the electrochemical performance of cathode materials were summarized in this paper, namely, reducing the particle size, using the shielding effect of the solvent, increasing the interlayer distance, regulating anions, exploring new structures and developing double ion batteries. By clarifying the root cause that makes the strategies effective and pointing out the advantages and limitations of the strategies, this paper provides valuable guidance for the development of high-performance cathode materials for magnesium batteries. Finally, the development status of magnesium battery cathode materials was summarized, and the future development trend of cathode and the whole battery system was prospected.

Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) has the advantages of anti-electromagnetic interference, corrosion resistance, small size and low cost. Moreover, the FBG fabricated by femtosecond laser has the unique advantages of high temperature resistance. Firstly, three mainstream methods for writing FBG with femtosecond laser are introduced, including femtosecond laser phase mask method, femtosecond laser direct writing method, and femtosecond laser holographic interferometry. The advantages and disadvantages are compared and analyzed. Secondly, the principle and application on temperature, pressure (strain) and refractive index sensing of FBG prepared by femtosecond laser are reviewed. Finally, the future development of FBG fabricated by femtosecond laser in lakes, oceans and other fields is prospected.

BackgroundCandida albicans infections are particularly prevalent in immunocompromised patients. Even with appropriate treatment with current antifungal drugs, the mortality rate of invasive candidiasis remains high. Many positive results have been achieved in the current vaccine development. There are also issues such as the vaccine’s protective effect is not persistent. Considering the functionality and cost of the vaccine, it is important to develop safe and efficient new vaccines with long-term effects. In this paper, an antifungal nanovaccine with Polyethyleneimine (PEI) as adjuvant was constructed, which could elicit more effective and long-term immunity via stimulating B cells to differentiate into long-lived plasma cells.Materials and MethodsHsp90-CTD is an important target for protective antibodies during disseminated candidiasis. Hsp90-CTD was used as the antigen, then introduced SDS to “charge” the protein and added PEI to form the nanovaccine. Dynamic light scattering and transmission electron microscope were conducted to identify the size distribution, zeta potential, and morphology of nanovaccine. The antibody titers in mice immunized with the nanovaccine were measured by ELISA. The activation and maturation of long-lived plasma cells in bone marrow by nanovaccine were also investigated via flow cytometry. Finally, the kidney of mice infected with Candida albicans was stained with H&E and PAS to evaluate the protective effect of antibody in serum produced by immunized mice.ResultsNanoparticles (NP) formed by Hsp90-CTD and PEI are small, uniform, and stable. NP had an average size of 116.2 nm with a PDI of 0.13. After immunizing mice with the nanovaccine, it was found that the nano-group produced antibodies faster and for a longer time. After 12 months of immunization, mice still had high and low levels of antibodies in their bodies. Results showed that the nanovaccine could promote the differentiation of B cells into long-lived plasma cells and maintain the long-term existence of antibodies in vivo. After immunization, the antibodies in mice could protect the mice infected by C. albicans.ConclusionAs an adjuvant, PEI can promote the differentiation of B cells into long-lived plasma cells to maintain long-term antibodies in vivo. This strategy can be adapted for the future design of vaccines.

Abstract Background Apathy is one of the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), however, correlations of apathy with demographic variables, cognitive functions, neuropsychiatric symptoms, activity of daily living and olfactory functions in AD patients are still lacking comprehensive investigations. Methods This is a cross-sectional study. Total 124 typical AD patients were consecutively recruited from April 2014 to April 2017. In 124 AD patients, 47 cases (37.9%) were male and 77 cases were female; patients’ age were 43–93 years with an average of 68 years. Patients were divided into AD with apathy (AD-A) and AD with no apathy (AD-NA) groups according to the score of Modified Apathy Evaluation Scale, then were evaluated cognitive functions, neuropsychiatric symptoms and activity of daily living, and tested olfactory functions. Above variables were compared between AD-A and AD-NA groups. Further correlation analyses and linear regression analysis were performed between apathy and above variables. Results Compared with AD-NA group, global cognitive level, verbal memory, verbal fluency and activity of daily living were significantly compromised in AD-A group (P 0.002), and correlations between apathy and olfactory threshold, olfactory identification and global olfactory function were significant (P