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UnlabelledWe investigated the characteristics and spatial distribution of cortical bone pores in postmenopausal women with type 2 diabetes (T2D). High porosity in the midcortical and periosteal layers in T2D subjects with fragility fractures suggests that these cortical zones might be particularly susceptible to T2D-induced toxicity and may reflect cortical microangiopathy.IntroductionElevated cortical porosity is regarded as one of the main contributors to the high skeletal fragility in T2D. However, to date, it remains unclear if diabetic cortical porosity results from vascular cortical changes or from an expansion in bone marrow space. Here, we used a novel cortical laminar analysis technique to investigate the characteristics and spatial radial distribution of cortical pores in a T2D group with prior history of fragility fractures (DMFx, assigned high-risk group) and a fracture-free T2D group (DM, assigned low-risk group) and to compare their results to non-diabetic controls with (Fx) and without fragility fractures (Co).MethodsEighty postmenopausal women (n = 20/group) underwent high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) of the distal tibia and radius. Cortical bone was divided into three layers of equal width including an endosteal, midcortical, and periosteal layer. Within each layer, total pore area (TPA), total pore number (TPN), and average pore area (APA) were calculated. Statistical analysis employed Mann-Whitney tests and ANOVA with post hoc tests.ResultsCompared to the DM group, DMFx subjects exhibited +90 to +365 % elevated global porosity (p = 0.001). Cortical laminar analysis revealed that this increased porosity was for both skeletal sites confined to the midcortical layer, followed by the periosteal layer (midcortical +1327 % TPA, p ≤ 0.001, periosteal +634 % TPA, p = 0.002), and was associated in both layers and skeletal sites with high TPN (+430 % TPN, p

Background and purposeCXC chemokine ligand 13 and interleukin 10 have emerged as CSF biomarkers for the diagnosis of CNS lymphoma. Our hypothesis is that the combined use of ADC, CXC chemokine ligand 13, and interleukin 10 will result in increased diagnostic performance compared with the use of ADC values alone.Materials and methodsEighty-seven patients were included in this study, including 43 with CNS lymphoma and 44 without CNS lymphoma (21 metastases, 14 high-grade gliomas, 9 tumefactive demyelinating lesions) who had undergone CSF proteomic analysis and had a new enhancing mass on brain MR imaging. Average ADC was derived by contouring the contrast-enhancing tumor volume. Group means were compared via t tests for average ADC, CXC chemokine ligand 13, and interleukin 10. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed for each individual variable. Multiple-variable logistic regression with receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed, and the multiple-variable receiver operating characteristic was compared with single-variable receiver operating characteristics.ResultsThe average ADC was lower and CSF CXC chemokine ligand 13 and interleukin 10 values were higher in CNS lymphoma (P < .001). Areas under the curve ranged from 0.739 to 0.832 for single-variable ROC. Multiple-variable logistic regression yielded statistically significant individual effects for all 3 variables in a combined model. Multiple-variable receiver operating characteristics (area under the curve, 0.928) demonstrated statistically significantly superior diagnostic performance compared with the use of single variables alone.ConclusionsThe combined use of ADC, CSF CXC chemokine ligand 13, and interleukin 10 results in increased diagnostic performance for the diagnosis of CNS lymphoma. This finding highlights the importance of CSF analysis when the diagnosis of CNS lymphoma is considered on the basis of MR imaging.

Objective: To determine the characteristics of femoral condyle insufficiency fracture (FCIF) lesions and their relative associations with the risk of clinical progression. Materials and methods: This HIPAA-compliant retrospective study was approved by our Institutional Review Board. Seventy-three patients (age range, 19–95) were included after excluding patients with post-traumatic fractures, bone marrow infarct, osteochondritis dissecans, or underlying tumor. Two board-certified musculoskeletal radiologists classified morphologic findings including lesion diameter, associated bone marrow edema pattern, and associated cartilage/meniscus damage. Electronic medical charts were evaluated for symptoms, risk factors, and longitudinal outcomes, including total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Imaging characteristics were correlated with clinical findings, and comparison of outcome groups was performed using a regression model adjusted for age. Results: The majority of patients with FCIF were women (64.4 %, 47/73), on average 10 years older than men (66.28 ± 15.86 years vs. 56.54 ± 10.39 years, p = 0.005). The most common location for FCIF was the central weight-bearing surface of the medial femoral condyle; overlying full thickness cartilage loss (75.7 %, 53/70) and ipsilateral meniscal injury (94.1 %, 64/68) were frequently associated. Clinical outcomes were variable, with 23.9 % (11/46) requiring TKA. Cartilage WORMS score, adjacent cartilage loss, and contralateral meniscal injury, in addition to decreased knee range of motion at presentation, were significantly associated with progression to TKA (p < 0.05). Conclusions: FCIF are frequently associated with overlying cartilage loss and ipsilateral meniscal injury. The extent of cartilage loss and meniscal damage, in addition to loss of knee range of motion at the time of presentation, are significantly associated with clinical progression.

Objective·To explore the effect of online courses combined with the teach-back method among patients with laryngectomy and their family caregivers.Methods·Convenience sampling was used to select patients with laryngectomy treated in the Department of Otolaryngology, Shanghai Changhai Hospital from July 2022 to June 2023 and their family caregivers. The participants were divided into a control group and an observation group using the random number table method. The intervention was conducted in two different wards. General information of the two groups of patients and caregivers was collected. After admission, the control group watched offline videos recorded by the department. The videos introduced laryngocarcinoma-related knowledge and standard procedures of airway stoma care, suctioning, nasal feeding, etc., which were divided into 4 sessions with 30 min each. The patients watched one session per week. The observation group watched the same videos (8 lessons) online on their own after admission, while the nursing staff used the teach-back method for health education, consolidating 2 lessons once a week, 45 min/session for 4 weeks. The effectiveness of the intervention was evaluated by using Caregiver Preparedness Scale (CPS), Family Caregiver Task Inventory (FCTI), and Chinese Quality of Life Instruments for Cancer Patients-Head and Neck Cancer (QLICP-HN) at baseline (1st week), before discharge (4th week), and one month after discharge (8th week), as well as the incidence of adverse events during home care.Results·The study included a total of 120 pairs of patients and caregivers, with 60 pairs in each group. Five pairs in each group were excluded due to various reasons, leaving a total of 55 pairs in each group. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of general information of the patients and the caregivers, QLICP-HN scores of the patients, and CPS and FCTI scores of the caregivers at baseline (P>0.05). Before discharge and 1 month after discharge, the CPS scores of the caregivers and the QLICP-HN scores of the patients in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group, and the FCTI scores were significantly lower (lower scores indicating better nursing care), with statistically significant differences (P

Case presentation A 47-year-old Asian woman was admitted with worsening chest tightness and dyspnea for 10 days. Computed tomography (CT) showed changes in the trachea and segmental bronchi. Pulmonary function results suggestive of severe obstructive ventilatory dysfunction. Bronchoscopic findings showed the presence of multiple nodular lesions in the patient’s trachea and left and right main bronchi. Bronchoscopic biopsy, lymph node biopsy and bone marrow aspiration flow cytometry test results led to a definitive diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), staged as Binet stage B and Rai stage 2.

Massive amounts of operational and maintenance (O&M) data from nuclear power distributed control system (DCS) contain rich operational experience and expert knowledge. Effectively extracting DCS alarm response information and forming knowledge service is a current hotspot and frontier research area in rapid DCS response. Due to the lack of clear structure and standards in multi-source heterogeneous data of nuclear power DCS, previous knowledge extraction primarily relied on manual annotation and deep learning methods, which require extensive domain knowledge and information processing capabilities and are constrained by the heavy workload of data annotation. Therefore, this study proposes a knowledge extraction method using large language model (LLM) with a step-by-step prompting strategy, constructing a DCS O&M knowledge graph (KG). Based on large language model technology and secondary intent recognition methods, intelligent question and answer (Q&A) and other knowledge services are developed utilizing the knowledge graph. Using O&M data from a nuclear power plant’s DCS as a case study, the research focuses on knowledge extraction, knowledge graph construction, and intelligent Q&A. The results show that the model achieves an overall precision (P) of 91.24%, recall (R) of 85.85%, and F1-score of 88.43%. The proposed method can comprehensively capture key entities and attribute information from multi-source heterogeneous DCS O&M data, guiding domain knowledge Q&A, assisting O&M personnel in timely responding to DCS alarm anomalies, analyzing fault causes and response strategies, and providing guidance for DCS O&M training and maintenance in power plants.

AIM: To investigate the relationship between objective ocular torsion and near stereopsis in patients with primary superior oblique overaction(PSOOA).METHODS: Retrospective study. A total of 59 strabismus patients with PSOOA who underwent strabismus surgery at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University between January 2019 and November 2023 were collected. Based on the collected fundus photographs and the position of the fovea relative to the horizontal line through the optic disc, the eyes were categorized as incyclotorsion, excyclotorsion, or no cyclotorsion. Additionally, the fovea-disc angle(FDA)and the relationship between objective ocular torsion status, FDA, and near stereopsis function in the patients were further measured and analyzed.RESULTS: Totally 59 patients(92 eyes)showed superior oblique overaction. There were no cases of excyclotorsion, 32 cases with no cyclotorsion, and 27 cases with incyclotorsion. The total binocular FDA was significantly smaller in the no-cyclotorsion group compared with the incyclotorsion group(2.83°±2.89° vs 16.12°±5.74°, P

Optical interconnects, leveraging surface plasmon modes, are revolutionizing high-performance computing and AI, overcoming the limitations of electrical interconnects in speed, energy efficiency, and miniaturization. These nanoscale photonic circuits integrate on-chip light manipulation and signal conversion, marking significant advancements in optoelectronics and data processing efficiency. Here, we present a novel plasmonic interconnect circuit, by introducing refractive index matching layer, the device supports both pure SPP and different hybrid modes, allowing selective excitation and transmission based on light wavelength and polarization, followed by photocurrent conversion. We optimized the coupling gratings to fine-tune transmission modes around specific near-infrared wavelengths for effective electrical detection. Simulation results align with experimental data, confirming the device’s ability to detect complex optical modes. This advancement broadens the applications of plasmonic interconnects in high-speed, compact optoelectronic and sensor technologies, enabling more versatile nanoscale optical signal processing and transmission.

Protein O-glycosylation, also known as mucin-type O-glycosylation, is one of the most abundant glycosylation in mammalian cells. It is initially catalyzed by a family of polypeptide GalNAc transferases (ppGalNAc-Ts). The trimeric spike protein (S) of SARS-CoV-2 is highly glycosylated and facilitates the virus’s entry into host cells and membrane fusion of the virus. However, the functions and relationship between host ppGalNAc-Ts and O-glycosylation on the S protein remain unclear. Herein, we identify 15 O-glycosites and 10 distinct O-glycan structures on the S protein using an HCD-product-dependent triggered ETD mass spectrometric analysis. We observe that the isoenzyme T6 of ppGalNAc-Ts (ppGalNAc-T6) exhibits high O-glycosylation activity for the S protein, as demonstrated by an on-chip catalytic assay. Overexpression of ppGalNAc-T6 in HEK293 cells significantly enhances the O-glycosylation level of the S protein, not only by adding new O-glycosites but also by increasing O-glycan heterogeneity. Molecular dynamics simulations reveal that O-glycosylation on the protomer-interface regions, modified by ppGalNAc-T6, potentially stabilizes the trimeric S protein structure by establishing hydrogen bonds and non-polar interactions between adjacent protomers. Furthermore, mutation frequency analysis indicates that most O-glycosites of the S protein are conserved during the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Taken together, our finding demonstrate that host O-glycosyltransferases dynamically regulate the O-glycosylation of the S protein, which may influence the trimeric structural stability of the protein. This work provides structural insights into the functional role of specific host O-glycosyltransferases in regulating the O-glycosylation of viral envelope proteins.

Objective A novel compound based on near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) probe was prepared to achieve dynamic monitoring of an inflammatory brain edema model in mice and real-time evaluation of therapeutic effects through in vivo imaging. Methods The NIRF probe IR-783 was chemically linked with clinical brain edema therapeutic drug furosemide (FSM) to obtain the new compound, IR-783-FSM. The ultraviolet fluorescence properties of the compound were evaluated using an ultraviolet spectrophotometer. The uptake of the compound by mouse macrophage cells RAW 264.7 was detected with in vitro cellular experiments. Its cytotoxicity was evaluated through CCK8 assays. A brain edema model was established in BALB/c mice via intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), confirmed by HE staining and dry-wet weight methods for brain tissues. The mice in the brain edema model were divided into control group, IR-783, and IR-783-FSM treatment groups, receiving intraperitoneal injections of PBS, IR-783, and IR-783-FSM, respectively. Real-time in vivo fluorescence imaging was then performed. The mice in each group were euthanized after 10 hours. Ex vivo brain imaging and dry-wet weight measurements were performed to observe the NIRF imaging characteristics and therapeutic effects of IR-783-FSM on brain edema model. Results The newly synthesized compound, IR-783-FSM, retained the excellent near-infrared fluorescence characteristics of IR-783. It could target mouse macrophages with an IC50 of 48.82 µmol/L. A brain edema model could be successfully constructed with intraperitoneal injection of LPS, with significantly higher brain tissue water content compared to the control group (P

The purpose of this paper is three-fold. First, we establish singular Trudinger–Moser inequalities with less restrictive constraint:(0.1)supu∈H1(R2),∫R2(|∇u|2+V(x)u2)dx≤1∫R2e4π1−β2u2−1|x|βdx

AIM:To identify transcriptional differences between the ocular surface ectoderm(OSE)and surface ectoderm(SE)using RNA-seq, and elucidate the OSE transcriptome landscape and the regulatory networks involved in its development.METHODS:OSE and SE cells were differentiated from human embryonic stem(hES)cells. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs)between OSE and SE were analyzed using RNA-seq. Based on the DEGs, we performed gene ontology(GO)analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction(PPI)network analysis. Transcription factors(TFs)and hub genes were screened. Subsequently, TF-gene and TF-miRNA regulatory networks were constructed using the NetworkAnalyst platform.RESULTS:A total of 4 182 DEGs were detected between OSE and SE cells, with 2 771 up-regulated and 1 411 down-regulated genes in OSE cells. GO-BP analysis revealed that up-regulated genes in OSE were enriched in the regulation of ion transmembrane transport, axon development, and modulation of chemical synaptic transmission. Down-regulated genes were primarily involved in nuclear division, chromosome segregation, and regulation of cell cycle phase transition. KEGG analysis indicated that up-regulated genes in OSE cells were enriched in signaling pathways such as cocaine addiction, axon guidance, and amphetamine addiction, while down-regulated genes were enriched in proteoglycans in cancer, ECM-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Additionally, compared with SE, 204 TFs(including FOS, EGR1, POU5F1, SOX2, and PAX6)were up-regulated, and 80 TFs(including HAND2, HOXB6, HOXB5, HOXA5, and HOXB8)were down-regulated in OSE cells. Furthermore, we identified 6 up-regulated and 9 down-regulated hub genes in OSE cells, and constructed TF-gene and TF-miRNA regulatory networks based on these hub genes.CONCLUSIONS:The transcriptome characteristics of OSE and SE cells were elucidated through RNA-seq analysis. These findings may provide a novel insight for studies on the development and in vitro directed induction of OSE and corneal epithelial cells.

Anticancer chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (CTX) is accompanied by toxic side effects such as bone marrow suppression and intestinal mucosal injury, which seriously affects the treatment tolerance and prognosis of patients. In recent years, polysaccharides have been used as detoxifying and synergistic adjuncts for antitumor drugs due to their anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory activities. This paper systematically summarizes polysaccharide purification technologies, elaborates on the detoxification mechanism of polysaccharides on CTX from multiple perspectives such as immunomodulation, antioxidation, intestinal protection, liver and kidney protection, and reproductive system protection, and discusses the synergistic effect of polysaccharides with CTX by directly or indirectly killing tumors. Furthermore, the regulatory pathways of polysaccharides in cancer chemotherapy are summarized from two aspects: toxicity reduction and efficacy enhancement. We hope that this review could provide a reference for research on the mechanism of action of polysaccharides in reducing the toxicity and enhancing the efficacy of CTX, and provide new directions for reducing the toxic side effects of CTX.

Abstract Background Migraine is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Several retrospective studies have suggested that the closure of the Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) may provide relief from migraines. However, three randomized controlled trials did not meet their primary endpoints regarding migraine cessation, reduction in monthly migraine days, and responder rates. Methods The SPRING study is a multicenter, prospective, randomized, and open-label trial designed to compare the effectiveness and safety of PFO closure versus medication in the relief of migraines. The primary endpoint is the total cessation of migraines, as recorded in patient headache diaries during the follow-up period. Additional diagnostic tools include echocardiography with agitated saline contrast, transcranial Doppler, and routine laboratory measurements. Conclusion The SPRING trial aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of PFO closure versus medication in mitigating migraines in real-world settings. (Clinical Trails ID: NCT04946734).

【Objective】 Slow-release fertilizer is efficient and environmentally friendly but its effectiveness is closely related to soil water. This paper studies the combined impact of slow-release fertilization and irrigation method on growth, yield and quality of rice. 【Method】 The pot experiment was conducted from May to September in 2021 at Hubei Irrigation Central Experimental Station. It consisted of flood irrigation (W1) and alternate wetting and drying irrigation (W2). Each irrigation treatment had 6 fertilizations: conventional fertilization (F100), fertilizations using 120% (SF120), 110% (SF110), 100% (SF100), 90% (SF90) and 80% (SF80) of the fertilizer used in F100 but replacing them by controlled-release fertilizer. In each treatment, we measured the plant height, numbers of tillers, chlorophyll SPAD, yield and its components, as well as amylose and gluten protein contents in each growth stage. The entropy weight TOPSIS method was used for comprehensive evaluation of the treatments. 【Result】 Compared with F100, on average over the two irrigation treatments, SF100 increased plant height, tiller numbers, grain yield and glutenin content by 24.65%, 34.90%, 11.90% and 32.72%, respectively, while reduced the chlorophyll degradation and amylose content by 24.98% and 7.37%, respectively. Compared with W2, W1 increased the average plant height, chlorophyll degradation, and yield by 19.01%, 20.73%, and 12.82%, respectively, and reduced the number of tillers and the contents of amylose and glutenin by 31.05%, 0.30%, and 0.90%, respectively. Under W1, the yield of SF90 was 12.41% higher than that of SF120; the amylose content in SF90 was 6.68% lower than that in SF120; the glutenin content in SF90 was 5.33% lower than that in SF110. The entropy weight TOPSIS method showed that the relative yield of W1+SF90 was the closest to the potential yield, with the comprehensive score reaching 0.985. 【Conclusion】 Combining flood irrigation with a 10% reduction of conventional fertilization by using slow-release fertilizer (648 kg/hm2 fertilizer) is a promising irrigation-fertilization for rice production in the middle and low reaches of the Yangtze River basin.

The ideological and political content of the laboratory animal science degree course with the basic task of "cultivating morality and cultivating people" is organically integrated into the teaching system of laboratory animal science. It can have a subtle influence on students' thoughts and behaviors. Combined with the curriculum design and professional characteristics of laboratory animal science, this article discussed the ideological and political elements contained in this course, proposed the forms and methods of integrating ideological and political elements into the curriculum design in each chapter. Additionally, the typical cases and characteristic practices of the organic connection of ideological and political education in the teaching system of laboratory animal science were summarized. Practice has proved that integrating the ideological and political elements into the teaching system of laboratory animal science can enhance teacher's awareness and ability of politics, thus effectively improving the compre-hensive quality of students and enhancing the effectiveness of ideological and political education in laboratory animal science.

Objective To establish a set of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) detection protocol for inbred rats based on multiplex PCR-ligase detection reaction (LDR).Methods A total of 40 rats SNP sites were selected on chromosomes 1-20 and X of rats among 5 inbred strains of rats, and the 40 SNP sites were randomly divided into four groups. A genetic detection protocol for 4 groups of SNP in inbred rats based on multiplex PCR-LDR technology was constructed. 9 commonly used rat strains from two other domestic rat suppliers were detected by this protocol. Finally, the feasibility of this protocol was verified by comparing the amplification effects of different DNA polymerases by a third-party laboratory.Results When using the constructed SNP detection protocol for inbred rats to test 5 rat strains, all sites in each sample obtained good amplification results. The 9 commonly used rat strains from two other rat suppliers in china were also well amplified by this SNP detection protocol, and 40 SNPs were homozygous in each Inbred strain. The results of detection of the same rat DNA samples with three different DNA polymerases showed that the Multiplex PCR Kit, AmpliTaq Gold 360 DNA polymerase and Platinum II Taq hot start DNA polymerase had electrophoretic peaks of amplification products at all SNP sites in groups 1 to 3, and Platinum II Taq hot start DNA polymerase had one less electrophoretic peak of the amplification products at the SNP sites in group 4. In addition, inter-laboratory comparisons showed consistent results for the same amplification system.Conclusion Based on multiplex PCR-LDR technology, this study successfully established a SNP detection protocol for rats covering all autosomes and X chromosomes with the excellent stability and repeatability.

Objective To investigate the preoperative hope level of elderly patients with femoral neck fracture and analyze its influencing factors, so as to provide a practical basis for improving the preoperative hope level of elderly patients with femoral neck fracture and promoting postoperative rehabilitation. Methods A total of 206 cases of elderly patients with femoral neck fractures who were eligible for the surgical treatment were included as the research objects. The general information questionnaire, Herth Hope Index (HHI)Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale(GSES) were analyzed. Results The total HHI score of 206 elderly patients with femoral neck fractures was (31.73+-9.68) points, and scores of each dimension were: positive attitude towards reality and the future (9.14+-1.10), taking positive actions (11.69+-5.36), maintaining close relationships with others (10.89+-3.22); Among them, 63 cases (30. 6%) were high hope levels, 131 cases (65. 6%) were medium hope levels, and 12 cases (3. 8%) were low hope levels. The results of multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that age, comorbidity index, economic status, housing status, and self-efficacy were significant predictors of the preoperative hope level of elderly patients with femoral neck fractures (p

In order to reveal the correspondence between the microstructure and mechanical properties of in-situ TiC/Ti composite coatings by induction fusion coating, the nano-mechanical property variation patterns of different phase structures within the coatings were investigated by using the isolated nanoindentation test method, and the mechanical properties of the coating micro-zone structure were studied by using grid indentation test method. The isolated indentation results show that the nanoindentation hardness and elastic modulus of the in-situ TiC-reinforced phases are 21.3 GPa and 275 GPa, respectively, while the average nano hardness of the matrix phase in the α-Ti-rich and β-Ti-rich regions is 4 GPa and 6 GPa, respectively, and the average elastic modulus is 130 GPa and 155 GPa, respectively. The correspondence between the grid indentation and isolated indentation test results is good. The minimum peak obtained from the three-peak Gaussian fitting of the fractional nanoindentation test results represents the mechanical properties of the matrix phase of the coating, the middle peak reflects the comprehensive mechanical properties of the coating, and the maximum peak is lower than the real mechanical properties of the in-situ TiC reinforcement due to the influence of the reinforcement size and indentation position. Under the consideration of coating microstructure and reinforcement size, by reasonably setting the fractional indentation test conditions and selecting the appropriate test area, it can reveal comprehensive properties of the coating while obtaining real mechanical properties of different phase structures of in-situ TiC composite coatings.

To solve the problem of icing on steel surface, BiOBr was synthesized by hydrothermal method using bismuth nitrate and potassium bromide as raw materials, and the BiOBr modified by silane coupling agent was coated on the surface of stearic acid modified iron sheet using the dip-coating method. The BiOBr and coating were characterized by XRD, FTIR and SEM, and the anti-icing and de-icing properties of the coating were studied. The experimental results demonstrate that the contact angle of water droplets on the coating surface is 154.23°, thus delaying the freezing time of water droplets on the surface of the iron sheet from 10 s to 60 s. Under the irradiation of ultraviolet light, the surface temperature of superhydrophobic iron sheet rises from 27.41 ℃ to 57.87 ℃. The photothermal conversion effect provided by BiOBr in the coating makes the ice on its surface melt rapidly. At the same time, the coating has good self-cleaning performance.

In vivo magnetic resonance vessel size imaging at 7 T high field was used to explore the changes in cerebral vascular plasticity after spinal cord hemisection injury in rats. Region of interest (ROI) analysis showed that four weeks after injury, mean vessel diameter (mVD), microvascular density (Density) and vessel size index (VSI) values were significantly increased in the contralateral side compared with the ipsilateral pyramid of the injury site, suggesting angiogenesis or vascular activation in the white matter region of the contralateral corticospinal tract (CST). Immunofluorescence results showed that the intensity of staining for platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (CD31) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) also increased significantly in the contralateral pyramid four weeks after injury. These results suggested that magnetic resonance vessel size imaging could provide valuable information on neovascularization in brain after spinal cord injury and may be a novel tool to diagnose brain vascular pathologies in spinal cord injury patients.

It is the trend of the times that digital technology is involved in various professional fields and promotes the integration and development of specialties. Digital sculpture technology, as a kind of new technology means in digital technology, has changed the process and means of sculpture specialty, and has become an important part of ecological art. Digital sculpture has the characteristics of virtuality, interactivity, and digitalization. Compared with traditional sculpture, digital sculpture is virtual in material, novel in structure, and advanced in aesthetics. The article also analyzes the concept and characteristics of ecological art, showing its awareness of environmental protection and respect for natural beauty in artistic creation. The integration of digital sculpture and ecological art is based on three-dimensional modeling technology, which is mainly reflected in the exploration of virtual materials, interactive simulation of the environment, and the dissemination of environmental awareness. Through the case study of cloud and glass bottle horse, this paper shows the practical application and potential value of the integration of digital art and ecological art and emphasizes the important role of this integration in promoting artistic innovation and enhancing public awareness of environmental protection.

Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor with a high mortality rate. Abnormal APOBEC3B (apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide-like 3B) expression increases tumor susceptibility. However, the exact molecular mechanism of APOBEC3B expression in the development of gastric cancer is still unknown. We investigated the effect of APOBEC3B on the malignant biological behavior of gastric cancer cells and discussed the role of APOBEC3B in the development and progression of gastric cancer. APOBEC3B protein levels were measured in 161 gastric cancer samples using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Both in vitro and in vivo assays were performed, and molecules were analyzed using bioinformatics analysis and western blotting. APOBEC3B was overexpressed in gastric cancer. Moreover, APOBEC3B significantly enhanced cell proliferation in vitro and tumorigenicity in vivo. Regarding the underlying mechanism, APOBEC3B promoted the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by upregulating P53, MCM2 (minichromosome maintenance protein 2), and cyclin D1. Our results suggest that APOBEC3B is involved in cancer progression, providing a new theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to participate in the pathological process of cardiac hypertrophy. This study aimed to investigate the function of the lncRNA, myosin heavy-chain associated RNA transcript (Mhrt), in cardiac hypertrophy and its possible mechanism of action. Adult mouse cardiomyocytes were treated with angiotensin II (Ang II) and transfected with Mhrt; cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated by estimating atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and beta-myosin heavy-chain levels, and cell surface area by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. The interaction between the Mhrt/Wnt family member 7B (WNT7B) and miR-765 was assessed using a luciferase reporter assay. Rescue experiments were performed by analyzing the role of the miR-765/WNT7B pathway underlying the function of Mhrt. The results indicated that Ang II induced hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes; however, overexpression of Mhrt alleviated the Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Mhrt acted as a sponge for miR-765 to regulate the expression of WNT7B. Rescue experiments revealed that the inhibitory effect of Mhrt on myocardial hypertrophy was abolished by miR-765. Additionally, the knockdown of WNT7B reversed the suppression of myocardial hypertrophy induced by downregulating miR-765. Taken together, Mhrt alleviated cardiac hypertrophy by targeting the miR-765/WNT7B axis.

Background Pneumocystis jirovecii (PJ) can colonize the lungs, and cause pulmonary infections. It is essential to distinguish between PJ colonization and infection in the lung to avoid clinical overtreatment and delayed treatment. Many studies have shown that both the mNGS technique and serum G test can be used to aid the diagnosis of PJ pneumonia, but it is still unclear whether they have the appropriate cut-off value to distinguish PJ colonization from PJ infection. Objective To investigate the values of mNGS of alveolar lavage fluid and serum G test in distinguishing between infection and colonization of PJ and to assess the correlation between them. Methods A retrospective study design was used. Forty inpatients with pulmonary infections were recruited from Hubei No.3 People's Hospital of Jianghan University from September 2018 to May 2022, and divided into PJ infection group (n=21) and colonization group (n=19), according to the prevalence of anti-PJ treatment based on mNGS results of alveolar lavage fluid. Clinical data were collected, including general information〔gender, age, BMI, smoking history, underlying diseases (chronic kidney disease, hematological diseases, autoimmune diseases, malignancy, HIV, solid organ transplantation, chronic lung disease, the use of glucocorticoid/immunosuppressive agents) 〕, clinical symptoms (fever, cough, phlegm, dyspnea, chest pain, hemoptysis), imaging features (ground-glass shadow, interstitial change, consolidation, nodule, pleural effusion, cyst), laboratory indicators (white blood cell count, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, PCT, CRP, LDH, PaO2/FiO2, CD4+T lymphocytes). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of mNGS and serum G test was plotted and analyzed to assess their performance in distinguishing between PJ infection and colonization, and the correlation between the two was analyzed. Results The utilization rate of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants in PJ infection group was higher than that of colonization group (P

Phage contamination is one of the significant problems in the food fermentation industry, which eventually causes economic losses to the industry. Here, we investigated the viability of Lactobacillus plantarum phage P1 and P2 using various biocides treatments (ethanol, isopropanol, sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid). Results indicated that phage P1 and P2 could be completely inactivated by treatment with 75% ethanol for 5 min, followed by 400 ppm of sodium hypochlorite treatment for 5 min. Phage P2 could be completely inactivated in the reverse sequence, while 800 ppm of sodium hypochlorite was required to achieve a similar effect for phage P1. Moreover, 100% isopropanol could increase the inactivating effect of 75% ethanol. This study may provide basic information on using multiple antimicrobials for phage control in laboratories and food plants.

Abstract Background Nurses have been at the center of managing the COVID-19 outbreak through direct bedside care in respiratory, emergency and intensive care environments, managing hospital units, providing Covid-19 testing, vaccination and contact tracing. Thus, the present study aimed to analysis the strategies used by Iranian nurses for management of Provided Care for patients with COVID- 19. Methods The present study was conducted based on the conventional content analysis method and Graneheim & Lundman approach. The participants included the nurses working in the COVID-19 wards and were recruited by purposeful sampling and based on inclusion criteria. The data were collected by conducting semi-structured, in-depth, one-to-one interviews until reaching data saturation. Results In-depth interviews with 10 nurses represented four main categories and fifteen subcategories. Four main categories emerged in this study i.e. “justice in human resources management”, “The art and science of comprehensive nursing care”, “managers as agents of change in crisis” and “challenges and its management”. Conclusion The nurses’ experiences of management strategies showed that paying attention to the financial, psychological, educational, equipment needs of nurses and maintaining their safety make the suitable environment for providing high quality care for patients with covid-19.

Summary: Lipolysis-stimulated lipoprotein receptor (LSR) is a multi-functional protein that is best known for its roles in assembly of epithelial tricellular tight junctions and hepatic clearance of lipoproteins. Here, we investigated whether LSR contributes to intestinal epithelium homeostasis and pathogenesis of intestinal disease. By using multiple conditional deletion mouse models and ex vivo cultured organoids, we find that LSR elimination in intestinal stem cells results in the disappearance of Paneth cells without affecting the differentiation of other cell lineages. Mechanistic studies reveal that LSR deficiency increases abundance of YAP by modulating its phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation. Using gain- and loss-of-function studies, we show that LSR protects against necrotizing enterocolitis through enhancement of Paneth cell differentiation in small-intestinal epithelium. Thus, this study identifies LSR as an upstream negative regulator of YAP activity, an essential factor for Paneth cell differentiation, and a potential therapeutic target for necrotizing enterocolitis.

This article summarized the experience of integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine treatment and nursing for a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic kidney disease complicated with herpes zoster disease. Based on syndrome differentiation, the stamp-sized sticking therapy according to syndrome type, Chinese herbal drugs collapse stains and enema of Chinese medicine decoction and other traditional Chinese medicine nursing methods. At the same time, hemodialysis and routine nursing methods were carried out in combination of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (本文总结1例慢性肾脏病急性加重合并带状疱疹疾病患者的中西医结合治疗和护理经验。首先通过辨证施护, 根据证型给予“邮票”贴敷疗法、中药塌渍及中药灌肠等中医护理方法, 同时结合西医血液透析和常规护理干预。)

Running is one of the most popular recreational sports activities and a commonly recommended sport in clinical rehabilitation. With the increasing demand and awareness of public fitness, the sports injury caused by improper running is also increasing, and it is important to improve the risk assessment and preventive intervention of running-related injury (RRI). RRI refers to a variety of lower limb and lower back discomfort that occurs during running practice or as a result of running, and affects the running activity. Among runners, the incidence of RRI is high and it is easy to relapse, and thus, applying effective preventive assessment tools and interventions is beneficial to reducing the incidence of RRI in potential populations. The current RRI prediction is mostly based on the past injury, incorrect posture and overwork factors, and in most of the time, it does not have a clear, intuitive numerical prediction of the occurrence probability of RRI. Predicting RRI by foot assessment is common, and related assessment tools and methods continue to appear, among which foot posture index (FPI-6) and plantar pressure assessment are currently widely used. By evaluating the structure and function of the runners' feet before running, and carrying out relevant training for the feet before and during running, the occurrence of RRI can be prevented and reduced, and it provides a basis for the scientific development of running training plan. This paper summarizes the common RRI foot assessment tools and reviews the current common foot intervention strategies for preventing RRI in the aspects of foot muscle training, foot strike pattern and pre-run adaptive training etc. It puts forward that runners can take RRI risk assessment before starting the running training plan and strengthen the weak parts of foot with reference to the neutral position FPI-6, plantar pressure distribution and arch form; runners can take a period of muscle strength training before increasing the intensity of running each time, and pay special attention to foot core muscle group training. For runners lack of ankle mobility and strength, the rear foot strike pattern is recommended, and runners with knee or calf injuries can choose the fore and mid foot strike patterns.

【Objective】 Vineyards in north China require irrigation and the purpose of this paper is to experimentally study the effect of irrigation amount on fruit quality of table grape. 【Method】 The field experiment was conducted in Shanxi province in north China, in which the perennial early-ripening Emerald green and the mid-ripening Crimson were used as the model plants. They were both watered using border irrigation. For each variety, we compared three irrigation amounts: 2 570 m3/hm2 (CK), 2 056 m3/hm2 (T1), and 1 542 m3/hm2 (T2). During the experiment, we measured the growth, fruit yield and quality of the grape. 【Result】 Reducing irrigation amount during the shooting stage did not result in a noticeable effect on stem growth and shooting of either variety, but a change in irrigation amount during the fruit expansion stage affected the length and width of both individual fruits and grape clusters, and the ultimate yield. Compared with CK, T1 increased the yield of the Emerald green by 6.89%, while T2 reduced its yield by 16.36%. Reducing irrigation amount also affected nutrient quality and edible quality of the grape, with the contents of total phenols and flavanols both decreasing as the irrigation amount decreased, despite the insignificant difference between T1 and CK. The yield of the Crimson maximized in CK, reaching 22 555 kg/hm2; compared with CK, T1 and T2 reduced its fruit yield by 8.18% and 14.05%, respectively. T1 increased the total phenolic content by 4.55% while increasing the total flavonoids content by 52.83%, compared to CK. The highest total phenol content in T2 was 8.48 mg/g, a 11.91% increase compared to that in CK. Decrease in irrigation amount led to a reduction in the sugar-acid ratio. 【Conclusion】 Change in irrigation amount did not have a significant effect on growth of the fresh grape during the shooting period, but significantly impacted fruit yield and quality of the grape during the fruit expanding stage. Reducing irrigation amount to 2 056 m3/hm2 during the fruit expanding stage of the Emerald green can increase fruit yield and quality, while for the Crimson the optimal irrigation amount is 2 570 m3/hm2.

Background: Chinese Tibetan medicine plays a crucial role in complementary anti-tumor treatments. This article aims to investigate the inhibitory effect of the alcoholic extract of Tibetan medicine Deziyangxin (DZYX) on the proliferation and migration of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, specifically LLC cells, as well as explore its potential mechanism of action. Methods: The effect of the alcoholic extract on LLC cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 method. The proliferation of LLC cells was evaluated using the EdU (5-Acetyl-2'-deoxyuridine) assay. Transwell assays were conducted to measure cell metastasis. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression of Cleaved Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Beciln-1, indicating the impact of DZYX on apoptosis and autophagy in LLC cells. Furthermore, the anti-tumor mechanism of DZYX was explored through transcriptome research and detection of Akt, p-Akt, p-mTOR protein levels. Results: The ethanol extract of DZYX exhibited a concentration-dependent and time-dependent inhibitory effect on LLC cell viability, with an IC50 of 406.1 μg/ml. Moreover, the ethanol extract of DZYX significantly reduced the migration ability of LLC cells. Additionally, the alcoholic extract of DZYX upregulated the expression of Cleaved Caspase-3 and Beciln-1 proteins, while downregulating the expression of Bcl-2 in LLC cells. Importantly, DZYX ethanol extract down regulated the expression of Akt and p-mTOR proteins in LLC cells, which combined with transcriptome results indicated that the drug exerted a multi-target and multi-pathway effect, primarily related to inhibiting the activation of the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR signaling pathway. Conclusion: The alcoholic extract of DZYX demonstrates inhibitory effects on LLC cells, promoting apoptosis and autophagy. It is hypothesized that its anti-tumor mechanism is associated with the PI3K/AKT/m-TOR pathway.

The ultrafast modulation of terahertz (THz) waves is essential for numerous applications, such as high-rate wireless communication, nonreciprocal transmission, and linear frequency conversion. However, high-speed THz devices are rare due to the lack of materials that rapidly respond to external stimuli. Here, we demonstrate a dynamic THz metasurface by introducing an ultrathin superconducting microbridge into metallic resonators to form a superconductor-metal hybrid structure. Exploiting the susceptibility of superconducting films to external optical and THz pumps, we realized resonance mode switching within a few picoseconds. The maximum on/off ratio achieved is 11 dB. The observed periodic oscillation of transmission spectra both in the time and frequency domain under intense THz pump pulse excitation reveals the excitation of Higgs amplitude mode, which is used to realize picosecond scale THz modulation. This study opens the door to ultrafast manipulation of THz waves using collective modes of condensates, and highlights an avenue for developing agile THz modulation devices.

BackgroundSudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is a global problem threatening human health. Early and rapid diagnosis contributes to effective treatment. However, there is a lack of effective SSNHL prediction models.MethodsA retrospective study of SSNHL patients from Fujian Geriatric Hospital (the development cohort with 77 participants) was conducted and data from First Hospital of Putian City (the validation cohort with 57 participants) from January 2018 to December 2021 were validated. Basic characteristics and the results of the conventional coagulation test (CCT) and the blood routine test (BRT) were then evaluated. Binary logistic regression was used to develop a prediction model to identify variables significantly associated with SSNHL, which were then included in the nomogram. The discrimination and calibration ability of the nomogram was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration plot, and decision curve analysis both in the development and validation cohorts. Delong’s test was used to calculate the difference in ROC curves between the two cohorts.ResultsThrombin time (TT), red blood cell (RBC), and granulocyte–lymphocyte ratio (GLR) were found to be associated with the diagnosis of SSNHL. A prediction nomogram was constructed using these three predictors. The AUC in the development and validation cohorts was 0.871 (95% CI: 0.789–0.953) and 0.759 (95% CI: 0.635–0.883), respectively. Delong’s test showed no significant difference in the ROC curves between the two groups (D = 1.482, p = 0.141).ConclusionIn this study, a multifactor prediction model for SSNHL was established and validated. The factors included in the model could be easily and quickly accessed, which could help physicians make early diagnosis and clinical treatment decisions.

Objective To investigate the effect of IGF1R β subunit mutants sb-IGF1R and ma-IGF1R on the biological behavior of osteosarcoma 143B cells. Methods We designed and constructed sb-IGF1R and ma-IGF1R fragments. They were cloned into adenovirus AdEasy shuttle plasmid, to obtain Ad-sbIGF1R and Ad-maIGF1R. We observed the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of the osteosarcoma cells transfected with Ad-sbIGF1R, Ad-maIGF1R and Ad-IGF1R. The Ad-sbIGF1R, Ad-maIGF1R and Ad-GFP nude mouse models were constructed to evaluate the tumor growth in vitro. Results By plasmid PCR, IGF-1R β subunit mutant was overexpressed in osteosarcoma cells. Ad-sbIGF1R and Ad-maIGF1R significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells, and promoted cell apoptosis, and inhibited tumor growth in subcutaneous tumor-bearing nude mouse models. Conclusion IGF1R β subunit mutants inhibit the proliferation and migration of osteosarcoma cells and induce cell apoptosis.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of baicalin in improving pathological airway mucus by regulating the expression of airway epithelial mucus regulators mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) through nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Methods MTT assay was used to detect the effects of different concentrations of baicalin on the viability of human lung cancer H292 cells in order to determine the proper dose of baicalin for subsequent experiments. After H292 cells were induced by IL-1β to establish in vitro inflammatory cell model of mucus hypersecretion, the cells were divided into blank control group, model group, NF-κB inhibitor group (PDTC group, 100 μmol/L) and baicalin group (200 μg/mL). After 24 h of drug intervention, the contents of MUC5AC, IL-8, and TNF-α in the culture supernatant and the levels of MUC5AC and CFTR in the cytoplasm of each group were detected by ELISA. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was adopted to detect the mRNA expression of MUC5AC and CFTR. Western blotting was performed to test the expression of p65 and IκB (inhibitor of NF-κB). Results The results of MTT assay showed that 200 μg/mL was a safe concentration of baicalin for subsequent experiments, with cell viability larger than 80%. As compared with the blank control group, the protein expression of MUC5AC, IL-8, TNF-α, p65 and the mRNA level of MUC5AC in culture supernatant and cytoplasm were all significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.05), while the expression of IκB and CFTR proteins as well as the CFTR mRNA level were remarkably decreased (P < 0.05). When compared with the model group, the PDTC group presented lower level of MUC5AC secretion, declined protein levels of IL-8, TNF-α and p65, as well as MUC5AC mRNA in the culture supernatant (P < 0.05), while higher protein expression of MUC5AC, CFTR and IκB in the cytoplasm, along with elevated mRNA level of CFTR (P < 0.05). In terms of the baicalin group, the secretion levels of MUC5AC, IL-8 and TNF-α were greatly diminished in culture supernatant (P < 0.01) as compared with the model group, whereas the expression of IκB as well as the protein and mRNA levels of CFTR notably improved (P < 0.01), and there was no significant difference in MUC5AC mRNA expression. Conclusion Baicalin reduces MUC5AC secretion and increases CFTR expression by inhibiting the activity of NF-κB, and thus attenuates airway inflammation.

Maxillary canine impaction has been extensively reported, but studies of mandibular canine impaction are relatively few. Clinical studies and reports of experience treating mandibular canine impaction are of clinical benefit to both orthodontists and dentists.

In this article, physical and numerical simulation of the flow field in flexible thin slab caster funnel mold at high casting speed is carried out with a five-hole submerged entry nozzle (FHSEN), and characteristics of the flow field on funnel mold liquid level under different casting speeds (4, 5, and 6 m·min−1) and different submerged depths (130, 160, and 190 mm) are studied by comparing with the new submerged entry nozzle (NSEN) designed. Physical simulation is based on the funnel mold prototype. Numerical simulation is carried out based on FLUENT software, and industrial experiments of two kinds of submerged entry nozzle are also carried out. The results show that in the case of both physical and numerical simulation, the maximum surface velocity of the FHSEN funnel mold is 0.58 m·s−1, and the funnel mold liquid level is prone to slag entrapment. The NSEN funnel mold’ maximum surface velocity is 0.37 m·s−1. Compared with the FHSEN, the NSEN funnel mold’ maximum surface velocity decreases by 0.21 m·s−1, and funnel mold surface velocity decreases significantly. Finally, the accuracy of simulation results is verified by industrial tests, and it is also show that NSEN can greatly reduce funnel mold surface velocity and probability of slag entrapment.

The number density, size and composition of inclusions in U75V heavy rail steel during ladle furnace (LF)–RH refining process were studied by an Aztec-Feature inclusion automatic software which equipped with a field emission microscope. The results showed that the MnO–SiO2–Al2O3-type inclusions were the main inclusions at LF start. The MnO–SiO2–Al2O3-type inclusions were transformed into the CaO–SiO2–Al2O3-type inclusions during the LF refining process because of the Ca and Al elements which were brought by ferroalloy. At the RH start stage, the main inclusions were CaO–SiO2–Al2O3-type inclusions with low melting temperature and CaO–MgO–Al2O3-type inclusions with high melting temperature in the sample. And, the CaO–MgO–Al2O3-type inclusions were obviously removed during RH vacuum treatment. The average compositions of CaO–SiO2–Al2O3-type inclusions had no obvious change from RH vacuum holding for 15 min, RH vacuum break to RH soft blowing.

For blade tip clearance measurement, the optical measurement method has the characteristics of high precision, anti-electromagnetic interference, and non-contact measurement. A dynamic and high-speed blade tip clearance measurement system based on time stretch dispersive Fourier transform with the optical comb is proposed and demonstrated. The dynamic experiments are designed to verify the accuracy of the system. The results show that the measuring speed is up to 17.6 MHz and the measurement errors are less than 1 μm under dynamic conditions. The experiments prove that the system has the advantages of high measurement accuracy, high speed, and good repeatability. It can provide a new tool for engine health monitoring.

Objective To explore the effect of massage based on midnight-noon ebb-flow theory on milk secretion primiparas. Methods A total of 70 primiparas were selected and divided into the control group and the study group, with 35 cases in each. Both groups were given breastfeeding for the first time within 2 hours, the control group was given regular massage, and the study group was given massage based on midnight-noon ebb-flow theory. The milk production, prolactin level, breast tenderness rating and breastfeeding rate were compared between the two groups. Results After 5 days of intervention, the levels of prolactin and milk production in the two groups increased compared with 24 hours postpartum, those in the study group were more than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P

Objective To explore the distribution and contact pattern of sensory relay nuclei in the brainstem that projecting to the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) by using neural circuit tracing technique, so as to investigate the morphological basis of sensory information regulating wakefulness/sleep. Methods Retrograde transporting tracing fluorescent particles RetroBeads were injected into the DRN of adult male C57BL/6 mice (n=3), and the expression of RetroBeads was observed in the sensory relay nuclei of the brainstem. Furthermore, AAV-CaMKIIα-EGFP and RetroBeads were injected into the parabrachial nucleus (PBN) of another 3 mice to observe the distribution of the fiber terminals in DRN and the sensory inputs from the brainstem. Results By the injection of RetroBeads into the DRN, we identified the sensory relay nuclei projecting to the DRN. These nuclei included the superior olivary nucleus, rostral solitary tract nucleus, caudal solitary tract nucleus, parvicellular part of medial vestibular nucleus and magnocellular part of medial vestibular nucleus, accounting for 3.11%, 2.95%, 10.40%, 10.45% and 1.75% of the total brainstem inputs of the DRN, respectively. In addition, there were a large number of RetroBeads labeled neurons in the PBN, accounting for 71.33% of the total input of DRN. Meanwhile, AAV-CaMKIIα-EGFP mediated anterograde tracing showed that the PBN neurons sent dense fiber projections to the DRN. PBN received the inputs form the trigeminal sensory nucleus and spinal tract nucleus, which relay pain, temperature and touch sensation of the head and face. They accounted for 6.14% and 49.86% of the total brainstem input of PBN. The rostral solitary tract nucleus, caudal solitary tract nucleus and parvicellular part of medial vestibular nucleus also projected to the PBN, accounting for 11.67%, 20.53% and 8.94% of the total brainstem input of PBN, respectively. In addition, a few labeled neurons were found in the inferior olivary nucleus, accounting for 2.14% of the total brainstem input of PBN. Conclusion The DRN receives the direct inputs from the superior olivary nucleus, solitary tract nucleus, vestibular nucleus group and PBN. At the same time, the DRN also indirectly receives the inputs from the solitary tract nucleus, inferior olivary nucleus, vestibular nucleus group, trigeminal sensory nucleus and trigeminal spinal nucleus through the PBN.

Objective To investigate the effect of five-element music therapy combined with auricular acupoint pressing on emotional status and sleep quality of patients with peritoneal dialysis. Methods Totally 80 peritoneal dialysis patients with catheter placement were randomly divided into the control group and the intervention group, with 40 cases in each group. All patients received routine care and emotion nursing, and those in the intervention group were given five-element music therapy combined with auricular acupoint pressing. The anxiety, depression status and sleep quality of patients were evaluated. Results The scores of Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) decreased in both groups after a two-week intervention, and were lower in the intervention group than those in the control group (P

Biodegradable nanocomposites were prepared by melt blending biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) (PBAT) (70/30, w/w) with diatomite or talc (1–7%). From the SEM test, the particles were transported to the interface of two phases, which acted as an interface modifier to strengthen the interfacial adhesion between PLA and PBAT. Talc and diatomite acted as nucleating agents to improve the crystallization of PBAT in the blends by DSC analysis. Moreover, adding the particles improved the tensile and impact toughness of the blends. The elongation at break with 5% talc was 78% (vs ∼21%) and the impact strength was 15 kJ/m2 (vs ∼6.5 kJ/m2). The rheological measurement revealed that the talc and diatomite reduced the viscosity of the blends. The results showed a good possibility of using talc- and diatomite-filled PLA/PBAT blends with high toughness for green-packaging and bio-membranes application.

A fast, simple, and energy-saving microwave-assisted approach was successfully developed to prepare carbon microspheres. The carbon microspheres with a uniform particle size and good dispersity were prepared using glucose as the raw material and HCl as the dehydrating agent at low temperature (90°C) in an open system with the assistance of microwave heating. The carbon microspheres were characterized by elemental analysis, XRD, SEM, FTIR, TG, and Raman. The results showed that the carbon microspheres prepared under the condition of 18.5% (v/v) HCl and heating for 30 min by microwave had a narrow size distribution. The core–shell structure of the carbon core and TiO2 shell was prepared with (NH4)2TiF6, H3BO3 using the microwave-assisted method. The hollow TiO2 microspheres with good crystallinity and high photocatalytic properties were successfully prepared by sacrificing the carbon microspheres.

Objective To explore the effect of bright light therapy combined with five-element music therapy on negative emotions and sleep quality of pregnant women with depression. Methods Totally 70 cases of depressed pregnant women were selected and randomly divided into control group and study group, with 35 cases each. Patients in the two groups were given routine nursing programs, and the study group was given bright light therapy combined with five-element music therapy. The Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS) score, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) score, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score and nursing quality indexes were compared between two groups. Results After intervention, except for the SDS score of the control group, the SAS, SDS and PSQI scores of the two groups were lower than before, and the differences were statistically significant (P