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The unspecific peroxygenase (UPO) from Cyclocybe aegerita (AaeUPO) can selectively oxidize C–H bonds using hydrogen peroxide as an oxygen donor without cofactors, which has drawn significant industrial attention. Many studies have made efforts to enhance the overall activity of AaeUPO expressed in Komagataella phaffii by employing strategies such as enzyme-directed evolution, utilizing appropriate promoters, and screening secretion peptides. Building upon these previous studies, the objective of this study was to further enhance the expression of a mutant of AaeUPO with improved activity (PaDa-I) by increasing the gene copy number, co-expressing chaperones, and optimizing culture conditions. Our results demonstrated that a strain carrying approximately three copies of expression cassettes and co-expressing the protein disulfide isomerase showed an approximately 10.7-fold increase in volumetric enzyme activity, using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the substrate. After optimizing the culture conditions, the volumetric enzyme activity of this strain further increased by approximately 48.7%, reaching 117.3 U/mL. Additionally, the purified catalytic domain of PaDa-I displayed regioselective hydroxylation of R-2-phenoxypropionic acid. The results of this study may facilitate the industrial application of UPOs. Key points: • The secretion of the catalytic domain of PaDa-I can be significantly enhanced through increasing gene copy numbers and co-expressing of protein disulfide isomerase. • After optimizing the culture conditions, the volumetric enzyme activity can reach 117.3 U/mL, using the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) as the substrate. • The R-2-phenoxypropionic acid can undergo the specific hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by catalytic domain of PaDa-I, resulting in the formation of R-2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the impact of a novel multidisciplinary cooperation model in obstetric medical quality control. Methods: This quasi‐experimental study analyzed the quality indicators of full‐term pregnant women who underwent vaginal trial labor in Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital between July 2021 and June 2022. The pregnant women were divided into two groups based on implementation of novel multidisciplinary cooperation: multidisciplinary and non‐multidisciplinary. We compared the rate of labor analgesia, postpartum hemorrhage in vaginal delivery, transfer to cesarean section, and the 5‐min Apgar score ≤7 in full‐term neonates. Results: A total of 3751 pregnant women were enrolled into the study, of whom 2004 were included in the non‐multidisciplinary group and 1747 in the multidisciplinary group. The analgesic rate of delivery of the multidisciplinary group was higher than that of the non‐multidisciplinary group (P = 0.000). We established that the rate of postpartum bleeding (P = 0.040), transfer cesarean section (P = 0.003) and the incidence of Apgar score ≤7 in 5 min of full‐term neonates (P = 0.038) of the multidisciplinary group was lower than that of the non‐multidisciplinary group. There was no significant difference in the mean ages (29.40 ± 3.99 vs. 29.90 ± 4.27 years; P = 0.126), mean delivery gestational ages (39.65 ± 0.87 vs. 39.64 ± 1.06; P = 0.221), mean gravidity values (1.93 ± 1.09 vs. 2.00 ± 1.18; P = 0.586) and mean parity (1.40 ± 0.56 vs. 1.42 ± 0.59; P = 0.635) of the women in the two groups. Conclusion: Multidisciplinary cooperation in delivery management can significantly improve some quality indicators. We established the analgesic rate of delivery can be increased and the rate of postpartum bleeding, transfer cesarean section and the incidence of Apgar score ≤7 in 5 min of full‐term neonates can be decreased with the implementation of novel multidisciplinary cooperation. Synopsis: Multidisciplinary cooperation in delivery management can significantly improve some quality indicators which actively affect obstetric medical quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The PageRank model, which was first proposed by Google for its web search engine application, has since become a popular computational tool in a wide range of scientific fields, including chemistry, bioinformatics, neuroscience, bibliometrics, social networks, and others. PageRank calculations necessitate the use of fast computational techniques with low algorithmic and memory complexity. In recent years, much attention has been paid to Krylov subspace algorithms for solving difficult PageRank linear systems, such as those with large damping parameters close to one. In this article, we examine the full orthogonalization method (FOM). We present a convergence study of the method that extends and clarifies part of the conclusions reached in Zhang et al. (J Comput Appl Math. 2016; 296:397–409.). Furthermore, we demonstrate that FOM is breakdown free when solving singular PageRank linear systems with index one and we investigate the effect of using weighted inner‐products instead of conventional inner‐products in the orthonormalization procedure on FOM convergence. Finally, we develop a shifted polynomial preconditioner that takes advantage of the special structure of the PageRank linear system and has a good ability to cluster most of the eigenvalues, making it a good choice for an iterative method like FOM or GMRES. Numerical experiments are presented to support the theoretical findings and to evaluate the performance of the new weighted preconditioned FOM PageRank solver in comparison to other established solvers for this class of problem, including conventional stationary methods, hybrid combinations of stationary and Krylov subspace methods, and multi‐step splitting strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti‐HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) therapies significantly increase the overall survival of patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer. Unfortunately, a large fraction of patients may develop primary or acquired resistance. Further, a multidrug combination used to prevent this in the clinic places a significant burden on patients. To address this issue, this work develops a nanotherapeutic platform that incorporates bimetallic gold‐silver hollow nanoshells (AuAg HNSs) with exceptional near‐infrared (NIR) absorption capability, the small‐molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor pyrotinib (PYR), and Herceptin (HCT). This platform realizes targeted delivery of multiple therapeutic effects, including chemo‐and photothermal activities, oxidative stress, and immune response. In vitro assays reveal that the HCT‐modified nanoparticles exhibit specific recognition ability and effective internalization by cells. The released PYR inhibit cell proliferation by downregulating HER2 and its associated pathways. NIR laser application induces a photothermal effect and tumor cell apoptosis, whereas an intracellular reactive oxygen species burst amplifies oxidative stress and triggers cancer cell ferroptosis. Importantly, this multimodal therapy also promotes the upregulation of genes related to TNF and NF‐κB signaling pathways, enhancing immune activation and immunogenic cell death. In vivo studies confirm a significant reduction in tumor volume after treatment, substantiating the potential effectiveness of these nanocarriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact filtering antenna with multi-adjustable radiation nulls is designed. Initially, a conventional aperture-coupled antenna is crafted by fine-tuning positions of the gap and radiation patch, achieving a radiation null. Additionally, an aperture-coupled filtering antenna is created by cascading a resonator with a microstrip feedline. Subsequently, the integration of the aperture-coupled antenna and the filtering antenna results in a dual-slot aperture cross-coupling filtering antenna, with two radiation nulls at both ends of the passband. Finally, a pair of slot lines is etched on the radiation patch, introducing an extra radiation null to enhance selectivity further. The measured results show that the proposed filtering antenna has a bandwidth from 2.44 to 2.64 GHz for |S11|<−10 dB, a peak gain of 5.5 dBi, and three radiation nulls at 2.3, 2.75, and 3.15 GHz enhancing the selectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the buckling behavior of functionally graded (FG) porous micro-shell covered with nanocomposite facesheets; graphene nanoplatelets (GPLs) are hired to reinforce and strengthen the faces. This micro-shell is under a hygrothermal environment and rested on Kerr foundations which consist of two rows of springs and one shear layer. Due to considering the size effect for this microstructure, modified couple stress theory is implemented in the strain energy. Reddy's theory in the Cartesian coordinate system is applied to analyze shear stress distribution through z-direction. In the end, the Navier's solution method is employed to solve equations analytically for simply supported edges. Moreover, the validity of the outcomes is confirmed by comparing them with a previous published study. After validation, the key findings of the research are examined; it highlights the influences of GPLs of facesheets and porous distribution on the stiffness of the structure, and the impact of Kerr foundation on the result is the most significant outcomes. The main implications show that the symmetric porosity distribution and FG V-A GPLs distribution make this engineering structure become stiffer which consequently leads to an increase in critical buckling load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic cheating is a pervasive problem in many universities globally. The present double-blind randomized controlled field experiment tested whether reminding university students about academic dishonesty sanction policies would reduce their cheating in an actual exam. Students were assigned to either a Sanction Reminder or a No Reminder condition. Results showed a significant condition effect: Fewer students in the Sanction Reminder condition cheated than in the No Reminder condition; among those who cheated, males and females did not differ in their extent of cheating in the No Reminder condition but in the Reminder condition, male students cheated to a lesser extent than females. These findings suggest that sanction reminder, a widely used academic integrity practice, may indeed have its utility to promote academic honesty in exams. Further, they suggest that to reduce cheating on exams, one does not need to use methods that are overtly explicit and elaborate. A brief, subtle, and simple reminder would suffice. Our research also illustrates the importance of conducting well-controlled field behavioral research to evaluate the effectiveness of commonly implemented educational practices to ascertain that they indeed serve their designed pedagogical purposes to promote optimal learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses recent advances in the synthesis of 5-(hetero)aryl uracil derivatives, which are important compounds in the field of life sciences. The article focuses on various synthesis strategies for these derivatives, including selective coupling of pre-functionalized uracils, transition-metal-catalyzed or photo-prompted modification of uracil moieties, substitution of unactivated uracils with (hetero)aromatic components, and oxidative coupling of un-functionalized uracils. The article also discusses specific coupling reactions, such as Negishi coupling and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, that have been used to synthesize these compounds. The development of new derivatives and synthesis strategies for these compounds is of great interest due to their wide-ranging biological potential. [Extracted from the article]

• Phonological awareness in kindergarten plays a crucial role in predicting later word problem-solving abilities in mathematics. • Visual-spatial skills, specifically the visual-spatial sketchpad, have an indirect influence on multi-digit arithmetic performance through their impact on simple addition skills. • Sustained attention in kindergarten contributes to word problem performance in later grades through its influence on number identification skills. This longitudinal study aimed to investigate the differential contributions of phonological processing and spatial attention skills to mathematical performance in Chinese children. The study involved the assessment of 184 children's phonological awareness, phonological memory, rapid automatized naming (RAN), visual-spatial sketchpad, and sustained attention during their kindergarten. Three years later, the same children were evaluated on tasks related to simple addition, non-symbolic comparison, number identification, complex word problems, and multi-digit arithmetic. Through path analysis, the study revealed that phonological awareness in kindergarten directly predicted later word problem-solving abilities. Additionally, simple addition mediated the relationship between visual-spatial working memory and multi-digit arithmetic performance, while number identification mediated the relationship between sustained attention and complex word problems. However, number processing skills did not mediate the relationship between phonological processing and mathematics performance. These findings contribute to our understanding of the complex interplay between visual-spatial skills, phonological processing skills, number processing, and mathematics performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of hygrothermal and thermal aging on adhesive bonding joints of similar and dissimilar specimens. The research focuses on the single lap joint (SLJ) configuration using Aluminum/Aluminum and CFRP/CFRP for similar bonding and Aluminum/CFRP for dissimilar bonding. Understanding the behavior of such joints over time and eventual failure can enhance their durability, reliability, and safety in structures. The study submerged SLJ specimens in tap water at a temperature of 53°C for 20 days to assess hygrothermal aging and kept another group of joints in an oven set at the same temperature for thermal aging. The research evaluated the strength of samples that underwent no aging, hygrothermal and thermal aging, tested through three-point bending tests. Various load levels were tested utilizing a recently designed fixture, including 70%, 60%, and 50% of the static load level. Results showed the highest joint strength in Aluminum/Aluminum SLJs and reduced strength following thermal and hygrothermal aging. The failure patterns and number of cycles leading to failure also varied with load percent and aging. Ultimately, the study aimed to evaluate and contrast the strength of samples that underwent different aging processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Nutritional status is a modifiable factor associated with perimenopausal women’s health and quality of life. Assessing body composition indicators helps to comprehensively understand nutritional status compared with using body mass index (BMI) only. However, few published studies measured the trends in body composition among perimenopausal women. Objectives: To assess the one-year trajectory of the nutritional status of perimenopausal women and to explore its influential factors. Methods: A community-based observational study with 3-wave repeated measurements at 6-month intervals was carried out. The nutritional status indicators include weight, body mass index (BMI), and body composition variables. Bioelectrical impedance analysis was used to assess body composition. Repeated measures ANOVA and Chi-square test were used to calculate the changes in nutritional status and generalized estimating equations were performed to explore their influential factors. Results: 2760 participants completed the study. Increasing trajectories in weight (from 56.05 ± 7.55 to 57.02 ± 7.60), fat mass (from 17.99 ± 4.80 to 20.49 ± 4.90), and waist-hip ratio (from 0.86 ± 0.04 to 0.91 ± 0.15) were found (P < 0.001). Decreasing trajectories in skeletal muscle (from 20.30 ± 2.38 to 19.19 ± 2.46), protein level (from 7.39 ± 0.79 to 7.06 ± 0.81), and total body water (from 27.87 ± 2.92 to 27.00 ± 3.01) were found (P < 0.001). Being married/unmarried with a partner and without negative life events were associated with higher total body water, skeletal muscle, and protein level, while negatively associated with fat mass and waist-hip ratio. Age was positively associated with fat mass (P < 0.001). Participants with junior high school education were prone to increased fat mass (P = 0.018) compared with those holding primary school education and below. A per capita monthly income of 1500 to 3000 Yuan was associated with higher total body water, skeletal muscle, and protein level (P < 0.001) compared with a per capita monthly income of less than 1500 Yuan. Conclusion: Worsening nutritional status exists in perimenopausal women, which is characterized by increased weight, fat mass, and waist-hip ratio, and decreased skeletal muscle, total body water, and protein level. For greater efficiency, precision nutritional interventions are needed, and recipients should be classified into different risk levels based on their sociodemographic background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has been utilized as a new method to improve loess soil strength. In this study, we investigated the influence of the main parameters on the shear strength of MICP-treated loess specimens. Initially, culture media with different formulas and pH values were examined to identify the most efficient medium for loess soil. To explore the shear behavior of MICP-treated loess under general stress levels, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) tests and triaxial tests relevant to the compression strength and vertical loads were performed on MICP-treated loess with different calcium sources, cementation concentrations, and curing periods. Subsequently, calcium chloride was selected as the optimal calcium source based on the ultimate strength of the MICP-treated loess. The effective cementation concentration in the loess soil was between 1.0 and 1.25 M. The ultimate strength of the MICP-treated loess was 3.6 times of the untreated loess. The stress-strain curves indicate that a higher cementing effect can be expected with an increase in the curing period. The formation process of calcium carbonate and the micromorphology of the MICP-treated loess samples were examined using scanning electron microscopy. In this study, we present an environmentally friendly technique for improving loess soil strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: The PI3K pathway is frequently altered in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Limited cell line and human data suggest that TNBC tumors characterized as mesenchymal (M) and luminal androgen receptor (LAR) subtypes have increased incidence of alterations in the PI3K pathway. The impact of PI3K pathway alterations across TNBC subtypes is poorly understood. METHODS: Pretreatment tumor was evaluated from operable TNBC patients enrolled on a clinical trial of neoadjuvant therapy (NAT; A Robust TNBC Evaluation fraMework to Improve Survival [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02276443]). Tumors were characterized into seven TNBC subtypes per Pietenpol criteria (basal-like 1, basal-like 2, immunomodulatory, M, mesenchymal stem-like, LAR, and unstable). Using whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and immunohistochemistry for PTEN, alterations were identified in 32 genes known to activate the PI3K pathway. Alterations in each subtype were associated with pathologic response to NAT. RESULTS: In evaluated patients (N = 177), there was a significant difference in the incidence of PI3K pathway alterations across TNBC subtypes (P <.01). The highest incidence of alterations was seen in LAR (81%), BL2 (79%), and M (62%) subtypes. The odds ratio for pathologic complete response (pCR) in the presence of PIK3CA mutation, PTEN mutation, and/or PTEN loss was highest in the LAR subtype and lowest in the M subtype, but these findings did not reach statistical significance. Presence of PIK3CA mutation was associated with pCR in the LAR subtype (P =.02). CONCLUSION: PI3K pathway alteration can affect response to NAT in TNBC, and targeted agents may improve outcomes, particularly in patients with M and LAR TNBC. TNBC subtypes have different rates of PI3K pathway alterations. What is their subtype-specific impact? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The evolution of critical care medicine and nursing has aided and enabled the rescue of a large number of patients from numerous life-threatening diseases. However, in many cases, patient health may not be quickly restored, and the long-term prognosis may not be optimistic. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we aimed to develop and validate a prediction model for accurate, precise, and objective identification of the severity of chronic critical illness (CCI) in patients. METHODS: We used a retrospective case-control and prospective cohort study with no interventions. Patients diagnosed with CCI admitted to the ICU of a large metropolitan public hospital were selected. In the case-control study, 344 patients (case: 172; control:172) were enrolled to develop the prognosis prediction model of chronic critical illness (PPCCI Model); 88 patients (case:44; control: 44) in a prospective cohort study, served as the validation cohort. The discrimination of the model was measured using the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). RESULTS: Age, prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), sepsis or other severe infections, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), mean artery pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygenation index (OI), and active bleeding were the nine predictors included in the model. In both cohorts, the PPCCI model outperformed the Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II), Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS), and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) in identifying deceased patients with CCI (development cohort: AUC, 0.934; 95%CI, 0.908–0.960; validation cohort: AUC, 0.965; 95% CI, 0.931–0.999). CONCLUSION: The PPCCI model can provide ICU medical staff with a standardized measurement tool for assessing the condition of patients with CCI, enabling them to allocate ward monitoring resources rationally and communicate with family members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau has undergone complex deformation since the Cenozoic, resulting in a high level of seismicity and seismic hazard. Knowledge about the seismic anisotropy provides important insight about the deformation mechanism and the regional seismotectonics beneath this tectonically active region. In this study, we conduct fullwave multi‐scale tomography to investigate the seismic anisotropy in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Broadband records at 111 permanent stations in the region from 470 teleseismic events are used to obtain 5,216 high‐quality SKS splitting intensity (SI) measurements, which are then inverted in conjunction with 3D sensitivity kernels to obtain an anisotropic model with multi‐scale resolution. Resolution tests show that our data set recovers anisotropy anomalies reasonably well on the scale of 1° × 1° horizontally and ∼100 km vertically. Our result suggests that in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau the deformation in the lithosphere and asthenosphere are decoupled. The anisotropy in the lithosphere varies both laterally and vertically as a result of dynamic interactions of neighboring blocks as well as lithospheric reactivation. The anisotropy in the asthenosphere largely follows the direction of regional absolute plate motion. The SKS splittings observed at the surface are shown to be consistent with the vertical integral of our depth‐dependent anisotropy model over lithospheric and asthenospheric depths. Plain Language Summary: The southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau has undergone significant deformation since the Cenozoic due to the collision between the Eurasian and Indian plates in the south and interactions with the Yangtze Craton in the east. Knowledge about the upper mantle seismic anisotropy helps us understand the deformation and dynamic evolution. In this study, we conduct fullwave multi‐scale anisotropy tomography for the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau using 5,216 high‐quality SKS splitting intensity measurements obtained from the broadband records of 470 teleseismic events at 111 stations. Our result shows a decoupling between the lithosphere and asthenosphere deformations in the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. The anisotropy in the lithosphere varies both laterally and vertically as a result of the dynamic interactions of neighboring blocks as well as lithospheric reactivation. The anisotropy in the asthenosphere is largely parallel to the regional absolute plate motion, and the SKS splitting observed at the surface is the result of vertical integration of the anisotropy effect through the lithosphere and asthenosphere. Key Points: A 3D shear‐wave anisotropy model for the SE margin of the Tibetan Plateau is obtained by fullwave SKS splitting intensity tomographyResult shows a decoupling of lithosphere and asthenosphere deformations in the region, but a coupling under Tibetan PlateauLithospheric anisotropy has a complex pattern, whereas asthenospheric anisotropy follows the absolute plate motion [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: To assess the vitamin D nutritional status (VDN) of pregnant women in early pregnancy and investigate the effects of periconceptional supplementation with multiple micronutrients (MMs) on this status. Methods and Study Design: Data were taken from the Pregnancy Health Care System and Hospital Information System in 2018 in Beijing. Vitamin D nutritional status in early pregnancy was evaluated among 4,978 pregnant women, and 4,540 women who took folic acid only (FA) or multiple micronutrients supplements (MM) during the periconceptional period, were included to estimate the associations between periconceptional supplementation with MM and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency with logistic regression model. Results: The mean early-pregnancy vitamin D concentration was 18.6 (±7.5) ng/mL, and the rates of deficiency and insufficiency were 31.6% and 60.5%, respectively. Compared to the FA group, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR, 95%confidence interval, CI) for insufficiency or deficiency of the MM group were 0.25(0.18–0.34), and the aOR (95%CI) for deficiency of the MM group were 0.17 (0.12–0.23). Women who took MMs for a longer period of time, at higher frequencies, and with higher compliance scores had lower rates of deficiency and insufficiency. In winter, spring, and autumn, taking MMs could reduce deficiency by about 70%; in summer, there was little effect. Conclusions: Among women in Beijing, serum concentrations of vitamin D in early pregnancy are relatively low, and the rates of deficiency and insufficiency are high. Taking MMs during the periconceptional period could improve this situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the discovery of classical chiral oxazoline ferrocene ligands in 1995, they have become pivotal in transition metal-catalyzed asymmetric transformations. Over the past decade, a notable evolution has been observed with the emergence of siloxane-substituted oxazoline ferrocenes, demonstrating significant potential as chiral ligands and catalysts. These compounds have consistently delivered exceptional results in diverse and mechanistically distinct transformations, surpassing the capabilities of classical oxazoline ferrocene ligands. This review meticulously delineates the research progress on siloxane-substituted oxazoline ferrocene compounds. It encompasses the synthesis of crucial precursors and desired products, highlights their achievements in asymmetric catalysis reactions, and delves into the exploration of the derivatization of these compounds, emphasizing the introduction of ionophilic groups and their impact on the recovery of transition metal catalysts. In addition to presenting the current state of knowledge, this review propels future research directions by identifying potential topics for further investigation concerning the siloxane-tagged derivatives. These derivatives are poised to be promising candidates for the next generation of highly efficient ligands and catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been associated with disease progression and overall survival among cancer patients. Nonetheless, the association between PNI and mortality risk in adult cancer patients within the United States remains unexplored. This study aims to elucidate the connection between PNI and prognostic outcomes in American adult cancer patients. This cohort study derived data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination database, involving 4366 American adults diagnosed with cancer between 1999 and 2018. The nutritional status was assessed using the PNI, with higher PNI scores indicating a more favorable nutritional status. The study employed Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazard regression to investigate the impact of PNI on various outcomes, including all‐cause mortality (ACM), cardiovascular mortality (CAM), and malignancy tumor mortality (MTM) among adult cancer patients. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline models were used to examine the potential nonlinear relationship between the variables by creating hazard ratio (HR) curves at four specific points. The median follow‐up duration was 84 months, during which 1530 (35.04%) cases of ACM occurred, including 331 (13.67%) CAM and 449 (10.45%) MTM. COX regression analysis revealed a significant inverse association between PNI and patient prognosis, with HRs of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.93–0.96, p <.001) for ACM, 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90–0.96, p <.001) for CAM, and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.91–0.97, p <.001) for MTM. Both Kaplan–Meier analyses and restricted cubic spline curves showed significant differences in mortality rates related to PNI (p <.001, nonlinear p <.001). Our study provides compelling evidence of a clear association between PNI and reduced risk of ACM, CAM, and MTM in adult cancer patients in the United States. These findings underscore the significance of incorporating PNI as a possible prognostic indicator for individuals diagnosed with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone marrow-derived CD34-positive (CD34+) endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) has unique functions in the mechanism of compensatory lung growth (CLG). The content of this study is mainly to describe the effect of microRNA (miR)-155 in the mechanisms of EPCs and CLG. Our study found that transfection of miR-155 mimic could promote EPC proliferation, migration and tube formation, while transfection of miR-155 inhibitor had the opposite effect. It was also found that transfection of pc-JARID2 inhibited EPC proliferation, migration and tube formation, while transfection of si-JARID2 had the opposite effect. miR-155 can target and negatively regulate JARID2 expression. Overexpression of JARID2 weakened the promoting effects of miR-155 mimic on EPC proliferation, migration, and tubular formation, while silencing JARID2 weakened the inhibitory effects of miR-155 inhibitors on EPC proliferation, migration, and tubular formation. Transplantation of EPCs transfected with miR-155 mimic into the left lung model effectively increased lung volume, total alveolar number, diaphragm surface area, and lung endothelial cell number, while transplantation of EPCs co-transfected with miR-155 mimic and pc-JARID2 reversed this phenomenon. Overall, we found that miR-155 activates CD34+ EPC by targeting negative regulation of JARID2 and promotes CLG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

National identity is at the core of the individual identity system. In the context of globalization, influenced by the intertwining of multiple cultures and values, the alignment of self and national values not only affects Chinese adolescents’ self-concept but also concerns the realization of national identity. To investigate the influencing factors and mechanisms that affect adolescents’ national identity in China, this study measured 1004 adolescents using the National Identity Scale, Schwartz Value Survey, Core Self-Evaluation Scale, and Identity Motivation Scale, and found that (1) adolescents’ overall level of national identity was high; (2) adolescents’ values, core self-evaluation, and identity motivation were positively related to national identity; (3) values significantly and positively predict national identity; and (4) core self-evaluation and identity motivation played a chain mediating role between values and national identity. The study suggests that adolescents’ positive self-evaluation and identity motivation contribute to the enhancement of national identity. The future cultivation of national identity could focus on the development of values, personality, and identity motivation at the adolescent stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arctic sea ice detection is very important in global climate research, Arctic ecosystem protection, ship navigation and human activities. In this paper, by combining the co-pol ratio (HH/VV) and two kinds of cross-pol ratio (HV/VV, HV/HH), a novel sea ice detection method is proposed based on RADARSAT-2 quad-polarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. Experimental results suggest that the co-pol ratio shows promising capability in sea ice detection at a wide range of incidence angles (25–50°), while the two kinds of cross-pol ratio are more applicable to sea ice detection at small incidence angles (20–35°). When incidence angles exceed 35°, wind conditions have a great effect on the performance of the cross-pol ratio. Our method is validated by comparison with the visual interpretation results. The overall accuracy is 96%, far higher than that of single polarization ratio (PR) parameter-based methods. Our method is suitable for sea ice detection in complex sea ice and wind conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractAnalytical solutions of the functionally graded piezoelectric beams are investigated under symplectic framework. The material parameters vary along the length in an identical exponential form. The method of separation of variables is adopted to transform the original problem into a symplectic eigenproblem. The eigensolutions of particular eigenvalues are presented which represent the basic mechanical and electric properties, and the general eigensolutions are obtained which describe the localized behaviors which usually covered up by Saint-Venant principle. The accurate elasticity solutions are linear combinations of particular and general eigensolutions. Numerical examples are considered to verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cordycepin has good antitumor activity, but its clinical application is limited due to the easy deamination of N6 in structure. In this study, a large lipolysis group was introduced at the cordycepin N6 to improve the problem, cordycepin derivatives (3a–4c) were synthesized, and biological evaluation of compounds was studied. In this study, the vitro antitumor activity of the compounds against MCF7 cells, HepG2 cells and SGC-7901 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. In the results, compound 4a showed the most obvious inhibitory effect on MCF7 cells with an IC50 value of 27.57 ± 0.52 μM, which was much lower than cordycepin. Compound 4a showed high selectivity between MCF7 and normal MCF-10A cells. Further biological evaluation showed that compound 4a promoted apoptosis and blocked the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase. Then, Western Blot was used to detect related apoptotic proteins. It was found that Compound 4a could down-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 protein and up-regulate the expression of p53, Bax, Caspase-3 and Caspase-9 proteins. The mitochondrial membrane potential decreased continuously and the positive expression rate decreased. It was speculated that compound 4a induced the apoptosis of MCF7 cells through the mitochondrial pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Support effect is an important issue in heterogeneous catalysis, while the explicit role of a catalytic support is often unclear for catalytic reactions. A systematic density functional theory computational study is reported in this paper to elucidate the effect of a model boron nitride (BN) support on the first N-H bond activation step of NH3 on Run (n = 1, 2, 3) metal clusters. Geometry optimizations and energy calculations were carried out using density functional theory (DFT) calculation for intermediates and transition states from the starting materials undergoing the N-H activation process. The primary findings are summarized as follows. The involvement of the model BN support does not significantly alter the equilibrium structure of intermediates and transition states in the most favorable pathway (MFP). Moreover, the involvement of BN support decreases the free energy of activation, ΔG≠, thus improving the reaction rate constant. This improvement is more obvious at high temperatures like 673 K than low temperatures like 298 K. The BN support effect leading to the ΔG≠ decrease is most significant for the single Ru atom case among all three cases studied. Finally, the involvement of the model BN may change the spin transition behavior of the reaction system during the N-H bond activation process. All these findings provide a deeper insight into the support effect on the N-H bond activation of NH3 for the supported Ru catalyst in particular and for supported transition metal catalysts in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are important for ensuring the integrity of the germline. 3'-terminal 2'-O-methylation is essential for piRNA maturation and to protect them from degradation. HENMT1 (HEN Methyltransferase 1) carries out the 2'-O-methylation, which is of key importance for piRNA stability and functionality. However, neither the structure nor the catalytic mechanism of mammalian HENMT1 have been studied. We have constructed a catalytic-competent HENMT1 complex using computational approaches, in which Mg2+ is primarily coordinated by four evolutionary conserved residues, and is further auxiliary coordinated by the 3'-O and 2'-O on the 3'-terminal nucleotide of the piRNA. Our study suggests that metal has limited effects on substrate and cofactor binding but is essential for catalysis. The reaction consists of deprotonation of the 2'-OH to 2'-O and a methyl transfer from SAM to the 2'-O. The methyl transfer is spontaneous and fast. Our in-depth analysis suggests that the 2'-OH may be deprotonated before entering the active site or it may be partially deprotonated at the active site by His800 and Asp859, which are in a special alignment that facilitates the proton transfer out of the active site. Furthermore, we have developed a detailed potential reaction scenario indicating that HENMT1 is Mg2+ utilizing but is not a Mg2+ dependent enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the high failure rate of key parts and low reliability of the whole machine in the working process of the new forage crusher, the expert scoring method was used to predict the reliability of the forage crusher, and the IFM was used to allocate the reliability. The results showed that the predicted reliability value of forage grass crushing machine was 0.668, which could not meet the requirements of reliability standard of forage grass crushing machine in China. Reliability was redistributed based on the prediction results, and lower failure rate weights and higher reliability were assigned to rotor and power transmission parts. High failure rate weight and low reliability were assigned to the crusher body. After redistributing the reliability of each subsystem, the reliability of the whole machine was 0.902 59, which met the reliability requirements of forage kneading machine system. The study indicates that the research can provide a method of reference for reliability prediction and distribution of forage processing machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Humanistic care involves caring, concern, paying attention to people's individuality, meeting their needs and respecting their rights, which is the core concept and central task of nursing. Effective care can enhance patients' ability to deal with stress and promote patient recovery. Implementing humanistic care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is particularly important for health care providers. Aim: This study aims to develop a framework of the humanistic care in the ICU. Study Design: The qualitative research followed Strauss' procedural grounded theory approach. Purposive sampling and theoretical sampling were used to select 12 nurses in the Department of Critical Medicine, 16 patients, and eight family members for semi‐structured interviews from October 2020 to April 2021. Results were summarized and analysed through three‐level coding based on grounded principles. Results: Sixteen subcategories and six main categories were extracted after three‐level coding, and the final ICU humanistic care framework was formed with home, activity, visit, environment, nursing and safety ("HAVENS") as the core. Conclusions: This study provides an explanatory theory of humanistic care in the ICU that can guide nurses' practice in ICU clinical work. Relevance to clinical practice: This theory provides guidance for nurses to implement humanistic care in critical care practice to improve the ICU stay experience of critically ill patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study conducted on Lactiplantibacillus plantarum X7023, a novel strain isolated from stinky tofu brine, aimed to investigate its effects on hyperuricemia. The strain demonstrated high in vitro gastrointestinal survivability and purine-lowering ability (guanine, xanthine and adenine decreased by 21.4%, 93.9% and 11.5%, respectively). The anti-hyperuricemia effects of the strain have been studied in potassium oxonate and hypoxanthine induced hyperuricemia mice. The serum uric acid (UA) levels of hyperuricemic mice were significantly reduced by 38.8% and 19.0% after treatment with low and high dose of L. plantarum X7023 treatment, respectively. Additionally, the levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were decreased by 19.6% and 21.2% respectively in low dose of L. plantarum X7023 group. The anti-hyperuricemic mechanism of L. plantarum X7023 might be its inhibiting xanthine oxidase (XOD) activity, and regulating the expression of renal UA transporters. According to kidney inflammatory cytokines and histopathological analysis, L. plantarum X7023 could also alleviate the kidney inflammation and protect the kidney. Therefore, L. plantarum X7023 is a potential probiotic strain for the amelioration of hyperuricemia. This study further demonstrated that there are significant correlations among UA level, oxidative stress, kidney inflammation, XOD activity and UA transporter expressions in hyperuricemic mice. [Display omitted] • Lactiplantibacillus plantarum X7023 has strong purine-lowering ability. • The strain shows significant antihyperuricemic and nephroprotective effects in mice. • The strain has the potential to alleviate oxidative stress. • X7023 inhibits xanthine oxidase (XOD) and increase renal uric acid (UA) excretion. • Positive correlation between XOD activity, UA transporters expression and UA level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Intertrochanteric fracture is one type of hip fracture, which is the most serious consequence of osteoporosis. Along with the growing elderly population, intertrochanteric fracture is expected to rise increasingly. The aim of this study was to assess excess mortality after intertrochanteric fractures and to identify the predictors of long‐term mortality by therapy among patients aged 50 years and older in Tianjin. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study on mortality for 3029 patients aged 50 years and older in Tianjin experiencing an intertrochanteric fracture between December 26, 2014 and December 31, 2018. Data were from Tianjin Hospital Hip Fracture (THHF) cohort. Follow‐up period was until March 31, 2022. Mortality, excess mortality, and comorbidities were analyzed and stratified by therapy and gender. Time dependent Cox models were performed to estimate the effects of the variables. Results: Absolute mortality for all the patients was 5.90% at 3 months, 12.55% at 12 months, 19.92% at 24 months and 27.28% at 36 months. Absolute mortality for surgical group was 1.57% at 3 months, 4.77% at 12 months, 8.49% at 24 months and 12.07% at 36 months, significantly lower than conservative group: 10.50% at 3 months, 20.73% at 12 months, 31.96% at 24 months and 43.04% at 36 months. We found a substantially lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34, 95% confidence internal, [CI]: 0.23–0.52, p = 0.000) among patients undergoing surgical therapy than those undergoing conservative therapy, even when controlled for gender, age, the length of hospital stay, and all the comorbidities. Female patients (HR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58–0.79, p = 0.000) were less likely to die than male patients after an intertrochanteric fracture. Patients treated by the two methods were both found to have excess mortality rates compared to the general population, although in different levels. The excess mortality rates for patients in the conservative therapy group were 14.46% in males and 17.93% in females, while in the surgical therapy group, 2.78% in females and 4.37% in males. The comorbidities moderate or severe renal disease (HR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.61–2.98, p = 0.000), metastatic solid tumor (HR 6.35, 95% CI: 1.56–25.85, p = 0.010), hypoproteinemia (HR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01–1.47, p = 0.034), and older age (HR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.73–2.08, p = 0.000) were also risk factors on mortality. A worse‐case analysis for the primary outcome were performed as sensitivity analysis and it was consistent with the original conclusion. Conclusion: Intertrochanteric factures for people aged 50 years older were found to have excess mortality compared to the general population in Tianjin city, and preventing the fractures in the hip for elderly people was imperative. After controlling tfor comorbidities and age, female gender and surgical therapy were protective factors for the death after fractures, which could provide strong evidence for patients and surgeons to make decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrophage-derived foam cells are a hallmark of atherosclerosis. Scavenger receptors, including lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-1 (OLR-1), are the principal receptors responsible for the uptake and modification of LDL, facilitating macrophage lipid load and the uptake of oxidized LDL by arterial wall cells. Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes by binding to the promoter during transcription. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the precise role of macrophage KLF15 in atherogenesis. We used two murine models of atherosclerosis: mice injected with an adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding the Asp374-to-Tyr mutant version of human PCSK9, followed by 12 weeks on a high-fat diet (HFD), and ApoE −/ −‐ mice on a HFD. We subsequently injected mice with AAV- KLF15 and AAV- LacZ to assess the role of KLF15 in the development of atherosclerosis in vivo. Oil Red O, H&E, and Masson's trichome staining were used to evaluate atherosclerotic lesions. Western blots and RT-qPCR were used to assess protein and mRNA levels, respectively. We determined that KLF15 expression was downregulated during atherosclerosis formation, and KLF15 overexpression prevented atherosclerosis progression. KLF15 expression levels did not affect body weight or serum lipid levels in mice. However, KLF15 overexpression in macrophages prevented foam cell formation by reducing OLR-1-meditated lipid uptake. KLF15 directly targeted and transcriptionally downregulated OLR-1 levels. Restoration of OLR-1 reversed the beneficial effects of KLF15 in atherosclerosis. Macrophage KLF15 transcriptionally downregulated OLR-1 expression to reduce lipid uptake, thereby preventing foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. Thus, our results suggest that KLF15 is a potential therapeutic target for atherosclerosis. [Display omitted] • KLF15 expression in macrophages was downregulated during atherosclerosis. • The progression of atherosclerosis was attenuated by KLF15 overexpression. • KLF15 overexpression prevented increased macrophage lipid deposition and foam cell formation. • Downregulation of KLF15 expression promoted macrophage foam cell formation. • Macrophage KLF15 transcriptionally downregulated OLR-1 expression by binding to its promoter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium spp. are key gastrointestinal protists in humans and animals worldwide. Infected cattle are considered the main source of cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in humans. However, little is known about the genetic makeup of Cryptosporidium populations in Shanxi province, China. We analyzed 858 fecal samples collected from farms in Shanxi. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. was determined via polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequence analysis of the small subunit rRNA gene as well as restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Cryptosporidium parvum was subtyped following sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein gene (gp60). The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in cattle was 11.19%, with a prevalence of 13.30% and 8.67% in Lingqiu and Yingxian, respectively. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in dairy and beef cattle was 10.78% and 11.50%, respectively. Cryptosporidium infection was detected across all analyzed age groups. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium in diarrhea and nondiarrhea samples was 18.24% and 9.72%, respectively, whereas that in intensively farmed and free-range cattle was 17.40% and 3.41%, respectively. We identified five Cryptosporidium species, with C. andersoni being the dominant species. Further, two cases of mixed infections of Cryptosporidium species were detected. All identified C. parvum isolates belonged to the subtype IIdA17G1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA brucite suspension can absorb sulfur dioxide (SO2). It thereby plays a significant role flue gas desulfurization. However, the dispersion of a natural brucite suspension is low which seriously affects its efficiency for SO2 absorption. The dispersion stability and particle size of the brucite suspension are therefore, particularly important to investigate. The effects of types and dosages of inorganic dispersants on the particle size and dispersion stability of the brucite suspension have been investigated in the present study by performing sedimentation experiments and zeta potential tests. The results showed that the addition of 0.5 wt.% sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) had a positive effect on the dispersion stability of brucite in an aqueous medium. The effect of SHMP on the surface properties of the brucite particles was also studied by performing characterizations like scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and infrared spectroscopy (IR), and by using an extended DLVO theory (named after Boris Derjaguin and Lev Landau, Evert Verwey and Theodoor Overbeek). The results showed that SHMP was chemisorbed on the brucite particle surface. It also formed complexes with magnesium ions, and changed the zeta potential of brucite. In addition, calculations based on the extended DLVO theory showed that the sum of the steric hindrance-induced interaction energy, Van-der-Waals energy, and electrostatic energy changed from an unfavorable value to a favorable value with an increase in the particle distance. These results showed that the addition of SHMP could improve the desulphurization effect of the brucite suspension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azecine fragments are frequently presented in natural products and bioactive compounds. However, minor efforts have been devoted to these 10‐membered N‐heterocycles, and their synthesis is still challenging. Reported herein is the first catalytic formal [6+4] cycloaddition for the synthesis of 10‐membered azecines. Under palladium catalysis, the reaction of δ‐vinylvalerolactones and benzofuran‐derived azadienes proceeds smoothly to afford benzofuran‐fused azecines with high diastereoselectivity in moderate to good yields. A unique transannular reaction of these 10‐membered azecines for the construction of polycyclic compounds is also demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil Red O (ORO) staining is a commonly used experimental technique to detect lipid content in cells or tissues. Freshly prepared ORO in 60% isopropanol is the most widely used method at present. However, isopropanol is volatile and harmful to the human body. It will also affect the interpretation of the results due to the formation of crystals and non-specific diffuse staining. In this paper, by screening and validation, we report a salicylic acid ethanol solution (containing 50% ethanol, 5%-10% salicylic acid) for the preparation of ORO solution, which has a better staining effect on lipid staining in cells and tissues, with a clean background and short dyeing time. What's more, this ORO solution is non-toxic, convenient to prepare, and can be stored for a long time. Therefore, it is reliable, easy to operate, and can be widely popularized and applied in laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the impact of cervical cerclage combined with one or more uterine contraction inhibitors in persistent inhibition of uterine contraction for the treatment of late abortion and premature delivery. This retrospective case series study analysed the medical data of 58 patients who underwent cervical cerclage for cervical insufficiency and simultaneously received one or more uterine contraction inhibitors (indomethacin, ritodrine, and atosiban) and magnesium sulphate at the Zibo Maternal and Child Health Hospital between January 2019 and December 2020. Patients are normal pregnancy who received cervical cerclage without complications. The rate of successful treatment was 74.14% (43/58). The prolonged gestation duration was 16.42 ± 7.84 weeks, and the average delivery gestational age was 35.91 ± 5.16 weeks. The longest duration of treatment with a uterine contraction inhibitor or inhibitors in combination or with magnesium sulphate alone was 15.34 ± 13.16 days, and nine cases developed adverse reactions. Persistent uterine contraction inhibition after cervical cerclage could prolong pregnancy and improve pregnancy outcomes. What is already known on this subject? A crucial reason for treatment failure of cervical cerclage is that uterine contraction was not effectively inhibited. What do the results of this study add? Persistent inhibition of uterine contraction after cervical cerclage prolonged pregnancy duration, increased gestational age at delivery, and improved pregnancy outcomes. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study may provide a clinical basis for prolonging gestational age, preventing late abortion and premature delivery, and improving the survival rate and quality of life of premature infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pan-histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors often have some toxic side effects. In this study, three series of novel polysubstituted N-alkyl acridone analogous were designed and synthesised as HDAC isoform-selective inhibitors. Among them, 11b and 11c exhibited selective inhibition of HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC10, with IC50 values ranging from 87 nM to 418 nM. However, these compounds showed no inhibitory effect against HDAC6 and HDAC8. Moreover, 11b and 11c displayed potent antiproliferative activity against leukaemia HL-60 cells and colon cancer HCT-116 cells, with IC50 values ranging from 0.56 μM to 4.21 μM. Molecular docking and energy scoring functions further analysed the differences in the binding modes of 11c with HDAC1/6. In vitro anticancer studies revealed that the hit compounds 11b and 11c effectively induced histone H3 acetylation, S-phase cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in HL-60 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highway-rail grade crossing (HRGC) safety is one of the priority areas in the United States transportation system that requires for greater research efforts not just limited to crash analysis, but also to gain a deeper understanding of surrogate safety measures such as driver behavior-based traffic violations at HRGCs. This paper uses vehicle profile data to identify the key variables and develop prediction models for gate violations and examine the relationship between model accuracy and the key input variables. A data set of 256 vehicle-train events was collected at two HRGC testbeds in Lincoln, Nebraska. Among them, 76 events are gate violations, and 180 events are non-violations. Two tree-based ensemble techniques, the bootstrap forest and the boosted tree, were applied to the data set. It was found that once a vehicle is within 190 feet from the HRGC stop line, the model was approximately 80 percent accurate in predicting a gate violation. It was also found that as vehicles came closer to the HRGC, the prediction error decreased. With the advent of vehicle profile data collection, tree-based ensemble techniques are ideal for safety studies as they can utilize the highly non-linear vehicle profiles and relate these to safety surrogate metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding and optimizing sustainable approaches could increase yield by modifying the structural and physiological traits by reducing lodging and competition for soil water. A higher yield could be achieved by optimizing planting density under appropriate mulching. In this experiment, we studied the effect of mulching (no mulch, straw mulch, and plastic mulch) on soil water consumption, canopy structure, lodging, and yield traits of maize under different planting density rates (52,500–90,000 plants ha− 1). Results indicated that the lodging was minimum at lower planting densities while the higher density rates induced lodging by reducing the diameter and increasing the internode length. The weight of 100-grains, the number of grains per ear, ear length, and photosynthesis rate were decreased by increasing planting density but grain yield ha− 1 was increased with planting density up to 67,500 plants ha− 1 under no mulch and 75,000 plants ha− 1 under straw and plastic mulch. This showed that the higher planting density could be used by adopting plastic mulch increasing yield and saving soil moisture. The planting density at which the highest grain yield was attained under no mulch was 67,500 plants ha− 1 which was increased to 7500 plant ha− 1 under straw and plastic mulch. The yield showed 8–10% increase at plastic mulching at 75,000 plants ha− 1 as compared to no mulch at 52,500 plants ha− 1. Thus, higher density could be adopted under plastic mulching, and plastic and straw mulching decreased the lodging rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Positive stereotypes have been shown to negatively impact targets in individualistic cultural contexts. However, individuals from individualistic cultures and those from collectivistic cultures have different perceptions of positive stereotypes, which may lead to different reactions to positive stereotypes. The present study investigated the mechanism underlying targets' negative reactions to positive gender stereotypes in China, a country with a collectivistic culture. Study 1 revealed that women who heard the positive gender stereotype "women are good at language" reported experiencing stronger negative reactions (including greater dislike, negative emotions, and perceptions of gender prejudice) toward the perpetrator of the stereotype than women who did not hear the positive gender stereotype. Further, we found that a sense of depersonalization mediated the relation between hearing the positive stereotype and negative reactions. Study 2 revealed that men who heard the positive gender stereotype "men are good at math" believed that the perpetrator of the stereotype exhibited more gender prejudice than did men who did not hear the positive stereotype. However, there were no significant differences between men who heard the positive gender stereotype and those who did not hear the stereotype in feelings of dislike or negative emotions. In addition, a sense of depersonalization did not mediate men's reactions to the positive gender stereotype. These findings extend our knowledge on the interpersonal consequences of and reactions to positive gender stereotypes within collectivistic contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Background Methods Results Conclusion Implications for nursing and nursing policy Based on the conservation of resources theory, this study explored the intermediary role of intensive care unit (ICU) nurses’ recovery experience and humanistic care ability between leisure crafting and work engagement.As the ICU is an important life‐saving department, the level of work engagement of nurses directly affect the quality of life and health outcomes of patients. Actively seeking countermeasures to improve the work engagement level of ICU nurses is of great significance to enhancing the nursing quality of the ICU. According to the theory of resource conservation, the resources owned by individuals are limited and must be replenished promptly and effectively to maintain relatively stable physical, mental, and working states. Therefore, determining ways for ICU nurses to supplement the consumed resources effectively and efficiently in a limited time to maintain a high level of work engagement is the main concern of this study.In this cross‐sectional study from January 2023 to March 2023, 478 ICU nurses were recruited by convenience sampling. The survey tools included the Leisure Crafting Scale, the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale‐9, the Caring Ability Inventory, and the Recovery Experience Questionnaire. Descriptive data and Pearson correlation coefficients were analyzed via SPSS 26.0 (IBM Corp.). PROCESS v4.0 (by Andrew F. Hayes) Macro Model 6 was applied to analyze the serial multiple mediator models. We used the STROBE checklist to report the results.First, the results showed that leisure crafting, humanistic care ability, and recovery experience were positively correlated with work engagement. Second, recovery experience and humanistic care ability played a partially mediating role between leisure crafting and work engagement, respectively. Third, recovery experience and humanistic care ability also had a serial mediation effect between leisure crafting and work engagement.The findings of the study indicated that improving nurses’ active control of leisure time may have particularly positive effects on ICU nurses’ work engagement through increasing recovery experience and humanistic care ability.Administrators can formulate intervention measures to improve the leisure crafting level of ICU nurses, promote work–life balance, which enhances recovery and supports engagement with patient‐focused humanistic care, and have a positive impact on the work engagement of ICU nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to determine whether new European Kidney Function Consortium (EKFC) equation is more applicable than Asian-modified CKD-EPI equation in clinical practice, having a higher accuracy in estimating GFR in our external CKD population. We calculated estimated GFREKFC and GFRCKD-EPI independently using the EKFC and Asian-modified CKD-EPI formulas, respectively. The clinical diagnostic performance of the two equations was assessed and compared by median bias, precision, accuracy (P30) and so on, using 99mTc-DTPA dual plasma sample clearance method as a reference method for GFR measurement (mGFR). The equation that met the following targets was superior: (1) median bias within ± 3 mL/min/1.73 m2; (2) P30 > 75%; and (3) better precision and 95% limits of agreement in Bland–Altman analysis. Totally, 160 CKD patients were recruited in our external cohort. GFREKFC was highly related to mGFR, with a regression equation of GFREKFC=mGFR × 0.87 + 5.27. Compared with the Asian-modified CKD-EPI equation, EKFC equation demonstrated a wider median bias (–1.64 vs. 0.84 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.01) that was within 3 mL/min/1.73 m2 and not clinically meaningful. Furthermore, the precision (12.69 vs. 12.72 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.42), 95% limits of agreement in Bland–Altman analysis (42.4 vs. 44.4 mL/min/1.73 m2) and incorrect reclassification index of the two target equations were almost identical. Although, EKFC equation had a slightly better P30 (80.0% vs. 74.4%, p = 0.01). The overall performance of EKFC equation is acceptable. There is no clinically meaningful difference in the performance of the Asian-modified CKD-EPI and EKFC equations within the limits imposed by the small sample size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on grain size effect of ceramics and boundary effect model, the concept of relative size is introduced. In addition, meso-fracture model of ceramics with different relative sizes is established. Experimental data of nine ceramic materials with different relative sizes are statistically analyzed. It is found that fictitious crack growth length Δ a fic is k (W − a 0) (where k is a constant, W is the specimen depth, and a 0 is the initial crack length). Furthermore, k value is 0.02 when relative size is less than 200, while it is 0.2 when relative size is in the range from 200 to 1500. Fracture parameter values determined by considering relative size are basically consistent with fracture parameter values reported in the literature. Combined with normal distribution, full fracture failure curves of ceramics with different relative sizes are constructed. No brittle failure controlled by fracture toughness occurs in ceramic specimens with relative size less than 200, while brittle failure controlled by fracture toughness occurs in ceramic specimens with relative size ranging from 200 to 1500. Main reasons for the occurrence of brittle failure controlled by fracture toughness are that with increasing relative size, grain size is reduced, the number of grain boundaries increases, crack growth length increases gradually, and the interaction between fracture process zone of ceramics and the boundary of specimens becomes stronger. At the same time, an expression for predicting the peak load P max of ceramics with relative size (W – a 0) / d av ≤ 1500 is established. It is found that peak load can be predicted based on relative size and geometric parameters of ceramics, which is of great significance for conveniently and accurately obtaining fracture parameters of ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We herein disclose a simple and general method for the synthesis of chromendiones through Rh(III)‐catalyzed C−H functionalization/annulation reactions of nitrones with cyclic 2‐diazo‐1,3‐diones by using nitrone group as a traceless directing group. This method exhibits high efficiency and broad functional group compatibility. The derivatization of these chromendiones has been also demonstrated to further strengthen the synthetic utility of the transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The acid/molybdate assay performed on the Beckman Coulter AU5821 could be subject to paraprotein interference, which potentially results in spurious hyperphosphatemia. We attempted to find a reliable solution to eliminate paraprotein interference in laboratory test results and discuss the causes of paraprotein interference. Methods We observed 50 multiple myeloma patients with serum paraproteins. We used the trichloroacetic acid (TCA) deproteinizing method to confirm that paraproteins indeed interfered with phosphate detection in the serum acid/molybdate assay. Furthermore, we used the dry chemical method (Vitros 5.1 FS, Johnson) and deionized water (H2O), normal saline (NS), and healthy human serum as alternative diluents. We assessed the clinical acceptability of the 4 methods by evaluating a bias percentage (bias%) lower than 10% under the premise of TCA treatment as a serum phosphate reference method. Results In total, comparing the results of the TCA treatment on the Beckman Coulter AU5821, 3/50 (6%) multiple myeloma patients exhibited phosphate pseudo-elevation (bias% >10%). Additionally, we found pseudo-hypophosphate only in immunoglobulin (Ig)G-kappa paraprotein samples, and all were above 50 g/L. The bias% between TCA and dry chemical method for the 3 patients was below 10%. The maximum acceptable dilutions for patient 22 were 8-fold H2O, 4-fold H2O , and 2-fold serum; those for patient 45 were 16-fold H2O, 16-fold H2O, and 2-fold serum. However, the bias% of patient 40 was beyond the acceptable range in all 3 dilution groups. Conclusion High concentrations of IgG kappa–type paraproteins are more likely to interfere with serum phosphorous detection. Both the TCA and dry chemical method can effectively eliminate paraprotein interference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High performance carbon containing castables have always been pursued by researchers and steelmaking producers, unfortunately, poor water‐wettability of graphite flakes was greatly limited their application in castables. To respond this, we proposed a large‐scale and low‐cost modified molten salt shielding synthesis technique for fabricating TiC coated graphite in air atmosphere using graphite flake and Ti powder as raw materials. Microstructure, wettability and oxidation resistance of TiC@C powders, and effect of TiC@C powders on the properties of Al2O3‐MgO‐C castables were investigated. The results demonstrate that TiC coated graphite was synthesized via modified molten salt shielding synthesis route in air atmosphere. A uniform and continuous TiC layer was formed on the surface of graphite, thereby significantly improving the water‐wettability and oxidation resistance of graphite flakes. The castables with 5% TiC@C powders possessed lower apparent porosity, higher cold strength, good oxidation resistance, and slag resistance in comparison with the castables with graphite flakes, and slag resistance were also better than Al2O3‐MgO castables. The as‐fabricated TiC@C powders have good water‐wettability and oxidation resistance, making them as a prime carbon source for producing carbon containing castables for steel ladle linings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of hygrothermal and thermal aging on adhesive bonding joints of similar and dissimilar specimens. The research focuses on the single lap joint (SLJ) configuration using Aluminum/Aluminum and CFRP/CFRP for similar bonding and Aluminum/CFRP for dissimilar bonding. Understanding the behavior of such joints over time and eventual failure can enhance their durability, reliability, and safety in structures. The study submerged SLJ specimens in tap water at a temperature of 53°C for 20 days to assess hygrothermal aging and kept another group of joints in an oven set at the same temperature for thermal aging. The research evaluated the strength of samples that underwent no aging, hygrothermal and thermal aging, tested through three-point bending tests. Various load levels were tested utilizing a recently designed fixture, including 70%, 60%, and 50% of the static load level. Results showed the highest joint strength in Aluminum/Aluminum SLJs and reduced strength following thermal and hygrothermal aging. The failure patterns and number of cycles leading to failure also varied with load percent and aging. Ultimately, the study aimed to evaluate and contrast the strength of samples that underwent different aging processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stereolithography (SL) is an important additive manufacturing method for preparing ceramic parts. To reduce the warpage, deformation, cracking, and other defects caused by residual stress existing in SL 3D-printed parts, residual stress needs to be adjusted. In this work, two methods to control residual stress developed in SL 3D-printed parts were studied, which consisted of optimizing the degreasing–sintering process and blending material components. A major technique is to adjust the surface residual stress of SL 3D-printed zirconia (ZrO 2) ceramic samples by optimizing the degreasing–sintering process. Sintering temperature, holding time, and heating rate have a great influence on the surface residual tensile stress. The second method to adjust the residual stress consists of adding new components. A carbon material, i.e., graphene oxide (GO), was added to ZrO 2 ceramic material. The results illustrate that GO significantly reduces the residual stress in SL 3D-printed parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Nafamostat mesilate (NM), a synthetic broad-spectrum serine protease inhibitor, has been commonly used for treating acute pancreatitis (AP) and other inflammatory-associated diseases in some East Asia countries. Although the potent inhibitory activity against inflammation-related proteases (such as thrombin, trypsin, kallikrein, plasmin, coagulation factors, and complement factors) is generally believed to be responsible for the anti-inflammatory effects of NM, the precise target and molecular mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory activity in AP treatment remain largely unknown. Methods: The protection of NM against pancreatic injury and inhibitory effect on the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation were investigated in an experimental mouse model of AP. To decipher the molecular mechanism of NM, the effects of NM on nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity and NF-κB mediated NLRP3 inflammasome priming were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-primed THP-1 cells. Additionally, the potential of NM to block the activity of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) and disrupt the association between HDAC6 and NLRP3 was also evaluated. Results: NM significantly suppressed NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the pancreas, leading to a reduction in pancreatic inflammation and prevention of pancreatic injury during AP. NM was found to interact with HDAC6 and effectively inhibit its function. This property allowed NM to influence HDAC6-dependent NF-κB transcriptional activity, thereby blocking NF-κB-driven transcriptional priming of the NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, NM exhibited the potential to interfere the association between HDAC6 and NLRP3, impeding HDAC6-mediated intracellular transport of NLRP3 and ultimately preventing NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Conclusions: Our current work has provided valuable insight into the molecular mechanism underlying the immunomodulatory effect of NM in the treatment of AP, highlighting its promising application in the prevention of NLRP3 inflammasome-associated inflammatory pathological damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: 4‐Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) herbicides control broadleaf and gramineous weeds with better crop safety for corn, sorghum and wheat. Multiple screening models in silico have been established to obtain novel lead compounds as HPPD inhibition herbicides. RESULTS: Topomer comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) combined with topomer search technology and Bayesian, genetic approximation functions (GFA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) models generated by calculating different descriptors were constructed for the quinazolindione derivatives of HPPD inhibitors. The coefficient of determination (r2) of topomer CoMFA, MLR and GFA were 0.975, 0.970 and 0.968, respectively; all the models established displayed excellent accuracy and high predictive capacity. Five compounds with potential HPPD inhibition were obtained via screening fragment library combined with the validation of the above models and molecular docking studies. After molecular dynamics (MD) validation and absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) prediction, the compound 2‐(2‐amino‐4‐(4H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐4‐yl) benzoyl)‐3‐hydroxycyclohex‐2‐en‐1‐one not only exhibited stable interactions with the protein but also high solubility and low toxicity, and has potential as a novel HPPD inhibition herbicide. CONCLUSION: In this study, five compounds were obtained through multiple quantitative structure–activity relationship screening. Molecular docking and MD experiments showed that the constructed approach had good screening ability for HPPD inhibitors. This work provided molecular structural information for developing novel, highly efficient and low‐toxicity HPPD inhibitors. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]