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Abstract Objective To evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopic modified ureteroplasty using a lingual mucosa graft (LMG) or an appendiceal flap (AF) for complex ureteral strictures and summarize our experience. Methods A total of 16 patients with complex ureteral strictures (range: 1.5–5 cm) who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic-modified ureteroplasty and were admitted to our hospital from May 2022-October 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. We used modified presuture methods in patients who needed the posteriorly augmented anastomotic technique to reduce anastomotic tension. Perioperative variables and outcomes were recorded for each patient. Results The operation under robot-assisted laparoscopy was successfully performed in all sixteen patients (12 with LMG ureteroplasty and 4 with AF ureteroplasty) without conversion to open surgery. The mean length of the ureteral structure was 2.90 ± 0.90 cm (range: 1.5–5 cm), the mean operation duration was 209.69 ± 26.74 min (range: 170–255 min), the median estimated blood loss was 75 (62.5) ml (range: 50–200 ml), and the duration of postoperative hospitalization was 10.44 ± 2.10 d (range: 7–14 d). The follow-up time in this group was 6 ~ 21 months. The success rate of the surgery was 100%. Conclusion Robot-assisted laparoscopic modified ureteroplasty using AF or LMG is a safe and feasible operation for complex ureteral strictures and deserves to be popularized.

Abstract Background Accurate breed identification is essential for the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous farm animal genetic resources. In this study, we evaluated the phylogenetic relationships and genomic breed compositions of 13 sheep breeds using SNP and InDel data from whole genome sequencing. The breeds included 11 Chinese indigenous and 2 foreign commercial breeds. We compared different strategies for breed identification with respect to different marker types, i.e. SNPs, InDels, and a combination of SNPs and InDels (named SIs), different breed-informative marker detection methods, and different machine learning classification methods. Results Using WGS-based SNPs and InDels, we revealed the phylogenetic relationships between 11 Chinese indigenous and two foreign sheep breeds and quantified their purities through estimated genomic breed compositions. We found that the optimal strategy for identifying these breeds was the combination of DFI_union for breed-informative marker detection, which integrated the methods of Delta, Pairwise Wright's FST, and Informativeness for Assignment (namely DFI) by merging the breed-informative markers derived from the three methods, and KSR for breed assignment, which integrated the methods of K-Nearest Neighbor, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest (namely KSR) by intersecting their results. Using SI markers improved the identification accuracy compared to using SNPs or InDels alone. We achieved accuracies over 97.5% when using at least the 1000 most breed-informative (MBI) SI markers and even 100% when using 5000 SI markers. Conclusions Our results provide not only an important foundation for conservation of these Chinese local sheep breeds, but also general approaches for breed identification of indigenous farm animal breeds.

Abstract Objective Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing chemotherapy and immunotherapy experience disturbances in the gut microbiota. This study intends to find out the correlation between gut microbiota and clinical indices before and after radiotherapy for NSCLC. Methods Ten patients with primary NSCLC were screened, and plasma and fecal samples were collected before and after radiotherapy, respectively. Inflammatory indices in plasma were detected. Genomic DNA was extracted from fecal specimens and sequenced on on Illumina HiSeq2000 sequencing platform. Thee sequenced data were subjected to Metagenome assembly, gene prediction, species annotation, and gene function analysis to study and analyze gut microbiota and metabolic functions. The correlation between the diversity of gut microbiota and the clinical indicators of NSCLC patients was evaluated, and the changes of gut microbiota before and after radiotherapy were observed. Results The diversity of gut microbiota in NSCLC patients did not correlate with smoking, pathology, and inflammatory markers. The abundance of phylum (p)_Bacteroidetes increased; p_Firmicutes and p_Bacteroidetes accounted for the highest proportion in NSCLC patients, and the abundance of both was dominantly exchanged after radiotherapy. There was a decrease in genus (g)_Bifidobacterium after radiotherapy in NSCLC patients. There was no significant correlation between the diversity of gut microbiota after radiotherapy and radiotherapy sensitivity, and the structural composition and abundance of gut microbiota remained stable. Conclusion The diversity of gut microbiota is altered after radiotherapy in NSCLC patients, showing an increase in harmful bacteria and a decrease in beneficial bacteria.

Abstract Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are abundantly expressed in cancer cells. The effects of GSL-targeted immunotherapies are not fully understood. Here, we show that the inhibition of GSL synthesis with the UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase inhibitor eliglustat can increase the exposure of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and tumour antigen peptides, enhancing the antitumour response of CD8+ T cells in a range of tumour models. We therefore conducted a proof-of-concept phase I trial on the combination of eliglustat and an anti-PD-1 antibody for the treatment of advanced cancers (NCT04944888). The primary endpoints were safety and feasibility, and the secondary endpoint was antitumor activity. All prespecified endpoints were met. Among the 31 enrolled patients, only 1 patient experienced a grade 3 adverse event (AE), and no grade 4 AEs were observed. The objective response rate was 22.6% and the disease control rate reached 71%. Of the 8 patients with proficient mismatch repair/microsatellite stable (pMMR/MSS) colorectal cancer, one achieved complete response and two each had partial response and stable disease. In summary, inhibiting the synthesis of GSLs might represent an effective immunotherapy approach.

Recent research certified that DOT1L and its mutations represented by R231Q were potential targets for the treatment of lung cancer. Herein, a series of adenosine-containing derivatives were identified with DOT1LR231Q inhibition through antiproliferation assay and Western blot analysis in the H460R231Q cell. The most promising compound 37 significantly reduced DOT1LR231Q mediated H3K79 methylation and effectively inhibited the proliferation, self-renewal, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cell lines at low micromolar concentrations. The cell permeability and cellular target engagement of 37 were verified by both CETSA and DARTS assays. In the H460R231Q OE cell-derived xenograft (CDX) model, 37 displayed pronounced tumor growth inhibition after intraperitoneal administration at 20 mg/kg dose for 3 weeks (TGI = 54.38%), without obvious toxicities. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that 37 possessed tolerable properties (t1/2 = 1.93 ± 0.91 h, F = 97.2%) after intraperitoneal administration in rats. Mechanism study confirmed that 37 suppressed malignant phenotypes of lung cancer carrying R231Q gain-of-function mutation via the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Moreover, analysis of the binding modes between molecules and DOT1LWT/R231Q proteins put forward the “Induced-fit” allosteric model in favor to the discovery of potent DOT1L candidates.

Abstract Background Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a highly contagious coronavirus that causes severe diarrhea and death in neonatal piglets, which has brought huge economic losses to the pork industry worldwide since its first discovery in the early 1970s in Europe. Passive immunization with neutralizing antibodies against PEDV is an effective prevention measure. To date, there are no effective therapeutic drugs to treat the PEDV infection. Results We conducted a screening of specific nanobodies against the S1 protein from a phage display library obtained from immunized alpacas. Through competitive binding to antigenic epitopes, we selected instead of chose nanobodies with high affinity and constructed a multivalent tandem. These nanobodies were shown to inhibit PEDV infectivity by the neutralization assay. The antiviral capacity of nanobody was found to display a dose-dependent pattern, as demonstrated by IFA, TCID50, and qRT-PCR analyses. Notably, biparatopic nanobody SF-B exhibited superior antiviral activity. Nanobodies exhibited low cytotoxicity and high stability even under harsh temperature and pH conditions, demonstrating their potential practical applicability to animals. Conclusions Nanobodies exhibit remarkable biological properties and antiviral effects, rendering them a promising candidate for the development of anti-PEDV drugs.

Abstract Physical activity (PA) has been shown to reduce diabetes mortality, but largely based on imprecise self-reported data, which may hinder the development of related recommendations. Here, we perform a prospective cohort study of 19,624 individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) from the UK Biobank with a median follow-up of 6.9 years. Duration and intensity of PA are measured by wrist-worn accelerometers over a 7-day period. We observe L-shaped associations of longer duration of PA, regardless of PA intensity, with risks of all-cause and cancer mortality, as well as a negatively linear association with cardiovascular disease mortality. 12.7%, 15.8%, and 22.3% of deaths are attributable to the lowest level of light-intensity, moderate-intensity PA, and vigorous-intensity PA, respectively. Collectively, our findings provide insights for clinical guidelines that should highlight the potential value of adherence to greater intensity and duration of PA for patients with T2D.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐mediated sonodynamic therapy (SDT) holds increasing potential in treating deep‐seated tumor owing to the high tissue‐penetration depth. However, the inevitable accumulation of sonosensitizers in normal tissues not only make it difficult to realize the in situ SDT, but also induces sonodynamic effects in normal tissues. Herein, this work reports the passivation and selective activation strategies for the sonodynamic and near‐infrared (NIR) imaging performances of an intelligent antitumor theranostic platform termed Cu‐IR783 nanoparticles (NPs). Owing to the ruptured coordination bond between IR783 with Cu ions by responding to tumor microenvironment (TME), the selective activation of IR783 only occurred in tumor tissues to achieve the visualized in‐situ SDT. The tumor‐specific released Cu ions not only realized the cascade amplification of ROS generation through Cu+‐mediated Fenton‐like reaction, but also triggered cuproptosis through Cu+‐induced DLAT oligomerization and mitochondrial dysfunction. More importantly, the immunosuppressive TME can be reversed by the greatly enhanced ROS levels and high‐efficiency cuproptosis, ultimately inducing immunogenic cell death that promotes robust systemic immune responses for the eradication of primary tumors and suppression of distant tumors. This work provides a distinct paradigm of the integration of SDT, CDT, and cuproptosis in a controlled manner to achieve visualized in‐situ antitumor therapy.

Abstract Background The most challenging aspect of rehabilitation is the repurposing of residual functional plasticity in stroke patients. To achieve this, numerous plasticity-based clinical rehabilitation programs have been developed. This study aimed to investigate the effects of motor imagery (MI)-based brain–computer interface (BCI) rehabilitation programs on upper extremity hand function in patients with chronic hemiplegia. Design A 2010 Consolidated Standards for Test Reports (CONSORT)-compliant randomized controlled trial. Methods Forty-six eligible stroke patients with upper limb motor dysfunction participated in the study, six of whom dropped out. The patients were randomly divided into a BCI group and a control group. The BCI group received BCI therapy and conventional rehabilitation therapy, while the control group received conventional rehabilitation only. The Fugl–Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity (FMA-UE) score was used as the primary outcome to evaluate upper extremity motor function. Additionally, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans were performed on all patients before and after treatment, in both the resting and task states. We measured the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), z conversion of ALFF (zALFF), and z conversion of ReHo (ReHo) in the resting state. The task state was divided into four tasks: left-hand grasping, right-hand grasping, imagining left-hand grasping, and imagining right-hand grasping. Finally, meaningful differences were assessed using correlation analysis of the clinical assessments and functional measures. Results A total of 40 patients completed the study, 20 in the BCI group and 20 in the control group. Task-related blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) analysis showed that when performing the motor grasping task with the affected hand, the BCI group exhibited significant activation in the ipsilateral middle cingulate gyrus, precuneus, inferior parietal gyrus, postcentral gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, and contralateral middle cingulate gyrus. When imagining a grasping task with the affected hand, the BCI group exhibited greater activation in the ipsilateral superior frontal gyrus (medial) and middle frontal gyrus after treatment. However, the activation of the contralateral superior frontal gyrus decreased in the BCI group relative to the control group. Resting-state fMRI revealed increased zALFF in multiple cerebral regions, including the contralateral precentral gyrus and calcarine and the ipsilateral middle occipital gyrus and cuneus, and decreased zALFF in the ipsilateral superior temporal gyrus in the BCI group relative to the control group. Increased zReHo in the ipsilateral cuneus and contralateral calcarine and decreased zReHo in the contralateral middle temporal gyrus, temporal pole, and superior temporal gyrus were observed post-intervention. According to the subsequent correlation analysis, the increase in the FMA-UE score showed a positive correlation with the mean zALFF of the contralateral precentral gyrus (r = 0.425, P

Background Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is highly prevalent in athletes. The objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of daily tangeretin combined with whey protein supplementation over a period of 4 weeks in professional athletes with EIB.Methods Using a placebo-controlled, double-blind, paired, randomized trial design, a cohort of 30 professional athletes with EIB, consisting of 14 females and 16 males, was divided into two groups: the tangeretin combined with whey protein intervention group (TIG), and the placebo control group (PCG). Both the TIG and PCG underwent exercise challenge tests (ECT) and VO2max tests before (ECT1, V1) and after (ECT2, V2) the intervention. Blood (eosinophils, neutrophils, and basophils) and serum (interleukin-5, IL-5; interleukin-8, IL-8; Clara cell secretory protein-16, CC16; immunoglobulin E, IgE) levels were measured early in the morning of ECT1 and ECT2, respectively. Lung function was assessed immediately before and post-ECT immediately.Results Tangeretin combined with whey protein use for 4 weeks attenuated the decrease in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) post trials (∆FEV1(ECT1-ECT2): mean (SD) TIG −7.51(6.9)% vs. PCG −2.33(11.49)%, p = 0.013). Tangeretin also substantially attenuated IL-5 concentration (∆IL-5(T1-T5): Tangeretin −19.4% vs Placebo + 8.37%, p = 0.022); IL-8 concentration (∆IL-8(T1-T5): Tangeretin −17.28% vs Placebo + 6.1%, p = 0.012); CC16 concentration (∆CC16(T1-T5): Tangeretin −11.77% vs Placebo + 24.19%); and IgE concentration in the serum (∆IgE(T1-T5): Tangeretin −24.1% vs Placebo −3.9%), and significantly decreased neutrophil count (∆N(T1-T5): Tangeretin −11.34% vs Placebo + 0.3%) and eosinophil count in blood (∆N(T1-T5): Tangeretin −38.5% vs Placebo + 4.35%). Compared with V1, VO2max (p = 0.042) and TLim (p = 0.05) of V2 were significantly increased in the TIG, and there was no significant change in the PCG. Meanwhile, six athletes in the TIG and 0 athletes in the PCG became EIB-negative at ECT2; the overall negative conversion rate of EIB was 40.00% in TCG. Additionally, the number of cough symptoms decreased from 9 to 3 and dyspnea from 4 to 2 in the TIG.Conclusion After high-intensity exercise, athletes with EIB achieved significant improvements in lung function and blood inflammatory factors by combining tangeretin and whey protein supplementation. EIB athletes also showed longer exercise endurance and VO2max at 4 weeks after TI. In addition, some patient symptoms disappeared after combination supplementation. The effect of this treatment on professional athletes with EIB was beneficial.

IntroductionPhosphorus nutrition and hormone concentration both affect crop yield formation. Ascertaining the interaction of phosphorus and GA3 has a synergistic effect on the grain yield and phosphorus utilization efficiency of oilseed flax in dryland. It is extremely important for improving grain yield and phosphorus utilization efficiency.MethodsA field experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 at the Dingxi Oil Crops Test Station to investigated the effects of phosphorus, gibberellin (GA3), and their interaction on the grain yield and phosphorus-utilization efficiency of oilseed flax plants. Phosphorus fertilizer was applied at three levels (0, 67.5, 135 kg P2O5·ha-1) and GA3 was also sprayed at three concentrations (0, 15, and 30 mg·L-1).ResultsThe results showed that application of 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 reduced leaves acid phosphatase (ACPase) activity, but increased phosphorus accumulation throughout the growth period, the 1000-kernel weight (TKW), and the number of grains per capsule. Spraying GA3 significantly increased the leaves ACPase activity, phosphorus accumulation after anthesis and its contribution to grain, phosphorus-utilization efficiency, the number of capsules per plant, and TKW. The phosphorus accumulation at the anthesis, kernel, and maturity stages under the treatment of fertilizing 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 and spraying 30 mg·L-1 GA3 were increased by 56.06%, 73.51%, and 62.17%, respectively, compared with the control (no phosphorus, no GA3). And the phosphorus accumulation after anthesis and its contribution to grain also increased. 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 combined with 30 mg·L-1 GA3 and 135 kg P2O5·ha-1 combined with 15 mg·L-1 GA3 both significantly increased grain yield of oilseed flax, reaching 1696 kg·ha-1 and 1716 kg·ha-1 across two years, respectively. And there was no significant difference between them. However, the former treatment significant increased the apparent utilization rate, agronomic utilization rate, and partial productivity of phosphorus. The interaction between phosphorus and GA3 was significant for grain yield.ConclusionTherefore, the application of 67.5 kg P2O5·ha-1 in combination with 30 mg·L-1 GA3 is an effective fertilization approach for enhancing oilseed flax growth and grain yield in the experiment region and other similar areas.

ABSTRACT: Eggshell is one of the most important indicators of egg quality, and due to low shell strength, pimple eggs (PE) are more susceptible to breakage, thus causing huge economic losses to the egg industry. At the current time, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the formation of pimple eggs are poorly understood. In this study, uterine tissues of PE-laying hens (n = 8) and normal egg (NE) -laying hens (n = 8) were analyzed by whole transcriptome sequencing, and a total of 619 differentially expressed mRNAs (DE mRNAs), 122 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DE lncRNAs) and 21 differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNAs) were obtained. Based on the targeting relationship among DE mRNAs, DE lncRNAs and DE miRNAs, we constructed a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network including 12 DE miRNAs, 19 DE lncRNAs, and 128 DE mRNAs. Considering the large amount of information contained in the network, we constructed a smaller ceRNA network to better understand the complex mechanisms of pimple egg formation. The smaller ceRNA network network contains 7 DE lncRNAs (LOC107056551, LOC121109367, LOC121108909, LOC121108862, LOC112530033, LOC121113165, LOC107054145), 5 DE miRNAs (gga-miR-6568-3p, gga-miR-31-5p, gga-miR-18b-3p, gga-miR-1759-3p, gga-miR-12240-3p) and 7 DE mRNAs (CABP1, DNAJC5, HCN3, HPCA, IBSP, KCNT1, OTOP3), and these differentially expressed genes may play key regulatory roles in the formation of pimpled eggs in hens. This study provides the overall expression profiles of mRNAs, lncRNAs and miRNAs in the uterine tissues of hens, which provides a theoretical basis for further research on the molecular mechanisms of pimpled egg formation, and has potential applications in improving eggshell quality.

Abstract Background Previous studies on physical activity (PA) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) were largely limited to self-reported PA in athletes, soldiers, and women in postpartum. We aimed to investigate the association of accelerometer-measured PA and sedentary behavior with the risk of POP in middle-aged and elderly women. Methods In this prospective cohort derived from the UK Biobank, the intensity and duration of PA and sedentary behavior were measured with wrist-worn accelerometers over a 7-day period in 2013–2015 for 47,674 participants (aged 42.8–77.9 years) without pre-existing POP. Participants were followed up until the end of 2022, during which incident POP was ascertained mainly by the electronic health records. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic splines were used to assess the associations of interest. Isotemporal substitution models were applied to test the effects of substituting a type of activity with equivalent duration of others. Results During a median follow-up of 8.0 years, 779 cases of POP were recorded. The duration of light-intensity PA (LPA) was positively whereas sedentary time was negatively associated with the risk of POP. Every additional 1 h/day of LPA elevated the risk of POP by 18% (95% confidence interval [CI], 10%–26%). In contrast, the risk decreased by 5% (95% CI, 0–8%) per 1 h/day increment in sedentary behavior. No associations were found between moderate-intensity PA (MPA) or vigorous-intensity PA (VPA) and POP, except that women who had a history of hysterectomy were more likely to develop POP when performing more VPA (53% higher risk for every additional 15 min/day). Substituting 1 h/day of LPA with equivalent sedentary time was associated with a 18% (95% CI, 11%–24%) lower risk of POP. The risk can also be reduced by 17% (95% CI, 7%–25%) through substituting 30 min/day of LPA with MPA. Conclusions More time spent in LPA or less sedentary time was linked to an elevated risk of POP in middle-aged and elderly women, while MPA or VPA was not. Substituting LPA with equivalent duration of sedentary behavior or MPA may lower the risk of POP.

As a typical strongly correlated transition oxide, vanadium dioxide (VO2) based nanomaterials have drawn many research attentions these years due to the giant metal-to-insulator phase transition (MIPT) at around 68 °C. However, due to the complexities of the V–O system and interplays between various vanadium oxide phases, the synthesis of high-quality VO2 nanopowders is still fraught with many challenges, especially in air atmosphere. In this paper, we report a novel air atmosphere available liquid-shielding synthesis method for thermochromic VO2 nanoparticles, by using low-eutectic molten-salt (LiCl–KCl) as the liquid-state air-insulation medium at elevated temperature and high-pressure pressed VOSO4–KCl pillars immersed in these liquid salts as the precursor. Small amounts of glucose are added to introduce a slight reductive environment, and well dispersed VO2 nanoparticles with excellent thermochromic properties can be directly synthesized at an ultra-low temperature of 375 °C. This feasible and atmosphere-available mass-production method is rarely reported in the related fields, which may provide a novel protocol strategy for the synthesis of high performance thermochromic VO2 and other functional oxide powders.

Bone has the ability to heal itself; however, bone defects fail to heal once the damage exceeds a critical size. Bone regeneration remains a significant clinical challenge, with autograft considered the ideal bone graft material due to its sufficient porosity, osteogenic cells, and biological growth factors. However, limitations to bone grafting, such as limited bone stock and high resorption rates, have led to a great deal of research into developing bone graft substitutes. The P28 peptide is a small molecule bioactive biomimetic alternative to mimic the bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2). In this study, we investigated the potential of P28-loaded hybrid scaffolds to mimic the natural bone structure for enhancing the bone regeneration process. We hypothesized that the peptide-loaded scaffolds and nude scaffolds both have the potential to promote bone healing, and the bone healing process is accelerated by the release of the peptide. To verify our hypothesis, C2C12 cells were evaluated for the presence of calcium deposits by histological stain at 7 and 14 days in cultures with hybrid scaffolds. Total RNA was isolated from C2C12 cells cultured with hybrid scaffolds for 7 and 14 days to assess osteoblast differentiation. The project findings demonstrated that the hybrid scaffold could enhance osteoblast differentiation and significantly improve the therapeutic effects of the scaffold in bone regeneration.

Background Depressive symptoms are established risk factors for various health outcomes. However, previous studies assessed depressive symptoms at a single time point, neglecting individual variations over time.Aims To identify depressive symptoms trajectories through repeated measures and examine their associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and mortality.Methods This study included 20 634 UK Biobank participants free of CVD and cancer at baseline with two or more assessments of depressive symptoms during 2006–2016. Group-based trajectory modelling identified depressive symptoms trajectories. Incident CVD, cancer and mortality were followed up until 2021 through linked registries.Results Six depressive symptoms trajectories were identified: no symptoms (n=6407), mild-stable (n=11 539), moderate-stable (n=2183), severe-decreasing (n=206), moderate-increasing (n=177) and severe-stable (n=122). During a median follow-up of 5.5 years, 1471 CVD cases, 1275 cancer cases and 503 deaths were documented. Compared with the no symptoms trajectory, the mild-stable, moderate-stable and severe-stable trajectories exhibited higher CVD risk, with hazard ratios (HRs) (95% CIs) of 1.19 (1.06 to 1.34), 1.32 (1.08 to 1.34) and 2.99 (1.85 to 4.84), respectively. Moderate-increasing and severe-stable trajectories were associated with higher mortality risks, with HRs (95% CIs) of 2.27 (1.04 to 4.93) and 3.26 (1.55 to 6.88), respectively. However, the severe-decreasing trajectory was not associated with higher risks of adverse outcomes. We did not find significant associations between any trajectory and cancer.Conclusions Trajectories related to stable and increasing depressive symptoms, but not the trajectory associated with severe depressive symptoms at the initial assessment but decreasing at the follow-up, were associated with higher risks of CVD and mortality. Alleviating severe depressive symptoms at the initial onset may mitigate CVD and mortality risks.

Background Although lifestyle-based treatment approaches are recommended as important aspects of depression care, the quantitative influence of aggregated healthy lifestyles on depression recurrence and mortality remains unknown.Objective To investigate the association between healthy lifestyle and the risks of first-time hospitalisation for recurrent depression and mortality.Methods 26 164 adults with depression (mean (SD) age, 56.0 (7.9) years) were included from UK Biobank between 2006 and 2010 and followed up until 2022. Depression was defined as a physician’s diagnosis in hospital admissions or the use of prescribed antidepressant medication. A weighted healthy lifestyle score (HLS) was calculated based on smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, sleep pattern, physical activity, social health, employment status and greenspace interaction.Findings Over a 13.3-year follow-up, 9740 cases of first-time hospitalisation due to depression recurrence and 1527 deaths were documented. Compared with the lowest HLS tertile, the highest tertile was associated with a 27% lower risk (HR=0.73, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.77) of first-time hospitalisation for depression recurrence and a 22% (HR=0.78, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.91) lower risk of mortality among adults with depression. Lower risks of first-time hospitalisation for depression recurrence were observed among those who smoked less, drank more alcohol, followed healthier diets and sleep patterns, spent more time employed in current job or had greater exposure to greenspace.Conclusion and implications Greater adherence to healthy lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of hospitalisation and mortality among adults with pre-existing depression. Incorporating behaviour modification as an essential part of clinical practice for depressed patients could complement medication-based therapies.

Background: Dietary nutrient intake contributes to urination; however, the association between dietary nutrient intake, especially that of fat, and urinary incontinence (UI) is not well understood. The most common types of UI include stress UI (SUI) and urgency UI (UUI). Objective: To investigate the potential effect(s) of dietary fat intake on UI and explore its mechanism of action in relation to body mass index (BMI). Methods: A cross-sectional survey of data from 15,121 individuals (20–85 years of age) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2001–2008), a random population-based sample, was performed. Data regarding dietary nutrient intake were collected through 24 h dietary recall interviews. UI and covariate data were collected through in-person interviews. UI was assessed according to the American Urological Association Symptom Index. The odds ratio (OR) for SUI and UUI were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The mediation effect was estimated using observational mediation analysis. Results: Higher total fat intake was positively associated with increased odds for developing UI (OR 1.44 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08–1.93]). Females who consumed more saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were more likely to develop SUI. BMI partially explained the association between total fat, SFA, MUFA, and PUFA and SUI; the proportions of the mediation effect of BMI were 14.7%, 13.0%, 18.7%, and 16.3%, respectively. Conclusions: Results of this study emphasize the key role of dietary fat intake in the prevalence of UI. Higher fat intake was positively associated with UI and BMI partially mediated the effect of fat intake on SUI.

ObjectiveThe occurrence of immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients is widely reported. However, whether IMDs and ALS is a simple coexistence or if there exists causal relationships between the two has been a subject of great interest to researchers.MethodsA total of 454,444 participants from the prospective cohort of UK Biobank were recruited to investigate the longitudinal association between IMDs and ALS. Previously any IMDs and organ specific IMDs were analyzed in relation to the following incident ALS by Cox-proportional hazard models. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the covariates of these relationships.ResultsAfter adjusting for potential covariates, the multivariate analysis showed that any IMDs were associated with an increased risk of ALS incidence (HR:1.42, 95%CI:1.03-1.94). IMDs of the endocrine-system and the intestinal-system were associated with increased risk of ALS incidence (endocrine-system IMDs: HR:3.01, 95%CI:1.49-6.06; intestinal system IMDs: HR:2.07, 95%CI: 1.14-3.77). Subgroup analyses revealed that immune burden, including IMD duration and the severity of inflammation had specific effects on the IMD-ALS association. In participants with IMD duration≥10 years or CRP≥1.3mg/L or females, previous IMDs increased the risk of incident ALS; however, in participants with IMD duration

Abstract Background Atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) is a novel, highly variable porcine pestivirus. Previous reports have suggested that the virus is associated with congenital tremor (CT) type A-II in piglets, and little information is available about the correlation between the virus and sow abortion, or on coinfection with other viruses. In China, reported APPV strains were mainly isolated from South China and Central China, and data about the APPV genome from northern China are relatively scarce. Methods Eleven umbilical cords, one placenta, and one aborted piglet, were collected from aborted sows of the same farm in Shandong Province of northern China. Nucleic acids were extracted from the above samples, and subsequently pooled for viral metagenomics sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The viral coexistence status and complete genome characteristics of APPV in Shandong Province were determined. Results In abortion cases, APPV was present with Getah virus, porcine picobirnavirus, porcine kobuvirus, porcine sapovirus, Po-Circo-like virus, porcine serum-associated circular virus, porcine bocavirus 1, porcine parvovirus 1, porcine parvovirus 3 and porcine circovirus 3, etc. The first complete genome sequence(11,556 nt) of APPV in Shandong Province of northern China, was obtained using viral metagenomics and designated APPV-SDHY-2022. Comparison with Chinese reference strains revealed that the polyprotein of APPV-SDHY-2022 shared 82.6-84.2%, 93.2-93.6%, and 80.7-85% nucleotide identity and 91.4-92.4%, 96.4-97.7%, and 90.6-92.2% amino acid identity with those of the Clade I, Clade II and Clade III strains, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete polyprotein CDS and NS5A sequences concluded that APPV-SDHY-2022 belongs to Clade II. Analysis of the NS5A nucleotide sequences revealed homology of greater than 94.6% for the same isoform, 84.7-94.5% for different isoforms of the same clade and 76.8-81.1% for different clades. Therefore, Clade II was further divided into three subclades, and APPV-SDHY-2022 belonged to subclade 2.3. Members of Clade II have 20 unique amino acids in individual proteins, distinguishing them from Clade I and Clade III members. The E2 protein showed the greatest diversity of putative N-glycosylation sites with 9 patterns, and APPV-SDHY-2022 along with other Chinese APPV strains shared the conserved B-cell conformational epitope residues 39E, 70R, 173R, 190K and 191N of the E2 protein. Conclusions We reported viral coexistence and the first complete genome sequence of APPV from abortion cases and from Shandong Province. The new APPV isolate belongs to an independent branch of Clade II. Our results increase the molecular and epidemiological understanding of APPV in China.

LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries are well known for their long cycle life. However, there are many reports of significant capacity degradation in LFP battery packs after only three to five years of operation. This study assesses the second-life potential of commercial LFP batteries retired from electric vehicles (EVs) by evaluating their aging characteristics at the cell and module levels. Four LFP cells and four modules were subjected to aging tests under various conditions. The results indicate that LFP cells exhibit long life cycles with gradual capacity degradation and a minimal internal resistance increase. Module-level analysis reveals significant balance issues impacting capacity recovery. Incremental capacity analysis (ICA) and post-mortem analysis identify the loss of active materials and lithium inventory as key aging mechanisms. This study provides the optimal working conditions of second-life LFP batteries and suggests that, with proper balancing systems, LFP batteries can achieve extended second-life use in stationary energy storage applications, emphasizing the importance of effective balance management for sustainable battery utilization.

With the rapid development of urban rail transportation, people’s demand for subways has gradually manifested itself. The inherent complex attributes of subway project construction determine that subway project construction has a relatively high risk, resulting in huge losses. This paper takes the opportunistic behavior of the subway project as the research object, proposes the opportunistic behavior identification process, and constructs the opportunistic behavior identification model based on the BP neural network. Firstly, through the collection and analysis of subway accident cases, the main forms of opportunistic behavior are summarized, and the primary characteristic indicators for opportunistic behavior recognition are extracted using cluster analysis. Secondly, a recognition model based on a BP neural network is designed. The number of neurons in the input layer, hidden layer, and output layer of the model is determined, and the recognition model is subsequently trained and tested to validate its feasibility. Finally, the constructed opportunistic behavior recognition model is applied to an actual subway construction project, revealing that the construction enterprise of the project in question exhibits a high level of opportunistic behavior risk. Overall, the research results of this paper have important theoretical significance and practical value for the management level of subway project construction enterprises under the new situation and the identification and governance of opportunistic behavior of subway project construction enterprises.

With the growing adoption of battery energy storage systems in renewable energy sources, electric vehicles (EVs), and portable electronic devices, the effective management of battery systems has become increasingly critical. The advent of wireless battery management systems (wBMSs) represents a significant innovation in battery management technology. Traditional wired battery management systems (BMSs) face challenges, including complexity, increased weight, maintenance difficulties, and a higher chance of connection failure. In contrast, wBMSs offer a robust solution, eliminating physical connections. wBMSs offer enhanced flexibility, reduced packaging complexity, and improved reliability. Given that wBMSs are still in a preliminary stage, this review paper explores their evolution, current state, and future directions. A comprehensive survey of state-of-the-art wBMS technologies, including academic and commercial solutions, is elaborated in this paper. We compare wireless communication technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Zigbee, Near-Field Communication (NFC), Wi-Fi, and cellular networks in the context of wBMSs. We discuss their performance in terms of efficiency, reliability, scalability, and security. Despite its promising outlook, wBMSs still face challenges such as data security, signal interference, regulatory and standardization issues, and competition from the continued advancement of wired BMS technologies, making the advantages of wBMSs less evident. This paper concludes with guidelines for future research and development of wBMSs, aiming to address these challenges and pave the way for a broad adoption of wBMSs across various applications. This paper aims to inspire further research and innovation in the field, contributing to developing an industry-ready wBMS.

This paper proposes a single-phase, transformer-less, seven-level inverter that utilizes eight switches, three capacitors, and two diodes to produce seven voltage levels with triple boosting ability. The availability of the common-ground point eliminates the leakage current in PV applications. The proposed Transformer-Less Triple-Boosting Seven-Level Inverter (TLTB7LI) has the ability to feed different types of loads from non-unity to unity power factors. The voltage balancing of capacitors takes place naturally without the need for auxiliary circuits and complicated control strategies. This paper investigates the appropriateness of the proposed TLTB7LI for grid-connected application. The Peak Current Controller (PCC) is employed to generate the switching pulses and regulate the active/reactive power transfer between the converter and the output, which guarantees the high quality of injected current to the output. Moreover, the operational principles, its control technique, as well as the design procedure of the key components of the proposed inverter have been presented. The superiority of the proposed inverter over existing counterparts has been verified through comparative analysis. The simulation and experimental analysis validated the proper operation of the proposed TLTB7LI.

Abstract Background The effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) deficiency on cognitive decline have been consistently reported in animal studies, but the relationship between IGF-1 and human brain health remains controversial. Our study aimed to investigate the associations of serum IGF-1 concentrations with some brain-related disorders and neuroimaging features. Methods This prospective study included 369,711 participants (55.8 ± 8.1 years) from the UK biobank who had serum IGF-1 measured and were free from brain-related disorders of interest — dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s disease (PD) — at enrollment (2006–2010). Restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional hazards models were used to detect the associations between IGF-1 concentrations and brain-related diseases. In addition, general linear regressions were applied to explore the relationship between IGF-1 concentrations and neuroimaging features (volumes of white matter, grey matter, and hippocampus and white matter hyperintensity) among a sub-sample of 36,458 participants with magnetic resonance imaging data collected since 2014. Results During a median follow-up of 12.6 years, a total of 4,857 dementia, 6,240 stroke, and 2,116 PD cases were documented. The dose–response analyses yielded U-shaped relationships between IGF-1 concentrations and risks of dementia and stroke (P

Abstract Background Diet is increasingly recognized as an important risk factor for mental health. However, evidence regarding the association between diet pattern and depressive and anxiety symptoms is limited. We aimed to investigate the associations of dietary patterns characterized by a set of nutrients of interest with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Methods The analyses included a total of 126,819 participants in the UK Biobank who had completed at least two dietary questionnaires. Dietary data were obtained through 24-h dietary assessment at baseline between 2006 and 2010 and four rounds of online follow-ups between 2011 and 2012. Reduced rank regression was applied to derive dietary patterns (DPs) explaining variability in energy density, free sugars, saturated fat, and fiber intakes. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder-7 between 2016 and 2017, respectively. Logistic regression models were performed to investigate the associations between dietary patterns and depressive and anxiety symptoms. Results During a mean follow-up of 7.6 years, 2746 cases of depressive symptoms and 2202 cases of anxiety symptoms were recorded. Three major DPs were derived, explaining 74% of the variation in nutrients hypothesized to be related to depressive and anxiety symptoms. DP1 was characterized by high intakes of chocolate, confectionery, butter, and low vegetable/fruit intakes. Compared to the lowest quintile of DP1, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of depressive symptoms for Q2–Q5 was 0.82 (0.72–0.93), 0.86 (0.76–0.98), 1.02 (0.90–1.15), and 1.17 (1.03–1.32), respectively. Compared to the lowest quintile of DP1, the odds ratio (95% CI) of anxiety symptoms for Q2–Q5 was 0.84 (0.73–0.97), 0.91 (0.79–1.05), 1.01 (0.88–1.15), and 1.18 (1.03–1.35), respectively. DP2 featured high intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, added sugars, and low intakes of butter/cheese but showed no significant links to depressive or anxiety symptoms. DP3 was characterized by high butter and milk desserts and low alcohol/bread intakes. Compared to the lowest quintile of DP3, the odds ratio (95% CI) of depressive symptoms for Q2–Q5 was 0.90 (0.79–1.01), 1.00 (0.88–1.13), 1.06 (0.94–1.20), and 1.17 (1.03–1.32), respectively. Compared to the lowest quintile of DP3, the odds ratio (95% CI) of anxiety symptoms for Q2–Q5 was 0.90 (0.78–1.04), 1.05 (0.91–1.20), 1.02 (0.89–1.17), and 1.21 (1.05–1.38), respectively. Conclusions A DP characterized by high intakes of chocolate and confectionery, butter, high-fat cheese, added sugars, along with low intakes of fresh fruit and vegetables, is associated with a higher risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Abstract In endemic areas, EBV DNA is used to guide diagnosis, detect recurrence and distant metastasis of NPC. Until now, the importance of EBV DNA in the prediction of NPC has received little attention in non-endemic regions. To explore the prognostic value of EBV DNA alone or in combination with PNI in NPC patients from a non-endemic area of China. In this retrospective study, 493 NPC patients were enrolled. Clinical pathologic data, pre-treatment plasma EBV DNA, and laboratory tests were all performed. A standard anticancer treatment was prescribed, and follow up data were collected. EBV DNA was found to be positively related to clinical stage (r = 0.357, P 262.7 copies/ml group was 88% and 65.3%, respectively (P 0.05). This novel combination biomarker was a promising biomarker for predicting NPC survival and may one day guide treatment option.

A large bone defect is defined as a defect that exceeds the regenerative capacity of the bone. Nowadays, autologous bone grafting is still the gold standard treatment. In this study, a hybrid bone tissue engineering scaffold (BTE) was designed with biocompatibility, biodegradability and adequate mechanical strength as the primary objectives. Chitosan (CS) is a biocompatible and biodegradable polymer that can be used in a wide range of applications in bone tissue engineering. Hydroxyapatite (HAp) and fluorapatite (FAp) have the potential to improve the mechanical properties of CS. In the present work, different volumes of acetic acid (AA) and different ratios of HAp and FAp scaffolds were prepared and UV cross-linked to form a 3D structure. The properties of the scaffolds were characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, swelling studies and compression testing. The cytotoxicity result was obtained by the MTT assay. The degradation rate was tested by weight loss after the scaffold was immersed in SBF. The results showed that a crosslinked structure was formed and that bonding occurred between different materials within the scaffold. Additionally, the scaffolds not only provided sufficient mechanical strength but were also cytocompatibility, depending on their composition. The scaffolds were degraded gradually within a 6-to-8-week testing period, which closely matches bone regeneration rates, indicating their potential in the BTE field.

Abstract Polymerase I and transcript release factor (PTRF) plays a role in the regulation of gene expression and the release of RNA transcripts during transcription, which have been associated with various human diseases. However, the role of PTRF in glioma remains unclear. In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data (n = 1022 cases) and whole-exome sequencing (WES) data (n = 286 cases) were used to characterize the PTRF expression features. Gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis was used to assess the biological implication of changes in PTRF expression. As a result, the expression of PTRF was associated with malignant progression in gliomas. Meanwhile, somatic mutational profiles and copy number variations (CNV) revealed the glioma subtypes classified by PTRF expression showed distinct genomic alteration. Furthermore, GO functional enrichment analysis suggested that PTRF expression was associated with cell migration and angiogenesis, particularly during an immune response. Survival analysis confirmed that a high expression of PTRF is associated with a poor prognosis. In summary, PTRF may be a valuable factor for the diagnosis and treatment target of glioma.

Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction (SMD) is the major cause of death in sepsis. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3)-mediated pyroptosis contributes to the occurrence and development of SMD. Although Apelin confers direct protection against SMD, the potential mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether Apelin protects against SMD via regulation of NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes. Experimental SMD was induced in wild-type (WT) control mice and Apelin knockout (Apelin−/−) mice by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes (NMCs) were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate the physiological environment of SMD in vitro. The expression of Apelin was greatly decreased in the plasma from septic patients and septic mouse heart. Knockout of Apelin aggravated SMD, evidenced by decreased cardiac function, and increased cardiac fibrosis and NLRP3 inflammasome and pyroptosis levels in CLP-treated Apelin−/− mice compared with WT mice. Overexpression of Apelin activated the AMPK pathway and thereby inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome–mediated pyroptosis of NMCs induced by LPS in vitro These protective effects were partially abrogated by AMPK inhibitor. In conclusion, Apelin attenuated SMD by inhibiting NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis via activation of the AMPK pathway. Apelin may serve as a promising therapeutic target for SMD.

Rapid urbanization has put the marine environment under great threat, and cities in the Bay Bottom area are more likely to cause a large number of ecological problems in urban development and construction due to their special land-sea interaction environment. Ecological network is an effective solution to coordinate regional ecological protection and sustainable urban development. This study focused on Chengyang District, one of the highly urbanized areas at the bottom of Jiaozhou Bay in Qingdao, China, was using Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA) to initially identify ecological source areas and extracting important ecological source areas in conjunction with the landscape connectivity assessment, and was determining ecological resistance values based on the importance of ecosystem services, and was optimizing ecological network by the minimum cumulative resistance model (MCR) and network structure analysis. The results indicated that: (1) the habitat in Chengyang District is severely fragmented, and the ecological network structure has significant features in terms of source area, type and corridor distribution, with a low percentage of source area, identification of characteristic source types such as reservoirs, wetlands, and aquaculture ponds, while the corridors are concentrated in the area of rivers and bays, and there is fragmentation in the inland areas of the city. (2) Preliminarily, 15 ecological source sites were identified, mainly distributed in the vicinity of Jiaozhou Bay Wetland, Jihongtan Reservoir and Laoshan Mountain, among which, Jiaozhou Bay Wetland is the most important ecological source in Chengyang District. Thirty-two ecological nodes and 24 ecological corridors were constructed. (3) By increasing the inland ecological sources in Chengyang District, the optimized ecological network forms a spatial pattern of “four cores, three belts, and four districts”, and proposes and formulates targeted ecological protection and management strategies to promote the sustainable development of the urban areas in the bottom of the bay. In addition, this study provides a new reference for the global ecological protection of cities in the bay area by improving the ecological network of cities in the Bay Bottom area.

The quality (color, tenderness, juiciness, protein content, and fat content) of poultry meat is closely linked to age, with older birds typically exhibiting increased intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition. However, specific lipid metabolic pathways involved in IMF deposition remain unknown. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying lipid changes, we conducted a study using meat geese at 2 distinct growth stages (70 and 300 d). Our findings regarding the approximate composition of the meat revealed that as the geese aged 300 d, their meat acquired a chewier texture and displayed higher levels of IMF. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was employed for lipid profiling of the IMF. Using a lipid database, we identified 849 lipids in the pectoralis muscle of geese. Principal component analysis and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were used to distinguish between the 2 age groups and identify differential lipid metabolites. As expected, we observed significant changes in 107 lipids, including triglycerides, diglycerides, phosphatidylethanolamine, alkyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine, alkenyl-glycerophosphoethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, lysophosphatidylserine, ceramide-AP, ceramide-AS, free fatty acids, cholesterol lipids, and N-acyl-lysophosphatidylethanolamine. Among these, the glyceride molecules exhibited the most pronounced changes and played a pivotal role in IMF deposition. Additionally, increased concentration of phospholipid molecules was observed in breast muscle at 70 d. Unsaturated fatty acids attached to lipid side chain sites enrich the nutritional value of goose meat. Notably, C16:0 and C18:0 were particularly abundant in the 70-day-old goose meat. Pathway analysis demonstrated that glycerophospholipid and glyceride metabolism were the pathways most significantly associated with lipid changes during goose growth, underscoring their crucial role in lipid metabolism in goose meat. In conclusion, this work provides an up-to-date study on the lipid composition and metabolic pathways of goose meat and may provide a theoretical basis for elucidating the nutritional value of goose meat at different growth stages.

As wearable devices continue to be updated and iterated, there is an increasing demand for energy supplies that are small, portable and capable of working continuously for extended periods of time. Here, a hybrid triboelectric-electromagnetic nanogenerator (HNG) based on a biomechanical energy harvester is demonstrated. The HNG is designed to be worn on the wrist according to the curve of the wearer’s arm swing. During the swinging of the arm, the magnet covered by the PTFE film will move relative to the curved cavity of the HNG and take on a negative charge by rubbing against the inner wall of the Cu coated cavity, resulting in a change in the potential difference between the two copper electrodes on the inner wall of the curved cavity. The movement of the magnet causes the magnetic flux of the three pairs of coils on both sides of the arc track to change to produce the induced electric potential, which converts the mechanical energy generated by the arm swing into electrical energy. After the rational design, the HNG is integrated into a small size device to achieve the collection of biomechanical energy. Several experiments were conducted to verify the HNG’s usability. Experiments show that the HNG takes 90 s to charge from 0 V to 1.2 V for a 1000 μF capacitor. In addition, the HNG can light up 23 LEDs simultaneously and provide a continuous supply of energy to portable electronic devices, such as temperature sensors and electronic watches after the capacitor has stored the energy. Furthermore, the HNG is experimentally verified by volunteers wearing the HNG to achieve continuous and stable output in all three states of slow swing, fast swing and running swing. This work not only provides a useful reference for human biomechanical energy harvesting, but can also provide a continuous, clean source of energy for wearable devices.

AIM: To explore the characteristics of astigmatism in preschool children before, during and after the COVID-19 epidemic, so as to provide a reference for further prevention and control of children's vision.METHODS: In the consecutive four years from January 2018 to December 2021, a retrospective analysis of vision data was conducted on 2 273 preschool children(4 546 eyes)younger than 4 years old who participated in children's vision screening test in Baiyun district, Guangzhou. They were divided into 1-year old group(ages

In recent years, optical fibers have found extensive use in special environments, including high-energy radiation scenarios like nuclear explosion diagnostics and reactor monitoring. However, radiation exposure, such as X-rays, gamma rays, and neutrons, can compromise fiber safety and reliability. Consequently, researchers worldwide are focusing on radiation-resistant fiber optic technology. This paper examines optical fiber radiation damage mechanisms, encompassing ionization damage, displacement damage, and defect centers. It also surveys the current research on radiation-resistant fiber optic design, including doping and manufacturing process improvements. Ultimately, it summarizes the effectiveness of various approaches and forecasts the future of radiation-resistant optical fibers.

Drying is an important preservation method of casein. Traditional natural draining and drying processes have low efficiency, long processing time, and poor product quality, which urgently need to be improved. This study investigated the effects of pre-dehydration intensities (30 N 30 min (PreD1) and 50 N 30 min (PreD2)) and drying methods (including pulsed vacuum drying (PVD), infrared drying (IRD), and hot air drying (HAD)) on the drying kinetics, drying modeling, and quality of yak milk casein. These findings reveal that PreD2 and PVD both had a positive impact on shortening the drying time. Compared to other combined treatments, PreD2-PVD had the shortest drying time of 6 h. The Midilli–Kucuk mathematical model effectively predicted the drying of casein. The yak milk casein powder treated with PreD2-PVD possessed a higher content of gross compositions, superior color, lower levels of fat oxidation and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), and higher emulsifying activity index (EAI) and emulsion stability index (ESI) values. Overall, combining pre-dehydration with PVD proved effective in improving the drying rate and maintaining a good quality of yak milk casein, showing promising potential for industrial applications.

The development of the knob in Chinese geese (Anser cygnodies) is an outcome of extensive and prolonged selection and breeding. The knob serves not only as a visual indicator of sexual maturity in geese but also holds significance as a crucial packaging trait that attracts attention of consumers attentions, who tend to distinctly prefer geese with larger knobs. Consequently, investigating the formation of the knob holds practical value, as it will help achieving external traits aligned with consumers’ preferences. To understand the relationship between knob size, production efficiency, and meat quality in Yangzhou geese, we examined histological and anatomical characteristics in 500- and 120-day-old geese with large and small knobs. Notably, knob size had a pronounced impact on key anatomical and structural parameters, such as chest depth, leg muscle water-binding capacity, and insoluble collagen composition in Yangzhou geese (p < 0.05). In addition, we measured testosterone and estrogen levels in male and female geese, respectively, as well as growth hormone, and found that birds of both sexes with a large knob had higher sex and growth hormone levels in the body. This study established a fundamental theoretical basis for advancing the enhancement of goose knob traits.

ABSTRACT: Meat rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids is considered beneficial to health. Supplementing the diet with linseed oil promotes the deposition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in poultry, a conclusion that has been confirmed multiple times in chicken meat. However, fewer studies have focused on the effects of dietary fatty acids on duck meat. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the effects of the feeding time of a linseed oil diet on duck meat performance and gene expression, including meat quality performance, plasma biochemical indicators, fatty acid profile, and gene expression. For this study, we selected 168 Chinese crested ducks at 28 days old and divided them into three groups, with 56 birds in each group. The linseed oil content in the different treatment groups was as follows: the control group (0% flaxseed oil), the 14d group (2% linseed oil), and the 28d group (2% linseed oil). Ducks in the two experimental groups were fed a linseed oil diet for 28 and 14 days at 28 and 42 days of age, respectively. The results showed that linseed oil had no negative effect on duck performance (slaughter rate, breast muscle weight, and leg muscle weight) or meat quality performance (pH, meat color, drip loss, and shear force) (P > 0.05). The addition of linseed oil in the diet increased plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (P < 0.05), while decreasing triglyceride content (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the supplementation of linseed oil for four weeks affected the composition of muscle fatty acids. Specifically, levels of α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid were increased (P < 0.05), while eicosatetraenoic acid content was negatively correlated with flaxseed oil intake (P < 0.05). qRT-PCR analysis further revealed that the expression of FATP1, FABP5, and ELOVL5 genes in the breast muscle, as well as FABP3 and FADS2 genes in the thigh muscle, increased after four weeks of linseed oil supplementation (P < 0.05). However, after two weeks of feeding, CPT1A gene expression inhibited fatty acid deposition, suggesting an increase in fatty acid oxidation (P < 0.05). Overall, the four-week feeding time may be a key factor in promoting the deposition of n-3 PUFAs in duck meat. However, the limitation of this study is that it remains unknown whether longer supplementation time will continue to affect the deposition of n-3 PUFAs. Further experiments are needed to explain how prolonged feeding of linseed oil will affect the meat quality traits and fatty acid profile of duck meat.

Background The evidence regarding the association between leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and brain health is sparse and inconclusive.Aims To investigate the associations of LTL with brain structure and the risk of dementia based on a large-scale prospective study.Methods LTL in the peripheral blood was measured by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay from 439 961 individuals in the UK Biobank recruited between 2006 and 2010 and followed up until 2020. Electronic health records were used to record the incidence of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). The brain structure, including total and regional brain volume, of 38 740 participants was then assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).Results During a median follow-up of 11.6 years, a total of 5 820 (1.3%) dementia cases were documented. The restricted cubic spline model showed significant overall associations between LTL and the risk of dementia and AD (p for overall

Abstract Depression is the consequence of both environment and genes working together. Genetic factors increase depression risk, but it is unclear whether this association can be offset by time spent in outdoor light. The study was undertaken to investigate the optimal time spent in outdoor light for lowering the risk of depression and the joint association of time spent in outdoor light and depression genetic risk. In UK Biobank, 380,976 depression-free individuals were included in this study. Polygenic risk score (PRS) was categorized into three groups in terms of tertiles. Time spent in outdoor light on a typical day in summer or winter originated from the questionnaire survey. Depression was defined as hospital admission. The potential dose-response relationship between time spent in outdoor light and depression risk was shown by a restricted cubic spline. Data were analyzed using Cox regressions and Laplace regression. After the median follow-up of 12.6 years, 13,636 individuals suffered from depression in the end. A nonlinear (J-shaped relationship) trend was observed between time spent in outdoor light and depression risk. On average, 1.5 h/day of outdoor light was related to the minimum risk of depression. Individuals below and above this optimal time both had elevated depression risk (below, HR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.02–1.16; above, HR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07–1.20), and the time to incident depression were both shortened by 0.46 years (50th percentile differences [PD] = −0.46, 95% CI: −0.78, −0.14) and 0.63 years (50th PD = −0.63, 95% CI: −0.90, −0.35) years, respectively. In a comparison of individuals with the lowest tertile of PRS and average 1.5 h/day outdoor light, the HRs and 95% CIs of depression were 1.36 (1.21–1.53) and 1.43 (1.29–1.58) in those with the highest tertile of PRS and below/above this reference value, respectively. Significant multiplicative interactions were observed between intermediate genetic risks and longer time spent in outdoor light. We found that an average of 1.5 h/day spent in outdoor light was associated with a lower depression risk whatever the degree of depression genetic predisposition. Moderate time spent in outdoor light may contribute to a decreased depression risk even among people with a higher genetic risk of depression.

Abstract Background Growing evidence has showed an association between habitual glucosamine use and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the effect of habitual glucosamine use on risk of dementia remains poorly understood. Our study aimed to examine the association between glucosamine use and risk of dementia and further to identify the mediating role of T2D in the association. Methods A total of 495,942 participants from UK Biobank who completed a questionnaire on habitual glucosamine use were included at baseline (2006–2010) and then followed up for incidence of dementia until 2020. Cox proportional hazard regressions were performed to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident dementia. Markov multi-state models were used to explore the role of incidence of T2D during the follow-up in the association. Results Overall, 18.80% of the participants reported habitual use of glucosamine at baseline. A total of 6831 dementia events were recorded during a median follow-up of 11 years. In fully adjusted models, habitual glucosamine use was associated with a significantly lower risk of dementia (HR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.82–0.93). Multi-state models showed that the association between glucosamine use and dementia was mediated by the incidence of T2D during the follow-up (HR of dementia without T2D: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.86–0.99; HR of post-T2D dementia: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.67–0.93). Conclusions Our findings reveal that habitual use of glucosamine supplement is associated with a lower risk of dementia, which might be explained by incidence of T2D.

The adoption of more efficient technologies has reduced the environmental impacts associated with cement manufacturing in China during the period 1996–2021, according to a life-cycle assessment based on provincial-level data.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC) blockade on the sensitivity of detection and radiotherapy of prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: We investigated glycolysis reprogramming and MPC changes in patients with PCa by using metabolic profiling, RNA-Seq, and tissue microarrays. Transient blockade of pyruvate influx into mitochondria was observed in cellular studies to detect its different effects on prostate carcinoma cells and benign prostate cells. Xenograft mouse models were injected with an MPC inhibitor to evaluate the sensitivity of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography and radiotherapy of PCa. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of this different effect of transient blockage towards benign prostate cells and prostate cancer cells was studied in vitro. Results: MPC was elevated in PCa tissue compared with benign prostate tissue, but decreased during cancer progression. The transient blockade increased PCa cell proliferation while decreasing benign prostate cell proliferation, thus increasing the sensitivity of PCa cells to 18F-PET/CT (SUVavg, P = 0.016; SUVmax, P = 0.03) and radiotherapy (P < 0.01). This differential effect of MPC on PCa and benign prostate cells was dependent on regulation by a VDAC1-MPC-mitochondrial homeostasis-glycolysis pathway. Conclusions: Blockade of pyruvate influx into mitochondria increased glycolysis levels in PCa but not in non-carcinoma prostate tissue. This transient blockage sensitized PCa to both detection and radiotherapy, thus indicating that glycolytic potential is a novel mechanism underlying PCa progression. The change in the mitochondrial pyruvate influx caused by transient MPC blockade provides a critical target for PCa diagnosis and treatment.

Drug resistance in tumours has seriously hindered the therapeutic effect. Tumour drug resistance is divided into primary resistance and acquired resistance, and the recent study has found that a significant proportion of cancer cells can acquire stable drug resistance from scratch. This group of cells first enters the drug tolerance state (DT state) under drug pressure, and gradually acquires stable drug resistance through adaptive mutations in this state. Although the specific mechanisms underlying the formation of drug tolerant cells (DTCs) remain unclear, various proteins and signalling pathways have been identified as being involved in the formation of DTCs. In the current review, we summarize the characteristics, molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies of DTCs in detail.

BackgroundThe immune microenvironment plays a critical role in maintaining skin homeostasis, which is closely related to the dysfunction in photoaged skin such as autoimmunity and tumorigenesis. Several recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (ALA-PDT) in alleviating photoaging and skin cancer. However, the underlying immune mechanisms and the immune microenvironment change by ALA-PDT remain largely unknown.MethodsTo illustrate the effects of ALA-PDT on immune microenvironment in photoaged skin, single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of photoaged skin on the extensor side of the human forearm before and after ALA-PDT was performed. R-packages of Seurat, clusterProfiler, Monocle, CellChat were used for cell clustering, differentially expressed genes analysis, functional annotation, pseudotime analysis and cell-cell communication analysis. The gene sets related to specific functions were extracted from the MSigDB database, which were used to score the functions of immune cells in different states. We also compared our result with published scRNA-seq data of photoaged skin of the eyelids.ResultsThe increase score of cellular senescence, hypoxia and reactive oxygen species pathway in immune cells and the decrease of immune receptor activity function and proportion of naive T cells were found in skin photoaging. Moreover, the function of T cell ribosomal synthesis was also impaired or down regulated and function of G2M checkpoint was up regulated. However, ALA-PDT showed promising results in reversing these effects, as it improved the above functions of T cells. The ratio of M1/M2 and percentage of Langerhans cells also decreased with photoaging and increased after ALA-PDT. Additionally, ALA-PDT restored the antigen presentation and migration function of dendritic cells and enhanced cell-cell communication among immune cells. These effects were observed to last for 6 months.ConclusionALA-PDT has potential to rejuvenate immune cells, partially reversed immunosenescence and improved the immunosuppressive state, ultimately remodelling the immune microenvironment in photoaged skin. These results provide an important immunological basis for further exploring strategies to reverse skin photoaging, chronological aging and potentially systemic aging.

In this study, H2 adsorption properties on two-dimensional (2D) B4N monolayer modified with Na atoms are comprehensively investigated via density functional theory (DFT). Our results expose the intrinsic 2D B4N monolayer barely adsorb H2 molecules owes to a weak H2 adsorption energy. However, Na atom can be strongly anchored on the surface of 2D B4N monolayer with a large binding energy, which results in that the metal clustering is prevented. Meanwhile, H2 adsorption energy is drastically enhanced by introduced Na atom on B4N monolayer. Moreover, Na/B4N complex can adsorb up to 10 H2 molecules with average adsorption energy of −0.109 eV/H2 while 2Na/B4N complex can adsorb up to 20 H2 molecules with average adsorption energy of −0.116 eV/H2. The obtained H2 adsorption energy falls into an optimal range between −0.1 eV/H2 and −0.8 eV/H2 for mobile hydrogen storage applications. Also, the hydrogen storage gravimetric density reaches 7.27 wt% and exceeds the latest objective of 6.5 wt% from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In addition, Mulliken atomic charges analysis, charges density difference and projected density of states systematically reveal H2 adsorption mechanisms mainly from polarization effect and orbital hybridization. Ab initio molecular dynamic (AIMD) simulations using Nose-Hoover (NH) chain thermostat under canonical (NVT) ensemble manifest H2 molecules can be easily released from the 2Na/B4N complex under indoor temperature at 300 K. Our theoretical study guarantee 2D B4N monolayer modified with Na atoms can be recognized as a prospective hydrogen storage material.

γ-Aminobutyric (GABA) acid is a nutrient and signaling molecule existing in many plants, participating in the regulation of metabolism and various physiological activities. Two strains of Hypsizygus marmoreus (a white variety and a brown variety) were investigated to study the impact of exogenous GABA on mycelial growth and the response to stress. Mycelial growth, microscopic morphology, antioxidant profile, and gad2 expression in H. marmoreu were investigated under salt, dehydration, or cold stress. The results indicated that 5 mM GABA stimulated mycelial growth under standard cultivation conditions, whereas GABA addition over 10 mM hindered the growth. Under salt, dehydration, or cold stress, treatment with 5 mM GABA significantly enhanced the mycelial growth rate and density of both H. marmoreus strains by promoting front hyphae branching. Meanwhile, the activities of key antioxidant enzymes such as peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) were enhanced by GABA, thereby augmenting the defensive network against abiotic stress. Additionally, gad2 expression and GABA concentration were increased under abiotic stresses as a resistance regulation response. The exogenous addition of GABA strengthened the upregulation of gad2 expression and GABA production. These findings indicated that exogenously adding low concentrations of GABA effectively enhanced the mycelial growth and antioxidant profile of H. marmoreus, thereby improving its resistance against stresses.

Organic solid waste is a renewable resource as it can be transformed into a valuable product through various technologies. Composting is considered to be the most economical and effective technology for treating organic solid waste, but excessive amounts of heavy metals in organic solid waste compost are harmful to the environment. The current focus is on the addition of heavy metal passivators to organic solid waste to reduce the mobility and biotoxicity of heavy metals in situ or ex situ. The aims of this paper are to provide an overview of heavy metal passivators and their passivation mechanisms in the field of organic solid waste composting and to provide a reference for research on the control of heavy metal pollution in the treatment of organic solid waste.

Societal activities massively alter the global carbon (C) cycle, thereby driving global climate heating. Socioeconomic material stocks - e.g. in buildings and infrastructures - have been identified as a C pool that can potentially store increasing amounts of C, thereby keeping C away from the atmosphere. However, little is known about the size, composition, distribution and development of global socioeconomic C stocks. Based on an established economy-wide C accounting approach from sociometabolic research, we consistently and comprehensively quantified the C contained in eight components of socioeconomic stocks in the period 1900–2015 at the level of nine world regions. We discern inert (aggregates and other gravel) and ‘active’ climate-relevant (i.e. biomass and fossil-fuel based) C pools. We find that global active components of socioeconomic C stocks grew by a factor of 9, from 1.9 (1.5–2.2) Pg of carbon (PgC) to 16.8 (13.7–20.2) PgC. The inert socioeconomic C stock in aggregates & other gravel amounted to 25.2 (6.1–48.0) PgC in 2015, however with high uncertainties. Absolute annual net additions to stock (NAS) of active stock components was 0.49 (0.40–0.59) PgC yr ^−1 which equaled 5% of the C emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes. However, raising NAS of components with biomass feedstock that sequester C from the atmosphere comes with biodiversity and food security trade-offs. This study contributes to a holistic perspective on social and natural C stocks that acknowledges their interactions. The global socioeconomic C stock reached a geologically relevant extent (approximately the size of C in coasts) and should therefore be integrated in the assessments of the global C cycle to acknowledge the Anthropocene.

The efficient separation of Zr(IV) ions from strong acidic and radioactive solutions is a significant challenge, especially in the context of the aqueous reprocessing of nuclear fuels. The complexity of such solutions, which are often characterized by high acidity and the presence of radioactive elements, poses formidable challenges for separation processes. Herein, several mesoporous silicas (HMS, MCM-41, KIT-6, and SiO2-70 Å) with excellent acid and radiation resistance properties were employed as sorbents to remove Zr(IV) ions from simulated high-level liquid waste. The batch experiments were designed to investigate the influence of adsorption time, HNO3 concentration, initial Zr(IV) concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature on the adsorption behavior of Zr(IV). The results indicate that the adsorption equilibrium time of mesoporous silica materials was approximately 8 h, and all the adsorption processes followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics equation. The isotherms of Zr(IV) adsorption by KIT-6 exhibited good agreement with the Langmuir model, while the Freundlich model could be utilized to fit the adsorption on HMS, MCM-41, and SiO2-70 Å. The adsorption capacity of MCM-41 for Zr(IV) in 3 mol/L HNO3 was 54.91 mg/g, which is three times the adsorption capacity reported for commercial silica gel (17.91 mg/g). The thermodynamic parameters indicate that the adsorption processes for zirconium are endothermic reactions. Furthermore, the mesoporous silicas exhibited a pronounced selectivity in the adsorption of Zr(IV) within a simulated high-level liquid waste containing 10 co-existing cations (3 mol/L HNO3). This suggests that mesoporous silicas have great potential for Zr(IV) removal in actual radioactive liquids with high acidity during spent fuel reprocessing.