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Abstract Molecular weight (MW) of organics was one of the important factors influencing membrane fouling propensity. This study identified critical foulants of reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in reclaimed water by MW fractionation. MW > 10 kDa component was identified as the critical fouling contributor (CFC) in secondary effluent (SE), which accounted for only 13 ± 5% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) but contributed to 86 ± 11% of flux decline. Throughout 12-month monitoring, SE and MW > 10 kDa component showed a similar fouling variation tendency: apparently higher fouling potential in winter and lower in summer, while MW 10 kDa component and glean valuable insights into RO fouling mechanisms of reclaimed water in practical application.

Pseudorabies (PR) is an acute infectious disease of pigs caused by the PR virus (PRV) and results in great economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. PRV glycoprotein E (gE)-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used to distinguish gE-deleted vaccine-immunized pigs from wild-type virus-infected pigs to eradicate PR in some countries. Nanobody has the advantages of small size and easy genetic engineering and has been a promising diagnostic reagent. However, there were few reports about developing nanobody-based ELISA for detecting anti- PRV-gE antibodies. In the present study, the recombinant PRV-gE was expressed with a bacterial system and used to immunize the Bactrian camel. Then, two nanobodies against PRV-gE were screened from the immunized camel by phage display technique. Subsequently, two nanobody-HRP fusion proteins were expressed with HEK293T cells. The PRV-gE-Nb36-HRP fusion protein was selected as the probe for developing the blocking ELISA (bELISA) to detect anti-PRV-gE antibodies. Through optimizing the conditions of bELISA, the amount of coated antigen was 200 ng per well, and dilutions of the fusion protein and tested pig sera were separately 1:320 and 1:5. The cut-off value of bELISA was 24.20%, and the sensitivity and specificity were 96.43 and 92.63%, respectively. By detecting 233 clinical pig sera with the developed bELISA and a commercial kit, the results showed that the coincidence rate of two assays was 93.99%. Additionallly, epitope mapping showed that PRV-gE-Nb36 recognized a conserved conformational epitope in different reference PRV strains. Simple, great stability and low-cost nanobody-based bELISA for detecting anti-PRV-gE antibodies were developed. The bELISA could be used for monitoring and eradicating PR.

Background In allogeneic-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), donor T cells combat leukemia through the graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect, while they also pose a risk of triggering life-threatening graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) by interacting with recipient cells. The onset of GVHD hinges on the interplay between donor T cells and recipient antigen-presenting cells (APCs), sparking T-cell activation. However, effective methods to balance GVHD and GVL are lacking.Methods In our study, we crafted nanocapsules by layering polycationic aminated gelatin and polyanionic alginate onto the surface of T cells, examining potential alterations in their fundamental physiological functions. Subsequently, we established an AML mouse model and treated it with transplantation of bone marrow cells (BMCs) combined with encapsulated T cells to investigate the GVL and anti-GVHD effects of encapsulated T cells. In vitro co-culture was employed to probe the effects of encapsulation on immune synapses, co-stimulatory molecules, and tumor-killing pathways.Results Transplantation of BMCs combined with donor T cells selectively encapsulated onto AML mice significantly alleviates GVHD symptoms while preserving essential GVL effects. Encapsulated T cells exerted their immunomodulatory effects by impeding the formation of immune synapses with recipient APCs, thereby downregulating co-stimulatory signals such as CD28-CD80, ICOS-ICOSL, and CD40L-CD40. Recipient mice receiving encapsulated T-cell transplantation exhibited a marked increase in donor Ly-5.1-BMC cell numbers, accompanied by unaltered in vivo expression levels of perforin and granzyme B. While transient inhibition of donor T-cell cytotoxicity in the tumor microenvironment was observed in vitro following single-cell nanoencapsulation, subsequent restoration to normal antitumor activity ensued, attributed to selective permeability of encapsulated vesicle shells and material degradation. Moreover, the expression of apoptotic proteins and FAS-FAS ligand pathway at normal levels was still observed in leukemia tumor cells.Conclusions Encapsulated donor T cells effectively mitigate GVHD while preserving the GVL effect by minimizing co-stimulatory signaling with APCs through early immune isolation. Subsequent degradation of nanocapsules restores T-cell cytotoxic efficacy against AML cells, mediated by cytotoxic pathways. Using transplant-encapsulated T cells offers a promising strategy to suppress GVHD while preserving the GVL effect.

Objective: To investigate the associations between dynapenic obesity and the risk of dementia, and the modifying effects of age, sex, and the APOE gene, using a large population-based cohort. Methods: 279,884 participants aged 55 and above from the UK Biobank were included. The participants were classified into four categories based on body mass index and hand grip strength: healthy, obesity, dynapenia, and dynapenic obesity. The incident dementia was identified based on linked hospital records and death register data. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the associations, followed by age-, sex-, and apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene-stratified analyses. Results: During the median follow-up of 12.4 years, 5,170 (1.8%) participants developed dementia. Compared with the healthy group, participants with dynapenic obesity had 67% higher dementia risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.67, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.44–1.94). Compared with the healthy group, higher risks of dementia in participants with dynapenic obesity were respectively observed in male (HR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.65–2.50), younger (

IntroductionMandible distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is widely used to reconstruct the mandible in patients with mild Hemifacial microsomia (HFM). However, the masseter's response to mandible distraction remains unclear.MethodsIn this study, we analyze the effect of the surgical intervention on masseter muscle by a retrospective analysis. The procedure consisted of a five-day latent period, a three-week distraction period, and a six-month consolidation period. CT data were manually segmented and measured with Mimics software before surgery, within 3 months, and more than 1 year postoperatively. Masseter volume, masseter length, masseter width, and mandible ramus height were measured and analyzed using paired t-test, Pearson, and Spearman correlation analysis.ResultsWe included 21 patients with HFM who underwent mandible distraction osteogenesis from 2015 to 2020. The masseter volume on the affected side increased immediately after surgery from (6,505.33 ± 3,671.95) mm3 to (10,194.60 ± 5638.79) mm3, but decreased to (8,148.38 ± 3,472.57) mm3 at the second follow-up correlated to mandible ramus height (r = 0.395, P = 0.038). A similar trend was observed in changes in masseter length. Symmetry and width of masseter muscle had no longitudinal statistical significance.DiscussionMasseter muscle involvement benefits from MDO in the short term. To achieve long-term efficacy, more attention should be paid to muscle reconstruction.

ContextFew studies have directly compared the cognitive characteristics of patients with mild autonomous cortisol secretion (MACS) and Cushing’s syndrome (CS). The effect of surgical or conservative treatment on cognitive function in patients with MACS is still unclear.ObjectiveTo compare the differences in cognitive function between patients with MACS and CS and evaluate the effect of surgery or conservative treatment on cognitive function.MethodsWe prospectively recruited 59 patients with nonfunctional adrenal adenoma (NFA), 36 patients with MACS, and 20 patients with adrenal CS who completed the global cognition and cognitive subdomains assessments. Seventeen MACS patients were re-evaluated for cognitive function after a 12-month follow-up period; of these, eleven underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy and six received conservative treatment.ResultsPatients with MACS and CS performed worse in the global cognition and multiple cognitive domains than those with NFA (all P

Abstract Due to rapid homogenization in habitat types as a result of urbanization, some urban birds adapt their nesting strategies to changes in local habitat characteristics. Bird nesting decisions might have been mainly linked to resource constraints and ensuring reproductive success. In this study, we examined patterns of nesting behavior by spotted doves (Spilopelia chinensis) in a rapidly urbanizing area of Nanchang, China using ArcGIS 10.8, satellite tracking, camera traps, and field survey. To explore the mechanisms underlying nesting behavior in urban habitats, we assessed the correlations between nest reuse and reproductive success, and between nest reuse and nest predation. From December 2018 to December 2021, a total of 302 breeding nests were surveyed. The results revealed that the nest reuse rate was 38.08% (n = 115). Nests closer to trunk, with lower nest position and higher large‐scale urbanization score tended to have higher reuse rate. In addition, nests with the higher the nest height and percent of canopy cover, and the lower small‐scale urbanization score were more likely to reproduce successfully, and the reused nests also reproduce more successfully. The reproductive success associated with nest reuse was significantly higher than that associated with new nests (χ2 = 8.461, p = .004). High degree of urbanization promoted nest reuse of spotted doves (large‐scale urbanization score, z = 2.094, p = .036), which apparently enhanced their reproductive success (nest reuse, z = 2.737, p = .006). In conclusion, a nest structure with good permeability is the material basis for the nest reuse in spotted dove, while the relatively low risk of predation in urban habitat and the scarcity of nest site resources due to urbanization increase the tendency of birds to reuse old nests, which is associated with their reproductive success and evolutionary fitness.

Summary: Developmental causes of the most common arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation (AF), are poorly defined, with compensation potentially masking arrhythmic risk. Here, we delete 9 amino acids (Δ9) within a conserved domain of the giant protein titin’s A-band in zebrafish and human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived atrial cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-aCMs). We find that ttnaΔ9/Δ9 zebrafish embryos’ cardiac morphology is perturbed and accompanied by reduced functional output, but ventricular function recovers within days. Despite normal ventricular function, ttnaΔ9/Δ9 adults exhibit AF and atrial myopathy, which are recapitulated in TTNΔ9/Δ9-hiPSC-aCMs. Additionally, action potential is shortened and slow delayed rectifier potassium current (IKs) is increased due to aberrant atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels. Strikingly, suppression of IKs in both models prevents AF and improves atrial contractility. Thus, a small internal deletion in titin causes developmental abnormalities that increase the risk of AF via ion channel remodeling, with implications for patients who harbor disease-causing variants in sarcomeric proteins.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to explore the separate and combined associations of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk and sleep duration with ideal cardiovascular health metrics in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods 470 HD participants (average: 59.48 ± 12.89 y, 281 men) were included in this study. Sleep duration was measured as self-reported average sleep time during the previous month. The OSA risk was assessed using the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Participants were divided into three groups based on the number of ideal cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics: 0–2,3–4, and 5–7. Ordinal logistic regression was conducted to model the associations of CVH metrics with sleep duration, OSA risk, and their combined effects by adjusting for specific covariates. Results After adjusting for covariates, short sleep duration (

Abstract This study aimed to probe into the anatomic course of inferior alveolar nerve canal (IANC) in hemifacial microsomia (HFM) on a large scale, morphological observations and further quantitative study were performed. Patients were classified by Pruzansky–Kaban classification. The anatomic course of IANC was analyzed morphologically with three-dimensional (3D) imaging software among 248 patients. Seven distances between fixed landmarks on both sides were measured for 236 patients. The differences between affected and unaffected sides were compared. Significant differences were found in the entrance (P

Abstract Background Although polygenic risk score (PRS) has emerged as a promising tool for predicting cancer risk from genome-wide association studies (GWAS), the individual-level accuracy of lung cancer PRS and the extent to which its impact on subsequent clinical applications remains largely unexplored. Methods Lung cancer PRSs and confidence/credible interval (CI) were constructed using two statistical approaches for each individual: (1) the weighted sum of 16 GWAS-derived significant SNP loci and the CI through the bootstrapping method (PRS-16-CV) and (2) LDpred2 and the CI through posteriors sampling (PRS-Bayes), among 17,166 lung cancer cases and 12,894 controls with European ancestry from the International Lung Cancer Consortium. Individuals were classified into different genetic risk subgroups based on the relationship between their own PRS mean/PRS CI and the population level threshold. Results Considerable variances in PRS point estimates at the individual level were observed for both methods, with an average standard deviation (s.d.) of 0.12 for PRS-16-CV and a much larger s.d. of 0.88 for PRS-Bayes. Using PRS-16-CV, only 25.0% of individuals with PRS point estimates in the lowest decile of PRS and 16.8% in the highest decile have their entire 95% CI fully contained in the lowest and highest decile, respectively, while PRS-Bayes was unable to find any eligible individuals. Only 19% of the individuals were concordantly identified as having high genetic risk (> 90th percentile) using the two PRS estimators. An increased relative risk of lung cancer comparing the highest PRS percentile to the lowest was observed when taking the CI into account (OR = 2.73, 95% CI: 2.12–3.50, P-value = 4.13 × 10−15) compared to using PRS-16-CV mean (OR = 2.23, 95% CI: 1.99–2.49, P-value = 5.70 × 10−46). Improved risk prediction performance with higher AUC was consistently observed in individuals identified by PRS-16-CV CI, and the best performance was achieved by incorporating age, gender, and detailed smoking pack-years (AUC: 0.73, 95% CI = 0.72–0.74). Conclusions Lung cancer PRS estimates using different methods have modest correlations at the individual level, highlighting the importance of considering individual-level uncertainty when evaluating the practical utility of PRS.

Abstract Background Mandibular distraction osteogenesis (MDO) is a major part of the treatment for hemifacial microsomia patients. Due to the narrow surgical field of the intraoral approach, osteotomy accuracy is highly dependent on the surgeons’ experience. Electromagnetic (EM) tracking systems can achieve satisfying accuracy to provide helpful real-time surgical navigation. Our research team developed an EM navigation system based on artificial intelligence, which has been justified in improving the accuracy of osteotomy in the MDO in animal experiments. This study aims to clarify the effect of the EM navigation system in improving the MDO accuracy for hemifacial microsomia patients. Methods This study is designed as a single-centered and randomized controlled trial. Altogether, 22 hemifacial microsomia patients are randomly assigned to the experiment and control groups. All patients receive three-dimensional CT scans and preoperative surgical plans. The EM navigation system will be set up for those in the experiment group, and the control group will undergo traditional surgery. The primary outcome is the surgical precision by comparing the osteotomy position of pre- and postoperative CT scan images through the Geomagic Control software. The secondary outcomes include mandibular symmetry (occlusal plane deviation angle, mandibular ramus height, and body length), pain scale, and complications. Other indications, such as the adverse events of the system and the satisfactory score from patients and their families, will be recorded. Discussion This small sample randomized controlled trial intends to explore the application of an EM navigation system in MDO for patients, which has been adopted in other surgeries such as orthognathic procedures. Because of the delicate structures of children and the narrow surgical view, accurate osteotomy and protection of nearby tissue from injury are essential for successful treatment. The EM navigation system based on artificial intelligence adopted in this trial is hypothesized to provide precise real-time navigation for surgeons and optimally improve patient outcomes, including function and aesthetic results. The results of this trial will extend the application of new navigation technology in pediatric plastic surgery. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2200061565. Registered on 29 June 2022.

AbstractBackground At present, there are no available genetic data on the AGCU EX22 Kit from the Wuhu Han population.Aim This study investigates the applicability of the AGCU EX22 kit, designed for the Chinese population for forensic analysis and population genetics of the Wuhu Han population.Subjects and methods Bloodstains from 1565 unrelated healthy individuals in Wuhu city, Anhui Province, were collected for analysis. The AGCU EX22 kit was used for amplification, and capillary electrophoresis was used to separate the amplification products. Allele frequencies and forensic parameters were determined. The Wuhu Han population was compared to 10 reference populations through genetic distance, a phylogenetic neighbor-joining tree and principal component analysis.Results In total, 281 alleles and 1187 genotypes were observed. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at any locus were found after Bonferroni’s correction. The 21 autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) genetic markers exhibited high informativeness and polymorphism. The cumulative power of discrimination and power of exclusion were 0.999999999999999999999999913380 and 0.999999996752339, respectively. Population comparisons revealed a genetic affinity between Wuhu Han and southern Han populations, except for the Guangdong Han population, which aligned with the traditional geographical division in China.Conclusion The AGCU EX22 Kit, containing 21 STR loci, is suitable for forensic application and population genetics studies in the Wuhu Han population.

AbstractThis paper employs a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD) methodology, utilizing data from the Chinese Household Finance Survey (CHFS), China Rural Statistical Yearbook, China Financial Yearbook, and China Statistical Yearbook. The analysis scrutinizes rural financial exclusion from dual vantage points: the demand and supply sides, with households and provinces serving as fundamental analytical units. Employing years as threshold values, we establish 27 supply-side factors and 18 demand-side factors through RDD models. This analytical framework facilitates an assessment of the existence of breakpoint effects across diverse dimensions of financial exclusion in distinct years and fosters a discourse on rural financial exclusion and its structural dynamics within the context of China’s Digital Inclusive Finance policies. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Supply-side determinants of rural financial exclusion in China have exhibited negligible change over the past decade, with Digital Inclusive Finance policies exerting limited influence. (2) Conversely, demand-side factors have exhibited some degree of variability, characterized by substantial reductions in channel exclusion and financial risk exclusion in 2013 and 2015. Digital Inclusive Finance policies have manifested a favorable impact on the demand side of rural financial exclusion. (3) In 2017, both financial knowledge exclusion and channel exclusion on the demand side of rural financial exclusion witnessed rebounded. Shifts in the orientation of Digital Inclusive Finance policies may precipitate a deterioration in the policy-dependent rural financial landscape, jeopardizing the preservation of their initial positive effects.

Summary: Renal cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid differentiation (sRCC) is associated with poor survival and a heightened response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Two major barriers to improving outcomes for sRCC are the limited understanding of its gene regulatory programs and the low diagnostic yield of tumor biopsies due to spatial heterogeneity. Herein, we characterized the epigenomic landscape of sRCC by profiling 107 epigenomic libraries from tissue and plasma samples from 50 patients with RCC and healthy volunteers. By profiling histone modifications and DNA methylation, we identified highly recurrent epigenomic reprogramming enriched in sRCC. Furthermore, CRISPRa experiments implicated the transcription factor FOSL1 in activating sRCC-associated gene regulatory programs, and FOSL1 expression was associated with the response to ICIs in RCC in two randomized clinical trials. Finally, we established a blood-based diagnostic approach using detectable sRCC epigenomic signatures in patient plasma, providing a framework for discovering epigenomic correlates of tumor histology via liquid biopsy.

Abstract The development of heterogenous catalysts based on the synthesis of 2D carbon-supported metal nanocatalysts with high metal loading and dispersion is important. However, such practices remain challenging to develop. Here, we report a self-polymerization confinement strategy to fabricate a series of ultrafine metal embedded N-doped carbon nanosheets (M@N-C) with loadings of up to 30 wt%. Systematic investigation confirms that abundant catechol groups for anchoring metal ions and entangled polymer networks with the stable coordinate environment are essential for realizing high-loading M@N-C catalysts. As a demonstration, Fe@N-C exhibits the dual high-efficiency performance in Fenton reaction with both impressive catalytic activity (0.818 min−1) and H2O2 utilization efficiency (84.1%) using sulfamethoxazole as the probe, which has not yet been achieved simultaneously. Theoretical calculations reveal that the abundant Fe nanocrystals increase the electron density of the N-doped carbon frameworks, thereby facilitating the continuous generation of long-lasting surface-bound •OH through lowering the energy barrier for H2O2 activation. This facile and universal strategy paves the way for the fabrication of diverse high-loading heterogeneous catalysts for broad applications.

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. Ethanol consumption has been reported to reduce morbidity in RA patients, but the mechanism behind it remains unclear. Our results showed that Muribaculaceae was predominant in the gut microbiota of mice after ethanol treatment, and the levels of microbiota metabolite acetate were increased. Acetate reduced arthritis severity in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice, which was associated with a decrease in the articular neutrophils and the myeloperoxidase-deoxyribonucleic acid complex in serum. Meanwhile, in vitro experiments confirmed that acetate affected neutrophil activity by acting on G-protein-coupled receptor 43, which reduced endoplasmic reticulum stress in neutrophils and inhibited neutrophil extracellular traps formation. Furthermore, exogenous acetate reversed CIA mice with exacerbated gut microbial disruption, further confirming that the effect of gut microbial metabolite acetate on neutrophils in vivo is crucial for the immune regulation. Our findings illuminate the metabolic and cellular mechanisms of the gut-joint axis in the regulation of autoimmune arthritis, and may offer alternative avenues to replicate or induce the joint-protective benefits of ethanol without associated detrimental effects.

ABSTRACTThe unprecedented urbanization in China has dramatically changed the urban spatial structure of cities. With the proliferation of individual-level geospatial big data, previous studies have widely used the network abstraction model to reveal the underlying urban spatial structure. However, the construction of network abstraction models primarily focuses on the topology of the road network without considering individual travel flows along with the road networks. Individual travel flows reflect the urban dynamics, which can further help understand the underlying spatial structure. This study therefore aims to reveal the intra-urban hierarchical spatial structure by integrating the road network abstraction model and individual travel flows. To achieve this goal, we 1) quantify the spatial interaction relatedness of road segments based on the Word2Vec model using large volumes of taxi trip data, then 2) characterize the road abstraction network model according to the identified spatial interaction relatedness, and 3) implement a community detection algorithm to reveal sub-regions of a city. Our results reveal three levels of hierarchical spatial structures in the Wuhan metropolitan area. This study provides a data-driven approach to the investigation of urban spatial structure via identifying traffic interaction patterns on the road network, offering insights to urban planning practice and transportation management.

Elafin, which is derived from trappin-2 or pre-elafin by proteolysis, is an endogenous serine protease inhibitor with a low molecular weight. Its inhibitory activity is dependent on anchoring to the extracellular matrix by forming covalent bonds with its distinctive N-terminal domain via tissue transglutaminases. In addition to inhibiting proteases, it also exhibits anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and immunomodulatory functions. Elafin plays an important role in inflammatory disease and is a promising candidate for the anti-inflammatory treatment of respiratory diseases. This review will discuss the therapeutic potential of elafin in airway inflammation and provide evidence and suggestions for the future treatment of airway inflammatory diseases. In addition, the therapeutic potential of elafin in lung cancer is also discussed.

Abstract Regulation on denitrifying microbiomes is crucial for sustainable industrial biotechnology and ecological nitrogen cycling. The holistic genetic profiles of microbiomes can be provided by meta‐omics. However, precise decryption and further applications of highly complex microbiomes and corresponding meta‐omics data sets remain great challenges. Here, we combined optogenetics and geometric deep learning to form a discover–model–learn–advance (DMLA) cycle for denitrification microbiome encryption and regulation. Graph neural networks (GNNs) exhibited superior performance in integrating biological knowledge and identifying coexpression gene panels, which could be utilized to predict unknown phenotypes, elucidate molecular biology mechanisms, and advance biotechnologies. Through the DMLA cycle, we discovered the wavelength‐divergent secretion system and nitrate‐superoxide coregulation, realizing increasing extracellular protein production by 83.8% and facilitating nitrate removal with 99.9% enhancement. Our study showcased the potential of GNNs‐empowered optogenetic approaches for regulating denitrification and accelerating the mechanistic discovery of microbiomes for in‐depth research and versatile applications.

Cadmium (Cd) is a dangerous heavy metal with high toxicity that is known to impair development. Astilbin (ASB) is a protective flavonoid compound. We aimed to explore whether ASB can antagonize the myocardial developmental toxicity of Cd exposure. Cd (2 µg) and/or ASB (0.002 µg) were injected into embryonized eggs that were 1 day old. Histological examinations revealed Cd-induced ventricular dilation, reduced wall thickness, and disrupted myocardial fiber connections, while co-administration of ASB mitigated these effects. Electron microscopy confirmed ASB's ability to counteract Cd-induced myocardial cell myofibril damage. Real-time quantitative PCR (QRT-PCR) and western blot (WB) molecular investigations revealed that Cd increased endoplasmic reticulum stress in myocardial tissue and primary cardiomyocytes, as shown by raised expression of stress-related genes (GRP78, XBP1, GRP94, ATF4, ATF6, IRE1, and CHOP). Moreover, Cd disrupted calcium homeostasis, affecting important genes linked to Ca2+ channels and causing an excess of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm. In addition, we detected genes related to development and differentiation-related genes in myocardial tissue and primary cardiomyocytes. The results showed that the downregulation of transcription factors in the IrxA cluster, Mefs, and Tbxs families after Cd exposure indicated that cardiac transcription was hindered and cardiac markers (TnnT2, TnnC1, Gata4, Gata6, and Nkx2–5) were abnormally expressed. ASB successfully mitigated these disturbances. During the cell cycle, primary cardiomyocytes undergo growth arrest in flow cytometry. These results suggest that the maturation and differentiation of cardiomyocytes are inhibited after Cd exposure, and ASB has an antagonistic effect on Cd. The present study indicated that Cd could trigger developmental cardiotoxicity in chicken embryos and primary cardiomyocytes by endoplasmic reticulum stress and Ca2+ overload, respectively, while ASB has an antagonistic effect.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether cognitive function is associated with future falls in older patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) compared with those without DM. Cognitive function was divided into several domains to further analyze. Methods: A total of 678 individuals met the inclusion criteria and comprised the final study population. The mean age was 74.35 ± 5.35 years, and 58.9% of the participants were female (n = 400). At the baseline, cognitive function was measured by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), and DM diagnoses were determined by medical records. The self-reported any falls data were obtained via face-to-face questioning at the 1-year follow-up. Results: At baseline, 15.6% of participants (n = 106) were diagnosed with DM. According to whether they had any falls during 1-year follow-up, there was a significant difference between the two group in fasting plasma glucose (p = 0.012) and DM (p = 0.036) at baseline. Among the older adults with DM, those who had experienced any falls had poorer cognitive function (p = 0.014). After adjusting for various covariates, we found that MMSE (95% CI 0.790–0.991, p = 0.034), orientation to place (95% CI 0.307–0.911, p = 0.022) and registration (95% CI 0.162–0.768, p = 0.009) were significantly associated with falls in the follow-up. Conclusion: Our study found that in patients with DM, cognitive function is related to future falls. Not only overall cognitive function, but also orientation to place and registration were all associated with future falls in older adults with DM. When completing the fall risk assessment of elderly patients with DM, clinicians should give more attention to the testing of cognitive function.

3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)propionic acid (HMPA), also known as dihydroferulic acid, is a hydroxycinnamic acid derivative that can be derived from the microbial transformation of dietary polyphenols or naturally obtained from fermented foods. Although numerous studies have documented its antioxidant and anti-obesity effects, the effect of HMPA on muscle function remains unknown. This study investigated the effects of HMPA on muscle strength and exercise endurance capacity. Mice were orally administered low and high doses of HMPA for 14 days and subjected to grip force and treadmill exhaustion tests to evaluate muscle function. Our results showed that HMPA-administered groups significantly enhanced absolute grip strength (p = 0.0256) and relative grip strength (p = 0.0209), and low-dose HMPA decreased the plasma level of blood urea nitrogen after exercise (p = 0.0183), but HMPA did not affect endurance performance. Low-dose HMPA administration increased Myf5 expression in sedentary mice (p = 0.0106), suggesting that low-dose HMPA may promote muscle development. Additionally, HMPA improved hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism, and inhibited muscular lipid metabolism and protein catabolism, as indicated by changes in mRNA expression levels of related genes. These findings suggest that HMPA may be a promising dietary supplement for muscle health and performance.

Wheat is one of the most important food crops, both in China and worldwide. Wheat production is facing extreme stresses posed by different diseases, including Fusarium head blight (FHB), which has recently become an increasingly serious concerns. FHB is one of the most significant and destructive diseases affecting wheat crops all over the world. Recent advancements in genomic tools provide a new avenue for the study of virulence factors in relation to the host plants. The current review focuses on recent progress in the study of different strains of Fusarium infection. The presence of genome-wide repeat-induced point (RIP) mutations causes genomic mutations, eventually leading to host plant susceptibility against Fusarium invasion. Furthermore, effector proteins disrupt the host plant resistance mechanism. In this study, we proposed systematic modification of the host genome using modern biological tools to facilitate plant resistance against foreign invasion. We also suggested a number of scientific strategies, such as gene cloning, developing more powerful functional markers, and using haplotype marker-assisted selection, to further improve FHB resistance and associated breeding methods.

Edwardsiella tarda is a major causative pathogen of bacterial ascites in Japanese flounder, leading to massive economic losses, and the discovery of molecular markers linked to disease resistance is an effective strategy in resistance breeding programs. The Rho GTPase family comprises small proteins with a molecular weight of 20~30 kDa. Rho GTPase family members are involved in diverse cellular processes, such as cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, vesicle transport, and proliferation. In addition, they play pivotal roles in infection by different pathogens. Rho-related GTP-binding protein Rho6 (Rnd1), a member of the Rho-GTPase family, participates in various biological functions, including neural junction formation, axonal extension, tumorigenesis, neuronal function, and apoptosis. Some members of the Rho family, such as Rac1 and Rac2, regulate immune response in grass carp, large yellow croaker, zebrafish, and half-smooth tongue sole. However, the function of Rnd1 in fish is poorly understood. Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is greatly affected by E. tarda infections during the breeding process. In previous studies, whole-genome sequencing and assembly of Japanese flounder were performed, and subsequently, various disease resistance genes were screened to support the improvement of Japanese flounder germplasm resources. To study the role of Pornd1 in resistance against E. tarda infection in Japanese flounder, Pornd1 was cloned and identified using PCR. The full-length Pornd1 cDNA was 699 bp, containing an open reading frame encoding a 232-amino acid protein. The predicted molecular weight of PoRnd1 was 26 kDa. Sequence and homology analyses showed that the Rnd1 protein harbors a Rho-GTP superfamily structural domain, which is highly conserved in various species. PoRnd1 shares the highest homology with Rnd1 from Hippoglossus hippoglossus (98.28%). On phylogenetic tree, PoRnd1 was clustered with Rnd1 from other fish species. The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) locus associated with E. tarda resistance is located at 4 575 720 bp on chromosome 14 of Japanese flounder. The frequency of the T allele in disease-resistant families (freqT=0.92) was significantly higher than that in susceptible families (freqT=0.20). The SNP was located at the 2nd intron of Pornd1. Real-time quantitative PCR was employed to characterize the expression profiles of Pornd1 in the tissues of healthy and E. tarda-infected fish. Pornd1 expression was the highest in the heart, followed by the liver, kidney, head kidney, and spleen, but its expression was low in the skin, blood, gills, and muscle. In E. tarda-infected fish, the expression of Pornd1 mRNA decreased after 6 h, then gradually increased, and subsequently reached the highest level after 48 h in the liver, kidney, and spleen. Pornd1 expression in the kidney and spleen in the 48 h group was significantly higher than that in the 6 and 12 h groups. Furthermore, Pornd1 expression in the liver of resistant families was significantly higher than that in susceptible families. Based on its His tag, the PoRnd1 recombinant protein was purified using an Ni column and subjected to SDS-PAGE. The target band of PoRnd1 at 32 kDa was observed in the gel after Coomassie Blue staining. The PoRnd1 recombinant protein (0.5 mg/mL) was used to study antibacterial activity through the Oxford cup assay. PoRnd1 significantly inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, E. tarda, and Vibrio harveyi. In summary, Pornd1 may be closely linked to disease resistance in Japanese flounder and can thus serve as an effective gene marker for disease resistance breeding. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further elucidating the molecular mechanisms of immunity in Japanese flounder.

Abstract Disease modifying therapies aiming to preserve β-cell function in patients with adult-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes are lacking. Here, we conducted a multi-centre, randomized, controlled trial to assess the β-cell preservation effects of saxagliptin alone and saxagliptin combined with vitamin D as adjunctive therapies in adult-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes. In this 3-arm trial, 301 participants were randomly assigned to a 24-month course of the conventional therapy (metformin with or without insulin) or adjunctive saxagliptin or adjunctive saxagliptin plus vitamin D to the conventional therapy. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to 24 months in the fasting C-peptide. The secondary endpoints included the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for C-peptide level in a 2-h mixed-meal tolerance test, glycemic control, total daily insulin use and safety, respectively. The primary endpoint was not achieved in saxagliptin plus vitamin D group (P = 0.18) and saxagliptin group (P = 0.26). However, compared with the conventional therapy, 2-h C-peptide AUC from 24 months to baseline decreased less with saxagliptin plus vitamin D (-276 pmol/L vs. -419 pmol/L; P = 0.01), and not to the same degree with saxagliptin alone (-314 pmol/L; P = 0.14). Notably, for participants with higher glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) levels, the decline of β-cell function was much lower in saxagliptin plus vitamin D group than in the conventional therapy group (P = 0.001). Insulin dose was significantly reduced in both active treatment groups than in the conventional therapy group despite all groups having similar glycemic control. In conclusion, the combination of saxagliptin and vitamin D preserves pancreatic β-cell function in adult-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes, an effect especially efficacious in individuals with higher GADA levels. Our results provide evidence for a novel adjunct to insulin and metformin as potential initial treatment for adult-onset type 1 diabetes. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02407899).

IntroductionThere is a growing body of recent literature linking the association of specific or multiple lifestyles with cognitive impairment, but most of these studies have been conducted in Western populations, and it is necessary to study multiple lifestyles and cognitive abilities in different populations, with the primary population of this study being a select group of community-dwelling older adults in Shanghai, China.MethodsThe sample included 2,390 community-dwelling Chinese participants. Their cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We defined a healthy lifestyle score on the basis of being non-smoking, performing ≥210 min/wk moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity, having light to moderate alcohol consumption, eating vegetables and fruits daily, having a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5–23.9 kg/m2, and having a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)

AbstractObjective: To verify that the TiO2 nanofilm dip-coated by sol-gel can reduce titanium alloy implants (TAI)’s heat production after microwave diathermy (MD).Methods: The effect of 40 W and 60 W MD on the titanium alloy substrate coated with TiO2 nanofilm (Experimental Group) and the titanium alloy substrate without film (Control Group) were analyzed in vitro and in vivo. Changes in the skeletal muscle around the implant were evaluated in ex vivo by histology.Results: After 20 min of MD, in vitro the temperature rise of the titanium substrate was less in the Experimental Group than in the Control Group (40 W: 1.4 °C vs. 2.6 °C, p

The carbon emission trading market (carbon market) is an important policy tool for China to achieve the goal of “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” through market mechanism. This paper uses panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2005 to 2019 to examine the emission reduction effect (ERE) of China’s carbon market pilots using multi-period Difference-in-Differences (DID)method, and then analyzes the factors influencing ERE and the economic impact of carbon market. According to the Bacon decomposition and a series of robustness tests, the results reveal that China’s carbon market pilots have significant ERE. Both the expansion of the carbon market scale and the improvement of market activity level can significantly boost the carbon market’s ERE. Meanwhile, the establishment of carbon market has no negative impact on the economic growth. Therefore, we propose to accelerate the construction of the national carbon market, incorporating more industries in a systematic manner, expand the scale of the carbon market, steadily promote the innovation of carbon financial instruments, improve the activity of the carbon market, so as to promote the transformation of China’s green and low-carbon economy and achieve the emission reduction target as scheduled.

Nickel (Ni) exposure is a significant risk factor for kidney dysfunction and oxidative stress injury in humans. Thioredoxin reductase 3 (Txnrd3), an important enzyme in animals, plays a role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and regulating oxidative stress. However, its protective effect against kidney injury has been determined. Melatonin (Mel) has antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects and therefore may be a preventive and therapeutic agent for kidney injury. Our study aimed to investigate the roles of Mel and Txnrd3 in the treatment of nickel-induced renal injury. We divided 80 wild-type mice and 80 Txnrd3 -/- mice (C57BL/6 N) into a control group treated with saline, Ni group treated with 10 mg/kg NiCl2, Mel group treated with 2 mg/kg Mel, and Ni + Mel group given NiCl2 and Mel for 21 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural observation of the kidney showed that nuclei were wrinkled and mitochondrial cristae were broken in the Ni group, and these changes were significantly attenuated by Mel treatment. Mitochondrial and nuclear damage improved significantly in the Ni + Mel and Txnrd3-/- Ni + Mel groups. Furthermore, NiCl2 exposure decreased T-AOC, SOD, and GSH activities in the kidney. The decreases in antioxidant enzyme activity were attenuated by Mel, and these improvements were abolished by Txnrd3 knockout. NiCl2-induced increases in the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis factors (Bax, Cyt-c, caspase-3, and caspase-9) were attenuated by Mel treatment, and Txnrd3 knockout abolished the repressive effect of Mel on apoptosis genes. Overall, we concluded that Mel improves oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by NiCl2 by regulating Txnrd3 expression in the kidney. Our results provide evidence for the role of Mel in NiCl2-induced kidney injury and identify Txnrd3 as a potential therapeutic target for renal injury.

Abstract Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is more prevalent with an increase in diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress is a major factor in the occurrence and progression of DKD. Defending against oxidative stress and restoring antioxidant defense might be key to preventing and treating DKD. The purpose of this article is to provide an explanation of how oxidative stress affects DKD, conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on DKD, and examine the effect of antioxidants on the disease. An analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials showed that the use of antioxidants could reduce UAE (albumin excretion rate) in patients with DKD (SMD: − 0.31; 95% CI [− 0.47, − 0.14], I2 = 0%), UACR (urine albumin/creatinine ratio) (SMD: − 0.60; 95% CI [− 1.15, − 0.06], I2 = 89%), glycosylated hemoglobin (hbA1c) (MD: − 0.61; 95% CI [− 1.00, − 0.21], I2 = 93%) and MDA (malonaldehyde) (SMD:-1.05; 95% CI [− 1.87, − 0.23], I2 = 94%), suggesting that antioxidants seemed to have therapeutic effects in patients with DKD, especially in reducing proteinuria and hbA1c. The purpose of this study is to provide new targets and ideas for drug research and clinical treatment of DKD.

As environmental pollutants, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can have toxic effects on living organisms and has a bioaccumulative effect. Low doses of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) can exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-toxin functions on the organism. This experiment evaluated SeNPs' ability to prevent chicken’s intestinal damage from decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) exposure. Sixty layer chickens were separated into four groups at randomly and equally: Control group, SeNPs group (1 mg/kg SeNPs), BDE-209 group (400 mg/kg BDE-209), and BDE-209 +SeNPs group (400 mg/kg BDE-209 and 1 mg/kg SeNPs), for 42 days. The results showed that BDE-209 increased MDA content, decreased the activities of T-SOD, T-AOC, GSH and iNOS, up-regulated the expression of TNF-α, RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL, promoted the production of inflammatory factors, reduced the levels of tight junction proteins (Claudin-1, Occludin, ZO-1). SeNPs attenuated intestinal oxidative stress, necroptosis, inflammation and intestinal barrier damage caused by BDE-209. This protective effect is associated with the MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, SeNPs restores flora alpha and beta diversity, improves intestinal flora composition and its abundance. It shifts the dysbiosis of intestinal flora caused by BDE-209 to normal. Overall, SeNPs can alleviate BDE-209-induced intestinal barrier damage and intestinal flora disorders, which are associated with intestinal oxidative stress, necroptosis and inflammation.

Background: Allergic rhinitis is prevalent among children and can cause nasal itching, fatigue, and even hinder growth and development. The main discomfort symptom of allergic rhinitis is nasal itching. Clinical reports suggest that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is effective in allergy rhinitis treatment. Therefore, we evaluate the clinical efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating nasal itching caused by allergic rhinitis in children.Methods: Nine databases, including PubMed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Data, CQVIP, Chinese Biological Medicine, and ClinicalTrials.gov, were systematically searched from their inception until March 2023. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine, either alone or in combination with Western medicine, to Western medicine treatment or placebo intervention for treating allergic rhinitis in children were eligible for inclusion. The effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicines for nasal itching was mainly evaluated. The Risk of Bias tool 2.0 assessed the risk of bias. Statistical analysis using RevMan 5.3 and Stata/SE 12. The quality of evidence was evaluated by GRADEpro 3.6. Risk ratios (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were utilized to evaluate and present dichotomous data, while mean difference (MD) and standardized mean difference (SMD) were employed for continuous data. A fixed-effects model was applied in cases where the data exhibited homogeneity (p > 0.1, I2 < 50%), whereas a random-effects model was utilized for heterogeneous data. Statistical significance was determined by a p-value

High temperature inhibits the growth and development of maize (Zea mays L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings. The current study attempts to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of exogenous trehalose for the improvement of maize and wheat responses to heat stress. Results show that, in maize seedlings, exogenously-supplied trehalose was able to effectively elevate the capacity of photosynthetic carbon assimilation and improve the carbohydrate content via up-regulating the transcript levels of key enzymes including phosphoenol pyruvate carboxylase (PEPC), NADP-malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH), NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME), pyruvate phosphate dikinase (PPDK) and Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase small subunit. Besides, it was also able to improve C4 pathway enzyme activities, including PEPC, NADP-MDH, NADP-ME and Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (RUBPCase). In wheat seedlings, exogenously-supplied trehalose promoted photosynthetic carbon assimilation by elevating the activity of RUBPCase. These results show that exogenous trehalose improved photosynthetic carbon assimilation capacities in maize and wheat seedlings under heat stress through different mechanisms.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the accuracy and safety of mandibular osteotomy and distraction device positioning in distraction osteogenesis assisted by an electromagnetic navigation surgical robot. Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups after computed tomography. The control group underwent a procedure based on the preoperative three-dimensional design and clinical experience. Animals in experimental group underwent a procedure with robotic assistance after registration. The accuracies of osteotomy and distraction device positioning were analysed based on distance and angular errors. The change in ramus length after a 1 cm-extension of the distraction device was for assessing distraction effect. The preparation, operative and osteotomy times, intraoperative bleeding, and teeth injury were used for safety assessment. In the experimental group, the distance (t = 2.591, p = 0.011) and angular (t = 4.276, p = 0.002) errors of osteotomy plane, and the errors in distraction device position (t = 3.222, p = 0.009) and direction (t = 4.697, p = 0.001) were lower; the distraction effect was better (t = 4.096, p = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the osteotomy time and bleeding; however, the overall operative and preparation times were increased in the experimental group, with a reduced rate of teeth damage. Robot-assisted mandibular distraction osteogenesis with electromagnetic navigation in craniofacial microsomia is feasible, safe, significantly improves surgical precision.

The effect of repetitive upsetting and extruding (RUE) on microstructure, texture and mechanical properties anisotropy of Mg-9Gd-4Y–2Zn-0.4Zr alloy was investigated. The influences of the RUE on the microstructural characteristics and microhardness of different direction were explored. The microstructures were observed by using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Results showed that grain refinement and texture weakening had a positive role in mechanical anisotropy with the increase of RUE passes, the alloy exhibited smaller size difference of each direction. At the same time, the difference of Schmid factors for basal slip was greatly reduced accordingly. The grain size difference of each direction was mainly caused by the difference of long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) phase evolution and dynamic recrystallization (DRX) fraction. The microhardness difference of each direction was reduced with the RUE process. Under the dual stresses of upsetting and extrusion, the spread of the basal pole and the rotation of the main texture caused the activation of non-basal slip. RUE process allowed plastic deformation to continue, resulted in grain refinement and reduced anisotropy. Texture weakening and grain refinement played a synergistic role in weakening the mechanical properties anisotropy.

IntroductionMandibular distraction osteogenesis, a recommended therapy for hemifacial microsomia, has brought much agony because of its traumatic procedures and peri-osteotomy complications. Our study aims to retrospectively compare piezoelectric osteotome with conventional reciprocal bone saw for hemifacial microsomia patients and validate its meliority in operability, surgical risks and patient outcomes.MethodsAll patients included underwent osteotomies conducted by either piezosurgery or bone saw. Information of intraoperative blood loss, operation duration, postoperative pain and complications was collected from patient files, ward round inspections and follow-ups.ResultsAmong all 40 patients, 13 underwent piezo-osteotomy. Piezosurgery performed better than conventional reciprocal bone saw in decreasing intraoperative blood loss (p

IntroductionThis study aimed to verify the accuracy and safety of distraction osteogenesis for hemifacial microsomia assisted by a robotic navigation system based on artificial intelligence.MethodsThe small sample early-phase single-arm clinical study, available at http://www.chictr.org.cn/index.aspx, included children aged three years and older diagnosed with unilateral hemifacial microsomia (Pruzansky-Kaban type II). A preoperative design was performed, and an intelligent robotic navigation system assisted in the intraoperative osteotomy. The primary outcome was the accuracy of distraction osteogenesis, including the positional and angular errors of the osteotomy plane and the distractor, by comparing the preoperative design plan with the actual images one week postoperatively. Perioperative indicators, pain scales, satisfaction scales, and complications at one week were also analyzed.ResultsFour cases (mean 6.5 years, 3 type IIa and 1 type IIb deformity) were included. According to the craniofacial images one week after surgery, the osteotomy plane positional error was 1.77 ± 0.12 mm, and the angular error was 8.94 ± 4.13°. The positional error of the distractor was 3.67 ± 0.23 mm, and the angular error was 8.13 ± 2.73°. Postoperative patient satisfaction was high, and no adverse events occurred.DiscussionThe robotic navigation-assisted distraction osteogenesis in hemifacial microsomia is safe, and the operational precision meets clinical requirements. Its clinical application potential is to be further explored and validated.

The objective is to examine the separate and joint effects of dynapenia and abdominal obesity on the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) in older adults of different ages (60-74 and over 75 years old). This study comprised 1293 community-dwelling Chinese participants recruited from Shanghai, China, who were aged at least 60 years (753 women; mean age: 72.0 ± 5.9 years). Dynapenia was defined as low-grip strength (

IntroductionThis study aims to quantitively analyze mandibular ramus and body deformities, assessing the asymmetry and progression in different components.MethodsThis is a retrospective study on hemifacial microsomia children. They were divided into mild/severe groups by Pruzansky-Kaban classification and into three age groups (

IntroductionNickel (Ni) is widely used in industrial manufacturing and daily life due to its excellent physical and chemical properties. However, Ni has the potential to harm animals' immune system, and spleen is a typical immune organ. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of NiCl2 damage to the spleen. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different concentrations of NiCl2 exposure and intervening with strong antioxidants on spleen lymphocytes to better understand the damage mechanism of Ni on spleen lymphocytes.MethodsIn this experiment, mice spleen lymphocytes were used as the research object. We first measured the degree of oxidative stress, inflammation, and necroptosis caused by different NiCl2 concentrations. Subsequently, we added the powerful antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and used hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as the positive control in subsequent experiments.ResultsOur findings demonstrated that NiCl2 could cause spleen lymphocytes to produce a large number of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which reduced the mRNA level of antioxidant enzyme-related genes, the changes in GSH-PX, SOD, T-AOC, and MDA, the same to the mitochondrial membrane potential. ROS caused the body to produce an inflammatory response, which was manifested by tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in an immunofluorescence experiment, and the mRNA level of related inflammatory genes significantly increased. In the case of caspase 8 inhibition, TNF-α could cause the occurrence of necroptosis mediated by RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL. AO/EB revealed that spleen lymphocytes exposed to NiCl2 had significant necroptosis, and the mRNA and protein levels of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL increased significantly. Moreover, the findings demonstrated that NAC acted as an antioxidant to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation, and necroptosis caused by NiCl2 exposure.DiscussionOur findings showed that NiCl2 could cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and necroptosis in mice spleen lymphocytes, which could be mitigated in part by NAC. The study provides a point of reference for understanding the toxicological effect of NiCl2. The study suggests that NAC may be useful in reducing the toxicological effect of NiCl2 on the immune system. The research may contribute to the development of effective measures to prevent and mitigate the toxicological effects of NiCl2 on the immune system.

Abstract It is of great significance for improving the safety and stability of the system to realize the coordinated and optimal control between synchronous condenser and DC system in UHVDC converter station. However, the existing dynamic reactive power optimization methods emphasize that the two systems can be scheduled uniformly, which are independent in actual engineering. Therefore, an area‐diagram strategy for synchronous condenser and a dividing‐stage strategy of reactive power exchange for AC/DC system are proposed here. Then, the setting methods of control parameters for the two systems based on dynamic reactive power optimization are proposed. The work of this paper fully considers the abilities and requirements of the two systems. Taking an UHVDC converter station in Northeast China as an example, the effectiveness of the proposed method is analysed. The simulation results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the operation times of reactive power compensation devices and improve the operation level of system voltage.

This study investigates the evolution of the structural, volumetric and water retention behaviors of a compacted clay during soaking and desiccation considering the influences of freeze-thaw (FT) cycles and saline intrusion. Compacted specimens were subjected to different FT cycles and then submerged in NaCl solution with different concentrations to facilitate the saline intrusion and measure the swelling behaviors. Shrinkage curve and filter paper tests were thereafter performed to reveal the clay's volumetric and water-retention characteristics during desiccation. Mercury intrusion porosimetry and field emission scanning electron microscopy tests were conducted to observe the evolution of the clay's microstructure. Experimental results show that the clay's micropores decrease and macropores increase after FT cycles, which is associated with the migration of water, growth of ice crystals, and development of FT-induced cracks during FT cycles. Similar observations were obtained from specimens after the saline intrusion, which is attributed to the osmotic and osmotically-induced consolidation. FT-induced cracks significantly reduce the clay's swelling and shrinkage potentials. FT cycles result in the shrinkage of micropores which leads to a reduction in the water retention capacity in the low suction range (capillary regime). The salinization suppresses the swelling of the clay and prolongs its primary and secondary swelling stages. The shrinkage potential initially increases and then decreases with increasing saline concentration. Salinization has significant influences on the osmotic suction and thus alters the clay's water-retention curves in terms of total suction. It demonstrates little impact on the clay's water-retention curves in terms of matric suction.

Abstract Background To evaluate the diagnostic value of American College of Radiology (ACR) score and ACR Thyroid Imaging Report and Data System (TI-RADS) for benign nodules, medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) through comparing with Kwak TI-RADS. Methods Five hundred nine patients diagnosed with PTC, MTC or benign thyroid nodules were included and classified into the benign thyroid nodules group (n = 264), the PTC group (n = 189) and the MTC group (n = 56). The area under the curve (AUC) values were analyzed and the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to compare the diagnostic efficiencies of ACR score, ACR TI-RADS and KWAK TI-RADS on benign thyroid nodules, MTC and PTC. Results The AUC values of ACR score, ACR TI-RADS and Kwak TI-RADS for distinguishing malignant nodules from benign nodules were 0.914 (95%CI: 0.886–0.937), 0.871 (95%CI: 0.839–0.899) and 0.885 (95%CI: 0.854–0.911), respectively. In distinguishing of patients with MTC from PTC, the AUC values of ACR score, ACR TI-RADS and Kwak TI-RADS were 0.650 (95%CI: 0.565–0.734), 0.596 (95%CI: 0.527–0.664), and 0.613 (95%CI: 0.545–0.681), respectively. The AUC values of ACR score, ACR TI-RADS and Kwak TI-RADS for the discrimination of patients with MTC, PTC or benign nodules from patients without MTC, PTC or benign nodules were 0.899 (95%CI: 0.882–0.915), 0.865 (95%CI: 0.846–0.885), and 0.873 (95%CI: 0.854–0.893), respectively. Conclusion The ACR score performed the best, followed ex aequo by the ACR and Kwak TI-RADS in discriminating patients with malignant nodules from benign nodules and patients with MTC from PTC.

ObjectiveCircular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with diabetes, but their role in fulminant type 1 diabetes (FT1D) is unclear. Thus, we characterized the role of circRNAs in FT1D.Research design and methodsCircRNA expression profiles were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of five FT1D patients and five controls using a circRNA microarray. An independent cohort comprised of 40 FT1D cases, 75 type 1 diabetes (T1D) cases, and 115 controls was used to verify the circRNAs using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Spearman’s correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to determine the clinical diagnostic capability of circRNAs. Bioinformatics was used to identify potential biological functions and circRNA–miRNA–mRNA interactions.ResultsThere were 13 upregulated and 13 downregulated circRNAs in PBMCs of patients with FT1D. Five circRNAs were further verified in a second cohort. Hsa_circRNA_100632 was significantly upregulated in the FT1D and T1D groups. Hsa_circRNA_100632 was differentiated between patients with FT1D and controls [area under the curve (AUC) 0.846; 95% CI 0.776–0.916; P