Search

Abstract Breast and gynecological cancers are common cancers with high mortality and have profound effects on the various physical functions of women. This study assessed trends in the number of hospitalizations, in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges for female breast and gynecological cancer from 2004 to 2020. The data for this study come from the China Health Statistics Yearbook. Time trends of categorical variables were assessed with the Cochran-Armitage Test. The linear model was used to test for the trend of continuous variables. The hospitalizations for breast cancer increased from 15,204 to 276,387 (P for trend

Abstract Objective The aim of our study was to evaluate the indocyanine green (ICG) retention test as a noninvasive marker of esophageal varices(EV). Methods The clinical data of patients diagnosed with compensated liver cirrhosis in Tianjin Second People’s Hospital between January 2018 and January 2021 were analysed with SPSS 23.0. Result A total of 144 patients (88 M/56 F, 51.7 ± 11.06 years) were enrolled. The ICG retention at 15 min(ICG-r15), PVD, TBIL, Cholinesterase(CHE), AST to ALT ratio(ARR), APRI, splenic area, Lok index, Park index and liver stiffness measurement in the absent or small EV group were lower than those in the medium or large EV group, while the ICG disappareance rate(ICG-K), Effective hepatic blood flow(EHBF), ALB, PLT, and Platelet to Spleen Diameter Ratio(PSDR) were higher, and the differences were significant (P

Abstract Background Village clinic doctors are an integral part of the rural healthcare workforce. With the advancement of science and technology and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the prevalence of remote work and the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) have increased significantly. However, these developments have also had an impact on the work family balance and mental well-being of village clinic doctors. The study aimed to explore how work-family conflict affected job burnout and what the role of ICT use was in this relationship. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Data were collected collected through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey conducted in December 2021 in Shandong Province, China. A total of 1,093 village clinic doctors participated in the survey. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and the PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results The results showed that an inverted U-shaped relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout among village clinic doctors. Specifically, the squared term of work-family conflict had a negative coefficient (-0.324). The slope was positive (SL=2.291) at the low end of the X-range and negative (SH=-0.379) at the high end. The turning point occurred at X = 1.227(-2.309 ≤ X ≤ 1.812). Additionally, ICT use positively moderated between work-family conflict and job burnout (β1β4-β2β3 = 0.217, β4 > 0). Conclusions The work-family conflict has an inverted U-shaped effect on job burnout, while the use of ICT positively moderates this relationship between work-family conflict and job burnout. Policymakers should pay attention to the effects of ICT use and work-family conflict on job burnout among village clinic doctors.

Abstract Physiotherapies play a crucial role in noninvasive tissue engineering for wound healing. However, challenges such as the implementation of complex interventions and unsatisfactory treatment outcomes impede widespread application. Here, we proposed a stretchable and wirelessly-powered optoelectronic synergistic patch with a dual-layer serpentine wireless receiver circuit to drive the optoelectronic modulation component. Optimized structure and impedance matching enable the patch to seamlessly attach to irregular skin surfaces and operate robustly over a 30% tensile strain range. Based on Sprague-Dawley rat wound model. The wound closure rate of the optoelectronic synergistic group significantly outperformed both monointervention and blank control groups. Mechanistically, optoelectronic synergistic intervention enhances the secretion of vascular endothelial marker proteins and growth factors, and stabilizes mitochondrial function during oxidative stress. Overall, the scalable amalgamation of flexible electronics, wireless transmission, and synergistic interventions promise to improve wound care.

Abstract Aims Serum calcium level is widely used for evaluating disease severity, but its impact on clinical outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) remains poorly understood. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between serum calcium levels and in‐hospital mortality in CHF patients. Methods and results We conducted a retrospective analysis utilizing clinical data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database, encompassing a cohort of 15 983 CHF patients. This cohort was stratified based on their serum calcium levels, with the primary objective being the determination of in‐hospital mortality. To assess the impact of admission serum calcium levels on in‐hospital mortality, we employed various statistical methodologies, including multivariable logistic regression models, a generalized additive model, a two‐piecewise linear regression model, and subgroup analysis. Comparative analysis of the reference group (Q3) revealed increased in‐hospital mortality in the first quintile (Q1, the group with the lowest blood calcium level) and the fifth quintile (Q5, the group with the highest blood calcium level), with fully adjusted odds ratios of 1.38 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13–1.68, P = 0.002] and 1.23 (95% CI: 1.01–1.5, P = 0.038), respectively. A U‐shaped relationship was observed between serum calcium levels and in‐hospital mortality, with the lowest risk occurring at a threshold of 8.35 mg/dL. The effect sizes and corresponding CIs below and above this threshold were 0.782 (95% CI: 0.667–0.915, P = 0.0023) and 1.147 (95% CI: 1.034–1.273, P = 0.0094), respectively. Stratified analyses confirmed the robustness of this correlation. Conclusions Our study identifies a U‐shaped association between serum calcium levels and in‐hospital mortality in CHF patients, with a notable inflection point at 8.35 mg/dL. Further investigation through prospective, randomized, and controlled studies is warranted to validate the findings presented in this study.

Abstract Background Action on smoking, obesity, excess alcohol, and physical inactivity in primary care is effective and cost-effective, but implementation is low. The aim was to examine the effectiveness of strategies to increase the implementation of preventive healthcare in primary care. Methods CINAHL, CENTRAL, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Dissertations & Theses – Global, Embase, Europe PMC, MEDLINE and PsycINFO were searched from inception through 5 October 2023 with no date of publication or language limits. Randomised trials, non-randomised trials, controlled before-after studies and interrupted time series studies comparing implementation strategies (team changes; changes to the electronic patient registry; facilitated relay of information; continuous quality improvement; clinician education; clinical reminders; financial incentives or multicomponent interventions) to usual care were included. Two reviewers screened studies, extracted data, and assessed bias with an adapted Cochrane risk of bias tool for Effective Practice and Organisation of Care reviews. Meta-analysis was conducted with random-effects models. Narrative synthesis was conducted where meta-analysis was not possible. Outcome measures included process and behavioural outcomes at the closest point to 12 months for each implementation strategy. Results Eighty-five studies were included comprising of 4,210,946 participants from 3713 clusters in 71 cluster trials, 6748 participants in 5 randomised trials, 5,966,552 participants in 8 interrupted time series, and 176,061 participants in 1 controlled before after study. There was evidence that clinical reminders (OR 3.46; 95% CI 1.72–6.96; I 2 = 89.4%), clinician education (OR 1.89; 95% CI 1.46–2.46; I 2 = 80.6%), facilitated relay of information (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.10–3.46, I 2 = 88.2%), and multicomponent interventions (OR 3.10; 95% CI 1.60–5.99, I 2 = 96.1%) increased processes of care. Multicomponent intervention results were robust to sensitivity analysis. There was no evidence that other implementation strategies affected processes of care or that any of the implementation strategies improved behavioural outcomes. No studies reported on interventions specifically designed for remote consultations. Limitations included high statistical heterogeneity and many studies did not account for clustering. Conclusions Multicomponent interventions may be the most effective implementation strategy. There was no evidence that implementation interventions improved behavioural outcomes. Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42022350912.

Abstract Background The quality of life of elderly patients after vertebroplasty is influenced by various factors. Although the EuroQol 5-Dimension 3-Level (EQ-5D-3L) scale has been widely used to assess quality of life, the factors affecting the long-term postoperative quality of life of elderly vertebroplasty patients in China have not been thoroughly studied. Methods This retrospective study included 519 patients aged 65 years and older who underwent elective vertebroplasty. We collected baseline data from these patients and conducted telephone follow-ups 12 months postoperation to evaluate their EQ-5D-3L health utility scores and EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) scores. Univariate and multivariate linear regression models were used to analyse the factors affecting quality of life. Results Of the 519 patients, the majority were female (78.0%), aged 65 to 95 years, with an average age of 75.2 years. Twelve months postoperation, pain/discomfort was the most commonly reported issue for 68.4% of patients. The median EQ-5D-3L health utility score was 0.783, with a range between 0.450 and 0.887; the median EQ-VAS score was 75, ranging from 60 to 85. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that older age, hormone use, higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grades, nondrinking habits, and low albumin levels were found to be independent risk factors affecting long-term quality of life in elderly patients after vertebroplasty. Additionally, a history of tumours, the number of vertebral compression fractures, and bone mineral density were also crucial influencing factors. Conclusions Based on the use of the EQ-5D-3L Chinese utility scoring system, we evaluated the quality of life of patients aged 65 and above 12 months after vertebroplasty. This study identified several factors related to postoperative quality of life in elderly vertebroplasty patients, providing crucial evidence for further clinical decisions and patient education.

Abstract Patchouli alcohol (PA) is a widely used pharmaceutical ingredient in various Chinese traditional herbal medicine (THM) formulations, known for its modulatory effects on the gut microbiota. The present study investigated PA's anti-inflammatory and regulatory effects on gut microbiota and its mode of action (MOA). Based on the assessments of ulcerative colitis (UC) symptoms, PA exhibited promising preventions against inflammatory response. In accordance, the expressions of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and chemokine ligand 5 were significantly attenuated under PA treatment. Furthermore, PA enhanced the intestinal barrier damage caused by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Interestingly, PA exhibited negligible inventions on DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. PA did not affect the diversity of the DSS gut microbiota, it did alter the composition, as evidenced by a significant increase in the Firmicutes-Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. Finally, the MOA of PA against inflammation in DSS-treated mice was addressed by suppressing the expressions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). In conclusion, PA prevented inflammatory response in the DSS-induced UC mice model via directly suppressing HO-1 and iNOS-associated antioxidant signal pathways, independent of its effects on gut microbiota composition.

Abstract LIMA1 is a LIM domain and Actin binding 1 protein that acts as a skeleton protein to promote cholesterol absorption, which makes it an ideal target for interfering with lipid metabolism. However, the detailed regulation of LIMA1 remains unclear. Here, we identified that ring finger protein 40 (RNF40), an E3 ubiquitin ligase previously known as an epigenetic modifier to increase H2B ubiquitination, mediated the ubiquitination of LIMA1 and thereby promoted its degradation in a proteasome-dependent manner. Fraction studies revealed that the 1–166aa fragment of LIMA1 was indispensable for the interaction with RNF40, and at least two domains of RNF40 might mediate the association of RNF40 with LIMA1. Notably, treatment with simvastatin dramatically decreased the levels of CHO and TG in control cells rather than cells with overexpressed LIMA1. Moreover, RNF40 significantly decreased lipid content, which could be reversed by LIMA1 overexpression. These findings suggest that E3 ubiquitin ligase RNF40 could directly target LIMA1 and promote its protein degradation in cytoplasm, leading to the suppression of lipid accumulation mediated by LIMA1. Collectively, this study unveils that RNF40 is a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase of LIMA1, which underpins its high therapeutic value to combat dysregulation of lipid metabolism.

Abstract Previous studies have reported that the significant association between serum calcium and mortality substantially in patients, especially among those with intensive care unit (ICU). And In diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure (CHF) is a significant comorbidity. We aim to evaluate the association between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality among patients with diabetes and congestive heart failure. The participants in this study were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. To scrutinize potential associations between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality, a comprehensive analysis encompassing multivariate logistic regression, cubic spline function model, threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analysis was performed. This retrospective cohort study encompassed 7063 patients, among whom the in-hospital mortality stood at 12.2%. In the multivariate logistic regression, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were contrasted with the reference category Q6 (8.8–9.1 mg/dL) for serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality. The adjusted ORs for Q1 (≤ 7.7 mg/dL), Q2 (7.7–8 mg/dL), and Q7 (≥ 9.1 mg/dL) were 1.69 (95% CI 1.17–2.44, p = 0.005), 1.62 (95% CI 1.11–2.36, p = 0.013), and 1.57 (95% CI 1.1–2.24, p = 0.012) respectively. The dose–response analysis uncovered a U-shaped relationship between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in diabetic patients with heart failure. Subgroup analyses confirmed result stability notwithstanding the influence of diverse factors. Our investigation revealed a U-shaped correlation between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in diabetes patients with congestive heart failure, pinpointing a significant inflection point at 9.05 mg/dL.

There has been a growing interest in using insects as sustainable protein sources for ruminant feed, such as the adults of the two-spotted cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus), larvae of the mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor), black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), and pupae of the silkworm (Bombyx mori). The advantages of these insects over other plant materials lie in their elevated levels of crude protein and fat. However, this interest lacks a comprehensive understanding of the impact of insects on the ruminal fermentation processes, including digestibility and gas production, as well as the impact on animal performance and related health aspects. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of ruminal fermentation indices across diverse insect species. Employing descriptive and meta-analysis methodologies, we examined the impact of incorporating insect-derived meals in ruminants’ diets. Moreover, we evaluated the growth performance and biochemical parameters of blood in ruminants when species such as Tenebrio molitor, Hermetia illucens, Oriental Hornet (Vespa Orientalis), and Bombyx mori were incorporated into ruminants’ diets. The meta-analysis was performed on a limited dataset of 14 in vitro and eight in vivo trials, investigating insect meal as a potential feed source. A comparison is drawn between these insect-based feeds and conventional dietary sources such as soybean meal, alfalfa hay, and commercial concentrate diets. Our meta-analysis revealed that incorporating Gryllus bimaculatus and Hermetia illucens to partially replace protein sources in ruminants’ diet did not adversely affect digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and ruminant production, supporting the feasibility as a feed ingredient for ruminant animals. In addition, the oriental hornet showed an overall higher outcome on the final BW, ADG, digestibility, and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production, suggesting the promising effect of this insect for future use in ruminants. The data also indicates that dietary insect inclusion levels should not exceed 30% (DM basis) to achieve an optimal ruminal fermentation profile. Furthermore, it offers comparative insights into the nutritional value of these insects, which warrant further investigation at the in vivo level. Ultimately, the existing understanding of the nutritional utilization potential of these insects by ruminants, particularly concerning macro- and micronutrients, is evaluated and revealed to be significantly constrained.

BackgroundDue to its complex pathogenesis, the assessment of cancer-associated disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is challenging. We aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) model to predict overt DIC in critically ill colorectal cancer (CRC) patients using clinical features and laboratory indicators.MethodsThis retrospective study enrolled consecutive CRC patients admitted to the intensive care unit from January 2018 to December 2023. Four ML algorithms were used to construct predictive models using 5-fold cross-validation. The models’ performance in predicting overt DIC and 30-day mortality was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC-AUC) and Cox regression analysis. The performance of three established scoring systems, ISTH DIC-2001, ISTH DIC-2018, and JAAM DIC, was also assessed for survival prediction and served as benchmarks for model comparison.ResultsA total of 2,766 patients were enrolled, with 699 (25.3%) diagnosed with overt DIC according to ISTH DIC-2001, 1,023 (36.9%) according to ISTH DIC-2018, and 662 (23.9%) according to JAAM DIC. The extreme gradient boosting (XGB) model outperformed others in DIC prediction (ROC-AUC: 0.848; 95% CI: 0.818–0.878; p < 0.01) and mortality prediction (ROC-AUC: 0.708; 95% CI: 0.646–0.768; p < 0.01). The three DIC scores predicted 30-day mortality with ROC-AUCs of 0.658 for ISTH DIC-2001, 0.692 for ISTH DIC-2018, and 0.673 for JAAM DIC.ConclusionThe results indicate that ML models, particularly the XGB model, can serve as effective tools for predicting overt DIC in critically ill CRC patients. This offers a promising approach to improving clinical decision-making in this high-risk group.

IntroductionBevacizumab, a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor, is widely used as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), with hypertension being a common adverse effect. However, there is limited data on the predisposing factors contributing to bevacizumab-induced blood pressure (BP) elevation. This study aims to identify clinical risk factors associated with bevacizumab-related hypertension in patients with mCRC.MethodsThis retrospective study included 178 patients treated between January and June 2020. Demographic data and medical histories were extracted from hospital electronic medical records.ResultsAmong the 178 patients, 54 (30.3%) developed bevacizumab-related hypertension, with a median onset time of 48 days. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified pre-existing hypertension [odds ratio (OR), 3.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.56–6.99] and age ≥60 years (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.00–4.17) as independent risk factors for bevacizumab-related hypertension. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.57–0.75, P < 0.001). The median overall survival (OS) for the cohort was 30.53 months (95% CI, 22.23–38.84). No significant differences in OS were observed between patients with and without bevacizumab-related hypertension (31.13 vs. 27.87 months, P = 0.86).ConclusionPre-existing hypertension and age ≥60 years are significant clinical risk factors for bevacizumab-related hypertension in mCRC patients. Bevacizumab-related hypertension did not affect overall survival. Clinicians should closely monitor BP within the first 2 months of bevacizumab treatment in high-risk patients.

The rumen microbiota—a symbiont to its host and consists of critical functional substances—plays a vital role in the animal body and represents a new perspective in the study of adaptive evolution in animals. This study used Slide Viewer slicing analysis system, gas chromatography, RT-qPCR and other technologies, as well as 16S and metabolomics determination methods, to measure and analyze the microstructure of rumen epithelium, rumen fermentation parameters, rumen transport genes, rumen microbiota and metabolites in Tibetan sheep and Hu sheep. The results indicate that the rumen nipple height and cuticle thickness of Tibetan sheep are significantly greater than those of Hu sheep (p

BackgroundMultiple Chronic Diseases (MCD) are the co-occurrence of two or more chronic conditions within an individual. Compared to patients with a single chronic disease, those with MCD face challenges related to polypharmacy, which increases the risk of adverse drug events, side effects, and drug–drug interactions. Understanding the specific medication preferences of patients with MCD is crucial to optimize treatment plans and enhance treatment safety.ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the medication preferences among patients with multiple chronic diseases in rural areas of an eastern province of China.MethodsA discrete choice experiment (DCE) was used to measure patients’ medication preferences. According to literature research, expert panel discussions, and in-depth patient interviews, we identified six attributes: monthly out-of-pocket cost, onset speed of action, adverse effects, whether it is covered by health insurance, origin of medications, and types of medications. The conditional logit models (CLM) and mixed logit models (MIXL) were used to evaluate the choice data. Willingness to pay (WTP) was used to reflect the monetary value that patients were willing to pay or receive reimbursement after changes in different attribute levels.ResultsA total of 956 respondents were included in the analysis. Of which, 68.62% were female, with an average age of 68 years, and 65.89% had a Body Mass Index (BMI) greater than or equal to 24. Statistical significance was observed for all attributes (p

Johanson-Blizzard syndrome (JBS) is an autosomal recessive disorder. We established an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a 2-year-old boy with Johanson-Blizzard syndrome carrying a compound heterozygous mutation of c.3167C>G (p.S1056X) and c.1911 + 14C>G(splicing) in the UBR1 gene. This iPSC line was free of exogenous gene, expressed stemness markers, exhibited differentiation potential, had normal karyotype and harbored the same mutations found in the patient. The iPSC cellline can serve as a disease model in drug development and novel personalized therapies.

The recent discovery of large oil and gas fields in the deep-water of the Senegal Basin has drawn global attention. Despite this, several exploration wells in this area fail, which can be primarily contributed to a lack of understanding of the basin's structures and hydrocarbon accumulation conditions. This study examines these characteristics utilizing gravity, seismic and drilling data, and finally makes a comparison with the Cote d’Ivoire Basin, a typical transform margin basin in the South Atlantic. The results suggest that the Senegal Basin, influenced by multiple transform faults and a weak Paleozoic basement, experienced three evolutionary stages: rifting, transitional, and drifting. Each stage contributed to the development of distinct depositional sequences - syn-rift sequences, sag sequences, and continental margin sequences, respectively. The Triassic - Early Jurassic rifting stage predominantly formed continental deposits, like fluvial, lacustrine, and deltaic deposits, in the syn-rift sequences. The Middle-Late Jurassic transitional stage, influenced by transform faults, witnessed the formation of marginal ridges or submarine uplift zones. These zones, in conjunction with landward high terrains, formed a restricted environment promoting the development of source rocks in the sag sequences. During the drifting stage, three types of reservoirs, namely platform carbonate rocks, deltas, and slope-floor fans were formed. Notably, large-scale hydrocarbon reservoirs have been found in the deltas and the slope-floor fans both in the Senegal Basin and the Cote d’Ivoire Basin. The Upper Jurassic - Aptian platforms exhibit thick carbonate rocks and organic reefs on their edges, suggesting substantial potential for hydrocarbon exploration in the Senegal Basin.

Objectives Cancer screening aims to detect and treat malignant lesions at an early stage and to prolong patients’ lifetime. There is still a lack of effective cancer screening programs in China. We initiated a screening project in 2018 and this study presented the cancer screening status in China. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study in one cancer-care medical center of China. The screening program included routine blood tests, plasma tumor markers, gastric endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, and computed tomography (CT) scans. Screening results were presented as sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values (PPVs). Results Twenty-three (1.46%) out of 1,576 participants were eventually diagnosed with malignant tumors or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN). A family history of malignancy (78.26% in diagnosed cancer and HGIN vs. 46.36% in the others) was the only statistically significant parameter associated with cancer detection (p = 0.002). None of the common tumor markers were associated with the cancers screened. Except for colonoscopy (50.00%) and ultrasound for renal cancer (66.67%), the sensitivities of most screening methods were 100%. The specificities of all the screening means were above 96%. Most PPVs ranged from 30–60%. Conclusion We emphasized risk stratification for early cancer screening, such as a family history of cancer. The survey illustrated that gastric endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, and lung CT for early cancer screening had high specificity, reasonable sensitivity, and PPV. We anticipated this report would motivate larger-sample studies to estimate the risk-to-benefit ratio of cancer screening and urge the establishment of a native Chinese screening project and even guidelines.

ABSTRACT This article describes the case of a 40‐year‐old individual who presented with fulminant myocarditis. Initial ECG displayed sinus tachycardia with a heart rate of 117 bpm, QS complexes in leads V1–V3, ST‐segment depression in leads II, III, aVF, V5–V6, and ST‐segment elevation >0.2 mV in leads V1 through V3. The initial clinical assessment suggested an acute anteroseptal myocardial infarction. However, subsequent diagnostic evaluation through coronary angiography disclosed that the coronary arteries were normal. Therefore, clinicians should carefully consider the differential diagnosis between these conditions, as their management strategies differ markedly. Two hours after admission, the patient unexpectedly developed syncope. The ECG findings were consistent with the typical characteristics of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia. Our report described the appearance and morphology as well as mechanism of bidirectional ventricular tachycardia in detail. Additionally, we delineate differential diagnoses for disease that can cause bidirectional ventricular tachycardia, such as aconite poisoning, digoxin overdose, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), myocardial ischemia, and hereditary channelopathies, such as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and Andersen–Tawil syndrome. Therefore, clinicians should recognize this ECG finding immediately and initiate appropriate treatment promptly as these measures may be vital in saving the patient's life.

ObjectiveMore and more studies have found that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is significantly associated with recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA), but the specific mechanism is not yet clear.MethodsBased on the GEO database, we downloaded the PCOS (GSE10946, GSE6798 and GSE137684) and RSA (GSE165004, GSE26787 and GSE22490) datasets and performed differential analysis, weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA), functional enrichment, and machine learning, respectively, on the datasets of the two diseases, Nomogram and integrated bioinformatics analysis such as immune infiltration analysis. Finally, the reliability of the diagnostic gene was verified by external verification and collection of human specimens.ResultsIn this study, PCOS and RSA datasets were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and a total of 23 shared genes were obtained by differential analysis and WGCNA analysis. GO results showed that the shared genes were mainly enriched in the functions of lipid catabolism and cell cycle transition (G1/S). DO enrichment revealed that shared genes are mainly involved in ovarian diseases, lipid metabolism disorders and psychological disorders. KEGG analysis showed significant enrichment of Regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, Prolactin signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, Hippo signaling pathway and other pathways. A diagnostic gene FAM166 B was obtained by machine learning and Nomogram screening, which mainly played an important role in Cellular component. GSEA analysis revealed that FAM166B may be involved in the development of PCOS and RSA by regulating the cell cycle, amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. CIBERSORT analysis showed that the high expression of FAM166 B was closely related to the imbalance of multiple immune cells. Further verification by qPCR suggested that FAM166 B could be used as a common marker of PCOS and RSA.ConclusionsIn summary, this study identified FAM166B as a common biomarker for PCOS and RSA, and conducted in-depth research and analysis of this gene, providing new data for basic experimental research and early prognosis, diagnosis and treatment of clinical diseases.

Ferroptosis, driven by an imbalance in redox homeostasis, has recently been identified to regulate macrophage function and inflammatory responses. SENP3 is a redox-sensitive de-SUMOylation protease that plays an important role in macrophage function. However, doubt remains on whether SENP3 and SUMOylation regulate macrophage ferroptosis. For the first time, the results of our study suggest that SENP3 sensitizes macrophages to RSL3-induced ferroptosis. We showed that SENP3 promotes the ferroptosis of M2 macrophages to decrease M2 macrophage proportion in vivo. Mechanistically, we identified the ferroptosis repressor FSP1 as a substrate for SUMOylation and confirmed that SUMOylation takes place mainly at its K162 site. We found that SENP3 sensitizes macrophages to ferroptosis by interacting with and de-SUMOylating FSP1 at the K162 site. In summary, our study describes a novel type of posttranslational modification for FSP1 and advances our knowledge of the biological functions of SENP3 and SUMOylation in macrophage ferroptosis.

Abstract Background Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis present perioperative challenges for clinical anesthesiologists for anesthesia-associated complications. Case presentation A 54-year-old Han woman with a 2-year history of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was scheduled for hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoidal artery ligation. We performed real-time ultrasound-guided sacral plexus block with dexmedetomidine under standard monitoring. The anesthesia method met the surgical demands and avoided respiratory complications during the procedures. There was no neurological deterioration after the surgery and 3 months after, the patient was discharged. Conclusions Real-time ultrasound-guided sacral plexus block combined with mild sedation may be an effective and safe technique in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis undergoing hemorrhoidectomy and hemorrhoidal artery ligation.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major global health burden, and co-infection with other pathogens further complicates the diagnosis and treatment of this infectious disease. The present retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of nanopore sequencing in identifying co-infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) and other pathogens. Methods Patients with M.tb co-infection from December 2021 to March 2023 at the Jiangxi Provincial Chest Hospital were retrospectively studied. Data were collected including demographics, symptoms, imaging findings, pathogen diagnosis tests, and treatment history. Pathogen tests involved culture, AFB smear, Xpert MTB/RIF, and nanopore sequencing. Results The enrolled patients included 20 M.tb cases and three nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) cases co-infected with other pathogens. Common clinical symptoms included cough (47.83%), expectoration (34.78%), and asthma (17.39%). Radiological examinations showed typical features of pulmonary tuberculosis, including nodules (73.91%), cord-like shadows (34.78%), cavities (34.78%), and destroyed lung manifestations (17.39%). Nanopore sequencing identified M.tb in a significant majority of the cases (86.96%), outperforming traditional culture tests (39.13%), acid-fast bacilli (AFB) tests (27.27%), and Xpert MTB/RIF (53.84%) tests. Notably, nanopore sequencing revealed that M.tb was frequently co-infected with Candida albicans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Mycobacterium abscessus. Three specific cases of co-infection with distinct diagnosis and treatment characteristics were presented in detail. They illustrated the complexity of TB co-infection management and the potential of nanopore sequencing for accurate diagnosis and informing the tailored therapeutic approaches. Conclusion Nanopore sequencing-based metagenomics method can help clinicians to identify TB co-infection patterns and formulate a rational drug regimen in time.

ABSTRACT Objective Construction nomogram was to effectively predict long‐term prognosis in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and Methods The nomogram is developed by a retrospective study of 347 patients with NSCLC who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) before surgery from May 2019 to February 2022. Cross‐validation divided the data into a training cohort and validation cohort. The discrimination and accuracy ability of the nomogram were proofed by concordance index (C‐index), calibration curve, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the area under the curve (AUC), and time‐dependent ROC in validation cohort. Results Age, intraoperative blood loss, VO2 peak, and VE/VCO2 slope were included in the model of nomogram. The model demonstrated good discrimination and accuracy with C‐index of 0.770 (95% CI: 0.712–0.822). AUC of 6 (AUC: 0.789, 95% CI: 0.726–0.851) and 12 months (AUC: 0.787, 95% CI: 0.724–0.850) were shown in ROC. Time‐independent ROC maintains a good effect within 12 months. Conclusion We developed a nomogram based on CPET. This model has a good ability of discrimination and accuracy. It could help clinicians to make treatment decision in clinical decision.

Maedi-visna virus (MVV) and caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) are members of a group of genetically highly homologous lentiviruses collectively referred to as small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs). SRLVs can infect sheep, goats and other small ruminants, causing multisystemic disease with progressive and persistent inflammatory changes, severely reducing animal productivity and impeding animal trade. The capsid protein of SRLVs, p28, is highly conserved among strains and is a commonly used marker for the detection of SRLVs. In this study, two monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), designated G8F7 and A10C12, against p28 were generated using a recombinant p28 protein expressed in Escherichia coli as an immunogen. Functional analysis showed that these two monoclonal antibodies could be used in iELISA, immunofluorescence assays (IFA) and western blot assays to detect p28 or Gag precursor proteins of SRLVs. Two linear epitopes, 61GNRAQKELIQGKLNEEA77 (E61-77) and 187CQKQMDRVLGTRVQQATVEEKMQACR212 (E187-212), which are recognized by G8F7 and A10C12, respectively, were identified through truncation of the GST-fused p28. Amino acid sequence alignment showed that the epitope E61-77 is conserved among SRLVs, with a dominant mutation site (K72R) that does not disrupt recognition by G8F7. E187-212 was found to exhibit variability among SRLVs, but the majority of mutant epitopes are recognized by A10C12, with the exception of a mutant epitope from an isolate with undefined subtypes from Ovis aries, which was not recognized. These findings may facilitate future study of SRLVs and promote the development of methods for the detection of these viruses.

Herein, lutecium silicate is used as a rock example to investigate its two high‐pressure phases (7.4 GPa: HP‐II and 25.3 GPa: HP‐III) and lattice dynamics by in situ high‐pressure Raman scattering up to 35.1 GPa. The evidence for a highly symmetrical insulator HP‐III phase is obtained. Importantly, the high‐pressure structure (metastable phases) after pressure quenching is also intercepted, indicating pressure‐induced permanent densification. These findings provide Raman evidence for pressure‐induced successive phase transitions of highly symmetric insulators intercepted in prototype Lu2SiO5 and physical insights to explain the self‐regulation of rare earth‐rich regions in facilitating highly effective global carbon cycling.

Introduction and objectiveNutritional therapy is a crucial component of treatment for severely burned patients. Although overly aggressive enteral nutrition immediately after burn injury has potential risks, nutritional disruption after a severe burn can also increase infection risk and delay wound healing. For approximately six decades, the Ruijin Hospital Burn Center has used two distinct approaches for patients during the early period after burn injury: complete fasting or adaptive feeding. Notably, adaptive feeding more closely resembles enteral nutrition. In this retrospective study, we analyzed factors influencing the selection of either modality, as well as the benefits of adaptive feeding. We sought to promote adaptive feeding as a precursor to initiating enteral nutrition.Patients and methodsThis retrospective study analyzed medical data from adult patients with extensive burns between January 2009 and December 2020. All patients had been admitted to the burn department within 24 h after injury and had a burned area comprising >30% of total body surface area. Patients were divided into two groups: adaptive feeding and fasting. We examined the total burned area, full-thickness burned area, burn type, inhalation injury, start time of adaptive feeding, and start time of enteral nutrition. Outcome measures were 28-day mortality and hospital mortality.ResultsUnivariate analysis revealed significant differences in burn type, percent of total body surface area (TBSA), full-thickness burned area, and inhalation injury between the adaptive feeding and fasting groups (all p

Summary: Autophagy enhancement in septic liver injury can play a protective role. Nerveless, the mechanism of autophagy-mediated septic liver injury needs further investigation. Our study demonstrated that in septic condition, GLI Family Zinc Finger 2 (GLI2) was elevated, whereas peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) was downregulated. Suppressing GLI2 or synovialapoptosis inhibitor 1 (SYVN1) in LPS-exposed cells increased PPARα levels, enhanced cell viability and autophagy, while inhibiting apoptosis. LPS enhanced the GLI2-SYVN1 promoter binding. SYVN1 fostered ubiquitin-mediated degradation of PPARα. IGF2BP3 stabilized GLI2 mRNA by targeting its m6A site. Silencing IGF2BP3 led to decreased GLI2 and SYVN1 but increased PPARα levels, promoting cell survival and autophagy, while repressing apoptosis. This was counteracted by SYVN1 overexpression. In cecal ligation and puncture mice, IGF2BP3, SYVN1, or GLI2 knockdown ameliorated liver damage and augmented autophagy. In summary, IGF2BP3 enhanced GLI2 stability, overexpressed GLI2 subsequent promoted SYVN1 levels by interacting with its promoter, leading to ubiquitinated degradation of PPARα, thereby inhibiting PPARα-mediated autophagy and then exacerbating liver injury in sepsis.

Maturity-onset diabetes of the young type 2 (MODY2) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the GCK gene. It is characterized by a non-progressive slight increase in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and mildly raised fasting glucose. Here, we generated an induced pluripotent stem cell line SDQLCHi063-A from a five-year-old boy with MODY2 carrying exon 1 deletion of the GCK gene (OMIM*138079). The iPSC line carries original gene mutation, expresses pluripotency markers, has normal karyotype and differentiated spontaneously in the three germ layers.

Congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG) is inherited metabolic disease caused by defects in the genes important for the process of protein and lipid glycosylation. We established an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of a 6-month-old boy with congenital disorder of glycosylation carrying heterozygous mutations c.1193 T > C (p.I398T) and c.376_384dup CCGCAGCAC (p.P126_H128 dupPQH) in MPI gene. This iPSC line was free of exogenous gene, expressed pluripotency markers, has normal karyotype, exhibited differentiation potential and harbored the same mutations found in the patient. This cell line will provide a reliable cell model for further studies on the potential therapeutic targets of CDG.

Abstract Background While liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a crucial role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) initiation, progression, recurrence, and treatment resistance, the mechanism underlying liver CSC self-renewal remains elusive. We aim to characterize the role of Methyltransferase 16 (METTL16), a recently identified RNA N 6-methyladenosine (m6A) methyltransferase, in HCC development/maintenance, CSC stemness, as well as normal hepatogenesis. Methods Liver-specific Mettl16 conditional KO (cKO) mice were generated to assess its role in HCC pathogenesis and normal hepatogenesis. Hydrodynamic tail-vein injection (HDTVi)-induced de novo hepatocarcinogenesis and xenograft models were utilized to determine the role of METTL16 in HCC initiation and progression. A limiting dilution assay was utilized to evaluate CSC frequency. Functionally essential targets were revealed via integrative analysis of multi-omics data, including RNA-seq, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP)-seq, and ribosome profiling. Results METTL16 is highly expressed in liver CSCs and its depletion dramatically decreased CSC frequency in vitro and in vivo. Mettl16 KO significantly attenuated HCC initiation and progression, yet only slightly influenced normal hepatogenesis. Mechanistic studies, including high-throughput sequencing, unveiled METTL16 as a key regulator of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) maturation and mRNA translation and identified eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit a (eIF3a) transcript as a bona-fide target of METTL16 in HCC. In addition, the functionally essential regions of METTL16 were revealed by CRISPR gene tiling scan, which will pave the way for the development of potential inhibitor(s). Conclusions Our findings highlight the crucial oncogenic role of METTL16 in promoting HCC pathogenesis and enhancing liver CSC self-renewal through augmenting mRNA translation efficiency.

To improve spectral efficiency of Device-to-Device multicast (D2DM) communication, we study the joint optimization of subcarrier and power allocation in D2DM communications underlaying cellular system with extremel large-scale multi-input-multi-output (XL-MIMO) in this paper. Specifically, we aim to maximize the aggregate multicast data rate of all D2D groups (DGs) while guaranteeing the data rate requirements of CUs, where each subcarrier can be allocated to multiple DGs and each DG can reuse multiple subcarriers. This formulated problem leads to mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP), which is usually NP-hard and computationally intractable. Therefore, we decompose it into two sub-problems, i.e., subcarrier assignment and power allocation. we design a heuristic subcarrier assignment scheme for allocating subcarriers to CUs and DGs by equally distributing the transmit power of CUs and DGs over all subcarriers. After that, we design an effective power allocation algorithm by adopting the “difference of two concave functions” (D.C.) programming to transform the nonconcave functions into concave ones. Extensive simulations and numerical results demonstrate that our joint resource allocation algorithms outperform the other baseline methods.

An integrated energy system (IES) contributes to improving energy efficiency and promoting sustainable energy development. For different dynamic characteristics of the system, such as demand/response schemes and complex coupling characteristics among energy sources, siting and sizing of multitype energy storage (MES) are very important for the economic operation of the IES. Considering the effect of the diversity of the IES on system reserve based on electricity, gas and heat systems in different scenarios, a two-stage MES optimal configuration model, considering the system reserve value, is proposed. In the first stage, to determine the location and charging/discharging strategies, a location choice model that minimizes the operating cost, considering the system reserve value, is proposed. In the second stage, a capacity choice model, to minimize the investment and maintenance cost of the MES, is proposed. Finally, an example is provided to verify the effectiveness of the MES configuration method in this paper in handling operational diversity and ensuring system reserve. Compared with the configuration method that disregards the system reserve value, the results show that the MES configuration method proposed in this paper can reduce the annual investment cost and operating cost and improve the system reserve value.

Aiming at the problem that the existing algorithms are difficult to segment efficiently in indoor scenes due to the high similarity of stacked and closely adjacent objects, this paper proposes an indoor point cloud segmentation algorithm based on hierarchical feature fusion. Firstly, according to the results of stratification, the principal component analysis method is adopted to reduce the dimension of each layer point clouds, and then the decision rules on the two-dimensional plane are established based on the structural characteristics of each layer objects. Combined with the analysis of hierarchical connectivity, fusing the features of each layer, so as to obtain the global positioning of the object. Last, for further division, the density segmentation method based on inter cluster constraints are taken into consideration. The experimental results show that the location and segmentation effect of stacked objects is fine, it is worth mentioning that this method has high accuracy, and the average mIoU can reach 0.811. In addition, another advantage of this method is that it takes less time to process point clouds, the average consumption time is about 6.59 seconds. These characteristics represent that this method can better complete the segmentation of indoor scenes.

Abstract The outbreak of the epidemic in 2020 has caused a huge negative impact on the production and operation of firms, directly threatening their survival and development. However, some firms can make timely and effective adjustments in the face of sudden crises because of their resilience, and then turn the corner. This study selects the data of 2993 companies listed in Chinese A shares. The OLS method and event study is used to analyze the impact of ESG on the ability of corporate system crisis (corporate resilience). The research results indicate that companies with good ESG performance are more resilient in crises. The mechanism test indicates that the easing effect of corporate financing constraints and the expansion effect of corporate green innovation capabilities are important channels for ESG performance to promote the negative impact of crisis shocks on corporate value. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that ESG has a stronger ability to respond to systemic crises in small-scale firms, state-owned firms, and highly competitive market environments. Powerful CEOs can weaken ESG's ability to respond to systemic corporate crises. Further research has found that only S and G items, namely good governance level and social performance, have a significant positive promoting effect on corporate resilience. ESG performance may be more important in areas more severely affected by the epidemic. This study expands the research on ESG and the research on the decision mechanism of enterprise resilience. This study provides a new theoretical perspective for the study of corporate crisis response capabilities, and provides a certain policy reference for Chinese firms to effectively respond to public crises, which has important policy implications.

In this study, we propose a novel approach to achieve an ultra-narrow bandwidth and high transmittance filter in the visible range. By employing TiO2 as the waveguide layer material, the coupling energy in the waveguide layer is enhanced, leading to a reduction in the full width half maximum (FWHM). Additionally, a double-layer dielectric film structure composed of SiO2 and Al2O3 is employed on the Ag grating to suppress random scattering leakage in the short wavelength range, resulting in reduced sidebands and improved transmittance of the resonant peak. To minimize wave loss between the metal grating and the waveguide layer, a SiO2 dielectric layer is introduced. By adjusting the metal grating period, the resonance peak position can be shifted across the entire visible range. The proposed approach offers a metal grating-based guided-mode resonance (GMR) transmissive filter with low sidebands, high transmittance, ultra-narrow bandwidth, and tunability in the entire visible range. Experimental validation of the proposed design is conducted, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach in achieving superior filter performance in the visible spectral range.

As the resolution of remote sensing quantitative inversion for albedo, clumping index, canopy height, and other biophysical parameter data is gradually refined, there is an increasing demand for higher spatial resolution bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) and angular reflectance data. In this article, we applied and evaluated flexible spatiotemporal data fusion to downscale angular reflectance using low-resolution BRDF data (MCD43A1) and high-resolution Sentinel-2 data as inputs. We selected Sentinel-2 orbital overlap regions with various anisotropic flat index (AFX) types and overpassing times as the study area as to obtain angular reflectance data under different anisotropic and solar-viewing geometry conditions. We found that the fusion method can downscale the angular reflectance with high accuracy (root mean square error < 0.04, bias < 0.02). The downscaling accuracy was higher in the cross-principle plane than in the principle plane, whereas there was no significant variation in accuracy under different AFX conditions. Owing to the lack of angular surface reflectance at larger viewing angles, validation was performed only within a view zenith angle of 10.3°. Further validation using satellites with larger viewing angles, such as Gaofen-6 or unmanned aerial vehicles, can be used to evaluate the accuracy of this method. This article presents a strategy for downscaling angular information, preliminary validation results, and satellite-based evidence of scale effects between the 500–10 m scales of the BRDF.

Abstract In this study, a accurate, rapid quantitative PCR method for the simultaneous detection of 4 kinds of pathogenic bacteria in water was established, and the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in surface waters with different levels of pollution (Yulin region, China) was detected. The results showed that the detection accuracy was 94%; the detection limit was 2.7 in bacterial cells. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar typhimurium and Salmonella dysenteria were always present in water when the universal primer for pathogenic bacteria abundance detection was greater than 104 copies 100 mL−1. When the detection value is lower than 104 copy 100 mL−1, the bacteria in the water are rarely pathogenic bacteria, so the detection value of 104 copy 100 mL−1 can be used as a new indicator of waterborne pathogen pollution.

Abstract Perovskite-type lead-free piezoelectric ceramics allow access to illustrious piezoelectric coefficients (d 33) through intricate composition design and experimental modulation. Developing a swift and accurate technology for identifying (K, Na)NbO3 (KNN)-based ceramic compositions with high d 33 in exceedingly large “compositional” space will establish an innovative research paradigm surpassing the traditional empirical trial-and-error method. Herein, we demonstrate an interpretable machine learning (ML) framework for quick evaluation of KNN-based ceramics with high d 33 based on data from published literature. Specifically, a thorough feature construction was carried out from the global and local dimensions to establish tree regression models with d 33 as the target property. Subsequently, the feature-property mapping rules of KNN-based piezoelectric ceramics are further optimized through feature screening. To intuitively understand the correlation mechanisms between ML regression targets and features, the sure independence screening and sparsifying operator (SISSO) method was employed to extract the essential descriptors to explain d 33. A straightforward descriptor, $${\text{e}}^{({{NM}}_{\text{B}}-{{MV}}_{\text{B}})}\cdot {ST}/{(I{D}_{\text{A}})}^{2}$$ e ( NM B − MV B ) ⋅ ST / ( I D A ) 2 , consisting of only four easily accessible parameters, can accelerate the evaluation of a series of novel KNN-based ceramics with high d 33 while exhibiting strong theoretical interpretability. This work not only provides a tool for the rapid discovery of high piezoelectric performance in KNN-based ceramics but also offers a data-driven route for the design of property descriptors in perovskites.

Abstract. Background:. In light of the significant clinical benefits of antibody-drug conjugates in clinical trials, the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-low category in breast cancers has gained increasing attention. Therefore, we studied the clinicopathological characteristics of Chinese patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive/HER2-low early-stage breast cancer and developed a recurrence risk prediction model. Methods:. Female patients with HR-positive/HER2-low early-stage breast cancer treated in 29 hospitals of the Chinese Society of Breast Surgery (CSBrS) from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016 were enrolled. Their clinicopathological data and prognostic information were collected, and machine learning methods were used to analyze the prognostic factors. Results:. In total, 25,096 patients were diagnosed with breast cancer in 29 hospitals of CSBrS from Jan 2015 to Dec 2016, and clinicopathological data for 6486 patients with HER2-low early-stage breast cancer were collected. Among them, 5629 patients (86.79%) were HR-positive. The median follow-up time was 57 months (4, 76 months); the 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 92.7%, and the 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was 97.7%. In total, 412 cases (7.31%) of metastasis were observed, and 124 (2.20%) patients died. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that T stage, N stage, lymphovascular thrombosis, Ki-67 index, and prognostic stage were associated with recurrence and metastasis (P

Abstract Background Fungi play a crucial role in ecosystems, and they have been widely considered a promising source for natural compounds that are crucial for drug discovery. Fungi have a high diversity, but about 95% of them remain unknown to science. The description rate of fungi is very low, mainly due to the inability of most fungi to grow in artificial media, which could not provide a sufficiently similar environment to their natural habitats. Moreover, many species in nature are in a state of low metabolic activity which cannot readily proliferate without proper resuscitation. Previously developed culturomics techniques are mostly designed and applicable for bacteria, with few attempts for fungal isolation because of their significantly larger cell size and hyphal growth properties. Results This study attempted to isolate previously uncultured and rare fungi from mangrove sediments using newly developed fungal enrichment culture method (FECM) and fungal isolation chips (FiChips). Comparison of fungal community composition at different enrichment stages showed that FECM had great influence on fungal community composition, with rare taxa increased significantly, thus improving the isolation efficiency of previously uncultured fungi. Similarly, in situ cultivation using FiChips has a significant advantage in detecting and culturing rare fungi, as compared to the conventional dilution plate method (DPM). In addition, based on morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analyses, we described and proposed 38 new ascomycetous taxa, including three new families, eight new genera, 25 new species, and two new combinations (presented in additional file 1). Conclusions Our study demonstrated that mangrove sediments harbor a high diversity of fungi, and our new isolation approaches (FECM and FiChips) presented a high efficiency in isolating hitherto uncultured fungi, which is potentially usable for fungal isolation in other similar environments . Video Abstract

Abstract Layered shales exist widely and are often encountered during shale gas development. However, the mechanical response of layered shales is significantly affected by the existence of beddings, resulting in the obvious anisotropy characteristics regarding deformation, strength and failure mode. To clarify the underlying mechanisms of shale anisotropy that control the safety of engineering projects, the numerical simulation and theoretical analysis were conducted. The results show that with the growth of confining pressure, the compressive resistance of shales gradually increases, the shear fractures govern the instability and the anisotropy index decreases. Furthermore, several strength criteria for layered rock masses were summarized, and the modified Jaeger strength criterion was proposed by introducing the anisotropic parameter Rcθ. It can effectively reflect the failure modes and strength features of layered shales under triaxial conditions with a higher accuracy. Besides, the variation of cohesion and internal friction angle of layered shale samples was comprehensively analysed under the triaxial conditions. Clearly, as the inclination angle of bedding planes increases, the cohesion of layered shales first decreases, but then increases under triaxial compression, showing the ‘U’‐shaped changing trend. Additionally, the internal friction angle of layered shales gradually increases with the increase in the inclination of bedding planes.

This study aims to explore microbial activity evidence, composition of archaeal communities, and environmental constraints in coalbed-produced waters from the Hancheng Block, a representative region for coalbed methane development on the eastern margin of Ordos Basin, China. The investigation involves analyzing microbial community composition using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis as well as examining hydrogeochemical parameters. The results indicate that Euryarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota are predominant phyla within archaeal communities present in coalbed-produced water from the Hancheng Block. Among these communities, Methanobacterium is identified as the most abundant genus, followed by Methanothrix and Methanoregula. Moreover, a positive correlation is observed between the abundance of Methanobacterium and the levels of total dissolved solids as well as Mn; conversely, there is a negative correlation with dissolved organic carbon, Zn concentrations, and pH. The abundance of Co and Ni primarily influence Methanothrix while pH and Zn play significant roles in controlling Methanoregula. Additionally, No. 5 coal seam waters exhibit greater species diversity in the archaeal community compared to No. 11 counterparts. The higher abundance of archaea in the No. 5 coal seam promotes biogas generation due to the correlation between bicarbonate and dissolved inorganic carbon isotope. These research findings hold scientific significance in guiding the exploration and development of biogas within coal seams.

Microbiota density plays an important role in maintaining host metabolism, immune function, and health, and age has a specific effect on the composition of intestinal microbiota. Therefore, the age-specific effects of age differences on the structure and function of the ileum microbiota in Tibetan sheep were investigated by determining the density of the ileum microbiota, the content of VFAs, and the expression levels of their transporter-related genes at different ages. The results showed that the contents of acetic acid and propionic acid in the ileum of Tibetan sheep in the 1.5-year-old group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in other age groups, and that the contents of total VFAs were also significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in other age groups. The relative densities of ileum Rf, Ra, and Fs were significantly higher in the 1.5-year-old group than in the other age groups (p < 0.05). The ileum epithelial VFAs transport-related genes AE2, MCT-4, and NHE1 had the highest expression in the 1.5-year-old group, and the expression of DRA was significantly lower in the 1.5-year-old group than in the 6-year-old group (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Cb, Sr, and Tb were significantly positively correlated with butyric acid concentration (p < 0.05) and negatively correlated with acetic acid, but the difference was not significant (p > 0.05); MCT-1, MCT-4, and AE2 were significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05) with acetic, propionic, and isobutyric acid concentrations; NHE1, NHE2, and MCT-4 were highly significantly positively correlated (p < 0.01) with Romboutsia and unclassified_Peptostreptococcaceae, while acetic acid was significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05) with NK4A214_group; Romboutsia, and unclassified_Peptostreptococcaceae were significantly positively correlated (p < 0.05). Therefore, compared with other ages, the 1.5-year-old Tibetan sheep had a stronger fermentation and metabolic capacity in the ileum under traditional grazing conditions on the plateau, which could provide more energy for Tibetan sheep during plateau acclimatization.

This study investigates the impact of task-induced involvement and time on task on incidental second language (L2) vocabulary acquisition. Utilizing a 3 (task-induced involvement) × 2 (time on task) × 2 (post-test time) research design, three task-induced involvement conditions were employed based on the Involvement Load Hypothesis (ILH): reading and gap-fill task, reading and sentence-making task, and reading and translation task, with corresponding involvement load (IL) indices of 2, 3, and 4, respectively. Two time-on-task conditions were implemented: uncontrolled time on task, where participants in different groups completed tasks with varied durations, and controlled time on task, where participants in different groups completed tasks with roughly equal durations. Five intact classes comprising 256 Chinese middle school students participated and were randomly assigned to one of five designed tasks aimed at learning 10 carefully selected target words. The results of a three-way repeated measures ANOVA indicate a significant three-way interaction effect among task-induced involvement, time on task, and post-test time, as well as a significant two-way interaction effect between task-induced involvement and time on task. These findings demonstrate that task-induced involvement and time on task interact to significantly influence both initial acquisition and retention of incidental L2 vocabulary. Specifically, under uncontrolled time conditions, tasks with higher ILs and longer durations yield better initial vocabulary gains and retention, partially supporting the ILH. Conversely, under controlled time conditions, tasks with lower ILs exhibit superior initial vocabulary gains and retention, contradicting the predictions of the ILH. Relevant implications are also discussed.

In this work, the frequency dependence of ferroelectric and electrocaloric properties in barium titanate-based ceramics was studied based on Maxwell relations. It is found that the maximum and remnant polarization will decrease while the coercive field increases a lot with rising frequency from 0.1 to 10[Formula: see text]Hz, indicating that polarization rotation and domain switching become difficult at high frequencies. The electrocaloric properties show the different frequency dependence at different phase structures. Isothermal entropy change ([Formula: see text]) and adiabatic temperature change ([Formula: see text]) are similar around/above Curie temperature ([Formula: see text], showing tiny frequency dependence. However, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] display the obvious frequency dependence below [Formula: see text], especially in the orthorhombic–tetragonal phase-transition region with a stable ferroelectric phase, and this frequency dependence becomes more obvious under a low-electric field. It is also found that increasing the frequency can weaken the electric field dependence of electrocaloric strength. This work gives a general profile of frequency dependence for electrocaloric properties in ferroelectric ceramics.

Objective: This study aims to develop and evaluate the biocompatibility and osteogenic potential of a novel injectable strontium-doped hydroxyapatite bone-repair material.Methods: The properties of strontium-doped hydroxyapatite/chitosan (Sr-HA/CS), hydroxyapatite/chitosan (HA/CS) and calcium phosphate/chitosan (CAP/CS) were assessed following their preparation via physical cross-linking and a one-step simplified method. Petri dishes containing Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis were inoculated with the material for in vitro investigations. The material was also co-cultured with stem cells derived from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHEDs), to assess the morphology and proliferation capability of the SHEDs, Calcein-AM staining and the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay were employed. Osteogenic differentiation of SHEDs was determined using alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining and Alizarin Red staining. For in vivo studies, Sr-HA/CS was implanted into the muscle pouch of mice and in a rat model of ovariectomy-induced femoral defects. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was performed to determine the extent of bone formation and defect healing. The formation of new bone was determined using Masson’s trichrome staining. The osteogenic mechanism of the material was investigated using Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and immunohistochemical studies.Results: X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) showed that strontium was successfully doped into HA. The Sr-HA/CS material can be uniformly squeezed using a syringe with a 13% swelling rate. Sr-HA/CS had a significant antibacterial effect against both E. coli and S. epidermidis (p < 0.05), with a stronger effect observed against E. coli. The Sr-HA/CS significantly improved cell proliferation and cell viability in vitro studies (p < 0.05). Compared to CAP/CS and CS, Sr-HA/CS generated a substantially greater new bone area during osteoinduction experiments (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). The Sr-HA/CS material demonstrated a significantly higher rate of bone repair in the bone defeat studies compared to the CAP/CS and CS materials (p < 0.01). The OCN-positive area and TRAP-positive cells in Sr-HA/CS were greater than those in control groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: A novel injectable strontium-doped HA bone-repair material with good antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and osteoinductivity was successfully prepared.

BackgroundHypertension (HTN) presents a significant global public health challenge with diverse causative factors. The accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) due to a high-fat diet (HFD) is an independent risk factor for HTN. While various studies have explored pathogenic mechanisms, a comprehensive understanding of impact of VAT on blood pressure necessitates bioinformatics analysis.MethodsDatasets GSE214618 and GSE188336 were acquired from the Gene Expression Omnibus and analyzed to identify shared differentially expressed genes between HFD-VAT and HTN-VAT. Gene Ontology enrichment and protein-protein interaction analyses were conducted, leading to the identification of hub genes. We performed molecular validation of hub genes using RT-qPCR, Western-blotting and immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis using CIBERSORTx was performed.ResultsThis study indicated that the predominant characteristic of VAT in HTN was related to energy metabolism. The red functional module was enriched in pathways associated with mitochondrial oxidative respiration and ATP metabolism processes. Spp1, Postn, and Gpnmb in VAT were identified as hub genes on the pathogenic mechanism of HTN. Proteins encoded by these hub genes were closely associated with the target organs-specifically, the resistance artery, aorta, and heart tissue. After treatment with empagliflozin, there was a tendency for Spp1, Postn, and Gpnmb to decrease in VAT. Immune infiltration analysis confirmed that inflammation and immune response may not be the main mechanisms by which visceral adiposity contributes to HTN.ConclusionsOur study pinpointed the crucial causative factor of HTN in VAT following HFD. Spp1, Postn, and Gpnmb in VAT acted as hub genes that promote elevated blood pressure and can be targets for HTN treatment. These findings contributed to therapeutic strategies and prognostic markers for HTN.