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Background: Use of antihypertensive medications could be associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer. Despite their various mechanisms of action, whether this association differs between different classes of medications remains unclear. Objective: The objective of this study is to compare the risk of kidney cancer between first‐line treatment options of antihypertensive medications in a hypertensive population. Method: In this retrospective cohort study, we used the MarketScan Databases (2007–2021). We included individuals older than 30 years of age with a diagnosis of hypertension who received first‐line medications for hypertension, which included three classes: angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), and dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (dCCB). We applied a propensity score matching method and created three separate cohorts: (1) ARB versus ACEI, (2) dCCB versus ACEI, and (3) dCCB versus ACEI. For non‐dCCB, we repeated the analyses. The primary outcome was kidney cancer incidence. To assess kidney cancer risk, we applied multivariable conditional Cox proportional hazards models. Results: In the first cohort, ARB use was associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer compared to ACEI use (hazard ratio [HR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.18). In the second cohort, dCCB use was associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer compared to ACEI use (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18–1.40). In the third cohort, dCCB use was associated with a higher risk of kidney cancer compared to ARB use (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.08–1.28). Null association was shown when comparing non‐dCCB with ACEI or ARB use. Conclusion: Use of dCCB showed a higher risk of kidney cancer compared to ACEI or ARB use in patients with hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to advance the development of biofloc technology (BFT), providing more sustainable and efficient practices for the farming of the Japanese sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus). BFT is a sustainable aquaculture method that promotes nutrient recycling and effective carbon source management, offering significant advantages such as improving water quality, enhancing growth performance, and boosting the physiological activity and disease resistance of cultured animals. In A. japonicus farming, the optimal carbon source is glucose, and the ideal carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio ranges between 15 and 20. Microbial additives, such as the Bacillus species, have been shown to enhance biofloc formation and growth, as well as the immune responses in A. japonicus. However, the technology also faces limitations, including finding suitable biofloc culture protocols that match the physiological habits of A. japonicus and potential challenges with biofloc stability under varying environmental conditions. Based on existing research, this review discusses these limitations in the farming of A. japonicus. Additionally, it compares biofloc farming models for other economically important aquatic species. By addressing these key aspects, this review offers insights to enhance BFT performance, ultimately contributing to more efficient and sustainable A. japonicus aquaculture practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Locally found Egyptian dolomite, commercial zirconia, and alumina were used to fabricate calcium zirconate-based refractory with improved thermal shock damage resistance. CaZrO3/MgO (CZM) and CaZrO3/MgAl2O4 (CZS) green compacts were obtained by mixing dolomite, commercial zirconia, and alumina with molar ratios of 1:1.23:0 and 1:1.23:0.59, respectively, and then ball milled for 1 h and uniaxially pressed at 150 MPa. The obtained green compacts were sintered at 1200, 1300, 1500, and 1650 °C for 2 h with a heating rate of 5 °C/min. The phase composition, microstructure, densification parameters, and thermal shock damage resistance of the prepared refractory were investigated. The results showed that CaZrO3 was present as the predominant phase and c-ZrO2 as a secondary phase due to the solubility of calcium and magnesium ions in the zirconia lattice structure. CZM1500 and CZS1500 showed a bulk density of 4.05 and 3.8 g/cm3 respectively. Thermal shock damage resistance of CZM samples was greatly improved with the in situ spinel synthesis where CZS1500 was able to withstand 16 cycles before fracturing compared to 10 cycles recorded for CZM1500. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Process parameters and powder spreading quality are important factors for aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) prepared using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). In this study, a Box–Behnken Design (BBD) was used to optimize the process parameters, and near-spherical β-SiC was selected to improve the quality of powder spreading. The rationality of parameter optimization was verified by testing the density of samples prepared using different laser power levels. Al4C3 diffraction peaks were found in XRD patterns, which indicated that interface reactions occurred to form good interface bonding between the Al matrix and the SiC particles. The tensile strength and plasticity of LPBF α-SiC/AlSi10Mg were lower than that of LPBF AlSi10Mg, which was mainly due to the poor fluidity of the powder mixtures and powder spreading quality. For LPBF β-SiC/AlSi10Mg, the tensile strength increased and elongation decreased slightly compared to LPBF α-SiC/AlSi10Mg. The data in this study were compared with the data in other studies. In this study, LPBF AlSi10Mg and LPBF β-SiC/AlSi10Mg not only showed the inherent high strength of their LPBF parts, but also had relatively high plasticity. Matching between strength and plasticity was mainly dependent on the scanning strategy. Most studies use uni-directional or bi-directional scanning strategies with a certain rotation angle between layers. A chessboard scanning strategy was used in this study to form a coarse remelted connected skeleton inside the material and significantly improve plasticity. This study lays a theoretical and experimental foundation for the controllable preparation of SiC-reinforced AMCs using LPBF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor (PDE5i) use has been linked to a number of ocular side effects, such as serous retinal detachment (SRD), retinal vascular occlusion (RVO), and ischemic optic neuropathy (ION). Aim: We investigated the risk for SRD, RVO, and ION in patients using PDE5is. Methods: We utilized the IBM MarketScan (2007-2021) Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases (version 2.0) for this analysis. To estimate overall events risk, Cox proportional hazard models were applied to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for erectile dysfunction (ED) diagnosis and the different treatments, adjusting for region, median age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea. Additionally, the same analyses were performed to calculate the HRs for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) diagnosis and the different treatments. Outcomes: HRs for SRD, RVO, and ION. Results: In total, 1 938 262 men with an ED diagnosis were observed during the study period. Among them, 615 838 (31.8%) were treated with PDE5is. In total, 2 175 439 men with a BPH diagnosis were observed during the study period. Among them, 175 725 (8.1%) were treated with PDE5is. On adjusted Cox regression analysis, PDE5i use was not associated with SRD, RVO, ION, and any ocular event when compared with ED diagnosis and other ED treatments. Importantly, as the intensity of ED treatment increased, so did the risk of ocular events. In addition, PDE5i use was not associated with SRD and ION when compared with BPH diagnosis and other BPH treatments. In contrast, in patients with BPH, PDE5i use was associated with RVO (HR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06-1.23). Importantly, patients with BPH receiving other medical treatment (ie, 5a reductase/alpha blocker; HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06-1.16) or surgical treatment (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.02-1.19) had a higher risk of RVO. Clinical Implications: We did not observe any consistent association between PDE5i use and any ocular adverse events (SRD, RVO, and ION). Strengths and Limitations: Because we did not have access to the patients' medical records, we recorded outcome definitions using ICD-9 and ICD-10 coding. Conclusions: Patients using PDE5is for ED or BPH indications did not have an increased risk of ocular events, even when compared with other treatments for ED or BPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of discontinuous reinforced titanium matrix composites (DRTMCs) provides a new idea to further improving the comprehensive mechanical properties of titanium alloys, which is expected to further expand their application fields to meet the new requirements of modern industry for metallic materials. In this study, the effects of Fe content on the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-TiBw-xFe composites were studied by adding alloying element Fe to Ti-TiBw composite powders. It was found that the grain size of α-Ti matrix was significantly refined with increasing Fe content. When Fe content was increased from 3.0 to 6.0 wt.%, the grain size of α-Ti decreased from 3.50 to 2.58 μm, representing a 26% decrease. Furthermore, the tensile strength of Ti-TiBw-6.0Fe reached 1065 MPa, which is 105.2% remarkable higher than that of Ti-TiBw with the same conditions, with an elongation at 5.3%. It was shown that the addition of Fe significantly improves the mechanical properties of Ti-TiBw-xFe composites. Solution strengthening, fine grain strengthening and load-bearing strengthening play a major role in improving the mechanical properties of Ti-TiBw-xFe composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Priapism, a urologic emergency, has known associations with certain medical conditions. Many cases are idiopathic, suggesting an opportunity to identify novel risk factors. Aim We sought to identify medical conditions and pharmaceutical treatments that are associated with priapism using data-mining techniques. Methods Using deidentified data in a large insurance claims database, we identified all men (age ≥20 years) with a diagnosis of priapism from 2003 to 2020 and matched them to cohorts of men with other diseases of male genitalia: erectile dysfunction, Peyronie disease, and premature ejaculation. All medical diagnoses and prescriptions used prior to first disease diagnosis were examined. Predictors were selected by random forest, and conditional multivariate logistic regressions were applied to assess the risks of each predictor. Outcomes We identified novel relationships of HIV and some HIV treatments with priapism and confirmed existing associations. Results An overall 10 459 men with priapism were identified and matched 1:1 to the 3 control groups. After multivariable adjustment, men with priapism had high associations of hereditary anemias (odds ratio [OR], 3.99; 95% CI, 2.73-5.82), use of vasodilating agents (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 2.01-2.98), use of HIV medications (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.36-2.79), and use of antipsychotic medications (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.52-2.38) as compared with erectile dysfunction controls. Similar patterns were noted when compared with premature ejaculation and Peyronie disease controls. Clinical Implications HIV and its treatment are associated with priapism, which may affect patient counseling. Strengths and Limitations To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify risk factors for priapism utilizing machine learning. All men in our series were commercially insured, which limits the generalizability of our findings. Conclusion Using data-mining techniques, we confirmed existing associations with priapism (eg, hemolytic anemias, antipsychotics) and identified novel relationships (eg, HIV disease and treatment). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF)-built Ti–6Al–4V(Ti6Al4V) has increasingly shown great potential for orthopedic implant and aerospace applications in recent years. Large components prepared by additive manufacturing (AM) have heterogeneous microstructures, defect size, and residual stress in the building direction due to the high temperature gradient. The samples with a height of 170 mm ware prepare via EB-PBF. The microstructure, mechanical properties, defect size, and residual stress along the building direction have been systematically study in this work. The grains epitaxial growth along the build direction as coarse prior β columnar grains. The residual compressive stress increases from the sample bottom to top. The max void size increases from 23.8 μm at the bottom to 108 μm at the top, and the mechanical properties gradually deteriorate along the building direction, which is related to the temperature gradient on the building direction of the sample. It is found that the ultimate tensile strength decreases from 916 ± 9 MPa at the bottom to 876 ± 7 MPa at the top, and the elongation to failure decreases from 9.13 ± 0.61 % to 6.49 ± 0.34 %. Meanwhile, the hardening ability is also weakened along the building direction. This study reveals the evolution process of the sample's microstructure, mechanical properties, and defects, providing data support for further control of material defects. • The synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging technology was used to clarify the size and distribution of micro voids in the Ti6Al4V alloy. • Microstructure, mechanical properties, voids, and residual stress collectively affect the mechanical properties of the material. • The mechanical properties deteriorate along the building direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The size, aspect ratio, and distribution of reinforcement, referred to as the scale characteristic parameters (SCP), are critical factors that influence the mechanical properties of discontinuous reinforced titanium matrix composites (DRTMCs). To investigate the impact of SCP evolution on the microstructure and mechanical properties of TiBw, this study employed spherical Ti6Al4V-TiBw composite powder prepared by electrode induction melting gas atomization (EIGA) as feedstock for fabricating Ti6Al4V-TiBw composites through electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) process. By implementing a two-step rapid cooling approach in EIGA and EB-PBF processes to "freeze" the TiBw at nanoscale within Ti6Al4V-TiBw composites, a significantly wider regulation window for microstructure and mechanical properties was achieved. Subsequently, heat treatment was conducted at temperatures ranging from 850 to 1200 °C to systematically elucidate the mutual influence regulation among SCPs, microstructure, and mechanical properties of TiBw. Based on our findings, it can be concluded that when subjected to heat treatment temperatures higher than 950 °C, an orientation relationship between TiBw and α-Ti is observed: {0001} α-Ti //{001} TiBw , {11 2 ‾ 0} α-Ti //{010} TiBw , {10 1 ‾ 0} α-Ti //{100} TiBw. Additionally, the cross-section of columnar-shaped TiBw exhibits semi-coherent interfaces with coherent interfaces bonded to Ti along its (100) crystal plane while displaying incoherent interfaces with Ti matrix along its (101) and (10 1 ‾) crystal planes. The strength of Ti6Al4V-TiBw composites exhibited a trend of initial increase followed by decrease with the evolution of TiBw scale characteristic parameters, while the elongation demonstrated an overall decreasing pattern. This research aims to establish a foundation for microstructure and properties control of DRTMCs and provide experimental references and theoretical basis for high-performance DRTMCs research. • The distribution of TiBw changes from network to uniform when the HT temperature above 1000 °C. • Nano-TiBw significantly improves the mechanical properties of the composites via load transfer strengthening. • Due to undergoing the Ostwald ripening, the TiBw occurred coarsening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF)-built Ti–6Al–4V(Ti6Al4V) has increasingly shown great potential for orthopedic implant and aerospace applications in recent years. Large components prepared by additive manufacturing (AM) have heterogeneous microstructures, defect size, and residual stress in the building direction due to the high temperature gradient. The samples with a height of 170 mm ware prepare via EB-PBF. The microstructure, mechanical properties, defect size, and residual stress along the building direction have been systematically study in this work. The grains epitaxial growth along the build direction as coarse prior β columnar grains. The residual compressive stress increases from the sample bottom to top. The max void size increases from 23.8 μm at the bottom to 108 μm at the top, and the mechanical properties gradually deteriorate along the building direction, which is related to the temperature gradient on the building direction of the sample. It is found that the ultimate tensile strength decreases from 916 ± 9 MPa at the bottom to 876 ± 7 MPa at the top, and the elongation to failure decreases from 9.13 ± 0.61 % to 6.49 ± 0.34 %. Meanwhile, the hardening ability is also weakened along the building direction. This study reveals the evolution process of the sample's microstructure, mechanical properties, and defects, providing data support for further control of material defects. • The synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging technology was used to clarify the size and distribution of micro voids in the Ti6Al4V alloy. • Microstructure, mechanical properties, voids, and residual stress collectively affect the mechanical properties of the material. • The mechanical properties deteriorate along the building direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TMPRSS11E was found to be upregulated in human nonsmall cell lung cancer samples (NSCLC) and cell lines, and high expression was associated with poor survival of NSCLC patients. The results of in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that overexpressing TMPRSS11E resulted in A549 cell proliferation and migration promotion, while the TMPRSS11E S372A mutant with the mutated catalytic domain lost the promoting function. In addition, in mouse xenograft models, silencing TMPRSS11E expression inhibited the growth of 95D cell-derived tumors. To explore the mechanism of marked upregulation of TMPRSS11E in NSCLC cells, promoter analysis, EMSA, and ChIP assays were performed. STAT3 was identified as the transcription factor responsible for TMPRSS11E transcription. Moreover, the purified recombinant TMPRSS11E catalytic domain exhibited enzymatic activity for the proteolytic cleavage of PAR2. Recombinant TMPRSS11E catalytic domain incubation further activated the PAR2-EGFR-STAT3 pathway. These findings established a mechanism of TMPRSS11E-PAR2-EGFR-STAT3 positive feedback, and the oncogenic role of TMPRSS11E as a PAR2 modulator in NSCLC was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinnitus, a common disease in the clinic, is associated with persistent pain and high costs to society. Several aspects of tinnitus, such as the pathophysiology mechanism, effective treatment, objective detection, etc., have not been elucidated. Any change in the auditory pathway can lead to tinnitus. At present, there is no clear and unified mechanism to explain tinnitus, and the hypotheses regarding its mechanism include auditory plasticity theory, cortical reorganization theory, dorsal cochlear nucleus hypothesis, etc. Current theories on the mechanism of tinnitus mainly focus on the abnormal activity of the central nervous system. Unfortunately, there is currently a lack of objective diagnostic methods for tinnitus. Developing a method that can detect tinnitus objectively is crucial, only in this way can we identify whether the patient really suffers from tinnitus in the case of cognitive impairment or medical disputes and the therapeutic effect of tinnitus. Electrophysiological investigations have prompted the development of an objective detection of tinnitus by potentials recorded in the auditory pathway. However, there is no objective indicator with sufficient sensitivity and specificity to diagnose tinnitus at present. Based on recent findings of studies with various methods, possible electrophysiological approaches to detect the presence of tinnitus have been summarized. We analyze the change of neural activity throughout the auditory pathway in tinnitus subjects and in patients with tinnitus of varying severity to find available parameters in these methods, which is helpful to further explore the feasibility of using electrophysiological methods for the objective detection of tinnitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) during the Cenozoic drove dramatic climate and environmental change in this region. However, there has been limited comprehensive research into evolution of climate during this interval. Here we present a quantitative reconstruction using Bioclimatic Analysis (BA) and Joint Probability Density Functions (JPDFs) based on data available for 48 fossil floras, including macrofossils and palynological fossils collected in the QTP area from the Paleogene to Neogene (66–2.58 Ma). Both methods indicate that there was an overall decline in temperature and precipitation. Paleoclimatic simulations using Hadley Centre Coupled Model version3 (HadCM3) show that the most prominent climate change was very likely driven by QTP orographic evolution from the late Eocene, which was accompanied by a shift in temperature from a latitudinal distribution to a topographically controlled pattern. In addition, with the growth of the QTP, temperature and precipitation decreased gradually in the northeastern part of the plateau. Different sources of evidence, including plant fossil records, climate simulations and other proxies, indicate that the topographic evolution of the QTP and other geological events, in conjunction with global cooling, may have been the main factors driving climate change in this region. This research can provide insights into Cenozoic environmental change and ecosystem evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil wood of Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii Franch.) from the Late Pleistocene deposits of Maoming Basin of South China provides the first megafossil evidence for glacial expansion of the range of a cold-tolerant species in low latitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Back-stress strengthening has been proven to be an effective strategy in breaking the room temperature strength–ductility dilemma in hetero-structural metals matrix composite materials (MMC). However, back-stress is difficult to achieve at high temperature because of grain boundary softening, grain boundary sliding, dislocation annihilation and grain rotation. Here, back-stress strengthening is exploited to improve the high temperature tensile properties of Ti-6Al-4 V (TC4) alloy by precipitating a heterogeneous distribution of nano TiB whiskers (TiBw). In this work, the rapid solidification associated with electron beam powder bed fusion (EB-PBF) generates heterogeneous in-situ nano TiBw at both grain boundaries and grain interiors. The nano-TiBw on the grain boundaries (GB nano-TiBw) not only refines the grains but can also pin the grain boundaries. The intragranular nano TiBw (IG nano-TiBw) significantly reduces the dislocation mean free path, inhibit dislocation movement, and dramatically enhances the dislocation storage density. Meanwhile, specimens are strengthened by high-density < a + c > dislocations induced by the precipitated nano TiBw. The heterogeneous distribution of nano TiBw achieved a 50 °C increase in the service temperature of TC4 alloy while also increasing stability. This strategy provides a new perspective for further improving the high-temperature mechanical properties of titanium alloys. [Display omitted] • In-situ generate heterogeneous nano TiBw both at grain boundaries and grain. • Intragranular nano TiBw not only suppresses grain rotation, reduces the dislocation mean free path, but also dramatically enhances the dislocation storage density. • Establish a mathematical relationship between TiBw and dislocation density. • Achieving back-stress strengthening at high temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel alkali-induced grafting polymerization was designed to synthesize a PFGPA proton exchange membrane based on the co-grafting of α-methyl styrene (AMS) and acrylonitrile (AN) into the poly(vinylidenedifluoride) (PVDF) membrane. Three kinds of alkali treatments were used: by immersing the PVDF membranes into a 1 M NaOH solution and mixing the PVDF powders with 16% or 20% Na4SiO4. Then, AMS with AN could be co-grafted into the PVDF backbones in two grafting solvents, THF or IPA/water. Finally, the grafted membranes were sulfonated to provide the PFGPA membranes. In the experiments, the Na4SiO4 treatments showed a greater grafting degree than the NaOH treatment. The grafting degree increased with the increasing amount of Na4SiO4. The grafting solvent also influenced the grafting degree. A 40–50 percent grafting degree was obtained in either the THF or IPA/water solvent after the Na4SiO4 treatment and the THF resulted in a greater grafting degree. FTIR and XPS testified that the PFGPA membranes had been prepared and a partial hydrolysis of the cyano group from AN occurred. The PFGPA membranes with the grafting degree of about 40–50 percent showed a better dimensional stability in methanol, greater water uptake capabilities, and lower ion exchange capacities and conductivities than the Nafion 117 membranes. The PFGPA membrane with the 16% Na4SiO4 treatment and THF as the grafting solvent exhibited a better chemical stability. The obtained experimental results will provide a guide for the synthesis of alkali-grafted PFGPA membranes in practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The joint transmission scheme of polar codes and sparse code multiple access (SCMA) has been regarded as a promising technology for future wireless communication systems. However, most of the existing polar-coded SCMA (PC-SCMA) systems suffer from high latency caused by the feedback iteration and list decoding. In addition, the error performance of PC-SCMA systems is unsatisfactory for ultra-reliable transmission. Inspired by the compelling benefits of non-binary polar codes, in this paper, we design a non-binary polar-coded SCMA (NB-PC-SCMA) system with a free order matching strategy to address the issues of delay and reliability. Specifically, we first formulate a joint factor graph for NB-PC-SCMA and propose a non-binary successive cancellation list (NB-SCL) and damping based joint iterative detection and decoding (NSD-JIDD) multiuser receiver to improve the BER and latency performance. Then, a lazy-search based NB-SCL (L-NB-SCL) decoding is proposed to reduce the computational complexity by simplifying the path search pattern of the list decoder. After that, we modify the update of user nodes for SCMA detection to improve the convergence error and finally propose the improved NSD-JIDD (ISD-JIDD) algorithm, which can avoid redundant operations by exploiting L-NB-SCL decoding. Simulation results show that the proposed NB-PC-SCMA system achieves better bit error rate (BER) performance and considerable latency gain when compared to its counterparts. In particular, the proposed ISD-JIDD can achieve similar BER performance of NSD-JIDD with less complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the intensive deployment of mobile networks and the vigorous development of new multimedia services, video has gradually become the mainstream of cultural consumption. The contradiction between the proliferation of video data services and the scarcity of spectrum resources has brought great challenges to the current network resource allocation. Non‐orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) can be used to solve this problem by signal superposition and spectrum multiplexing to improve system access capability. As a new type of joint optimization design of transmitter and receiver side, PDMA has high research value. In this paper, a framework of PDMA video transmission system based on H.264 video compression coding (HVC‐PDMA) is proposed. Poly complementary sequence (PCS) spread spectrum coding is performed on the transmission codebook in order to improve the transmission accuracy. Meanwhile, a low complexity serial sphere compensated Max‐log MPA (SSCM‐MPA) algorithm is proposed to reduce the complexity of the multi‐user detection algorithm. Simulation results show that the PCS spread spectrum can improve system throughput and peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) while reducing bit error rate (BER). SSCM‐MPA algorithm can greatly reduce the complexity and improve the transmission efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physician prescribing patterns surrounding the use of testosterone therapy (TTh) in men with a history of prostate cancer (CaP) is not well described. To characterize the demographics and usage patterns of testosterone therapy in men with a history of prostate cancer in the United States. This was a retrospective review using Optum's De-identified Clinformatics Data Mart database. Administrative diagnosis, procedural, pharmacy, and laboratory codes were used to identify male subjects 40 years and older with prostate cancer treated with surgery or radiation between 2003 and 2018 who went on to receive TTh. Demographic and clinical factors are identified. Temporal trends in TTh usage were reported. The main outcomes were rates of testosterone prescriptions in men with treated prostate cancer and associated laboratory values such as Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels before TTh. 126,374 men completed treatment for CaP during the study period (42,515 surgery, 75,186 radiation, 8,673 both). Of these, 3,074 men (2.4%) received testosterone after CaP treatment. Men who received testosterone were younger, more likely to have erectile dysfunction, depressive disorder, and lower pretreatment PSA values compared to men who did not receive. Median PSA levels before TTh initiation were 0 – 0.2 depending on CaP treatment modality and median total testosterone level was <300 ng/dL. TTh began an average of 1.5 years after radical prostatectomy and 2.6 years after radiation treatment. We observed an increase in TTh after CaP from the beginning of the study period until it peaked in 2013 at 4.9%. After 2013, rates decreased annually until a plateau of approximately 1.8% of men. Approximately a third of men did not have testosterone labs checked before initiation of TTh. These findings provide insight into trends in testosterone prescriptions in men after prostate cancer treatment and may aid in clinical decision-making, as well as areas for improvement in cancer survivorship care. Strengths include the large sample size, length of data coverage, and real-world analysis of testosterone prescribing patterns across the United States. Limitations include the reliance on insurance claims data, the retrospective study design, and lack of additional relevant clinical variables that may impact decision making regarding TTh. National trends in testosterone prescriptions for men with treated prostate cancer suggest that many men are treated with TTh after prostate cancer therapy with patterns of indications and monitoring consistent with the general population. Chen T, Li S, Eisenberg M. Trends in Testosterone Therapy use in Prostate Cancer Survivors in the United States. J Sex Med 2021;18:1346–1353. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple studies have showed that berberine protects against heart diseases, including obesity-associated cardiomyopathy. However, it is not fully disclosed the potential molecular mechanisms of berberine on controlling cardiac remodeling. Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 4, identified as a critical transcriptional factor, participates in multiple cardiac injuries. The present study was to explore whether KLF4 determined the cardioprotective benefits of berberine in dietary-induced obese mice. High fat diet-induced obese mice were treated with berberine with or without lentivirus encoding Klf4 siRNA, and cardiac parameters were analyzed by multiple biological approaches. In dietary-induced obese mouse model, administration of berberine obviously increased cardiac level of KLF4, which closely correlated with improvement of cardiac functional parameters. Co-treatment of lentivirus encoding Klf4 siRNA abolished cardioprotective benefits of berberine, including induction of cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, functional disorders, inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Mechanistically, we found berberine improved cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis and activities, whereas silencing Klf4 decreased berberine-upregulated mitochondrial quality, ATP production and oxygen consumption. Our present study demonstrated that berberine protected against dietary-induced cardiac structural disorders and mitochondrial dysfunction dependent on cardiac KLF4 signaling. Cardiac KLF4 was one of potential therapeutic targets for obesity-induced cardiac injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• High-temperature "Inverse" Hall-Petch behavior was found in TA15 alloy. • Grain boundary-mediated deformation is the main mechanism of high temperature deformation. • By designing the grain size of specimen and distribution of the second phase, it is expected to fully exploit the high-temperature mechanical properties of the material. The Hall-Petch relationship is important for material design at room temperature. However, it is not well studied at high temperatures. In this work, the influence of different microstructures on the high-temperature mechanical behavior and corresponding softening mechanisms of high-temperature titanium alloy TA15 (Ti-6.5Al-2Zr-1Mo-1 V, wt.%) were studied. Specimens with duplex, Widmanstätten, and coarse Widmanstätten microstructures were obtained through powder metallurgy. High-temperature tensile tests were carried out between 500 and 650°C. It was found that the fracture mode of the Widmanstätten microstructure was transgranular at 500 °C and 550 °C, but intergranular at 600 °C and 650 °C. EBSD analysis revealed that the high-temperature deformation was facilitated by several mechanisms including GB softening, GB migration, grains rotation, and activation of multiple slip systems. High temperature nanoindentation indicated sofenting of individual grains with increasing temperature. In-situ tensile testing under SEM revealed deformation was primarily in grain interior at room temperature, and GBs played a significant role at 650℃. The GB behavior at high temperatures is believed responsible for the inverse Hall-Petch relationship. These findings provide a new perspective for improving the high-temperature mechanical properties and microstructure control of titanium and its alloys. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) are the most attractive next-generation structural materials for lightweight design due to their high specific modulus and specific strength. Designing heterogeneous grain structures has been a widespread strategy for overcoming the strength-ductility trade-off in powder metallurgical TMCs. However, achieving a customizable heterogeneous grain structure in TMCs remains a formidable challenge. Here, we propose a novel interdiffusion and self-organization strategy based on the powder metallurgy method to fabricate a pelleted heterostructure Ti6Al4V(Ti64)–TiB composites, which integrates a heterogeneous distribution of reinforcements and heterogeneous grain structures of the matrix. The study reveals that the formation of the pelleted heterostructures is primarily governed by the interdiffusion reaction process between Ti and Al, and V elements, coupled with the growth and distribution changes of TiB induced by the interdiffusion reaction. Moreover, the pellet size is tailored by the spherical Ti–TiB composite powder, allowing precise control over the heterogeneous grain regions. This research contributes valuable insights into the manufacturing process of pelleted heterostructure Ti64–TiB composites and provides a conceptual framework applicable to the design of similar structures in various metal matrix composite systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The association between elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels and the risk of postoperative infection after penile prosthesis surgery remains controversial. To examine the association between HbA1c levels and penile implant infections in men undergoing inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery for erectile dysfunction using a large insurance claims database. This was a retrospective review using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Male subjects 18 years and older with available laboratory data undergoing IPP insertion between 2003 and 2018 were included. Administrative diagnosis and procedural codes were used to assess subsequent penile implant revision surgery status for either infectious or noninfectious causes. Associated conditions were controlled for such as smoking status, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, obesity status, and Peyronie's disease. The main outcomes were risk of revision for infection and time to revision. A total of 2,363 individuals underwent initial IPP insertion and had available HbA1c data with a mean HbA1c of 6.9%. The overall IPP infection revision rate was 3.9% and the highest rate of 12.1% was seen in the highest HbA1c group (>10%). After adjusting for demographic and health factors, a higher HbA1c level was associated with a higher risk of revision for infection, with every 1 point increase in HbA1c conferring an increased risk of infection requiring revision by 29% (95% CI 17–42%). When infections did occur, they happened sooner in men with HbA1c > 10.0% with an average of 1.3 months vs 3.5 months in the HbA1c < 6.0% group. These findings provide insight into the potential relationship between HbA1c levels and postoperative risk of infection after penile prosthesis surgery and may aid in clinical decision-making. Strengths include the large sample size, length of data coverage, and real-world analysis of surgeries done across the United States. Limitations include the reliance on insurance claims data, the retrospective study design, and lack of additional relevant clinical variables that may impact infection rates. While the overall risk of penile prosthesis infection remains modest, the current report notes an increased risk of infection for diabetic men with poor glycemic control. Chen T, Li S, Eisenberg ML. The Association Between Hemoglobin A1c Levels and Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Infection: Analysis of US Insurance Claims Data. J Sex Med 2021;18:1104–1109. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesia‐rich spinel (M2A)‐reinforced yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) ceramic composites have been fabricated by SPS using m‐ZrO2, Y2O3, and waste‐derived M2A powders. The results showed that m‐ZrO2 in M2A‐free YSZ0 specimen is partially stabilized upon temperature rising into tetragonal phase whereas YSZ10‐50 composites containing 10‐50 wt% M2A demonstrated variant behavior where their m‐ZrO2 is stabilized into a cubic form. YSZ10‐50 composites SPSed at 1400°C for 30 minutes revealed greater than 99% relative density, 10‐13 GPa Vickers hardness, 3.5‐5 MPa m0.5 fracture toughness and less than 0.5% apparent porosity. Aging hydration test for five hours soaking at 134°C and water vapor pressure of 2 bar, resulted in a conversion of ~2.8% of t‐ZrO2 to m‐ZrO2 for M2A‐free YSZ0 composite but it does not affect the YSZ10‐50 composites. The outcomes indicate that M2A has significantly improved both the densification and stabilization behavior of m‐ZrO2 through facilitating the diffusion of Y3+, Mg2+, and Al3+ ions inside zirconia lattice structure. In this regard, this study opens the door wide for producing fully stabilized c‐ZrO2 ceramics that could be potentially utilized as industrial ceramics for a broad scope of structural applications of high temperature, high‐stress and corrosive environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The long noncoding RNA antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) plays a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. However, the precise effect of ANRIL on endothelial dysfunction remains unclear. In this study, we investigated ANRIL expression in patients with coronary artery disease and elucidated the molecular mechanism underlying its effect. ANRIL expression was detected in the blood plasma of 111 patients. We analysed the correlation between ANRIL and endothelial dysfunction markers. We also examined the effect of ANRIL on the regulation of endothelial dysfunction. ANRIL levels were increased in patients with acute coronary syndrome. The expression of ANRIL is associated with the inflammatory cytokines monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 and interleukin‐10, which are secreted in response to endothelial dysfunction. Knockdown of ANRIL significantly promoted cell proliferation and tubule formation and inhibited inflammatory activation and apoptosis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). ANRIL‐mediated inhibition of let‐7b regulates HUVEC dysfunction by targeting the TGF‐βR1/Smad signalling pathway. This study highlights a new therapeutic strategy for preventing endothelial dysfunction associated with cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) to investigate the effects of moderate physical exercise on retinal and choroidal vessel densities (VDs) and thicknesses in children. One eye in each of 40 myopic children (mean age, 11.70 years) and 18 emmetropic children (mean age, 11.06 years) were included. SS-OCT 6 × 6-mm radial scans and SS-OCTA 3 × 3-mm images were centered on the macula. Heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded before and immediately after a 20-min stationary cycling exercise and after a 30-min rest. The subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), choroidal thickness (CT), and VD at the superficial and deep retinal layers, choriocapillaris, and deeper choroidal vessels were determined. SFCT and CT were significantly lower at all locations immediately after exercise (p < 0.001) and did not fully recover after rest (p < 0.05). VD was lower in the deep retinal layer after exercise (p = 0.02) and higher in the superficial layer after rest (p = 0.03) in myopic eyes while it was higher in the superficial (p < 0.01) and deep layer (p < 0.01) after rest in emmetropic eyes. No significant exercise-related changes in the superficial retinal VD, choroidal VD, or IOP were observed. ΔCT% and ΔSFCT% were significantly correlated with increases in HR in myopic group (p = 0.04 and p = 0.03, respectively). Exercise increased retinal VD after rest in emmetropic eyes, and caused significant CT thinning that lasted for at least 30 min in both emmetropic and myopic eyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low semen quality often obligates the use of assisted reproductive technology; however, the association between semen quality and assisted reproductive technology outcomes is uncertain. Objectives: To further assess the impact of semen quality on assisted reproductive technology outcomes. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was carried out at a single academic reproductive medicine center (January 2012‐December 2018). Patients undergoing at least one assisted reproductive technology cycle utilizing freshly ejaculated spermatozoa from the male partner were included. We assessed the association between semen quality (as stratified based on WHO 5th edition criteria), paternal age (< or ≥40), and reproductive/perinatal outcomes. To evaluate the differences in assisted reproductive technology outcomes by semen parameters and age, generalized estimating equations were applied for rates of fertilization, pregnancy, implantation, miscarriage, live birth, blast formation, gestational age, and normal embryo biopsy. Results: A total of 2063 couples were identified who underwent 4517 assisted reproductive technology cycles. Average ages of the male and female partners were 39.8 and 37.7, respectively. Lower pregnancy rates were observed in cycles with lower sperm motility (ie <40%; 39.9% vs 44.1%) and total motile count (ie <9 million; 38.3% vs 43.5%). When examining only cycles utilizing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, only a lower motility count was associated with a decline in pregnancy rate (39.1% vs 44.9%). No association was identified between semen quality and gestational age or birth weight. Paternal age was not associated with ART outcomes. However, among assisted reproductive technology cycles in women <40, aneuploidy rate was higher for older men (P <.001). In cycles with women >40, no association between aneuploidy and male age was identified. Discussion: Sperm motility is associated with pregnancy rates, while other semen parameters are not. In cycles in women <40, paternal age is associated with embryo aneuploidy rate. Conclusion: Paternal factors are associated with assisted reproductive technology outcomes, and future studies should explore mechanisms by which semen quality is associated with assisted reproductive technology outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is responsible for 80– 85% of cervical cancer. Cyclin B1 (CCNB1) represents a hub gene during the development of cervical cancer. However, the oncogenic role of CCNB1 in CSCC remains unclear. Our study aims to explore the mechanism underlying CCNB1 regulation on cell cycle progression in CSCC cells. Methods: First, we analyzed differentially expressed genes from CSCC dataset GSE63678 and conducted gene function enrichment analysis. Subsequently, CCNB1 expression was knocked down in CSCC cell lines to assess cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle distribution. After the validation of the binding relationship between forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) and the promoter of CCNB1, the effect of FOXM1 on CCNB1 expression and on CSCC cell growth and apoptosis was verified. We further analyzed the histone ChIP-Seq data of CCNB1 in CSCC cells and measured the acetylation levels of the CCNB1 promoter histones. Results: CCNB1 was overexpressed in CSCC tissues and cells, and CCNB1 silencing inhibited the growth of CSCC cells, and promoted cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. FOXM1 potentiated CCNB1 transcription by binding to its promoter and recruiting CBP/P300, a histone acetyltransferase. Further increasing FOXM1 expression or increasing P300 activity in CSCC cells with CCNB1 knockdown elevated CCNB1 expression and proliferation and cell cycle progression of CSCC cells. Knockdown of CCNB1 activated the p53 pathway in cells. Conclusion: FOXM1 inhibited the activation of the p53 pathway by recruiting CBP/P300, which promoted the transcription of CCNB1, resulting in the growth and cell cycle progression of CSCC cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pattern division multiple access (PDMA) is a new non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) technology. It is proposed to meet the challenge of 5G large-scale connectivity and high-frequency spectral efficiency. Compared with traditional orthogonal multiple access (OMA), PDMA can support more users through the allocation of non-orthogonal resources. Due to perfect aperiodic correlation, complete complementary sequence (CCS) greatly improves the spectrum efficiency of the system. It has been widely used in wireless communication and radar sensing, and it still has research value in 5G. In order to apply the advantages of CCS to NOMA communication system, this paper proposes a system model of CCS spread spectrum coding based on PDMA. CCS is used as spread spectrum code to improve the performance of PDMA communication system. At the same time, on the basis of spread spectrum technology, this paper analyzes the average power allocation algorithm and water-filling power allocation algorithm, and a dynamic power allocation algorithm based on the transmission rate and practical application is proposed. The simulation results show that the system model can effectively improve the performance of the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous and crystalline Zn 1 − x CoxS (x = 0. 1 , 0.3, 0.5) thin films were grown on sapphire (Al2O3) substrates by pulsed laser deposition at substrate temperature of 25∘C and 800∘C, respectively. The X-ray diffraction results show that the crystalline film has a cubic zinc blende structure and the crystalline quality decreased with increasing Co-doping concentration. The X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra reveal that the samples reached an overdoping state at Co-doping concentration of x = 0. 5. The absorbance of films increases and the absorption edge shifts to longer wave length direction with increasing Co-doping concentration. The redshift of the band gap energy depends on the Co composition associating with the Urbach energy. Furthermore, the refractive index and dielectric constant increase with increasing Co-doping concentration. The dispersion parameters, such as dispersion energy ( E d ), oscillator energy ( E o ), static refractive index ( n 0 ), static dielectric constant ( ϵ 0 ), interband transition strength moments ( M − 1 and M − 3 ), oscillator strength S o and oscillator wavelength λ o , have been analyzed by Wemple–DiDomenico single oscillator model. All these parameters were found to be dependent upon the Co-doping concentration in the Zn 1 − x CoxS thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: How prevalent is paternal medication use and comorbidity, and are rates of these rising?Summary Answer: Paternal medication use and comorbidity is common and rising, similar to trends previously described in mothers.What Is Known Already: Maternal medication use and comorbidity has been rising for the past few decades. These trends have been linked to potential teratogenicity, maternal morbidity and mortality and poorer fetal outcomes.Study Design, Size, Duration: This is a Panel (trend) study of 785 809 live births from 2008 to 2016.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: We used the IBM© Marketscan®™ database to gather data on demographic information and International Classification of Diseases codes and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) during the 12 months prior to the estimated date of conception for mothers and fathers. We similarly examined claims of prescriptions in the 3 months prior to conception. We performed companion analyses of medications used for >90 days in the 12 months prior to conception and of any medication use in the 12 months prior to conception.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: We confirmed that both maternal medication use and comorbidity (e.g. hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia) rose over the study period, consistent with prior studies. We found a concurrent rise in both paternal medication use 3 months prior to conception (overall use, 31.5-34.9% during the study period; P < 0.0001) and comorbidity (CCI of ≥1 and 10.6-18.0% over study period; P < 0.0001). The most common conditions seen in the CCI were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for mothers (6.6-11.6%) and hyperlipidemia for fathers (8.6-13.7%). Similar trends for individual medication classes and specific comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia were also seen. All primary result trends were statistically significant, making the role of chance minimal.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: As this is a descriptive study, the clinical impact is uncertain and no causal associations may be made. Though the study uses a large and curated database that includes patients from across the USA, our study population is an insured population and our findings may not be generalizable. Mean parental age was seen to slightly increase over the course of the study (<1 year) and may be associated with increased comorbidity and medication use.Wider Implications Of the Findings: As parental comorbidity and certain medication use may impact fecundability, temporal declines in parental health may impact conception, pregnancy and fetal outcomes.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): None.Trial Registration Number: N/A. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The millimeter-wave channel estimation problem can be solved by estimating the path directions and the path gains. The previous schemes are nearly all based on the uniform linear arrays (ULAs). However, compared with the ULAs, the co-prime array can use fewer array elements to realize larger array aperture, which is beneficial to improve the performance of arrival direction estimation contributing to the estimation performance of angle of arrival (AOA) and angle of departures (AOD). Encouraged by the property of co-prime arrays, a novel channel estimation scheme is proposed for two-dimensional (2-d) co-prime arrays. For each path direction, multiple peaks are generated in the spatial spectrum of each subarray and by selecting over any limited sector to search for an arbitrary peak, which can recover the rest peaks. Then by comparing the peaks of the two subarrays, the common peaks are the correct path direction. Compared with the total-spectrum search (TSS) method, this method effectively reduces the complexity. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can reduce the computational complexity and maintain accurate channel estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eocene-Oligocene transition (EOT) marked a rapid global cooling event, often considered as the beginning of the modern icehouse world. Influenced by various factors, including tectonic activity and paleogeographic settings, the terrestrial records indicate a diverse response of fauna and vegetation to this global event. We examined nine macrofossil assemblages from seven fossil localities on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau and from the mid-latitudinal Europe ranging from the latest Bartonian and Priabonian (37.71–33.9 Ma) to the Rupelian (33.9–27.82 Ma). Our aims were to trace and compare the vegetation history of both regions in the late Eocene and early Oligocene. The results show that both regions experienced changes in vegetation composition in response to climate change, characterized by a decrease in the percentages of broad-leaved evergreen elements and distinctive changes in general vegetation types. A general change in the overall vegetation type from subtropical broad-leaved evergreen forests in the late Eocene to temperate broad-leaved mixed deciduous evergreen forests, or mixed mesophytic forests, in the early Oligocene is recognized in both regions. The results indicate a clear change in leaf architecture, leaf margin states, and secondary venation types in the mid-latitudinal Europe, while the results from the south-eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau show a distinct reduction in leaf size. Our data suggest that both global and regional factors played key roles in shaping the vegetation in the two regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Precipitation is the key climatic factor affecting the distribution of Tsuga ; • The fluctuations of Quaternary glacial and interglacial periods significantly affect the distribution of Tsuga ; • The disappearance of Tsuga in Europe may be related to summer precipitation and winter temperature decrease; • Distribution of Tsuga in EA expanded during the cold periods, while in NA, it contracted. Throughout the Quaternary period, climate change has significantly influenced plant distribution, particularly affecting species within the genus Tsuga (Endl.) Carrière. This climatic impact ultimately led to the extinction of all Tsuga species in Europe. Today, there are ten recognized species of Tsuga worldwide, one of listed as a vulnerable species and four as near-threatened species. The genus Tsuga exhibits a disjunctive distribution in East Asia (EA), eastern North America (ENA), and western North America (WNA). It is crucial to comprehend the mechanisms underlying these distributional changes and to identify key climate variables to develop effective conservation strategies for Tsuga under future climate scenarios. In this study, we applied the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model by combining distribution data for Tsuga with abundant pollen fossil data. Our objective was to investigate the climate factors that shape the distribution of Tsuga , identify climate thresholds, and elucidate distribution dynamics in the context of significant climate changes over the past 1070 thousand years (ka). Our findings highlight the pivotal role of precipitation as the key climate factor affecting the distribution of Tsuga. Specifically, in EA, summer precipitation was the key driver, while in North America (NA), winter precipitation exerted greater importance. Moreover, we observed similarities in climatic requirements between Tsuga species in Europe and EA, and declines in summer precipitation and winter temperature were major factors contributing to the extinction of Tsuga species in Europe. Quaternary glacial and interglacial fluctuations exerted substantial impacts on Tsuga distribution dynamics. The disappearance of Tsuga species in the Korean Peninsula may have occurred during the LGM (Last Glacial Maximum). The potential suitable area for Tsuga species in EA expanded during the cold periods, while in NA, it contracted. In the future, climate change may result Tsuga distribution area contraction in both the EA and NA. Our study has identified distinct response patterns of Tsuga in various geographic regions to Quaternary climate change and offers corresponding suggestions for Tsuga conservation. In the future, it will be imperative to prioritize the conservation of natural Tsuga distributions in EA and NA, with a focus on the impacts of precipitation fluctuation on the dynamic distribution of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Valuable insight into impact of past climate changes on range dynamics of M. insignis. • Additional evidence of glacial expansion for montane species at low latitudes. • Offer protection strategy for low latitudes montane species respond to climate change. The Pleistocene Epoch, marked by significant climatic fluctuations and glaciations, profoundly impacted plant populations. However, our understanding of the influences of last glaciations on tropical-subtropical flora and vegetation remains limited due to insufficient data. Here, we present mummified wood of Magnolia insignis (Wall.) Bl. from the Upper Pleistocene (33–30 ka cal. BP) of Maoming, South China, providing direct evidence of a broader historical range for this species during the period prior to the LGM in the last glaciation. Combining these findings with results from MaxEnt modeling, we demonstrate an expanded range of M. insignis into lower latitudes during last glaciation with subsequent interglacial contraction. This represents the second documented case of such a scenario for a cold-tolerant high-elevation plant species at low latitudes. The results of MaxEnt modeling and a comparison of climatic data across different time periods indicate that the contraction of M. insignis from the Maoming and other low latitude regions of East Asia was driven by the increase in summer temperatures during Holocene. This study not only sheds light on the responses of cold-adapted mountainous species at low latitudes of East Asia to last glaciation, but also justifies the importance of their protection in the view of nowadays and future climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millimeter-wave (mmWave) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) with hybrid precoding is a promising technology for future 5G wireless communications. Channel estimation for the millimeter-wave (mmWave) MIMO systems with hybrid precoding can be performed by estimating the path directions of the channel and corresponding path gains. This paper considers joint measure matrix and channel estimation for a massive MIMO system. By exploiting the sparsity of a massive MIMO system, a channel estimation scheme based on a Toeplitz-structured measure matrix and complete complementary sequence (CC-S) is proposed. Moreover, analytic studies show that the measurement matrix based on CC-S yields either optimal performance or feasibility in practice than an independent identically distributed Gaussian matrix. The performance of the scheme is shown with numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are popular as the chosen reinforcement to achieve excellent mechanical and functional performance in aluminum matrix nanocomposites (AMNCs). However, the key bottleneck problems restrict the strengthening effect using CNTs in AMNCs due to the dispersion homogeneity of CNTs, the distinct differences in physical properties, poor wettability and interface bonding between CNTs and aluminum matrix. This study aims to address these key issues by introducing a continuous SiC nano layer on CNTs surface synthesized from carbon-silicon reaction, acting as a compatibility transition layer prior to mixing with aluminum powders. The results clearly show that the SiC cladding layer provides a good wettability and strong interfacial bonding between CNTs and aluminum matrix, and the interfacial reaction between CNTs and aluminum matrix could be effectively regulated. It is also conducive to reducing the mass density difference and specific surface energy, improving the dispersion of CNTs in matrix. Those factors make a strong contribution to the strengthening effect of CNTs enforcement by achieving high load transfer efficiency. The AMNCs reinforced by this new CNTs/SiC composite powder show clear improvement of mechanical performance without compromising in ductility and electrical conductivity, as compared to AMNCs reinforced by only CNTs or SiC. Image 1 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether the association between male infertility and incident cardiometabolic disease is modified by socioeconomics, race, or geographic region. Retrospective review of data from insurance claims from Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database. Subjects were men, 18-50 years old, with an associated diagnosis of infertility in the United States between 2003 and 2016. Analytical sample were men captured by the Optum's de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database with an associated diagnosis of infertility. Men were classified as either infertile, or not, based on diagnosis or procedural codes. Cardiometabolic health outcomes were then assessed using current procedural terminology codes for diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease. Confounding factors were controlled for such as race, education, socioecomonic status, and region. The main outcomes were development of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease. A total of 76,343 males were diagnosed with male factor infertility, 60,072 males who underwent fertility testing, and 183,742 males that underwent vasectomy (control population). For all men, infertile men had a higher risk of incident hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease when compared to those undergoing vasectomy. Identical associations were found across all education, income, racial, and geographic strata. Our study suggests that men with infertility have a higher risk of cardiometabolic disease in the years following a fertility evaluation regardless of race, region, or socioeconomic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • The production and adsorption characteristics of a covalent organic framework-300 adsorbent was assessed. • Adsorption equilibrium of furfural on COF-300 was reached within 10 s. • COF-300 exhibited ultrahigh adsorption capacity toward furfural with 567.8 mg g−1. • Excellent reusability with no loss in adsorption capacity after five adsorption/desorption cycles. Abstract Furfural is globally produced at 300,000 tons per year by the hydrolysis of biomass rich in hemicellulose. Exploring novel materials for efficient adsorption of furfural from the aqueous solution is thus highly required. Herein, we demonstrated COF-300 as a high-efficient adsorbent for furfural via studies on time-dependent adsorption, isotherms, desorption and regeneration. COF-300 exhibited an ultrafast adsorption of furfural, with the adsorption reaching equilibrium within 10 s. The adsorption isotherms fitted the Langmuir-Freundlich model well with the maximum adsorption capacity of 567.8 mg g−1 at 298.15 K. The adsorbed furfural was easily desorbed from COF-300 and the regenerated COF-300 displayed no perceptible loss in adsorption capacity after five adsorption/desorption cycles. The furfural concentration in the desorbed mixture was 20.2 wt%, which indicated a high adsorption selectivity of 16.6 for 1.5 wt% furfural aqueous solution. The xylose in hydrolysate model solutions had negligible influence on the adsorption of COF-300 for furfural. The short adsorption equilibrium time, large adsorption capacity, high adsorption selectivity and easy desorption as well as excellent reusability make COF-300 a promising adsorbent for furfural. In addition, COF-300 also showed ultrafast and ultrahigh adsorption toward aniline, phenol, toluene, butanol and ethanol. The ultrahigh adsorption of COF-300 for furfural is attributed to a π-π interaction and hydrophobic interaction. The unique pore structure of COF-300 (numerous larger pores than furfural molecules) as well as the π-π and hydrophobic interactions are responsible for the ultrafast adsorption of furfural by COF-300. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Recently much endeavor has been devoted to improving pervaporation performances of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membranes for organic aqueous solutions by doping hydrophobic porous particles. However, the strategy generally promotes water permeation as well, which is contrary to the separation purpose but has not caused researchers' attention. Here, a novel strategy was proposed to improve pervaporation performance by promoting organic permeation and simultaneously inhibiting water permeation via doping organophilic porous particles that have hydrogen bonding interaction sites in pore channels. To test this strategy, COF-300 was synthesized and blended with PDMS to form mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Pore size distribution, FT-IR, XPS and water adsorption results demonstrated the presence of hydrophilic amino and aldehyde groups in COF-300. Meanwhile, the COF-300 exhibited ultrahigh affinity toward furfural with a maximum adsorption capacity of 525.3 mg g−1 at 80 °C. Pervaporation experiments showed that COF-300 promoted permeations of furfural and other organics including aniline, butanol, ethanol and phenol but inhibited water transport. The reduced water permeability was attributed to the hydrogen bonding between water molecule and COF-300, which increased the mass transfer resistance of water molecules. Compared to the pure PDMS membrane, the 8 wt% COF-300/PDMS MMM displayed an increment of 14.1% in furfural permeability but a diminution of 20.0% in water permeability when separating a 1.0 wt% furfural aqueous solution at 80 °C. As a result, an increase of 42.7% in the furfural selectivity was obtained, demonstrating the feasibility of the proposed strategy and the high potential of COF-300 in fabricating MMMs for pervaporation separation of organic aqueous solutions. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • PDMS/COF-300 matrix mixed pervaporation membranes were prepared. • COF-300 greatly enhances furfural solubility in mixed matrix membranes. • PDMS/COF-300 membranes show high permeabilities to organics due to high organo-affinity and open pore channels of COF-300. • Water transport is limited because of hydrogen bonding between water and COF-300. • COF-300 increases furfural/water selectivity by 42.7% of the pristine PDMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Use polydopamine to endow ZIF-8 particles with chemically reactive surfaces. • Enhance the hydrophobicity of hydrophobic ZIF-8 particles by a silane modification. • The enhanced hydrophobicity is favorable for the PV performance of MMMs. • An increase of 23% in separation factor compared to the ZIF-8/PDMS membrane. Abstract The hydrophobicity of porous particles is important for the performance of mixed-matrix membranes for pervaporation separation of n -butanol aqueous solution. Here, a strategy was proposed to further enhance the hydrophobicity of ZIF-8. ZIF-8 particles were first coated by polydopamine (PDA) to create chemically reactive surface and then modified with silane coupling agents n -propyltrimethoxysilane and n -octyltriethoxysilane. The water contact angles of the obtained P-ZIF-8@PDA and O-ZIF-8@PDA separately increased from 132.8° to 137.3° and 151.5°, which demonstrated a remarkable enhancement in hydrophobicity. The silane-modified ZIF-8 particles were subsequently incorporated into PDMS to fabricate mixed-matrix membranes, which exhibited an improved adsorption selectivity for butanol. The best membrane with 1 wt% loading (O-ZIF-8@PDA) exhibited a separation factor of 56 and butanol flux of 480.6 g m−2 h−1 for a 1.5 wt% butanol solution at 55 °C. The separation factor increased by 23% compared with that of a ZIF-8/PDMS membrane. Moreover, compared with those of a pure PDMS membrane, the separation factor and butanol flux increased by 34% and 85%, respectively. Thus, the strategy is an effective method to improve the PV performance of PDMS membranes for butanol separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We selected four nanobodies that target HPV16E7 from the phage display library. • Nanobody 2 was expressed in E.coli and purified. • Nanobody 2 was specific to HPV16E7. • Nanobody 2 was able to inhibit HPV16 positive cells proliferation after intracellular expression. Abstract The persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common causes of cervical cancer. It is well documented that expression of two oncogenes (E6/E7) plays a key role in tumor progression. HPV16E7 -targeting via nanobody (Nb) therefore could be beneficial for HPV16-associated cancer diagnosis and therapy. In this work, phage-display approach was employed to select the high affinity HPV16E7-specific Nb. Firstly; a high-quality immune library was constructed. After three round of biopanning, high-affinity HPV16 E7-specific nanobodies were retrieved. By phage ELISA and sequencing, four different sequences of anti- HPV16E7 nanobodies were selected. Then recombinant nanobody Nb2 was cloned and expressed in E. coli , and the specificity and thermal stability of purified Nb2 was evaluated. To examine the potential of Nb2 as an inhibitor of E7 function, Nb2 was expressed within HPV16 positive cells. Proliferation assay showed that the intracellular expressed Nb2 as an intrabody can decrease the growth of HPV16-positive cells. The results indicate that Nb2 as an intracellular antibody directed towards HPV oncoprotein E7 has great promise in applications for the therapy of HPV16-associated disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Question: Is female infertility associated with higher risk of cancer?Summary Answer: Although absolute risks are low, infertility is associated with higher risk of cancer compared to a group of non-infertile women.What Is Known Already: Infertile women are at higher risk of hormone-sensitive cancers. Information on risk of non-gynecologic cancers is rare and conflicting, and the effect of pregnancy on these risk associations is known for only a minority of cancer types.Study Design, Size, Duration: Retrospective cohort analysis between 2003 and 2016 using an insurance claims database.Participants/materials, Setting, Methods: In all, 64 345 infertile women identified by infertility diagnosis, testing or treatment were compared to 3 128 345 non-infertile patients seeking routine gynecologic care. Women with prior diagnosis of cancer or within 6 months of index event were excluded. Main outcomes were development of any malignancy and individual cancers as identified by ICD-9/ICD-10 codes. Results were adjusted for age at index date, index year, nulliparity, race, smoking, obesity, number of visits per year and highest level of education.Main Results and the Role Of Chance: Infertile women had an overall higher risk of developing cancer compared to non-infertile women (2.0 versus 1.7%, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 1.18; CI: 1.12-1.24). In addition, the risk of uterine cancer (0.10 versus 0.06%, aHR = 1.78; CI: 1.39-2.28), ovarian cancer (0.14 versus 0.09%, aHR 1.64; CI: 1.33-2.01), lung cancer (0.21 versus 0.21%, aHR = 1.38; CI: 1.01-1.88), thyroid cancer (0.21 versus 0.16%, aHR = 1.29; CI: 1.09-1.53), leukemia (0.10 versus 0.06%, aHR = 1.55; CI: 1.21-1.98) and liver and gallbladder cancer (0.05 versus 0.03%, aHR = 1.59; CI: 1.11-2.30) were higher in infertile women compared to non-infertile women. In a subgroup analysis of women in each cohort who became pregnant and had a delivery during enrollment, the risk of uterine and ovarian cancer were similar between infertile and non-infertile women. In a subgroup analysis excluding women with PCOS and endometriosis from both cohorts, the risk of uterine cancer was similar between infertile and non-infertile women.Limitations, Reasons For Caution: Absolute risk of cancer was low, average follow up for each individual was limited, and average age at index date was limited. Insurance databases have known limitations.Wider Implications Of the Findings: Using claims-based data, we report that infertile women may have a higher risk of certain cancers in the years after infertility evaluation; continued follow up should be considered after reproductive goals are achieved.Study Funding/competing Interest(s): None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To characterize sociodemographic differences in semen parameters among US men undergoing a semen analysis.Materials and Methods: Men who provided a semen sample were identified from insurance claims between 2007 and 2016. Differences in semen parameters were characterized according to age, race, education, and region. Mean semen parameters and proportions of men with suboptimal parameters were compared and risks of oligospermia and azoospermia were assessed by logistic regression.Results: Of the 7263 men included, most men were white (55.1%), Hispanic (20.2%), or Asian (10.2%). Asians had the highest mean semen concentrations (69.2 × 106/mL), whereas blacks had the lowest (51.3 × 106/mL). Men from the Midwest were more likely to have oligospermia (odds ratio [OR] 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34-1.94), whereas men from the West were less likely (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.82-0.94) when compared with men from South. An association between education and sperm concentration was observed. For example, men with a high school diploma or less were more likely to have oligospermia (OR 1.09; 95% CI 0.95-1.26), whereas men with at least a bachelor degree were less likely (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76-1.0) when compared with men with less than a bachelor degree.Conclusion: As we observed differences in semen quality based on sociodemographic factors, these findings may have clinical implications as relying on a single reference value when guiding infertile couples may be problematic given these variations. Further work is warranted to understand the etiology of such differences and determine if different normative reference values may apply for different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium matrix composites (TMCs) reinforced with titanium boride whisker (TiBw) prepared by conventional smelting or powder metallurgy via in-situ techniques are inevitable to cause TiBw coarsening by high-temperature thermal history, which feasibly leads to stress concentration and results in seriously inverse relationship between strength and toughness. This paper developed a novel strategy using Ti-TiBw composite powder as raw powder which is produced by the plasma rotating electrode atomization method (PREP), to control TiBw to nanoscale size by taking advantage of the rapid cooling rate of PREP. On this basis, the fast eutectic element Cu was proposed as alloying element and introduced into Ti-TiBw composite system using powder metallurgy, to investigate the influence rules of Cu content on TiBw scale characteristic parameters (diameter and aspect ratio, etc.) as well as the microstructure and mechanical properties of Ti-TiBw composites. The hardness of the specimen was increased by 61.9%, while its tensile strength and yield strength were increased to 823 ± 12 MPa and 602 ± 11 MPa, respectively. Its elongation retained the same level at 10.8 ± 1.9% as that of Ti-TiBw composites. • Cu prevents the in-situ reaction of Ti-B from occurring, thereby inhibiting the TiBw coarsening rate. • Ti 2 Cu transformed from nanoscale particles to laminar eutectic tissue and improved the mechanical properties of materials. • Revealed the strengthening mechanism of Ti-TiBw composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, dense MAX phase Ti 3 AlC 2 enhanced and toughened TiAl 3 matrix composites with mass fractions of 10∼40% were prepared by in-situ reaction via powder metallurgy route which using TiH 2 , Al and TiC powder as the starting materials. Then, the microstructure and phase structure of the composites were characterized, and the relationship between microstructure, mechanical properties and fracture mechanism was systematically investigated. The results show that the lath-like (micron level) and fine-needle-like (submicron level) reinforcements Ti 3 AlC 2 are uniformly distributed in TiAl 3 matrix. With the increases of mass fraction of reinforcements, the average grain size of the TiAl 3 matrix decreases remarkably from 7.6 μm to 4.8 μm, indicating that the reinforcements Ti 3 AlC 2 can effectively refine the matrix grains and plays a good pinning effect on the TiAl 3 matrix. The prepared Ti 3 AlC 2 /TiAl 3 composite with 30% mass fraction exhibits excellent comprehensive mechanical properties: the Vickers hardness, flexural strength, fracture toughness is 575 ± 5 HV, 470 ± 18 MPa, and 3.83 ± 0.05 MPa m1/2, 14.1%, 174.9% and 117.6% higher than that of the pure TiAl 3 matrix, respectively. Both the strengthening and toughening effects are significant. The strengthening mechanism are fine grain strengthening and deformation strengthening, while the toughening mechanism is a synthetic effect in terms of crack deflection, crack bifurcation, grain refinement and stress-induced microcrack. Fracture analysis shows that the fracture mechanism is transgranular (cleavage) fracture. • Ti 3 AlC 2 enhanced and toughened TiAl 3 matrix composites are prepared by in-situ reaction of TiH 2 –TiC–Al system. • The in-situ generated layered reinforcement Ti 3 AlC 2 can significantly refine the microstructure of TiAl 3 matrix. • The Ti 3 AlC 2 /TiAl 3 composites prepared by this work have excellent comprehensive mechanical properties. • The strengthening mechanisms of the composites are fine grain strengthening and deformation strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano alumina whiskers (Al 2 O 3 w) were in-situ synthesized in carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced aluminum matrix nanocomposites (AMNCs) which were fabricated by flake powder metallurgy (P/M). To study the strengthening effect of nano Al 2 O 3 w on CNTs reinforced AMNCs and clarify the strengthening mechanisms, the microstructures and mechanical properties of AMNCs are investigated. It is found that CNTs-Al 2 O 3 w reinforcements have a significant hybrid strengthening effect on tensile strength due to their uniform dispersion and good interfacial bonding with Al matrix. The strengthening mechanisms of CNTs-Al 2 O 3 w reinforcements are considered as a sum of load transfer, grain refinement, thermal mismatch and Orowan looping theory. The experimental strengths of AMNCs containing 0.25 and 0.5 vol% CNTs are well matched with the theoretical values calculated by the strengthening mechanisms. And the differences between them are less than 2.9%, which is highly effective for predicting the mechanical properties of CNTs-Al 2 O 3 w reinforced AMNCs. The predicted values indicate that load transfer mechanism from both CNTs and Al 2 O 3 w is dominant, improving UTS of 0.5CNTs reinforced flake AMNCs (228 MPa) by more than 79.5% in comparison with pure Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a leading cause of death in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The purpose of this study was to assess long-term outcomes in patients with SSc-PAH.Methods: Pulmonary Hypertension Assessment and Recognition of Outcomes in Scleroderma is a prospective registry of patients with SSc at high risk for or with incident pulmonary hypertension from right heart catheterization. Incident World Health Organization group I PAH patients were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated for the overall cohort and those who died of PAH. Multivariate Cox regression models identified predictors of mortality.Results: Survival in 160 patients with incident SSc-PAH at 1, 3, 5, and 8 years was 95%, 75%, 63%, and 49%, respectively. PAH accounted for 52% of all deaths. When restricted to deaths from PAH, respective survival rates were 97%, 83%, 76%, and 76%, with 93% of PAH-related deaths occurring within 4 years of diagnosis. Men (hazard ratio [HR], 3.11; 95% CI, 1.38-6.98), diffuse disease (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.13-3.93), systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) on ECG (HR, 1.06 95% CI, 1.01-1.11), mean PAP on right heart catheterization (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.001-1.07), 6-min walk distance (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.86-0.99), and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.92) significantly affected survival on multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Overall survival in PHAROS was higher than other SSc-PAH cohorts. PAH accounted for more than one-half of deaths and primarily within the first few years after PAH diagnosis. Optimization of treatment for those at greatest risk of early PAH-related death is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnSe:Co thin films were grown on sapphire (Al 2 O 3 ) substrates by pulsed laser deposition at different substrate temperature. Evolutions of the microstructure, morphology and optical properties of the ZnSe:Co thin films as a function of substrate temperature were analyzed. The results indicated that the crystalline quality was promoted and the films demonstrated increasing (111) preferred orientation with increasing substrate temperature. Excellent crystalline quality and (111) preferred oriented thin film was grown at substrate temperature of 800 °C. The refractive index and dielectric constant analyzed by the transmission spectra increased with elevating substrate temperature, which may be due to the promotion of the film packing density. The thin films with wider optical band gap in range of 2.73 eV to 3.27 eV were obtained in the experiment. The band gap decreased when the substrate temperature was increased from 25 °C to 600 °C, and then increased with a further increase of substrate temperature to 800 °C. The evolution of band gap associates with the quantum confinement effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]