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Camellia reticulata , an ancient plant species endemic to Yunnan Province, China, remains underexplored in terms of its endophytic bacterial communities. The plant tissue pedicel serves as the connection between the flower and the stem, not only delivers nutrients but also transmits metabolic substances from endophytic bacteria to the nectar during long-term microbial colonization and probably improves the antagonistic activity of nectar against yeast. Hence, 138 isolates of endophytic bacteria have been isolated in this study from the pedicels of 12- and 60-year-old C. reticulata. Comparative analysis revealed significantly higher density of endophytic bacteria in older trees. Among these isolates, 29 exhibited inhibitory effects against nectar yeasts. Most of the isolates displayed positive results for Gram staining, catalase reaction, gelatin liquefaction, and motility. Additionally, the isolates demonstrated the ability to utilize diverse substrates, such as glucose, nitrate, and starch. Based on 16S rRNA molecular biology analysis, these isolates were identified to be 11 different species of 6 genera, with the majority belonging to Bacillus genus. Notably, C1 isolate, identified as Bacillus spizizenii , exhibited strongest antagonistic effect against three yeasts, i.e., Metschnikowia reukaufii, Cryptococcus laurentii , and Rhodotorula glutinis , with minimum inhibitory concentration values below 250 μg/mL. Major metabolites of B. spizizenii were aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, and quinolones, which possess antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, KEGG enrichment pathways primarily included the synthesis of plant secondary metabolites, phenylpropanoids, amino acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, neomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin. Therefore, antagonistic activity of B. spizizenii against yeasts could be attributed to these antibiotics. The findings highlight the diverse endophytic bacteria associated with C. reticulata , indicating their potential as a valuable resource of bioactive metabolites. Additionally, this study provides new insights into the role of endophytic bacteria of pedicels in enhancing nectar resistance against yeasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the key material of aero-engine turbine blades, nickel-based single-crystal superalloys are in long-term service under high temperature, high pressure, and high rotational speed and are prone to fatigue failure. DD6 superalloy is a nickel-based single-crystal superalloy widely used in advanced aero-engines in China. In this work, the recrystallization study of laser shock peened nickel-based single-crystal superalloy was carried out; the finite element model of laser shock peened nickel-based single-crystal superalloy was established, and the influence law of laser shock peening overlap rate and laser shock peening times on the residual stress field was obtained. Secondly, the effects of different laser shock peening temperatures on the material properties of the nickel-based single-crystal superalloy after heat treatment were investigated. It was concluded that heating up to 300 °C during laser shock peening of the nickel-based single-crystal superalloy can effectively suppress the recrystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The widespread application of polylactide (PLA) has been limited by its slow crystallization rate and poor toughness. In the present work, a low molecular weight nucleator, TMC 301, and polyamide elastomer (PAE) were incorporated into PLA through melt blending to mediate both the crystallization capability and impact toughness. It was found that the introduction of TMC 301 decreased the crystallization temperature of PLA during the cooling process, while enhancing its cold crystallization capacity of PLA in the heating scan. Accordingly, the presence of TMC 301 shortened the half-crystallization time of PLA at 95°C in the ternary blends with minimal influence on the Avrami index. Moreover, the dispersion size of PAE decreased when the concentration of TMC 301 increased to 0.3 wt%, leading to a substantial increase in the tensile toughness and the impact strength of the PLA/PAE/TMC 301 blend. It is suggested that the size of the elastomer particles is a critical factor influencing the toughening efficiency of TMC301 in PLA/PAE blends. The nucleator TMC 301 and polyamide elastomer (PAE) were incorporated into PLA through melt blending to enhance both crystallization capability and toughness. The phase structure, crystallization behavior and the mechanical performances were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is devoted to investigate the null controllability of the transmission wave-Schrödinger system with only one boundary control. The domain of the system consists of two bounded intervals, where the wave and Schrödinger equations evolve, respectively. Two kinds of transmission conditions are considered: one is the simple continuous transmission, and by using the HUM method, the null controllability of the system is derived in the Hilbert space when a boundary control is added only on the wave equation. The other case is that the Schrödinger state is associated with the velocity of the wave, and we establish the null controllability of the system. It is found that the second space has more regularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression and are involved in bacterial pathogenesis and host–pathogen interactions. In this study, we investigated the function of miRNAs in the regulation of host responses to Pasteurella multocida infection. Using next-generation sequencing, we analyzed miRNA expression pattern and identified differentially expressed miRNAs in Pasteurella multocida-infected goat lungs. In addition, we investigated the function of differentially expressed miRNAs andtheir targeted signaling pathways in bacterial infection processes. The results showed that Pasteurella multocida infection led to 69 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs, including 28 known annotated miRNAs with miR-497-3p showing the most significant difference. Gene target prediction and functional enrichment analyses showed that the target genes were mainly involved in cell proliferation, regulation of the cellular metabolic process, positive regulation of cellular process, cellular senescence, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway and infection-related pathways. In conclusion, these data provide a new perspective on the roles of miRNAs in Pasteurella multocida infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact and versatile tensile apparatus for polymer materials is designed and fabricated. Three distinct stretching modes are developed: constant speed, cyclic, and sinusoidal, with adjustable speeds ranging from 0.001 to 120 mm/s. To capture the true strain of the central region, a high-speed camera has been integrated into the apparatus. The temperature of the sample chamber is controlled by flowing air, enabling a homogeneous temperature in the range of RT ∼200 °C. The apparatus is particularly suitable for a synchrotron beamline. The structural evolution of natural rubber during sinusoidal stretching is investigated by in situ wide-angle x-ray scattering. Scattering patterns, force, clamp position, and sample images are saved simultaneously during stretching. Notably, the results reveal a sinusoidal variation in the crystallinity of crosslinked natural rubber when a sinusoidal strain was applied to the sample. The integration of advanced measurement techniques and controlled experimental conditions ensures the acquisition of reliable and accurate data, providing valuable insights into the structural evolution of materials under dynamic deformation conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drought stress usually inhibits plant growth, which may increase the difficulty of greening slopes. Methods: In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on the growth and drought tolerance of two plant species, Festuca elata and Cassia glauca, in a vegetation concrete environment by exogenously inoculating AM fungi and setting three drought levels: well water, moderate drought and severe drought. The results showed that plant growth was significantly inhibited under drought stress; however, AM fungi inoculation significantly promoted plant height, root length, and above- and belowground biomass in these two plant species. Results: Compared with, those in the CK treatment, the greatest increases in the net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate in the AM treatment group were 36.72%, 210.08%, and 66.41%, respectively. Moreover, inoculation with AM fungi increased plant superoxide dismutase and catalase activities by 4.70-150.73% and 9.10-95.70%, respectively, and reduced leaf malondialdehyde content by 2.79-55.01%, which alleviated the damage caused by oxidative stress. These effects alleviated the damage caused by oxidative stress and increased the content of soluble sugars and soluble proteins in plant leaves by 1.52-65.44% and 4.67-97.54%, respectively, which further increased the drought adaptability of plants. However, inoculation with AM fungi had different effects on different plants. Conclusion: In summary, this study demonstrated that the inoculation of AM fungi in vegetation concrete environments can significantly increase plant growth and drought tolerance. The plants that formed a symbiotic structure with AM fungi had a larger root uptake area, greater water uptake capacity, and greater photosynthesis and gas exchange efficiency. In addition, AM fungi inoculation further increased the drought adaptability of the plants by increasing their antioxidant enzyme activity and regulating their metabolite content. These findings are highly important for promoting plant growth and increasing drought tolerance under drought conditions, especially for potential practical applications in areas such as slope protection, and provide useful references for future ecological engineering and sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are pivotal within the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), and recently, have attracted intensive attention for cancer treatment. However, concurrently to promote TAMs repolarization and phagocytosis of cancer cells remains challenging. Here, a TAMs-targeted albumin nanoparticles-based delivery system (M@SINPs) was constructed for the co-delivery of photosensitizer IR820 and SHP2 inhibitor SHP099 to potentiate macrophage-mediated cancer immunotherapy. M@SINPs under laser irradiation can generate the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and facilitate M2-TAMs to an M1 phenotype. Meanwhile, inhibition of SHP2 could block the CD47-SIRPa pathway to restore M1 macrophage phagocytic activity. M@SINPs-mediated TAMs remodeling resulted in the immunostimulatory TME by repolarizing TAMs to an M1 phenotype, restoring its phagocytic function and facilitating intratumoral CTLs infiltration, which significantly inhibited tumor growth. Furthermore, M@SINPs in combination with anti-PD−1 antibody could also improve the treatment outcomes of PD−1 blockade and exert the synergistic anticancer effects. Thus, the macrophage repolarization/phagocytosis restoration combination through M@SINPs holds promise as a strategy to concurrently remodel TAMs in TME for improving the antitumor efficiency of immune checkpoint block and conventional therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lightweight foam made of poly(ether‐b‐amide) (PEBA) elastomer has been widely used in sport shoes due to its superior rebounding and supporting properties. Novel PEBA with polyamide 1012 as hard segments and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) as soft segments was foamed by supercritical CO2. The influence of foaming process parameters, that is saturation temperature, pressure on the morphology of cellular structure was systematically studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and wide‐angle x‐ray diffraction (WAXD). By controlling the viscoelastic behavior of PEBA at certain temperatures and pressures, foams with low density and energy loss coefficient can be fabricated. The cell density of 4.5 × 109 cells/cm3 and expansion ratio of 16.0 of the foams can be obtained respectively. Cyclic compression performance of foams was systematically studied. For the foams with the highest expansion ratio, the energy loss coefficient of 11.9% in the first cycle and 3.5% after equilibrium were observed, which were less than those of former reported PEBA foams. The relationship between the Young's modulus and expansion ratio is in line with the Gibson–Ashby relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-hydraulic root source signaling (nHRS) is a unique positive response to soil drying in the regulation of plant growth and development. However, it is unclear how the nHRS mediates the tradeoff between source and sink at the late growth stages and its adaptive mechanisms in primitive wheat. To address this issue, a root-splitting design was made by inserting solid partition in the middle of the pot culture to induce the occurrence of nHRS using four wheat cultivars (MO1 and MO4, diploid; DM22 and DM31, tetraploid) as materials. Three water treatments were designed as 1) both halves watered (CK), 2) holistic root system watered then droughted (FS), 3) one-half of the root system watered and half droughted (PS). FS and PS were designed to compare the role of the full root system and split root system to induce nHRS. Leaves samples were collected during booting and anthesis to compare the role of nHRS at both growth stages. The data indicated that under PS treatment, ABA concentration was significantly higher than FS and CK, demonstrating the induction of nHRS in split root design and nHRS decreased cytokinin (ZR) levels, particularly in the PS treatment. Soluble sugar and proline accumulation were higher in the anthesis stage as compared to the booting stage. POD activity was higher at anthesis, while CAT was higher at the booting stage. Increased ABA (nHRS) correlated with source-sink relationships and metabolic rate (i.e., leaf) connecting other stress signals. Biomass density showed superior resource acquisition and utilization capabilities in both FS and PS treatment as compared to CK in all plants. Our findings indicate that nHRS-induced alterations in phytohormones and their effect on source-sink relations were allied with the growth stages in primitive wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The photocatalytic oxidative coupling of thiols is one of the most popular methods to synthesize the disulfides. Triphenylamine and its derivatives (TPAs) are promising for the above reaction, but suffer from the easy polymerization and difficult separation. To overcome these obstacles while controlling the photogenerated electrons transfer directly to target substrates, herein, we constructed one TPA‐based metal‐organic framework (MOF), (Me2NH2)[Sr(TCBPA)]·DMA·3H2O (1), by direct self‐assembly of tris(4′‐carboxybiphenyl)amine (H3TCBPA) and photoredox inert strontium ion (Sr2+). DFT calculations revealed that the valence band maximum (VBM) and the conduction band minimum (CBM) are mainly located on TCBPA3–, successfully inhibiting the undesirable electron migration to metal nodes. Experimental results indicated that 1 displays superior performance than homogeneous H3TCBPA, which may result from the abundant π···π and C—H···π interactions between the well‐arranged TCBPA3– and the build‐in electric field between the anionic framework and the Me2NH2+. This work highlights that immobilizing TPAs into MOFs is one promising approach to designing heterogeneous photocatalysts for the synthesis of disulfides by oxidative coupling of thiols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanomedicine has reshaped the landscape of cancer treatment. However, its efficacy is still hampered by innate tumor defense systems that rely on adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for fuel, including damage repair, apoptosis resistance, and immune evasion. Inspired by the naturally enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidase (GOx) with glucose, here a novel "two birds with one stone" technique for amplifying enzyme‐mediated tumor apoptosis and enzyme‐promoted metabolic clearance is proposed and achieved using GOx‐functionalized rhenium nanoclusters‐doped polypyrrole (Re@ReP‐G). Re@ReP‐G reduces ATP production while increasing H2O2 concentrations in the tumor microenvironment through GOx‐induced enzymatic oxidation, which in turn results in the downregulation of defense (HSP70 and HSP90) and anti‐apoptotic Bcl‐2 proteins, the upregulation of pro‐apoptotic Bax, and the release of cytochrome c. These processes are further facilitated by laser‐induced hyperthermia effect, ultimately leading to severe tumor apoptosis. As an enzymatic byproduct, H2O2 catalyzes the conversion of rhenium nanoclusters in Re@ReP‐G nanostructures into rhenate from the outside in, which accelerates their metabolic clearance in vivo. This Re@ReP‐G‐based "two birds with one stone" therapeutic strategy provides an effective tool for amplifying tumor apoptosis and safe metabolic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Seasonal human coronavirus NL63 (HCoV-NL63) is a frequently encountered virus linked to mild upper respiratory infections. However, its potential to cause more severe or widespread disease remains an area of concern. This study aimed to investigate a rare localized epidemic of HCoVNL63-induced respiratory infections among pediatric patients in Guilin, China, and to understand the viral subtype distribution and genetic characteristics. Methods: In this study, 83 pediatric patients hospitalized with acute respiratory infections and positive for HCoV-NL63 were enrolled. Molecular analysis was conducted to identify the viral subgenotypes and to assess genetic variations in the receptor-binding domain of the spiking protein. Results: Among the 83 HCoV-NL63-positive children, three subgenotypes were identified: C4, C3, and B. Notably, 21 cases exhibited a previously unreported subtype, C4. Analysis of the C4 subtype revealed a unique amino acid mutation (I507L) in the receptor-binding domain of the spiking protein, which was also observed in the previously reported C3 genotype. This mutation may suggest potential increases in viral transmissibility and pathogenicity. Discussion: The findings of this study highlight the rapid mutation dynamics of HCoV-NL63 and its potential for increased virulence and epidemic transmission. The presence of a unique mutation in the C4 subtype, shared with the C3 genotype, raises concerns about the virus's evolving nature and its potential public health implications. This research contributes valuable insights into the understanding of HCoV-NL63's epidemiology and pathogenesis, which is crucial for effective disease prevention and control strategies. Future studies are needed to further investigate the biological significance of the observed mutation and its potential impact on the virus's transmissibility and pathogenicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: A disulfide‐based poly(ether‐b‐amide) copolymer with rapid self‐healing capability under moderate conditions was synthesized from 4,4'‐dithiodibutyric acid (DTDBA), isophorondiamine (IPDA) and poly(tetramethylene oxide) (PTMO) based on a two‐step method. The incorporation of IPDA with asymmetric structure and substantial steric hindrance not only effectively decreased the number of regular H‐bonds, but also inhibited the crystallization of polyamide segments, imparting the synthesized poly(ether‐b‐amide) copolymer with an amorphous structural feature. Based on the coordination of segmental diffusion and recombination of disulfide bonds and hydrogen bonds, the scratches and damaged mechanical properties of PEBADS‐I611 could be completely self‐healed after healing at 40 °C for only 11 min and 3 h, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The learning speed of feed-forward neural networks is notoriously slow and has presented a bottleneck in deep learning applications for several decades. For instance, gradient-based learning algorithms, which are used extensively to train neural networks, tend to work slowly when all of the network parameters must be iteratively tuned. To counter this, both researchers and practitioners have tried introducing randomness to reduce the learning requirement. Based on the original construction of Igelnik and Pao, single layer neural-networks with random input-to-hidden layer weights and biases have seen success in practice, but the necessary theoretical justification is lacking. In this study, we begin to fill this theoretical gap. We then extend this result to the non-asymptotic setting using a concentration inequality for Monte-Carlo integral approximations. We provide a (corrected) rigorous proof that the Igelnik and Pao construction is a universal approximator for continuous functions on compact domains, with approximation error squared decaying asymptotically like O(1/n) for the number n of network nodes. We then extend this result to the non-asymptotic setting, proving that one can achieve any desired approximation error with high probability provided n is sufficiently large. We further adapt this randomized neural network architecture to approximate functions on smooth, compact submanifolds of Euclidean space, providing theoretical guarantees in both the asymptotic and non-asymptotic forms. Finally, we illustrate our results on manifolds with numerical experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of resistance to prostate cancer (PCa) treatment, particularly to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), has posed a significant challenge in the field of PCa management. Among the therapeutic options for PCa, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy are commonly used modalities. However, these therapeutic approaches, while inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, may also trigger stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS). Cellular senescence, an entropy-driven transition from an ordered to a disordered state, ultimately leading to cell growth arrest, exhibits a dual role in PCa treatment. On one hand, senescent tumor cells may withdraw from the cell cycle, thereby reducing tumor growth rate and exerting a positive effect on treatment. On the other hand, senescent tumor cells may secrete a plethora of cytokines, growth factors and proteases that can affect neighboring tumor cells, thereby exerting a negative impact on treatment. This review explores how radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy trigger SIPS and the nuanced impact of senescent tumor cells on PCa treatment. Additionally, we aim to identify novel therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance in PCa treatment, thereby enhancing patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the limitation of existing point cloud classification and segmentation methods that use max pooling to aggregate local neighborhood features, which leads to the loss of important information beyond the maximum value, this paper proposes a point cloud classification and segmentation network that combines Adaptive Graph Convolution (AGConv) and Attention Pooling (AP). Firstly, a local graph structure of the point cloud is constructed using K-nearest neighbors algorithm, and adaptive convolution kernels are generated based on the features of the points, enabling flexible and accurate capturing of local neighborhood features. Secondly, to effectively enhance feature aggregation, attention pooling is utilized to define an energy function and obtain weight values, which are used to weight and aggregate more representative local features of the point cloud. Finally, adaptive graph convolution and attention pooling are stacked to extract global features layer by layer, thereby improving the accuracy of classification and segmentation. Experimental results demonstrate that compared with the benchmark network, the average class accuracy of point cloud classification is improved by 0.9%, and the average intersection over union of part segmentation and semantic segmentation is improved by 0.8% and 0.3% respectively. This demonstrates that the algorithm can effectively improve the accuracy of point cloud classification and segmentation, and has high robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure and properties of incompatible polylactide (PLA)/polyamide elastomer (PAE) blends were tailored by a chain extender specifically the styrene–glycidyl acrylate copolymer Joncryl ADR4368 (ADR). Various PLA/PAE/ADR blends with different compositions were prepared by melt blending, and their morphology, crystallization behavior, and mechanical and the shape memory properties were systematically investigated. The results showed a uniform dispersion of PAE particles in the PLA matrix for the PLA blends with a reduction in particle size upon the addition of ADR. The crystallization of PLA was retarded, which was confirmed by a decrease in the melt crystallization temperature and an increase in cold crystallization temperature in the PLA/PAE/ADR blends. Rheological analysis showed an improvement in the melt elasticity of the PLA/PAE binary blend due to the presence of ADR, possibly attributed to the formation of long‐chain‐branched copolymers at the interface. Notably, the PLA/PAE/ADR blend exhibited superior toughness, featuring an elongation at break of 288% and a notched impact strength of 37 kJ·m−2, along with a high shape memory fixation rate and recovery rate when the ADR content was 1 wt%. Furthermore, the underlying toughening mechanism was elucidated. This work may offer an industrially scalable relevant model to fabricate high‐performance PLA materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dormancy release and reactivation in temperate trees are mainly controlled by temperature and are affected by age, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of low temperatures in winter and warm temperatures in spring on dormancy release and reactivation in Larix kaempferi. Further, we established the relationships between cell-cycle genes and cambium cell division. The results showed that chilling accelerated L. kaempferi bud break overall, and the longer the duration of chilling is, the shorter the bud break time is. After dormancy release, warm temperatures induced cell-cycle gene expression; when the configuration value of the cell-cycle genes reached 4.97, the cambium cells divided and L. kaempferi reactivated. This study helps to predict the impact of climate change on wood production and provides technical support for seedling cultivation in greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To analyze the relevant research publications on infectious disease nursing in China to understand the current research status of infectious disease in nursing. Methods: Retrieve relevant literature on infectious disease in nursing from the establishment of the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Database, and Wanfang Database until May 10, 2021. Conduct bibliometric analysis using CiteSpace software. Key words were analyzed using cluster analysis. Results: A total of 4693 relevant literature on infectious disease research in nursing care were included in this study. The overall number of publications on infectious disease research in nursing showed an increasing trend, with a peak in 2010. There were 324 papers funded by scientific research funds, mainly from provincial-level fund projects. The core journal with the most published articles was Nursing Research. The research on infectious disease in nursing mainly focused on various aspects of infectious disease in nursing and infection control. CiteSpace cluster analysis of keywords showed that a total of six clusters were formed: infectious diseases, infectious disease care, health education, mental health, infectious disease nurses, and etiology. After 2015, high-mutation keywords included "quality nursing" and "infection control". Conclusion: Chinese research on infectious disease research in nursing closely follows clinical reality and has developed rapidly. Currently, research focuses on infectious disease research in nursing and infection control. Future research trends will further broaden the depth and breadth of the research, enhance research on infection control and quality nursing, and improve the breadth and depth of the research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case report of a patient with Synovitis‐acne‐pustulosis‐hyperostosis‐osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome, a rare autoinflammatory disease characterized by osteoarticular lesions and skin involvement. The patient also developed thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition where the brachial plexus nerve or subclavian vessels are compressed at the thoracic outlet. The article highlights the challenges in diagnosing and treating thoracic outlet syndrome as a complication of SAPHO syndrome. The authors emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and the use of TNF inhibitors to prevent severe complications that may require surgery. [Extracted from the article]

Superconducting topological systems formed by a strong 3D topological insulator (TI) in proximity to a conventional s-wave superconductor (SC) have been intensely studied, as they may host Majorana zero modes. However, there are limited experimental realizations of TI-SC systems in which robust superconducting pairing is induced on the surface states of the TI and a topological superconducting state is established. Here, we fabricate a TI-SC system by depositing, via a focused ion beam, tungsten (W) nanoscale clusters on the surface of TI Bi0.91Sb0.09. We find that the resulting heterostructure supports phase-slip lines (PSLs) that act as effective Josephson junctions (JJs). We probe the response of the system to microwave radiation. We find that for some ac frequencies, and powers, the resulting Shapiro steps' structure of the voltage–current characteristic exhibits a missing first step and an unexpectedly wide second Shapiro step. The theoretical analysis of the measurements shows that the unusual Shapiro response arises from the interplay between a static JJ and a dynamic one and allows us to identify the conditions under which the missing first step can be attributed to the topological nature of the JJs formed by the PSLs. Our results suggest an approach to induce superconductivity in a TI, a route to realizing highly transparent topological JJs, and show how the response of superconducting systems to microwave radiation can be used to infer the dynamics of PSLs. Highly transparent topological junctions are promising candidates to realize vector field sensors with very high sensitivity. In addition, due to the nontrivial Berry phase of the TI's surface states such junctions can be in a topological state which is ideal to create topologically protected qubits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional polymers have typically been used in the packaging of various electronic devices; however, due to the inherent electrically insulating properties these materials fail to dissipate static charges. To address this issue, novel poly(ether-b-amide) (PEBA) segmented copolymers consisting of uniform rigid oxalamide and flexible polyethylene glycol (PEG) were synthesized via melt polycondensation. The influence of PEG molecular weight and the spacer length separating two oxalamide units on the condensed structure, mechanical performance, and antistatic properties was systematically investigated. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) demonstrated strongly hydrogen bonded and highly ordered oxalamide hard segments with the degree of ordering between 71 and 85 % even at low levels. Mechanical behavior results showed that segmented copolymers have an obvious yield point, an elastic modulus between 20 and 30 MPa, and strain at break exceeding 2000 %. Meanwhile, such copolymers possessed low surface resistivity, as low as 107 Ω, which is significantly less than that of commercial antistatic additives. The antistatic effect of PEBA on polyamide 6 (PA6) was also investigated, revealing that when the content reached 30 wt%, the surface resistivity of the alloys decreased from 1013 Ω to 1011 Ω and remained stable after 40 days, even after water washing treatment. Overall, these findings illustrate that the newly synthesized PEBA copolymers demonstrate outstanding long-term antistatic properties and provide valuable insights for the development of polyether-based multiblock copolymer antistatic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Influenza pandemic with H1N1 (H1N1pdms) causes severe lung damage and "cytokine storm," leading to higher mortality and global health emergencies in humans and animals. Explaining host antiviral molecular mechanisms in response to H1N1pdms is important for the development of novel therapies. In this study, we organised and analysed multimicroarray data for mouse lungs infected with different H1N1pdm and nonpandemic H1N1 strains. We found that H1N1pdms infection resulted in a large proportion of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the infected lungs compared with normal lungs, and the number of DEGs increased markedly with the time of infection. In addition, we found that different H1N1pdm strains induced similarly innate immune responses and the identified DEGs during H1N1pdms infection were functionally concentrated in defence response to virus, cytokine-mediated signalling pathway, regulation of innate immune response, and response to interferon. Moreover, comparing with nonpandemic H1N1, we identified ten distinct DEGs (AREG, CXCL13, GATM, GPR171, IFI35, IFI47, IFIT3, ORM1, RETNLA, and UBD), which were enriched in immune response and cell surface receptor signalling pathway as well as interacted with immune response-related dysregulated genes during H1N1pdms. Our discoveries will provide comprehensive insights into host responding to pandemic with influenza H1N1 and find broad-spectrum effective treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of Qingpeng ointment (QPO), a Tibetan medicine for alleviating symptoms in individuals with acute gouty arthritis (AGA). Methods: This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved individuals with AGA whose joint pain, as measured on a visual analog scale (VAS) from 0 to 10, was equal to or greater than 3. The participants were randomly assigned to either the QPO or the placebo group and received their respective treatments twice daily for seven consecutive days. In case of intolerable pain, the participants were allowed to use diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets as a rescue medicine. The primary outcomes measured were joint pain and swelling, while the secondary outcomes included joint mobility, redness, serum uric acid levels, C-reactive protein levels, and the amount of remaining rescue medicine. Any adverse events that occurred during the trial were also recorded. Results: A total of 203 cases were divided into two groups, with balanced baselines: 102 in the QPO group and 101 in the placebo group. For joint pain, differences between the groups were notable in the VAS scores [1.75 (0, 3.00) versus 2.00 (1.00, 3.50); P = 0.038], changes in VAS [5.00 (3.00, 6.00) versus 4.00 (2.00, 6.00); P = 0.036], and disappearance rate [26.47% compared to 15.84%; P = 0.046] after treatment. Concerning joint swelling, significant between-group differences were observed in the VAS scores [1.00 (0, 2.30) versus 2.00 (0.70, 3.00); P = 0.032] and disappearance rate [33.33% compared to 21.78%; P = 0.046] at treatment completion. The QPO group exhibited a statistically significant mobility improvement compared to the placebo group (P = 0.004). No significant differences were found in other secondary outcomes. Five patients, four from the QPO group and one from the other, encountered mild adverse events, primarily skin irritation. All of these cases were resolved after dosage reduction or discontinuation of the medication. Conclusions: Compared to the placebo, QPO exhibits positive effects on AGA by alleviating pain, reducing swelling, and enhancing joint mobility, without causing significant adverse effects. Trial Registration: ISRCTN34355813. Registered on 25/01/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermoplastic polycarbonate polyurethanes (PCUs) are multiblock copolymers that have been applied for medical devices for long time. Aliphatic diols are common chain extenders (CE) involved in the composition of the hard segments of PCU. However, limited knowledge was discovered about how the chemical structure of CE affects the hydrogen bonding organization within PCUs and their mechanical properties. To investigate this problem, a group of PCUs were synthesized respectively by extending the polymer chain with 1,4-butanediol (BDO), aminoethanol (MEA), ethanediol (EO) as three kinds of chain extenders. Tiny differences in the CE chemical structure results in remarkable variations in phase separation, condensed morphologies, thermal and mechanical properties, which are characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, atomic force microscopy, small-angle X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry, and tensile tests. The microstructural evolution during unilateral deformation and the different mechanism induced by the different CEs was probed and unveil by in situ wide- and small-angle X-ray diffraction. Symmetry of CE can improve the organization of the hydrogen bonding. The coherence strength of the urethane/urea group also plays a key role by comparing the two PCUs with ethanediol and aminoethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mg80Ni16−xAlxY4 (x = 2, 4, 8) alloys were prepared by induction levitation melting, and the effect of substitution of Al for Ni on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties was studied in the present work. The results illustrated that the solidification path, phase constitution, and grain size were significantly altered by Al addition. Appropriate Al addition improved abundance and grain refinement of the Mg, Mg2Ni, and Mg15NiY ternary eutectic. But as Al further increased, Mg solidified independently rather than in the formation of the ternary eutectic. More Al favored the formation of Al3Ni2Y but suppressed Mg2Ni and YMgNi4. Although the hydrogen absorption activation and the kinetic property deteriorated, the thermodynamic stability of hydrides was enhanced by adding Al. Hydrogen absorption ability under low pressure was improved, and the Mg80Ni8Al8Y4 alloy could absorb nearly 3.5 wt% hydrogen under 1 bar hydrogen at 250 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying farming practices that decrease susceptibility to infectious diseases and optimise food conversion efficiency is valuable for chicken welfare and productivity, the environment, and public health. Enterotypes can be used to define microbial community phenotypes that have differential, potentially significant impacts on gut health. In this study, we delineated enterotypes by analysing the microbiomes of 300 indigenous Kadaknath and 300 commercial Cobb400 broiler chickens raised across 60 farms in western India. Using a compositional data approach, we identified three distinct enterotypes: PA1 (n=290), PA2 (n=142) and PA3 (n=67). PA1 and PA2 clustered more closely with each other than with PA3, however, PA2 had significantly lower alpha diversity than PA1. PA1 had a high Firmicutes: Bacteroides ratio, was dominated by Faecalibacterium and had a higher abundance of Prevotellamassilia than other enterotypes. PA2 was characterised by its low alpha diversity, a high abundance of the common taxa Phascolarctobacterium A and Phocaeicola dorei and a significantly higher Campylobacter abundance than PA1. PA3 had the highest Bacteroidota abundance of the three enterotypes and was defined by high prevalence of lower abundance taxa such as CAG-831 and Mucispirillum schaedleri. Network analysis showed that all enterotypes have different proportions of competing Firmicutes-dominant and Bacteroidota-dominant guilds. Random Forest Modelling using defined farm characteristics was predictive for enterotype. Factors affecting enterotype include whether farms were open, enclosed or caged, the location of farms, whether visitors were allowed inside, the number of people in contact with the chickens, chicken line, the presence of dogs and whether flock thinning took place. This study suggests that enterotypes are influenced by farming practices, hence modification of practices could potentially be used to reduce the burden of zoonotic pathogens such as Campylobacter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying farming practices that decrease susceptibility to infectious diseases and optimise food conversion efficiency is valuable for chicken welfare and productivity, the environment, and public health. Enterotypes can be used to define microbial community phenotypes that have differential, potentially significant impacts on gut health. In this study, we delineated enterotypes by analysing the microbiomes of 300 indigenous Kadaknath and 300 commercial Cobb400 broiler chickens raised across 60 farms in western India. Using a compositional data approach, we identified three distinct enterotypes: PA1 (n=290), PA2 (n=142) and PA3 (n=67). PA1 and PA2 clustered more closely with each other than with PA3, however, PA2 had significantly lower alpha diversity than PA1. PA1 had a high Firmicutes: Bacteroides ratio, was dominated by Faecalibacterium and had a higher abundance of Prevotellamassilia than other enterotypes. PA2 was characterised by its low alpha diversity, a high abundance of the common taxa Phascolarctobacterium A and Phocaeicola dorei and a significantly higher Campylobacter abundance than PA1. PA3 had the highest Bacteroidota abundance of the three enterotypes and was defined by high prevalence of lower abundance taxa such as CAG-831 and Mucispirillum schaedleri. Network analysis showed that all enterotypes have different proportions of competing Firmicutes-dominant and Bacteroidota-dominant guilds. RandomForest Modelling using defined farm characteristics was predictive for enterotype. Factors affecting enterotype include whether farms were open, enclosed or caged, the location of farms, whether visitors were allowed inside, the number of people in contact with the chickens, chicken line, the presence of dogs and whether flock thinning took place. This study suggests that enterotypes are influenced by farming practices, hence modification of practices could potentially be used to reduce the burden of zoonotic pathogens such as Campylobacter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The gut microbiota closely relates to host health, whereas the relationship between gut microbiota and testosterone during the development of Meishan male pigs remains unclear. This study investigated the fecal microbiota composition and testosterone level during development in Meishan male pigs. Methods: Fresh fecal samples of 20 healthy Meishan male pigs were individually collected at 10 and 22 weeks (wk) of age for testosterone content detection and bacteria pyrosequencing analysis. Anaerobic culture experiment of fecal bacteria in vitro was performed for bacteria pyrosequencing analysis. Results: The fecal testosterone content increased significantly from 10 weeks (wk) to 22 wk of age (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the boars at 22 wk had a lower abundance of phylum Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria, and genus Alloprevotella, Prevotella_1, Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group, and Streptococcus in the fecal microbiota composition (P < 0.05). but higher proportions of the phylum Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Kiritimatiellaeota, and Tenericutes, and genus Clostridium_sensu_ stricto_1, Muribaculaceae and Terrisporobacter than that at 10 wk (P < 0.05), and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio was higher at 22 wk than 10 wk (P < 0.05). Moreover, the fecal testosterone level significantly correlated with the relative abundance of the phylum Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Tencuteseri, and genus Alloprevotella, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Muribaculaceae, Prevotella_1 and Streptococcus. Furthermore, the in vitro experiments indicated that the abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria and genus Escherichia-Shigella reduced with the increase of supplemental testosterone level. In contrast, the proportion of Firmicutes phylum increased with additional testosterone levels. Discussion: Testosterone could modulate the microflora structure. Meanwhile, the bacteria could degrade the testosterone in a dose testosterone-dependent manner. These results provide us with new insights into the relationship between the gut microbiome and testosterone and the contributions of the gut microbiome in physiological regulation in response to gonad development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anaemia of chronic disease (ACD) is the second most common type of anaemia and lacks an effective treatment. Patients with anaemia are reported to have altered gut microbial profiles, which may affect erythropoiesis. Here, we investigated the gut microbial features of patients with ACD and determined whether regulating gut microbiota using washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) was effective in treating ACD. Methods: We compared the gut microbiota profile of patients with ACD and healthy controls, evaluated the efficacy of WMT on haematological parameters in the patients, and analysed the alterations in gut microbiota after WMT treatment. Results: Patients with ACD had lower gut microbial richness, and differences in microbial composition and function, relative to healthy controls. Additionally, the relative abundances of two butyrate‐producing genera Lachnospiraceae NK4A136 group and Butyricicoccus, were positively correlated with the haemoglobin (HGB) level and lower in patients with ACD than controls. WMT significantly increased HGB levels in patients with ACD. After the first, second and third WMT rounds, normal HGB levels were restored in 27.02%, 27.78% and 36.37% (all p <.05) of patients with ACD, respectively. Moreover, WMT significantly increased the abundance of butyrate‐producing genera and downregulated gut microbial functions that were upregulated in patients with ACD. Conclusions: Patients with ACD exhibited differences in gut microbial composition and function relative to healthy controls. WMT is an effective treatment for ACD that reshapes gut microbial composition, restores butyrate‐producing bacteria and regulates the functions of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the goals of environmental education is to guide adolescents towards engaging in more sustainable behaviors. Nevertheless, it is still uncertain what factors are associated with adolescents' willingness to perform such type of behaviors to support, for instance, the fight against climate change. Thus, the development of effective educational strategies to boost adolescents' willingness to act is a relevant subject of debate. An innovative strategy could be to cultivate their cognitive reappraisal, since recent evidence suggests that trait cognitive reappraisal is a precursor of pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: First, to explore the educational potential of adolescent's willingness to act, and second, to explore the relationship between cognitive reappraisal and willingness to act, as well as possible explanatory mechanisms for this relationship. In the current study, 663 adolescents completed measures of trait cognitive reappraisal, climate change risk perception, believed usefulness of actions and degree of willingness to act. The results indicated that there was a certain degree of inconsistency between adolescents' beliefs about the usefulness of climate change mitigation actions and their willingness to perform these actions, which represents an issue that could be addressed by environmental education. The results additionally revealed that adolescents who habitually used cognitive reappraisal showed stronger climate change risk perception and beliefs in the usefulness of climate change mitigation actions, which in turn was associated with greater willingness to act. Our findings advance the current knowledge about how adolescents perceive climate change mitigation behaviors, which can contribute to the design of educational strategies that effectively increment adolescents' willingness to act. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents' life satisfaction is currently a hot topic in positive psychology research. Working from the broaden‑and‑build theory, this article aims to reveal the relationship between dispositional awe and life satisfaction, as well as the potential mediating roles of mindfulness and meaning in life (i.e., presence of meaning, search for meaning). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate this model in a sample of 610 adolescents who completed a series of self-report measures quantifying dispositional awe, mindfulness, meaning in life, and life satisfaction. The results demonstrate that mindfulness, presence of meaning, and search for meaning independently mediate the positive association between dispositional awe and life satisfaction, supporting the broaden‑and‑build theory of life satisfaction. Serial mediation analysis further indicated that "mindfulness-presence of meaning" constitute chain mediators in the dispositional awe-life satisfaction relationship. These findings effectively extend the broaden‑and‑build theory and indicate for the first time that dispositional awe may promote adolescents' life satisfaction through mindfulness and the importance of presence of meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescents' life satisfaction is currently a hot topic in positive psychology research. Working from the broaden‑and‑build theory, this article aims to reveal the relationship between dispositional awe and life satisfaction, as well as the potential mediating roles of mindfulness and meaning in life (i.e., presence of meaning, search for meaning). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate this model in a sample of 610 adolescents who completed a series of self-report measures quantifying dispositional awe, mindfulness, meaning in life, and life satisfaction. The results demonstrate that mindfulness, presence of meaning, and search for meaning independently mediate the positive association between dispositional awe and life satisfaction, supporting the broaden‑and‑build theory of life satisfaction. Serial mediation analysis further indicated that "mindfulness-presence of meaning" constitute chain mediators in the dispositional awe-life satisfaction relationship. These findings effectively extend the broaden‑and‑build theory and indicate for the first time that dispositional awe may promote adolescents' life satisfaction through mindfulness and the importance of presence of meaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Secretory phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), also known as Osteopontin, is part of the small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoprotein family. Its overexpression in various cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), has been linked to prognosis. However, its role in the survival and immune infiltration in CRC, particularly in athletes and fitness enthusiasts, requires further investigation. Methods: Utilizing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), we analyzed the expression profiles and clinical data of CRC patients, focusing on the relationship between SPP1 expression and cancer development. Wilcoxon rank tests compared SPP1 expression in normal and cancerous colorectal tissues. The predictive power of SPP1 in CRC was assessed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Logistic regression and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to correlate SPP1 expression with clinical features. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Progno Scan database, and Cox multivariate regression analysis evaluated SPP1's prognostic significance. R-package Cluster profiler enrichment analysis identified SPP1's biological functions and signaling pathways. Correlations between SPP1 and immune-infiltrating cells were appraised using single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and TIMER database, with further exploration of SPP1 and immune cell gene markers through TIMER and GEPIA databases. Results: SPP1 was found to be highly expressed in CRC, significantly more so than in normal colorectal tissues, with an AUC of 0.846 indicating high accuracy in CRC prognosis prediction. SPP1 expression correlated with pathological stage and diseasespecific survival (DSS), with overexpression leading to reduced overall survival (OS), DSS, and disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariable Cox regression analysis confirmed SPP1 as an independent prognostic biomarker for CRC (HR = 1.459; 95% CI: 1.030-2.067; P = 0.033). SPP1 was associated with various biological functions and signaling pathways. It also showed a positive correlation with the infiltration levels of macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), CD8+ T cells, and neutrophils in CRC. SPP1 was strongly correlated with immune gene markers, including TAM, DC, T cell exhaustion, and Tregs. Conclusion: SPP1's elevated expression in CRC is closely associated with poor immune infiltration and prognosis. In athletes and fitness enthusiasts, who might experience unique immune system challenges due to their intense physical regimes, SPP1's role becomes particularly crucial. Understanding SPP1's impact on immune infiltration in this group could lead to tailored therapeutic approaches in CRC, positioning SPP1 as a promising prognostic biomarker in this demographic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by osteoarticular and dermatological manifestations. The most common osteoarticular manifestations involve the anterior chest wall, axial skeleton, and long bones. Cranial bone involvement is less reported in SAPHO syndrome. We herein present three cases of SAPHO syndrome with cranial bone involvement, and review the previous literature on similar manifestations. It was revealed that SAPHO syndrome could lead to cranial bone involvement, which could involve the dura mater, leading to hypertrophic pachymeningitis, but the outcome is usually good. Janus kinase inhibitors may be a potential treatment option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: AKT3 appears to play a role in lung cancer. However, its role in ventilator-associated pneumonia is still unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the role of AKT3 in macrophages during ventilator-associated pneumonia. Methods: The mRNA level of AKT3, Data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The data is analyzed using the Xiantao academic analysis tool. Additionally, the roles of AKT3 in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) were investigated through in vivo experiments. Results: AKT3 was differentially expressed in various normal and tumor tissues. Functional enrichment analysis indicated the immunomodulatory function and inflammatory response of AKT3 in lung cancer. Depletion of macrophages protected against lung epithelial cells and significantly decreased MMP9, MMP19, FTH, and FTL expression levels and increased GPX4 expression levels, while partially reversing the changes in macrophage. Mechanistically, macrophage depletion attenuates ferroptosis of lung epithelial cells by modulating AKT3 following VAP. Conclusion: Collectively, this study suggests the need for further validation of the immunoregulatory function of AKT3 in lung cancer. Additionally, macrophage depletion mitigates lung injury by modulating the AKT3/GPX4 pathway in the context of VAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filtration efficiency of cloth masks for small harmful particles is usually low because of the large pore size of fabrics and the difficulty to choose appropriate fabric specifications. In this study, the polymers with antibiotic groups of quaternary amines were grafted onto cotton fabrics for achieving both satisfactory antibiotic and filtering performance. The results indicated that the pore size of the fabrics grafted with polymer brushes was significantly reduced and thus the filtration efficiency of polymer-grafted cotton fabrics can be increased to 81.5% ± 7.8% from 17.5% ± 2% of original fabrics under the tested level of 0.3 μm particles with 85 L/min flowing rate. The filtration efficiency of treated fabrics was comparable to the medical masks currently used in clinic. Moreover, the grafted fabrics also exhibited excellent antibacterial performance and washability. After 20 cycles of washing, they still had about 75.9% filtration efficiency and 99.9% bacterial inhibition rate for E. coli. This work could inspire the development of reusable and sustainable facemasks with effective personal protection for reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: This meta-analysis and systematic review aim to analyze the association between BT and oncological outcomes of patients undergoing RC for bladder cancer, and tries to find out whether the timing of blood transfusion could also have an effect on this relationship. A total of 20 retrospective studies from online databases and other sources are identified and enrolled in this study. The results show that BT administration during RC operation or perioperative period is significantly associated with worse oncological outcomes including ACM, CSM and DR. Background: Bladder cancer is one of the most common urological malignancies. Radical cystectomy (RC) remains the main treatment for localized muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) or high-grade non-muscleinvasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). In the process of RC, the administration of blood transfusion (BT) is sometimes needed, however, it may cause transfusionrelated complications or lead to worse oncological outcomes. This metaanalysis and systematic review aims to give a comprehensive insight into the association between BT and oncological outcomes of patients undergoing RC, and tries to find out whether the timing of blood transfusion could also have an impact on this association. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out according to the PRISMA 2020 reporting guideline. We have searched four bibliographic databases including PubMed (Medline), EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science with no language limitation. Studies investigating the association between BT and oncological outcomes of patients undergoing RC are identified and included in this research from inception through March 20, 2023. This research calculates the pooled hazard ratios (pHR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of all-cause mortality (ACM), cancer-specific mortality (CSM) and disease recurrence (DR) using Random Effects models or Fixed Effects models. Subgroup analyses stratified by parameters such as timing of transfusion are also conducted. This meta-analysis was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022381656. Results: A total of 20 retrospective studies from online databases and other sources are identified and enrolled in this study. Results show that blood transfusion significantly increased the risks for ACM (HR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.23-1.44), CSM (HR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.15 - 1.35) and DR (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.15 - 1.38). However, when stratified by the timing of BT, we find that only intraoperative and perioperative transfusion significantly increased in risks for worse prognosis, while postoperative transfusion raised none of the risks of ACM (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 0.92-1.73), CSM (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.93-1.26) nor DR (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.90-1.29) significantly. Conclusion: BT administration during RC operation or perioperative period is significantly associated with worse oncological outcomes including ACM, CSM and DR. Clinicians should consider carefully when deciding to administrate BT to patients undergoing RC and carry out according to current guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern timber structure buildings are green, low-carbon, and have strong environmental adaptability. In recent years, they have been continuously developing and have broad prospects. The history of timber structures in China's harsh and cold regions (hereinafter referred to as cold regions) is long, but the development of building systems is slow due to technological limitations. In this article, the timber structure buildings in Hulunbuir region were taken as the research object, the development history, structural forms, and selection of building materials of timber structure buildings under cold climate conditions in the region were explored, their construction characteristics and techniques were analyzed and summarized. The research results can provide guidance for the development of timber structure buildings in cold regions of China, which is conducive to the inheritance and protection of traditional skills. At the same time, theoretical and practical references were provided for the design of modern timber structure buildings in the new era, and the sustainable development of wooden structure buildings was promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sole situation of semi-crystalline structure induced single performance remarkably limits the green cryogels in the application of soft devices due to uncontrolled freezing field. Here, a facile strategy for achieving multifunctionality of cryogels is proposed using total amorphization of polymer. Through precisely lowering the freezing point of precursor solutions with an antifreezing salt, the suppressed growth of ice is achieved, creating an unusually weak and homogenous aggregation of polymer chains upon freezing, thereby realizing the tunable amorphization of polymer and the coexistence of free and hydrogen bonding hydroxyl groups. Such multi-scale microstructures trigger the integrated properties of tissue-like ultrasoftness (Young's modulus <10 kPa) yet stretchability, high transparency (~92%), self-adhesion, and instantaneous self-healing (<0.3 s) for cryogels, along with superior ionic-conductivity, antifreezing (−58 °C) and water-retention abilities, pushing the development of skin-like cryogel electronics. These concepts open an attractive branch for cryogels that adopt regulated crystallization behavior for on-demand functionalities. Green cryogels are highly desirable for soft devices but often formed as crystalline-crosslinked networks due to lack of control of the freezing process. Here, the authors demonstrate a strategy to obtain multifunctional cryogels by total amorphization of the polymer using anti-freeze salts to lower the freezing point of the precursor solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase morphology, crystallization behavior, and mechanical properties of polylactide (PLA) modified by polyamide elastomer (PAE) have been systematically investigated. SEM images showed that PAE was homogeneously dispersed in the PLA matrix forming a sea-island morphology. The dimension of PAE domains increased slightly with its content and still remained smaller than 3 μm even at 40 wt% due to the partial compatibility of PLA and PAE. PAE had some nucleation effect on PLA and promoted the crystallization of PLA to a certain extent. The crystallization kinetics and crystalline morphology, especially the nucleation and growth of PLA crystals, were compared in detail between pure PLA and PLA/PAE blends. The elongation at break and impact strength of PLA were considerably improved by PAE. The sample PAE20 exhibited the best rigidity-toughness balance showing ductile failure. The toughening mechanism was proposed based on the deformation of the impact fracture surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]