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Objective: To study the clinical effectiveness of visual laryngoscopy combined with fiberoptic bronchoscopy-guided double-lumen endotracheal tube intubation in thoracic surgery patients with predicted difficult airways in thoracic surgery airways. Methods: We randomly divided 162 patients with predicted difficult airways who required double-lumen tracheal intubation for thoracic surgery and randomly divided them into the video laryngoscopy group (Group VL, n = 54),fiberoptic bronchoscopy group (Group F, n = 54), and video laryngoscopy combined with fiberoptic bronchoscopy group (Group FVL, n = 54) according to the randomized number table method. Then, the success rate of the first intubation, the duration of intubation, the duration of positioning, the degree of exposure of the vocal cords (Cormack-Lehane grade), and the adverse reactions during intubation were recorded and analyzed. Results: The success rate of first-time intubation was significantly higher in the FVL group than in the F and VL groups (92.6% vs. 87.0% vs. 53.7%, P < 0.001), and the time of intubation in the FVL group was significantly shorter than that in the VL and F groups [(26.22 ± 9.34) s vs. (42.35 ± 11.21) s vs. (46.78 ± 21.96) s, P < 0.001)]. The positioning time in the FVL group was significantly shorter than that in the F and VL groups [(83.76 ± 15.18) s vs. (102.72 ± 21.89) s vs. (145.41 ± 20.12) s, F = 144.896, P < 0.001)].The number of patients with Cormack-Lehane grades I-II was significantly lower in the FVL group and the VL group than in the F group (88.9% vs. 77.8% vs. 59.3%, P < 0.05).The incidence of postoperative sore throat was significantly lower in the FVL group and the F group than in the VL group (22.4% vs. 27.6% vs. 50%, P < 0.001). Conclusion: In difficult airway patients with high airway risk indices who require double-lumen endotracheal intubation, visual laryngoscopy combined with fiberoptic bronchoscopy improved the success rate of first-time intubation and shortened the intubation and positioning time. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Register (identifier: ChiCTR2300076304; Date of registration: September 29, 2023). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional magnetic materials have broad application prospects in molecular switches and information storage. In this study, four mononuclear Fe(II) complexes are synthesized using a series of pyrenylhydrazone ligands HL1–4. Two deprotonated ligands are coordinated to the iron(II) ions in an enolic form, leading to neutral complexes FeII(Lx)2·xsol with a FeIIN4O2 octahedral coordination environment. Magnetic measurements suggest that complex Fe(L1)2·2ACE (1·2ACE, ACE = acetone) is mainly low spin below 300 K and complex Fe(L3)2·ACE (3·ACE) is high spin, whereas complexes Fe(L2)2 (2) and Fe(L4)2·6H2O (4·6H2O) exhibit gradual spin crossover behavior. The spin states of complexes 1–4 are confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The substituent effect on the magnetic properties of the complexes is significant in this system. Temperature-dependent fluorescence emission spectra show the coexistence but no coupling effect of spin crossover and fluorescence for complexes 2 and 4·6H2O. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent times, the American Heart Association has updated its approach to evaluating cardiovascular health (CVH) by replacing the previous "Life's Simple 7" with the more demanding "Life's Essential 8" (LE8). However, the impact of enhancing CVH on reducing the risk of pre-sarcopenia and the association of LE8 metrics with pre-sarcopenia remain unexplored. Methods: LE8 score was calculated among 9857 participants. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to investigate the associations between LE8 and pre-sarcopenia. Additionally, the weighted quantile sum (WQS) model was employed to determine the combined and individual impact of LE8 metrics on pre-sarcopenia. To assess the indirect effects of peripheral immune responses on the relationships between cardiovascular health and pre-sarcopenia, mediation analyses were performed. Results: In this study, 827 participants had pre-sarcopenia. After accounting for potential confounding factors, the group with excellent cardiovascular health demonstrated an 83% lower risk of pre-sarcopenia compared to the poor cardiovascular health group (OR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.11–0.27) and a 33% decreased risk of pre-sarcopenia for each 10-point increase in LE8 score (OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.62–0.73). Body mass index (BMI) and physical activity (PA) were the critical contributors that decreased the prevalence of pre-sarcopenia in the obese and non-obese populations, respectively. Conclusions: A negative association was found between LE8 score and pre-sarcopenia prevalence. Body mass index and physical activity are the primary contributors to the obese and non-obese populations, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment aimed to investigate the effects of emodin on the physiological responses and antioxidant gene expression of Wuchang bream infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. The experimental diets were prepared with supplementing 0, 30, 100 and 150 mg kg-1 emodin to basal (control) diet respectively, and fed to fish with initial weight of 50.4 ± 2.35 g. All fish were divided into five experimental groups: uninfected fish fed with basal control diet (negative control, NC), infected fish fed with the diet supplemented with 0 (positive control group, PC), 30, 100, and 150 mg kg-1 emodin. The fish were reared for 14 days, sampled at different time points and then analyzed. The results showed that the physiological responses and related antioxidant gene expression of infected Wuchang bream were significantly influenced by the dosage of added emodin and the feeding duration (P < 0.05). Comparing to the positive control group, emodin could inhibit the levels of cortisol (COR), triiodothyronine (T3), and thyroxine (T4) in infected Wuchang bream, with hormone levels reaching equilibrium in the shortest time at 30 and 100 mg kg-1 emodin supplementation. Meanwhile, emodin significantly affected alkaline phosphatase (AKP) activity, glucose (Glu) and triglyceride (TG) contents, and related antioxidant gene expression in infected Wuchang bream (P < 0.05), with the best effect observed at 100 mg kg-1 emodin supplementation in the diet. In conclusion, the supplementation of 100 mg/kg emodin to diet can enhance the resistance of Wuchang bream to A. hydrophila infection via promoting physiological metabolism and antioxidant capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recursive least squares (RLS)–based equalizers are hindered by their high complexity in underwater acoustic (UWA) communications. This article proposes an adaptive equalizer with a phase tracking method for the UWA communication, named the error-feedback lattice-equalizer (EFLE). First, we derive the algorithm for recursively solving the least squares problem from EFLE, introducing a lattice structure using time and order updates, thereby reducing the complexity to be linearly related to its length. The error-feedback mechanism used in computing reflection coefficients ensures the numerical stability of the algorithm. By focusing on the rapid tap rotation in time-varying channels, we design phase tracking in EFLE to further improve equalization performance. To verify the bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed EFLE, we study the UWA communication system and conduct UWA simulations and at-sea experiments. Comparisons include linear complexity equalizers such as least mean square (LMS), leaky LMS, least mean mixed-norm, and ϵ -normalized LMS equalizers, and quadratic complexity RLS equalizers. At-sea experiment results show that the BER performance of EFLE significantly outperforms its counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite their widespread application in planetary and earth sciences in the past two decades, thallium isotopic compositions have been determined via MC-ICP-MS with instrumental mass bias corrected by employing a combination of lead doping and standard-sample bracketing. Residual Pb, either from the sample matrix or contamination, may significantly distort the isotope ratio of Pb for mass bias correction, thereby affecting the accuracy of Tl isotope measurement. In this study, we employed 186W/184W (NIST SRM 3163 W) instead of 208Pb/206Pb (NIST SRM 981 Pb) to correct instrumental mass bias during the measurement of Tl isotopic compositions through MC-ICP-MS. The plot of ln(186W/184W) vs. ln(205Tl/203Tl) shows a strong linear correlation (R2 > 0.993) in the repeated analyses of NIST SRM 997 Tl using W. Two pure Tl standards, Fluka Tl and GSB Tl, produced 3205TlNIST 997 values of -1.9 ± 0.7 (2SD, n = 97) and 0.8 ± 0.7 (2SD, n = 31), respectively. The 3205TlNIST 997 of five geological reference materials (SCo-1, GSS-6, GSP-2, NOD-P-1, and NOD-A-1) are also reported here, and the external reproducibility of these results is better than 0.08& (2SD). 3205TlNIST997 values are in good agreement with previously published values determined using Pb doping to correct mass bias, demonstrating that W can serve as a calibrator and facilitate high-precision 3205TlNIST 997 measurement of geological materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The change of fluorescence emission manipulated by spin state transition attracts considerable attention owing to its potential applications in magneto-optical switching devices. Herein, we report two two-dimensional (2D) Hofmann-type spin crossover (SCO) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) [FeII(PNI)2{AgI(CN)2}2]·CHCl3 (3Ag·CHCl3) and [FeII(PNI)2{AuI(CN)2}2]·CHCl3 (3Au·CHCl3) based on the fluorescent ligand N-(4-pyridylmethyl)-1,8-naphthalimide (PNI). Both complexes exhibit interesting SCO behaviors switched by guest solvent molecules, namely three-step transitions for the solvated complexes and complete one-step hysteretic SCO for the desolvated ones, verified by temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility measurements, Mossbauer spectra, structural analyses, and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Correspondingly, temperature-dependent fluorescence spectra exhibit double peaks (monomer and excimer emission) with both emission peaks change consistent with the change in SCO properties during the solvent molecule removal. In this study, we integrated guest-responsive SCO behavior into MOFs to manipulate the multistability of spin state and fluorescence switching, providing a rational strategy for the development of stimuli-responsive multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Radix Astragali (RA), a frequently used Chinese herbal medicine in the Leguminosae family, Astragalus genus, with its extracts, has been proven to be effective in DN treatment both in clinical practice and experimental studies. RA and its extracts can reduce proteinuria and improve renal function. They can improve histopathology changes including thickening of the glomerular basement membrane, mesangial cell proliferation, and injury of endothelial cells, podocytes, and renal tubule cells. The mechanisms mainly benefited from antioxidative stress which involves Nrf2/ARE signaling and the PPARγ‐Klotho‐FoxO1 axis; antiendoplasmic reticulum stress which involves PERK‐ATF4‐CHOP, PERK/eIF2α, and IRE1/XBP1 pathways; regulating autophagy which involves SIRT1/NF‐κB signaling and AMPK signaling; anti‐inflammation which involves IL33/ST2 and NF‐κB signaling; and antifibrosis which involves TGF‐β1/Smads, MAPK (ERK), p38/MAPK, JNK/MAPK, Wnt/β‐catenin, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathways. This review focuses on the clinical efficacy and the pharmacological mechanism of RA and its representative extracts on DN, and we further document the traditional uses of RA and probe into the TCM theoretical basis for its application in DN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper aims to optimize cable-stayed force in asymmetric one-tower cable-stayed bridge formation using an improved particle swarm algorithm. It compares results with the traditional unconstrained minimum bending energy method. Design/methodology/approach: This paper proposes an improved particle swarm algorithm to optimize cable-stayed force in bridge formation. It formulates a quadratic programming mathematical model considering the sum of bending energies of the main girder and bridge tower as the objective function. Constraints include displacements, stresses, cable-stayed force, and uniformity. The algorithm is applied to optimize the formation of an asymmetrical single-tower cable-stayed bridge, combining it with the finite element method. Findings: The study's findings reveal significant improvements over the minimum bending energy method. Results show that the structural displacement and internal force are within constraints, the maximum bending moment of the main girder decreases, resulting in smoother linear shape and more even internal force distribution. Additionally, the tower top offset decreases, and the bending moment change at the tower-beam junction is reduced. Moreover, diagonal cable force and cable force increase uniformly with cable length growth. Originality/value: The improved particle swarm algorithm offers simplicity, effectiveness, and practicality in optimizing bridge-forming cable-staying force. It eliminates the need for arbitrary manual cable adjustments seen in traditional methods and effectively addresses the optimization challenge in asymmetric cable-stayed bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molten salts play an important role in various energy-related applications such as high-temperature heat transfer fluids and reaction media. However, the extreme molten salt environment causes the degradation of materials, raising safety and sustainability challenges. A fundamental understanding of material-molten salt interfacial evolution is needed. This work studies the transformation of metallic Cr in molten 50/50 mol% KCl-MgCl2 via multi-modal in situ synchrotron X-ray nano-tomography, diffraction and spectroscopy combined with density functional theory (DFT) and ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations. Notably, in addition to the dissolution of Cr in the molten salt to form porous structures, a d-A15 Cr phase was found to gradually form as a result of the metal-salt interaction. This phase change of Cr is associated with a change in the coordination environment of Cr at the interface. DFT and AIMD simulations provide a basis for understanding the enhanced stability of d-A15 Cr vs. bcc Cr, by revealing their competitive phase thermodynamics at elevated temperatures and probing the interfacial behavior of the molten salt at relevant facets. This study provides critical insights into the morphological and chemical evolution of metal-molten salt interfaces. The combination of multimodal synchrotron analysis and atomic simulation also offers an opportunity to explore a broader range of systems critical to energy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives, courses and evaluation methods. It is urgent to provide guidance and reference for the acceleration of nursing education in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are the main pathogenic bacteria in neonatal sepsis. Therefore, the clinical characteristics, nonspecific indicators, and drug susceptibilities of these two bacteria were studied. Methods: In total, 81 and 80 children with sepsis caused by GBS and E. coli infection, respectively, admitted to the neonatal department of our hospital between May 2012 and July 2023, were selected, and the clinical characteristics of the two groups were analyzed. Nonspecific indicators and drug sensitivity test results were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Birth weight, tachypnea, groan, tachycardia or bradycardia, and the incidence of complications, such as pneumonia, respiratory failure, and purulent meningitis, were higher in the GBS group than in the E. coli group. The children were born prematurely, and the mother had a premature rupture of membranes. The incidence of jaundice, abdominal distension, atypical clinical manifestations, and complications of necrotizing enterocolitis was lower than of the E. coli group, and the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The WBC, NE#, NE#/LY#, hs-CRP, and PCT of the GBS group were higher than those of the E. coli group, whereas the MPV, DD, and FDP levels were lower than those in the E. coli group. The differences were all statistically significant (p < 0.05). The 81-bead GBS had high resistance rates against tetracycline (95%), erythromycin (48.8%), and clindamycin (40%), and no strains resistant to vancomycin, linezolid, penicillin, or ampicillin appeared, whereas 80 strains of E. coli were more resistant to penicillin and third-generation cephalosporins, with the higher resistance rates to ampicillin (68.30%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (53.6%), and ciprofloxacin (42.90%). Resistance rates to carbapenems and aminoglycosides were extremely low. Conclusions: Both GBS and E. coli neonatal sepsis have specific clinical characteristics, especially in terms of clinical manifestations, complications, non-specific indicators, and drug resistance. Early identification is important for clinical diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In magnetic resonance (MR) image reconstruction, the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) is widely recognized for its simplicity and competitive performance. However, OMP designs a termination condition based on some prior information such as sparsity and noise intensity. In practice, the unknown prior information of MR images cannot guarantee accurate reconstruction. To make OMP suitable for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we propose an automatic threshold OMP algorithm based on QR decomposition (ATOMP-QR). The termination condition of ATOMP-QR, which utilizes the mutual incoherence property of the sensing matrix, is related to whether the residual vector includes the orthogonal projection component of measurements. Then, to avoid the computation of pseudo-inverse and accelerate reconstruction speed, we perform QR decomposition on the measurement matrix. We conduct the MRI experiments to evaluate the superiority and effectiveness of ATOMP-QR in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structure similarity index measure (SSIM), and running time. Specifically, for the T1-w image with a sparsity of 10, the PSNR was improved from 24 to 32 dB; the SSIM was increased from 0.87 to 0.99. The maximum time consumed decreased from 0.2276 to 0.0107 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to identify survival risk factors in Chinese children with hepatoblastoma (HB) and assess the effectiveness of the new treatment protocol proposed by the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG) in 2016. Methods: A multicenter, prospective study that included 399 patients with HB from January 2015 to June 2020 was conducted. Patient demographics, treatment protocols, and other related information were collected. Cox regression models and Kaplan–Meier curve methods were used. Results: The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 76.9 and 93.5%, respectively. The 4-year EFS rates for the very-low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups were 100%, 91.6%, 81.7%, and 51.0%, respectively. The 4-year OS was 100%, 97.3%, 94.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. Cox regression analysis found that age, tumor rupture (R +), and extrahepatic tumor extension (E +) were independent prognostic factors. A total of 299 patients had complete remission, and 19 relapsed. Patients with declining alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a better EFS and OS than those ≤ 75%. Conclusions: The survival outcome of HB children has dramatically improved since the implementation of CCCG-HB-2016 therapy. Age ≥ 8 years, R + , and E + were independent risk factors for prognosis. Patients with a declining AFP > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better EFS and OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) including famous catenanes show switchable physical properties and attract continuous research interest due to their potential application in molecular devices. The advantages of using spin crossover (SCO) materials here are enormous, allowing for control through diverse stimuli and highly specific functions, and enabling the transfer of the internal dynamics of MIMs from solution to solid state, leading to macroscopic applications. Herein, we report the efficient self-assembly of catenated metal-organic frameworks (termed catena-MOFs) induced by stacking interactions, through the combination of rationally selected flexible and conjugated naphthalene diimide-based bis-pyridyl ligand (BPND), [MI(CN)2]− (M = Ag or Au) and Fe2+ in a one-step strategy. The obtained bimetallic Hofmann-type SCO-MOFs [FeII(BPND){Ag(CN)2}2]·3CHCl3 (1Ag) and [FeII(BPND{Au(CN)2}2]·2CHCl3·2H2O (1Au) possess a unique three-dimensional (3D) catena-MOF constructed from the polycatenation of two-dimensional (2D) layers with hxl topology. Both complexes undergo thermal- and light-induced SCO. Significantly, abnormal increases in the maximum emission intensity and dielectric constant can be detected simultaneously with the switching of spin states. This research opens up SCO-actuated bistable MIMs that afford dual functionality of coupled fluorescence emission and dielectricity. Incorporating spin crossover motifs into mechanically interlocked molecules offers various switchable properties. Here, the authors report two FeII catenated metal-organic frameworks that exhibit spin dependent luminescence and dielectric switching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the maintenance effect of two puncture methods using non-coring needles in children with totally implantable venous access device (TIVAD). Methods: The 110 children who received TIVAD implantation for short bowel syndrome and solid tumors in our department from 2021.12 to 2022.12 were selected as the study subjects. Blinded method was used and divided into experimental group and control group according to random number table The experimental group underwent painless surround puncture method to place the needles and compound lidocaine ointment for topical anesthesia, while the control group underwent traditional puncture method to complete this operation. The effects of the two puncture methods on pain, catheter seal fluid volume, and catheter occlusion rate were evaluated using the Facial Pain Scale Revised, Behavioral Assessment Scale, and in vitro digital subtraction angiography test. Results: In the control group, the degree of puncture pain was mild in 5 patients, moderate in 19 patients, and severe in 28 patients; the amount of catheter sealing solution was 9.32 ± 1.32 mL, and the catheter occlusion rate was 25.00%. In the experimental group, the degree of puncture pain was mild in 16 patients, moderate in 22 patients, and severe in 16 patients; the amount of sealing solution was 7.66 ± 1.08 mL, and the blocking rate was 9.26%. The total pain score in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group (5.23± 6.17 VS 7.89± 2.38). The difference between the two groups had statistical significance (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The use of the painless surround puncture method can effectively reduce the pain experienced by children during puncture, decrease the volume of catheter sealing fluid, reduce the rate of catheter blockage, provide a valuable basis for enhancing the maintenance effect of TIVAD in clinical practice for children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: No consistent conclusion has been reached regarding the attentional bias characteristics of adolescents with major depressive disorders (MDD), and unexamined co-occurring anxiety distress may contribute to this inconsistency. Methods: We enrolled 50 MDD adolescents with anxiety distress, 47 MDD adolescents without anxiety distress and 48 healthy adolescents. We measured attentional bias using a point-probe paradigm during a negative-neutral emotional face task. Reaction time, correct response rate and attentional bias value were measured. Results: MDD adolescents did not show a negative attentional bias; MDD adolescents with anxiety distress exhibited longer reaction time for negative and neutral stimuli, lower correct response rate for negative stimuli. Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores were positively correlated with reaction time, negatively correlated with correct response rate, and not significantly correlated with attentional bias value. Limitations: The cross-sectional design hinders causal attribution, and positive emotional faces were not included in our paradigm. Conclusion: Negative attentional bias is not a stable cognitive trait in adolescents with MDD, and avoidance or difficulty in disengaging attention from negative emotional stimuli may be the attentional bias characteristic of MDD adolescents with anxiety distress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop and utilize aluminum-niobium slag, a kind of non-ferrous metallurgical waste residue produced in the preparation of metal niobium by the aluminothermic reduction method, the chemical composition, phase composition, microstructure and properties of aluminum-niobium slag were studied by ICP, XRD, SEM, TG-DTA and other characterization techniques. The results show that the oxidation of Nb and NbO leads to the poor volume thermal stability of aluminum-niobium slag. After heat treating the aluminum-niobium slag at different temperatures (400 - 1 500 °C), it is found that high temperature pre-firing treatment can effectively solve the problem of poor volume thermal stability of the aluminum-niobium slag. After pre-firing at 1 400 °C or above, the aluminum-niobium slag has stable phase composition and volume change rate as well as the refractoriness >1 790 °C, which meets the basic requirements of refractories for raw materials and lays a good foundation for its resource utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymyxin B, produced by Paenibacillus polymyxa, is used as the last line of defense clinically. In this study, exogenous mixture of precursor amino acids increased the level and proportion of polymyxin B1 in the total of polymyxin B analogs of P. polymyxa CJX518-AC (PPAC) from 0.15 g/L and 61.8 % to 0.33 g/L and 79.9 %, respectively. The co-culture of strain PPAC and recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum-leu01, which produces high levels of threonine, leucine, and isoleucine, increased polymyxin B1 production to 0.64 g/L. When strains PPAC and C. glu-leu01 simultaneously inoculated into an optimized medium with 20 g/L peptone, polymyxin B1 production was increased to 0.97 g/L. Furthermore, the polymyxin B1 production in the co-culture of strains PPAC and C. glu-leu01 increased to 2.21 g/L after optimized inoculation ratios and fermentation medium with 60 g/L peptone. This study provides a new strategy to improve polymyxin B1 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel environmental pollutant, the impacts of nanoplastics on crops have attracted more and more attention. To explore the response of soybean to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) at physiological and gene expression levels, this experiment used hydroponics to determine the phenotype and physiological indexes of soybean seedlings after exposure to 50 mg/L 100 nm PS-NPs for 10 days, and carried out transcriptome sequencing analysis of soybean seedling root system. The results showed that the growth of the soybean seedlings was inhibited, the root morphology changed significantly, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) increased to a certain extent, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) increased significantly, and the content of soluble sugar decreased after PS-NPs exposure. Transcriptome analysis showed that a total of 2112 differentially expressed genes were generated by PS-NPs exposure treatment, GO and KEGG analysis showed that they were mainly enriched in pathways related to redox reaction, reaction to ethylene and abscisic acid, amino acid metabolism and synthesis of other secondary metabolites. It was noted that 250 transcription factors were differentially expressed, mainly including the ERF, WRKY, NAC, bHLH and MYB transcription factor families. This experiment lays a foundation for further exploring the impact of nanoplastics on crops such as soybeans and its molecular mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the effects of forest travel activities on university students’ stress affection. Forty volunteer university students participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete physiological (Heart Rate Variability) and psychological (Brief Profile of Mood State and State–Trait Anxiety Inventory) tests before and after the travel activities. The results reported that students’ heart rates were significantly lower after the forest travel activities than before. All domains of negative mood and anxiety decreased from the pretest to the post-test. This study found that university students could feel less stressed if they went on forest travel activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heptanuclear {GdIII7} (complex 1) and tetradecanuclear {GdIII14} (complex 2) were synthesized using the rhodamine 6G ligand HL (rhodamine 6G salicylaldehyde hydrazone) and characterized. Complex 1 has a rare disc-shaped structure, where the central Gd ion is connected to the six peripheral GdIII ions via CH3O−/μ3-OH− bridges. Complex 2 has an unexpected three-layer double sandwich structure with a rare μ6-O2− ion in the center of the cluster. Magnetic studies revealed that complex 1 exhibits a magnetic entropy change of 17.4 J kg−1 K−1 at 3 K and 5 T. On the other hand, complex 2 shows a higher magnetic entropy change of 22.3 J kg−1 K−1 at 2 K and 5 T. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the difference in temperature recovery following cold stimulation between participants with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). Materials and Methods: The participants without (control group; n = 25) and with (DM group; n = 26) DM were subjected to local cold stimulation (10º C for 90 s). The thermal images of their hands were continuously captured using a thermal camera within 7 min following cold stimulation, and the highest temperature of each fingertip was calculated. According to the temperature values at different timepoints, the temperature recovery curves were drawn, and the baseline temperature (T‐base), initial temperature after cooling (T0), temperature decline amplitude (T‐range), and area under the temperature recovery curve > T0 (S) were calculated. Finally, symmetry differences between the two groups were analysed. Results: No statistical differences in the T‐base, T0, and T‐range were observed between the DM and control groups. After drawing the rewarming curve according to the temperature of the fingertips of the patients following cold stimulation, the S in the DM group was significantly lower than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the asymmetry of the base temperature of the hand was observed in the DM group. Conclusions: Following cold stimulation, the patients with DM exhibited a different rewarming pattern than those without DM. Thus, cold stimulation tests under infrared thermography may contribute to the early screening of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calciphylaxis is a rare and life-threatening condition in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). In this case report, we reported a 72-year-old female who had undergone aortic and mitral mechanical valve replacement 22 years ago due to rheumatic aortic and mitral stenosis. Following the valve replacement, she initiated warfarin treatment. Five years ago, she received a diagnosis of uremia and has since been undergoing regular hemodialysis. Ten months prior to her current admission, she experienced excruciating pain and was diagnosed with calciphylaxis. Additionally, an electrocardiogram revealed atrial fibrillation, while echocardiography indicated that the aortic and mitral mechanical valves were appropriately positioned, with normal perivalvular surroundings and good valve leaflet activity. No noticeable thrombosis was observed in the left atrium or left atrial appendage. Color Doppler imaging showed moderate stenosis in the lower extremity arteries, with no venous thromboembolism present. Extensive eggshell-like calcification within the arterial media was detected. The patient was managed with regular hemodialysis, symptomatic treatments (including anticoagulation and analgesia), and sodium thiosulfate. Unfortunately, symptomatic management provided limited relief, and during the one-month follow-up period, the patient passed away due to septic shock. Currently, there is insufficient conclusive evidence regarding alternative influential anticoagulants or appropriate prosthetic valve selection. For individuals with ESKD receiving maintenance hemodialysis, early identification, diagnosis, and treatment of calciphylaxis are of paramount importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major neuron type in the brain, the excitatory neuron (EN) regulates the lifespan in C. elegans. How the EN acquires senescence, however, is unknown. Here, we show that growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) is predominantly expressed in the EN in the adult mouse, marmoset and human brain. In mice, selective knock-out of GDF11 in the post-mitotic EN shapes the brain ageing-related transcriptional profile, induces EN senescence and hyperexcitability, prunes their dendrites, impedes their synaptic input, impairs object recognition memory and shortens the lifespan, establishing a functional link between GDF11, brain ageing and cognition. In vitro GDF11 deletion causes cellular senescence in Neuro-2a cells. Mechanistically, GDF11 deletion induces neuronal senescence via Smad2-induced transcription of the pro-senescence factor p21. This work indicates that endogenous GDF11 acts as a brake on EN senescence and brain ageing. How excitatory neurons (EN) acquire senescence is unclear. Here, the authors show that GDF11 in ENs slows EN senescence, brain ageing, cognitive decline and maintains lifespan, revealing a mechanism underlying EN senescence and brain ageing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A woman with severe type III osteogenesis imperfecta spontaneously conceived a monochorionic, diamniotic twin pregnancy. Due to the severity of her condition, her pregnancy required close follow-up involving a multidisciplinary team, including high-risk obstetricians, anaesthetists, pulmonologists and respiratory therapists. Eventually, the twins were delivered via caesarean section at 26 weeks’ gestation. We discuss the challenges and considerations in managing her high-risk pregnancy, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary care in achieving a safe outcome for mother and babies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The reaction of DyCl3⋅6H2O with a rigid diacylhydrazone ligand (H2L) afforded a trinuclear precursor [Dy3L2Cl3(H2O)2(CH3OH)]Cl2⋅3CH3OH (1). The replacement of the Cl– ions and the coordinating solvents by the aryloxides ligands (Lx)– yields three trinuclear complexes [Dy3L2(Lx)5]⋅nsol (x = 1,2‐naphthol (2); x = 2,7‐hydroxycoumarin (3); and x = 3, phenol (4)). In complexes 2—4, two end Dy3+ centers adopt almost identical N4O4 coordination sphere of D6h geometry while the central one adopts N4O5 coordination sphere in Cs geometry. Magnetic measurements reveal weak antiferromagnetic interactions in the hydrated samples 2e—4e and two‐step slow relaxation process under zero dc field with effective energy barriers Ueff of 439 and 91 K, 353 and 40 K, 466 and 89 K for SR and FR in 2e—4e, respectively. Such dynamic magnetic behaviour for 4 persists in the magnetically diluted sample of 4@Y. Complex 4 possesses the short Dy‐Oaryloxide bond distance of 2.055(18) Å, and the largest Ueff among the reported linear trinuclear dysprosium complexes. Moreover, the functionalized aryloxides ligands (Lx)– show photoluminescence via intramolecular energy transfer, making 2e—4e luminescent Dy3+ SMMs with high energy barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the clinical application effect of an augmented reality (AR) plasticity model on the postoperative visual function recovery of children with concomitant exotropia. Methods: Between September 2019 and October 2021, 28 patients with concomitant exotropia who visited Shenzhen Children's Hospital (9 male and 19 female) were enrolled in this study. The average age of the patients was 6.4 ± 1.8 years. Postoperative rehabilitation training was conducted using a personalized AR binocular visual perception plasticity model developed based on the patient's examination results. After 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of training, the patients returned to the hospital for examinations of perceptual eye position, static zero-order stereopsis, dynamic first-order fine stereopsis, and dynamic second-order coarse stereopsis to compare the changes in eye position control and stereovision function. Results: After 6 months of eye position training, the horizontal perception eye position of the 28 patients was significantly lower than that before training. The difference in eye position at the first and third months compared with that before training was not statistically significant (1st month: z = 2.255, p = 0.024 > 0.017; 3rd month: z = 2.277, p = 0.023 > 0.017; 6th month: z = 3.051, p = 0.002 < 0.017). The difference in vertical perceptual eye position after training compared with that before training was not statistically significant (1st month: z = 0.252, p = 0.801 > 0.017; 3rd month: z = 1.189, p = 0.234 > 0.017; 6th month: z = 2.225, p = 0.026 > 0.017). The difference in 0.8-m static zero-order stereopsis before and after training was not statistically significant (1st month: z = -2.111, p = 0.035 > 0.017; 3rd month: z = -1.097, p = 0.273 > 0.017; 6th month: z = -1.653, p = 0.098 > 0.017). The 1.5-m static zero-order stereopsis was improved after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of training compared with that before training (1st month: z = -3.134, p = 0.002 < 0.017; 3rd month: z = -2.835, p = 0.005 < 0.017; 6th month: z = -3.096, p = 0.002 < 0.017). Dynamic first-order fine stereopsis and dynamic second-order coarse stereopsis were measured in the 28 patients before and after training. Patients 1 and 18 had no dynamic first-order fine stereopsis before training, but both regained dynamic stereopsis after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of training. Patient 16 had no dynamic first-order fine stereopsis or dynamic second-order coarse stereopsis before training, but first-order and second-order stereopsis had been reconstructed after 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months of training. Conclusion: Concomitant exotropia surgery improved the basic problem of eye position at the ocular muscle level, but the patient's perceptual eye position and visual function defects at the brain visual level remained. This might partly explain the poor postoperative clinical effect. The AR plasticity model can improve patients' horizontal perceptual eye position and multi-dimensional stereoscopic function, and its clinical effect warrants further study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multielectrode-based electrochemical cell allows the structural characterization of an amorphous thin-film water oxidation catalyst under various electrochemical potentials using high-energy X-ray scattering and atomic pair distribution function (PDF) techniques. A multielectrode with five electrodes provides a sufficiently low background signal to enable high-energy X-ray scattering (HEXS) measurements and amplifies the extremely low HEXS signals from samples for high-resolution PDF analysis of in situ data from thinfilm catalysts. Glassy carbon (GC) creates a relatively low intensity HEXS pattern and is used as a working electrode. Instead of a three-dimensional (3D) porous electrode architecture, the flat geometry of the electrode enables various deposition techniques to be used for the preparation of a highly conductive metal oxide layer. PDF analysis demonstrates high spatial resolution for a 230 nm thick amorphous iridium oxide film deposited on two roughened 60 μm thick GC electrodes. The PDF analysis resolves the domain size and distinguishes changes in fine structure which are directly correlated with the structure and function of the catalysts. The results bring the opportunity to analyze the structure of nanometre-scale amorphous thin-film catalysts in an electrolyte-compatible and compact 3D-printed electrochemical cell in a threeelectrode configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the feasibility of using gelatin hydrogel networks as the host for the in situ, environmentally friendly formation of well-dispersed zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and the evaluation of the antibacterial activity of the as-prepared composite hydrogels. The resulting composite hydrogels displayed remarkable biocompatibility and antibacterial activity as compared to those in previous studies, primarily attributed to the uniform distribution of the ZnONPs with sizes smaller than 15 nm within the hydrogel network. In addition, the composite hydrogels exhibited better thermal stability and mechanical properties as well as lower swelling ratios compared to the unloaded counterpart, which could be attributed to the non-covalent interactions between the in situ formed ZnONPs and polypeptide chains. The presence of ZnONPs contributed to the disruption of bacterial cell membranes, the alteration of DNA molecules, and the subsequent release of reactive oxygen species within the bacterial cells. This chain of events culminated in bacterial cell lysis and DNA fragmentation. This research underscores the potential benefits of incorporating antibacterial agents into hydrogels and highlights the significance of preparing antimicrobial agents within gel networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gut microbiome plays an important role in host's development and reproduction. Lotus-fish co-culture (LFC) is a popular integrated agriculture-aquaculture farming system in China. However, there is still a relative dearth of information on how changes of aquaculture modes will affect the fish gut microbiome. In the present study, metagenomic sequencing was used to compare gut bacteria of the hybrid fish Hefang crucian carp (Carassius cuuieri ♀ × C. auratus var. red ♂) cultured in LFC and intensive pond culture (IPC) systems. The results indicated that aquaculture modes exerted great influences on the fish gut bacterial community. A significantly higher gut bacterial diversity was found in LFC than that in IPC (P < 0.05). The relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi were apparently higher in LFC than those in IPC, whereas Planctomycetota, Firmicutes, and Verrucomicrobia showed opposite patterns. Besides, gut bacterial metabolic potentials involved in energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, environmental information processing, and cellular processes were significantly increased in LFC compared to those in IPC. On the contrary, the bacterial functional potentials related to nucleotide metabolism, DNA mismatch repair, as well as homologous recombination were significantly stimulated in the IPC system. Source-tracking analysis suggested that fish gut bacterial community in IPC was originated mainly from water sources, whereas the gut bacterial community in LFC was originated from more unknown sources and soil sources. Our results provided new insight into the influence of aquaculture modes on the microbial community diversity and functionality in aquatic animals and highlighted the importance of environment microbiome in reshaping the gut microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with progressive cartilage erosion and joint destruction. Synovial fibroblasts (SFs) play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of RA. This study aims to explore the function and mechanism of CD5L during RA progression. We examined the levels of CD5L in synovial tissues and SFs. The collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rat models were used to investigate the effect of CD5L on RA progression. We also investigated the effects of exogenous CD5L on the behavior and activity of RA synovial fibroblasts (RASFs). Our results showed that CD5L expression was significantly upregulated in synovium of RA patients and CIA-rats. Histology and Micro-CT analysis showed that synovial inflammation and bone destruction were more severe in CD5L-treated CIA rats compared with control rats. Correspondingly, CD5L blockade alleviated bone damage and synovial inflammation in CIA-rats. The exogenous CD5L treatment promoted RASFs proliferation invasion and proinflammatory cytokine production. Knockdown of CD5L receptor by siRNA significantly reversed the effect of CD5L treatment on RASFs. Moreover, we observed that CD5L treatment potentiated PI3K/Akt signaling in the RASFs. The promoted effects of CD5L on IL-6 and IL-8 expression were significantly reversed by PI3K/Akt signaling inhibitor. In conclusion, CD5L promote RA disease progression via activating RASFs. CD5L blocking is a potential therapeutic approach for RA patients. CD5L could promote RA disease progress, via promoting the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory cytokines expression of RASFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 31% of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) have genitourinary system disorders and 6% of them have undescended testes. Haploinsufficiency of genes on chromosome 22q11.2 might contribute to the risk of 22q11.2DS. In this study, we used mice with single-allele deletion in mitochondrial ribosomal protein L40 (Mrpl40+/-) as models to investigate the function of Mrpl40 in testes and spermatozoa development. The penetrance of cryptorchidism in Mrpl40+/- mice was found to be higher than that in wild-type (WT) counterparts. Although the weight of testes was not significantly different between the WT and Mrpl40+/- mice, the structure of seminiferous tubules and mitochondrial morphology was altered in the Mrpl40+/- mice. Moreover, the concentration and motility of spermatozoa were significantly decreased in the Mrpl40+/- mice. In addition, data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry indicated that the expression of genes associated with male infertility was altered in Mrpl40+/- testes. Our study demonstrated the important role of Mrpl40 in testicular structure and spermatozoa motility and count. These findings suggest that Mrpl40 is potentially a novel therapeutic target for cryptorchidism and decreased motility and count of spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the leading causes of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Many studies have shown the significance of pathological manifestations in predicting the outcome of patients with IgAN, especially T-score of Oxford classification. Evaluating prognosis may be hampered in patients without renal biopsy. Methods: A baseline dataset of 690 patients with IgAN and an independent follow-up dataset of 1,168 patients were used as training and testing sets to develop the pathology T-score prediction (Tpre) model based on the stacking algorithm, respectively. The 5-year ESKD prediction models using clinical variables (base model), clinical variables and real pathological T-score (base model plus Tbio), and clinical variables and Tpre (base model plus Tpre) were developed separately in 1,168 patients with regular follow-up to evaluate whether Tpre could assist in predicting ESKD. In addition, an external validation set consisting of 355 patients was used to evaluate the performance of the 5-year ESKD prediction model using Tpre. Results: The features selected by AUCRF for the Tpre model included age, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, proteinuria, eGFR, serum IgA, and uric acid. The AUC of the Tpre was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.80–0.85) in an independent testing set. For the 5-year ESKD prediction model, the AUC of the base model was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.75–0.97). When the Tbio was added to the base model, there was an increase in AUC [from 0.86 (95% CI: 0.75–0.97) to 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85–0.98); P = 0.03]. There was no difference in AUC between the base model plus Tpre and the base model plus Tbio [0.90 (95% CI: 0.82–0.99) vs. 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85–0.98), P = 0.52]. The AUC of the 5-year ESKD prediction model using Tpre was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.87–0.99) in the external validation set. Conclusion: A pathology T-score prediction (Tpre) model using routine clinical characteristics was constructed, which could predict the pathological severity and assist clinicians to predict the prognosis of IgAN patients lacking kidney pathology scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To analyze the demographic and clinical characteristics and treatment among children and adolescents with depression in different age groups of onset. Methods: 635 children and adolescents with depression in a hospital from January 2014 to December 2021 were collected by e-case, and grouped according to age of onset, including 115 cases in childhood 8-12, 359 cases in early adolescence 13-1 and 161 cases in late adolescence 16-18, and the general conditions, clinical characteristics, and treatment were compared between the three groups. Results: Females had more onset and were more likely to have psychotic symptoms in childhood, short duration and hospitalization in early adolescence increased year by year, and males had more onset and less hospitalization in late adolescence. There were no statistical differences in medication regimen, suicide, length of hospitalization, or family history between the three groups. Conclusion: Children and adolescents with depression have their unique clinical characteristics at different age of onset and need to enhance prevention and individualized treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent patients with depressive disorders commonly exhibit somatic symptoms, which have a significant negative impact on their treatment and prognosis. Despite this, specific brain imaging characteristics of these symptoms have been poorly studied. Methods: The Hamilton Depression Rating scale (HAMD-17), Children's Functional Somatization scale (CSI), and Toronto Alexithymia scale (TAS) were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms of adolescent depression. We analyzed the correlation between brain gray matter volume (GMV) and clinical symptoms in adolescent patients with depression and somatic symptoms. Results: The depression subgroups with and without functional somatic symptoms (FSS) had higher scores on the HAMD-17, CSI, and TAS than the normal control group. The group with FSS had higher HAMD-17, CSI, and TAS scores than the depression group without FSS (p < 0.05). CSI and TAS scores were positively correlated (r = 0.378, p < 0.05). The GMV of the right supplementary motor area was higher in the depression groups with and without FSSs than in the normal control group, and the GMV was higher in the group without FSS than in the group with FSS (F = 29.394, p < 0.05). The GMV of the right supplementary motor area was negatively correlated with CSI in the depressed group with FSS (r = -0.376, p < 0.05). In the group with depression exhibiting FSS, CSI scores were positively correlated with GMV of the middle occipital gyrus (pr = 0.665, p = 0.0001), and TAS scores were positively correlated with GMV of the caudate nucleus (pr = 0.551, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Somatic symptoms of adolescent depressive disorder are associated with alexithymia; moreover, somatic symptoms and alexithymia in adolescent patients with depressive disorders are correlated with GMV changes in different brain regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the implementation and adoption of Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) in healthcare systems worldwide. It highlights the importance of early intervention in deteriorating events such as cardiac arrests, where abnormal vital signs can serve as early indicators. It further aims to provide specialized critical care services at the bedside, forming a part of a Rapid Response System (RRS).

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological injury for which no effective treatment exists. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is used to treat autologous bone marrow transplantation, chemotherapy-induced granulocytopenia, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), etc. Recent research has revealed the potential application of G-CSF on neuroprotective effectiveness. In central nervous system diseases, G-CSF can be used to alleviate neuronal injury. Objective: To investigate the effects of G-CSF on Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale score, inclined plane test, electrophysiologic exam, quantitative analysis of TUNEL-positive cells, and quantitative analysis of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunostaining images in animal models of SCI. Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for all articles on G-CSF intervention with animal models of SCI reported before November 2022. A total of 20 studies met the inclusion criteria. Results: Results revealed that G-CSF intervention could improve the BBB scale score in both groups at 3, 7, 14, 28, and 35 days [at 35 days, weighted mean differences (WMD) = 2.4, 95% CI: 1.92-2.87, p < 0.00001, I² = 69%]; inclined plane test score; electrophysiologic exam; quantitative analysis of TUNEL-positive cell numbers; quantitative analysis of GFAP immunostaining images in animal models of SCI. Subgroup analysis revealed that treatment with normal saline, phosphatebuffered saline, and no treatment resulted in significantly different neurological function effectiveness compared to the G-CSF therapy. SD rats and Wistar rats with SCI resulted in significant neurological function effectiveness. C57BL/6 mice showed no difference in the final effect. The T9-T10 or T10 segment injury model and the T8-T9 or T9 segment injury model resulted in significant neurological function effectiveness. The BBB score data showed no clear funnel plot asymmetry. We found no bias in the analysis result (Egger's test, p = 0.42). In our network meta-analysis, the SUCRA ranking showed that 15 mg/kg-20 mg/kg was an optimal dose for long-term efficacy. Conclusion: Our meta-analysis suggests that G-CSF therapy may enhance the recovery of motor activity and have a specific neuroprotective effect in SCI animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]