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The present study was conducted to evaluate the hormesis and toxicity of shortterm low-dose aflatoxin B1 in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). Triplicate isonitrogenous and isocaloric aflatoxin B1 diets—CD (control, 0 ug/kg), D1 (20 ug/kg), and D2 (500 ug/kg)—were prepared and fed to grass carp with an initial mean body weight of (15.2 ± 0.1) g for 56 days. The results showed that the weight gain rate and specific growth rate of grass carp fed diet D2 were significantly higher, and the feed coefficient and crude fat content of the whole body were significantly lower (P < 0.05) compared with those fed diet CD. Serum superoxide dismutase content of grass carp fed D1 diet increased significantly (P < 0.05) with an increasing dose of aflatoxin B1, but when the dose reached 500 ug/kg (D2), serum superoxide dismutase, complement C3, and immunoglobulin M of grass carp decreased significantly (P < 0.05), while malondialdehyde increased significantly (P < 0.05). After short-term feeding of aflatoxin B1-containing diets (D1 and D2), liver body index, visceral body index, serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and urea nitrogen content of grass carp increased significantly (P < 0.05), total bile acid secretion decreased significantly (P < 0.05), and structural damages such as increase in vacuoles, organizational structure loosening, and nucleus translocation were observed in the liver. Meanwhile, liver function indexes such as serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly with the increase of aflatoxin B1 dose (P < 0.05). In addition, the height of intestinal villi, crypt depth, villus–crypt ratio, and tubular cell number, as well as the content of trypsin and lipase activities in the intestine of grass carp in the D2 group, were significantly higher than those in the CD group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, after a short-term intake of low doses of aflatoxin B1 (≤500 ug/kg), the toxicological damage of aflatoxin B1 was pronounced, although it produced a certain degree of hormesis on the growth performance and intestinal structure and function of grass carp. At a dose of 20 ug/kg, the non-specific immune system and liver structure and function of grass carp showed obvious toxic damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The C-shaped mandibular second molars (MSMs) may pose an endodontic challenge. The aim of this study was to develop a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based deep learning system for the diagnosis of C-shaped MSMs on panoramic radiographs. Materials and methods: Panoramic radiographs and cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images were collected from a hospital in China and subsequently divided into two groups. In Group A, conventional panoramic images and CBCT images were derived from the same patients (n = 730 individuals), and the dataset consisted of conventional panoramic image patches of 1453 MSMs. In Group B (n = 610 individuals), the patients underwent CBCT examinations in the absence of available panoramic images; CBCT images were acquired and utilized to generate simulated panoramic images, and the dataset consisted of image patches of 1211 MSMs. Five pretrained CNN networks (ResNet-101 and − 50, DenseNet-121 and − 161, and Inception-V3) were utilized for the classification of C-shaped and non-C-shaped MSMs. Finally, the networks trained on the Group B dataset were tested on the Group A dataset. The diagnostic performance of each model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and the CBCT images were taken as the gold standard. The results were compared with those achieved by three dental professionals. Results: In Group A, all five networks exhibited satisfactory diagnostic performance, with AUC values ranging from 0.875 to 0.916 and accuracies ranging from 81.8 to 86.7%. No statistical differences were detected among the five CNNs. Notably, the models trained with Group B dataset (CBCT-generated panoramic images) achieved enhanced performance as tested on Group A dataset. The AUC values reached 0.984–0.996, and the accuracies ranged between 94.5% and 98.1%. CNNs outperformed dental professionals in classification performance, and the AUC values achieved by dental specialist, novice dentist, and dental graduate student were only 0.806, 0.767 and 0.730, respectively. Conclusion: CNN-based deep learning system demonstrated higher accuracy in the detection of C-shaped MSMs on panoramic radiographs compared to dental professionals. CBCT-generated panoramic images can serve as a substitute for conventional panoramic images in the training of CNN models when the quantity and quality of conventional panoramic image dataset is insufficient. Clinical relevance: CNN-based deep learning models have demonstrated significant potential in assisting dentists with the identification of C-shaped MSMs on panoramic radiographs, which facilitating more effective, efficient and safer dental treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas chimneys, salt domes, and faults are vital to the movement of hydrocarbons within geological systems. Accurate identification of these geological features is crucial to modeling hydrocarbon resources. This study explores the processes that have shaped the eastern Persian Gulf, focusing on salt diapir characteristics, origin, and fluid migration. Plate collisions between the Indian, Eurasian, and Arabian Plates have considerably impacted salt tectonics, developing key features such as the Hormuz salt, Qatar-South Fars Arch, and Zagros and Oman orogenic structures. Salt-related features were discerned through two-dimensional seismic data and drilling records, salt movement sequences were reconstructed, and fluid expulsion patterns were delineated using attribute preferences. The results of this study revealed that fractured substrates influenced by regional tectonic forces contribute to the creation of salt diapirs, which serve as conduits for guided fluid transport. Moreover, these results showed that gravity-driven downbuilding mainly controls salt flow, while the circular arrangement of salt structures results from regional stress and interactions between different salt sources. Distinct stress-induced basement incisions compounded by the hindrance of initial salt movement by the Qatar Arch further contribute to the complex salt structure geometry. Crucially, the uplift of the Qatar Arch and stresses from the Oman and Zagros orogenies profoundly affect the salt structure geometry and depositional patterns across diverse regions, resulting in circular salt structures and gas chimneys. This study offers valuable perspectives for oil and gas exploration and provides a comprehensive understanding of the regional dynamics governing salt tectonics and hydrocarbon ascent in the eastern Persian Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The effective extractives of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (T. hemsleyanum) are useful, but this plant was not fully utilized in rural China. In this study, flavonoids from the aerial parts of T. hemsleyanum were extracted, and the purification method and the antioxidant capability were explored. Purpose: This study is to explore the optimized purification method and the biological capability of the total flavonoids extracted from T. hemsleyanum. Materials and Methods: The optimal extraction conditions were determined by single-factor and Box-Behnken design experiments. The antioxidant activities were assessed by analyzing their capability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and OH free radicals. Results and Discussion: The optimal conditions for the extraction of the total flavonoids were as follows: ethanol volume fraction 60%, liquid-to-material ratios 35:1 mL/g, temperature 45℃, and time 85 min. The extraction rate of the total flavonoids was (3.59 ± 0.03)%. NKA-9 is an ideal macroporous resin for purification. The optimized purification process conditions of flavonoids were mass concentration of adsorption solution 1.50 mg/mL, pH value of adsorption solution 4.0, sample loading flow rate 2 BV/h, ethanol volume fraction in desorption process 60%, desorption flow rate 2 BV/h and elution volume 4 BV. After crude extracts were purified by NKA-9 macroporous resin, the content of the total flavonoids enhanced from (21.76 ± 0.18)% to (58.92 ± 0.22)%. The results of the experiments for antioxidant activity showed that the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of the purified flavonoids extracted were 33.1and 42.7 µg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the flavonoids in T. hemsleyanum have good antioxidant activity in vitro and deserve exploring in further pharmacological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrothermal field status of soil–rock mixture–concrete interface changes significantly under freeze–thaw cycles, which causes pore structure changes, interface debonding, and cracking; therefore, the shear strength deteriorates and the safe operation of buildings in cold regions is affected. Indoor direct shear and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tests and numerical simulations were conducted to explore the strength deterioration mechanism at the interface between the soil–rock mixture and concrete with different roughness degrees under freeze–thaw cycles in this study. The results suggest that freeze–thaw cycles have little effect on the rotation and displacement of particles, and roughness has a considerable effect. There are primarily three types of pores in the interface layer: (1) micropores; (2) mesopores; and (3) macropores. By increasing the number of freeze–thaw cycles, the T2 spectral peaks of the pore structures shifted to the upright side and the total T2 spectral area increases. The increase in the roughness degrees tends to increase the proportion of mesopores and enhances the interfacial strength. The results could benefit research on soil–rock and concrete interface systems and provide effective guidance for the construction, operation, and maintenance of pile foundation engineering in cold regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growing evidence indicates that N7-methylguanosine (m7G) modification plays critical roles in epigenetic regulation. However, no data regarding m7G modification are currently available in Eimeria tenella, a highly virulent species causing coccidiosis in chickens. Methods: In the present study, we explore the distribution of internal messenger RNA (mRNA) m7G modification in sporulated and unsporulated oocysts of E. tenella as well as its potential biological functions during oocyst development using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and mRNA sequencing (mRNA-seq), and the mRNA-seq and MeRIP-seq data were verified by the quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR) and MeRIP–qPCR, respectively. Results: Our data showed that m7G peaks were detected throughout the whole mRNA body, and the coding DNA sequence (CDS) region displayed the most methylation modification. Compared with unsporulated oocysts, 7799 hypermethylated peaks and 1945 hypomethylated peaks were identified in sporulated oocysts. Further combined analysis of differentially methylated genes (DMGs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed that there was a generally positive correlation between m7G modification levels and gene transcript abundance. Unsurprisingly, the mRNA-seq and MeRIP-seq data showed good consistency with the results of the RT–qPCR and MeRIP–qPCR, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs with altered m7G-methylated peaks were involved in diverse biological functions and pathways, including DNA replication, RNA transport, spliceosome, autophagy-yeast, and cAMP signaling pathway. Conclusions: Altogether, our findings revealed the potential significance of internal m7G modification in E. tenella oocysts, providing some directions and clues for later in-depth research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the study is to explore the current level of nursing students' study skills self-efficacy, and whether general self-efficacy and self-directed learning ability mediate the relationship between perceived stress (including positive stress and negative stress) and study skills self-efficacy. Methods: The survey was conducted among 1,289 nursing students including 795 students from Jinzhou Medical University and 494 students from Dalian University. Participants completed a self-designed questionnaire, which included the Study Skills Self-Efficacy Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Self-Directed Learning Instrument, gender, age, academic year, and other demographic characteristics. Descriptive analysis, independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analyses, and the bootstrap method were used for data analysis. Results: Positive stress significantly positively predicted students' study skills self-efficacy, with an effect size of 0.686. Moreover, general self-efficacy and self-directed learning mediate the relationship between positive stress and study skills self-efficacy in nursing students, with effect sizes of 0.235 and 0.245, respectively. The direct effect of negative pressure on students' study skills self-efficacy is not statistically significant, but it has a significant negative predictive effect on study skills self-efficacy under the mediation of general self-efficacy and self-directed learning, with effect sizes of -0.337 and -0.238, respectively. Conclusion: This study explains how stress affects students' study skills self-efficacy, and the results have certain enlightenment significance for improving the stress management ability and study skills self-efficacy of college students in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) to conduct deep H  i imaging of the entire M 106 group region, and have discovered a few new H  i filaments and clouds. Three H  i clouds/filaments are found in a region connecting DDO 120 and NGC 4288, indicating an interaction between these two galaxies. The H  i features in this region suggest that DDO 120 is probably the origin of the H  i stream extending from the northern end of NGC 4288 to M 106. This structure is similar to the Small–Large Magellanic Cloud stream, but much longer, about 190 kpc. Furthermore, based on the distance measurements, we have determined the satellite galaxy members of M 106. With an absolute magnitude cutoff of |$M_{B}$|  = −10, we obtained a sample of 11 member satellite galaxies for M 106. Using the observed H  i mass with FAST, we studied the properties of satellite galaxies in M 106 and found that satellite galaxies with lower stellar masses exhibit more significant deviations from the star-forming main sequence in their specific star formation rates. Furthermore, the relationship between the H  i mass of satellite galaxies and optical diameter generally follows the field galaxies relation. We discuss the possible mechanisms leading to the quenching in the M 106 group based on the new data from FAST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Intraoperative ultrasound was used to assess the flow velocity in the marginal vessel arch adjacent to the anastomosis, critical for evaluating the anastomotic blood supply. This technique also enabled us to investigate the potential effects of preserving the left colonic artery on the perfusion of the anastomosis. Methods: This prospective study included 40 rectal cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic anterior resection between January 2021 and January 2023. The length of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) was measured from its origin to the first branch, and the diameters of the mesenteric vessel IMA, left colonic artery (LCA), and marginal mesenteric artery (MMA) were recorded. Blood flow velocity and Doppler ultrasound waveforms of the MMA near the anastomosis were collected. Measurements were taken both before and after clamping the IMA using atraumatic forceps. The tardus parvus pattern of the MMA ultrasound waveforms was recorded to evaluate the hypoperfusion status of the anastomosis. Results: The mean velocities of MMA were 47.9 cm/s before clamping and 34.9 cm/s after atraumatic clamping, indicating significant differences (p < 0.05). Thirteen patients (32.5%) exhibited a Tardus parvus pattern after IMA atraumatic clamping. Multivariate analysis revealed older age and LCA diameter as independent clinical predictors of the hypoperfusion status after IMA clamping. Conclusions: Preservation of the LCA may improve perfusion near the anastomosis during rectal cancer surgery. Older age and LCA diameter can be considered useful predictors of the mesenteric hypoperfusion status after IMA ligation. Intraoperative ultrasound can evaluate the perfusion of the MMA near the anastomosis. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry—Registration number: ChiCTR2000041475 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for achieving the single-mode and efficient unidirectional emission of a whispering gallery mode (WGM) semiconductor laser is presented herein. Hybrid square-rectangular lasers (HSRLs) and hybrid square/rhombus-rectangular lasers (HSRRLs) consisting of a Fabry–Pérot (FP) cavity and a square or rhombus cavity microcavity are described. In addition, a transmitter optical subassembly (TOSA) based on an HSRRL chip was fabricated, which has a wide and continuous wavelength tuning range. Wavelength channels from 1555.75 nm to 1568.15 nm with a spacing of 50 GHz were demonstrated with a good side mode suppression ratio (SMSR) and good output power. These devices have the potential to meet the typical requirements of optical communication networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the RNG k-ε turbulence model and VOF multiphase flow model, a numerical model of horizontal water-entry of the vehicle was established, and the numerical method was verified by experimental results. The cavitation characteristics, fluid resistance, and motion of the vehicle under different conditions were studied during the vehicle's water-entry process. The results show that the cavitation process can be divided into the cavity development stage, saturation stage, and collapse stage. With the increase in initial velocity and mass of the vehicle, more water vapor will be generated during the water-entry process. The initial velocity of the vehicle had a limited effect on the resistance coefficient. The resistance coefficient in the stable stage remained almost unchanged for vehicles with different masses. Nevertheless, the time interval of the stable stage was shortened, and the resistance coefficient was greater in the gradually increasing stage for the vehicle with a smaller mass. For vehicles with higher initial velocity or smaller mass, the instantaneous velocity decreased faster after it entered the water. The vehicle with a streamlined design was able to reduce the generation of water vapor and decrease fluid resistance and its coefficient, and the vehicle can run farther during the water-entry process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE Computed tomography (CT)-based body composition parameters and the hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) are key characteristics in patients with liver cirrhosis. The present study aims to explore the correlation between CT-based body composition parameters and HVPG, as well as the difference in HVPG between patients with and patients without sarcopenia. METHODS A literature search for studies reporting the correlation between HVPG and CT-based body composition parameters published in English up to August 2023 in four databases, Embase, MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, was conducted. The correlation coefficient between HVPG and CT-based body composition parameters was the primary outcome, and the difference in the HVPG value between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups was the secondary outcome. A meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects models. The methodologic quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Studies instrument. RESULTS A total of 652 articles were identified, of which nine studies (n = 1,569) met the eligibility criteria. Among them, seven studies reported the primary outcome via the muscle index, five via the skeletal muscle index (SMI), two via the psoas-muscle-related index (PRI), and three via two adipose tissue indexes. A total of five studies reported the secondary outcome: four via SMI and one via PRI. No evidence of a significant correlation was determined between the various body composition parameters and the HVPG value, either in the muscle index or the adipose tissue index. Higher HVPG values were observed in patients with sarcopenia than in patients without sarcopenia [pooled standardized mean difference (SMD): 0.628 (-0.350, 1.606), P < 0.001; I² = 92.8%; P < 0.001] when an Asian sarcopenia definition was adopted. In contrast, when a Western cut-off value was applied, the HVPG value was higher in patients without sarcopenia than in patients with sarcopenia [pooled SMD: -0.201 (-0.366, -0.037), P = 0.016; I² = 0.00%; P = 0.785]. CONCLUSION No sufficient evidence regarding a correlation between the CT-based body composition and HVPG value was discovered. The difference in the HVPG value between the sarcopenia and non-sarcopenia groups was likely dependent on the sarcopenic cut-off value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Heart Failure Post-Acute Care [HF-PAC] program is a specialized healthcare program aimed at providing comprehensive care and support for patients with heart failure [HF] as they transition from acute hospital settings to home. But the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 [COVID-19] pandemic on the HF-PAC program remains unknown. Furthermore, the effects of the comprehensive COVID-19 vaccination program on these patients with HF-PAC warrants further investigation. Methods: A total of 265 patients with acute decompensated HF were admitted to the hospital between May 2020 and October 2022. Of these, 159 patients underwent planned HF-PAC follow-up for 6 months, followed by scheduled follow-up visits every 3 months and unscheduled telephone randomized visits for at least another 6 months. Results: The program completion rate was nearly 92%. COVID-19 significantly impacted patients with HF-PAC, leading to an increased mortality [13.3%] compared to before the pandemic [6.5%]. In our patient cohort, 83% had received at least 1 dose of vaccine and 61% had received > 3 doses. Of these patients with HF-PAC, 34% contracted COVID-19 infection post discharge, and 8.8% died owing to the infection. Of the mortality group, 42.9% patients were not vaccinated, and 28.6% received 1 vaccine dose, and their vaccination rate was lower than in the survival group [p = 0.01]. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on patients enrolled in the HF-PAC program; receiving more than 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine was associated with a significant reduction in mortality rates among these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional diagnostic markers for mixed neuroendocrine-non-neuroendocrine neoplasms (MiNENs) are synaptophysin (SYP), chromogranin A (CHGA) and CD56. However, there is still a lack of a large series of article focused on the expression of insulinoma-associated protein 1 (INSM1) in gastrointestinal and pancreatic MiNENs. This study compared the expression of INSM1 and traditional neuroendocrine markers in MiNENs. In this study, we collected 46 cases of gastrointestinal and pancreatic MiNENs and performed immunohistochemical staining for INSM1, SYP, CHGA, and CD56. Histologically, the neuroendocrine components of MiNENs were all neuroendocrine carcinomas, with small cell neuroendocrine carcinomas accounting for 15.2% (7/46) and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas accounting for 84.8% (39/46). With respect to immunohistochemical expression, the overall sensitivity of INSM1 was 80.4% (37/46), which was lower than that of SYP (100%, 46/46), but comparable to that of CHGA (67.4%, 31/46) or CD56 (73.9%, 34/46). The overall specificity of INSM1 was 91.3% (42/46), which was greater than that of SYP (63.0%, 29/46) and CD56 (69.6, 32/46), but was not significantly different from that of CHGA (82.6%, 38/46). The proportion of 3 + staining for SYP (100%, 46/46) was greater than that of INSM1 (71.7, 33/46), while the proportion of 3 + staining for CHGA (10.9, 5/46) or CD56 (21.7, 10/46) was lower than that of INSM1. In conclusion, INSM1 exhibited high sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal and pancreatic MiNENs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low alloy bainitic steel used in reactor pressure vessels deteriorates during thermal service while the macroscopic thermodynamic parameters that cause thermal aging remains unknown. In this work, a thermal aging restructuring scheme was proposed by step-up aging the steel from 350 °C to 490 °C, with a total duration of 7500 hours. Samples from varied thickness of the steel were characterized in terms of carbides evolution and Charpy impact toughness at 20 °C. The carbide size and its fraction were statistically analyzed showing partial coarsening and dissolution during aging, while the carbide fraction was found linearly correlated with the impact energy for the first time. The critical transition temperature parameter of the aging process was found to be 470 °C for the steel. The macroscopic thermodynamic parameters, including the thermal aging time and temperature, facilitate a comprehensive understanding of the material degradation mechanism and provide a basis for long-term safety of equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: While hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HCCA) patients commonly undergo radioactive stent (RS) insertion treatment, the relative benefits of unilateral versus bilateral RS insertion procedures remain to be established. Accordingly, this study was designed to evaluate the relative safety and efficacy of percutaneous bilateral and unilateral RS insertion for patients with HCCA. Methods: In total, 126 HCCA patients who underwent unilateral (n=64) or bilateral (n=62) RS insertion from January 2017 - December 2021 were included in this analysis. Treatment efficacy and long-term outcomes were compared between groups. The primary endpoint was stent patency, and the secondary endpoints included technical success rate, clinical success rate, local control rate, overall survival (OS), and complications. Results: The respective technical success rates in the unilateral and bilateral groups were 90.6% (58/64) and 93.5% (58/62) (P = 0.782). The clinical success rates were 82.8% and 86.2% in unilateral and bilateral groups, respectively (P = 0.608). Both groups exhibited comparable medial post-intervention bilirubin levels (100 vs. 99 mmol/L; P = 0.501), and restenosis occurred in 12 (20.7%) and 15 (25.9%) patients over the follow-up interval (P = 0.510). The stent reintervention rate was significantly higher in the unilateral group than bilateral group (66.7% vs. 0.0%, P < 0.001). The median stent patency in the unilateral and bilateral groups was 189 and 210 days, respectively (P = 0.796), while the median OS interval was 222 and 229 days, respectively (P = 0.969). Comparable cholangitis (17.2% vs. 22.4%, P = 0.485) and cholecystitis (3.4% vs. 3.4%, P = 1.000) rates were also detected in these two groups. Conclusions: In summary, HCCA patients exhibit comparable efficacy when undergoing unilateral and bilateral radioactive stenting, suggesting that unilateral RS can be routinely performed owing to the simpler nature of this procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring highly active, low-cost electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is of great significance but still a major challenge. Herein, we synthesized Ni(OH)2@Ni(Fe)OOH with a sea urchin-like structure on a nickel foam via a simple hydrothermal and subsequent soaking process. Experimental results indicate that incorporation of Fe into Ni(OH)2 is favorable for modulating the electronic structure as well as achieving faster electron transfer and improved intrinsic activity, thereby leading to excellent OER activity. The optimized Ni(OH)2@Ni(Fe)OOH electrocatalyst exhibits superior OER activity with overpotentials of 245 and 310 mV at 10 and 100 mA cm−2, respectively, and a small Tafel slope of 40.7 mV dec−1 and high stability over 100 h, which is more than that of benchmark RuO2 and several control samples without the introduction of Fe. More importantly, the overall water splitting system using Ni(OH)2@Ni(Fe)OOH-100 as the anode and Pt/C as the cathode only requires a cell voltage of 1.54 V to afford a current density of 10 mA cm−2. This work not only demonstrates the key factor of Fe doping, but also offers a new path for the development of NiFe-based OER catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Both microcoils and hook-wires are commonly utilized for preoperative pulmonary nodule localization due to their convenience, but it remains unclear which one should be prioritized for recommendation. Aims: To compare the safety and efficacy of microcoils and hook-wires for pulmonary nodule localization. Methods: From January 2021 to December 2021, 310 consecutive patients (113 males and 197 females) with 341 pulmonary nodules who underwent CT-guided microcoil or hook-wire localization prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) at our center were retrospectively included in this study. There were 161 patients in the microcoil group and 149 patients in the hook-wire group. The successful localization rate, complication rate, radiation exposure, and medical costs were compared between the two groups. Results: A total of 341 pulmonary nodules were localized, with a success rate of 99% (180/184) in the microcoil group and 93% (146/157) in the hook-wire group, respectively. All patients successfully underwent VATS. Multivariate analysis revealed that hook-wire localization, shorter needle depth into the lung tissue and the longer waiting time from localization to VATS were the risk factors for the localization failure. The incidences of pneumothorax in the microcoil group and hook-wire group were 34.8% (56/161) and 34.9% (52/149), respectively (P = 0.983). The incidences of pneumorrhagia were 13% (24/184) and 46.5% (73/157), respectively (P = 0.000). Multivariate analysis revealed that hook-wire localization and greater depth of needle penetration into lung tissue were risk factors for pneumorrhagia. Conclusion: Microcoil localization of pulmonary nodules is superior to hook-wire localization in terms of efficacy and safety. This finding provides insight into priority and broader promotion of microcoil localization. Main points: CT-guided localization of pulmonary nodules can improve the success rate of video-assisted thoracoscopic pulmonary wedge resection. CT-guided microcoil or hook-wire localization of pulmonary nodules prior to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is a well-established technique with a high success rate and a low incidence of major complications. Due to their material properties, microcoils are more stable than hook-wires in terms of localization, allowing for longer waiting periods for surgery after localization without dislodgment, with a lower risk of pulmonary bleeding, and a better patient experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing low‐cost and exceedingly efficient electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is vital for application of hydrogen production from water splitting. Herein, three different nickel sulfides on nickel foam were fabricated via a simple sulfuring the as‐formed Ni‐MOF with different sulfide as the sulfur source. The effect of sulfur source on OER performance, morphology and structure of the as‐prepared product are well discussed. The optimized Ni‐MOF/NF‐SS deliver overpotentials of 253 and 330 mV to reach current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2 with a small Tafel slope of 70.9 mVdec−1, and stability of over 50 h. This work provides insights into the relationship between the OER activity and the structures of nickel sulfides, but also affords a new route to fabricate nickel sulfides‐based electrocatalysts for OER. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the malignant tumors responsible for high mortality and recurrence rates. Although liver transplantation (LT) is an effective treatment option for HCC, ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a contributor to HCC recurrence after LT. Moreover, prolonged cold ischemia time (CIT) is a risk factor for IRI during LT, and there is insufficient clinical evidence regarding the impact of CIT on HCC recurrence after LT. Patients and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 420 patients who underwent LT for HCC between February 2015 and November 2020 at The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. The duration of CIT was defined as the time from clamping of the donor aorta until portal reperfusion. Results: A total of 133 patients (31.7%) experienced tumor recurrence after LT, and CIT > 568 min was the independent risk factor for HCC recurrence (OR, 2.406; 95% CI [1.371–4.220]; p = 0.002). Multivariate Cox's regression analysis revealed that the recipients' gender, exceeding Milan criteria, poor differentiation, and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) ≥400 ng/ml in CIT > 568 min group were independent risk factors for disease-free survival. The peak 7-day postoperative alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (p < 0.001), the peak 7-day postoperative aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level (p < 0.001), the peak 7-day postoperative peak total bilirubin (TBIL) level (p = 0.012), and the incidence of early allograft dysfunction (EAD) (p = 0.006) were significantly higher in the CIT > 568 min group compared to the CIT ≤ 568 min group. Moreover, the amount of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) infusion during the operation increased (p = 0.02), and the time of mechanical ventilation postoperative was longer (p = 0.045). Conclusion: An effective strategy to improve the prognosis is to reduce CIT; this strategy lowers the recurrence of HCC in patients undergoing LT, especially those within the Milan criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The manipulation of hydrogen bonding within protic ionic liquids is conducive to conquering the robust hydrogen bonding interactions in cellulose for its effective dissolution, but it is a great challenge to establish the delicate balance of hydrogen bonding network between solvent and cellulose. Herein, we proposed the concept of "hydrogen bond producers" for urea molecules in 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylguanidinium methoxyacetate acid ([TMGH][MAA]) to enhance the dissolution of cellulose. The optimization of physicochemical properties for [TMGH][MAA] solvent as a function of urea concentration revealed a remarkable increase in cellulose solubility from 13% to 17% (w/w) by adding only 0.25 wt% urea, highlighting the efficiency of [TMGH][MAA] as a powerful solvent for the dissolution of cellulose. The experimental and simulation results verified that the significant improvement on dissolution of cellulose was attributed to the hydrogen bonding interaction of urea molecules with ion pairs and part of free ions, reducing the interference with the active ions bonded to cellulose. Furthermore, the considerable enhancement on comprehensive properties of regenerated cellulose films demonstrated the effectiveness of [TMGH][MAA]/urea solvent. The concept of "hydrogen bond producers" presented here opens a new avenue for significantly enhancing the dissolution of natural cellulose, promoting the sustainable development in large‐scale processing of cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of Pediococcus pentosaceus (PP) and chitinase combinations on the conservation and nutritive value of alfalfa high-moisture hay (HMH). P. pentosaceus [1012 colony forming unit/g fresh forage] combined with (g/tonne of fresh forage) 1.5 (PP + LC), 7.5 (PP + MC), or 15.0 (PP + HC) g of LANiHay01 chitinase (Exp. 1) or with LANiHay02 (PP + Fe; 1.5 g), LANiHay01 (PP + Pe; 1.5 g), or Sigma (PP + Si; 55 mg) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 2) were used in 2016. In 2017, PP was applied alone or in combination with LANiHay01 at 1.5 g (PP + LC) or 7.5 g (PP + MC) chitinase/tonne (Exp. 3 and 4). Deionized water and propionic acid (4.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 1 and 2 and at 6.0 L/tonne of fresh forage in Exp. 3 and 4) were applied as neutral (CON) and positive control (CON+), respectively. The maximum temperature (r2 = 0.66) and NH3-N concentration (r2 = 0.80) of the HMH were positively related to total microbial populations. PP + MC had lower (p ≤ 0.05) yeast and mold counts than CON in Exp. 3 and 4 while the neutral detergent fiber degradability was greater (p < 0.01) for PP + MC and PP + LC than CON in Exp. 1 and 3, respectively. P. pentosaceus in combination with chitinase has the potential in conserving the nutrient quality of alfalfa HMH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual quality inspection of part surfaces is a crucial step in industrial production. Image edge detection is a common technique for assessing the surface conditions of parts. However, current methods have limitations, including poor noise filtering, low adaptability, and inadequate accuracy of edge detection. To overcome these challenges, this study proposes an adaptive edge detection method for part images using selective processing. Firstly, this method divides the input image into noise, edge, and noise-free blocks, followed by selective mixed filtering to remove noise while preserving original image details. Secondly, a four-parameter adaptive selective edge detection algorithm model is constructed, which adaptively adjusts parameter values based on image characteristics to address issues of missing edges and false detections, thereby enhancing the adaptability and accuracy of the method. Moreover, by comparing and adjusting the four parameter values, different edge information can be selectively detected, enabling rapid acquisition of desired edge detection results and improving detection efficiency and flexibility. Experimental results demonstrated that the proposed method outperformed existing classical techniques in both subjective and objective evaluations, maintaining stable detection under varying noise conditions. Thus, this method was validated for its effectiveness and stability, enhancing production efficiency in manufacturing processes of parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Lung carcinoma with p40/TTF1 coexpression (LC-PTC) is a very rare tumor with poor prognosis, and few cases have been reported to date. Objectives. To better understand biological behavior and prognosis of LC-PTC. Methods. We collected 9 examples of LC-PTC and compared them with 36 lung adenosquamous carcinomas during the same period in clinicopathologic characteristics, biologic behaviour, and prognosis. Results. Lung carcinoma with p40/TTF1 coexpression mainly occurred in middle-aged and elderly men; 8 tumors belonged to the peripheral type, and 1 belonged to the central type. The rates of lymph node and distant metastasis were 88% (7/8) and 50% (4/8), respectively; 2 patients died during follow-up. Histologically, the LC-PTC showed nest-like growth pattern without glandular growth pattern; the surface of 2 tumors was covered with ciliated columnar epithelium and tumor cells grew under the columnar epithelium. In all patients, tumor cells diffusely coexpressed p40 and TTF1. Although there was no significant difference in the maximum diameter of tumor with lymph node metastasis or with distant metastasis between LC-PTC and lung adenosquamous carcinoma, LC-PTC had a higher rate of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. There was no significant difference in overall survival of patients between LC-PTC and lung adenosquamous carcinoma. Additional histologic evaluation of normal pulmonary structures revealed that p40/TTF1 coexpression cells existed in bronchial mucosa and the number of cells coexpressing p40/TTF1 increased gradually from proximal bronchus to distal bronchus. Conclusions. Lung carcinoma with p40/TTF1 coexpression is a rare tumor with high metastatic potential and may originate from p40/TTF1 coexpression cells in distal bronchial mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Facilitating the surface reconstruction of pre-catalysts has been considered an effective strategy for constructing low-cost and highly efficient OER electrocatalysts. Metal doping is a feasible way to activate the surface reconstruction, thus enhancing the OER performance. Herein, we report a facile hydrothermal method to synthesize a series of Zn-doped Ni-MOF on nickel foam (NiZn-MOF/NF) as promising pre-catalysts toward the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Zn leaching of NiZn-MOF/NF can promote the surface self-reconstruction of NiZn-MOF/NF into oxygen-vacancy-rich NiOOH after electrochemical activation. Benefiting from the optimized electronic structure, abundant defects, more accessible active sites, and enhanced electrical conductivity, the reconstructed metal oxyhydroxide hybrids exhibit better electrocatalytic activity than the catalysts transformed from Ni-MOF/NF without Zn doping. The optimized NiZn-MOF/NF-OH as an OER catalyst has an overpotential of 336 mV at 100 mA cm−2, and a Tafel slope of 65.9 mV dec−1, as well as stability over 12 h. This work reveals that Zn cation-doping/leaching induces the surface reconstruction of pre-catalysts for enhanced oxygen catalytic activity, which provides a new approach for the development of advanced electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gradient-based neural dynamics (GND) models are a classical algorithm for solving optimization problems, but it has non-negligible flaws in solving dynamic problems. In this study, a novel GND model, namely the zeroing feedback gradient-based neural dynamics (ZF-GND) models, is proposed based on the original GND model for tracking down the exact solution of dynamic quadratic programming problem (DQP). Further, a nonlinear projection function is designed to accelerate the convergence of the model. An upper bound on the convergence time of the ZF-GND model is rigorously defined through theoretical analysis. The superior effect of the ZF-GND model in terms of convergence is verified through comparison experiments. Finally, an application of robot motion planning is introduced to verify the practicality of the ZF-GND model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accumulating evidence has suggested that sleep disturbances and disorders are common in patients who undergo knee arthroplasty. Revision surgery represents one of the most catastrophic outcomes of knee arthroplasty. However, it remains unclear whether sleep traits are the causes or consequences of knee arthroplasty revision. This study aimed to genetically examine the relationships between sleep traits and knee arthroplasty revision. Methods: To determine the causal relationship between sleep traits and knee arthroplasty revision, we employed two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) using summary statistics from the largest publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWASs). The MR design uses genetic variants as instrumental variables to help separate causal relationships from non-causal associations. The main analyses included an inverse variance weighted (IVW) meta-analysis to obtain primary effect estimates. Sensitivity analyses involving the weighted median approach and MR-Egger regression were also conducted to check for potential pleiotropic biases. Numerous complementary sensitivity analyses were also performed to identify statistically significant causal correlations when there were horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity across variants. Finally, a reverse MR analysis was performed to evaluate the possibility of reverse causation. Results: In the absence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy, the IVW method revealed that genetically-predicted short sleep duration short sleep duration (average sleep duration of 24 h is 6 h or less) was positively correlated with the risk of knee arthroplasty revision (odds ratio = 1.03, 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.05, and P = 0.003), while the association between genetically-predicted long sleep duration and knee arthroplasty was negative. The reverse MR analysis did not yield evidence supporting reverse causality relation between knee arthroplasty revision and sleep phenotypes. Conclusion: This research indicated that, of the 10 sleep phenotypes we analyzed, only sleep duration was causally associated with knee arthroplasty revision. These discoveries added to the understanding of the role of sleep traits in the etiology of knee arthroplasty revision, which might further expand our insights into the prevention of knee arthroplasty revision. Highlights: 1. Genetically-predicted short sleep duration increases risk of knee arthroplasty revision. 2. Mendelian randomization used to analyze sleep traits and knee revision relationship. 3. Sleep duration causally linked to lower risk of knee arthroplasty revision. 4. No evidence found for reverse causality between knee revision and sleep traits. 5. Study enhances understanding of sleep's role in knee arthroplasty outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of industry and modern manufacturing, nondegradable low-density polyethylene (LDPE) has been widely used, posing a rising environmental hazard to natural ecosystems and public health. In this study, we isolated a series of LDPE-degrading fungi from landfill sites and carried out LDPE degradation experiments by combining highly efficient degrading fungi in pairs. The results showed that the mixed microorganisms composed of Alternaria sp. CPEF-1 and Trametes sp. PE2F-4 (H-3 group) had a greater degradation effect on heat-treated LDPE (T-LDPE). After 30 days of inoculation with combination strain H-3, the weight loss rate of the T-LDPE film was approximately 154% higher than that of the untreated LDPE (U-LDPE) film, and the weight loss rate reached 0.66 ± 0.06%. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to further investigate the biodegradation impacts of T-LDPE, including the changes on the surface and depolymerization of the LDPE films during the fungal degradation process. Our findings revealed that the combined fungal treatment is more effective at degrading T-LDPE than the single strain treatment, and it is expected that properly altering the composition of the microbial community can help lessen the detrimental impact of plastics on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart electric vehicles (SEVs) hold significant potential in alleviating the energy crisis and environmental pollution. The augmented reality (AR) dashboard, a key feature of SEVs, is attracting considerable attention due to its ability to enhance driving safety and user experience through real-time, intuitive driving information. This study innovatively integrates Kansei engineering, factor analysis, fuzzy systems theory, analytic hierarchy process, grey relational analysis, and factorial experimentation to evaluate AR dashboards' visual imagery and subjective preferences. The findings reveal that designs featuring blue planar and unconventional-shaped dials exhibit the best performance in terms of visual imagery. Subsequent factorial experiments confirmed these results, showing that drivers most favor blue-dominant designs. Furthermore, in unconventional-shaped dial designs, the visual effect of vertical 3D is more popular with drivers than horizontal 3D, while the opposite is true in round dials. This study provides a scientific evaluation method for assessing the emotional experience of AR dashboard interfaces. Additionally, these findings will help reduce the subjectivity in interface design and enhance the overall competitiveness of SEV vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen and it can cause human mucosal lesions through the intestine, leading to bacteremia and abscess formation in liver and spleen. Previous studies have shown that K. pneumoniae can enter or cross cells through the intestinal epithelium, but the mechanism is unknown. In this study, we treated the intestinal epithelial cell line Caco-2 with KP1195, a clinically isolated strain with high adhesion and invasion of intestinal epithelial cells. The results showed that the treatment of K. pneumoniae could increase the expression of integrin gene and further disrupt the changes of cytoskeleton. Treating Caco-2 with cytoskeletal inhibitor cytorelaxin D can significantly increase the efficiency of K. pneumoniae invading Caco-2 cells. These data suggest that disruption of the cytoskeleton through integrins may be one of the mechanisms by which K. pneumoniae increases intracellular invasion. This study provides a theoretical basis for further understanding of the mechanism of K. pneumoniae entering intestinal epithelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As ethnic medicine, the whole grass of plants in Cirsium was used as antimicrobial. This review focuses on the antimicrobial activity of plants in Cirsium, including antimicrobial components, against different types of microbes and bacteriostatic mechanism. The results showed that the main antimicrobial activity components in Cirsium plants were flavonoids, triterpenoids and phenolic acids, and the antimicrobial ability varied according to the species and the content of chemicals. Among them, phenolic acids showed a strong antibacterial ability against Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecium. The antibacterial mechanisms include: (1) damaging the cell membrane, cell walls, mitochondria and nucleus of bacteria; (2) inhibiting the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids; (3) suppressing the synthesis of enzymes for tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways and glycolysis, and then killing the bacteria via inhibition of energy production. Totally, most research results on antimicrobial activity of Cirsium plants are reported based on in vitro assays. The evidence from clinical data and comprehensive evaluation are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilizing artificial intelligence methods for blood flow pressure estimation can significantly enhance the computational speed of blood flow pressure. However, current related research can only calculate the blood flow pressure parameters of vessels with different geometric shapes under fixed boundary conditions, thus fail to achieve transient flow field calculation and consider the hemodynamic differences formed by patients' varying physiological and pathological conditions. In view of this, this study proposes a method for relative pressure estimation based on four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) of patient blood flow and deep learning. 4D flow MRI was used to obtain the patient's blood flow velocity gradient data, and feature engineering processing is performed on the sampled data. Then, a novel neural network was proposed to acquire the characteristic relationship between velocity gradient and pressure gradient in the vicinity of the point to be measured and within adjacent sampling time periods, thereby achieving the calculation of the relative pressure in the vicinity of the point to be measured. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of the method, comparing it with computational fluid dynamics methods and catheter pressure measurement techniques. The accuracy of the proposed method exceeded 96%, while computational efficiency was improved by several tens of times, and no manual setting of physiological parameters was required. Furthermore, the results were compared with clinical catheter-measured pressure results, r2 = 0.9053, indicating a significant consistency between the two methods. Compared to previous research, the method proposed in this study can take the blood flow velocity conditions of different patients at different times as input features via 4D flow MRI, thus enabling the calculation of pressure in transient flow fields, which significantly improved computational efficiency and reduced costs while maintaining a high level of calculation accuracy. This provides new direction for future research on machine learning prediction of blood flow pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate (NO3−) to ammonia (NH3) is garnering increasing interest due to its potential to reduce CO2 emissions as a substitute for the Haber-Bosch process, while also mitigating NO3− pollution. However, it remains a challenge to achieve a current density exceeding 300 mA cm−2 while maintaining the stability of catalysts. Additionally, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction, characterized by slow kinetics and high energy barriers, severely impedes the widespread adoption of NH3 formation from NO3− reduction. Therefore, in this study, we introduce amorphous phosphorus-doped cobalt catalysts (Co–P@NF) prepared via a facile electrodeposition process for efficient NO3− reduction and hydrazine oxidation. The incorporation of phosphorus in Co–P@NF facilitates electron migration from phosphorus to cobalt, enhancing *H provision for efficient hydrogenation of the intermediate *NO2−. This results in a current density of 2 A cm−2 at −0.3 V, with a faradaic efficiency for NH3 of 91% in an electrolyte containing 1 M NO3−. Moreover, the Co–P@NF catalyst exhibits remarkable long-term stability, maintaining an NH3 faradaic efficiency exceeding 90% and a current density of 799 mA cm−2 after 82 hours of electrolysis. Furthermore, Co–P@NF displays high catalytic activity in promoting the rate-determining step of hydrazine oxidation, from *N2H2 to *N2H. The incorporation of the HzOR (hydrazine oxidation reaction)-assisted NO3−RR (nitrate reduction reaction) unit significantly reduces the cell voltage to 0.34 V at 300 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Management can largely influence the sustainability and functionality of forest plantations. However, the role of biogas-slurry and biochar application in supporting soil's multifunctionality during afforestation remains poorly understood. Methods: We conducted a six-year field experiment to examine the responses of soil ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) to the application of biogas-slurry applied annually as four treatments, and a single initial application of four treatments of biochar in a new poplar plantation based on a reclaimed coastal area. The EMF was calculated as the standardized average of multiple soil surrogates of soil functions linked with C, N, and P cycles. Results: Both biogas-slurry and biochar had significantly positive effects on EMF and individual functions, with biogas-slurry having the strongest positive effect, thus promoting carbon stocks and nutrient availability. Furthermore, interactions between biochar and biogas-slurry produced a substantial synergistic effect on soil multifunctionality. The application of biogas-slurry significantly and directly increased the C, N, and P cycle multifunctionality (CCMF, NCMF, and PCMF, respectively). In contrast, a single application of biochar profoundly increased the CCMF but decreased the NCMF, thus requiring a trade-off of multiple elements of soil multifunctionality. Conclusions: We show that organic management has the potential to boost multiple ecosystem functions during afforestation. These findings further highlight the importance of rational fertilization strategies for long-term forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sterols have long been associated with diverse fields, such as cancer treatment, drug development, and plant growth; however, their underlying mechanisms and functions remain enigmatic. Here, we unveil a critical role played by a GmNF‐YC9‐mediated CCAAT‐box transcription complex in modulating the steroid metabolism pathway within soybeans. Specifically, this complex directly activates squalene monooxygenase (GmSQE1), which is a rate‐limiting enzyme in steroid synthesis. Our findings demonstrate that overexpression of either GmNF‐YC9 or GmSQE1 significantly enhances soybean stress tolerance, while the inhibition of SQE weakens this tolerance. Field experiments conducted over two seasons further reveal increased yields per plant in both GmNF‐YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing plants under drought stress conditions. This enhanced stress tolerance is attributed to the reduction of abiotic stress‐induced cell oxidative damage. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses shed light on the upregulation of multiple sterol compounds, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, in GmNF‐YC9 and GmSQE1 overexpressing soybean plants under stress conditions. Intriguingly, the application of soybean steroids, including fucosterol and soyasaponin II, significantly improves drought tolerance in soybean, wheat, foxtail millet, and maize. These findings underscore the pivotal role of soybean steroids in countering oxidative stress in plants and offer a new research strategy for enhancing crop stress tolerance and quality from gene regulation to chemical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the two decades that have elapsed since the initial proposal of neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy (NEHI), several hundred cases have been reported and researched. However, a comprehensive analysis of research progress remains absent from the literature. The present article endeavors to evaluate the current progress of NEHI research and offer a reference for the clinical management of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computer tomography (CT), combined with advanced image processing techniques, can be used to visualize the complex internal structures of living and non-living media in a non-destructive, intuitive, and precise manner in both two and three-dimensional spaces. Beyond its clinical uses, CT has been extensively employed within the field of geotechnical engineering to provide both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the microstructural properties of loess. This technology has been successfully applied in many fields. However, with the rapid development of CT technology and the expansion of its application scope, a reassessment is necessary. In recent years, only a few documents have attempted to organize and review the application cases of CT in the field of loess microstructure research. Therefore, the objectives of this work are as follows: (1) to briefly introduce the development process of CT equipment and the basic principles of CT and image processing; (2) to determine the current state and hotspots of CT technology research based on a bibliometric analysis of the literature from the past three decades in the Web of Science Core Collection and CNKI databases; and (3) to comprehensively review the application of CT to explore the microstructural characteristics (such as particle size, shape, arrangement, and the connectivity, orientation, and pore throats of pores, etc.) and the evolution of structural damage in loess within geotechnical science. In addition, the progress and deficiencies of CT applications in the field of loess microstructure are summarized, and future prospects are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]