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This study examines the effect of exports on worker safety and health in the US. We use foreign countries' unilateral liberalization as an instrument to capture the demand shocks on US exports. Our two‐stage estimates with establishment fixed effects suggest that a $1000 increase in exports per worker decreased the workplace injury rate by a significant 0.7%, which implies an annual reduction of about 55,000 injuries among manufacturing workers. The reduction in injuries is more salient among establishments with lower injury rates, indicating an increase of inequality in working conditions. The improvement in working conditions might come from more investment in advanced equipment and better compliance with safety and health regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the era of novel agents, the clinical outcomes of induction treatment and the impact of the number of high‐risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRA) in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) need to be explored. Objective: Through this study, we aim to analyze the effectiveness of different induction treatments and explore the survival outcomes of patients with varying numbers of HRA. Methods: A total of 734 patients from seven medical centers were included in our study. Results: Patients in the CD38 monoclonal antibody or IMiDs plus proteasome inhibitors (PI) groups had significantly superior overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) compared to those receiving IMiDs or PI alone. Additionally, the CD38 monoclonal antibody conferred a PFS advantage over IMiDs plus PI. Patients with ≥ 2 high‐risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRA) exhibited an extremely poor prognosis and should be considered ultra‐high‐risk individuals in multiple myeloma (MM). The CD38 monoclonal antibody, transplantation, and achieving minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity only partly mitigated the poor prognosis in patients with HRA. Furthermore, patients with 1q21 gain/amplification (1q21+) only had a significantly worse prognosis compared to patients without HRA, and those with 1q21+ plus del17p or t(4;14) exhibited an inferior prognosis compared to those with 1q21+ alone. Conclusion: Our results suggested that double‐hit multiple myeloma was associated with extremely poor survival outcomes, and more effective treatments needed to be explored for this particular subtype of MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moderately differentiated gastric adenocarcinoma (MDGA) has a high risk of metastasis and individual variation, which strongly affects patient prognosis. Using large-scale datasets and machine learning algorithms for prediction can improve individualized treatment. The specific efficacy of several lymph node indicators in predicting distant metastasis (DM) and patient prognosis in MDGA remains obscure. Methods: We collected data from MDGA patients from the SEER database from 2010 to 2019. Additionally, we collected data from MDGA patients in China. We used nine machine learning algorithms to predict DM. Subsequently, we used Cox regression analysis to determine the risk factors affecting overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in DM patients and constructed nomograms. Furthermore, we used logistic regression and Cox regression analyses to assess the specific impact of six lymph node indicators on DM incidence and patient prognosis. Results: We collected data from 5,377 MDGA patients from the SEER database and 109 MDGC patients from hospitals. T stage, N stage, tumor size, primary site, number of positive lymph nodes, and chemotherapy were identified as independent risk factors for DM. The random forest prediction model had the best overall predictive performance (AUC = 0.919). T stage, primary site, chemotherapy, and the number of regional lymph nodes were identified as prognostic factors for OS. Moreover, T stage, number of regional lymph nodes, primary site, and chemotherapy were also influential factors for CSS. The nomograms showed good predictive value and stability in predicting the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and CSS in DM patients. Additionally, the log odds of a metastatic lymph node and the number of negative lymph nodes may be risk factors for DM, while the regional lymph node ratio and the number of regional lymph nodes are prognostic factors for OS. Conclusion: The random forest prediction model accurately identified high-risk populations, and we established OS and CSS survival prediction models for MDGA patients with DM. Our hospital samples demonstrated different characteristics of lymph node indicators in terms of distant metastasis and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) represents a novel paradigm dedicated to addressing the challenge of facilitating rapid access to an immense volume of content over mobile networks. However, improper cache placement and usage, coupled with fluctuating requests for cached data at diverse timeframes, exhibits considerable variability. Despite the abundance of optimization techniques, a majority of them lack the adaptive capacities needed to navigate dynamic caching environments efficiently. Furthermore, many studies employ online deep learning methodologies, but a slow convergence speed during the training process can potentially compromise caching performance and hinder dynamic goal adjustment in alignment with realistic provider requirements. We propose an integrative utility function encapsulating the worth of cached content and the cost associated with transmission links. By dynamically modifying weight values, this function can concurrently meet the performance and link cost demands of edge computing caching systems. To enhance the real-time response of the caching policy and the efficiency of deep learning, we introduce a Collaborative two-stage Deep Reinforcement Learning (CDRL) framework for devising the caching policy model. CDRL utilizes Double Deep Reinforcement Learning (DDQN) for pre-training in the caching environment to make pre-caching decisions and employs a Deep State-Action-Reward-State-Action (SARSA) algorithm for online training and caching decision-making. Experimental results convincingly demonstrate the proposed method's efficacy in improving the cache hit rate, service latency, and link cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization has accelerated dramatically across the world over the past decades. Urban influence on surface temperatures is now being considered as a correction term in climatological datasets. Although prior research has investigated urban influences on precipitation for specific cities or selected thunderstorm cases, a comprehensive examination of urban precipitation anomalies on a global scale remains limited. This research is a global analysis of urban precipitation anomalies for over one thousand cities worldwide. We find that more than 60% of the global cities and their downwind regions are receiving more precipitation than the surrounding rural areas. Moreover, the magnitude of these urban wet islands has nearly doubled in the past 20 y. Urban precipitation anomalies exhibit variations across different continents and climates, with cities in Africa, for example, exhibiting the largest urban annual and extreme precipitation anomalies. Cities are more prone to substantial urban precipitation anomalies under warm and humid climates compared to cold and dry climates. Cities with larger populations, pronounced urban heat island effects, and higher aerosol loads also show noticeable precipitation enhancements. This research maps global urban rainfall hotspots, establishing a foundation for the consideration of urban rainfall corrections in climatology datasets. This advancement holds promise for projecting extreme precipitation and fostering the development of more resilient cities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bortezomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone (VRD), and bortezomib, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone (PAD), are commonly used in induction regimens for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) in China. This real-world study enrolled 390 patients, 195 receiving VRD and 195 receiving PAD induction. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) and stringent complete remission/complete remission. Across the entire cohort, VRD demonstrated significantly improved five-year overall survival (OS) (74% vs. 59%, p = 0.0024) and five-year PFS (67% vs. 37%, p = 0.0018) compared to PAD. Notably, the median OS and PFS were not reached for VRD-treated patients, while they were 77 months (60-not reached [NR]) and 46 months (36-NR), respectively, for PAD. In patients with standard-risk cytogenetics, VRD showed superior five-year OS (83% vs. 58%, p = 0.0038) and PFS (78% vs. 48%, p = 0.0091) compared to PAD. However, these differences were not statistically significant in high-risk patients. For transplanted patients, VRD was associated with superior five-year OS (91% vs. 67%, p = 0.014) and PFS (79% vs. 47%, p = 0.015) compared to PAD. In non-transplanted patients, VRD showed a trend towards improved five-year OS (p = 0.085) and PFS (p = 0.073) compared to the PAD group. In conclusion, VRD displayed superior OS and PFS outcomes in standard-risk patients and those who underwent transplantation. These findings suggest potential advantages of VRD over PAD in real-world clinical settings for NDMM treatment. However, due to the imbalance in transplantation rates between the VRD and PAD groups, limitations in testing for high-risk cytogenetic abnormalities (HRA), and the difference between the received cycles and salvage therapies, the conclusions of this study should be interpreted with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reactivate the T cell immunity by PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade is widely used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, while the posttranslational modification of Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is commonly existed in various cancer cells, thus increases the complexity and difficulty in therapy development. Ginsenoside Rg3 is an active component of traditional Chinese herb Ginseng with multiple pharmacological effects including immune regulation. However, the effect on the glycosylation of PD-L1 is unknown. Methods: NSCLC cell lines were tested for glycosylation of PD-L1, and the potential mechanisms were investigated. Tumor cell-T cell coculture experiment was conducted and the activation of T cells and cytotoxicity were measured by flow cytometry. In vivo xenograft mouse tumor model was used to investigate the effects of Rg3 on PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression and tumor growth. Results: Here, we identified PD-L1 is widely N-linked glycosylated in NSCLC cell lines, while Rg3 could inhibit the glycosylation of PD-L1 by downregulating the EGFR signaling and further activate GSK3b-mediated degradation, thus resulted in reduced PD-L1 expression. Moreover, the inhibition of PD-L1 glycosylation promoted the activation and cytotoxicity of T cells under coculture condition. In addition, Rg3 could decrease the tumor volume and enhance anti-tumor T cell immunity as evidence by the upregulated expression of Granzyme B and perforin in CD8+T cells, along with elevated serum IL-2, IFN-g and TNF-a level in Rg3-treated mice. Conclusions: These results suggest that Rg3 inhibits PD-L1 glycosylation and thus enhance anti-tumor immunity, which provide new therapeutic insight into drug discovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum B-cell maturation antigen (sBCMA) levels can serve as a sensitive biomarker in multiple myeloma (MM). In the research setting, sBCMA levels can be accurately detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), but the approach has not been approved for clinical use. Here, we used a novel chemiluminescence method to assess sBCMA levels in 759 serum samples from 17 healthy donors and 443 patients with plasma cell (PC) diseases including AL amyloidosis, POEMS syndrome, and MM. Serum BCMA levels were elevated 16.1-fold in patients with newly diagnosed MM compared to healthy donors and rare PC diseases patients. Specifically, the sBCMA levels in patients with progressive disease were 64.6-fold higher than those who showed partial response or above to treatment. The sBCMA level also correlated negatively with the response depth of MM patients. In newly diagnosed and relapsed MM patients, survival was significantly longer among those subjects whose sBCMA levels are below the median levels compared with those above the median value. We optimized the accuracy of the survival prediction further by integrating sBCMA level into the Second Revised International Staging System (R2-ISS). Our findings provide evidence that the novel chemiluminescence method is sensitive and practical for measuring sBCMA levels in clinical samples and confirm that sBCMA might serve as an independent prognostic biomarker for MM. Chemiluminescence method was first established to measure serum BCMA and proved to be sensitive and practical for in clinical samples. Serum BCMA is an important parameter for treatment efficacy evaluation and prognosis prediction in MM, especially in some special subpopulations, such as non-secretory MM, IgD-MM, and patients with BCMA-CAR-T therapy. The accuracy of the survival prediction of MM was further optimized by integrating sBCMA level into the R2-ISS. Graphical Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to the deep-buried tunnel, the lining of the cut-and-cover tunnel (CCT) exhibits varying degrees of cracking failure during ultrahigh backfill. To explore the whole progressive failure process of a high-filled cut-and-cover tunnel lining structure from the mesodamage to the macrolocal failure and then to the overall instability during backfill, based on the discrete-element program PFC2D, we simulated the mechanical behavior and fracture characteristics of the CCTs with rectangular, circular, and arch lining section features with the backfill height. Two load-reduction measures—load-reduction material (LRM) and the interaction of LRM and concrete walls—were then further proposed, and the impact of load-reduction measures on the progressive failure of CCT lining was analyzed. The simulation results show that the various lining section features indicate differences in the distribution and value of lining stress and fracture. But the CCT lining with features of the three sections exhibits a progressive failure process from cracking to local collapse and falling and finally to overall instability as the backfill height increases. Furthermore, the LRM and concrete walls can effectively reduce the vertical stress of the lining vault and the horizontal stress of the haunch, respectively, to ensure the stability and integrity of the CCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) require both a porous structure to effectively prevent heat flux and a considerably dense structure to resist cracking for long‐term protection. These opposite requirements are difficult to achieve in conventional TBCs, which often exhibit uniform structures across their thickness. In fact, the main requirements of a coating vary with thickness owing to differential service conditions. In this study, the structure of a TBC is locally tailored to meet regional performance requirements. First, the load‐bearing conditions across the thickness are investigated in a simulation study. Resulting from multiple causes, the bottom region must bear a larger stress than the top region, which is directly exposed to heat flux. Therefore, the structure should be crack‐resistant in its bottom region and thermally insulating in its top region. Second, region‐function‐matching TBCs were prepared, and their performances were evaluated through isothermal cycling and thermal exposure tests. Results show that the TBCs with matching design exhibited double the lifespan of the conventional samples, whereas the thermal insulation was comparable. Finally, the structural evolutions were examined in different regions to analyze the failure behaviors of the TBCs. Healing of the intrinsic two‐dimensional pores and formation of the new large pores mainly account for the changes in thermal and mechanical properties of the TBCs. Overall, this region‐function‐matching design is expected to balance the tradeoff between high thermal insulation and long lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protein synthesis in response to neuronal activity, known as activity-dependent translation, is critical for synaptic plasticity and memory formation. However, the signaling cascades that couple neuronal activity to the translational events remain elusive. In this study, we identified the role of calmodulin (CaM), a conserved Ca2+-binding protein, in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) biogenesis in neurons. We found the CaM-regulated rRNA synthesis is Ca2+-dependent and necessary for nascent protein synthesis and axon growth in hippocampal neurons. Mechanistically, CaM interacts with nucleolar DEAD (Asp–Glu–Ala–Asp) box RNA helicase (DDX21) in a Ca2+-dependent manner to regulate nascent rRNA transcription within nucleoli. We further found CaM alters the conformation of DDX21 to liberate the DDX21- sequestered RPA194, the catalytic subunit of RNA polymerase I, to facilitate transcription of ribosomal DNA. Using high-throughput screening, we identified the small molecules batefenterol and indacaterol that attenuate the CaM-DDX21 interaction and suppress nascent rRNA synthesis and axon growth in hippocampal neurons. These results unveiled the previously unrecognized role of CaM as a messenger to link the activity-induced Ca2+ influx to the nucleolar events essential for protein synthesis. We thus identified the ability of CaM to transmit information to the nucleoli of neurons in response to stimulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pineapple (Ananas comosus) fruit is a functional food that has become a part of healthy diets worldwide due to its nutrition and health benefits. Given this concept, the potential anti-hypercholesterolemic activity of pineapple fruit was assessed using in vitro HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibition assay. Our findings show that pineapple fruit (PAF) extract showed HMGCR inhibition activity. These findings led to partial purification of PAF extract by gel filtration chromatography (GFC) whereby fraction PAF 06 exhibited 100.00% HMGCR inhibition at 10 mg/mL. Matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry profiling, HRMS, MS/MS, and dereplication identified N1, N10-diferuloylspermidine as potential HMGCR inhibitor in pineapple fruit. The MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) enabled the in situ spatiotemporal mapping of the HMGCR inhibitor, N1, N10-diferuloylspermidine, in the pineapple fruit tissue, with localization concentrated mainly in the tissue near the peel/shell and a gradual decrease towards the flesh and ovary. The MALDI MSI provided the first evidence of in situ spatial localization of N1, N10-diferuloylspermidine, a potential HMGCR inhibitor in pineapple while maintaining the cellular and structural features of the fruit tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2), which can lead to pneumonia, cytokine storms, and lymphopenia. Patients with cancer are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 due to immunosuppression. Recent studies have indicated that NRP1 (Neuropilin 1) may act as a novel mediator of SARS-CoV-2 entry into the host cell. As no systematic review has been performed investigating the characteristics of NRP1 in pan-carcinoma, we comprehensively analyzed NRP1 in patients with pan-cancer. Using a bioinformatics approach, we aimed to systematically examine NRP1 expression profiles in both pan-carcinoma and healthy tissues. We found that lung and genitourinary cancers have a relatively higher NRP-1 expression than other cancer patients, suggesting that these patients may be more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Our analysis further revealed that NRP1 expression was downregulated in Vero E6 cells, whole blood, lung organoids, testis tissue, and alveolospheres infected with SARS-CoV-2. Notably, NRP1 was associated with immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, and immune-related genes in most patients with cancer. These findings suggest that, in patients with specific types of cancer, especially lung and genitourinary, high expression of NRP1 contributes to greater susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection and an increased risk of damage due to cytokine storms. Overall, NRP1 appears to play a critical role in regulating immunological properties and metabolism in many tumor types. Specific inhibitors of the NRP1 antigen (pegaptanib, EG00229, or MNRP1685A) combined with other anti-SARS-CoV-2 strategies may aid in treating patients with lung and genitourinary cancers following SARS-CoV-2 infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) are pivotal regulators of lipid metabolism, with licensed drugs targeting these genes. The use of lipid-lowering therapy via the inhibition of these genes has demonstrated a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, concerns persist regarding their potential long-term impact on aortic diseases and calcific aortic valve disease (CAVS). This study aims to investigate causal relationships between genetic variants resembling these genes and aortic disease, as well as calcific aortic valve disease using Mendelian randomization (MR). Methods: We conducted drug-target Mendelian randomization employing summary-level statistics of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to proxy the loss-of-function of PCSK9, HMGCR, CETP and APOC3. Subsequently, we investigated the association between drug-target genetic variants and calcific aortic valve stenosis and aortic diseases, including thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and aortic dissection (AD). Results: The genetically constructed variants mimicking lower LDL-C levels were associated with a decreased risk of coronary artery disease, validating their reliability. Notably, HMGCR inhibition exhibited a robust protective effect against TAA (odds ratio (OR): 0.556, 95% CI: 0.372–0.831, p = 0.004), AAA (OR: 0.202, 95% CI: 0.107–0.315, p = 4.84 × 10-15), and AD (OR: 0.217, 95% CI: 0.098–0.480, p = 0.0002). Similarly, PCSK9, CETP and APOC3 inhibition proxies reduced the risk of AAA (OR: 0.595, 95% CI: 0.485–0.730, p = 6.75 × 10-7, OR: 0.127, 95% CI: 0.066–0.243, p = 4.42 × 10-10, and OR: 0.387, 95% CI: 0.182–0.824, p = 0.014, respectively) while showing a neutral impact on TAA and AD. Inhibition of HMGCR, PCSK9, and APOC3 showed promising potential in preventing CAVS with odds ratios of 0.554 (OR: 0.554, 95% CI: 0.433–0.707, p = 2.27 × 10-6), 0.717 (95% CI: 0.635–0.810, p = 9.28 × 10-8), and 0.540 (95% CI: 0.351–0.829, p = 0.005), respectively. However, CETP inhibition did not demonstrate any significant benefits in preventing CAVS (95% CI: 0.704–1.544, p = 0.836). The consistency of these findings across various Mendelian randomization methods, accounting for different assumptions concerning genetic pleiotropy, enhances the causal inference. Conclusions: Our MR analysis reveals that genetic variants resembling statin administration are associated with a reduced risk of AAA, TAA, AD and CAVS. HMGCR, PCSK9 and APOC3 inhibitors but not CETP inhibitors have positive benefits of reduced CAVS. Notably, PCSK9, CETP and APOC3 inhibitors exhibit a protective impact, primarily against AAA, with no discernible benefits extending to TAA or AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neurons, exhibiting unique polarized structures, rely primarily on the mitochondrial production of ATP to maintain their hypermetabolic energy requirements. To maintain a normal energy supply, mitochondria are transported to the distal end of the axon. When mitochondria within the axon are critically damaged beyond their compensatory capacity, they are cleared via autophagosomal phagocytosis, and the degradation products are recycled to replenish energy. When the mitochondria are dysfunctional or their transport processes are blocked, axons become susceptible to degeneration triggered by energy depletion, resulting in neurodegenerative diseases. As the final checkpoint for mitochondrial quality control, axonal mitophagy is vital for neuronal growth, development, injury, and regeneration. Furthermore, abnormal axonal mitophagy is crucial in the pathogenesis of optic nerve-related diseases such as glaucoma. We review recent studies on axonal mitophagy and summarize the progress of research on axonal mitophagy in optic nerve-related diseases to provide insights into diseases associated with axonal damage in optic ganglion cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eucommia ulmoides is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, with pharmacological effects such as lowering blood pressure and enhancing immune function. The effects of dietary Eucommia ulmoides polysaccharide (EUP) on immune function and meat quality were studied in Songliao Black Pigs. Blood lymphocyte counts and percentage, concentrations of serum total protein and of albumin increased, whereas those of urea nitrogen and triglyceride decreased. White blood cell and lymphocyte counts, and serum IgA, IgE, IgG2 a and IFN-γ increased. Average daily weight gain, slaughter weight, lean meat rate and cooked meat rate increased, whereas pH24, feed-weight ratio, fat rate, yellowness (b#) and centrifugal dehydration rate decreased. Transcriptome sequencing of longissimus dorsi muscle detected 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 26 were up-regulated and 6 down-regulated. A total of 19 genes were differentially expressed in the four groups, 18 of which were up-regulated. The DEGs included ADAMTS4, PER1, STAC, SERPINE1, FASN, THRSP, SP7 and KRT80 and the protein interaction network showed 20 up-regulated nodes, three down-regulated nodes and 14 DEGs. GO functional annotation and enrichment analysis showed that 34 items were significantly enriched, including transferase activity, actin binding, acetyl coenzyme A, acyl coenzyme A metabolism, adipose tissue development and acyl glycerol homeostasis. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the AMPK and PPAR signaling pathways were enriched. Dietary Eucommia polysaccharide enhanced immune function in Songliao Black Pigs, improved growth and carcass performance, increased the expression of genes related to meat quality traits and improved meat quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the challenges of unstable generation and random load disturbance in new energy power system, this paper integrates the battery energy storage model into the traditional load frequency control (LFC) framework, and proposes a LFC scheme based on adaptive global sliding mode control to stabilize the frequency of power systems amid unpredictable load frequency deviation. First of all, the nonlinear time-varying function is added to the sliding mode surface to make the system globally robust. Then, an adaptive sliding mode control law is crafted to dynamically adjust the frequency variations caused by random load disturbance. Moreover, by utilizing the improved Lyapunov function and Bessel-Legendre inequality, the stabilization criteria of multi-area interconnected power system are built. Finally, the efficacy of the proposed method is demonstrated through single and double area LFC simulation experiments with the common system parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing an ideal luminescent material with exceptional performance in various aspects, such as affordability, low toxicity, high photostability and security, is vital for advanced optical anti-counterfeiting. Here, halogen-doping-dependent luminescence MoS2 quantum dots were synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method for optical anti-counterfeiting ink. The results show that F-, Cl- and Br- doping results in notable fluorescence blueshifts of MoS2 quantum dots and significant enhancements in the photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of up to 5.7, 5.0, and 3.2 times, respectively. However, I- incorporation causes a fluorescence redshift and a 25% decrease of PLQY. This mechanism is elucidated using density functional theory (DFT) and experiments. Specifically, F-, Cl- and Br- doping localizes surface electrons and blocks sulfur vacancies in MoS2 quantum dots, enhancing the release of neutral excitons from trions and defect-bound excitons. Conversely, I- doping increases the surface charge and sulfur vacancies, favouring the conversion of neutral excitons into trions and defect-bound excitons. The halogen-doped MoS2 quantum dots are engineered as security ink, demonstrating high concealment, excellent photostability and easy fabrication. The study offers a novel way of tailoring fluorescence of MoS2 quantum dots, potentially extending to other transition metal dichalcogenide quantum dots and their optical anti-counterfeiting implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous zinc metal batteries are regarded as the most promising energy storage system due to their advantages of high safety, low cost, and high theoretical capacity. However, the growth of dendrites and the occurrence of side reactions hinder the development of zinc metal batteries. Despite previous attempts to design advanced hydrogel electrolytes, achieving high mechanical performance and ionic conductivity of hydrogel electrolytes has remained challenging. In this work, a hydrogel electrolyte with an ionic crosslinked network is prepared by carboxylic bacterial cellulose fiber and imidazole-type ionic liquid, following by a covalent network of polyacrylamide. The hydrogel electrolyte possesses a superior ionic conductivity of 43.76 mS cm-1, leading to a Zn2+ migration number of 0.45, and high mechanical performance with an elastic modulus of 3.48 GPa and an elongation at breaking of 38.36%. More importantly, under the anion-coordination effect of the carboxyl group in bacterial cellulose and [BF4]-in imidazole-type ionic liquid, the solvation sheath of hydrated Zn2+ ions and the nucleation overpotential of Zn plating are regulated. The results of cycled testing show that the growth of zinc dendrites is effectively inhibited and the generation of irreversible by-products is reduced. With the carboxylic bacterial cellulose-based hydrogel electrolyte, the Zn||Zn symmetric batteries offer good cyclability as well as Zn||Ti batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The preservation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the facilitation of axon regeneration are crucial considerations in the management of various vision-threatening disorders. Therefore, we investigate the efficacy of interleukin-4 (IL-4), a potential therapeutic agent, in promoting neuroprotection and axon regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) as identified through whole transcriptome sequencing in an in vitro axon growth model. Methods: A low concentration of staurosporine (STS) was employed to induce in vitro axon growth. Whole transcriptome sequencing was utilized to identify key target factors involved in the molecular mechanism underlying axon growth. The efficacy of recombinant IL-4 protein on promoting RGC axon growth was validated through in vitro experiments. The protective effect of recombinant IL-4 protein on somas of RGCs was assessed using RBPMS-specific immunofluorescent staining in mouse models with optic nerve crush (ONC) and N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) injury. The protective effect on RGC axons was evaluated by anterograde labeling of cholera toxin subunit B (CTB), while the promotion of RGC axon regeneration was assessed through both anterograde labeling of CTB and immunofluorescent staining for growth associated protein-43 (GAP43). Results: Whole-transcriptome sequencing of staurosporine-treated 661 W cells revealed a significant upregulation in intracellular IL-4 transcription levels during the process of axon regeneration. In vitro experiments demonstrated that recombinant IL-4 protein effectively stimulated axon outgrowth. Subsequent immunostaining with RBPMS revealed a significantly higher survival rate of RGCs in the rIL-4 group compared to the vehicle group in both NMDA and ONC injury models. Axonal tracing with CTB confirmed that recombinant IL-4 protein preserved long-distance projection of RGC axons, and there was a notably higher number of surviving axons in the rIL-4 group compared to the vehicle group following NMDA-induced injury. Moreover, intravitreal delivery of recombinant IL-4 protein substantially facilitated RGC axon regeneration after ONC injury. Conclusion: The recombinant IL-4 protein exhibits the potential to enhance the survival rate of RGCs, protect RGC axons against NMDA-induced injury, and facilitate axon regeneration following ONC. This study provides an experimental foundation for further investigation and development of therapeutic agents aimed at protecting the optic nerve and promoting axon regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for the period 1983–1997, Cohen and Einav (Review of Economics and Statistics 2003; 85[4]: 828–843) found that mandatory seatbelt laws were associated with a 4–6% reduction in traffic fatalities among motor vehicle occupants. After successfully replicating their two‐way fixed effects estimates, we (1) add 22 years of data (1998–2019) to capture additional seatbelt policy variation and observe a longer post‐treatment period, (2) employ the interaction‐weighted estimator proposed by Sun and Abraham (2021) to address potential bias due to heterogeneous and dynamic treatment effects, and (3) estimate event‐study models to investigate pre‐treatment trends and explore lagged post‐treatment effects. Consistent with Cohen and Einav (2003), our updated estimates show that primary seatbelt laws are associated with a 5 to 9% reduction in fatalities among motor vehicle occupants. Estimated effects of secondary seatbelt laws are smaller in magnitude and sensitive to model choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors of early postoperative seizures in patients with glioma through meta-analysis. Methods: Case--control studies and cohort studies on the prevalence and risk factors of early postoperative seizures in glioma patients were retrieved from various databases including CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and the retrieval deadline for the data was 1 April 2023. Stata15.0 was used to analyze the data. Results: This review included 11 studies consisting of 488 patients with early postoperative seizures and 2,051 patients without early postoperative seizures. The research findings suggest that the prevalence of glioma is complicated by seizures (ES = 19%, 95% confidence interval [CI] [14%-25%]). The results also indicated a history of seizures (RR = 1.94, 95% CI [1.76, 2.14], P = 0.001), preoperative dyskinesia (RR = 3.13, 95% CI [1.20, 8.15], P = 0.02), frontal lobe tumor (RR = 1.45, 95% CI [1.16, 1.83], P = 0.001), pathological grade ≤2 (RR = 1.74, 95% CI [1.13, 2.67], P = 0.012), tumor≥ 3 cm (RR = 1.70, 95% CI [1.18, 2.45], P = 0.005), tumor resection (RR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.36, 1.88], P = 0.001), tumor edema ≥ 2 cm (RR = 1.77, 95% CI [1.40, 2.25], P = 0.001), and glioma cavity hemorrhage (RR=3.15, 95% CI [1.85, 5.37], P = 0.001). The multivariate analysis results showed that a history of seizures, dyskinesia, tumor ≥3 cm, peritumoral edema ≥2 cm, and glioma cavity hemorrhage were indicated as risk factors for glioma complicated with early postoperative seizures. Significance: Based on the existing evidence, seizure history, dyskinesia, frontal lobe tumor, pathological grade ≤2, tumor ≥3 cm, partial tumor resection, edema around tumor ≥2 cm, and glioma cavity hemorrhage are indicated as risk factors for glioma complicated with early postoperative seizures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Blood shortage is a global challenge, impacting elective surgeries with high bleeding risk. Predicting intraoperative blood use, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring safe elective surgery are vital. This study targets identifying key bleeding risk factors in Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR) through machine learning. Methods: Data from 702 AVR patients were split into 70% training and 30% test sets. Thirteen models predicted RBC transfusion. SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) analyzed risk factors. Results: Logistic Regression excelled, with Area Under Curve (AUC) 0.872 and 81.0% accuracy on the test set. Notably, female gender, Hemoglobin (HGB) < 131.91 g/L, Hematocrit (HCT) < 0.41L/L, weight < 59.49 kg, age > 54.47 year, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) < 29.15 pg, Total Protein (TP) > 69.7 g/L, FIB > 2.61 g/L, height < 160 cm, and type of operation is Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) were significant RBC transfusion predictors. Conclusions: The study's model accurately forecasts AVR-related RBC transfusions. This informs pre-surgery blood preparations, reducing resource waste and aiding clinicians in optimizing patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of ubiquitous network devices, an exponential increase in content requests from user equipment (UE) calls for optimized caching strategies within a cloud-edge integration. This approach is critical to handling large numbers of requests. To enhance caching efficiency, federated deep reinforcement learning (FDRL) is widely used to adjust caching policies. Nonetheless, for improved adaptability in dynamic scenarios, FDRL generally demands extended and online deep training, incurring a notable energy overhead when contrasted with rule-based approaches. With the aim of achieving a harmony between caching efficiency and training energy expenditure, we integrate a content request latency model, a deep reinforcement learning model based on markov decision processes (MDP), and a two-stage training energy consumption model. Together, these components define a new average delay and training energy gain (ADTEG) challenge. To address this challenge, we put forth a innovative dynamic federated optimization strategy. This approach refines the pre-training phase through the use of cluster-based strategies and parameter transfer methodologies. The online training phase is improved through a dynamic federated framework and an adaptive local iteration count. The experimental findings affirm that our proposed methodology reduces the training energy outlay while maintaining caching efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying effective pharmacological interventions to prevent the progressive enlargement and rupture of aortic aneurysms (AAs) is critical. Previous studies have suggested links between metformin use and a decreased incidence of AAs. In this study, we employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate causal effects of metformin’s targets on AA risk and to explore the underlying mechanisms underlying these effects. Methods: To examine the relationship between metformin use and AA risk, we implemented both two-sample MR and multivariable MR analyses. Utilizing genetic instrumental variables, we retrieved cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) data for potential targets of metformin from the Expression Quantitative Trait Loci Genetics Consortium (eQTLGen) Consortium and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. Colocalization analysis was employed to ascertain the probability of shared causal genetic variants between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with eQTLs and AA. Results: Our findings reveal that metformin use reduces AA risk, exhibiting a protective effect with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.88 × 10-3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.30 × 10-5 -0.33, p = 0.01). Furthermore, the protective effect of type 2 diabetes on AA risk appears to be driven by metformin use (ORMVMR = 1.34 × 10-4, 95% CI: 3.97 × 10-8 -0.45, p = 0.03). Significant Mendelian randomization (MR) results were observed for the expression of two metformin-related genes in the bloodstream: NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit A6 (NDUFA6) and cytochrome b5 type B (CYB5B), across two independent datasets (ORCYB5B = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.20-1.51, p = 2.41 × 10-7 ; ORNDUFA6 = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.07-1.17, p = 1.69 × 10-6 ). The MR analysis of tissue-specific expression also demonstrated a positive correlation between increased NDUFA6 expression and heightened AA risk. Lastly, NDUFA6 exhibited evidence of colocalization with AA. Conclusions: Our study suggests that metformin may play a significant role in lowering the risk of AA. This protective effect could potentially be linked to the mitigation of mitochondrial and immune dysfunction. Overall, NDUFA6 has emerged as a potential mechanism through which metformin intervention may confer AA protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional study uses data from the Youth Risk Behavior surveys to assess the association of state-level recreational marijuana laws and youth marijuana use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past three decades, considerable efforts have been expended on understanding the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in leukemia, following the identification of the JAK2V617F mutation in myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The aim of this review is to summarize the latest progress in our understanding of the involvement of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in the development of leukemia. We also attempt to provide insights into the current use of JAK/STAT inhibitors in leukemia therapy and explore pertinent clinical trials in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: PCV13 introduction in China has led to a significant reduction of vaccine serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, non-vaccine serotypes with highly resistance and invasiveness were often reported in the postpneumococcal conjugate vaccine era and there was regional differences. Methods: A total of 669 S. pneumoniae strains were collected from the respiratory tracts of hospitalized children at Shenzhen Children’s Hospital in 2021 and 2022. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) characteristics were assessed through antibiotic susceptibility testing performed with the VITEK 2 compact system. AMR genes and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in pbp1a, pbp2b, and pbp2x were identified via analysis of whole genome sequencing data. Statistical examination of the data was conducted employing chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests. Results: We found that non-vaccine serotypes strains had accounted for 46.6% of all the pneumococcal isolated strains. The most common non-vaccine serotype is 23A, with a prevalence rate of 8.9%, followed by 15A (6.6%), 6E (5.7%), 34 (3.2%), and 15B (2.9%). The multidrug resistance rates (MDR) of vaccine serotypes were 19F (99.36%), 19A (100%), 23F (98.08%), 6B (100%), and 6C (100%). Meanwhile, the MDR of non-vaccine serotypes were 15B (100.00%), 6E (100%), 15C (100%), 34 (95.24%), and 23A (98.31%). Resistance rates of 6E to more than six antibiotic classes reached 89.47%, which is similar to 19F (83.33%) and 19A (90%). Unique resistance profiles were also identified for non-vaccine serotypes, including significantly higher resistance to chloramphenicol in 6E, 15B, and 15C than in 19F and 19A. Furthermore, through genome sequencing, we revealed strong correlation of cat-TC with chloramphenicol resistance, patA/ patB with tetracycline resistance, ermB and pmrA with erythromycin resistance. Conclusion: The introduction of PCV13 into China from 2017 has led to a shift in the dominant composition of pneumococcal strains. There has been a notable rise and spread of multidrug-resistant non-vaccine serotypes among children. Specifically, the non-vaccine serotype 6E, which was not widely reported in China previously, has emerged. To comprehend the resistance mechanisms, it is crucial to further investigate the molecular and genetic characteristics of these non-vaccine serotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pickle like odor (PLO) is one of the main defective flavors of Maotai flavor baijiu (MFB). Understanding and controlling the PLO compounds producing strains not only solves the problem of PLO from the source, but also ensures the high-quality production of MFB. However, the relevant research on PLO compounds producing strains has not been reported in MFB. In this study, we identified a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ZZ7 with high yield of PLO compounds in the fermented grains of MFB, and measured its physiological characteristics. It produces 627 volatile compounds and 1,507 non-volatile compounds. There are 7 volatile sulfur compounds that cause the PLO, the content of dimethyl disulfide, dimethyl trisulfide, and dimethyl sulfur is relatively high, accounting for 89.43% of the total volatile sulfur compounds. The genome size of B. amyloliquefaciens ZZ7 is 3,902,720 bp with a GC content of 46.09%, and a total of 3,948 protein coding genes were predicted. Moreover, the functional annotation of coding genes and an assessment of the metabolic pathways were performed by genome annotation, showing it has strong ability to transport and metabolize amino acids and carbohydrates. Comprehensive genomic and metabolomic analysis, the metabolic pathway of PLO compounds of B. amyloliquefaciens ZZ7 was revealed, which mainly involves 12 enzymes including sulfate adenylyltransferase, cysteine synthase, cystathionine γ-synthase, etc. This work provides biological information support at both genetic and metabolic levels for the mechanism of B. amyloliquefaciens ZZ7 to synthesize PLO compounds, and provides a direction for the subsequent genetic modification of ZZ7 to solve PLO from the source in the MFB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) coupled with carbon cycling is increasingly being recognized as an influential process in freshwater wetland soils and sediments. The role of DIR in organic matter (OM) mineralization, however, is still largely unknown in lake sediment environments. In this study, we clarified rates and pathways of OM mineralization in two shallow lakes with seasonal hydrological connectivity and different eutrophic situations. We found that in comparison with the domination of DIR (55%) for OM mineralization in Lake Xiaoxingkai, the contribution of methanogenesis was much higher (68%) in its connected lake (Lake Xingkai). The differences in rates and pathways of sediment OM mineralization between the two lakes were attributed to higher concentrations of carbonate associated iron oxides (Fecarb) in Lake Xiaoxingkai compared to Lake Xingkai (P = 0.002), due to better deposition mixing, more contributions of terrigenous detrital materials, and higher OM content in Lake Xiaoxingkai. Results of structural equation modeling showed that Fecarb and total iron content (TFe) regulated 25% of DIR in Lake Xiaoxingkai and 76% in Lake Xingkai, accompanied by a negative effect of TFe on methanogenesis in Lake Xingkai. The relative abundance and diversity of Fe-reducing bacteria were significantly different between the two lakes, and showed a weak effect on sediment OM mineralization. Our findings emphasize the role of iron minerals and geochemical characterizations in regulating rates and pathways of OM mineralization, and deepen the understanding of carbon cycling in lake sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter published in the Blood Cancer Journal discusses the use of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a non-invasive technique for diagnosing and monitoring plasma cell myeloma (PCM), a type of blood cancer. The authors found that analyzing cfDNA accurately predicted progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in PCM patients. Another study examined copy number variants (CNVs) in plasma samples of newly-diagnosed PCM patients and found that changes in CNVs after therapy were more accurate predictors of PFS and OS than baseline CNVs. The authors suggest that combining plasma CNV analysis with standard MRD detection methods could improve prognostic analysis and aid in treatment decision-making for PCM patients. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Aponermin, a circularly permuted tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, is a potential death receptor 4/5-targeted antitumour candidate. Previous phase 1/2 studies have demonstrated the efficacy of aponermin in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). To confirm the superiority of aponermin plus thalidomide and dexamethasone (aponermin group) over placebo plus thalidomide and dexamethasone (placebo group) in RRMM, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled phase 3 trial was performed. Methods: Four hundred seventeen patients with RRMM who had previously received at least two regimens were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive aponermin, thalidomide, and dexamethasone or placebo, thalidomide, and dexamethasone. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Key secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 415 patients received at least one dose of trial treatment (276 vs. 139). The median PFS was 5.5 months in the aponermin group and 3.1 months in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49–0.78; P < 0.001). The median OS was 22.4 months for the aponermin group and 16.4 months for the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.55–0.89; P = 0.003). Significantly higher rates of ORR (30.4% vs. 13.7%, P < 0.001) and very good partial response or better (14.1% vs. 2.2%, P < 0.0001) were achieved in the aponermin group than in the placebo group. Treatment with aponermin caused hepatotoxicity in some patients, as indicated by the elevated alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, or lactate dehydrogenase levels (52.2% vs. 24.5%, 51.1% vs. 19.4% and 44.9% vs. 21.6%, respectively), mostly grade 1/2, transient and reversible. The main grade 3/4 adverse events included neutropenia, pneumonia and hyperglycemia. The incidence of serious adverse events was similar between the two groups (40.6% vs. 37.4%). There was no evidence that aponermin leads to hematological toxicity, nephrotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, or secondary tumors. Conclusions: Aponermin plus thalidomide and dexamethasone significantly improved PFS, OS and ORR with manageable side effects in RRMM patients who had received at least two prior therapies. These results support the use of aponermin, thalidomide, and dexamethasone as a treatment option for RRMM patients. Trial registration: The trial was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn as ChiCTR-IPR-15006024, 17/11/2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical institution preparations play an important role in the development of hospitals, being one of the main forms of traditional Chinese medicine clinical characteristic medication, as well as an important carrier for the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese medicine. In recent years, the research and development of traditional Chinese medicine preparations has become a hot spot in the research and development of preparations by medical institutions. Traditional Chinese medicine preparations prepared by traditional processes and their entrusted preparation matters have changed from the current licensing management to filing management. The registration model of traditional Chinese medicine preparations has undergone significant changes, emphasizing more on real data and evaluation results from the objective world, respecting traditional medication experience, and emphasizing the inheritance and innovative development of traditional technological experience. In the prods of following teachers in the inheritance project of traditional Chinese medicine, we combined the inheritance of traditional Chinese medicine characteristic technology with the research and development practice of traditional Chinese medicine preparations in medical institutions, and focused on the analysis and discussion of technical problems such as prescription screening, dosage form selection, procus route design and clinical observation of traditional Chinese medicine preparations, hoping to provide reference for scholars in the same field of traditional Chinese medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Semaglutide shows significant performance on weight reduction in several clinical trials. However, it is not clear what kind of administration frequency or dosage will achieve better effects. This study aims to explore the different therapeutic effect of semaglutide on weight control under the diverse administration circumstances. Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and the Clinical Trials.gov were searched from inception until 6 June, 2022 to include randomized controlled trials evaluating the Efficacy and safety of subcutaneous semaglutide in overweight or obese adults. Random effects or fixed effects model was conducted based on the heterogeneity among trials. Subgroup analysis was performed to identify the detailed effects under different intervention situations. Results and discussion: Our study included 13 RCTs involving 5,838 participants with 3,794 ones in semaglutide group and 2,044 in placebo group. Semaglutide was associated with a significant reduction on weight loss related outcomes, including the absolute value of weight loss (WMD -8·97, 95% CI -10·73 to -7·21), percentage of weight loss (WMD -10·00, 95% CI -11·99 to -8·00), body mass index (WMD-3·19, 95% CI -4·02 to -2·37) and waist circumference (WMD -7·21,95% CI -8·87 to -5·56). Subgroup analyses illustrated participants with high weekly dosage, long-term treatment duration and severe baseline BMI (Class II obesity) had a more remarkably decreasing on the main outcomes of weight loss (P for interaction<0·05). Total adverse reactions occurred more frequently in the daily administration group than that in the weekly group (P for interaction =0·01). During the treatment, the incidence rate of hypoglycemia was higher in the group without lifestyle intervention compared with that with lifestyle intervention (P for interaction =0·04). Interpretation Subcutaneous semaglutide had significant benefits on weight loss with reasonable safety in overweight or obese adults. Moreover, additional benefits on cardiometabolic profileswere also seen. We recommended semaglutide treatment to be coupled with lifestyle interventions, and target dose of 2·0 mg or more subcutaneously once weekly. Clinicians can choose suitable treatment schemes based on diverse individual situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Feline panleukopenia is a severe infectious disease caused by the feline panleukopenia virus. It has caused great obstacles to the breeding of pet cats and the protection of rare feline animals such as lions and tigers. There is currently no effective therapy for FPV infection. The virus is extensively dispersed in the environment, and infected animals expel the virus in their feces, allowing the virus to spread; young kittens are especially vulnerable. Infection in kittens frequently is acute, and some cats may die unexpectedly without any signs, posing a significant challenge to early clinical identification. Some of the existing detection methods, such as qPCR, immunohistochemical analysis, colloidal gold test strips, etc., are time-consuming, laborious, costly, and difficult to operate, which is not conducive to popularization. Although colloidal gold test strips are fast and convenient, they have low sensitivity. A nanoPCR reaction was successfully created in this work by adding gold nanoparticles to the traditional PCR reaction system, and was capable of detecting FPV infection in the clinical situation. Feline panleukopenia (FP) is a severe viral illness caused by the feline panleukopenia virus (FPV), putting sectors like companion cat breeding and endangered feline conservation at risk. The virus has a high morbidity and fatality rate and is found all over the world. We created a novel FPV assay using nanoPCR technology and assessed the method's specificity and sensitivity. The approach amplified a 345 bp nucleic acid fragment with a minimum detection limit of 7.97 × 102 copies/μL, which is about 100 times greater than traditional PCR. We collected anal swabs from 83 cats suspected of FPV infection for practical application, and the FPV-positive rate determined by the nanoPCR approach was 77.1%. In conclusion, the approach is more sensitive than conventional PCR and more convenient and cost-effective than qPCR methodology and may be utilized for the clinical detection of FPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VOF method is used to simulate the dynamics of a droplet interacting with a structure consisting of an array of microcolumns mounted on a flat surface. Such a specific configuration is intended to mimic the typical properties of lotus leaves, which typically display regularly arranged micron-scale papillary structures. After setting the initial velocity of the simulated droplet on the basis of practical considerations, an analysis is conducted about the effect of the characteristic size of the microstructure on the apparent contact angle. The pressure variation in the microstructure caves is also examined. The simulation results show that the change of the contact angle of the droplet in the quasi-static state is consistent with theoretical calculations and the contact angle in the dynamic state is smaller than that in the quasi-static state. Moreover, under dynamic conditions, the pressure fluctuation in the microstructure cave depends essentially on the characteristic size of the microstructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents research on the thermophysical properties of an LNG-conveying corrugated cryogenic hose during the precooling process. A numerical model consisting of the turbulent model with enhanced wall treatment and the Volume of Fluid method is established to simulate the cryogenic multiphase flow, along with the energy equation to capture the thermal conduction and convection process. In addition to the analysis of physical phenomena under a specific precooling working condition, parametric studies on the effects of inlet LNG velocity and initial hose temperature on the cooling rate, boiling regime, and structural temperature gradients are carried out. The simulations successfully capture boiling regime transition and discover its significance on the cooling rate. Correlations of structural temperature gradient with the assessed parameters are identified. The findings of this work serve to enhance understanding of the corrugated hose precooling thermophysics in order to guide safer and more efficient industrial operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Informed by the theory of developmental origins of health and disease, we conducted a survey among 66,854 mother–preschooler dyads in all kindergartens within the Longhua District of Shenzhen in China for exploring the combined effect of prenatal mosquito coil smoke (MCS) exposure and early postnatal nutritional status on obesity in preschoolers. A self-administered questionnaire was completed by mothers to collect parents' and children's socio-demographic characteristics, prenatal MCS exposure, child nutritional status at 1–3 years, etc., and children's heights and weights were measured at the same time. After controlling for potential confounders, a series of logistic regression models and cross-over analyses were used to examine the independent and combination effects of prenatal MCS exposure and postnatal nutritional status on preschoolers' obesity. We found that prenatal MCS exposure significantly increased the risk of preschoolers' obesity (AOR = 1.14, 95%CI = 1.08–1.21). Additionally, early postnatal well-nourished nutritional status also increased the risk of preschoolers' obesity (AOR = 1.56, 95%CI = 1.47–1.66). The cross-over analysis showed that the combination of prenatal MCS exposure with early general postnatal nutrition status (AOR = 1.22, 95%CI = 1.10–1.36) and early postnatal well-nourished nutrition status (AOR = 1.81, 95%CI = 1.65–1.97), respectively, increased the risk of preschoolers' obesity. Our results indicated that prenatal MCS exposure and early postnatal nutritional status can independently and jointly increase the risk of preschoolers' obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]