Search

Summary: Background: Previous conventional epidemiological studies found a J-shape relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia, but this result was subject to confounding biases and reverse causation. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential linear or non-linear causal association between alcohol consumption and the incident risk of dementia in current drinkers. Methods: This study used data from the UK Biobank to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk. 313,958 White British current drinkers, who were free of dementia during 2006–2010, were followed up until 2021. Alcohol consumption was self-reported and calculated according to the National Health Service guideline. The primary outcome was all-cause dementia identified through hospital and mortality records. We used multivariable Cox models with restricted cubic splines for conventional analysis and both non-linear and linear Mendelian Randomization (MR) analyses to assess causal relationships, employing a genetic score based on 95 SNPs identified from a meta-genome-wide association study of 941,280 people from Europe. Findings: 313,958 current drinkers consumed an average of 13.6 [IQR: 7.1–25.2] units/week alcohol (men averaged 20.2 [11.1–33.9] units/week and women 9.5 [5.3–16.7] units/week). During a mean follow-up of 13.2 years, 5394 (1.7%) developed dementia. Multivariable Cox model with restricted cubic spline functions identified a J-shaped relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia risk, with the lowest risk at 12.2 units/week. The non-linear MR failed to identify a significant non-linear causal relationship (p = 0.45). Both individual-level (HR: 2.22 95%CI [1.06–4.66]) and summary-level (1.89 [1.53–2.32]) linear MR analyses indicated that higher genetically predicted alcohol consumption increased dementia risk. Interpretation: This study identified a positive linear causal relationship between alcohol consumption and dementia among current drinkers. The J-shaped association found in conventional epidemiological analysis was not supported by non-linear MR analyses. Our findings suggested that there was no safe level of alcohol consumption for dementia. Funding: The Shenzhen Science and Technology Program and the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Summary: Background: How often hypertensive patients could achieve remission to normal blood pressure (BP) (i.e.,

Abstract Background Chronic inflammation and insulin resistance are highly prevalent in patients on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD) and are strongly associated with protein energy wasting. We conducted a pilot, randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of recombinant human interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra) and pioglitazone to explore the safety, feasibility and efficacy for insulin‐mediated protein metabolism in patients undergoing MHD. Methods Twenty‐four patients were randomized to receive IL‐1ra, pioglitazone or placebo for 12 weeks. Changes in serum inflammatory markers and insulin‐mediated protein synthesis, breakdown and net balance in the whole‐body and skeletal muscle compartments were assessed using hyperinsulinaemic–hyperaminoacidemic clamp technique at baseline and Week 12. Results Among 24 patients, median (interquartile range) age was 51 (40, 61), 79% were African American and 21% had diabetes mellitus. All patients initiated on intervention completed the study, and no serious adverse events were observed. There was a statistically significant decrease in serum high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein in the pioglitazone group compared with placebo, but not in the IL‐1ra group. No significant differences in the changes of whole‐body or skeletal muscle protein synthesis, breakdown and net balance were found between the groups. Conclusions In this pilot study, there were no statistically significant effects of 12 weeks of IL‐1ra or pioglitazone on protein metabolism in patients on MHD. Clinicaltrials.gov registration: NCT02278562.

The classification of fetuses as Small for Gestational Age (SGA) and Large for Gestational Age (LGA) is a critical aspect of neonatal health assessment. SGA and LGA, terms used to describe fetal weights that fall below or above the expected weights for Appropriate for Gestational Age (AGA) fetuses, indicate intrauterine growth restriction and excessive fetal growth, respectively. Early prediction and assessment of latent risk factors associated with these classifications can facilitate timely medical interventions, thereby optimizing the health outcomes for both the infant and the mother. This study aims to leverage first-trimester data to achieve these objectives. This study analyzed data from 7943 pregnant women, including 424 SGA, 928 LGA, and 6591 AGA cases, collected from 2015 to 2021 at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China. We propose a novel algorithm, named the Weighted Inheritance Voting Ensemble Learning Algorithm (WIVELA), to predict the classification of fetuses into SGA, LGA, and AGA categories based on biochemical parameters, maternal factors, and morbidity during pregnancy. Additionally, we proposed algorithms for relevance determination based on the classifier to ascertain the importance of features associated with SGA and LGA. The proposed classification solution demonstrated a notable average accuracy rate of 92.12% on 10-fold cross-validation over 100 loops, outperforming five state-of-the-art machine learning algorithms. Furthermore, we identified significant latent maternal risk factors directly associated with SGA and LGA conditions, such as weight change during the first trimester, prepregnancy weight, height, age, and obstetric factors like fetal growth restriction and birthing LGA baby. This study also underscored the importance of biomarker features at the end of the first trimester, including HDL, TG, OGTT-1h, OGTT-0h, OGTT-2h, TC, FPG, and LDL, which reflect the status of SGA or LGA fetuses. This study presents innovative solutions for classifying and identifying relevant attributes, offering valuable tools for medical teams in the clinical monitoring of fetuses predisposed to SGA and LGA conditions during the initial stage of pregnancy. These proposed solutions facilitate early intervention in nutritional care and prenatal healthcare, thereby contributing to enhanced strategies for managing the health and well-being of both the fetus and the expectant mother.

Summary: Background: Constipation is generally considered a common physical symptom of depression or a side effect of antidepressant treatments. However, according to the gut-brain axis hypothesis, the association between depression and constipation might be bi-directional. This study investigated the association between premorbid constipation and depression. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from UK Biobank. Individuals free of depression between 2006 and 2010 were included. Constipation status was determined using diagnostic codes from electronic health records or a baseline questionnaire. Data on covariates, including socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, health conditions, and regular medication use, were also collected through a baseline questionnaire. The primary outcome is incident depression, which was extracted from hospital inpatient admissions, primary care, self-report, and death data from baseline to 2022. The secondary outcome is depressive symptoms, which was assessed by Patient Health Questionnaire–9 (PHQ-9) from an online survey in 2016. Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to assess the prospective association between constipation and incident depression. Logistic regression models were used to assess its association with depressive symptoms. Findings: Among the 449,459 participants included in the study, 18,596 (4.1%) experienced constipation at baseline, and 18,576 (4.1%) developed depression over a median follow-up period of 12.3 years. Premorbid constipation is associated with a 2.28-fold higher risk of depression. After adjusting the covariates, we found those with constipation still had a 48% higher risk of developing depression (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.48; 95% CI, 1.41–1.56) than those without constipation. Self-reported and diagnosed constipation were both associated with a higher risk of depression, with the aHR being 1.42 (95% CI: 1.34–1.51) and 1.66 (95% CI: 1.51–1.82), respectively. Participants with constipation were more likely to report depressive symptoms than people without (adjusted odds ratio 2.18; 95% CI, 1.97–2.43). These findings remained consistent in sensitivity analyses. Interpretation: Diagnosed and self-reported constipation are both prospectively associated with an elevated risk of depression. These explorative findings suggest that constipation may be an independent risk factor or a prodromal symptom of depression. Gastroenterologists and primary care physicians should pay more attention to the depressive symptoms of their constipation patients. Funding: The Shenzhen Science and Technology Program and the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The significant differences in data domains between SAR images and the expensive and time-consuming process of data labeling pose significant challenges to terrain classification. Current terrain classification methodologies face challenges in addressing domain disparities and detecting uncommon terrain effectively. Based on Style Transformation and Domain Metrics (STDMs), we propose an unsupervised domain adaptive framework named STDM-UDA for terrain classification in this paper, which consists of two steps: image style transfer and domain adaptive segmentation. As a first step, image style transfer is performed within the image space to mitigate the differences in low-level features between SAR image domains. Subsequently, leveraging this process, the segmentation network extracts image features, employing domain metrics and adversarial training to enhance alignment between domain gaps in the semantic feature space. Finally, experiments conducted on several pairs of SAR images, each exhibiting varying degrees of differences in key imaging parameters such as source, resolution, band, and polarization, demonstrate the robustness of the proposed method. It achieves remarkably competitive classification accuracy, particularly for unlabeled, high-resolution broad scenes, effectively overcoming the domain gaps introduced by the diverse imaging parameters under studies.

Effective features play an important role in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image interpretation. However, since SAR images contain a variety of terrain types, it is not easy to extract effective features of different terrains from SAR images. Deep learning methods require a large amount of labeled data, but the difficulty of SAR image annotation limits the performance of deep learning models. SAR images have inevitable geometric distortion and coherence speckle noise, which makes it difficult to extract effective features from SAR images. If effective semantic context features cannot be learned for SAR images, the extracted features struggle to distinguish different terrain categories. Some existing terrain classification methods are very limited and can only be applied to some specified SAR images. To solve these problems, a jigsaw puzzle self-supervised learning (JPSSL) framework is proposed. The framework comprises a jigsaw puzzle pretext task and a terrain classification downstream task. In the pretext task, the information in the SAR image is learned by completing the SAR image jigsaw puzzle to extract effective features. The terrain classification downstream task is trained using only a small number of labeled data. Finally, fully connected conditional random field processing is performed to eliminate noise points and obtain a high-quality terrain classification result. Experimental results on three large-scene high-resolution SAR images confirm the effectiveness and generalization of our method. Compared with the supervised methods, the features learned in JPSSL are highly discriminative, and the JPSSL achieves good classification accuracy when using only a small amount of labeled data.

The theoretical innovation of adapting Marxism to the Chinese context has put forth a novel concept of green development, signifying a new phase of adapting Marxism to the Chinese contest and needs of the times. Currently, there is a pressing need for in-depth research and understanding of the inherent essence and connotations of green development. Capitalizing on a macroscopic and forward-thinking strategy is essential to explore the new trends, characteristics, and tendencies of green development in the new era. Identifying the objective existence of practical issues in the field of green development, conducting a thorough analysis of the root causes, and proposing corresponding measures are imperative for more effective implementation of the green development concept. This effort aims to contribute to realizing the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in Contemporary Times.

In the biomedical field, the time interval from infection to medical diagnosis is a random variable that obeys the log-normal distribution in general. Inspired by this biological law, we propose a novel back-projection infected–susceptible–infected-based long short-term memory (BPISI-LSTM) neural network for pandemic prediction. The multimodal data, including disease-related data and migration information, are used to model the impact of social contact on disease transmission. The proposed model not only predicts the number of confirmed cases, but also estimates the number of infected cases. We evaluate the proposed model on the COVID-19 datasets from India, Austria, and Indonesia. In terms of predicting the number of confirmed cases, our model outperforms the latest epidemiological modeling methods, such as vSIR, and intelligent algorithms, such as LSTM, for both short-term and long-term predictions, which shows the superiority of bio-inspired intelligent algorithms. In general, the use of mobility information improves the prediction accuracy of the model. Moreover, the number of infected cases in these three countries is also estimated, which is an unobservable but crucial indicator for the control of the pandemic.

Directly linked porphyrin dimers show intriguing electronic features but emphasis has been placed on planar monomeric units. Here, the authors report a Twisted-Planar-Twisted framework which can undergo a cis-trans transformation accompanied by a colour change in presence of methanol, making this framework applicable as a methanol sensor.

Summary: Background: Given the projected trends in population ageing and population growth, the number of people with dementia is expected to increase. In addition, strong evidence has emerged supporting the importance of potentially modifiable risk factors for dementia. Characterising the distribution and magnitude of anticipated growth is crucial for public health planning and resource prioritisation. This study aimed to improve on previous forecasts of dementia prevalence by producing country-level estimates and incorporating information on selected risk factors. Methods: We forecasted the prevalence of dementia attributable to the three dementia risk factors included in the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 (high body-mass index, high fasting plasma glucose, and smoking) from 2019 to 2050, using relative risks and forecasted risk factor prevalence to predict GBD risk-attributable prevalence in 2050 globally and by world region and country. Using linear regression models with education included as an additional predictor, we then forecasted the prevalence of dementia not attributable to GBD risks. To assess the relative contribution of future trends in GBD risk factors, education, population growth, and population ageing, we did a decomposition analysis. Findings: We estimated that the number of people with dementia would increase from 57·4 (95% uncertainty interval 50·4–65·1) million cases globally in 2019 to 152·8 (130·8–175·9) million cases in 2050. Despite large increases in the projected number of people living with dementia, age-standardised both-sex prevalence remained stable between 2019 and 2050 (global percentage change of 0·1% [–7·5 to 10·8]). We estimated that there were more women with dementia than men with dementia globally in 2019 (female-to-male ratio of 1·69 [1·64–1·73]), and we expect this pattern to continue to 2050 (female-to-male ratio of 1·67 [1·52–1·85]). There was geographical heterogeneity in the projected increases across countries and regions, with the smallest percentage changes in the number of projected dementia cases in high-income Asia Pacific (53% [41–67]) and western Europe (74% [58–90]), and the largest in north Africa and the Middle East (367% [329–403]) and eastern sub-Saharan Africa (357% [323–395]). Projected increases in cases could largely be attributed to population growth and population ageing, although their relative importance varied by world region, with population growth contributing most to the increases in sub-Saharan Africa and population ageing contributing most to the increases in east Asia. Interpretation: Growth in the number of individuals living with dementia underscores the need for public health planning efforts and policy to address the needs of this group. Country-level estimates can be used to inform national planning efforts and decisions. Multifaceted approaches, including scaling up interventions to address modifiable risk factors and investing in research on biological mechanisms, will be key in addressing the expected increases in the number of individuals affected by dementia. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Gates Ventures.

Introduction The current study determined the level and trends associated with the incidence, death and disability rates for bladder cancer and its attributable risk factors in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2019, by age, sex and sociodemographic index (SDI; a composite measure of sociodemographic factors).Methods Various data sources from different countries, including vital registration and cancer registries were used to generate estimates. Mortality data and incidence data transformed to mortality estimates using the mortality to incidence ratio (MIR) were used in a cause of death ensemble model to estimate mortality. Mortality estimates were divided by the MIR to produce incidence estimates. Prevalence was calculated using incidence and MIR-based survival estimates. Age-specific mortality and standardised life expectancy were used to estimate years of life lost (YLLs). Prevalence was multiplied by disability weights to estimate years lived with disability (YLDs), while disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) are the sum of the YLLs and YLDs. All estimates were presented as counts and age-standardised rates per 100 000 population.Results Globally, there were 524 000 bladder cancer incident cases (95% uncertainty interval 476 000 to 569 000) and 229 000 bladder cancer deaths (211 000 to 243 000) in 2019. Age-standardised death rate decreased by 15.7% (8.6 to 21.0), during the period 1990–2019. Bladder cancer accounted for 4.39 million (4.09 to 4.70) DALYs in 2019, and the age-standardised DALY rate decreased significantly by 18.6% (11.2 to 24.3) during the period 1990–2019. In 2019, Monaco had the highest age-standardised incidence rate (31.9 cases (23.3 to 56.9) per 100 000), while Lebanon had the highest age-standardised death rate (10.4 (8.1 to 13.7)). Cabo Verde had the highest increase in age-standardised incidence (284.2% (214.1 to 362.8)) and death rates (190.3% (139.3 to 251.1)) between 1990 and 2019. In 2019, the global age-standardised incidence and death rates were higher among males than females, across all age groups and peaked in the 95+ age group. Globally, 36.8% (28.5 to 44.0) of bladder cancer DALYs were attributable to smoking, more so in males than females (43.7% (34.0 to 51.8) vs 15.2% (10.9 to 19.4)). In addition, 9.1% (1.9 to 19.6) of the DALYs were attributable to elevated fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (males 9.3% (1.6 to 20.9); females 8.4% (1.6 to 19.1)).Conclusions There was considerable variation in the burden of bladder cancer between countries during the period 1990–2019. Although there was a clear global decrease in the age-standardised death, and DALY rates, some countries experienced an increase in these rates. National policy makers should learn from these differences, and allocate resources for preventative measures, based on their country-specific estimates. In addition, smoking and elevated FPG play an important role in the burden of bladder cancer and need to be addressed with prevention programmes.

Abstract Background Cystinuria is an inherited disorder of renal amino acid transport that causes recurrent nephrolithiasis and significant morbidity in humans. It has an incidence of 1 in 7000 worldwide making it one of the most common genetic disorders in man. We phenotypically characterized a mouse model of cystinuria type A resultant from knockout of Slc3a1. Methods Knockout of Slc3a1 at RNA and protein levels was evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR and immunofluorescence. Slc3a1 knockout mice were placed on normal or breeder chow diets and evaluated for cystine stone formation over time suing x-ray analysis, and the development of kidney injury by measuring injury biomarkers. Kidney injury was also evaluated via histologic analysis. Amino acid levels were measured in the blood of mice using high performance liquid chromatography. Liver glutathione levels were measured using a luminescent-based assay. Results We confirmed knockout of Slc3a1 at the RNA level, while Slc7a9 RNA representing the co-transporter was preserved. As expected, we observed bladder stone formation in Slc3a1 −/− mice. Male Slc3a1 −/− mice exhibited lower weights compared to Slc3a1 +/+. Slc3a1 −/− mice on a regular diet demonstrated elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) without elevation of serum creatinine. However, placing the knockout animals on a breeder chow diet, containing a higher cystine concentration, resulted in the development of elevation of both BUN and creatinine indicative of more severe chronic kidney disease. Histological examination revealed that these dietary effects resulted in worsened kidney tubular obstruction and interstitial inflammation as well as worsened bladder inflammation. Cystine is a precursor for the antioxidant molecule glutathione, so we evaluated glutathione levels in the livers of Slc3a1 −/− mice. We found significantly lowered levels of both reduced and total glutathione in the knockout animals. Conclusions Our results suggest that that diet can affect the development and progression of chronic kidney disease in an animal model of cystinuria, which may have important implications for patients with this disease. Additionally, reduced glutathione may predispose those with cystinuria to injury caused by oxidative stress. Word count: 327.

Abstract Background The decreasing suicide rate in China has been regarded as a major contributor to the decline of global suicide rate in the past decade. However, previous estimations on China’s suicide rates might not be accurate, since often they were based on the data from the Ministry of Health’s Vital Registration (“MOH-VR”) System, which is biased towards the better-off population. This study aims to compare suicide data extracted from the MOH-VR System with a more representative mortality surveillance system, namely the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Disease Surveillance Points (“CDC-DSP”) System, and update China’s national and subnational suicide rates in the period of 2004–2014. Methods The CDC-DSP data are obtained from the National Cause-of-Death Surveillance Dataset (2004–2014) and the MOH-VR data are from the Chinese Health Statistics Yearbooks (2005–2012) and the China Health and Family Planning Statistics Yearbooks (2013–2015). First, a negative binomial regression model was used to test the associations between the source of data (CDC-DSP/MOH-VR) and suicide rates in 2004–2014. Joinpoint regression analyses and Kitagawa’s decomposition method are then applied to analyze the trends of the crude suicide rates. Results Both systems indicated China’s suicide rates decreased over the study period. However, before the two systems merged in 2013, the CDC-DSP System reported significantly higher national suicide rates (IRR = 1.18, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.13–1.24) and rural suicide rates (IRR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.21–1.38) than the MOH-VR System. The CDC-DSP System also showed significant reversing points in 2011 (95% CI: 2006–2012) and 2006 (95% CI: 2006–2008) on the rural and urban suicide trends. Moreover, the suicide rates in the east and central urban regions were reversed in 2011 and 2008. Conclusions The biased MOH-VR System underestimated China’s national and rural suicide rates. Although not widely appreciated in the field of suicide research, the CDC-DSP System provides more accurate estimations on China’s suicide rates and is recommended for future studies to monitor the reversing trends of suicide rates in China’s more developed areas.

We here report a new CO2 capture and storage method that converts CO2 into a novel alkyl carbonate salt, denoted as CO2SM, by a system consisting of equimolar 1,4-butanediol (BDO) and 1,2-ethylenediamine (EDA). This novel CO2SM was then used to prepare BaCO3 crystals through a simple and fast hydrothermal synthesis under mild conditions. The CO2SM was both the source of CO2 and the modifier to regulate the nucleation and growth of BaCO3 crystals. The morphology of the BaCO3 crystals could be tuned from rod to shuttle by adjusting the key influencing factors, including CO2SM concentration, mineralization temperature, and mineralization time. A possible mechanism for the synthesis of BaCO3 crystals from the CO2SM was also presented. After the BaCO3 crystals were isolated, the filtrate of the hydrothermal reaction could be recycled to again absorb CO2 and prepare BaCO3 crystals of the same polymorph. This novel approach appears promising for preparing well-formed metal carbonates. Keywords: BaCO3, CO2-storage material, Morphology control, CO2 capture and utilization

Previous investigations of geographic concentration of urban poverty indicate the contribution of a variety of factors, such as economic restructuring and class-based segregation, racial segregation, demographic structure, and public policy. However, the models used by most past research do not consider the possibility that poverty concentration may take different forms in different locations across a city, and most studies have been conducted in Western settings. We investigated the spatial patterning of neighborhood poverty and its correlates in Hong Kong, which is amongst cities with the highest GDP in the region, using the city-wide ordinary least square (OLS) regression model and the local-specific geographically weighted regression (GWR) model. We found substantial geographic variations in small-area poverty rates and identified several poverty clusters in the territory. Factors found to contribute to urban poverty in Western cities, such as socioeconomic factors, ethnicity, and public housing, were also mostly associated with local poverty rates in Hong Kong. Our results also suggest some heterogeneity in the associations of poverty with specific correlates (e.g. access to hospitals) that would be masked in the city-wide OLS model. Policy aimed to alleviate poverty should consider both city-wide and local-specific factors.

OBJECTIVE:This present study aims to estimate the structural validity, internal consistency reliability of the LSNS-6 and examine the associations between the LSNS-6 and suicidal outcomes among mainland Chinese older adults. METHODS:This validation study used a big representative sample (N = 2819) of older adults in Beijing from the Sample Survey on Aged Population in Urban/Rural China. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied to examine the factor structures of the Chinese version of LSNS-6. Internal consistency reliability of the LSNS-6 was examined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the corrected item-total correlation. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the associations between the LSNS-6 and late-life death wishes, suicidal ideation in mainland Chinese. FINDINGS:This present study showed good internal consistency and consistent factor structure of the LSNS-6 as well as its subscales. The present data demonstrated the LSNS-6 could be a useful tool for assessing social networks among older mainland Chinese. Interestingly, among the mainland Chinese, late-life suicidality was highly associated with the LSNS-6 family subscale, rather than the friends subscale. CONCLUSION:The LSNS-6 could be a useful tool for assessing social networks among older mainland Chinese. In addition, suggestion is made to improve social networks, especially in family bonds and support, as a promising strategy in reducing late-life suicide risks in mainland China.

Homogeneous CaCO3 microspheres were controllably synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method without using extraneous additives by Ca(OH)2 saturated solution reacted with CO2 storage material (CO2SM), which was obtained by absorbing CO2 gas in a system containing equimolar ethylenediamine (EDA) and polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG). Specifically, homogeneous pure vaterite spheres were obtained by using 160 g/L CO2SM solution at 100 °C and a reaction time of two hours. It is noteworthy that the EDA and PEG, which are released from CO2SM, have dual functions as a CO2 absorber and crystal regulator in the process of controlling the crystallization of CaCO3 crystals.

Abstract Infrared and visible image fusion involves merging the advantages of infrared and visible images to generate a composite image that encompasses thermal radiation as well as intricate texture details. Infrared and visible image fusion has garnered increasing attention, with numerous fusion methods proposed. However, how to fairly perceive the performance of fused image remains a contentious topic. This paper is dedicated to solving this problem from two perspectives (e.g., subjective and objective aspects). Firstly, an infrared and visible fusion image quality assessment dataset was constructed, including 60 pairs of infrared and visible images captured in various scenes, along with 540 fusion images with different types and degrees of distortions. Additionally, a subjective evaluation dataset of 16,200 subjective scores by 30 participants was further provided for the fused image. Secondly, to overcome the challenging assessment for infrared and visible fusion images without a real reference image, an interesting multi‐domain pseudo‐reference image quality assessment model (MPIQAM) is proposed, by comprehensively considering the thermal radiation information distortion, texture information distortion, and overall naturalness of the fused image. The proposed MPIQAM was compared with 18 mainstream objective metrics, and the experimental findings showcased a commendable level of competitiveness.

Abstract Background Innovative attempt to explore the feasibility and accuracy of using indocyanine green fluorescence (ICGF) to identify the intersegmental plane by the target segmental veins preferential ligation during thoracoscopic segmentectomy. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 32 consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic segmentectomy with intersegmental plane identification using both ICGF and inflation-deflation method after target segmental veins prioritized blocking at Nanjing Chest Hospital from December 2022 to June 2023. Preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction was used to identify the target segment and the anatomical structure of the arteries, veins, and bronchi. After ligating the target segmental veins during surgery, the first intersegmental plane was immediately identified and marked with an electrocoagulation device using an inflation-deflation method. Subsequently, the second intersegmental plane was determined using the ICGF method. Finally, the consistency of the two intersegmental planes was evaluated. Results All the 32 patients successfully completed thoracoscopic segmentectomy without ICG-related complications and perioperative death. The average operation time was (98.59 ± 20.72) min, the average intraoperative blood loss was (45.31 ± 35.65) ml, and the average postoperative chest tube removal time was (3.5 ± 1.16) days. The average postoperative hospital stay was (4.66 ± 1.29) days, and the average tumor margin width was (26.96 ± 5.86) mm. The intersegmental plane determined by ICGF method was basically consistent with inflation-deflation method in all patients. Conclusion The ICGF can safely and accurately identify the intersegmental plane by target segmental veins preferential ligation during thoracoscopic segmentectomy, which is a beneficial exploration and important supplement to the simplified thoracoscopic anatomical segmentectomy.

Abstract Co-doping of phosphorus and boron elements into crystalline silicon quantum dot (c-Si QD) is an effective approach for enhancing the photoluminescence (PL) performance. In this paper, we report on the preparation of hydrogenated silicon nitride (SiNx:H) thin films embedded with phosphorus-boron co-doped c-Si QDs via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition route. Mixed dilution including hydrogen (H2) and argon (Ar) is applied in the in-situ deposition process for optimizing the deposition process. The P-B co-doped c-Si QD/SiNx:H thin films exhibit a wide range of PL spectra. The emission is greatly improved especially for the short-wavelength light when compared to the SiOx:H thin film containing P-B co-doped c-Si QDs. The effects of H2/Ar flow ratio on the structural and optical characteristics of thin films are systematically investigated through a series of characterizations. Experimental results show that various properties, such as crystallinity, QD size, optical band gap and doping concentrations, are effectively controlled by tuning H2/Ar flow ratio. Based on the red-shift of QCE-related PL peak, the successful P-B co-doping into Si QDs are verified. Finally, a comprehensive discussion has been made to analyze the influence of H2-Ar mixed dilution on the film growth and impurity doping in detail in this paper.

At present, with the vigorous development of power Internet of Things, how to sustain and supply energy for a long time has become a technical problem that tens of thousands of sensors need to face. Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), as a new high efficiency energy supply technology, has a very broad application prospect in the field of sensor self-power supply. In this paper, based on the working principle of triboelectricity, a multi-layer elastic TENG energy harvesting device for transmission line breeze vibration is designed by using the vertical contact of the multi-layer elastic structure to separate the TENG, and the transmission line breeze vibration state is simulated by the output performance test platform of the vibration energy collector. The basic electrical characteristics of energy collectors at different frequencies and amplitudes are tested, and combined with power management strategies, a self-power supply system for vibration energy acquisition for transmission line breeze vibration is constructed, which realized efficient acquisition and conversion of wide-band vibration energy and completed energy supply for commercial sensors. Finally, the validity and feasibility of the vibration energy collection device designed in this paper are verified by the vibration reduction model of the transmission line. The vibration energy acquisition self-power supply system designed in this paper can effectively convert the broadband vibration energy of the transmission line into electric energy, and has the characteristics of simple structure and good economy, which can provide a new solution to solve the power supply problem of sensors for power Internet of Things.

Abstract Background High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is a common gynecologic malignancy with a poor prognosis. The traditional Chinese medicine formula Erzhimaoling decoction (EZMLD) has anticancer potential. This study aims to elucidate the anticancer effects of EZMLD on HGSOC in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods EZMLD-containing serum was prepared from Sprague–Dawley rats for treating SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells at varying concentrations for 24 h and 48 h to determine the IC50. Concentrations of 0%, 5%, and 10% for 24 h were chosen for subsequent in vitro experiments. The roles of METTL3 and METTL14 in SKOV3 cells were explored by overexpressing these genes and combining EZMLD with METTL3/14 knockdown. Investigations focused on cell viability and apoptosis, apoptosis-related protein expression, and KRT8 mRNA m6A modification. For in vivo studies, 36 BALB/c nude mice were divided into six groups involving EZMLD (6.75, 13.5, and 27 g/kg) and METTL3 or METTL14 knockdowns, with daily EZMLD gavage for two weeks. Results In vitro, EZMLD-containing serum had IC50 values of 8.29% at 24 h and 5.95% at 48 h in SKOV3 cells. EZMLD-containing serum decreased SKOV3 cell viability and increased apoptosis. EZMLD upregulated METTL3/14 and FAS-mediated apoptosis proteins, while downregulating Keratin 8 (KRT8). EZMLD increased KRT8 mRNA m6A methylation. METTL3/14 overexpression reduced SKOV3 cell viability and increased apoptosis, while METTL3/14 knockdown mitigated EZMLD's effects. In vivo, EZMLD suppressed SKOV3 xenografts growth, causing significant apoptosis and modulating protein expression. Conclusions EZMLD has therapeutic potential for ovarian cancer and may be considered for other cancer types. Future research may explore its broader effects beyond cell apoptosis.

AIM: To investigate the effect of a new type of rhinodacryocystostomy combined with fluticasone propionate on patients with chronic dacryocystitis.METHODS: A total of 100 patients(100 eyes)with chronic dacryocystitis who admitted to our hospital between January 2021 and December 2022 were enrolled in the prospective study. The patients in the study were divided into a control group(n=50)and an observation group(n=50)based on their admission order and number. Patients in the control group were treated with novel rhinodacryocystostomy, while patients in the observation group were treated with a new type of rhinodacryocystostomy combined with fluticasone propionate. The preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), quality of life score, and recurrence of chronic dacryocystitis were compared between the two groups of patients.RESULTS: All patients completed the postoperative 6 mo follow-up, and the total effective rate of patients in the observation group was better than that of patients in the control group(98% vs 84%, P=0.001). There was no significant difference in preoperative and postoperative BCVA between the two groups(P>0.05). Preoperatively, there was no significant difference in the quality of life scores between the two groups of patients(P>0.05); At 6 mo postoperatively, the quality of life scores of patients in the control group, including physical function, psychological function, social function, and material life status, were lower than those in the observation group(all P

Abstract Objective Accumulating evidence supports the idea that inflammation may contribute to the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Duloxetine, a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated the impact of duloxetine on changes in serum proinflammatory cytokine levels among individuals diagnosed with MDD. Methods A cohort of 23 drug-naïve individuals diagnosed with MDD and 23 healthy controls were included in this study. The severity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using the 24-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-24). A panel of 7 proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ), were quantified using multiplex Luminex assays. The levels of serum cytokines in healthy controls and patients with MDD were compared at baseline. All patients received duloxetine at a dosage range of 40–60 mg/day for a duration of 4 weeks. The HAMD-24 scores and serum cytokine levels were compared before and after duloxetine treatment. Results Compared with healthy controls, patients with MDD had significantly greater levels of IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ (P 0.05). Conclusions These findings present compelling evidence, potentially for the first time, indicating that duloxetine treatment may effectively reduce the serum concentrations of IL-8, IL-12, and IFN-γ in individuals diagnosed with MDD. However, the precise mechanisms underlying this effect remain unclear and warrant further investigation.

Tunnel boring machines (TBMs) have been widely utilised in tunnel construction due to their high efficiency and reliability. Accurately predicting TBM performance can improve project time management, cost control, and risk management. This study aims to use deep learning to develop real-time models for predicting the penetration rate (PR). The models are built using data from the Changsha metro project, and their performances are evaluated using unseen data from the Zhengzhou Metro project. In one-step forecast, the predicted penetration rate follows the trend of the measured penetration rate in both training and testing. The autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model is compared with the recurrent neural network (RNN) model. The results show that univariate models, which only consider historical penetration rate itself, perform better than multivariate models that take into account multiple geological and operational parameters (GEO and OP). Next, an RNN variant combining time series of penetration rate with the last-step geological and operational parameters is developed, and it performs better than other models. A sensitivity analysis shows that the penetration rate is the most important parameter, while other parameters have a smaller impact on time series forecasting. It is also found that smoothed data are easier to predict with high accuracy. Nevertheless, over-simplified data can lose real characteristics in time series. In conclusion, the RNN variant can accurately predict the next-step penetration rate, and data smoothing is crucial in time series forecasting. This study provides practical guidance for TBM performance forecasting in practical engineering.

In this study, we considered the compressible effect on the mutual interaction of two cavitation bubbles by correcting the sound field emitted by one bubble in the radial equations of the other bubble to first order in the Mach number of the flow, and the effect is represented by the incident wave acting on bubbles. The results illustrates that the incident wave can enhance the resonance response at the redistributed resonance frequency, which leads to an increase in radial acceleration and the secondary Bjerknes force, and rapid approach of bubbles. Furthermore, the influence of incident wave on the interaction of bubbles driven at lower frequencies is more significant, due to resonance enhancement caused by the proximity of natural frequencies and frequency multiplications of the external sound field. Our findings reveal that the compressible effect is not only critical to interaction in radial oscillations, but also in translational motion.

Wildlife conservation and management in human-dominated landscapes are major concerns for wildlife ecologists and managers. The dynamics of human disturbance, combined with seasonal limitations in the availability of nutritious foods, may restrict wildlife population growth and recovery. However, understanding how large mammal species adjust their population distribution in forest habitats with seasonal changes in food and disturbances requires a deeper and more extensive analysis. In this study, we found that three ungulate species, roe deer (Capreolus pygargus), sika deer (Cervus nippon), and wild boar (Sus scrofa), employ robust, conservative, and flexible distribution strategies, respectively, to adapt to the effects of seasonal changes and human disturbances. Moreover, croplands, villages, and grazing have some negative effects on the distribution of roe deer and sika deer, while wild boar can be highly abundant near human land use. Additionally, roe deer, sika deer, and wild boar are also affected by the abundance of shrub species they consume. During the cold season, the populations of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and Amur leopard (P. pardus orientalis) were primarily located near roads and dense forests, respectively. In the warm season, the distribution of both big cats was influenced by prey abundance, and Amur tigers also avoided grazing livestock. Nevertheless, the negative effects of human land use on Amur tigers and wild boars increased during the warm season, which was attributed to more frequent human activities during that time. Consequently, it is crucial to implement season-specific habitat management, particularly by regulating human disturbances during the warm season, in order to promote the recovery and expansion of populations of big cats and ungulates.

Abstract Objective It is known that cytokines play a role in both depression and anxiety. This study aimed to compare the levels of multiple cytokines in patients with first-episode drug-naive major depressive disorder (MDD) with or without anxiety and analyze the correlation between the level of depression or anxiety and the serum cytokine levels. Methods The study involved 55 patients with first-episode drug-naive MDD. To assess anxiety symptoms, the 14-item HAMA was used. MDD patients were divided into two groups: 23 MDD patients without anxiety and 32 MDD patients with anxiety. The measurement of 37 cytokines was conducted. Serum cytokine levels between patients with MDD without anxiety and anxiety were compared. In multiple linear regression models, the relationship between the group and abnormal cytokines was explored. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to estimate diagnostic performance of serum cytokines in discriminating MDD patients with anxiety from MDD patients without anxiety. A correlation was evaluated between the scores of HAMD or HAMA and the serum cytokine levels. Results In MDD patients with anxiety, IL-17 C and CCL17 levels were significantly lower than in MDD patients without anxiety (all P 0.05). The results of multiple linear regression models revealed that after controlling for other independent variables, group was not a significant independent predictor of serum IL-17 C or CCL17 (all P > 0.05). The AUC values of IL-17 C and CCL17 were 0.643 and 0.637, respectively, in discriminating MDD patients with anxiety from MDD patients without anxiety. The results of partial correlation analyses showed the scores of HAMD were negatively correlated with the IL-17 C (r = -0.314, P = 0.021) levels with sex as a covariate. Conclusions The findings suggest that there is a potential absence of disparity in the levels of circulating cytokines among individuals diagnosed with first-episode drug-naïve MDD, regardless of the presence or absence of comorbid anxiety.

【Objective】 Peanut is an important economic crop and the main planting method is plastic film mulching. It is necessary to study the effects of different degradable film mulching and ordinary plastic film mulching on the soil hydrothermal environment and growth of peanut. 【Method】 Field experiments were conducted at the Experimental Station, China Agricultural University, Rizhao City, Shandong Province, China in 2022 to investigate effects of degradable film and ordinary plastic film mulching on soil hydrothermal conditions and peanut growth and select the type of degradable film suitable for peanut planting. Five mulching treatments (white plastic mulching, WM; black plastic mulching, BM; white degradable mulching, WDM; black degradable mulching, BDM; and no film mulching, CK) were applied. 【Result】 ①The results indicated that degradable mulching had significant effects on soil hydrothermal condition, yield, and water use efficiency. The mean soil temperature at 0-25 cm depth during seedling stage in white degradable mulching treatment was 0.8 ℃ higher than that in white plastic mulching treatment, and that in black degradable mulching treatment was 0.6 ℃ higher than that in black plastic mulching treatment. The mean soil temperature at 5 cm depth at night during seedling stage in white degradable mulching treatment was 0.8 ℃ higher than that in white plastic mulching treatment, and that in black degradable mulching treatment was 0.6 ℃ higher than that in black plastic mulching treatment. The difference of accumulated effective temperature at night during seedling stage in white degradable mulching treatment was 88 ℃ higher than that in white plastic mulching treatment, and that in black degradable mulching treatment was 60 ℃ higher than that in black plastic mulching treatment. The soil water content during whole growth stage in white degradable mulching treatment was 11.7% higher than that in white plastic mulching treatment, and that in black degradable mulching treatment was 7.2% higher than that in black plastic mulching treatment. ②Compared with yield and water use efficiency in white plastic mulching, black plastic mulching and black degradable mulching treatment, the peanut yield in white degradable mulching treatment increased by 5.3%, 6.6% and 17.3%, respectively, and the water use efficiency in white degradable mulching treatment increased by 7.8%, 11.7% and 22.8%, respectively. ③The degradation rate of white degradable film was 14.6% higher than that of black degradable film. 【Conclusion】 The degradable film has similar warming and moisture conservation effects with ordinary plastic film in the hydrothermal environment in peanut planting; the peanut yield and the degradation rate of film in white biodegradable film treatment was higher. So white biodegradable film is the most suitable alternative in Shandong peanut planting.

Abstract Teleost fishes, which are the largest and most diverse group of living vertebrates, have a rich history of ancient and recent polyploidy. Previous studies of allotetraploid common carp and goldfish (cyprinids) reported a dominant subgenome, which is more expressed and exhibits biased gene retention. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to observed ‘subgenome dominance’ remains poorly understood. Here we report high-quality genomes of twenty-one cyprinids to investigate the origin and subsequent subgenome evolution patterns following three independent allopolyploidy events. We identify the closest extant relatives of the diploid progenitor species, investigate genetic and epigenetic differences among subgenomes, and conclude that observed subgenome dominance patterns are likely due to a combination of maternal dominance and transposable element densities in each polyploid. These findings provide an important foundation to understanding subgenome dominance patterns observed in teleost fishes, and ultimately the role of polyploidy in contributing to evolutionary innovations.

Three-dimensional plasma nanostructures with high light–thermal conversion efficiency show the prospect of industrialization in various fields and have become a research hotspot in areas of light–heat utilization, solar energy capture, and so on. In this paper, a simple chemical synthesis method is proposed to prepare gold nanoparticles, and the electrophoretic deposition method is used to assemble large-area three-dimensional gold nanostructures (3D-GNSs). The light–thermal water evaporation monitoring and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) measurements of 3D-GNSs were performed via theoretical simulation and experiments. We reveal the physical processes of local electric field optical enhancement and the light–thermal conversion of 3D-GNSs. The results show that with the help of the efficient optical trapping and super-hydrophilic surface properties of 3D-GNSs, they have a significant effect in accelerating water evaporation, which was increased by nearly eight times. At the same time, the three-dimensional SERS substrates based on gold nanosphere particles (GNSPs) and gold nanostar particles (GNSTs) had limited sensitivities of 10−10 M and 10−12 M to R6G molecules, respectively. Therefore, 3D-GNSs show strong competitiveness in the fields of solar-energy-induced water purification and the Raman trace detection of organic molecules.

AimsTo evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of cetagliptin (CAS number:2243737-33-7) in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A population PK/PD model was developed to quantify the PK and PD characteristics of cetagliptin in patients.Materials and methods32 Chinese adults with T2DM were enrolled in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive either cetagliptin (50 mg or 100 mg), placebo, or sitagliptin (100 mg) once daily for 14 days. Blood samples were collected for PK and PD analysis. Effects on glucose, insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon were evaluated following an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (day15). Effects on HbA1c and glycated albumin (GA), and safety assessments were also conducted. Meanwhile, a population PK/PD model was developed by a sequential two-step analysis approach using Phoenix.ResultsFollowing multiple oral doses, cetagliptin was rapidly absorbed and the mean half-life were 34.9-41.9 h. Steady-state conditions were achieved after 1 week of daily dosing and the accumulation was modest. The intensity and duration of DPP-4 inhibition induced by 50 mg cetagliptin were comparable with those induced by sitagliptin, and 100 mg cetagliptin showed a much longer sustained DPP-4 inhibition (≥80%) than sitagliptin. Compared with placebo group, plasma active GLP-1 AUEC0-24h increased by 2.20- and 3.36-fold in the 50 mg and 100 mg cetagliptin groups. A decrease of plasma glucose and increase of insulin and C-peptide were observed following OGTT in cetagliptin groups. Meanwhile, a tendency of reduced GA was observed, whereas no decreasing trend was observed in HbA1c. All adverse events related to cetagliptin and sitagliptin were assessed as mild. A population PK/PD model was successfully established. The two-compartment model and Sigmoid-Emax model could fit the observed data well. Total bilirubin (TBIL) was a covariate of volume of peripheral compartment distribution (V2), and V2 increased with the increase of TBIL.ConclusionsCetagliptin was well tolerated, inhibited plasma DPP-4 activity, increased plasma active GLP-1 levels, and exhibited a certain trend of glucose-lowering effect in patients with T2DM. The established population PK/PD model adequately described the PK and PD characteristics of cetagliptin.

In traditional slope stability analysis, it is assumed that some “average” or appropriately “conservative” properties operate over the entire region of interest. This kind of deterministic conservative analysis often results in higher costs, and thus, a stochastic analysis considering uncertainty and spatial variability was developed to reduce costs. In the past few decades, machine learning has been greatly developed and extensively used in stochastic slope stability analysis, particularly used as surrogate models to improve computational efficiency. To better summarize the current application of machine learning and future research, this paper reviews 159 studies of supervised learning published in the past 20 years. The achievements of machine learning methods are summarized from two aspects—safety factor prediction and slope stability classification. Four potential research challenges and suggestions are also given.

Abstract Keverprazan, a novel potassium‐competitive acid blocker, was approved for treating acid‐related diseases. This study aimed to analyze the safety, pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of multiple doses of keverprazan. This was a randomized, positive‐/placebo‐controlled, phase Ic trial. Twenty‐six healthy adults were randomized to receive 20 mg/day keverprazan (n = 8), 40 mg/day keverprazan (n = 8), placebo (n = 6), or 20 mg/day vonoprazan (n = 4) for 7 days. Safety, PK and PD assessments were conducted. In the keverprazan, vonoprazan, and placebo groups, adverse events (AEs) were reported in nine (56.25%), two (50.00%), and three (50.00%) subjects, respectively. AEs were mild except a moderate abdominal pain leading to withdraw. No serious AEs occurred. The plasma concentration‐time profiles of keverprazan showed rapid absorption (median time to maximum plasma concentration of 1.25–3.0 h). The terminal half‐life was 6.23 and 7.01 h for keverprazan 20 and 40 mg groups on day 7. The maximum plasma concentration was 43.1 and 93.2 ng/mL, respectively. There was no apparent accumulation of keverprazan and the major metabolite after 7‐day administration. The intragastric pH greater than 5 holding time ratios (HTRs) over 24 h postdose increased from 79.1%, 84.4%, and 84.5% on day 1 to 99.0%, 97.4%, and 100.0% on day 7 in the vonoprazan 20 mg and keverprazan 20 and 40 mg groups, respectively. The intragastric pH greater than 5 HTR of keverprazan reached a plateau at 20 mg. Keverprazan is well‐tolerable. A steady‐state in exposure was generally reached after 7 days of treatment. A dose of 20 mg/day keverprazan can elicit a significant, stable, and long‐lasting gastric acid inhibition effect.

Due to the widespread applications of change detection technology in urban change analysis, environmental monitoring, agricultural surveillance, disaster detection, and other domains, the task of change detection has become one of the primary applications of Earth orbit satellite remote sensing data. However, the analysis of dual-temporal change detection (CD) remains a challenge in high-resolution optical remote sensing images due to the complexities in remote sensing images, such as intricate textures, seasonal variations in imaging time, climatic differences, and significant differences in the sizes of various objects. In this paper, we propose a novel U-shaped architecture for change detection. In the encoding stage, a multi-branch feature extraction module is employed by combining CNN and transformer networks to enhance the network’s perception capability for objects of varying sizes. Furthermore, a multi-branch aggregation module is utilized to aggregate features from different branches, providing the network with global attention while preserving detailed information. For dual-temporal features, we introduce a spatiotemporal discrepancy perception module to model the context of dual-temporal images. Particularly noteworthy is the construction of channel attention and token attention modules based on the transformer attention mechanism to facilitate information interaction between multi-level features, thereby enhancing the network’s contextual awareness. The effectiveness of the proposed network is validated on three public datasets, demonstrating its superior performance over other state-of-the-art methods through qualitative and quantitative experiments.

Abstract Background Sexually dimorphic mating behaviors differ between sexes and involve gonadal hormones and possibly sexually dimorphic gene expression in the brain. However, the associations among the brain, gonad, and sexual behavior in teleosts are still unclear. Here, we utilized germ cells-free tdrd12 knockout (KO) zebrafish, and steroid synthesis enzyme cyp17a1-deficient zebrafish to investigate the differences and interplays in the brain–gonad–behavior axis, and the molecular control of brain dimorphism and male mating behaviors. Methods Tdrd12 +/−; cyp17a1 +/− double heterozygous parents were crossed to obtain tdrd12 −/− ; cyp17a1 +/+ (tdrd12 KO), tdrd12 +/+; cyp17a1 −/− (cyp17a1 KO), and tdrd12 −/− ; cyp17a1 −/− (double KO) homozygous progenies. Comparative analysis of mating behaviors were evaluated using Viewpoint zebrafish tracking software and sexual traits were thoroughly characterized based on anatomical and histological experiments in these KOs and wild types. The steroid hormone levels (testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone and 17β-estradiol) in the brains, gonads, and serum were measured using ELISA kits. To achieve a higher resolution view of the differences in region-specific expression patterns of the brain, the brains of these KOs, and control male and female fish were dissected into three regions: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain for transcriptomic analysis. Results Qualitative analysis of mating behaviors demonstrated that tdrd12 −/− fish behaved in the same manner as wild-type males to trigger oviposition behavior, while cyp17a1 −/− and double knockout (KO) fish did not exhibit these behaviors. Based on the observation of sex characteristics, mating behaviors and hormone levels in these mutants, we found that the maintenance of secondary sex characteristics and male mating behavior did not depend on the presence of germ cells; rather, they depended mainly on the 11-ketotestosterone and testosterone levels secreted into the brain–gonad regulatory axis. RNA-seq analysis of different brain regions revealed that the brain transcript profile of tdrd12 −/− fish was similar to that of wild-type males, especially in the forebrain and midbrain. However, the brain transcript profiles of cyp17a1 −/− and double KO fish were distinct from those of wild-type males and were partially biased towards the expression pattern of the female brain. Our results revealed important candidate genes and signaling pathways, such as synaptic signaling/neurotransmission, MAPK signaling, and steroid hormone pathways, that shape brain dimorphism and modulate male mating behavior in zebrafish. Conclusions Our results provide comprehensive analyses and new insights regarding the endogenous interactions in the brain–gonad–behavior axis. Moreover, this study revealed the crucial candidate genes and neural signaling pathways of different brain regions that are involved in modulating brain dimorphism and male mating behavior in zebrafish, which would significantly light up the understanding the neuroendocrine and molecular mechanisms modulating brain dimorphism and male mating behavior in zebrafish and other teleost fish. Graphical Abstract

Objective To screen risk factors related to visual acuity and visual field defects in patients with Cushing's disease, and based on risk factors to analyze health economics. Methods A total of 416 patients with Cushing's disease admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from August 1994 to December 2019 were included. Objective examination of visual acuity and visual field was used as the dependent variable, while gender, age, duration, blood glucose, blood pressure, hormone level, eye swelling, imaging features, and main complaint of visual acuity and visual field were used as independent variables. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the risk factors related to visual acuity and visual field defects, and cost ⁃ effectiveness ratio (CER) and cost ⁃ benefit ratio (CBR) were analyzed based on risk factors. Results Among 416 patients with Cushing's disease, 143 (34.38%) complained of abnormal visual acuity and visual field, including 59 cases of blurred vision, 11 cases of impaired visual field, 41 cases of blurred vision combined with impaired visual field, 13 cases of blurred vision combined with impaired visual field, 3 cases of impaired visual field combined with impaired visual field, and 16 cases of all three symptoms. There were 102 cases (24.52%) with abnormal visual acuity and visual field test, including 44 cases of visual loss, 39 cases of visual field defect, and 19 cases of visual loss combined with visual field defect. Logistic regression analysis showed the increased systolic blood pressure (OR = 1.016, 95%CI: 1.002-1.030; P = 0.025) and abnormal visual acuity and visual field complaints (OR = 14.000, 95%CI: 7.918-24.754; P = 0.000) were risk factors for visual acuity and visual field defects. According to the analysis of health economics, the CER of the whole group was 393 926.53, which was 6.56 times higher than that of the patients with abnormal visual acuity and visual field complaints (60 057.93). The CBR was 4.08, which was 2.25 times higher than that of patients with abnormal visual acuity and visual field complaints (1.81). Conclusions Cushing's disease patients with abnormal visual acuity and visual field complaints are more likely to have abnormal visual acuity and visual field. Therefore, taking abnormal visual acuity and visual field complaints as an indication for visual acuity and visual field test of Cushing's disease patients can improve the detection rate and reduce the waste of health and social resources, which is not only clinically feasible, but also can effectively prevent medical risks.

Summary: Under stress conditions, translationally stalled mRNA and associated proteins undergo liquid-liquid phase separation and condense into cytoplasmic foci called stress granules (SGs). Many viruses hijack SGs for their pathogenesis; however, whether pathogenic bacteria also exploit this pathway remains unknown. Here, we report that members of the OspC family of Shigella flexneri induce SG formation in infected cells. Mechanistically, the OspC effectors target multiple subunits of the host translation initiation factor 3 complex by ADP-riboxanation. The modification of eIF3 leads to translational arrest and thus the formation of SGs. Furthermore, OspC-mediated SGs are beneficial for S. flexneri replication within infected host cells, and bacterial strains unable to induce SGs are attenuated for virulence in a murine model of infection. Our findings reveal a mechanism by which bacterial pathogens induce SG assembly by inactivating host translational machinery and promote bacterial proliferation in host cells.

BackgroundThe current prevalence of Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection is notably high, with individuals afflicted by HSV-2 facing recurrent outbreaks, challenges in achieving remission, and an elevated risk of HIV infection. This study aims to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and HSV-2 infection.MethodsThe data for this study were sourced from 7257 participants who took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2009 to 2016. The target population consisted of adults with reliable HSV-2 plasma results, and alcohol consumption was assessed using self-report methods. We evaluated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between alcohol consumption and HSV-2 infection. These estimations were derived from a logistic regression model that was adjusted for key confounding factors. Subgroup analysis specifically focused on alcohol consumption, and the interaction between HSV-2 infection, alcohol consumption, and other variables was assessed through stratified analysis.ResultsAmong the 7,257 participants included, 89.8% (6,518/7,257) reported varying levels of alcohol consumption history. Compared to individuals who never drinkers, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for former drinkers, light drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers were 1.79 (95% CI: 1.34-2.4, p < 0.001), 1.38 (95% CI: 1.07-1.77, p = 0.012), 1.49 (95% CI: 1.15-1.94, p = 0.003), and 1.47 (95% CI: 1.14-1.9, p = 0.003), respectively. The results remained stable in subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses.ConclusionCurrent research indicates that individuals with a history of alcohol consumption exhibit a higher risk of HSV-2 infection compared to those who have never drinkers.

To explore the role of policy in developing the film and animation industry to better utilize the service function of animation industry policies. This paper constructs a two-dimensional analysis model of the policy, selects and codes the policy text, and uses it as the explanatory variable in multiple linear regression. At the same time, the comprehensive evaluation of the development level of the film and animation industry was selected as the explanatory variable, the index system was constructed by using the diamond theory, and the public factors and weights of the evaluation were determined based on the factor analysis method. Finally, a regression equation was established through multiple regression analysis to explore the influence of policies on the production and revenue of film and television animation and product quality, and the correlation coefficients of the regression equation were determined. Implementing the film and television animation policy resulted in a 56.8% increase in the industry’s main business revenue. At the 0.05 level, the effect was statistically and economically significant.

ABSTRACTTo understand the influence of corrosion and fracturing of prestressed steel on structural deformation, accelerated corrosion testing was carried out using a self-made test beam and applying DC power. Distributed optical fibre sensing technology based on pulse prepumped Brillouin optical time-domain analysis (PPP-BOTDA) was used to monitor the deformation of the prestressed concrete beam in the process of corrosion and fracture in real time. The finite-element model of local corrosion fracture of prestressed steel is established, and the monitoring results are verified based on various corrosion fracture simulation methods. The results show that when the sensing optical fibre pasted on the beam is less than 150 mm from the prestressed steel, the significant change of concrete strain when the steel breaks can be monitored and the fracture location can be determined at the same time. However, when the distance is greater than 150 mm, the change in monitoring data with the strain is not obvious. The distributed optical fibre sensing technology has high monitoring efficiency and abundant measurement data, and the underwater environment does not affect the transmission of monitoring data. This technology is applicable to the deformation monitoring of large prestressed concrete structures and could be widely used in practical engineering.

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) have become prevalent in tunnel construction due to their high efficiency and reliability. The proliferation of data obtained from site investigations and data acquisition systems provides an opportunity for the application of machine learning (ML) techniques. ML algorithms have been successfully applied in TBM tunnelling because they are particularly effective in capturing complex, non-linear relationships. This study focuses on commonly used ML techniques for TBM tunnelling, with a particular emphasis on data processing, algorithms, optimisation techniques, and evaluation metrics. The primary concerns in TBM applications are discussed, including predicting TBM performance, predicting surface settlement, and time series forecasting. This study reviews the current progress, identifies the challenges, and suggests future developments in the field of intelligent TBM tunnelling construction. This aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts in research and industry toward improving the safety, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness of underground excavation projects.

Carcinogen exposure is strongly associated with enhanced cancer immunogenicity. Increased tumor mutational burden and resulting neoantigen generation have been proposed to link carcinogen exposure and cancer immunogenicity. However, the neoantigen-independent immunological impact of carcinogen exposure on cancer is unknown. Here, we demonstrate that chemical carcinogen-exposed cancer cells fail to establish an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in their T cell–mediated rejection in vivo. A chemical carcinogen-treated breast cancer cell clone that lacked any additional coding region mutations (i.e., neoantigen) was rejected in mice in a T cell–dependent manner. Strikingly, the coinjection of carcinogen- and control-treated cancer cells prevented this rejection, suggesting that the loss of immunosuppressive TME was the dominant cause of rejection. Reduced M-CSF expression by carcinogen-treated cancer cells significantly suppressed tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and resulted in the loss of an immunosuppressive TME. Single-cell analysis of human lung cancers revealed a significant reduction in the immunosuppressive TAMs in former smokers compared with individuals who had never smoked. These findings demonstrate that carcinogen exposure impairs the development of an immunosuppressive TME and indicate a novel link between carcinogens and cancer immunogenicity.

Sentinel-2 satellite remote sensing images have been widely used in various fields, such as change detection and resource monitoring. However, Sentinel-2 provides multispectral bands with inconsistent spatial resolutions (i.e., 60 m for three bands, 20 m for six bands, and 10 m for four bands), which has greatly limited the application values, especially for cooperative analysis or application on different bands at a unified resolution. In this article, we proposed a multistage progressive interactive fusion network to generate all 10-m high-resolution bands. Specifically, a refined multistage spatial resolution enhancement model in a multistage way is developed to progressively improve the low-resolution bands to preserve the spectral information of the enhanced bands. Moreover, an information interaction module is proposed for the three branches of high- (10 m), medium- (20 m), and low-resolution (60 m) bands to achieve effective information interaction. The experimental results show that our method is superior to other existing state-of-the-art methods, and it can be applied to the reconstruction of the high-resolution vegetation index.

Matching feature points from image pairs with significant visual changes and repetitive patterns remains a challenging problem due to the presence of mismatches in the putative corresponding point sets. In this paper, we propose a novel feature matching algorithm called Multi-scale Local Relative Motion Consistency (MLRMC) to accurately find matched feature points. The MLRMC algorithm exploits the multi-scale relative motion information between putative matches and their neighboring points to effectively remove outliers with accuracy and robustness. By clustering the relative motion, coincident relative motion among the matches is obtained. The similarity of each putative match is evaluated by considering both the consensus of relative motion and the consensus of neighborhood elements. To achieve accurate and robust feature point matching, a two-step outlier removal strategy is employed. Experimental evaluations are conducted using three datasets to verify the accuracy and robustness of our proposed method, MLRMC. The results demonstrate that our method outperforms six other classic feature matching methods.

This paper presents a compact wideband dual-polarized magnetoelectric dipole antenna suitable for 5G base stations, which can cover 5G NR n77/78/79 band. The proposed antenna is configured with a cross ME dipole loaded with a rectangular slot, and two L-shaped feed lines are coplanar with the vertical patch, which makes the transverse size of the antenna more compact. The prototype size is $0.57\,\,\lambda _{min} \times 0.57\,\,\lambda _{min}$ (length $\times $ width). According to the measured results, the operating band of the antenna is 3.06-5.28 GHz, and the impedance bandwidth is 53.2% of −10 dB. In the whole frequency range, the isolation between ports is less than −22 dB. Furthermore, metal baffles around the ground are used to stabilize the radiation pattern and improve the front-to-back ratio, achieving gains greater than 8dBi in the frequency band. However, the half power beam width (HPBW) exceeds 65°±5° for base station applications. The antenna has the advantages of broadband, high front-to-back ratio and low cross-polarization, and can be used as a good candidate antenna for 5G commercial small base stations.

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been extensively reported to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of various disease, especially in cancer. However, little is known about the role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of pediatric allergic asthma. Methods High-throughput sequencing analysis was performed to identify differentially expressed mRNAs and lncRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 3 children with allergic asthma and 3 matched healthy controls. Bioinformatics analysis was used to select candidate lncRNAs and mRNAs that may be involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Candidate lncRNAs were validated in a larger size of asthma patients and healthy controls. Finally, lncRNAs and molecular pathways associated with the pathogenesis of allergic asthma were identified by competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) analysis. Results Five differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified after high-throughput sequencing and verified by real-time PCR. LncRNAs ENST0000631797, TCONS_00004989 and ENST00000499459 were verified to be differentially expressed in allergic asthma. Besides, ENST00000499459/DIXDC1 axis was identified to play a crucial role in allergic asthma after comprehensive ceRNA network analysis. Conclusion ENST00000499459 and TCONS_00004989 are potential biomarkers for house dust mite-induced allergic asthma.

For the adhesion of polyethylene composite tape heat wound on the anticorrosion coating of bends for 3PE straight pipe, the difference of adhesion performance in different positions of bends was systematically studied, and the influence laws of test temperature and hot water immersion aging on adhesion performance degradation of the anticorrosion coating were analyzed. The results show that the adhesion performance of bend coating in different areas varies greatly. With the increase of test temperature, the peel strength between the anticorrosion coating and pipe body decreases gradually, and the peel strength between the layers of heat wound composite tape is slightly lower than that of FBE underlying. Besides,with the increasing of immersion period in hot water at 50 ℃, the adhesion performance between the anticorrosion coating and the pipe is stable with slight fluctuations in the initial stage(0-60 d), and then decreases rapidly(60-120 d). Moreover,suggestions were put forward to improve the undulating anticorrosion surface in the lap zone, the air bubbles trapped in the middle of the anticorrosion coating and the hollowing in the weld zone, etc. Generally, the research results are of great reference significance for the safe service of anticorrosion coating of pipelines.