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Purpose: The objective of this multicenter study was to compare the diagnostic performance of lateral flow assay (LFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the Dynamiker Aspergillus Galactomannan levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples for I. Methods: We registered 310 clinically suspected Aspergillus infection patients from December 2021 to February 2023 and classified them into subgroups as the "IA group" and "non-IA group" based on the latest EORTC/MSG guidelines. The immunoassays were analyzed by LFA and ELISA respectively. Results: Galactomannan was examined using LFA, and serum and BALF samples demonstrated sensitivities of 82.57% and 89.47%, specificities of 90.76% and 92.00%, PPVs of 89.11% and 96.23%, and NPVs of 85.04% and 79.31%, respectively. Galactomannan was observed using two assays in serum and BALF samples and showed PPAs of 95.11% and 93.33%, NPAs of 89.19% and 96.30%, and TPAs of 92.47% and 94.25%, respectively. The ROC curve demonstrated that LFA had optimum diagnostic value when the index value (I value) = 0.5, the sensitivity was 84.94%, and the specificity was 90.97%. Conclusion: Compared to the ELISA method, the LFA has shown excellent performance for the diagnosis of IA in serum and BALF sample and can be used as an assay for the early diagnosis of patients with IA. The dynamic change in galactomannan levels may be useful for assessing treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of subsurface hydrodynamic anomalies plays a significant role in groundwater resource management and environmental monitoring. In this paper, based on data from the groundwater level, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation in the Chengdu area of China, a method for detecting outliers considering the factors affecting groundwater levels is proposed. By analyzing the factors affecting groundwater levels in the monitoring site and eliminating them, simplified groundwater data is obtained. Applying sl-Pauta (self-learning-based Pauta), iForest (Isolated Forest), OCSVM (One-Class SVM), and KNN to synthetic data with known outliers, testing and evaluating the effectiveness of 4 technologies. Finally, the four methods are applied to the detection of outliers in simplified groundwater levels. The results show that in the detection of outliers in synthesized data, the OCSVM method has the best detection performance, with a precision rate of 88.89%, a recall rate of 91.43%, an F1 score of 90.14%, and an AUC value of 95.66%. In the detection of outliers in simplified groundwater levels, a qualitative analysis of the displacement data within the field of view indicates that the outlier detection performance of iForest and OCSVM is better than that of KNN. The proposed method for considering the factors affecting groundwater levels can improve the efficiency and accuracy of detecting outliers in groundwater level data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of subsurface hydrodynamic anomalies plays a significant role in groundwater resource management and environmental monitoring. In this paper, based on data from the groundwater level, atmospheric pressure, and precipitation in the Chengdu area of China, a method for detecting outliers considering the factors affecting groundwater levels is proposed. By analyzing the factors affecting groundwater levels in the monitoring site and eliminating them, simplified groundwater data is obtained. Applying sl-Pauta (self-learning-based Pauta), iForest (Isolated Forest), OCSVM (One-Class SVM), and KNN to synthetic data with known outliers, testing and evaluating the effectiveness of 4 technologies. Finally, the four methods are applied to the detection of outliers in simplified groundwater levels. The results show that in the detection of outliers in synthesized data, the OCSVM method has the best detection performance, with a precision rate of 88.89%, a recall rate of 91.43%, an F1 score of 90.14%, and an AUC value of 95.66%. In the detection of outliers in simplified groundwater levels, a qualitative analysis of the displacement data within the field of view indicates that the outlier detection performance of iForest and OCSVM is better than that of KNN. The proposed method for considering the factors affecting groundwater levels can improve the efficiency and accuracy of detecting outliers in groundwater level data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many researches have shown that nanotwinned structure and graphene reinforcing phase can improve the mechanical properties of aluminum (Al) metal, but the synergistic effect of the two on nanoindentation mechanical response of Al matrix composites is rarely reported. In this research, based on molecular dynamics simulations, the nanoindentation mechanical properties and microscopic deformation mechanisms of graphene/nanotwinned Al matrix composites are studied. The effect of the inclination angle and spacing of the twin boundaries (TBs), the insertion position of the graphene sheet, the graphene coating and the layer number of the graphene sheet on the nanoindentation mechanical properties of the Al matrix composites is analyzed. The nanoindentation mechanical properties of nanotwinned Al strongly depend on the inclination angle of TBs, and the dislocation slip modes mainly includes three types: hard mode I (dislocation pile-up penetration mode), soft mode I (partial dislocation parallel twin boundary slip mode) and hard mode II (dislocation limited slip mode). Moreover, as the twin boundary spacing increases, the dislocation slip mode starts to weaken until the nanoindentation mechanical properties are insensitive to the twin inclination orientation. The insertion of the graphene sheet weakens the indentation mechanical properties of the nanotwinned Al matrix composite, which is attributed to the interaction of the graphene with the dislocations and the subsequent absorption of part of them. The weakening effect depends on the distance between the graphene/Al interface and the plastic zone. What's more, graphene coating can improve the indentation mechanical properties of composites. In addition to the load bearing effect of graphene in the elastic stage, this strengthening effect is also attributed to the combined action of graphene and TBs in the plastic stage, which makes the dense dislocation network widely distributed around the indentation of graphene coating and induces the interfacial strain hardening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The instability of rock slope is still a very frequent geological disaster, which seriously affects people's life and production activities. Previous studies have mainly focused on deformation mechanism, prediction, and control of hard rock with single lithology, while there are limited studies on the theoretic computational method of the stability for soft–hard interbedded anti-inclined rock strata. In this study, a geomechanical model for the toppling failure of soft–hard-interbedded anti-inclined rock slope is established. The modes of failure for soft and hard rock strata are analyzed, the computational formula of the downward thrust for each anti-inclined rock stratum is derived, and the stability safety factor of each rock stratum is defined. A theoretical computational method for determining the potentially most dangerous failure surface of soft–hard-interbedded anti-inclined rock slope is proposed. By comparing with the existing research results, the theoretical solving method proposed in this study can well solve the location of the potentially most dangerous failure surface of soft–hard-interbedded anti-inclined rock slope. The potentially most dangerous failure surface of this kind of slope is approximately planar, and the angle between it and the normal plane of the rock strata is an acute angle within 30°. It provides theoretical support for the stability analysis of this kind of slope. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the Lennard-Jones potential function, a theoretical model of atoms/ions interaction with finite-size (doped) graphene is presented to investigate the mechanical behaviors of atoms/ions adsorption and migration on the surface of finite-size boron, nitrogen and boron nitride doped graphene. The results show that boron, nitrogen and boron nitride doping can change the interaction between atoms/ions and graphene, and the type, position and domain size of doping elements have significant effects on the adsorption sites and adsorption energy of atoms/ions. The stable adsorption sites, adsorption heights and adsorption energy of atoms/ions on the surface of doped graphene can be controlled by regulating the doping elements. Meanwhile, boron, nitrogen and boron nitride doping can affect the energy period and energy barrier of atoms/ions migration on graphene surface. The proper design of boron, nitrogen and boron nitride doping position, size and distribution can effectively control the atom/ion migration behavior on graphene surface. This research work can provide a theoretical reference for atoms/ions carriers, molecular sieves and ion battery electrodes based on doped graphene and graphene heterostructures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On June 17, 2020, a debris flow dammed lake was formed in Meilong gully, Danba County, China, and a subsequent outburst flood led to the reactivation of the Aniangzhai ancient landslide. This new type of multi-hazard chain (MHC) has attracted widespread attention. This study aims to introduce the formation and evolution processes associated with this novel MHC and develop proposed countermeasures based on field investigations and numerical simulations. We show that this type of MHC comprises five stages: (1) debris flow blocking a river; (2) formation of a barrier dam and lake; (3) lake outburst; (4) revival of an ancient landslide; and (5) flood-induced debris flow. Among these, stage (4) brings particular uncertainty to the risk assessment of the MHC. For translational landslides, the erosion associated with an outburst flood may continuously reduce their stability, while for rotational landslides, their stability may instead increase. By analyzing the formation conditions of the debris flow, criteria required for river blockage, deformation history of the Aniangzhai landslide, and changes in geomorphology, we conclude that the risk of an MHC at this locality may increase in the future. Both rigid dams and flexible barriers could be effective measures to address these risks. Our field investigations and remote sensing analyses indicate that other watersheds in the study area are also exposed to the risk of a similar MHC; this requires detailed future analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To distinguish the subtle differences among fine-grained categories, a large amount of well-labeled images are typically required. However, manual annotations for fine-grained categories is an extremely difficult task as it usually has a high demand for professional knowledge. To this end, we propose to directly leverage web images for fine-grained visual recognition. Nevertheless, directly utilizing web images for training fine-grained classification models tends to have poor performance due to the existence of label noise. In this work, we propose an end-to-end method by combining uncertainly dynamic loss correction and global sample selection to solve the problem of label noise. Specifically, we leverage a deep neural network to predict all samples, record the predictions of several recent epochs and calculate the uncertainly dynamic loss for global sample selection in the whole epoch. We conduct experiments on three commonly used noisy fine-grained datasets Web-Aircraft, Web-Bird and Web-Cars. The average classification accuracy is 75.40%, 78.53% and 82.19%, which has 1.20%, 2.16% and 3.43% improvements, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two studies were conducted to examine the relationships among university students' academic self-concept, perceptions of the learning environment, engagement, and learning outcomes (academic achievement, generic skills development, and learning satisfaction). Study 1 (N = 1,502) adopted a cross-sectional design and supported a model showing that engagement mediated the effects of academic self-concept and perceptions of the learning environment on generic skills development and learning satisfaction. It was also found that academic self-concept directly predicted academic achievement and generic skills and that perceptions of the learning environment directly predicted learning satisfaction. Study 2 (N = 2,069) adopted a longitudinal design involving three waves of data collection with a 1-year interval (freshman, sophomore, junior). The results of study 2 replicated the findings of study 1 and supported a reciprocal effects model showing that prior academic achievement predicted subsequent self-concept which in turn determined future achievement even with prior achievement partialed out. These findings contribute to developing a finer-grained model of higher education student learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On July 20, 2013, a landslide-induced debris flow occurred in Dujiangyan city, China. Eleven houses were destroyed with more than 166 fatalities. Previous literature indicated that the 2008 Ms 8.0 earthquake and a long period of heavy rain contributed to this landslide. The rock slide was initiated and 21% of the rupture mass fell from the cliff. These rocks fragmented when impacting the ground and then entrained the base soil. Subsequently, the volume of rockfall increased by 28%. In an area of flow convergence, a short-lived blockage occurred, and the following outburst triggered a debris flow. Previous field investigations have shown that both topography and bed entrainment affect the landslide-debris flow transformation. However, the dynamic process has not been quantified. In this study, the discrete element method (DEM) considering the dragging and rolling effects was used to perform a back numerical analysis to capture the dynamic processes. The computational results indicate two different entrainment scenarios, plowing and shearing. The former occurred when the rock slide detached from the cliff, and the latter occurred when debris material moved above the colluvium. The landslide transformed into a debris flow during a short-term blockage that occurred in the gradually narrowing channel. During flow convergence, the inertial shearing stress developed due to the inter-particle collision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aims to compare the safety and effectiveness between transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) with drug-eluting beads (DEB-TACE) and conventional TACE (cTACE) using lipiodol-based regimens in HCC patients with a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS). Methods: This retrospective study included patients with patent TIPS who underwent TACE from January 2013 to January 2019 that received either DEB-TACE (DEB-TACE group, n = 57) or cTACE (cTACE group, n = 62). The complications, liver toxicity, overall survival (OS), time to progression (TTP), and objective response rate (ORR) were compared between the groups. Results: Altogether, 119 patients (50 ± 11 years, 107 men) were evaluated. The incidence of adverse events, including abdominal pain within 7 days (45.6% vs 79.0%, p < 0.001) and hepatic failure within 30 days (5.3% vs 19.4%, p = 0.027), were significantly lower in the DEB-TACE group than in the cTACE group. Compared to the cTACE group, the DEB-TACE group also showed mild liver toxicities in terms of increased total bilirubin (8.8% vs 22.6%), alanine aminotransferase (5.3% vs 21.0%), and aspartate aminotransferase (10.5% vs 29.0%) levels. The DEB-TACE group had better ORR than the cTACE group (70.2% vs 50.0%). The median OS and TTP were longer in the DEB-TACE group (11.4 vs 9.1 months, hazard ratio [HR] = 2.46, p < 0.001; 6.9 vs 5.2 months, HR = 1.47, p = 0.045). Multivariable analysis showed that α-fetoprotein levels, Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage, and treatment allocation were independent predictors of OS. Conclusion: DEB-TACE is safe and effective in HCC patients with a TIPS and is potentially superior to cTACE in terms of complications, liver toxicities, OS, TTP, and ORR. Key Points: • DEB-TACE is safe and effective in HCC patients after a TIPS procedure. • DEB-TACE improves overall survival, objective response rate, and liver toxicities and is non-inferior to cTACE in terms of time to progression. • DEB-TACE might be a potential new therapeutic option for HCC patients with TIPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During sintering of the silica-based ceramic core of turbine blades, a phenomenon called "nonuniform sintering" occurs that negatively affects the thermal and mechanical properties of the core. Standard samples of silica-based core were prepared by an injection molding method and sintered with alumina backfilling powder with different sodium contents. The effect of sodium content on the nonuniform sintering of silica-based cores and the thermal and mechanical properties was evaluated. Results show that the sintering level and the content of α-cristobalite in the surface layer are significantly higher than that of the sample interior. A considerable number of microcracks are found in the surface layer due to the β to α-phase transition of cristobalite. As the sodium content in the alumina powder decreases, the level of the nonuniform sintering and the amount of crystallized cristobalite in the surface layer decrease, which is beneficial to the thermal expansion and flexural strength at ambient temperature. The flexural strength and thermal deformation at high temperature are improved by reducing the surface cracks, but deteriorated with the decrease of the cristobalite crystallization when the surface cracks are macroscopically invisible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical devices-related infections pose a great threat to patients and cause an increased morbidity and mortality. Herein, we prepare an antibacterial composite (TPU-x) through blending medical grade thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and the complex (PL-DOSS) of ε-polylysine (ε-PL) and docusate sodium (DOSS). >99% reduction of colony forming unit (CFU) can be obtained in TPU-x composite films even at relatively low content of PL-DOSS, e.g. 0.13% for Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and 0.5% for E. coli. The excellent antibacterial activity is mainly attributed to the formation of PL-DOSS nanoparticles that are uniformly dispersed in the TPU matrix with a size of ∼100 nm. TPU-x composite films exhibit long-term stability in saline and good biocompatibility, and retain mechanical properties of TPU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anoikis is a unique form of apoptosis associated with vascularization and distant metastasis in cancer. Eliminating anoikis resistance in tumor cells could be a promising target for improving the prognosis of terminal cancer patients. However, current studies have not elaborated on the prognosis effect of anoikis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cutaneous melanoma. Pre-processed data, including RNA sequences and clinical information, were retrieved from TCGA and GTEx databases. After a series of statistical analyses, anoikis-related lncRNAs with prognostic significance were identified, and a unique risk signature was constructed. Risk scores were further analyzed in relation to the tumor microenvironment, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion, immune checkpoint genes, and RNA methylation genes. The indicators were also used to predict the potentially sensitive anti-cancer drugs. An anoikis-related lncRNAs risk signature consisting of LINC01711, POLH-AS1, MIR205HG, and LINC02416 was successfully established in cutaneous melanoma. Overall survival and progression-free survival of patients were strongly linked with the risk score, independently of other clinical factors. The low-risk group exhibited a more beneficial immunological profile, was less affected by RNA methylation, and was more sensitive to the majority of anti-cancer drugs, all of which indicated a better prognostic outcome. The 4 hub lncRNAs may be fundamental to studying the mechanism of anoikis in cutaneous melanoma and provide personalized therapy for salvaging drug resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, to achieve ultra-wideband radar cross section (RCS) reduction, a coding phase gradient metasurface (CPGM) is proposed by using Pancharatnam-Berry (P-B) phase. The CPGM is composed of eight types of CPGM elements, and a series of phase gradients with different directions or starting-values will be introduced in these types of CPGM elements under the same EM-wave incidence, so it can not only achieve anomalous reflection to reduce its specular RCS but also reduce the maximum bi-static RCS due to phase cancelation. The simulation results demonstrate that the CPGM has an excellent performance in RCS reduction, compared with a pure metallic plate with the same size, its specular RCS under normal incidence with arbitrary polarization can be reduced more than 10 dB in the ultra-wide frequency band of 8.8–34.8 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 119.3%, and its maximum bi-static RCS can also be reduced effectively in the ultra-wide frequency band; moreover, when the incident angle is increased to 45°, the RCS reduction can still be achieved in an ultra-wide frequency band. Finally, an effective experimental verification is carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wirries et al. [[1]] have written an interesting paper on the relationship between lateral joint space width (JSW) and later total hip arthroplasty (THA) after arthroscopically arthrotomy for treatment of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Therefore, the success of a joint-preserving mini-open arthrotomy seems to be dependent on the status of the radiological JSW and the intra-operative cartilage status of the lateral edge. Technique". [Extracted from the article]

In this work, an anisotropic metasurface is proposed for linear-to-circular (LTC) and circular-to-linear (CTL) polarization conversions, which is composed of a square array of two-corner-cut square patches printed on a grounded dielectric substrate and covered by a dielectric layer. Numerical simulation results show that the anisotropic metasurface can act as a high-efficiency ultra-wideband reflective polarization converter to achieve both LTC and CTL polarization conversions. Under x- and y-polarized incidences, its reflected wave will be converted to left-handed and right-handed circular-polarized (CP) waves, respectively, in the ultra-wide frequency band between 7.14 and 25.66 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 113%, and the polarization conversion ratio (PCR) can be kept larger than 99.73% in the frequency range of 7.72–25.08 GHz; in addition, the reflected wave under CP incidence will be converted to an x- or y-polarized wave, and the bandwidth and PCR of the CTL polarization conversion are almost the same as those of the LTC polarization conversion. Finally, the working principle of the polarization converter is illustrated, moreover, an effective experimental verification is carried out, and a reasonable agreement is observed between the simulation and experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Alteplase is the current standard of care for acute ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase is a newer fibrinolytic agent with preferable administration and lower costs; however, its comparative effectiveness to alteplase remains uncertain. We set out to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to establish the benefits and harms of tenecteplase versus alteplase for acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov from inception to April 2023 for randomized and non-randomized studies that compared tenecteplase versus alteplase for acute ischemic stroke. Paired reviewers independently assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We performed both conventional meta-analyses and Bayesian network meta-analyses (NMA) with random-effects models and used the GRADE approach to evaluate the certainty of evidence. Our primary efficacy outcome was excellent functional outcome at 3 months, defined as a score of 0–1 on the modified Rankin Scale. Our primary safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and all-cause mortality. Results: Thirty-six studies were eligible for review, including 12 randomized (n = 5533) and 24 non-randomized studies (n = 44,956). Moderate certainty evidence showed that there was no difference between tenecteplase and alteplase in increasing the proportion of patients achieving excellent functional outcome at 3 months (odds ratio [OR], 1.10; 95% CI 0.98–1.23; risk difference [RD] 2.4%, 95% CI − 0.5 to 5.2), while moderate certainty evidence from NMA suggested that 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase significantly improved excellent functional outcome at 3 months (OR, 1.16; 95% credible interval 1.02–1.32). Moderate certainty evidence showed that, compared to alteplase, tenecteplase may make little to no difference in the prevalence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 1.12; 95% CI 0.79–1.59; RD 0.3%, 95% CI − 0.5 to 1.4), and probably reduces all-cause mortality (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.44; 95% CI 0.30–0.64; RD − 4.6%; 95% CI − 5.8 to − 2.9). Conclusions: Moderate certainty evidence suggested that there was little to no difference between tenecteplase and alteplase in increasing the proportion of patients achieving excellent functional outcome at 3 months and the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, while compared to alteplase, tenecteplase probably reduce all-cause mortality. Administration of 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase after acute ischemic stroke is suggestive of increasing the proportion of patients that achieve excellent functional outcome at 3 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No shale-rock physical model has been established in the observation coordinate system. To this end, this paper carried out anisotropic wave velocity tests on shale rock and compared the Thomsen, Daley, and Berryman solutions to characterize anisotropic acoustic wave velocity. Finally, the Daley solution was selected. Based on basic rock physical models, such as SCA and DEM methods, and combined with the Daley solution, an anisotropic shalerock physical model was established in the observation coordinate system and applied in Well B1 in the Luzhou area, Sichuan Basin. Our research conclusions were as follows: 1. for the samples from the same core, the P-wave velocities in three directions were in the order VP11 >VP45 >VP33, shear-wave velocity VS11 was the largest, but VS33 and VS45 did not follow the law of Vs33 >Vs45 for some samples; 2. the Daley solution, which not only considers the accuracy requirements but also has a complete expression of P-, SV-, and SH-waves, is most suitable for characterization of anisotropic wave velocity in this study area; 3. the rock physical model constructed in the observation coordinate system has high accuracy, in which the absolute value of the relative error of the P-wave slowness was between 0% and 5.05% (0.55% on average), and that of shear-wave slowness was between 0% and 6.05% (0.59% on average); 4. the acoustic waves recorded in Well B1 in the observation coordinate system were very different from those in the constitutive coordinate system. The relative difference of the P-wave was between 6.76% and 30.84% (14.68% on average), and that of the S-wave was between 7.00% and 23.44% (13.99% on average). The acoustic slowness measured in the observation coordinate system, such as in a deviated well or a horizontal well section, must be converted to the constitutive coordinate system before it can be used in subsequent engineering applications; 5. the anisotropic shale-rock physical model built in the observation coordinate system proposed in this paper can provide basic data and guidance for subsequent pore pressure prediction, geomechanical modeling, and fracturing stimulation design for deviated and horizontal wells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is an important hallmark of sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE). Selegiline, a selective and irreversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase type B, has been applied for the treatment of nervous disorders. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether selegiline has a protective capacity in the impairment of the BBB in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In a sepsis mouse model, administration of selegiline ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced impairment of BBB integrity. Additionally, treatment with selegiline increased the expression of the tight junction protein junctional adhesion molecule A (JAM-A) against LPS. Also, we found that selegiline inhibited the production of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β. In an in vitro experimental model, bEnd.3 brain endothelial cells were exposed to LPS. Results indicate that stimulation with LPS significantly increased the permeability of bEnd.3 cells and reduced the expression of JAM-A, both of which were rescued by treatment with selegiline. Additionally, selegiline prevented the activation of the NF-κB/MLCK/p-MLC signaling pathway in LPS-challenged bEnd.3 cells. These results indicate that selegiline exerted a protective effect on BBB dysfunction, which might be attributed to the inhibition of the NF-κB/MLCK/p-MLC signaling pathway. These findings provide a basis for further research into the neuroprotective mechanism of selegiline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The health effects of urbanization are controversial. The association between urbanization and reversible subclinical risks of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities) has rarely been studied. This study aimed to assess the association between urbanization and ECG abnormalities in China based on the China National Stroke Screening Survey (CNSSS). We used changes in the satellite-measured impervious surfaces rate and nighttime light data to assess the level of urbanization. Every interquartile increment in the impervious surfaces rate or nighttime light was related to a decreased risk of ECG abnormalities, with odds ratios of 0.894 (95% CI, 0.869–0.920) or 0.809 (95% CI, 0.772–0.847), respectively. And we observed a U-shaped nonlinear exposure–response relationship curve between the impervious surfaces rate and ECG abnormalities. In conclusion, the current average level of urbanization among the studied Chinese adults remains a beneficial factor for reducing cardiovascular risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Microwave ablation (MWA) has been widely used for unifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (U-PTC) and has recently been preliminarily used in multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (M-PTC). However, the efficacy and safety of MWA for M-PTC have not been investigated in large samples. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of MWA for M-PTC and compare them with MWA for U-PTC. Materials and methods: This retrospective multicentre study enrolled 504 patients (376 females) who underwent MWA for U-PTC (340 cases) or M-PTC (164 cases) from Jan 2015 to Dec 2020. The median age of the patients was 43 years (age range, 20–80 years). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance the baseline characteristics between M-PTC group and U-PTC group. The tumour progression, tumour disappearance, and complication rates were compared between the two groups. Results: The complete ablation was achieved in all enrolled cases in one session. According to the statistical results, no significant differences were shown in tumour progression-free survival (p = 0.29) or cumulative tumour progression rate (6.7% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.33) between the M-PTC and U-PTC groups during the follow-up time. However, the tumour disappearance rate in the M-PTC group was lower in the U-PTC group (40.9% vs. 62.8%, p < 0.001), and tumour disappearance was slower in the M-PTC group (p < 0.001). The complication rate showed no significant difference (3.0% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.571). Conclusions: MWA is an effective and safe treatment for selected patients with M-PTC, and the prognosis is similar to that of U-PTC. Clinical relevance statement: The present study provided evidence that compared with unifocal papillary thyroid cancer, microwave ablation could also treat multifocal T1N0M0 papillary thyroid cancer safely with similar clinical outcome, which could promote the application of minimally invasive treatment for papillary thyroid cancer. Key Results: • Microwave ablation for multifocal and unifocal T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma had similar tumour progression rates after propensity score matching (6.7% vs. 4.3%, p = 0.33). • The tumour disappearance rate in the multifocal group was lower than that in the unifocal group (40.9% vs. 62.8%, p < 0.001), and tumour disappearance was slower in the multifocal group (p < 0.001). • Tumour size, number, and location were not risk factors for tumour progression in the multifocal papillary thyroid cancer group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) via a prospective multicenter study. Methods: From January 2017 through June 2021, low-risk PTMC patients were screened. The management details of active surveillance (AS), surgery, and thermal ablation were discussed. Among patients who accepted thermal ablation, microwave ablation (MWA) was performed. The main outcome was disease-free survival (DFS). The secondary outcomes were tumor size and volume changes, local tumor progression (LTP), lymph node metastasis (LNM), and complication rate. Results: A total of 1278 patients were included in the study. The operation time of ablation was 30.21 ± 5.14 min with local anesthesia. The mean follow-up time was 34.57 ± 28.98 months. Six patients exhibited LTP at 36 months, of whom 5 patients underwent a second ablation, and 1 patient received surgery. The central LNM rate was 0.39% at 6 months, 0.63% at 12 months, and 0.78% at 36 months. Of the 10 patients with central LNM at 36 months, 5 patients chose ablation, 3 patients chose surgery and the other 2 patients chose AS. The overall complication rate was 1.41%, and 1.10% of patients developed hoarseness of the voice. All of the patients recovered within 6 months. Conclusions: Thermal ablation of low-risk PTMC was observed to be safe and efficacious with few minor complications. This technique may help to bridge the gap between surgery and AS as treatment options for patients wishing to have their PTMC managed in a minimally invasive manner. Clinical relevance statement: This study proved that microwave ablation is a safe and effective treatment method for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Key Points: Percutaneous US-guided microwave ablation of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is a very minimally invasive treatment under local anesthesia during a short time period. The local tumor progression and complication rate of microwave ablation in the treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma are very low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The annexin superfamily (ANXA) is made up of 12 calcium (Ca2+) and phospholipid binding protein members that have a high structural homology and play a key function in cancer cells. However, little research has been done on the annexin family’s function in pan-cancer. We examined the ANXA family’s expression in various tumors through public databases using bioinformatics analysis, assessed the differences in ANXA expression between tumor and normal tissues in pan-cancer, and then investigated the relationship between ANXA expression and patient survival, prognosis, and clinicopathologic traits. Additionally, we investigated the relationships among TCGA cancers’ mutations, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), immunological subtypes, immune infiltration, tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoint genes, chemotherapeutics sensitivity, and ANXAs expression. cBioPortal was also used to uncover pan-cancer genomic anomalies in the ANXA family, study relationships between pan-cancer ANXA mRNA expression and copy number or somatic mutations, and assess the prognostic values of these variations. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between ANXAs expression and effectiveness of immunotherapy in multiple cohorts, including one melanoma (GSE78220), one renal cell carcinoma (GSE67501), and three bladder cancer cohorts (GSE111636, IMvigor210 and our own sequencing dataset (TRUCE-01)), and further analyzed the changes of ANXAs expression before and after treatment (tislelizumab combined with nab-paclitaxel) of bladder cancer. Then, we explored the biological function and potential signaling pathway of ANXAs using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and first conducted immune infiltration analysis with ANXAs family genes expression, copy number, or somatic mutations of bladder cancer by TIMER 2.0. Most cancer types and surrounding normal tissues expressed ANXA differently. ANXA expression was linked to patient survival, prognosis, clinicopathologic features, mutations, TMB, MSI, immunological subtypes, tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint gene expression in 33 TCGA cancers, with ANXA family members varied. The anticancer drug sensitivity analysis showed that ANXAs family members were significantly related to a variety of drug sensitivities. In addition, we also discovered that the expression level of ANXA1/2/3/4/5/7/9/10 was positively or negatively correlated with objective responses to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 across multiple immunotherapy cohorts. The immune infiltration analysis of bladder cancer further showed the significant relationships between ANXAs copy number variations or mutation status, and infiltration level of different immune cells. Overall, our analyses confirm the importance of ANXAs expression or genomic alterations in prognosis and immunological features of various cancer and identified ANXA-associated genes that may serve as potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was attempted to investigate the effect on and mechanisms of action of dexmedetomidine with regard to learning and memory impairment in rats with chronic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation. A total of 50 male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups. Modified multiple platform method was conducted to cause the sleep deprivation of rats. Dexmedetomidine and midazolam were administered by intraperitoneal injection. Learning and memory ability was assessed through Morris water maze. Morphological changes of rat hippocampal neurons and synaptic were detected by transmission electron microscope and Golgi staining. The gene expression in hippocampus of each group was detected by RNA-seq and verified by RT-PCR and western blot. REM Sleep-deprived rats exhibited spatial learning and memory deficits. Furthermore, there was decreased density of synaptic spinous in the hippocampal CA1 region of the sleep deprivation group compared with the control. Additionally, transmission electron microscopy showed that the synaptic gaps of hippocampal neurons in REM sleep deprivation group were loose and fuzzy. Interestingly, dexmedetomidine treatment normalized these events to control levels following REM sleep deprivation. Molecular biological methods showed that Alox15 expression increased significantly after REM sleep deprivation as compared to control, while dexmedetomidine administration reversed the expression of Alox15. Dexmedetomidine alleviated the spatial learning and memory dysfunction induced with chronic REM sleep deprivation in rats. This protective effect may be related to the down-regulation of Alox15 expression and thereby the enhancement of synaptic structural plasticity in the hippocampal CA1 area of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To examine the association of homocysteine (Hcy) with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a representative United States population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using data from participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006. Metrics including Hcy level, urinary albumin to creatinine ratio, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and retinopathy grading were collected. Multiple logistic regression models were employed to assess the association of Hcy with DN and DR. Results: 630 participants were included in this study. The Hcy level was significantly higher in those with DN and DR than those without DN and DR. Hcy was associated with an increased risk of DN (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.18–1.46; P < 0.001). In the fully adjusted model of DN (model II), compared to participants in quartiles 1 of Hcy, the adjusted ORs for participants in quartiles 2–4 were 1.49 (95% CI 0.52–4.26; P = 0.426), 3.81 (95% CI 1.35–10.73; P = 0.015), and 14.08 (95% CI 3.84–51.66; P = 0.001), respectively. Hcy was also associated with an increased risk of DR (OR = 2.260, 95% CI 1.212–4.216; P = 0.014), but this association was non-significant in the fully adjusted model of DR (model II). Conclusions: In diabetic patients, Hcy was associated with increased risk of DN in a non-linear manner. In addition, Hcy was associated with the risk of DR, but the association was attenuated after adjusting for confounders. In the future, Hcy can potentially be used as an early screening indicator for diabetic microvascular complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To explore the effect and mechanism of autologous blood transfusion impeding glycolysis in macrophages and inhibiting red blood cells (RBCs) injury in type 2 diabetes through PI3K/Akt/PKM2 signaling axis. Methods: Cell transfection were performed and diabetic mice model was constructed. The group were divided into control (NC) and type 2 diabetes model (T2D). T2D model mice were injected with preserved autologous blood, si-PI3K, si-PKM2, si-NC Tran+T2D, (Tran+T2D+si-PI3K, Tran+T2D si-PKM2, Tran+T2D+si-NC) through tail vein. The anti-oxidative effects of transfusion of autologous blood in CD14+ monocytes were detected. The expression of PI3K/Akt/PKM2 protein in CD14+ monocytes were examined by western blot. Effect of autologous blood transfusion ameliorating RBCs injury by regulating PI3K and PKM2 in T2D mice were detected. Results: Effects on oxidative stress in T2D mice were all overturned after autologous blood transfusion in T2D mice. The results manifested that the levels of PI3K, pAkt and PKM2 were downregulated, while the expression of HIF-1α was upregulated in CD14+ monocytes from T2D mice, whereas these influences were all effectively reversed by autologous blood transfusion in T2D mice. The survival rate of RBCs in the serum of T2D mice was declined in the serum of T2D mice, while the effect was reversed by the autologous blood transfusion. Conclusion: Autologous blood transfusion can reduce glycolysis in macrophages and inhibit the release of inflammatory factors through the PI3K/PKM2 signal axis, thereby inhibiting red blood cell damage and improving the oxygen-carrying capacity and survival activity of RBCs in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We monitor the up-converted fluorescence from the pumped distributed-feedback (DFB) fiber laser in Erbium-doped fiber to find the intra-cavity power distribution. The intense spatial hole burning (SHB) effect in uniform DFB fiber laser is investigated theoretically and experimentally. For the laser performance optimization, we employ the phase-shifted grating apodization to suppress the SHB effect. Through the proposed apodization structure, the effective reduction in SHB of the DFB fiber laser is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation is widely recognized as a key factor controlling the occurrence of shallow landslides in vegetation-covered areas. In such areas, the root system plays a critical role both in enhancing root-soil mechanical properties and in changing soil hydrological properties. However, owing to its complexity and nonuniformity, the root system is always neglected or simplified in existing infiltration process models, making it difficult for such models to reflect the influence of root systems on shallow landslides. Considering the shallow landslide cluster that happened in Mengdong (Yunnan Province, Southwest China) in 2018, this study quantitatively investigated the root distribution and obtained the prevailing physical and hydraulic properties through density tests, shear strength tests, and saturated seepage tests. Field investigation indicated that the root system distribution obeys an exponentially decayed polynomial model. In the entire profile, the maximum root area density was 0.145 mm2 cm−2 at depth of 20–40 cm, which comprised 483 roots, and 80% of the roots were distributed above the slip surface. Laboratory test results indicated that root-soil above the slip surface had lower density (minimum density: 1.04 g cm−3) and higher porosity (maximum porosity: 61.23%) than soil below, which induced permeability 10–17 times higher above the slip surface. A potential relationship was found between slip surface location and root system distribution. Differences in root distribution and resultant changes in the hydrological properties of soil might reduce slope stability during extreme rainfall, which could induce shallow landslides. This research could be used as reference for slope stability and hydraulic process analysis in forested areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of batter evaluating ground fissure susceptibility (GFS), this study developed a hybrid model based on factor optimization and support vector machines (SVM). Firstly, an evaluation index system of GFS was established containing 15 influence factors. Then, the data sample was normalized by certainty factors (CF) for the preparation of data analysis and machine learning. In the process of factor optimization, Schmidt orthogonalization (SO) was used to reduce collinearity in the data, and Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) analysis was utilized to estimate its effect. Following, the principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to integrate and reduce the dimension of samples, and 9 component vectors were selected for the construction of SVM eventually. In the procedure of SVM modeling, the modeling data set was composed of 140 land fissure data and 140 non-deformation points. The cross-validation (CV) method was adopted to determine the required parameters, and the performance of the completed model was verified by statistical analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The prediction accuracy of the final model reached a level of 0.852 with selected parameters. Finally, the GFS values of whole data in the study area were calculated by the trained model, and the GFS map was produced with its effect assessed. In conclusion, the model in this research can evaluate the GFS accurately and has a high value in both scientific research and engineering application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the complex task scheduling problem of fog computing processing big data in the industrial Internet of Things, a task scheduling strategy based on ant colony algorithm called TSSAC (task scheduling strategy with ant colony)is proposed. Tasks with dependencies are modeled as a directed acyclic graph. The performance indices including makespan, load balancing and energy consumption of fog server are optimized simultaneously, and the ant colony algorithm is used to solve the multi-objective optimization problem. The pheromone heuristic factor and pheromone evaporation coefficient of the ant colony algorithm are updated in a linear increasing way, so that the ants are less affected by pheromones in the early stage and obtain a larger search range. During the later stage, it is greatly affected by pheromone and quickly converges to the optimal solution. Furthermore, during the task execution container migration mechanism is introduced to solve the overload problem caused by high server utilization and energy loss caused by low server utilization simultaneously. The simulation results show that the proposed task scheduling strategy TSSAC reduces energy consumption by 23.5% compared with the traditional algorithm, meanwhile, achieves a compromise between task makespan and load balancing index compared with the traditional algorithm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious health problem with increasing morbidity and prevalence worldwide. The pathogenesis of UC is complex, currently believed to be influenced by genetic factors, dysregulation of the host immune system, imbalance in the intestinal microbiota, and environmental factors. Currently, UC is typically managed using aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, and biologics as adjunctive therapies, with the risk of relapse and development of drug resistance upon discontinuation. Therefore, further research into the pathogenesis of UC and exploration of potential treatment strategies are necessary to improve the quality of life for affected patients. According to previous studies, Lactobacillus paracasei Jlus66 (Jlus66) reduced inflammation and may help prevent or treat UC.We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce a mouse model of UC to assess the effect of Jlus66 on the progression of colitis. During the experiment, we monitored mouse body weight, food and water consumption, as well as rectal bleeding. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assess intestinal pathological damage. Protein imprinting and immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate the protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and tight junction (TJ) proteins in intestinal tissues. Fecal microbiota was analyzed based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Jlus66 supplementation reduced the degree of colon tissue damage, such as colon shortening, fecal occult blood, colon epithelial damage, and weight loss. Supplementation with Jlus66 reduced DSS-induced upregulation of cytokine levels such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). The NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were inhibited, and the expression of TJ proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-3) was upregulated. 16S rRNA sequencing of mouse cecal contents showed that Jlus66 effectively regulated the structure of the intestinal biota.In conclusion, these data indicate that Jlus66 can alter the intestinal biota and slow the progression of UC, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for UC.Methods: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious health problem with increasing morbidity and prevalence worldwide. The pathogenesis of UC is complex, currently believed to be influenced by genetic factors, dysregulation of the host immune system, imbalance in the intestinal microbiota, and environmental factors. Currently, UC is typically managed using aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, and biologics as adjunctive therapies, with the risk of relapse and development of drug resistance upon discontinuation. Therefore, further research into the pathogenesis of UC and exploration of potential treatment strategies are necessary to improve the quality of life for affected patients. According to previous studies, Lactobacillus paracasei Jlus66 (Jlus66) reduced inflammation and may help prevent or treat UC.We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce a mouse model of UC to assess the effect of Jlus66 on the progression of colitis. During the experiment, we monitored mouse body weight, food and water consumption, as well as rectal bleeding. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assess intestinal pathological damage. Protein imprinting and immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate the protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and tight junction (TJ) proteins in intestinal tissues. Fecal microbiota was analyzed based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Jlus66 supplementation reduced the degree of colon tissue damage, such as colon shortening, fecal occult blood, colon epithelial damage, and weight loss. Supplementation with Jlus66 reduced DSS-induced upregulation of cytokine levels such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). The NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were inhibited, and the expression of TJ proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-3) was upregulated. 16S rRNA sequencing of mouse cecal contents showed that Jlus66 effectively regulated the structure of the intestinal biota.In conclusion, these data indicate that Jlus66 can alter the intestinal biota and slow the progression of UC, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for UC.Results: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious health problem with increasing morbidity and prevalence worldwide. The pathogenesis of UC is complex, currently believed to be influenced by genetic factors, dysregulation of the host immune system, imbalance in the intestinal microbiota, and environmental factors. Currently, UC is typically managed using aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, and biologics as adjunctive therapies, with the risk of relapse and development of drug resistance upon discontinuation. Therefore, further research into the pathogenesis of UC and exploration of potential treatment strategies are necessary to improve the quality of life for affected patients. According to previous studies, Lactobacillus paracasei Jlus66 (Jlus66) reduced inflammation and may help prevent or treat UC.We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce a mouse model of UC to assess the effect of Jlus66 on the progression of colitis. During the experiment, we monitored mouse body weight, food and water consumption, as well as rectal bleeding. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assess intestinal pathological damage. Protein imprinting and immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate the protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and tight junction (TJ) proteins in intestinal tissues. Fecal microbiota was analyzed based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Jlus66 supplementation reduced the degree of colon tissue damage, such as colon shortening, fecal occult blood, colon epithelial damage, and weight loss. Supplementation with Jlus66 reduced DSS-induced upregulation of cytokine levels such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). The NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were inhibited, and the expression of TJ proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-3) was upregulated. 16S rRNA sequencing of mouse cecal contents showed that Jlus66 effectively regulated the structure of the intestinal biota.In conclusion, these data indicate that Jlus66 can alter the intestinal biota and slow the progression of UC, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for UC.Conclusion: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a serious health problem with increasing morbidity and prevalence worldwide. The pathogenesis of UC is complex, currently believed to be influenced by genetic factors, dysregulation of the host immune system, imbalance in the intestinal microbiota, and environmental factors. Currently, UC is typically managed using aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, and biologics as adjunctive therapies, with the risk of relapse and development of drug resistance upon discontinuation. Therefore, further research into the pathogenesis of UC and exploration of potential treatment strategies are necessary to improve the quality of life for affected patients. According to previous studies, Lactobacillus paracasei Jlus66 (Jlus66) reduced inflammation and may help prevent or treat UC.We used dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce a mouse model of UC to assess the effect of Jlus66 on the progression of colitis. During the experiment, we monitored mouse body weight, food and water consumption, as well as rectal bleeding. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to assess intestinal pathological damage. Protein imprinting and immunohistochemical methods were used to evaluate the protein levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and tight junction (TJ) proteins in intestinal tissues. Fecal microbiota was analyzed based on partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing.Jlus66 supplementation reduced the degree of colon tissue damage, such as colon shortening, fecal occult blood, colon epithelial damage, and weight loss. Supplementation with Jlus66 reduced DSS-induced upregulation of cytokine levels such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 (p < 0.05). The NF-κB pathway and MAPK pathway were inhibited, and the expression of TJ proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-3) was upregulated. 16S rRNA sequencing of mouse cecal contents showed that Jlus66 effectively regulated the structure of the intestinal biota.In conclusion, these data indicate that Jlus66 can alter the intestinal biota and slow the progression of UC, providing new insights into potential therapeutic strategies for UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because Pancharatnam-Berry (PB) geometrical phase can only be generated in the co-polarized reflection coefficient under circular polarized (CP) incidence for a reflective metasurface, the design of a reflective PB coding metasurface must be based on an appropriate polarization conversion metasurface (PCM) which can achieve CP-maintaining reflection. In this work, to design a reflective 2-dit PB coding metasurface for radar cross section (RCS) reduction, an ultra-wideband PCM is proposed at first, numerical simulation shows that the PCM can realize ultra-wideband CP-maintaining reflection from 8.6 to 35.9 GHz; moreover, PB phase will be generated in its co-polarized reflection coefficient under CP incidence by rotating its unit structure. Thus, an ultra-wideband reflective 2-dit PB coding metasurface is constructed successfully based on the PCM. The simulation and experiment results show that the coding metasurface has excellent performance in RCS reduction under arbitrary polarized incidences, compared with a pure metallic plate with the same size, its RCS can be reduced more than 10 dB in the frequency band 8.2–35.2 GHz with a relative bandwidth of 124.4%, in addition, the RCS reduction performance is kept well when the incident angle is increased to 45°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver (Ag) alloys have been widely used as the sheath material of Bi2212 superconductors; however, the irradiation resistance of Ag sheath is still not well understood. In this work, the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicate that the stepped twins could be generated in the Ag sheath after high-energy He+ ion irradiation, in marked contrast to flat twins formed before irradiation. The average width of the twin boundaries, as well as the angle between two adjacent grains, was greatly increased after irradiation. This is probably attributed to the frequent interactions between the irradiation-induced defect clusters and twin boundaries. Two possible formation mechanisms of the stepped twins, including migration and detwinning of flat twins, are discussed accordingly. In addition, nanoindentation test results reveal an obvious hardening phenomenon of the irradiated Ag sheath, which was mainly associated with the formation of the stepped twins. This work provides a solid basis for further understanding on the interactions of twin boundary and irradiation defect in Ag sheath, which will be helpful for designing the twinned sheath materials with improved radiation tolerance and excellent mechanical properties through engineering formation of the twins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of aspirin on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of repaglinide in rats. Repaglinide and aspirin interact with cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A isoforms. Clinically, repaglinide and aspirin can be prescribed for the prevention or treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease as complications of diabetes. The effect of aspirin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A4 activity was evaluated. The pharmacokinetic parameters of repaglinide and blood glucose concentrations were also determined in rats after oral (0.5 mg/kg) and intravenous (0.2 mg/kg) administration of repaglinide in the presence and absence of aspirin (5 and 20 mg/kg). Aspirin could inhibit CYP3A4 activity with an IC50 value of 15.0 μM, but aspirin did not inhibit P-gp activity by comparing with the relative cellular uptake of rhodamine-123. Compared to the oral control group, aspirin significantly increased the AUC0–∞ and the Cmax of repaglinide by 36.6% and 18.8%, respectively, while the CL/F ratio was significantly decreased by aspirin. Aspirin also increased the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) of repaglinide by 36.9% compared to the oral control group. Moreover, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of repaglinide was 1.13 to 1.37 times greater than that in the control group. Oral aspirin (20 mg/kg) could significantly decrease the blood glucose concentrations after oral (0.5 mg/kg) administration of repaglinide compared to the oral control groups. Aspirin enhanced the oral bioavailability of repaglinide, which may be attributed to the inhibition of CYP3A isoform mediated metabolism in the small intestine and/or in the liver rather than to the inhibition of P-gp in the small intestine and/or the reduction of renal elimination of repaglinide by aspirin. The increase in the oral bioavailability of repaglinide should be taken into consideration as potential drug interaction when coadministering repaglinide and aspirin. Furthermore, the blood glucose concentration should be carefully monitored during their coadministration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Begomoviruses (family Geminiviridae) cause serious diseases in many crops. In this study, we characterized a begomovirus isolated from a tobacco plant with leaf curl in Puer, Yunnan Province, China. Analysis of the viral genome obtained from a symptomatic Nicotiana tabacum plant showed that it belonged to a novel monopartite begomovirus. The genome (2741 nt) shared the highest nucleotide sequence identity (83.43%) with that of tomato yellow leaf curl Vietnam virus (TYLCVV). Based on the current taxonomic criteria of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses, this virus, for which the name "tobacco leaf curl Puer virus" is proposed, represents a new species of begomovirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akt and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways are involved in germ cell apoptosis and inflammation after testicular heat stress (THS). We observed that after THS induced by the exposure of rat testes to 43 °C for 20 min, their weight decreased, the fraction of apoptotic testicular germ cells significantly increased, and the proliferation of germ cells was inhibited. In addition, THS lowered serum testosterone (T) level, whereas the levels of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were not significantly changed. The ultrastructure of the seminiferous tubules became abnormal after THS, the structure of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) became loose, and the Sertoli cells showed a trend of differentiation. The level of phosphorylated Akt was reduced, whereas the amount of phosphorylated NF-κB p65 was augmented by THS. Wuzi-Yanzong (WZYZ), a classic Chinese medicine prescription for the treatment of male reproductive dysfunctions, alleviated the changes induced by THS. In order to determine the mechanism of action of WZYZ, we investigated how this preparation modulated the levels of T, androgen receptor (AR), erythropoietin (EPO), EPO receptor, and Tyro-3, Axl, and Mer (TAM) family of tyrosine kinase receptors. We found that WZYZ activated the Akt pathway, inhibited the Toll-like receptor/MyD88/NF-κB pathway, and repaired the structure of BTB by regulating the levels of T, AR, TAM receptors, and EPO. In conclusion, these results suggest that WZYZ activates the Akt pathway and inhibits the NF-κB pathway by acting on the upstream regulators, thereby improving spermatogenesis deficit induced by THS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stable Co(II)-based metal–organic framework (MOF) was constructed by applying a dual ligand strategy. The ultra-stable Co(II) MOF, [Co(H3tpb)(Hbtc)]n (1), was obtained by hydrothermal reaction of a novel trimer pyrazole ligand H3tpb and a classic carboxylic ligand H3btc (H3tpb = 1,3,5-tris (pyrazolyl) benzene, H3btc = 1,3,5-benzoic acid). In addition, complex 1 shows photocatalytic activity for the degradation of the dyes methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under UV light. About 83.8% MB and 75.3% MO could be removed within 150 min. Serial experiments were performed to evaluate the biological activity of this compound in neonatal sepsis and explore its related mechanism. The results of the ELISA showed that the compound could reduce the releasing of the inflammatory cytokines in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, the compound could also reduce the relative expression levels of the gram-positive bacterial virulence. Simulations based on the molecular docking found that the complex could form multiple hydrogen bonds with several residues in the domain pocket. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]