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This paper was to develop a prediction framework for obtaining the rheological properties of extracted and recovered asphalt binders utilizing mixture performance and other factors such as in-place air voids, pavement structure, traffic level, and aging duration. A total of 21 field projects consisting of 66 pavement sections were included in the analysis, which were located in different climatic zones with various RAP contents, traffic levels, pavement structures, pavement age, and material properties. Results indicate that the neural network can be successfully adopted to predict cracking-related binder properties consisting of effective asphalt binder, G*sin(δ) and binder fracture energy, and rutting-related binder properties including high temperature performance grade (PG), MSCR Jnr3.2, and R3.2. Both prediction and validation models worked well for pavement sections with varied contents of RAP when new data was introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To develop diagnostic recommendations for diffuse large B-cell vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) in Chinese patients. Methods: Retrospective observational case series. Seventy-three eyes of 40 VRL patients and 8 control patients were analyzed. Eighteen patients from Beijing Tongren Hospital and 46 patients from literature were involved as validations. Results: Diagnostic methods included (1) typical clinical manifestations; (2) vitreous cytology; (3) immunohistochemical examination of vitreous or choroid/retina; (4) aqueous humor or vitreous cytokine; (5) vitreous cell gene rearrangement; (6) vitreous flow cytometry. If patients meet (1)+(2)+(3), or if they meet (1), and two of (4), (5), (6) are positive, they can be diagnosed as VRL. The sensitivity and specificity values for accurate diagnosis were 0.975 and 1.00. One hundred percent eyes from Beijing Tongren Hospital and 92.7% eyes from literature can be diagnosed. Conclusion: We developed diagnostic recommendations for diffuse large B-cell VRL through vitreous cytology combined with multiple auxiliary examinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temperature of axle box bearing is always one of the indicators used to monitor whether the high-speed train is running safely. In this paper, a thermal model of axle box bearing considering the change of bearing lubrication state and the operating condition of the high-speed train was established. Based on the analysis of the generation mechanism of frictional heat inside the bearing, the influence of proportion of grease involved in lubrication was introduced for the first time and a detailed temperature transfer system of the axle box system was established. At the same time, through the axle box bearing-vehicle system dynamics model, the vertical and lateral loads of the axle box bearing under different operating condition were obtained as input parameters of the axle box bearing thermal model, the temperature distribution curve of the bearing under different operating conditions was obtained. Finally, based on the long-term wireless transmission device system (WTDS) temperature monitoring data, the calculation results of the established model were verified. The verification results showed the reliability of the model established in this paper, and showed the necessity of considering the change of the internal lubrication state of the bearing when evaluating the axle box bearing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA diesel particulate filter (DPF) is commonly used to trap particulate matter (PM). The collapse and sintering of carbon and ash deposits during exhaust gas flow and DPF regeneration frequently result in the formation of ash bridges, which are buildups of ash and PM that clog the filter channels. To investigate the impact of an ash bridge formed by accumulated ash on the pressure drop and PM trapping characteristics of asymmetric DPFs, an asymmetric DPF channel with an ash bridge was constructed. The analysis employed computational fluid dynamics to examine how the ash bridge affects the pressure drop and PM trapping characteristics in an asymmetric DPF. This study reveals that the asymmetric DPF design effectively enhances the ash-holding capacity, thereby mitigating the risk of channel blockage. The presence of ash bridges in DPF channels has a more substantial impact on the pressure drop through radial congestion than through axial congestion. The application of asymmetric thin-wall DPFs can counteract the increase in exhaust backpressure caused by ash bridges. An ash bridge located in the middle of a DPF channel intensifies the uneven deposition of PM. However, implementing an asymmetric DPF structure enhances the uniformity of PM deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phytochemical investigation of the tuber of Bletilla striata afforded eight stilbene derivatives, including a new bibenzyl (1) and two new phenanthrene (2 and 3). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using a combination of spectroscopic analyses. Further, the anti-inflammatory activity of all the compounds was evaluated to assess their capability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production by RAW 264.7 macrophages. The bioactive screening revealed that compounds 4 and 7 exhibited moderate inhibitory effects against NO production with the IC50 values 38.7 and 16.7 μM, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI) is still a complicated disease with high fatality rates worldwide. Transmembrane Protein 79 (TMEM79) regulates inflammation and oxidative stress in some other diseases. Methods: CIRI mouse model was established using C57BL/6J mice through middle cerebral artery occlusion-reperfusion (MCAO/R), and BV2 cells were subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) to simulate CIRI. Brain tissue or BV2 cells were transfected or injected with lentivirus-carried TMEM79 overexpression vector. The impact of TMEM79 on CIRI-triggered oxidative stress was ascertained by dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and examination of oxidative stress indicators. Regulation of TMEM79 in neuronal apoptosis and inflammation was determined using TUNEL staining and ELISA. Results: TMEM79 overexpression mitigated neurological deficit induced by MCAO/R and decreased the extent of cerebral infarct. TMEM79 prevented neuronal death in brain tissue of MCAO/R mouse model and suppressed inflammatory response by reducing inflammatory cytokines levels. Moreover, TMEM79 significantly attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress caused by OGD/R in BV2 cells. TMEM79 facilitated the activation of Nrf2 and inhibited NLRP3 and caspase-1 expressions. Rescue experiments indicated that the Nrf2/NLRP3 signaling pathway mediated the mitigative effect of TMEM79 on CIRI in vivo and in vitro. Conclusion: Overall, TMEM79 was confirmed to attenuate CIRI via regulating the Nrf2/NLRP3 signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A bandwidth-tunable balanced filter (BTBF) is proposed, which utilizes the quarter-wavelength coupled lines with multi-point loaded varactors and half-wavelength transmission lines. The varactor-loaded coupled lines combined with the pair of the half-wavelength transmission lines provide the basic wideband differential-mode (DM) passband and common-mode (CM) suppression, and the loaded varactors can tune the lower edge, the upper edge and the impedance matching (IM) of the passband. Thus, tunable bandwidth with almost constant center frequency can be achieved by controlling the bridged varactor Cv1 and the series varactors Cv2 and Cv3. Compared to the state-of-the-art designs, the proposed design offers significant advantages of broad tuning range of DM bandwidth, wide minimum DM bandwidth, low insertion loss, and simple structure. For demonstration, a prototype is designed with the DM bandwidth tuning range of 24.7%, the minimum DM fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 46.5%, the maximum insertion loss inside the IM bandwidth of 2.3 dB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the functions of lncRNA H19 on glomerular endothelial structural damage of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Materials and Methods: Rats were fed a high sugar and fat high feed die, and intraperitoneally administrated with streptozotocin (30 mg/kg) to induce DN model. Meanwile, rat glomerular endothelial cells (rGEnCs) were treated with high a level of glucose （HG, 30 mM glucose）to induce structural damage. Results: Our results showed that H19 level was drastically increased in diabetic glomeruli and high-glucose (HG)-stimulated rat glomerular endothelial cells (rGEnCs). Deficiency of H19 ameliorated microalbumin, creatinine, BUN, and histopathological alterations in diabetic rats. In addition, H19 deficiency significantly attenuated the damage of endothelial structure by upregulating the expression of junction proteins ZO-1 and Occludin, glycolcalyx protein Syndecan-1, and endothelial activation marker sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in diabetic rats. The in vitro results also showed that H19-siRNA alleviated glycocalyx shedding, tight junctions damage, and endothelial activation in HG-stimulated rGEnCs. Moreover, H19 deficiency significantly enhanced the expression of p-Akt and p-eNOS and NO concentration in vitro and in vivo. Pre-treatment with Akt inhibitor LY294002 abrogated these favourable effects mediated by H19 deficiency. Discussion and Conclusion: These results indicate that H19 deficiency could mitigate the structural damage of glomerular endothelium in DN via activating Akt/eNOS pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract.Spearman’s footrule is a widely used tool to discover the relationship between two continuous random variables, mainly because of its robustness, natural interpretation, and simplicity of calculation. In this article, we propose a new test statistic based on the sum of squares of pairwise Spearman’s footrule, to test the mutual independence of a high dimensional random vector. The large sample properties of the proposed test method are established. Simulation results show that the new test has higher power than existing test methods under some circumstances. An example with real life data is discussed to illustrate the usefulness and effectiveness of the proposed test statistic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of seawater concrete is receiving increasing attention due to the advantage of using seawater in alleviating water scarcity. One concern with seawater concrete applications is the potential for alkali–silica reaction (ASR) due to the elevated alkali concentration. In this paper, the ASR risk induced by mixed seawater in cement mortar incorporating non-reactive or reactive aggregates (RAs) was studied through short-term and long-term experiments. Experimental results indicate that seawater only increased ASR in the presence of RAs due to the high alkali concentration. Replacing cement with 70% ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS) prevented expansion, although very few ASR products may be observed. SEM results indicated that seawater decreases the (Na + K)/Si ratio and increases the Ca/Si ratio of ASR products slightly. Compared with cement mortar, C–S–H in GGBS blended cement mortar has a higher (Na + K)/Si ratio, which indicates its higher alkali binding capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanometer zinc oxide (ZnONPs) offers strong antibacterial, wound healing, hemostatic benefits, and UV protection. Additionally, poly(hexamethylene biguanide)hydrochloride (PHMB) is an environmentally friendly polymer with strong bactericidal properties. However, the synergistic effect of the combination of ZnONPs and PHMB has not been previously explored. The purpose of this study is to explore the synergies of ZnONPs and PHMB and the healing efficacy of ZnO NPs–PHMB-hydrogel on skin wounds in mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore, the mice were subjected to skin trauma to create a wound model and were subsequently infected with S. aureus, and then divided into various experimental groups. The repair effect was evaluated by assessing the healing rate, as well as measuring the levels of TNF-α, IL-2, EGF, and TGF-β1 contents in the tissue. On the 4th and 9th days post-modeling, the Z-P group exhibited notably higher healing rates compared to the control group. However, on the 15th day, both the Z-P and AC groups achieved healing rates exceeding 99%. ZnO NPs–PHMB-hydrogel promoted the formation of a fully restored epithelium, increased new hair follicles and sebaceous glands beneath the epidermis, and markedly reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, which was markedly distinct from the control group. On the 7th day, the Z-P group exhibited significantly higher levels of EGF and TGF-β1, along with a considerable reduction in the TNF-α levels as compared with the control group. These results affirmed that ZnO NPs–PHMB-hydrogel effectively inhibits S. aureus infection and accelerates skin wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the role of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors, and the potential mechanism of platelet aggregation in the pathogenesis of retinal vein occlusion. Coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in patients with retinal vein occlusion were determined using hemagglutinin and HISCL-5000. Relationships between these elevated parameters and factors representing typical clinical manifestations of retinal vein occlusion were examined, and these parameters were analyzed using a STRING database to indicate the potential role of platelet aggregation. Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (GPIIb/IIIa) levels were evaluated by flow cytometry after antiplatelet treatment in patients and mouse models. Furthermore, the GPIIb/IIIa ligand fibrinogen in peripheral blood and retina of mouse models was assessed by the turbidimetric method and real-time PCR, respectively. In patients, significant increases in peripheral blood fibrinogen and GPIIb/IIIa levels were observed (p = 0.0040, p < 0.0001, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between macular thickness (MT) and both fibrinogen and GPIIb/IIIa (r = 0.4528, p = 0.0063; r = 0.3789, p = 0.0427, respectively). After intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs, a significant reduction in fibrinogen levels was observed (p = 0.0072). In addition, the use of antiplatelet drugs resulted in a significant decrease in GPIIb/IIIa (p < 0.0001). In a mouse model, antiplatelet therapy significantly reduced both peripheral blood and retina fibrinogen levels and the overall rate of vein occlusion 3 days after occlusion (p < 0.0005). In addition, the reduction in GPIIb/IIIa levels after antiplatelet therapy was remarkable. Fibrinogen and GPIIb/IIIa may be involved in retinal vein occlusion and blocking platelet aggregation may be a new therapeutic approach for retinal vein occlusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dynamic model built theoretically and simulated numerically for an unsymmetric bistable laminate is elucidated, elaborating the dynamic regimes. Peak-to-peak amplitude diagrams being amplitude-frequency and amplitude-force response curves are derived. The single-well vibrations, the limit-cycle oscillations, the multiple-period dynamic snap-through, the chaotic dynamic snap-through and the intermittency dynamic snap-through can be detected. The amplitude-frequency response curves exhibit the softening stiffness effect. The dynamic regimes are correlated with the excitation amplitude and the modal frequencies. Deploying the high-level excitation amplitude and the low-level modal frequency leads to the limit-cycle oscillations. Besides, the single-well vibrations are characterized by the period-doubling bifurcation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusionsThis study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to assess the health literacy of parents of children with asthma in a Chinese context.The preliminary Parental Health Literacy Scale for Children with Asthma (PHLSCA) was developed based on a literature review and refined to 45 items through two rounds of expert consultation using the Delphi method. A total of 481 parents of children with asthma were recruited from seven hospitals across four provinces in China between February and April 2019. Principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted to evaluate the structural and construct validity of the scale.The development and validation processes led to a 38 items scale comprising three subscales, namely: Health Knowledge (11 items), Health Skills (19 items) and Health Behavior (8 items). The scale demonstrated good reliability, with an internal consistency of Cronbach’s α = 0.956 and a split-half reliability of r = 0.887 (p < 0.01). The Item Content Validity Index (I-CVI) ranged from 0.81 to 1.00, and the Scale-CVI was 0.842. The correlation coefficients and factor analysis results indicated good construct validity, with the factors explaining 59.33% to 62.90% of the variance in each subscale.The final version of the questionnaire (PHLSCA) has been demonstrated to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing the health literacy of parents of Chinese children with asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In property insurance claims triage, insurers often use static information to assess the severity of a claim and to identify the subsequent actions. We hypothesize that the pattern of weather conditions throughout the course of a loss event is predictive of the insured losses, and hence appropriate use of weather dynamics improves the operation of insurers' claim management. To test this hypothesis, we propose a deep learning method to incorporate dynamic weather information in the predictive modeling of the insured losses for reported claims. The proposed method features a hierarchical network architecture to address the challenges in claims triage due to the nature of weather dynamics. In the empirical analysis, we examine a portfolio of hail damage property insurance claims obtained from a major U.S. insurance carrier. When supplemented by dynamic weather information, the deep learning method exhibits substantial improvement in the hold-out predictive performance. We further design a cost-conscious decision strategy for triaging claims using the probabilistic forecasts of the insurance claim amounts. We show that leveraging weather dynamics in claims triage leads to a reduction of up to 9% and 6% in operational costs compared to when the triaging decision is based on forecasts without any weather information and with only static weather information, respectively. Supplementary materials for this article are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a case study of a patient with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) who developed reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) after receiving immunochemotherapy. IVLBCL is a rare subtype of large B-cell lymphoma that can present with neurological symptoms. The patient experienced sudden blindness and was diagnosed with RCVS based on neurological symptoms and imaging findings. The article explores the potential triggers and pathogenesis of RCVS in IVLBCL patients and highlights the importance of considering RCVS as a differential diagnosis in these cases. Treatment with nimodipine and continuation of immunochemotherapy resulted in the resolution of symptoms and improvement in vision. [Extracted from the article]

The extract of the whole plant of Carpesium abrotanoides L. yielded four new sesquiterpenes including a novel skeleton (claroguaiane A, 1), two guaianolides (claroguaianes B–C, 2–3), and one eudesmanolide (claroeudesmane A, 4), together with three known sesquiterpenoids (5–7). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis especially 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS data. Additionally, all the isolated compounds were preliminarily evaluated for the inhibitive activity of COVID-19 Mpro. As a result, compound 5 showed moderate activity with an IC50 value of 36.81 μM and compound 6 exhibited a potent inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 16.58 µM, while other compounds were devoid of noticeable activity (IC50 > 50 μM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epichloë is a genus of filamentous fungal endophytes that have co-evolved with cool-season grasses with which they form long-term, symbiotic associations. In natural ecosystems Epichloë have implications for species diversity, food web structures and fundamental ecological processes. Epichloë produce a range of secondary metabolites that can have negative effects on herbivores, be they invertebrates or vertebrates. In many managed pastoral systems, selected asexual Epichloë strains are purposefully associated with grass cultivars (termed novel endophyte-grass associations) as they confer beneficial traits that protect the host from abiotic stresses (e.g. drought) and biotic stresses (e.g. herbivory from invertebrates) while having minimal impact on the health and welfare of ruminant livestock. As well as conferring beneficial traits, agriculturally selected strains of Epichloë can also increase plant biomass and seed yield. Epichloë endophyte-technology has and continues to be a scientific, agricultural, and marketing success with selected asexual strains of Epichloë now essential components of many pasture ecosystems, within New Zealand and abroad. An estimated 90% of proprietary ryegrass now sold in New Zealand contains a selected endophyte strain while the economic impact in New Zealand of AR37 alone has been estimated at NZ$3.6 billion over 20 years. With a changing climate, agriculture will continue to experience increasing temperatures, elevated atmospheric CO2 levels and changing precipitation patterns that will likely increase the geographic range and overwintering survival rates of pests. Furthermore, plant disease outbreaks are expected to intensify due to increases in the severity of existing phytopathogens and/or invasions by new phytopathogens. Functional symbioses, such as those between temperate grasses and Epichloë, are among the most successful mechanisms by which plants can improve their ability to tolerate stress. Future research is likely to utilise targeted genetic manipulation techniques to broaden the biocontrol ability of Epichloë strains, particularly to mitigate climate related stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis study presents the experimental findings investigating the effect of different interruptions on stress levels and validates indicators for interruption detection based on machine learning. Data were collected from one hundred and four subjects across simulated office-like tasks (i.e., writing and problem-solving) by four interruption types (i.e., distraction, intrusion, break, and multitasking). Behavioral data (RT and error rate), physiological signals (HR and EDR), and subjective ratings were recorded. Features based on ANOVA were extracted and entered into the classification models as inputs to examine how well different variables could be used to evaluate interruptions. Different stress outcomes were found on objective and subjective measures by interruption type. Also, we found that a combination of physiological signals, behavioral data, and subjective ratings provides the best accuracy. Additionally, the results suggest that task performance is a more reliable indicator than subjective ratings for interruption measurement and classification. This study uses methods that could be adapted for office workers, and the results provide preliminary support for developing an early interruption detection system. The methods employed in this research may benefit office staff, and the results offer preliminary support for developing an early interruption detection system to enhance worker health and company productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractFlow-induced vibration is known as a prevalent phenomenon in various industries. As a result of the flow, dynamic fluid forces are generated, which lead to the excitation of the system. Multiphase flow, found commonly in both natural and industrial settings, including industrial plants, is a significant source of noise and vibration. In the two-phase flow, as a particular case of multiphase flow, flow configuration plays a major role in the system’s traits. Despite recent advancements in flow-induced vibration, it is still considered an unresolved topic. This research develops a new multi-physics simulation for the stability study of a two-directional functionally graded tilted curved cylindrical nanopipe conveying a liquid-gas two-phase flow. Nonlocal stress–strain gradient theory (NSGT) with two size-dependent parameters (nonlocal and length scale) is presented to simulate the current nanostructure. Newton’s second law has been employed to govern the resultant forces that act on a control volume at a differential fluid element of fluid. Hiring the finite element (FE) approach alongside the generalized differential quadrature role (GDQR), both the eigenvector and eigenvalue problems are presented for analyzing the characteristics of the nanosystem under various situations. An exhaustive parametric analysis is also provided to make clear the role of varied parameters such as velocity of fluid flow, aerodynamic pressure, air yaw angle, and gas volume fraction coefficient on the system’s fundamental frequency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe stabilization of Pickering emulsions using micro/nanoparticles has gained significant attention due to their wide range of potential applications in industries such as cosmetics, food, catalysis, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. There is a growing demand for the development of environmentally friendly micro/nanoparticles to create stable Pickering emulsions. Naturally occurring polysaccharides like pectin offer promising options as they can assemble at oil/water interfaces. This polysaccharide is considered a green candidate because of its biodegradability and renewable nature. The physicochemical properties of micro/nanoparticles, influenced by fabrication methods and post-modification techniques, greatly impact the characteristics and applications of the resulting Pickering emulsions. This review focuses on recent advancements in Pickering emulsions stabilized by pectin-based micro/nanoparticles, as well as the application of functional materials in delivery systems, bio-based films and 3D printing using these emulsions as templates. The effects of micro/nanoparticle properties on the characteristics of Pickering emulsions and their applications are discussed. Additionally, the obstacles that currently hinder the practical implementation of pectin-based micro/nanoparticles and Pickering emulsions, along with future prospects for their development, are addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this brief, two novel wideband bandpass filter (BPF) chips with independently controllable transmission zeros are proposed. BPF I uses bridge T-type highpass and lowpass structures cascaded to achieve wideband filtering. On this basis, BPF II adds three pairs of LC resonant circuits to add additional transmission zeros while retaining the lowpass structures. The analytical methods of odd-even mode and ABCD matrix to S-parameter matrix are used to analyze and calculate two designs. For validation, two prototypes of proposed BPFs in integrated passive device (IPD) have been designed, fabricated, and measured. One prototype operates at 5.3 GHz, providing a 3-dB fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 46.9%, while the other prototype operates at 4.7 GHz, providing a 3-dB FBW of 57.6%. Moreover, the two chips exhibit minimum insertion losses of 1.55 dB and 1.5 dB, respectively, while occupying compact sizes of 2.27 mm × 0.83 mm and 1.7 mm × 0.88 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Income poverty is associated with an enhanced tendency to avoid losses in economic decisions, which can be driven by a response bias (risk avoidance) and a valuation bias (loss aversion). However, the impact of non-income dimensions of poverty on these biases remains unclear. The current study tested the impact of material hardship on these biases, and the mediating effects of anxiety, depression, and cognitive control in these associations. Healthy adults (N = 188) completed questionnaire and behavioral measures of the variables. Results of regression-based analyses showed that participants who reported higher material hardship exhibited greater response bias, but not valuation bias. This effect was mediated by anxiety. Although material hardship predicted lower cognitive control, cognitive control did not mediate the association between material hardship and either type of bias. These findings suggest that material hardship may lead to economic decision-making biases because it impacts emotional states rather than cognitive control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does context influence our appreciation of beauty? To answer this question, two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of contextual aesthetics on the recognition of moral behavior. Experiment 1 demonstrated that individuals in a high-aesthetic context had a quicker recognition time for moral behavior than those in a low-aesthetic context. In a low-aesthetic context, individuals recognize immoral behavior more quickly than in a high aesthetic context. Individuals showed greater recognition rates for moral behavior in a high aesthetic context and higher recognition for immoral behaviors in a low aesthetic context for behavior with unclear information. Experiment 2 revealed that individual fixation counts were smaller under the conditions of high aesthetic context and moral behavior than under the conditions of low aesthetic context and moral behavior, indicating a correlation between low aesthetic context and immoral behavior. This study shows that high aesthetic context facilitates the recognition of moral behavior, which has implications for moral education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic recurrent inflammatory disease affecting the rectum and colon. Numerous epidemiological studies have identified smoking as a protective factor for UC. Dysbiosis of intestinal microbiota and release of inflammatory factors are well-established characteristics associated with UC. Therefore, we have observed that nicotine exhibits the potential to ameliorate colitis symptoms in UC mice. Additionally, it exerts a regulatory effect on colonic microbiota dysbiosis by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria while suppressing harmful bacteria. Combined in vivo and in vitro investigations demonstrate that nicotine primarily impedes the assembly of NLRP3, subsequently inhibiting downstream IL-1β secretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks (Gouteng in Chinese, UR), a common herbal medicine, is chosen for treating cerebral diseases such as convulsions, hypertension, epilepsy, and eclampsia. However, comprehensive research on the chemical components of UR and its absorbed components has not been revealed. To develop an integrative UP LC-Q-TOF-MS and multivariate data processing approach for determining the chemical constituents of UR and its absorbed constituents in rat serum after oral adminstration. A UP LC-Q-TOF-MS equipped with a Waters UP LCT M HSS T3 was applied for sample seperation. P CA and OP LS-DA were applied to extract differential variables. Based on the self-built databases combined with mass spectrometry cleavage patterns and reference standards, the components structural identification were carried out. In total, 40 compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids were identified in UR. Amongst them, 26 prototype constituents were found in rat serum, which might be the potential active constituents.The identified constituents absorbed in blood could be the effective constituents. This work provided a solid experimental data for further research on the pharmacological substance basis and demonstrated the practicability of the UP LC-Q-TOF-MS for chemical constituents structural elucidation from herbal medicines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axially-split phase spherical bearingless flywheel machine (ASP-SBFM) operates mostly in fast charging and discharging conditions. The unique topology design and high power density of the ASP-SBFM can lead to complex machine losses and result in high-temperature rise. This article employs magneto-thermal coupling to perform an accurate analysis of the temperature field distribution of the ASP-SBFM. First, as the heat source for machine temperature rise, the ASP-SBFM losses are analyzed in detail. And the theoretical calculation results agree well with the FEA results. Then, the magneto-thermal coupling method is conducted to obtain the accurate temperature distribution of ASP-SBFM, where both natural cooling and high vacuum conditions are considered. The temperature distribution results can provide a reference for machine heat dissipation design, topology optimization, and machine body material selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When low NOx combustion technology is employed in an opposed wall-fired utility boiler, problems of high temperature corrosion and slagging often occurs on the side water wall, especially when burning low-quality coal. In this study, the wall air injection technology was proposed to be developed in a 1000 MWe opposed wall-fired utility boiler for alleviating these problems. Four rows of nozzles for wall air injection were set on the side wall, with three nozzles in each row. The multiphase flow, coal combustion, and heat transfer in the furnace were numerically simulated to obtain the distributions of gas velocity, temperature, and components. Results show that when burning low-quality coal without wall air injection, the gas velocity, temperature, and CO concentration near the side wall is particularly high, where ash tends to melt to cause slagging, and corrosive H2S gas is easily formed to damage the water wall tube. By injecting wall air, which provides oxygen for coal combustion and prevents flue gas from approaching the wall, the gas velocity and temperature near the side wall are both decreased, and the stability of coal combustion in the primary combustion zone gets improved. The CO concentration is significantly decreased near the wall and increased near the furnace center, which helps strengthen the air-staged combustion to benefit the low NOx emission. At the outlet of the furnace, the NO concentration in the flue gas is reduced by 38 mg/Nm3 by wall air injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lycium qingshuiheense is a typical drought and salt-alkali-tolerant plant, which has been added to the new species of Lycium in recent years. Here, we first sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of L. qingshuiheense to investigate its evolutionary relationship within the family Solanaceae. Results suggested that the circular complete chloroplast genome of L. qingshuiheense was 154,945 bp in length, including a large single-copy (LSC) of 85,930 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) of 18,203 bp, and two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,406 bp. The GC content accounts for 37.90% and annotated 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree revealed that L. qingshuiheense was a sister species to L. ruthenicum. Our study provides a new insight into the systematic evolution of Lycium in the Solanaceae family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides is a deciduous tree, with important medicinal and economic values. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Z. ailanthoides was assembled and the phylogenetic relationship to other species was inferred in this study. The chloroplast genome is 157,209 bp in length, including two inverted repeats of 26,408 bp, a large single-copy of 86,099 bp and a small single copy of 18,294 bp. Moreover, the chloroplast genome contains 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 38.4%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Z. ailanthoides was grouped with a clade containing the species of Z. multijugum, Z. calcicola, Z. oxyphyllum, Z. stenophyllum, and the genus was closely related to Phellodendron. This study contributes to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among Zanthoxylum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the One Strain-Many Compounds (OSMAC) strategy, the secondary metabolites of Phomopsis lithocarpus FS508 were investigated. As a result, a new secondary metabolite, 4-methoxy-3-[4-(acetyloxy)-3-methyl-2-butenyl]benzoic acid (1) as well as eleven known compounds were isolated from the fermentation product of the strain FS508. Their structures were determined by NMR, IR, UV, and MS spectroscopic data analyses. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. Among them, compounds 3 and 9 displayed potent cytotoxicity against HepG-2 cell line, and compounds 2, 3 and 12 showed significant anti-inflammatory activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic and refractory nonspecific inflammatory bowel disease, affects millions of patients worldwide and increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Teprenone is an acylic polyisoprenoid that exerts anti-inflammatory properties in rat models of peptic ulcer disease. This in vitro and in vivo study was designed to investigate the effects of teprenone on UC and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2 cells) serve as the in vitro experimental model. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 μg/mL) was employed to stimulate the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α), Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4), MyD88 expression, and NF-κB activation. A trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced chronic UC rat model was employed for the in vivo assay. Pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation by LPS in Caco-2 cells was inhibited by teprenone at 40 μg/mL through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Teprenone attenuated TNBS-induced UC, decreased myeloperoxidase and malondialdehyde, induced TLR4 expression and NF-κB activation, and increased glutathione and zonula occludens-1 level in the rat colonic tissue. Moreover, Fusobacterium, Escherichia coli, Porphyromonas gingivalis elevation, and Mogibacterium timidum decline in UC rats were inhibited by teprenone. Based on our results, the protective effects of teprenone for UC may be related to its ability to modulate the gut microbiota and reduce the inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bourbon whisky is one of the world's most popular spirits and is a vital component of U.S. spirits exports. Yet, very limited research has examined the trade patterns of U.S. bourbon whisky. The purposes of this paper lie in (i) filling a void in the literature about the driving forces behind U.S. bourbon whisky exports, especially justifying the impact of geographical indications and trade disputes, and (ii) examining global and regional trade efficiency and trade potential of U.S. bourbon whisky, considering consumer preferences. This study adopts the stochastic frontier gravity model and trade inefficiency model to analyze bourbon trade patterns between the U.S. and its primary bourbon trade partners over 1990–2019. Results reveal that economic size, income level, trade facilitation, common language and the weighted share of adults who drink in the importing country are important factors in boosting bourbon trade flows. As expected, U.S. bourbon's geographical indication is playing a significant role in boosting bourbon exports. Trade disputes between the U.S. and its trading partners are found to have significantly negative impacts on U.S. bourbon exports. Our research also reveals that U.S. bourbon whisky has great potential to reach markets throughout the world, particularly in Europe, North America and Oceania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the effect of analyst teams' gender diversity on the accuracy of their earnings forecasts. We find that, compared with single-gender analyst teams, mixed-gender analyst teams generate more accurate earnings forecasts and have less optimism bias. The desirable effect of mixed-gender analyst teams on the accuracy of earnings forecasts is more significant in the highly educated or experienced analyst teams, in smaller brokerages with fewer star analysts, and in firms audited by non-Big -Four accounting firms or with less analyst coverage. Further studies find that, female analysts who work in teams produce more accurate earnings forecasts than they work individually. In addition, when a single-gender analyst team transforms into a mixed-gender analyst team, its reports have more accuracy and less optimism bias than before, and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractPurposeMethodResultConclusionThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of symbolic gestural training on enhancing recovery of spoken naming in people with aphasia (PWA) using a systematic review and meta-analysis.Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, article search was conducted from four databases: Web of Science Core Collection, Medline, PsycINFO, and EBSCO. A total of 45 participants from four studies investigating the symbolic gestural training effects on PWA and outcome measures of spoken naming were included.The meta-analysis showed a medium overall effect of symbolic gestural training on enhancing recovery of spoken naming in PWA. Subgroup analysis also revealed that the training effect was more remarkable in the gesture + verbal training paradigm than in the gesture-only training paradigm. However, the differences in the training effects between short and long duration, and training supplied with and without feedback, were nonsignificant.This study illustrates the current state of the literature on symbolic gestural training in PWA, and serves as a reference for clinicians, patients, and health policy-makers regarding the application of symbolic gestural training in clinical or rehabilitation programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stevioside is an important natural sweetener in food and beverages. There are concerns about its safety, but few methods for its determination. Silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) functionalized with 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-MPBA) were successfully used to determine stevioside in beverages based upon surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The Ag NPs self-assemble with 4-MPBA through the covalent interaction of their sulfhydryl groups with the metal particles. Boronic acid groups bonded to 1,2-/1,3-diol groups form cyclic boronic esters with strong affinity and significant specificity for stevioside. The combination of the two leads to an alteration of the 4-MPBA vibrational mode. The change in the orientation of the moiety and the charge transfer resulted in a significant increase of the SERS signal. The substrates showed strong specificity and sensitivity to stevioside in the presence of other sweeteners. Also, the substrate modification conditions were optimized, including the time, ratio, and concentration. The limit of detection (LOD) for stevioside in beverages was 0.210 μmol/L, and the recovery was from 98.4% to 109.4%. In summary, the presented SERS method provides high sensitivity for stevioside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we concern the strong convergence and stability of the balanced Euler method for stochastic pantograph differential equations with Markovian switching (SPDEs-MS). We present the balanced Euler method of SPDEs-MS and consider its moment boundedness under polynomial growth condition plus Khasminskii-type condition. We also study its strong convergence order and its mean-square stability. Two numerical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disodium phosphate dodecahydrate was hybrid with n-octadecane as the phase change material (PCM) by reversed-phase emulsification. The cellulose sponge obtained based on cellulose nanocrystals was used as the support material to fabricate a shape-stable composite phase change material (CPCM) through impregnation. It was laminated with cotton fabric to obtain a sandwich structure thermal insulation fabric. An infrared spectrometer, scanning electron microscope, differential thermal scanning calorimeter, and other equipment were used to characterize the morphology, chemical groups, and latent heat properties of CPCMs and thermal insulation fabrics. The results displayed that the cellulose sponge had a porosity of 99.03%, a density of 0.012 g/cm3, and could withstand 1900 times its weight. When the mass proportion of PCM in the composite system was 67.5%, its latent heat energy was 84.44 J/g, which also revealed optimal shape stability. Compared to the original fabric, the thermal insulation efficiency of the sandwich structured fabric was increased by 17.7%∼18.2%, and the photothermal conversion rate reached 25.88%, with good application performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women with substance use disorders (SUDs) are more inclined to use drugs and relapse for regulating emotions compared to men. This study aimed to explore the effects of group music and imagery in alleviating anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving for women with methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) in a compulsory rehabilitation context. A total of 90 women with MUD were randomly assigned to the music therapy treatment arm (n = 45) or control treatment arm (n = 45). Participants in the music therapy treatment arm received 12 biweekly sessions of group music and imagery (GrpMI) and those in the control treatment arm received 6 weeks of usual care. Anxiety, depression, emotion regulation difficulties, and craving were assessed at pre-test and post-test. After the intervention, participants in the GrpMI group reported significantly greater improvements than those in the control group for state anxiety (F = 6.27; p =.02; Partial η2 =.13), trait anxiety (F = 4.49; p =.04; Partial η2 =.09), depression (F = 5.48; p =.02; Partial η2 =.11), and craving (F = 4.53; p =.04; Partial η2 =.09). There was no significant difference between groups in emotion regulation difficulties (F =.95, p =.34, Partial η2 =.09). GrpMI significantly decreased depression, anxiety, and craving for women with MUD. Emotion regulation ability may need a longer period of treatment for significant improvement. Future studies could add long-term follow-up and compare the effects of group music therapy in women versus men with SUDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated Kevlar fabric coating glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composite structure has both wearing comfort and high protective ability, which will provide guidance for the development of new protective products. In this study, STF with SiO2 mass fraction of 34% was prepared, the quasi-static/dynamic mechanical behavior of STF, Kevlar and STF impregnated Kevlar fabric coating GFRP were carried out by the high-speed impact experiments, respectively. At the same time, the damage characteristics and energy absorption properties of the composite structure are analyzed by integrating experimental data with numerical simulation. The results showed that the composite structure makes the energy absorption capacity of GFRP improved. STF impregnated 4 layers of Kevlar fabric coating GFRP composite structure was impacted by the projectile at a speed of 244 m/s, and the composite structure consumes 1.54 times the energy of single GFRP laminates. The resistance of composite structures can be improved by placing more layers of Kevlar fabric behind GFRP laminates. The evaluation of the target’s bullet resistance cannot solely rely on the energy consumed by the projectile. A portion of the energy is transferred to the obstacle that impedes the target’s motion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluid conduits play important roles in the dynamic evolution processes of marine gas hydrate systems (GHS), but detailed analysis of these specific roles has been inadequate. In this paper, various types of gas hydrate-related fluid conduits are analysed by examining abundant global case studies mainly using seismic data, and the interaction of these fluid conduits with the GHS is analysed. Results show that faults and gas chimneys are the most common fluid conduits, accounting for ~80% of the analysed GHS-related conduits. Other fluid conduits include permeable dipping strata, polygonal faults, mud/salt diapirs, mud volcanoes, and unconformity surfaces. Two groups of fluid conduits can be classified according to their roles for the GHS. Group 1 fluid conduits mainly exist underneath the GHS which transported deeper gas upwards to the GHS, providing gas source to form gas hydrates or the underlying free gas zone (FGZ). Group 2 fluid conduits are less in quantity compared to group 1, accounting for ~28% of the analysed conduits and often located at shallower depth within the GHS. When the FGZ is critically pressured due to the continuous accumulation of free gas or gas hydrates dissociate, group 2 fluid conduits may be triggered or reactivated, channelling free gas to the shallower layers or even the seabed. Group 1 fluid conduits mainly play a positive role in the formation of the GHS, while group 2 fluid conduits may play a role in affecting the seabed ecosystem or even climate change due to the gas escape to the seabed or even the sea water. Generally, this classification method can help better understand the roles of fluid conduits for the GHS, which should be widely applicable in other gas hydrate study areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) is a rare but devastating complication post spinal surgery. We present three cases of post spine surgery ICH that were associated with high drain outputs postoperatively. The first patient underwent C1–C6 instrumented fusion and C4–C6 decompression. 950 mls hemoserous fluid was drained via suction drain immediately postoperatively. He suffered cerebral hemorrhage with tonsillar herniation and was brain dead on the same night. The second patient underwent C1–T1 instrumented fusion with C3–C4 decompression. 400 mls hemoserous fluid was drained via suction drain shortly after skin closure. He suffered subdural hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage, with persistent neurologic deficits and required long-term institutionalised care. The third patient underwent L2–L4 decompression and instrumented fusion. 480 mls hemoserous fluid was drained via suction drain 2 hours postoperatively. He suffered subdural haemorrhage but eventually recovered fully. An excessive drain output, especially within first few minutes to hours postoperatively, may signify a CSFleak. Suction drains should be used with caution in these cases as negative suction in the presence of a dura tear increases risk of post spine surgery ICH. In these cases, the use of non-suction drains should be considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dusts from furnaces for pyrometallurgical refining of copper (Cu) in which arsenic (As) was pre-removed through the use of vacuum carbothermal reduction methods could be used as raw materials. After treating the As pre-removed dusts through oxidative leaching using waste acids, the process of neutralizing and precipitating As and iron (Fe) in the leaching solution was investigated, as well as the precipitation and stabilization process of As and Fe residues. The results show that the leaching rate of Cu, Zn, and As from such dusts can reach 98.98%, 97.46%, and 95.22%, respectively, after leaching operation with waste acids under a liquid–solid ratio of 8:1, a leaching temperature of 80°C, an airflow rate of 300 ml/min, and a leaching time of 120 min. When the molar ratio of Fe to As (n(Fe)/n(As)) is 1.50 in the solution after advanced oxidization, and the final pH value of neutralization is 2.0, the precipitation rate of As and Cu in the residues as ferric arsenates is 93.65% and 2.2%, respectively. As and Fe are neutralized and precipitated, which allows Cu to enter the solution, while As enters the residues. After being transformed, the unstable As and Fe residues can be stockpiled as nontoxic, stable waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study Stackelberg stochastic differential game driven by stochastic differential equation (SDE for short) with random coefficients on infinite horizon under convex control constraint. The control enters into the drift and diffusion terms simultaneously. By employing the first-order adjoint equation (backward stochastic differential equation, BSDE for short), we are able to announce Pontryagin's maximum principle for the leader's global Stackelberg solution, within adapted open-loop structure, where the term global means that the leader's domination over the entire game duration. Due to the follower's adjoint equation develops into a BSDE, the leader will be confronted with a control problem where the state equation is a kind of infinite horizon fully coupled forward-backward stochastic differential equation (FBSDE for short). We shed light on an important application in a class of infinite horizon linear-quadratic (LQ for short) Stackelberg games in which the control process of leader's is constrained in a closed convex subset $ \Gamma _{1} $ Γ 1 of full space $ \mathbb {R}^{m_{1}} $ R m 1 . Whenever the control domain is postulated to be full space, we derive a new kind of infinite horizon backward stochastic Riccati equation (BSRE for short) with asymmetric coefficients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of political connections in Chinese industrial enterprises receiving government fiscal subsidies. Using data on local officials and enterprises in China, we empirically examine how changes in political connections – due to turnover of key local government officials – impact enterprise subsidies. We find that enterprise subsidies decrease significantly in the year when local officials' turnover. However, subsidies change less significantly when the local party secretary is promoted locally or has greater incentives for promotion. The impact of changing political connections is greater for non-state-owned enterprises and large-scale enterprises. Our research helps understand the dynamics between local governments and markets in China. It also has important implications for regulating how subsidies are distributed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assistive technologies (ATs) promote participation and inclusion in society, and support access to health, social services, education, work and other important life experiences for persons with disabilities, older people and those with chronic conditions. The Global Report on Assistive Technology, launched in May 2022 by WHO and UNICEF, calls for concrete actions to improve access to AT globally, and recognizes AT as both a means to, and an end itself, in the achievement of rights of persons with disabilities. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD, 2006) is the most widely ratified human rights convention, affirming the right to participation in society on an equal basis with others. In this paper, we highlight examples of how AT may play a role in realizing each of the fundamental rights affirmed in the UNCRPD. We conducted an indicative literature search for relevant literature to each of the substantive articles of the CRPD. Assistive technology plays a critical role in achieving the rights affirmed by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Ensuring adequate provision of AT by states parties is critical to the progressive realization of the rights of persons with disabilities and to fulfilling commitments made by states parties upon ratification of the CRPD. Assistive technology (AT) is critical to enable full participation of persons with disability in society and the achievement of rights affirmed by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Governments and other key stakeholders should endeavour to improve access to AT through inclusive, evidence-informed programs and services. Advocacy is required to improve access to AT through universal health coverage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) silver complexes derived from 6-[bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-yl)methyl]-2-pyridylimidazole have been synthesized and characterized by physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods, and the structures of four complexes have been confirmed by X-ray structural analyses. The functionalized NHC is a monodentate ligand in (NHC)AgCl through the carbene carbon atom, and a bridging [C,N,N] tridentate ligand in (NHC)2Ag2(BF4)2 and (NHC)2Ag2(PF6)2 through two pyrazolyl nitrogens and the carbene carbon to form a metallomacrocycle, in which a head (carbene)– to tail (nitrogen) coordination mode to two silver atoms is observed. Preliminary catalytic tests show that these newly synthesized Ag–NHC complexes exhibit excellent catalytic activity at a low catalyst loading (0.1–1 mol%) in the aldehyde–amine–alkyne coupling reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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To assess the association of fundus tessellation with contrast sensitivity, Quality of Vision questionnaire, and other factors at five years postcorneal refractive surgery. This is a cross-sectional study. Both eyes of 98 subjects (196 eyes) who received femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (FS-LASIK) or small incision lenticular extraction (SMILE) five years prior were enrolled in this study. Fundus tessellation was imaged using wide-angle fundus photographs and graded into four categories with the assistance of the ETDRS grid. Photopic and mesopic contrast sensitivity were measured under the best correction. The Quality of Vision (QoV) questionnaire was used to assess visual symptoms. Fundus tessellation was classified as follows: 19 eyes were grade 0 (9.7%), 28 eyes were grade 1 (14.3%), 59 eyes were grade 2 (30.1%), and 90 eyes were grade 3 (45.9%). Higher degrees of fundus tessellation were associated with lower photopic contrast sensitivity, a significant difference was observed at spatial frequencies of 6cpd (p = 0.030, grade 1 >grade 3 p = 0.011). Higher degrees of fundus tessellation were also associated with lower mesopic contrast sensitivity, a significant difference was observed at spatial frequencies of 18cpd (p = 0.011, grade 0 >grade 3 p = 0.012). The preoperative degree of myopia was positively associated with fundus tessellation grade (p < 0.001). However, in linear mixed-effect model analysis, no significant influence of parameters (contrast sensitivity, preoperative myopia, and QoV scores) upon different tessellation grades was found (p > 0.05). Patients with moderate and high myopia were more likely to have higher grades of fundus tessellation. Higher degree of fundus tessellation associates with lower contrast sensitivity. Patients with moderate and high myopia should be concerned with retinal-choroidal changes. Contrast sensitivity could be a clinical sign for progression of tessellation and used to screen for early retinal-choroidal changes to prevent pathologic myopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]