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Abstract GeTe is a promising p-type material with increasingly enhanced thermoelectric properties reported in recent years, demonstrating its superiority for mid-temperature applications. In this work, the thermoelectric performance of GeTe is improved by a facile composite approach. We find that incorporating a small amount of boron particles into the Bi-doped GeTe leads to significant enhancement in power factor and simultaneous reduction in thermal conductivity, through which the synergistic modulation of electrical and thermal transport properties is realized. The thermal mismatch between the boron particles and the matrix induces high-density dislocations that effectively scatter the mid-frequency phonons, accounting for a minimum lattice thermal conductivity of 0.43 Wm−1K−1 at 613 K. Furthermore, the presence of boron/GeTe interfaces modifies the interfacial potential barriers, resulting in increased Seebeck coefficient and hence enhanced power factor (25.4 μWcm−1K−2 at 300 K). Consequently, we obtain a maximum figure of merit Z max of 4.0 × 10−3 K−1 at 613 K in the GeTe-based composites, which is the record-high value in GeTe-based thermoelectric materials and also superior to most of thermoelectric systems for mid-temperature applications. This work provides an effective way to further enhance the performance of GeTe-based thermoelectrics.

Abstract This paper provides a study for crystallographic orientation-dependent corrosion rate of aluminum employing an ab initio model with inputs from first-principles calculations. Results showed that the sequence of corrosion rate is in the order of (111)

Recent years have witnessed significant advancements in methodologies and techniques for the synthesis of energetic materials, which are expected to shape future manufacturing and applications. Techniques including continuous flow chemistry, electrochemical synthesis, microwave-assisted synthesis, and biosynthesis have been extensively employed in the pharmaceutical and fine chemical industries and, gratifyingly, have found broader applications. This review comprehensively introduces recent advancements in the utilization of these emerging techniques, aiming to provide a catalyst for the development of novel green methods and techniques for synthesizing energetic materials.

Abstract In acidic soils, aluminum (Al) toxicity inhibits the growth and development of plant roots and affects nutrient and water absorption, leading to reduced yield and quality. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate and identify candidate genes for Al tolerance and elucidate their physiological and molecular mechanisms under Al stress. In this study, we identified a new gene OsAlR3 regulating Al tolerance, and analyzed its mechanism from physiological, transcriptional and metabolic levels. Compared with the WT, malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content were significantly increased, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and citric acid (CA) content were significantly decreased in the osalr3 mutant lines when exposed to Al stress. Under Al stress, the osalr3 exhibited decreased expression of antioxidant-related genes and lower organic acid content compared with WT. Integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis showed the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway plays an important role in OsAlR3-mediated Al tolerance. Exogenous CA and oxalic acid (OA) could increase total root length and enhance the antioxidant capacity in the mutant lines under Al stress. Conclusively, we found a new gene OsAlR3 that positively regulates Al tolerance by promoting the chelation of Al ions through the secretion of organic acids, and increasing the expression of antioxidant genes.

Abstract Commutation failure (CF) is one of the most common issues in line‐commuted converter‐based high voltage direct current systems (LCC‐HVDC), leading to critical power system security and stability problems. Accurate and rapid identification of CF is crucial to prevent subsequent CF in HVDC systems. However, the existing CF identification methods are lack of the required accuracy and speed. The relationship between bridge arm current, commutation voltage, and trigger pulse based on the commutation progress mechanism after the AC fault is analysed in this paper. A novel CF identification method is presented, which utilises the CF identification factor, enabling fast and high‐accurate identification without relying on the value of the extinction angle. The proposed method offers a simpler and more efficient implementation in engineering practice. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified in both the standard International Council on Large Electric systems HVDC model and the Hardware in Loop test using practical project parameters. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately and fast identify CF.

Abstract Efficient charge-carrier injection and transport in organic light-emitting devices (OLEDs) are essential to simultaneously achieving their high efficiency and long-term stability. However, the charge-transporting layers (CTLs) deposited by various vapor or solution processes are usually in amorphous forms, and their low charge-carrier mobilities, defect-induced high trap densities and inhomogeneous thickness with rough surface morphologies have been obstacles towards high-performance devices. Here, organic single-crystalline (SC) films were employed as the hole-transporting layers (HTLs) instead of the conventional amorphous films to fabricate highly efficient and stable OLEDs. The high-mobility and ultrasmooth morphology of the SC-HTLs facilitate superior interfacial characteristics of both HTL/electrode and HTL/emissive layer interfaces, resulting in a high Haacke’s figure of merit (FoM) of the ultrathin top electrode and low series-resistance joule-heat loss ratio of the SC-OLEDs. Moreover, the thick and compact SC-HTL can function as a barrier layer against moisture and oxygen permeation. As a result, the SC-OLEDs show much improved efficiency and stability compared to the OLEDs based on amorphous or polycrystalline HTLs, suggesting a new strategy to developing advanced OLEDs with high efficiency and high stability.

In situ phase separation precipitates play an important role in enhancing the thermoelectric properties of copper sulfides by suppressing phonon transmission. In this study, Cu1.8S composites were fabricated by melting reactions and spark plasma sintering. The complex structures, namely, micron-PbS, Sb2S3, nano-FeS, and multiscale pores, originate from the introduction of FePb4Sb6S14 into the Cu1.8S matrix. Using effective element (Fe) doping and multiscale precipitates, the Cu1.8S+0.5 wt% FePb4Sb6S14 bulk composite reached a high dimensionless figure of merit (ZT) value of 1.1 at 773 K. Furthermore, the modulus obtained for this sample was approximately 40.27 GPa, which was higher than that of the pristine sample. This study provides a novel strategy for realizing heterovalent doping while forming various precipitates via in situ phase separation by natural minerals, which has been proven to be effective in improving the thermoelectric and mechanical performance of copper sulfides and is worth promoting in other thermoelectric systems.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in children, primarily attributed to the bi-allelic loss of the RB1 gene in the developing retina. Despite significant progress in understanding the basic pathogenesis of RB, comprehensively unravelling the intricate network of genetics and epigenetics underlying RB tumorigenesis remains a major challenge. Conventional clinical treatment options are limited, and despite the continuous identification of genetic loci associated with cancer pathogenesis, the development of targeted therapies lags behind. This review focuses on the reported genomic and epigenomic alterations in retinoblastoma, summarizing potential therapeutic targets for RB and providing insights for research into targeted therapies.

Abstract Objective To identify critical satisfaction gaps in a home nursing mobile application (APP) using a systematic decision-making model. Methods Initially, the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory method was used to analyze the relationship structure and corresponding weights among the indicators. The Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) method was used to identify the categories of all indicators and their corresponding strategic directions. Twenty-six home nursing specialists currently providing home nursing services were recruited for this study. Results The IPA results revealed that “Assurance,” “Reliability,” and “Personal security protection” are critical satisfaction gaps. From the influence network and weight results, “information quality” and “system quality” were the critical quality factors in the home nursing mobile APP. The influence of the network relationship structure and weight demonstrated a 98.12% significance level, indicating good stability. Conclusion Continuous improvement in information and system quality is recommended to optimize the overall quality of the home nursing mobile APP. Additionally, user demands should be considered, and personal safety guarantee functions should be developed and integrated into the system to ensure the safety of home nursing workers.

Abstract The high mobility group nucleosome binding (HMGN) family, constitutes a large family of non-histone protein family known to bind the acidic patch of the nucleosomes with various key cellular functions. Several studies have highlighted the pivotal roles of HMGNs in the pathogenic process of various cancer types. However, the roles of HMGN family in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) have not been fully elucidated. Herein, integrative analyses of multiple-omics data revealed that HMGNs frequently exhibit dysregulation in LUAD. Subsequent analysis of the clinical relevance of HMGN1 demonstrated its association with poor prognosis in LUAD and its potential as a diagnostic marker to differentiate LUAD from healthy controls. Additionally, functional enrichment analysis suggested that HMGN1 was mainly involved in DNA repair. To corroborate these findings, cellular experiments were conducted, confirming HMGN1’s crucial involvement in homologous recombination repair and its potential to enhance the sensitivity of LUAD cells to standard chemotherapeutic drugs. This study proposes HMGN1 as a novel prognostic biomarker and a promising target for chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma.

Designing compositions for novel alloys requires a fundamental grasp of the role of each alloying element in its properties. This study delves into the influence of alloying elements in Ultra-High Strength Steels on essential high-temperature properties, including thermoelasticity, thermal stress, and strength, utilizing first-principles phonon calculations. These properties are pivotal for steels used in high-temperature applications. Our investigation quantitatively forecasts the impact of alloying elements on elastic properties, providing valuable insights for advanced alloy design in high-temperature environments. The introduction of alloying elements markedly amplifies the elastic modulus of Fe-based alloys. The Ni, Mo, Cr, and C elements significantly enhance the anisotropy of the alloy. While refining elastic modulus and mechanical properties, alloying elements induce thermal stress, posing a potential risk of high-temperature cracking. The quantitative analysis underscores the robust strengthening potential for C, Ni, Mo, and W elements, with interstitial C emerging as pivotal in enhancing mechanical properties. The findings of this study illuminate the diverse roles played by different alloying elements and offer theoretical guidance for the design of advanced Ultra-High Strength Steels.

The generation and evaluation of severely high thermal stress (σ) is known to be responsible for failure of thermal barrier coatings (TBCs) during thermal cycling. It is crucial and challenging to capture fluctuations in σ caused by the phase transition, which has motivated us to develop a high-throughput multiscale evaluation method for σ in TBCs that considers the phase transition of the top ceramic materials by coupling first-principles calculations with finite element simulations. The method quantitatively evaluates and visualizes σ of the real TBC structure under thermal cycling by multifield coupling. Additionally, the thermophysical properties calculated by the first-principles calculations consider the effects of temperature and phase transition, which not only reduces the cost of obtaining data but also has a more physical connotation. In this work, rare earth tantalites (RETaO4) are introduced as ceramic layers, and the results demonstrate that σ undergoes a rapid escalation near the phase transition temperature (Tt), particularly in the TBCs_GdTaO4 system, where it rises from 224 to 435 MPa. This discontinuity in σ may originate from the significant alterations in Young’s modulus (increase by 27%–78%) and thermal conductivity (increase by 53%–146%) near Tt. The TBCs_NdTaO4 and TBCs_SmTaO4 systems exhibit noteworthy temperature drop gradients and minimal σ fluctuations, which are beneficial for extending service lifetime of TBCs. This approach facilitates the prediction of failure mechanisms and provides theoretical guidance for the reverse design of TBC materials to obtain low thermal stress systems.

Constructing heat-resistant fused heterocyclic compounds is increasingly fascinating in the field of energetic materials due to their excellent energy, high thermal stability, and low sensitivity, as well as high density in general. This study synthesized a novel heat-resistant explosive based on the imidazo [1,2-b]pyridazine fused ring，3,7-dinitroimidazo [1,2-b]pyridazine-6,8-diamine (5)，using a three-step facile method. This compound exhibited a high density (1.856 g cm−3) and low mechanical sensitivities (IS = 40 J, FS = 350 N). Meanwhile, it displayed a higher thermal decomposition temperature of 324 °C compared to conventional heat-resistant explosive HNS (Td = 318 °C). In addition, it demonstrated significantly higher detonation performance (D = 8336 m s−1, p = 27.25 GPa) than both TNT (D = 6881 m s−1, p = 19.5 GPa) and HNS (D = 7612 m s−1, p = 24.3 GPa). Theoretical analysis shows that the intramolecular hydrogen bonding interactions of NH2–NO2–NH2 might be the main reason for the heat resistance of energetic materials based on the imidazo [1,2-b]pyridazine fused ring. The results of this study suggest that compound 5 is a promising building block and a candidate for heat-resistant energetic materials.

Abstract Optimizing thermoelectric conversion efficiency requires the compromise of electrical and thermal properties of materials, which are hard to simultaneously improve due to the strong coupling of carrier and phonon transport. Herein, a one-pot approach realizing simultaneous second phase and Cu vacancies modulation is proposed, which is effective in synergistically optimizing thermoelectric performance in copper sulfides. Multiple lattice defects, including nanoprecipitates, dislocations, and nanopores are produced by adding a refined ratio of Sn and Se. Phonon transport is significantly suppressed by multiple mechanisms. An ultralow lattice thermal conductivity is therefore obtained. Furthermore, extra Se is added in the copper sulfide for optimizing electrical transport properties by inducing generating Cu vacancies. Ultimately, an excellent figure of merit of ~1.6 at 873 K is realized in the Cu1.992SSe0.016(Cu2SnSe4)0.004 bulk sample. The simple strategy of inducing compositional and structural modulation for improving thermoelectric parameters promotes low-cost high-performance copper sulfides as alternatives in thermoelectric applications.

Abstract Objectives Predicting secondary loss of response (SLR) to infliximab (IFX) is paramount for tailoring personalized management regimens. Concurrent pancreatic manifestations in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) may correlate with SLR to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment. This work aimed to evaluate the potential of pancreatic radiomics to predict SLR to IFX in biologic-naive individuals with CD. Methods Three models were developed by logistic regression analyses to identify high-risk subgroup prone to SLR. The area under the curve (AUC), calibration curve, decision curve analysis (DCA), and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were applied for the verification of model performance. A quantitative nomogram was proposed based on the optimal prediction model, and its reliability was substantiated by 10-fold cross-validation. Results In total, 184 CD patients were enrolled in the period January 2016 to February 2022. The clinical model incorporated age of onset, disease duration, disease location, and disease behavior, whereas the radiomics model consisted of five texture features. These clinical parameters and the radiomics score calculated by selected texture features were applied to build the combined model. Compared to other two models, combined model achieved favorable, significantly improved discrimination power (AUCcombined vs clinical 0.851 vs 0.694, p = 0.02; AUCcombined vs radiomics 0.851 vs 0.740, p = 0.04) and superior clinical usefulness, which was further converted into reliable nomogram with an accuracy of 0.860 and AUC of 0.872. Conclusions The first proposed pancreatic-related nomogram represents a credible, noninvasive predictive instrument to assist clinicians in accurately identifying SLR and non-SLR in CD patients. Critical relevance statement This study first built a visual nomogram incorporating pancreatic texture features and clinical factors, which could facilitate clinicians to make personalized treatment decisions and optimize cost-effectiveness ratio for patients with CD. Key points • The first proposed pancreatic-related model predicts secondary loss of response for infliximab in Crohn’s disease. • The model achieved satisfactory predictive accuracy, calibration ability, and clinical value. • The model-based nomogram has the potential to identify long-term failure in advance and tailor personalized management regimens. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Home phototherapy (HPT) remains a contentious alternative to inpatient phototherapy (IPT) for neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. To guide evidence-based clinical decision-making, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and cohort studies and assessed the comparative risks and benefits of HPT and IPT. Methods PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database, Wanfang Database, Chinese Science and Technique Journals Database, ClinicalTrials.gov, and International Clinical Trial Registry Platform trial were searched from inception until June 2, 2023. We included RCTs and cohort studies and adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Study quality was assessed with the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. The outcome measures were phototherapy duration, daily bilirubin level reduction, exchange transfusion, hospital readmission, parental stress scale, and complications. We used fixed- or random-effects meta-analysis models, assessed heterogeneity (I 2 ), conducted subgroup analyses, evaluated publication bias, and graded evidence quality. Results Nine studies (998 patients) were included (four RCTs, five cohort studies). HPT was associated with longer phototherapy duration (SMD = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.06–1.04, P = 0.03). Cohort study subgroup analysis yielded consistent results (SMD = 0.90; 95% CI: 0.69 to 1.11, P

SETDB2 is a H3K9 histone methyltransferase required for accurate chromosome segregation. Its H3K9 histone methyltransferase activity was reported to be associated with chromosomes during metaphase. Here, we confirm that SETDB2 is required for mitosis and accurate chromosome segregation. However, these functions are independent of its histone methyltransferase activity. Further analysis showed that SETDB2 can interact with BUBR1, and is required for CDC20 binding to BUBR1 and APC/C complex and CYCLIN B1 degradation. The ability of SETDB2 to regulate the binding of CDC20 to BUBR1 or APC/C complex, and stabilization of CYCLIN B1 are also independent of its histone methyltransferase activity. These results suggest that SETDB2 interacts with BUBR1 to promote binding of CDC20 to BUBR1 and APC3, then degrades CYCLIN B1 to ensure accurate chromosome segregation and mitosis, independently of its histone methyltransferase activity.

Abstract Background The autophagy adapter SQSTM1/p62 is crucial for maintaining homeostasis in various organs and cells due to its protein–protein interaction domains and involvement in diverse physiological and pathological processes. Vascular endothelium cells play a unique role in vascular biology and contribute to vascular health. Methods Using the Cre-loxP system, we generated mice with endothelium cell-specific knockout of p62 mediated by Tek (Tek receptor tyrosine kinase)-cre to investigate the essential role of p62 in the endothelium. In vitro, we employed protein mass spectrometry and IPA to identify differentially expressed proteins upon knockdown of p62. Immunoprecipitation assays were conducted to demonstrate the interaction between p62 and FN1 or LAMC2 in human umbilical vein endothelium cells (HUVECs). Additionally, we identified the degradation pathway of FN1 and LAMC2 using the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or proteasome inhibitor MG132. Finally, the results of immunoprecipitation demonstrated that the interaction between p62 and LAMC2 was abolished in the PB1 truncation group of p62, while the interaction between p62 and FN1 was abolished in the UBA truncation group of p62. Results Our findings revealed that p62 Endo mice exhibited heart, lung, and kidney fibrosis compared to littermate controls, accompanied by severe cardiac dysfunction. Immunoprecipitation assays provided evidence of p62 acting as an autophagy adapter in the autophagy-lysosome pathway for FN1 and LAMC2 degradation respectively through PB1 and UBA domain with these proteins rather than proteasome system. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that defects in p62 within endothelium cells induce multi-organ fibrosis and cardiac dysfunction in mice. Our findings indicate that FN1 and LAMC2, as markers of (EndoMT), have detrimental effects on HUVECs and elucidate the autophagy-lysosome degradation mechanism of FN1 and LAMC2.

Ultrasound imaging has a history of several decades. With its non-invasive, low-cost advantages, this technology has been widely used in medicine and there have been many significant breakthroughs in ultrasound imaging. Even so, there are still some drawbacks. Therefore, some novel image reconstruction and image analysis algorithms have been proposed to solve these problems. Although these new solutions have some effects, many of them introduce some other side effects, such as high computational complexity in beamforming. At the same time, the usage requirements of medical ultrasound equipment are relatively high, and it is not very user-friendly for inexperienced beginners. As artificial intelligence technology advances, some researchers have initiated efforts to deploy deep learning to address challenges in ultrasound imaging, such as reducing computational complexity in adaptive beamforming and aiding novices in image acquisition. In this survey, we are about to explore the application of deep learning in medical ultrasound imaging, spanning from image reconstruction to clinical diagnosis.

AimsPrimary pigmented nodular adrenocortical disease (PPNAD), as a rare kind of Cushing’s syndrome, is frequently misdiagnosed. To get a better understanding of the disease, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and pathogenic variants of PPNAD.MethodsDatabases were searched, and the pathogenic variants and clinical manifestations of patients were summarized from the relevant articles.ResultsA total of 210 patients in 86 articles were enrolled with a median age of 22 and a female-to-male ratio of 2:1. Sixty-six (31.43%) patients were combined with Carney complex (CNC) and 94.29% were combined with osteoporosis/osteopenia. Among 151 patients who underwent genetic testing, 87.42% (132/151) had pathogenic variants. Six gene mutations (PRKAR1A, PDE11A, PRKACA, CTNNB1, PDE8B, and ARMC5) were detected in the patients. The most common mutation was PKAR1A, accounting for 79.47% (120/151). There was a significant correlation between PRKAR1A pathogenic variant and spotty skin pigmentation in CNC concurrent with PPNAD (p < 0.05). Among pregnant patients with PPNAD, those without surgical treatment and with bilateral adrenalectomy suffered from a high-risk perinatal period. However, patients with unilateral adrenalectomy presented a safe perinatal period.ConclusionsFor young patients with Cushing’s syndrome, especially female patients with spotty skin pigmentation and osteoporosis/osteopenia, PPNAD should be considered. Unilateral adrenal resection may be considered as an option for women with fertility needs. In view of the difficulty of PPNAD diagnosis, genetic testing before surgery might be a reasonable option. Patients with PPNAD with spotty skin pigmentation should consider the PRKAR1A pathogenic variant and pay attention to CNC.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42023416988.

Abstract Background Asians bear a heavier burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a common comorbidity of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), than non‐Asians. Nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) have garnered attention for their potential advantages in renal outcomes. Nevertheless, the impact on diverse ethnic groups remains unknown. Methods The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang database, and clinical trial registries were searched through August 2023 with the following keywords: nonsteroidal MRAs (finerenone, apararenone, esaxerenone, AZD9977, KBP‐5074), CKD, T2DM, and randomized controlled trial (RCT). A random effects model was used to calculate overall effect sizes. Results Seven RCTs with 14 997 participants were enrolled. Nonsteroidal MRAs reduced urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) significantly more in Asians than non‐Asians: (weighted mean difference [WMD], −0.59, 95% CI, −0.73 to −0.45, p .05). Regarding systolic blood pressure (SBP), nonsteroidal MRAs had a better antihypertension performance in Asians (WMD, −5.12, 95% CI, −5.84 to −4.41, p

Evidence has demonstrated that exoskeleton robots can improve intestinal function in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the underlying mechanisms remain unelucidated. This study investigated the effects of exoskeleton-assisted walking (EAW) on intestinal function and intestinal flora structure in T2-L1 motor complete paraplegia patients. The results showed that five participants in the EAW group and three in the conventional group reported improvements in at least one bowel management index, including an increased frequency of bowel evacuations, less time spent on bowel management per day, and less external assistance (manual digital stimulation, medication, and enema usage). After 8 weeks of training, the amount of glycerol used in the EAW group decreased significantly (p

There are various types of land use in the agricultural and pastoral areas of northern China, including natural grassland and artificial grassland, scrub land, forest land and farmland, may change the soil microbial community However, the soil microbial communities in these different land use types remain poorly understood. In this study, we compared soil microbial communities in these five land use types within the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China. Our results showed that land use has had a considerable impact on soil bacterial and fungal community structures. Bacterial diversity was highest in shrubland and lowest in natural grassland; fungal diversity was highest in woodland. Microbial network structural complexity also differed significantly among land use types. The lower complexity of artificial grassland and farmland may be a result of the high intensity of anthropogenic activities in these two land-use types, while the higher structural complexity of the shrubland and woodland networks characterised by low-intensity management may be a result of low anthropogenic disturbance. Correlation analysis of soil properties (e.g., soil physicochemical properties, soil nutrients, and microbiomass carbon and nitrogen levels) and soil microbial communities demonstrated that although microbial taxa were correlated to some extent with soil environmental factors, these factors did not sufficiently explain the microbial community differences among land use types. Understanding variability among soil microbial communities within agro-pastoral areas of northern China is critical for determining the most effective land management strategies and conserving microbial diversity at the regional level.

Jasmine (Jasminum sambac Aiton) is a well-known cultivated plant species for its fragrant flowers used in the perfume industry and cosmetics. However, the genetic basis of its floral scent is largely unknown. In this study, using PacBio, Illumina, 10× Genomics and high-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) sequencing technologies, a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for J. sambac was obtained, exploiting a double-petal phenotype cultivar ‘Shuangbanmoli’ (JSSB). The results showed that the final assembled genome of JSSB is 580.33 Mb in size (contig N50 = 1.05 Mb; scaffold N50 = 45.07 Mb) with a total of 39 618 predicted protein-coding genes. Our analyses revealed that the JSSB genome has undergone an ancient whole-genome duplication (WGD) event at 91.68 million years ago (Mya). It was estimated that J. sambac diverged from the lineage leading to Olea europaea and Osmanthus fragrans about 28.8 Mya. On the basis of a combination of genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses, a range of floral scent volatiles and genes were identified involved in the benzenoid/phenylpropanoid and terpenoid biosynthesis pathways. The results provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of its fragrance biosynthesis in jasmine.

Crop diseases, as one of the major problems in global agricultural production, lead to crop yield reduction, death, and even total extinction, with serious impacts on farmers and the food supply. Traditionally, crop diseases are identified by visual inspection and based on the experience of farmers and agricultural experts, a method that not only consumes human resources but also has a certain degree of subjectivity and inaccuracy. The development of artificial intelligence technology successfully achieves real-time monitoring, automatic identification, and intelligent decision by combining the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and cloud computing technology. Herein, we proposed an EfficientNet Convolutional Group-Wise Transformer (EGWT) architecture. The local features of crop leaf images are extracted by EfficientNet convolution and then input into a group-wise transformer architecture. In the group-wise transformer process, the input features are divided into multiple groups. An attention mechanism is used within each group to calculate correlations between features. After calculating the intra-group attention, the output features of each group are stitched together to form the final output features. Our proposed model achieves 99.8% accuracy on the PlantVillage dataset, 86.9% accuracy on the cassava dataset, and 99.4% accuracy on the Tomato leaves dataset, with the least number of parameters 23.04M in the state-of-the-art convolutional combinatorial transformer hybrid model. The experimental results indicate that the proposed model has the best accuracy and optimal model complexity so far compared to other neural networks based on CNN, transformer, and the hybrid structure of CNN and transformer.

Objective: To investigate the interrelationship between cardiovascular health awareness, risk perception, behavioural intention, and INTERHEART risk stratification in a middle-aged adult population in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was conducted during November 2022 and January 2023. Participants completed validated questionnaires assessing cardiovascular health awareness, risk perception of cardiovascular diseases, behavioural intention towards adopting healthy habits, and INTERHEART risk stratification score (IHRS) based on established risk factors. A total of 602 respondents were included in the final analysis. Data were analysed with independent t-test/one-way ANOVA or Mann- Whitney/Kruskai-Wailis to test the differences, Pearson correlation or linear regression test to analyze the association of independent and dependent variables. Results: There was a significant positive correlation between medical knowledge related to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and knowledge related to CVD risk prevention, risk perception, behavioural intention and IHRS (P

Abstract Based on investment data from 214 sustainable universities in the United States, a study on the characteristics and affordability of universities with a willingness to invest in sustainability was conducted. First, according to the concept of ESG, the related factors of sustainability are classified. Then, the important variables are selected by the Cp method. Finally, the main characteristics and maximum affordability of universities with investment willingness for sustainability are quantitatively studied through the logit regression model. The findings are as follows: (1) Most universities take sustainable industries as their investment objective, promoting investment through a series of sustainable policies. (2) The characteristics of universities are as follows: (a) the size of the campus within a certain range; (b) sustainability instruction training for new employees; (c) the encouragement of employees for community service; and (d) the establishment of CIR (Committees on Investor Responsibility). (3) The maximum affordability is 30.3% of the total investment, and approximately 94% of universities do not actually invest as much in sustainability as in willingness. The study defines the identification factors of universities to provide an important basis for the formulation and implementation of guiding policies related to investment in the sustainability of universities in the future.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer is strongly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the data of postmenopausal women who were tested for HPV in Nanjing First Hospital from 2019 to 2021. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 14,608 postmenopausal women aged 45–90 years, who underwent HPV examination in Nanjing First Hospital between January 2019 and December 2021. All participants were tested for 23 HPV genotypes. We subsequently analyzed the infection rate and evaluated the distribution of HPV using the chi-square test. Results Our results showed that the HPV infection rate in postmenopausal women in Nanjing, China was 22.36%. In terms of age group, the infection rate was 19.54%, 24.30%, 26.58%, and 14.99% in those aged ≤ 50, 51–60, 61–70, and ≥ 71 years, respectively. The most common HPV subtypes were HPV52 (22.1 3%), HPV58 (15.86%), HPV53 (14.17%), HPV16 (12.61%), and HPV81 (11.66%), in that order. The single-HPV infection rate was 14.23%, and the multiple-genotype infection rate was 8.14% (1189/14,608). Conclusions This study showed that in Nanjing, China, the different age groups of post-menopausal women could have different rates of HPV infection, and the most common types were HPV52, HPV58, HPV53, HPV16 and HPV81. These findings highlighted the importance of understanding the epidemiology of HPV infection in specific populations, such as postmenopausal women in Nanjing, China. The results could provide valuable information for healthcare professionals and policymakers to develop targeted prevention and screening strategies for reducing the burden of HPV-related diseases in this population.

Abstract Background The peritoneal cancer index (PCI) has been used to predict surgical outcomes for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). The present study aimed to establish the optimal cutoff point for PCI to predict surgical resectability of PMP. Methods A total of 366 PMP patients were included. The patients were divided into low-grade and high-grade groups. Based on the completeness of the cytoreduction (CC) score, both low-grade and high-grade PMP patients were further divided into complete cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and maximal tumor debulking (MTD) subgroups. The ability to predict surgical resectability of total and selected PCI (regions 2 + 9 to 12) was analyzed through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results Both total and selected PCI demonstrated excellent discriminative ability in predicting surgical resectability for low-grade PMP patients (n = 266), with the ROC-AUC of 0.940 (95% CI: 0.904–0.965) and 0.927 (95% CI: 0.889–0.955). The corresponding optimal cutoff point was 21 and 5, respectively. For high-grade PMP patients (n = 100), both total and selected PCI exhibited good performance in predicting surgical resectability, with the ROC-AUC of 0.894 (95% CI: 0.816–0.946) and 0.888 (95% CI: 0.810–0.943); correspondingly, the optimal cutoff point was 25 and 8, respectively. The discriminative ability between total and selected PCI in predicting surgical resectability did not show a statistical difference. Conclusions Both total and selected PCI exhibited good performance and similarity in predicting complete surgical resection for both low-grade and high-grade PMP patients. However, the selected PCI was simpler and time-saving in clinical practice. In the future, new imaging techniques or predictive models may be developed to better predict PCI preoperatively, which might assist in confirming whether complete surgical resection can be achieved.

Abstract Peritoneal cancer index (PCI) is the surgical variable most commonly used to quantify the extent of peritoneal metastases for pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) patients. The present study aimed to investigate the agreement between CT predicted and surgical PCI by the Bland–Altman method for PMP of appendiceal origin. A total of 167 PMP patients of appendiceal origin were included between 2016 and 2021. Bland–Altman analysis was performed for both total PCI and selected PCI (regions 2 + 9–12). After the Bland–Altman plot was drawn, the mean bias and its 95% limit of agreements (LoAs) was quantified. Besides, the correlation coefficients between CT-PCI and surgical PCI were also been calculated. The Bland–Altman plot showed the mean bias ± SD between total CT-PCI and surgical PCI as 0.431 ± 3.005, with the LoAs from − 5.459 to 6.321. There were nine points of difference in total PCI exceeded the 95% LoAs, with the rate of 5.39% (9/167). As for selected CT-PCI, Bland–Altman plot showed the mean bias ± SD between selected CT-PCI and surgical PCI as − 0.287 ± 1.955, with the LoAs from − 4.118 to 3.544. There were ten points of difference in selected PCI exceeded the 95% LoAs, with the rate of 5.99% (10/167). The Spearman's rank correlation coefficient between total CT-PCI and surgical PCI was 0.911, P

Abstract Cushing's syndrome is a rare cause of myocardial infarction and heart failure. Herein, we report a female patient who presented acute myocardial infarction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. The patient was found to have hypercortisolism secondary to adrenocortical adenoma and responded well to therapy. This case underlines the effects of hypercortisolism on the cardiovascular system. The clinical presentation of this patient is unique because non‐atherosclerotic myocardial infarction is rarely reported in Cushing's syndrome patients.

The bacterial ATP-competitive GyrB/ParE subunits of type II topoisomerase are important anti-bacterial targets to treat super drug-resistant bacterial infections. Herein we discovered novel pyrrolamide-type GyrB/ParE inhibitors based on the structural modifications of the candidate AZD5099 that was withdrawn from the clinical trials due to safety liabilities such as mitochondrial toxicity. The hydroxyisopropyl pyridazine compound 28 had a significant inhibitory effect on Gyrase (GyrB, IC50 = 49 nmol/L) and a modest inhibitory effect on Topo IV (ParE, IC50 = 1.513 μmol/L) of Staphylococcus aureus. It also had significant antibacterial activities on susceptible and resistant Gram-positive bacteria with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of less than 0.03 μg/mL, which showed a time-dependent bactericidal effect and low frequencies of spontaneous resistance against S. aureus. Compound 28 had better protective effects than the positive control drugs such as DS-2969 (5) and AZD5099 (6) in mouse models of sepsis induced by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. It also showed better bactericidal activities than clinically used vancomycin in the mouse thigh MRSA infection models. Moreover, compound 28 has much lower mitochondrial toxicity than AZD5099 (6) as well as excellent therapeutic indexes and pharmacokinetic properties. At present, compound 28 has been evaluated as a pre-clinical drug candidate for the treatment of drug-resistant Gram-positive bacterial infection. On the other hand, compound 28 also has good inhibitory activities against stubborn Gram-negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli (MIC = 1 μg/mL), which is comparable with the most potent pyrrolamide-type GyrB/ParE inhibitors reported recently. In addition, the structure–activity relationships of the compounds were also studied.

Abstract Background Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine characterized by a compromised intestinal epithelial barrier. Mucin glycans are crucial in preserving barrier function during bacterial infections, although the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. Methods A cohort comprising 15 patients diagnosed with UC and 15 healthy individuals was recruited. Stool samples were collected to perform 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while biopsy samples were subjected to nanocapillary liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC-MS/MS) to assess O-glycosylation. Gene expression was evaluated through qPCR analysis and Western blotting. Furthermore, animal experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of Escherichia coli and/or O-glycan inhibitor benzyl-α-GalNAc on the development of colitis in mice. Results Our findings revealed that the mucus barrier was disrupted during the early stages of UC, while the MUC2 protein content remained unaltered. Additionally, a noteworthy reduction in the o-glycosylation of MUC2 was observed, along with significant changes in the intestinal microbiota during the early stages of UC. These changes included a decrease in intestinal species richness and an increase in the abundance of Escherichia coli (E. coli). Moreover, subsequent to the administration of galactose or o-glycan inhibitor to intestinal epithelial cells, it was observed that the cell culture supernatant had the ability to modify the proliferation and adhesive capacity of E. coli. Furthermore, when pathogenic E. coli or commensal E. coli were cocultured with intestinal epithelium, both strains elicited activation of the NF-KB signaling pathway in epithelial cells and facilitated the expression of serine protease in comparison to the untreated control. Consistently, the inhibition of o-glycans has been observed to enhance the pathogenicity of E. coli in vivo. Furthermore, a correlation has been established between the level of o-glycans and the development of ulcerative colitis. Specifically, a reduction in the O-glycan content of MUC2 cells has been found to increase the virulence of E. coli, thereby compromising the integrity of the intestinal epithelial barrier. Conclusions Together, there exist complex interactions between the intestinal epithelium, o-glycans, and the intestinal microbiota, which may inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Tin selenide materials have attracted much attention due to the intrinsic low thermal conductivity. However, the further application of SnSe materials is limited due to the poor electrical conductivity. Herein, a two-step doping process is employed on p-type polycrystalline SnSe materials to enhance the thermoelectric properties. It is found that the Sn0·98Ag0.01Ga0.01Se sample achieves a high ZT value of 1.53 at 823 K and a quite competitive ZTave value of 1.04 from 673 to 823 K. This is attributed to the associations of point defects, AgSn′, GaSn·, and Ga0, and nano-precipitates, SnGa4Se7, Ag9GaSe6 and AgGa1+δ. In those defects, AgSn′ acts as an accepter, which can conduce to enhancing the hole carrier concentration. Ga element doping astonishingly play dual-roles, in that it both faultlessly maintains the electrical transport properties and effectively decreases the thermal conductivity through the associations with the point defects, GaSn·, and Ga0, and nano-precipitates, SnGa4Se7, Ag9GaSe6 and AgGa1+δ. The method paves the way for achieving high thermoelectric properties in SnSe materials by the point defects engineering and nano-precipitates.

Thermal barrier coating (TBC) materials can improve energy conversion efficiency and reduce fossil fuel use. Herein, novel rare earth tantalates RETaO4, as promising candidates for TBCs, were reassembled into multi-component solid solutions with a monoclinic structure to further depress thermal conductivity via an entropy strategy. The formation mechanisms of oxygen vacancy defects, dislocations, and ferroelastic domains associated with the thermal conductivity are demonstrated by aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Compared to single-RE RETaO4 and 8YSZ, the intrinsic thermal conductivity of (5RE1/5)TaO4 was decreased by 35%–47% and 57%–69% at 1200 ℃, respectively, which is likely attributed to multi-scale phonon scattering from Umklapp phonon–phonon, point defects, domain structures, and dislocations. r¯RE3+/rTa5+ and low-temperature thermal conductivity are negatively correlated, as are the ratio of elastic modulus to thermal conductivity (E/κ) and high-temperature thermal conductivity. Meanwhile, the high defects’ concentration and lattice distortion in high-entropy ceramics enhance the scattering of transverse-wave phonons and reduce the transverse-wave sound velocity, leading to a decrease in the thermal conductivity and Young’s modulus. In addition, 5HEC-1 has ultra-low thermal conductivity, moderate thermal expansion coefficients, and high hardness among three five-component high-entropy samples. Thus, 5HEC-1 with superior thermal barrier and mechanical properties can be used as promising thermal insulating materials.

Abstract Background Gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) is classified as Siewert type II adenocarcinoma at the esophagogastric junction in Western countries. The majority of GCA patients do not exhibit early warning symptoms, leading to over 90% of diagnoses at an advanced stage, resulting in a grim prognosis, with less than a 20% 5‐year survival rate. Method Metabolic features of 276 GCA and 588 healthy controls were characterized through a widely‐targeted metabolomics by UPLC‐MS/MS analysis. This study encompasses a joint pathway analysis utilizing identified metabolites, survival analysis in both early and advanced stages, as well as high and negative and low expression of HER2 immunohistochemistry staining. Machine learning techniques and Cox regression models were employed to construct a diagnostic panel. Results A total of 25 differential metabolites were consistently identified in both discovery and validation sets based on criteria of p

Ovarian cancer remains a significant health issue worldwide, often facing limitations in treatment due to side effects and drug resistance. Tumor cells typically undergo the “Warburg effect,” preferring glycolysis, which leads to their rapid growth and survival. Metformin, a widely used diabetes medication, targets 5' adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), reducing glycolysis and thereby slowing tumor growth. Additionally, forkhead box protein K2 (FOXK2), a transcription factor often found in excess in many tumors, promotes glycolysis and tumor development. Delivering metformin and FOXK2 siRNA directly to the tumor site in the body is challenging due to the metformin's poor water solubility and the fragile nature of siRNA. To address this, zirconium and 5,10,15,20‐tetra(4‐pyridyl)porphyrin nanoparticles loaded with FOXK2 siRNA, enveloped in cell membrane, co‐encapsulated with metformin in gelatin methacrylate microspheres (ZrTCP@siFOXK2@CM/Met@GelMA) hydrogel microspheres are developed for effective dual delivery. These microspheres facilitate targeted drug delivery, photothermal therapy with near‐infrared light, and interference with glucose metabolism. These results show that infrared light combined with metformin and FOXK2 siRNA successfully activates the AMPK pathway, reducing ovarian cancer growth. This method offers a promising new direction in treatment, utilizing the complex metabolic characteristics of ovarian cancer to achieve better results.

Abstract Revealing the energy transfer (ET) process from excitons to rare earth ions in halide perovskites has great guiding value for designing optoelectronic materials. Here, the multiple ET channels in multi‐exciton emissive Sb3+/Nd3+ co‐doped Cs2ZrCl6 are explored to comprehend the ET processes. Förster–Dexter ET theory reveals that the sensitizer concentration rather than the overlap integral of the spectra plays the leading function in the comparison of the ET efficiency among multiple ET channels from the host self‐trapped excitons (STEs) and dopant triplet STEs to Nd3+ ions. Besides, Sb3+/Nd3+ co‐doped Cs2ZrCl6 enables varied color delivery and has great potential as anti‐counterfeiting material. Under X‐ray irradiation, Sb3+/Nd3+ co‐doped Cs2ZrCl6 presents a high light yield of ≈13300 photons MeV−1 and promising X‐ray imaging ability. This work provides new insight for investigating the ET efficiency among multiple ET processes and presents great potentiality of multi‐exciton emissive perovskites in the fields of anti‐counterfeiting and X‐ray imaging.

IntroductionObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder, and has become a serious threat to public health. Intermittent hypoxia caused by OSA results in a low-grade inflammatory response that leads to impaired mucosal barrier function. Claudin (CLDN) molecules are important for the permeability of the mucosal epithelium. This study aimed to explore whether CLDN molecules can be a potential biomarker of OSA.MethodsA total of 37 healthy controls and 40 OSA patients underwent a physical assessment for OSA and filled out the STOP-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Clinical specimens of plasma and urine were obtained to observe the difference between OSA patients and healthy controls and diagnostic accuracy of CLDN molecules for OSA.ResultsCLDN1, CLDN2, and CLDN3 molecules in plasma and urine decreased in OSA patients (both p < 0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of urinary CLDN1, plasma CLDN1, urinary CLDN2, plasma CLDN2, urinary CLDN3, and plasma CLDN3 were 0.887, 0.724, 0.779, 0.676, 0.828, and 0.665, respectively. The AUC of urinary CLDN1 + CLDN2 + CLDN3 was 0.906 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.831–0.981). The AUC of plasma CLDN1 + CLDN2 + CLDN3 was 0.776 (95% CI, 0.645–0.878). The AUC of urinary CLDN3 + SBQ was 0.899 (95% CI, 0.832–0.967). The AUC of urinary CLDN3 + ESS was 0.896 (95% CI, 0.826–0.966). In addition, Urinary CLDN-3 was negative associated with the severity of OSA.ConclusionCLDN molecules are promising as useful biomarkers for OSA, which may be related to the impaired barrier function related to OSA.

Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular disorder characterized by the deposition of lipids, inflammatory cascades, and plaque formation in arterial walls. A thorough understanding of its causes and progression is necessary to develop effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Recent breakthroughs in metabolomics have provided valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms and genetic factors involved in atherosclerosis, leading to innovative approaches for preventing and treating the disease. In our study, we analyzed clinical serum samples from both atherosclerosis patients and animal models using laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry. By employing methods such as orthogonal partial least-squares discrimination analysis (OPLS-DA), heatmaps, and volcano plots, we can accurately classify atherosclerosis (AUC = 0.892) and identify key molecules associated with the disease. Specifically, we observed elevated levels of arachidonic acid and its metabolite, leukotriene B4, in atherosclerosis. By inhibiting arachidonic acid and monitoring its downstream metabolites, we discovered the crucial role of this metabolic pathway in regulating atherosclerosis. Metabolomic research provides detailed insights into the metabolic networks involved in atherosclerosis development and reveals the close connection between abnormal metabolism and the disease. These studies offer new possibilities for precise diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of disease progression, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions.

Purpose: Diagnosing pulmonary embolism (PE) in older adults is relatively difficult because of the atypical clinical symptoms of PE in older adults accompanied by multiple complications. This study aimed to establish a nomogram model to better predict the occurrence of PE in older adults. Methods: Data were collected from older patients (≥65 years old) with suspected PE who were hospitalized between January 2012 and July 2021 and received confirmatory tests (computed tomographic pulmonary angiography or ventilation/perfusion scanning). The PE group and non-PE (control) group were compared using univariable and multivariable analyses to identify independent risk factors. A nomogram prediction model was constructed with independent risk factors and verified internally. The effectiveness of the nomogram model, Wells score, and revised Geneva score was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: In total, 447 eligible older patients (290 PE patients and 157 non-PE patients) were enrolled. Logistic regression analysis revealed nine independent risk factors: smoking, inflammation, dyspnea, syncope, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, indirect bilirubin, uric acid, left atrial diameter, and internal diameter of the pulmonary artery. The AUC, sensitivity, and specificity of the nomogram prediction model were 0.763 (95 % confidence interval, 0.721–0.802), 74.48 %, and 67.52 %, respectively. The nomogram showed superior AUC compared to the Wells score (0.763 vs. 0.539, P

Abstract Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of allogeneic umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (TH-SC01) for complex perianal fistula in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods This was an open-label, single-arm clinical trial conducted at Jinling Hospital. Adult patients with complex treatment-refractory CD perianal fistulas (pfCD) were enrolled and received a single intralesional injection of 120 million TH-SC01 cells. Combined remission was defined as an absence of suppuration through an external orifice, complete re-epithelization, and absence of collections larger than 2 cm measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 24 weeks after cell administration. Results A total of 10 patients were enrolled. Six patients (60.0%) achieved combined remission at 24 weeks. The number of draining fistulas decreased in 9 (90.0%) and 7 (70.0%) patients at weeks 12 and 24, respectively. Significant improvement in Perianal Crohn Disease Activity Index, Pelvic MRI-Based Score, Crohn Disease Activity Index, and quality of life score were observed at 24 weeks. No serious adverse events occurred. The probability of remaining recurrence-free was 70% at week 52. Conclusion The study demonstrated that local injection of TH-SC01 cells might be an effective and safe treatment for complex treatment-refractory pfCD after conventional and/or biological treatments fail (ClinicalTrials.gov ID, NCT04939337). Trial Registration: The study was retrospectively registered on www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04939337) on June 25, 2021.

Abstract Background This study aimed to analyze the clinical efficacy of one-stage anterior debridement of lower cervical tuberculosis using iliac crest bone graft fusion and internal fixation. Materials and methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 48 patients with lower cervical tuberculosis admitted to multiple medical centers from June 2018 to June 2021. Among them, 36 patients had lesions involving two vertebrae and 12 patients had lesions involving more than three vertebrae. All patients were treated with quadruple antituberculosis drugs for more than 2 weeks before the operation, and then treated with one-stage anterior debridement and autogenous iliac bone graft fusion combined with titanium plate internal fixation. After the operation, antituberculosis drugs were continued for 12–18 months. The patients were followed-up to observe the improvement in clinical symptoms, bone graft fusion, Cobb angle, visual analog score (VAS), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), wound healing, and neurological function. Results The patients were followed-up for 13–43 months, with an average of 21.46 ± 1.52 months. The clinical symptoms significantly improved after the operation. The bone graft was completely fused in all patients, and the bone fusion time was 3–6 months, with an average of 4.16 ± 0.47 months. At the last follow-up, the Cobb angle, VAS, ESR, and CRP level were significantly lower than those before surgery (P

Abstract To explore the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as a treatment approach for ulcerative colitis (UC), a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials was conducted. To collect and evaluate randomized controlled trials of high quality on FMT for UC, we searched a number of databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, and Medline, for studies published between the establishment of the databases and March 2023. We conducted a meta-analysis of the studies using Review Manager software (version 5.4.1) to determine the differences in rates of remission and adverse reactions between the FMT group and the control group, utilizing the risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) to combine our findings. A total of 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of FMT in patients with UC were included in the study, in which 580 patients participated, including 293 patients treated with FMT and 287 control subjects. Meta-analysis revealed that clinical remission was significantly better in the FMT group than in the control group [RR = 1.73; 95% CI = (1.41, 2.12); P

Abstract We previously presented day 29 interim safety and immunogenicity results from a phase 2/3 study (NCT04927065) comparing the Omicron-BA.1-containing bivalent vaccine mRNA-1273.214 (50-µg) to the 50-µg mRNA-1273 booster in adults who previously received the mRNA-1273 primary series (100-µg) and mRNA-1273 first booster (50-µg) dose. Primary endpoints were safety, non-inferiority of the neutralizing antibody (nAb) and seroresponse against Omicron BA.1, superiority of the nAb response against Omicron-BA.1, and non-inferiority of the nAb response against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 for second boosters of mRNA-1273.214 versus mRNA-1273 at days 29 and 91. The key secondary endpoint was the seroresponse difference of mRNA-1273.214 versus mRNA-1273 against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 at days 29 and day 91. Participants were sequentially enrolled and dosed with 50-µg of mRNA-1273 (n = 376) or mRNA-1273.214 (n = 437) as second booster doses. Here we present day 91 post-booster results. In participants with no pre-booster, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-infection (SARS-CoV-2), mRNA-1273.214 elicited Omicron-BA.1-nAb titers (95% confidence interval [CI]) that were significantly higher (964.4 [834.4-1114.7]) than those of mRNA-1273 (624.2 [533.1-730.9]) and similar to those of mRNA-1273 against ancestral SARS-CoV-2 at day 91. mRNA-1273.214 also induced higher binding antibody responses against Omicron BA.1 and alpha, gamma and delta variants than mRNA-1273. Safety profiles were similar for both vaccines. The Omicron-BA.1 bivalent vaccine improved antibody responses compared to mRNA-1273 through 90 days post-booster.

Effective manipulations of thermal expansion and conductivity are significant for improving operational performances of protective coatings, thermoelectric, and radiators. This work uncovers determinant mechanisms of the thermal expansion and conductivity of symbiotic ScTaO4/SmTaO4 composites as thermal/environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs), and we consider the effects of interface stress and thermal resistance. The weak bonding and interface stress among composite grains manipulate coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) stretching from 6.4×10−6 to 10.7×10−6 K−1 at 1300 ℃, which gets close to that of substrates in T/EBC systems. The multiscale effects, including phonon scattering at the interface, mitigation of the phonon speed (vp), and lattice point defects, synergistically depress phonon thermal transports, and we estimate the proportions of different parts. The interface thermal resistance (R) reduces the thermal conductivity (k) by depressing phonon speed and scattering phonons because of different acoustic properties and weak bonding between symbiotic ScTaO4 and SmTaO4 ceramics in the composites. This study proves that CTE of tantalates can be artificially regulated to match those of different substrates to expand their applications, and the uncovered multiscale effects can be used to manipulate thermal transports of various materials.

In the current context of rapid Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing technology development, the Single Packet Authorization (SPA) protocol faces increasing challenges, such as security threats from Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. To address these issues, we propose the Advanced Network-Hiding Access Control (AHAC) framework, designed to enhance security by reducing network environment exposure and providing secure access methods. AHAC introduces an independent control surface as the access proxy service and combines it with a noise generation mechanism for encrypted access schemes, replacing the traditional RSA signature method used in SPA protocols. This framework significantly improves system security, reduces computational costs, and enhances key verification efficiency. The AHAC framework addresses several limitations inherent in SPA: users need to know the IP address of resources in advance, exposing the resource address to potential attacks; SPA’s one-way authentication mechanism is insufficient for multi-level authentication in dynamic environments; deploying the knocking module and protected resources on the same host can lead to resource exhaustion and service unavailability under heavy loads; and SPA often uses high-overhead encryption algorithms like RSA2048. To counter these limitations, AHAC separates the Port Knocking module from the access control module, supports mutual authentication, and implements an extensible two-way communication mechanism. It also employs ECC and ECDH algorithms, enhancing security while reducing computational costs. We conducted extensive experiments to validate AHAC’s performance, high availability, extensibility, and compatibility. The experiments compared AHAC with traditional SPA in terms of time cost and performance.

The efficient separation of photogenerated charge carriers and strong oxidizing properties can improve photocatalytic performance. Here, we combine the construction of a tightly connected S-scheme heterojunction with the exposure of an active crystal plane to prepare g-C3N4/BiOBr for the degradation of high-concentration organic pollutants. This strategy effectively improves the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers and the number of active sites. Notably, the synthesized g-C3N4/BiOBr displays excellent photocatalytic degradation activity towards various organic pollutants, including methylene blue (MB, 90.8%), congo red (CR, 99.2%), and tetracycline (TC, 89%). Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation performance of g-C3N4/BiOBr for MB maintains 80% efficiency under natural water quality (tap water, lake water, river water), and a wide pH range (pH = 4–10). Its excellent photocatalytic activity is attributed to the tight connection between g-C3N4 and BiOBr in the S-scheme heterojunction interface, as well as the exposure of highly active (001) crystal planes. These improve the efficiency of the separation of photogenerated carriers, and maintain their strong oxidation capability. This work presents a simple approach to improving the separation of electrons and holes by tightly combining two components within a heterojunction.

Chickens are sensitive to heat stress because their capacity to dissipate body heat is low. Hence, in chickens, excessive ambient temperature negatively influences their reproductive performance and health. Heat stress induces inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby rendering many reproductive organs dysfunctional. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the supplementation of dietary quercetin and vitamin E on the uterine function, eggshell quality via estrogen concentration, calcium metabolism, and antioxidant status of the uterus of laying hens under heat stress. The ambient temperature transformation was set at 34 ± 2 °C for 8 h/d (9:00 am–5:00 pm), which was followed by 22 °C to 28 °C for 16 h/d. Throughout the experiment, the relative humidity in the chicken’s pen was at 50 to 65%. A total of 400 Tianfu breeder hens (120-days-old) were randomly divided into four dietary experimental groups, including basal diet (Control); basal diet + 0.4 g/kg quercetin; basal diet + 0.2 g/kg vitamin E; and basal diet + the combination of quercetin (0.4 g/kg) and vitamin E (0.2 g/kg). The results show that the combination of quercetin and vitamin E significantly increased the serum alkaline phosphatase levels and the antioxidant status of the uterus (p < 0.05). In addition, the combination of quercetin and vitamin E significantly increased the concentrations of serum estrogen and progesterone, as well as elevated the expression of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone-1 and follicular cytochrome P450 family 19 subfamily A member-1 (p < 0.05). We also found that the calcium levels of the serum and uterus were significantly increased by the synergistic effects of quercetin and vitamin E (p < 0.05), and they also increased the expression of Ca2+-ATPase and the mRNA expression of calcium-binding-related genes in the uterus (p < 0.05). These results are consistent with the increased eggshell quality of the laying hens under heat stress. Further, the combination of quercetin and vitamin E significantly increased the uterine morphological characteristics, such as the height of the uterine mucosal fold and the length of the uterine mucosa villus of the heat-stressed laying hens. These results collectively improve the uterine function, serum and uterine calcium concentration, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness (p < 0.05) in heat-stressed laying hens. Taken together, we demonstrated in the present study that supplementing the combination of dietary quercetin and vitamin E alleviated the effects of heat stress and improved calcium metabolism, hormone synthesis, and uterine function in the heat-stressed laying hens. Thus, the supplementation of the combination of quercetin and vitamin E alleviates oxidative stress in the eggshell gland of heat-stressed laying hens, thereby promoting calcium concentration in the serum and eggshell gland, etc., in laying hens. Hence, the combination of quercetin and vitamin E promotes the reproductive performance of the laying hens under heat stress and can also be used as a potent anti-stressor in laying hens.