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Abstract Varicella is endemic worldwide. In China, varicella has not yet been included in the list of legal infectious diseases, nor has a unified national surveillance program been established. And the live attenuated varicella vaccine has not been included in routine immunization. In this study, we analyzed for the first time the varicella epidemiology in Jilin Province in the past 20 years, and the nucleotide site, amino acid site and N-glycosylation site variation of glycoprotein in varicella-zoster virus (VZV) surface 9 in the past 15 years. The results showed that the reported incidence of varicella in Jilin Province in the last 20 years was fluctuating above and below 20/100,000, especially after the epidemic of the COVID-19, and fatal cases appeared in individual years. The genotypic branching of VZV was monitored as Clade 2 in the last 15 years. 9 glycogen nucleotide sites of VZV had different degrees of variability, and the variability had specificity. Therefore, it gives us the idea that in order to reduce the incidence of varicella and herpes zoster, a provincial or even national surveillance program should be introduced as early as possible, and the dynamic monitoring of the variability of the nucleotide sites of VZV should be strengthened at the same time as the vaccine immunization strategy is introduced.

Abstract Background Our previous study has demonstrated a decreased colonic CD8+CD39+ T cells, enrichment of granzyme A (GZMA), was found in pediatric-onset colitis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) characterized by impaired intestinal barrier function. However, the influence of GZMA on intestinal barrier function remains unknown. Methods Western blotting(WB), real-time PCR (qPCR), immunofluorescence (IF) and in vitro permeability assay combined with intestinal organoid culture were used to detect the effect of GZMA on intestinal epithelial barrier function in vivo and in vitro. Luciferase, immunoprecipitation (IP) and subcellular fractionation isolation were performed to identify the mechanism through which GZMA modulated intestinal epithelial barrier function. Results Herein, we, for the first time, demonstrated that CD8+CD39+ T cells promoted intestinal epithelial barrier function through GZMA, leading to induce Occludin(OCLN) and Zonula Occludens-1(ZO-1) expression, which was attributed to enhanced CDX2-mediated cell differentiation caused by increased glutathione peroxidase 4(GPX4)-induced ferroptosis inhibition in vivo and in vitro. Mechanically, GZMA inhibited intestinal epithelial cellular PDE4B activation to trigger cAMP/PKA/CREB cascade signaling to increase CREB nuclear translocation, initiating GPX4 transactivity. In addition, endogenous PKA interacted with CREB, and this interaction was enhanced in response to GZMA. Most importantly, administration of GZMA could alleviate DSS-induced colitis in vivo. Conclusion These findings extended the novel insight of GZMA contributed to intestinal epithelial cell differentiation to improve barrier function, and enhacement of GZMA could be a promising strategy to patients with IBD.

AIM: To compare the effects of defocus incorporated multiple segments(DIMS)lens with highly aspherical lenslets(HAL)on delaying the progression of myopia in adolescents.METHODS: Clinical randomized controlled study. Totally 301 students aged 7-12 who underwent optometry in our hospital from January 2021 to June 2023 were randomly divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 154 patients who were fitted with DIMS lenses(DIMS group). In the second group, 147 cases were fitted with HAL(HAL group). Both groups used 0.01% atropine eye drops to control myopia and all students wore glasses for more than 12 h every day. The spherical equivalent(SE)and axial length(AL)after rapid mydriasis were recorded. The data of the right eyes were taken, and the results after fitting for 12 mo were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: Multiple linear regression analysis showed that baseline age was significantly correlated with the changes of SE and AL(all P

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation induces skin photoaging, which manifests as oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen degradation. Multiple approaches (topical or systemic retinoids, antioxidants, alpha-hydroxy acids, laser, surgery) are used in the treatment of photoaged skin, and the use of topical retinoids is currently a primary clinical treatment. Previous studies revealed that retinoic acid promotes keratinocyte proliferation and reduces melanin deposition and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) secretion; it also causes potential allergic and inflammatory damage to the skin. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of trifarotene, a functional retinoic acid analog, on UV-irradiated photoaging ICR and BALB/c nude mice and UVB photodamaged human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells by examining indicators such as collagen, oxidoreductase, and inflammatory factor presence through histochemical staining, Western blot, and ELISA. Results suggested that trifarotene significantly reduced UV-induced photoaging in mouse skin tissue, potentially by reducing oxidative stress damage and inflammatory factor release, and inhibiting melanin deposition and collagen degradation by downregulating MMP expression. Concentrations of malondialdehyde, tyrosinase, interleukin-6, interleukin- 12, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in photoaged skin decreased, while SOD content in photodamaged HaCaT cells significantly increased. Trifarotene (3.3 μmol L–1) inhibited phosphorylated JNK and c-Jun expression both independently and collaboratively with the JNK activator anisomycin, demonstrating that trifarotene mitigates UV-induced collagen degradation and apoptosis through inhibition of the JNK/c-Jun/MMPs signaling pathway.

Taste is an important quality attribute of tea. In order to find out the taste quality of green teas made from the major varieties in Wanzhou district, Chongqing, the taste profile of the tea infusions was determined by sensory evaluation and 5 taste components including catechins, free amino acids, alkaloids, flavanols and their glycosides, and organic acids were analyzed by targeted detection methods. The results showed that there were obvious differences in the taste quality of green teas prepared from the 4 varieties of tea trees. Sichuan middle- and small-leafed tea group variety had a strong taste, and ‘Anji Baicha’ had an obvious fresh and brisk taste with mellow sweet aftertaste. ‘Fuding Dabaicha’ tasted strong with fresh and brisk taste and mellow sweet aftertaste. ‘Zhonghuang 1’ tasted fresh and brisk but less strong. The results of taste component analysis showed that the Sichuan middle- and small-leafed tea group variety contained high contents of catechins but low contents of free amino acids. ‘Anji Baicha’ had the highest content of free amino acids. The content of each flavor component was high in ‘Fuding Dabaicha’, and the contents of total flavor components and water extract of ‘Zhonghuang 1’ were low. The results of principal component analysis (PCA) showed that the 4 varieties could be well distinguished. Thirteen major taste contributors such as rutin and caffeine were identified. The differential analysis indicated that aspartic acid, glutamic acid and theanine were the major contributors to the fresh and brisk taste characteristics of ‘Anji Baicha’ and ‘Fuding Dabaicha’. Yangmeiin-3-O-galactoside and chrysin were the major taste contributors for ‘Zhonghuang 1’ that distinguished it from the other 3 varieties. There were also large differences in taste components within the Sichuan middle- and small-leafed tea group variety, with samples C4 and C5 being closer to each other. They both contained high contents of flavonoid glycosides, having a strong astringent taste. This study provides a reference for research to improve the flavor quality of green tea in Wanzhou district.

Abstract Background Since 2020, China has piloted an innovative payment method known as the Diagnosis-Intervention Packet (DIP). This study aimed to assess the impact of the DIP on inpatient volume and bed allocation and their regional distribution. This study investigated whether the DIP affects the efficiency of regional health resource utilization and contributes to disparities in health equity among regions. Methods We collected data from a central province in China from 2019 to 2022. The treatment group included 508 hospitals in the pilot area (Region A, where the DIP was implemented in 2021), whereas the control group consisted of 3,728 hospitals from non-pilot areas within the same province. We employed the difference-in-differences method to analyze inpatient volume and bed resources. Additionally, we conducted a stratified analysis to examine whether the effects of DIP implementation varied across urban and rural areas or hospitals of different levels. Results Compared with the non-pilot regions, Region A experienced a statistically significant reduction in inpatient volume of 14.3% (95% CI 0.061–0.224) and a notable decrease of 9.1% in actual available bed days (95% CI 0.041–0.141) after DIP implementation. The study revealed no evidence of patient consultations shifting from inpatient to outpatient services due to the reduction in hospital admissions in Region A after DIP implementation. Stratified analysis revealed that inpatient volume decreased by 12.4% (95% CI 0.006–0.243) in the urban areas and 14.7% in the rural areas of Region A (95% CI 0.051–0.243). At the hospital level, primary hospitals experienced the greatest impact, with a 19.0% (95% CI 0.093–0.287) decline in inpatient volume. Furthermore, primary and tertiary hospitals experienced significant reductions of 11.0% (95% CI 0.052–0.169) and 8.2% (95% CI 0.002–0.161), respectively, in actual available bed days. Conclusions Despite efforts to curb excessive medical service expansion in the region following DIP implementation, large hospitals continue to attract a large number of patients from primary hospitals. This weakening of primary hospitals and the subsequent influx of patients to urban areas may further limit rural patients’ access to medical services. The implementation of the DIP may raise concerns about its impact on health care equality and accessibility, particularly for underserved rural populations.

Abstract [Objective] The study aims to further study the leaf morphology and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of Actinidia arguta under greenhouse cultivation conditions, and to explore the differences of leaf photomorphogenesis between greenhouse and open field cultivation. [Methods] In this experiment, the 5-year-old plants of A . arguta varieties ‘Jialv’ and ‘Kuilv’ were used as test materials to determine the relative chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of leaves at different leaf ages under greenhouse and open field cultivation conditions. The differences in photomorphogenesis and chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics under greenhouse and open field cultivation conditions were analyzed. [Results] The photomorphogenesis of A . arguta cultivated in greenhouse and open field was between 1- 40 d leaf age, and the fluorescence characteristics of the same variety under different cultivation conditions tended to be consistent. After flowering, the fluorescence characteristics of the same variety under different cultivation conditions were quite different. The leaf area of A . arguta cultivated in greenhouse was larger and the content of chlorophyll b was higher, which was tending to shade leaf characteristics. The performance parameters such as PIabs were significantly lower than those of open field cultivation. The absorption and capture ability of light energy was stronger, but the heat dissipation was higher. The energy used for electron transfer was lower than that of open field cultivation, and the chlorophyll fluorescence parameters showed adaptive changes to the environment. [Conclusion] The photomorphogenesis time of A . arguta leaves is 1-40 days after leaf expansion, that is, before flowering. The photomorphogenesis of A . arguta leaves in greenhouse cultivation is different from open field cultivation, and the photosynthetic capacity is decreased slightly with the increase of leaf area. Greenhouse cultivation changes in the chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics of leaves to a certain extent and reduces photosynthetic performance.

Taking the down-slope with weak strata in the south of Fushun west open-pit mine as the reference prototype, numerical simulations of the down-slope with weak strata were conducted through FLAC3D software, which included the simulation of actual ground motion and ground motion input, the boundary conditions of slope model, rock mass parameters, and grid model division. The response rule of down-slope with weak strata under an earthquake was investigated by analyzing the acceleration and velocity of the monitoring points. The results revealed that: (1) The thickness of the weak layer is a critical factor affecting the response characteristics of the slope with a single weak layer under an earthquake, and it has a greater impact on the stability of the slope under earthquake load than the dip angle of a single weak layer. (2) Based on the horizontal velocity of monitoring point 2# at the intersection of the weak layer and the slope surface, it was concluded that the thickness has a significant influence on the velocity in the X direction. (3) The failure response law at the intersection of weak layers and slope changes with an increase in slope height when analyzing the response law of the double weak layer characteristic slope under an earthquake. The acceleration amplitude and velocity change degree of monitoring point 3# with double weak layers are more noticeable than that of monitoring point 2#. The response law of the down-slope under an earthquake is related to the dip angle, thickness, number, and location of weak layers. Therefore, the coupling effect of earthquake and weak layer characteristics on slope stability should be thoroughly considered in the process of slope treatment and protection.

Abstract Background Since 2020, China has implemented an innovative payment method called Diagnosis-Intervention Packet (DIP) in 71 cities nationwide. This study aims to assess the impact of DIP on medical expenditure, efficiency, and quality for inpatients covered by the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) and Urban and Rural Residents Basic Medical Insurance (URRBMI). It seeks to explore whether there are differences in these effects among inpatients of the two insurance types, thereby further understanding its implications for health equity. Materials and methods We conducted interrupted time series analyses on outcome variables reflecting medical expenditure, efficiency, and quality for both UEBMI and URRBMI inpatients, based on a dataset comprising 621,125 inpatient reimbursement records spanning from June 2019 to June 2023 in City A. This dataset included 110,656 records for UEBMI inpatients and 510,469 records for URRBMI inpatients. Results After the reform, the average expenditure per hospital admission for UEBMI inpatients did not significantly differ but continued to follow an upward pattern. In contrast, for URRBMI inpatients, the trend shifted from increasing before the reform to decreasing after the reform, with a decline of 0.5%. The average length of stay for UEBMI showed no significant changes after the reform, whereas there was a noticeable downward trend in the average length of stay for URRBMI. The out-of-pocket expenditure (OOP) per hospital admission, 7-day all-cause readmission rate and 30-day all-cause readmission rate for both UEBMI and URRBMI inpatients showed a downward trend after the reform. Conclusion The DIP reform implemented different upper limits on budgets based on the type of medical insurance, leading to varying post-treatment prices for UEBMI and URRBMI inpatients within the same DIP group. After the DIP reform, the average expenditure per hospital admission and the average length of stay remained unchanged for UEBMI inpatients, whereas URRBMI inpatients experienced a decrease. This trend has sparked concerns about hospitals potentially favoring UEBMI inpatients. Encouragingly, both UEBMI and URRBMI inpatients have seen positive outcomes in terms of alleviating patient financial burdens and enhancing the quality of care.

In order to solve the problem of interruption in the positioning of roadheader in the case that the optical target is blocked under the current commonly used integrated navigation positioning of roadheader based on 'inertial navigation+visual measurement+optical target', a positioning solution method for roadheader under optical target occlusion occlusion is proposed. Firstly, the method collects images of an optical target composed of four rectangular distributed target points in unblocked conditions, obtains the pixel coordinates of the imaging spot of the target points in the camera, and constructs a rectangle. Then, the method expands and constructs an auxiliary rectangular area box according to a certain proportion. Secondly, the method collects images of partially blocked target points, obtains the pixel coordinates of the imaging spot of the unblocked target points in the camera. The method determines the corresponding relationship between the unblocked target points and the imaging spot based on the Euclidean distance between the imaging spot of the target points and the vertex of the auxiliary rectangular area box, thereby determining the blocked target points. Thirdly, using the known geometric dimensions of the target and the target attitude information provided by inertial navigation, the method establishes the corresponding relationship between the projected target point and the imaging spot, and then solves for the pixel coordinates of the spot corresponding to the blocked target point. Finally, the spatial coordinates of the center position of the optical target are obtained using the perspective-N-point (PNP) algorithm to achieve the positioning solution of the roadheader. The experimental results show that when the optical target is blocked, by calculating the pixel coordinates of the light spot corresponding to the blocked target point, the problem of interruption in the positioning of the roadheader can be solved. It ensures the real-time positioning of the roadheader, and the positioning error meets the actual positioning requirements of the roadheader.

Objective: To improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of oyster grading. Methods: The oyster automatic grading equipment was proposed and designed, the oyster queuing structure combining the rotating drum and the baffle conveyor belt, the grading method combining weight detection and machine vision detection were determined, and the overall structure design of the oyster grading equipment was completed. The oyster image was collected by industrial camera, and the oyster image was extracted by Otsu binarization, Gaussian filtering processing, Canny operator edge extraction and other methods. The oyster was graded by machine vision algorithm with length and fullness as the standard, and the comparison test between machine vision grading and manual grading were carried out. Results: The machine vision classification accuracy of oysters was 95.4%, and the image detection speed was about 0.647 s/image. Conclusion: Machine vision is effective for oyster grading and can classify oysters more accurately.

Abstract Prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs) are a family of key modifying enzymes in collagen synthesis. P4Hs have been confirmed to be closely associated with tumor occurrence and development. However, the expression of P4Hs in head and neck cancer (HNSC) as well as its relationship with prognosis and tumor immunity infiltration has not yet been analyzed. We investigated the transcriptional expression, survival data, and immune infiltration of P4Hs in patients with HNSC from multiple databases. P4H1-3 expression was significantly higher in HNSC tumor tissues than in normal tissues. Moreover, P4HA1 and P4HA2 were associated with tumor stage, patient prognosis, and immune cell infiltration. P4HA3 was related to patient prognosis and immune cell infiltration. Correlation experiments confirmed that P4HA1 may serve as a prognosis biomarker and plays a role in the progression of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These findings suggest that P4HA1-3 may be a novel biomarker for the prognosis and treatment of HNSC, which is expected to support the development of new therapies for patients with head and neck tumors and improve patient outcomes.

Soybean soluble dietary fiber (SSDF) was extracted from soy sauce residue and soybean meal. The influence of SSDF on the physicochemical stability and digestive characteristics of soybean oil body (SOB) lotion was investigated by taking the absolute value of Zeta potential, average particle size, peroxide value (POV value), thiobarbituric acid value (TBARS value) and fatty acid release rate (FFA) as characteristic parameters. The results showed that certain concentration of SSDF could effectively reduce the Zeta potential, average particle size, POV value, TBARS value of SOB lotion system, and significantly improve the physical and chemical stability of SOB lotion. In addition, in vitro simulated digestion experiments further showed that the introduction of SSDF can significantly reduce the FFA release rate of SOB emulsion, which effectively delayed the digestion process of lipids in the gastrointestinal tract. This study can provide theoretical basis and reference for the high-value utilization of soybean processing by- products such as soy sauce oil residue and soybean meal, which could improve the processing applicability of SOB, and develop new low-fat health foods containing SOB and SSDF.

Exercise-induced anaphylaxis (EIA) is a rare and potentially life-threatening disorder. In difficult to control and refractory cases of EIA, biologics such as omalizumab and dupilumab have shown promise, with documented successful outcomes. Here, we present a case of EIA with lipid transfer protein (LTP) sensitization successfully treated with omalizumab with long-term follow-up. A 12-year-old girl presented to our allergy department because of recurrent episodes of EIA, with no specific food ingestion before exercise. Allergen testing revealed sensitization to weed pollens, particularly mugwort (76.1 kUA/L) and Alternaria alternata (10.8 kUA/L). Allergen component testing indicated sensitization to LTP components from mugwort Art v 3 (49.9 kUA/L), wheat Tri a 14 (2.03 kUA/L), and peach Pru p 3 (11.5 kUA/L), with a negative result for omega-5 gliadin. Despite initial prophylactic treatment with budesonide–formoterol (80/4.5 μg) and cetirizine (10 mg) before exercise, the patient still experienced EIA; she was then recommended for dupilumab therapy (an initial dose of 600 mg, followed by 300 mg every 2 weeks for six doses). However, even while undergoing dupilumab therapy, she suffered two anaphylactic episodes after running 800–1,000 m. With the patient's consent, a trial of omalizumab was initiated (injections of 300 mg every 4 weeks). After 2 months of omalizumab therapy, the patient showed significant improvement. She had been engaging in physical exercise three times a week and experienced a mild episode of urticaria. There were no further episodes of anaphylaxis or emergency room visits. By the fourth month of omalizumab treatment, she was able to consume food normally even just before exercising and had returned to her full activity level without any restrictions. This case presents the first successful off-label use of omalizumab in the prevention of EIA in the Chinese population. It is concluded that omalizumab may be helpful in resolving EIA symptoms, as evidenced by this case of successful long-term use.

Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae (hvKp) have emerged as clinically important pathogens, posing a serious threat to human health. RfaH, a transcriptional elongation factor, has been regarded as implicated in facilitating the transcription of long virulence operons in certain bacterial species. In K. pneumoniae, RfaH plays a vital role in promoting CPS synthesis and hypermucoviscosity, as well as mediating bacterial fitness during lung infection. In this study, we aim to conduct a systematic investigation of the roles of rfaH in the survival, dissemination, and colonization of hvKp through in vitro and in vivo assays. We found that bacterial cells and colonies displayed capsule -deficient phenotypes subsequent to the deletion of rfaH in K. pneumoniae NTUH-K2044. We confirmed that rfaH is required for the synthesis of capsule and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by positively regulating the expression of CPS and LPS gene clusters. We found that the ΔrfaH mutant led to a significantly decreased mortality of K. pneumoniae in a mouse intraperitoneal infection model. We further demonstrated that the absence of rfaH was associated with slower bacterial growth under conditions of low nutrition or iron limitation. ΔrfaH displayed reduced survival rates in the presence of human serum. Besides, the engulfment of the ΔrfaH mutant was significantly higher than that of NTUH-K2044 by macrophages in vivo, indicating an indispensable role of RfaH in the phagocytosis resistance of hvKp in mice. Both mouse intranasal and intraperitoneal infection models revealed a higher bacterial clearance rate of ΔrfaH in lungs, livers, and spleens of mice compared to its wild type, suggesting an important role of RfaH in the bacterial survival, dissemination, and colonization of hvKp in vivo. Histopathological results supported that RfaH contributes to the pathogenicity of hvKp in mice. In conclusion, our study demonstrates crucial roles of RfaH in the survival, colonization and full virulence of hvKp, which provides several implications for the development of RfaH as an antibacterial target.

The prevalence of drought events worldwide emphasizes the importance of screening and cultivating drought-adapted crops. In this study, 206 germplasm resources were used as materials, dry weight as target trait, and two genotyping methods as criteria to evaluate drought adaptability at the seedling establishment stage. The results showed a significant decrease in average dry weight of the tested germplasm resources (from 746.90 mg to 285.40 mg) and rich variation in the responses of dry weight among each genotype to drought (CV=61.14%). In traditional evaluation method, drought resistance coefficient (DC), geometric mean productivity index (GMP), mean productivity index (MP), stress susceptibility index (SSI), stress tolerance index (STI), and tolerance index (TOL) also exhibited diversity in tested genotypes (CV>30%). However, these indices showed varying degrees of explanation for dry weight under stress and non-stress environments and failed to differentiate drought adaptability among genotypes clearly. In new evaluation method, four stress indices were developed to quantify barley seedling production and stability capacities. Compared to traditional stress indices, the stress production index (SI) explained dry weight more comprehensively under stress conditions (R2 = 0.98), while the ideal production index (II) explained dry weight better under non-stress conditions (R2 = 0.89). Furthermore, the potential index (PI) and elasticity index (EI) eliminated disparities in traditional stress indices and comprehensively clarified the contribution of elasticity and potential to production capacity under drought stress. Ultimately, through grading evaluation and cluster analysis, the tested germplasm resources were effectively categorized, and 11 genotypes were identified as suitable for cultivation in arid areas. Overall, the comprehensive evaluation method based on the newly developed stress indices surpasses the traditional method in screening drought adaptability of crops and serves as a vital tool for identifying high-stability and high-production capacities genotypes in various environments, which is expected to provide practical guidance for barley planting and breeding in arid areas.

Background: Nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor, is critically involved in the regulation of oxidative stress and inflammation. However, the role of endothelial Nrf2 in atherogenesis has yet to be defined. In addition, how endothelial Nrf2 is activated and whether Nrf2 can be targeted for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis is not explored. Methods: RNA-sequencing and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of mouse atherosclerotic aortas were used to identify the differentially expressed genes. In vivo endothelial cell (EC)-specific activation of Nrf2 was achieved by injecting adeno-associated viruses into ApoE−/− mice, while EC-specific knockdown of Nrf2 was generated in Cdh5CreCas9floxed-stopApoE−/− mice. Results: Endothelial inflammation appeared as early as on day 3 after feeding of a high cholesterol diet (HCD) in ApoE−/− mice, as reflected by mRNA levels, immunostaining and global mRNA profiling, while the immunosignal of the end-product of lipid peroxidation (LPO), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), started to increase on day 10. TNF-α, 4-HNE, and erastin (LPO inducer), activated Nrf2 signaling in human ECs by increasing the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2 target genes. Knockdown of endothelial Nrf2 resulted in augmented endothelial inflammation and LPO, and accelerated atherosclerosis in Cdh5CreCas9floxed-stopApoE−/− mice. By contrast, both EC-specific and pharmacological activation of Nrf2 inhibited endothelial inflammation, LPO, and atherogenesis. Conclusions: Upon HCD feeding in ApoE−/− mice, endothelial inflammation is an earliest event, followed by the appearance of LPO. EC-specific activation of Nrf2 inhibits atherosclerosis while EC-specific knockdown of Nrf2 results in the opposite effect. Pharmacological activators of endothelial Nrf2 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

To address the challenges of secure and reliable communication and system quality of service (QoS) prediction in intelligent production lines (IPL) in the Industrial Intelligent Internet of Things (II-IOT) environment, a redundant collaborative security model-based communication architecture is designed. First, the redundant collaborative security communication model is introduced to construct the network communication architecture of IPL, including the industrial-site mechanical floor, data awareness layer, and gateway and application layer. Then, to leverage the advantages of the empirical-mode decomposition (EMD) method and the bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) model in time-series data analysis and processing, an EMD-BiLSTM-based QoS prediction model is proposed that can synchronously achieve one-step and multi-step prediction of QoS attributes. The proposed model exhibits a prediction accuracy of up to 94.01% on the SourceForge dataset, with prediction, recall, and F1 values as high as 91.37, 90.60, and 90.99%, respectively. The proposed EMD-BiLSTM model can achieve better performance than the state-of-the-art QoS prediction models, indicating that the proposed model can be more effectively used to improve the reliable communication level of II-IoT.

Abstract Background China initiated the Medical Alliances (MAs) reform to enhance resource allocation efficiency and ensure equitable healthcare. In response to challenges posed by the predominance of public hospitals, the reform explores public-private partnerships within the MAs. Notably, private hospitals can now participate as either leading or member institutions. This study aims to evaluate the dynamic shifts in market share between public and private hospitals across diverse MAs models. Methods Data spanning April 2017 to March 2019 for Dangyang County’s MA and January 2018 to December 2019 for Qianjiang County’s MA were analyzed. Interrupted periods occurred in April 2018 and January 2019. Using independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and interrupted time series analysis (ITSA), we compared the proportion of hospital revenue, the proportion of visits for treatment, and the average hospitalization days of discharged patients between leading public hospitals and leading private hospitals, as well as between member public hospitals and member private hospitals before and after the reform. Results After the MAs reform, the revenue proportion decreased for leading public and private hospitals, while member hospitals saw an increase. However, ITSA revealed a notable rise trend in revenue proportion for leading private hospitals (p

Subdural abscesses are located between the dura mater and the subarachnoid space， which are primarily caused by Staphylococci and Streptococci， etc. Subdural abscesses caused by Salmonella Typhi are extremely rare. In this article， a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome （AIDS） presented with a subdural abscess with fever and headache. Blood culture and next-generation sequencing （NGS） of cerebrospinal fluid were indicative of Salmonella Typhi infection. He was treated with sensitive antibiotics based on drug sensitivity testing combined with surgical drainage， and Salmonella Typhi was cultured in the drainage sample. During 4-month postoperative follow-up， relevant symptoms were mitigated and imaging examination results were normal. This case prompts that intracranial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi is extremely rare， which can occur in immunocompromised population. Blood culture， pus culture and NGS are of significant value in differential diagnosis of Salmonella Typhi infection. After the diagnosis is confirmed， sensitive antibiotics combined with surgical treatment can achieve high efficacy.

In this article, the experimental and finite element analysis is utilized to investigate the quasi-static compression features of sandwich constructions built with tapered tubes. 3D printing technology was utilized to create the hollow centers of the tapering tubes, with and without corrugations. The results demonstrate that the energy absorption (EA) and specific energy absorption (SEA) of the single corrugated tapered tube sandwich are 51.6% and 19.8% higher, respectively, than those of the conical tube sandwich. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that energy absorbers can benefit from corrugation in order to increase their efficiency. Additionally, the tapered corrugated tubes’ resistance to oblique impacts was studied. Compared to a straight tube, the tapered tube is more resistant to oblique loads and has a lower initial peak crushing force (PCF), according to numerical simulations. After conducting a parametric study, it was discovered that the energy absorption performance of the sandwich construction is significantly affected by the amplitude, number of corrugations, and wall thickness. EA and SEA of DTS with corrugation number of 8 increased by 17.4% and 29.6%, respectively, while PCF decreased by 9.2% compared to DTS with corrugation number of 10.

【Objective】 Crop coefficient and soil evaporation are two important parameters for calculating evapotranspiration in terrestrial ecosystems but they are dependent on many factors. In this paper, we investigate their correlation for a forage grassland. 【Method】 The experiment was conducted in a forage grassland (Triticale and Oat) irrigated by sprinkler irrigation at the Lhasa Valley. Evapotranspiration (ET) was measured from a micro-lysimeter and the potential evapotranspiration was calculated using the PM method. The ratio of the former to the latter was the ground-truth crop coefficient (Kc). This crop coefficient was used to evaluate the single-crop coefficient estimated using the modified PM method. We also measured the inter-plant soil evaporation (E) using an in-house instrument to estimate the E/ET ratio. The relationship between Kcand E/ET, as well as their dependence on leaf area index (LAI) and SPAD were established. 【Result】 Using the correction method recommended by FAO-56, the crop coefficient of Triticale and Oat in the Lhasa valley at initial, middle and end of their growth stage was Kc ini=0.45, Kc mid=1.22 and Kc end=0.49 for the Triticale, and Kc ini=0.94, Kc mid=1.16 and Kc end=0.31 for the Oat. For the Triticale, soil evaporation accounted for 44.8% of the evapotranspiration during the whole growth, and 93.4%, 94.8%, 61.8%, 22.2% and 13.8% during the seedling-overwintering, overwintering-replanting, replanting-jointing, jointing-heading and heading-mowing stage, respectively. For the Oat, soil evaporation accounted for 98.9%, 79.1%, 31.7% and 16.8% of the evapotranspiration from seedling to tillering, tiller to jointing, jointing to heading and heading to mowing stages, respectively. Overall, soil evaporation accounted for more than 44% of the evapotranspiration and it is hence potential to improve water use efficiency by reducing soil respiration. The measured crop coefficient and the ratio of soil evaporation to evapotranspiration were significantly correlated with LAI and SPAD linearly or nonlinearly. 【Conclusion】 The measured crop coefficient, ratio of soil evaporation to evapotranspiration of the two-season forage grassland are significantly correlated to LAI and SPAD. Adding a crop indicator to the single crop coefficient can improve the accuracy of the calculated evapotranspiration. Through mathematical models, the crop indicators can simulate evapotranspiration.

[Objective] Compared with conventional gas fuel, hydrogen is more susceptible to explosion. Meanwhile, the existence of obstacles notably stimulates hydrogen combustion and accelerates flame propagation, causing more serious consequences of accidents. To reduce destructive damage caused by hydrogen combustion under obstacle conditions, it is particularly important to reveal the influences of different obstacle conditions on the characteristics of flame propagation of hydrogen. [Methods] Based on large eddy simulation, the hydrogen/air combustion and explosion processes under different obstacle shapes and blockage rate conditions were numerically simulated.Focus was given to the research on different flame propagation velocities caused by different obstacle shapes and the sensitivity to blockage rate changes. [Results] Under low blockage rate, grid-type obstacles had a stronger destructive effect on the regular flow field at the flame front than single-side obstacles, and as the number of voids in grid-type obstacles increased, their destructive effect on the flow field motion further intensified, making it difficult for the flame front to recover to a regular state. When the blockage rate went up, the difference of the shapes of obstacles became insignificant in causing damage to the regular flow field, and the flame front was continuously distorted under all obstacle conditions. As the blockage rate continued to increase, single-side obstacles brought higher peak flame propagation velocity than grid-type obstacles. At the same blockage rate, the mechanism of flame acceleration by grid-type obstacles can be changed by adjusting the single void area to enhance the acceleration effect. [Conclusion] The shape and blockage rate of obstacles are the key factors influencing the state of flame front behind obstacles.The single-side obstacle is more sensitive to the blockage rate,while the grid-type obstacle has higher acceleration potential.The research results provide basic reference data for the prevention and control of hydrogen fire accidents and serve as a reference for the design of hydrogen power systems.

【Objective】Optical fiber dispersion, nonlinear impairments, and bandwidth limitation in high-speed passive optical access networks result in significant power budget loss with traditional intensity modulation and direct detection schemes, failing to meet the requirements of high-speed passive optical access networks.【Methods】In order to enhance the rate and performance of the intensity modulation and direct detection optical access system, this study explores the channel equalization method of VDFE-RLS based on Recursive Least Squares (RLS) algorithm, building upon the Volterra Decision Feedback Equalizer (VDFE), This equalizer uses RLS algorithm to update its tap coefficients. It includes a three-order Volterra series, allowing it to compensate for both linear and nonlinear impairments. VDFE-RLS is applied to the downlink optical access system with a single wavelength of 200 Gbit/s based on O-band intensity modulation and direct detection scheme after 20 km transmission.【Results】The experimental results show that the RLS outperforms the conventional Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm in the equalization process. Moreover, VDFE-RLS achieves a power budget greater than 29 dB. When the length of the equalizer is the same, VDFE-RLS can increase the power budget by 2.2 dB compared with the conventional Volterra Feed Forward Equalization (VFFE)-RLS equalizer. When the length of VDFE-RLS equalizer is half that of VFFE-RLS, the VDFE-RLS can increase the power budget by 0.5 dB compared with the VFFE-RLS equalizer.【Conclusion】Compared with other traditional methods, the proposed method can shorten the length of the equalizer and increase the power budget of the system, ultimately restoring signals with better performance.

Plutonium(Pu) is a very critical radioactive element, and its separation and purification are the core technology in the reprocessing of spent fuel. At the same time, research on the separation of Pu is also of great significance to environmental protection and radioactive pollution remediation. Currently, precipitation, extraction, and adsorption are the primary techniques for separating and purifying plutonium. Of these, adsorption is a crucial method for the process. The technique offers benefits such as simplicity of operation and high-speed adsorption. Additionally, adsorbents have advantages in the form of low cost and high adsorption capacity. In the review, according to the properties of adsorption materials, we introduced the research progress on the adsorption and separation of Pu from five aspects: natural mineral, polymer resins, inorganic oxides, carbon materials and nanomaterials. Furthermore, the adsorption ability and mechanisms of these different adsorption materials as well as the influencing factors during the adsorption process were also summarized and discussed. Based on these discussions, the advantages and disadvantages of these different materials were also evaluated. Finally, the problems and future development trend of the plutonium adsorption and separation were analyzed and prospected, which should be provided guidance for the research and application in the adsorption and separation of Pu and other radionuclides.

ABSTRACT Hypermucoviscosity (HMV) is a phenotype that is commonly associated with hypervirulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae. The factors that contribute to the emergence of HMV subpopulations remain unclear. In this study, eight K. pneumoniae strains were recovered from an inpatient who had been hospitalized for 20 days. Three of the isolates exhibited a non-HMV phenotype, which was concomitant with higher biofilm formation than the other five HMV isolates. All eight isolates were highly susceptible to serum killing, albeit HMV strains were remarkably more infective than non-HMV counterparts in a mouse model of infection. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) showed that the eight isolates belonged to the K57-ST412 lineage. Average nucleotide identity (FastANIb) analysis indicated that eight isolates share 99.96% to 99.99% similarity and were confirmed to be the same clone. Through comparative genomics analysis, 12 non-synonymous mutations were found among these isolates, eight of which in the non-HMV variants, including rmpA (c.285delG) and wbaP (c.1305T > A), which are assumed to be associated with the non-HMV phenotype. Mutations in manB (c.1318G > A), dmsB (c.577C > T) and tkt (c.1928C > A) occurred in HMV isolates only. RNA-Seq revealed transcripts of genes involved in energy metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism and membrane transport, including cysP, cydA, narK, tktA, pduQ, aceB, metN, and lsrA, to be significantly dysregulated in the non-HMV strains, suggesting a contribution to HMV phenotype development. This study suggests that co-occurrence of HMV and non-HMV phenotypes in the same clonal population may be mediated by mutational mechanisms as well as by certain genes involved in membrane transport and central metabolism.IMPORTANCEK. pneumoniae with a hypermucoviscosity (HMV) phenotype is a community-acquired pathogen that is associated with increased invasiveness and pathogenicity, and underlying diseases are the most common comorbid risk factors inducing metastatic complications. HMV was earlier attributed to the overproduction of capsular polysaccharide, and more data point to the possibility of several causes contributing to this bacterial phenotype. Here, we describe a unique event in which the same clonal population showed both HMV and non-HMV characteristics. Studies have demonstrated that this process is influenced by mutational processes and genes related to transport and central metabolism. These findings provide fresh insight into the mechanisms behind co-occurrence of HMV and non-HMV phenotypes in monoclonal populations as well as potentially being critical in developing strategies to control the further spread of HMV K. pneumoniae.

Background: Gout is a hyperuricemia (HUA)-related inflammatory reaction in the joints. Leech therapy has been effective in the gout, but the exact mechanism is unclear. Objectives: In this study, an exploration of the therapeutic mechanism of leech therapy in HUA and gouty arthritis (GA) rats was done. Material and methods: HUA and GA construction utilizing sodium urate crystal, the potassium form of oxygen oxazine acid, and adenine. Serum and tissues were collected to measure uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), and urea nitrogen (UN). Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was executed to evaluate the levels of xanthine oxidase (XOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). The expression of glucose transporter 9 (GLUT9), organic anion transporter 3 (OAT3), adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette efflux transporter G2 (ABCG2) and the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Toll-like Receptor 2 (TLR2) were assessed by Western blot and visualized in immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Leech therapy reduces the levels of UA, Cr, and UN as well as the liver and serum levels of XOD activity, increasing the expressions of GLUT9, ABCG2, and OAT3 in the kidney. Meanwhile, it reduces joint swelling and lowers the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, TLR2, and NF-kB. Conclusions: Leech therapy regulates the metabolism of uric acid and treats gouty arthritis with an anti-inflammatory effect.

OBJECTIVES There is an increasing availability of digital technologies for teaching and learning of human anatomy. Studies have shown that such applications allow for better spatial awareness than traditional methods. These digital human anatomy platforms offer users myriad features, such as the ability to manipulate 3D models, conduct prosection, investigate anatomical regions through virtual reality, or perform knowledge tests on themselves. This study examined what faculty members’ value when using digital human anatomy platforms for teaching and what students value when using these platforms for learning. METHODS Six anatomy faculty members and 21 students were selected to participate in this study. After using the three digital anatomy platforms for at least 1 week, a survey was conducted to record their feedback in 4 categories: usability, interactive features, level of detail, and learning support. Respondents’ Qualitative feedback within each category was also analyzed to strengthen the study's findings. RESULTS The study's findings showed that faculty members and students have different priorities when evaluating digital anatomy platforms. Faculty members valued platforms that provided better accuracy and detailed anatomical structures, while students prioritized usability above the rest of the features. CONCLUSION Given that faculty and students have different preferences when selecting digital anatomy platforms, this article proposed that educators maximize the specific affordances offered by the technology by having a clear pedagogy and strategy on how the technology will be incorporated into the curriculum to help students achieve the desired learning outcomes.

[Objective] Pipelines with undulating profiles are susceptible to liquid accumulation at low-lying positions along their route,particularly when utilized for gathering and transmission of wet natural gas and transmission of oil-gas blends. Considering the significant difference in inclination angle between gathering and transmission pipelines and gas wells, foam drainage technology, already wellestablished for the removal of liquid accumulation from gas wells, needs to be further demonstrated before its application to transmission pipelines carrying oil-gas blends. [Methods] Gas-liquid multiphase pipe flow experiments were conducted using an experimental loop setup,aimed at investigating the impact of foam on the characteristics of gas-liquid multiphase flow at various inclination angles and elucidating the mechanism of plug formation in foam-containing multiphase flow. Additionally, the study examined the impact of changes in foam system properties induced by the presence of inorganic salts on the characteristics of foam-containing multiphase flow. Flow regime-specific analysis was conducted on flow characteristic parameters and pressure difference features. [Results] In pipelines with undulating profiles and significantly different inclination angles compared to gas wells, the addition of surfactant was found effective in removing accumulated liquid and mitigating the occurrence of sectional slugged flow conditions. To investigate the drainage effect of water-based Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate(SDS) foam under the influence of inorganic salts, a further study was conducted with the presence of NaCl and MgCl2 as environmental impact factors, and using metal grid sensors, a high-speed camera system, and pressure sensors. The findings revealed that the variation in foam properties resulting from the effect of inorganic salts had a substantial impact on the efficiency of foam drainage. Furthermore, it was observed that an excessive formation of stable foam within the pipeline caused a substantial increase in pressure drop along the route.[Conclusion] When applying foam drainage technology to gathering and transmission pipelines with liquid accumulation, stability becomes a critical factor in selecting an appropriate foam system. Further research should focus on investigating the relationship between the influence of the foam layer on the flow characteristics of the medium in pipelines and the overall performance of the foam system.

[Objective] The delivery process of natural gas ultrasonic flowmeters for verification is not quantitative, and there are no relevant regulations on the scheduling and sequencing process before the flowmeters are put onto the inspection bench, resulting in contradictions between the “delivery” plan and the “verification” schedule. It is urgent to address the dynamic collaborative planning of “delivery” and “verification”. [Methods] Based on the criterion of “maximizing the value of pipeline network through ultrasonic flowmeter verification and minimizing the risk of pipeline network after ultrasonic flowmeter verification”, a pipeline branch company of PipeChina was selected as an example to propose a method for optimizing delivery for verification and intelligent decision-making on verification scheduling. Through digital transformation, three influencing factors of traditional management, i.e. planning standard,uncertainty, and verification priority, were statistically analyzed. Driven by process, data mining, flexible management, and analysis of operation and maintenance effectiveness mode were carried out based on the characteristics of ultrasonic flowmeter operation,maintenance and verification. The service life cycles of flowmeters were defined. The matching between active and standby flowmeters was optimized, and the time confirmation method for the annual delivery plan was proposed. Based on the life cycle mode, dynamic planning was conducted during the verification scheduling. [Results] The results show that the verification priority can be redefined by gas transmission benefit value and certificate expiration risk. For mutually active and standby flowmeters, the verification value and the risk cost of the flowmeter to be verified are respectively determined by the gas transmission benefit value and the certificate expiration risk of the flowmeter in service within a certain period, and the constraint conditions are adjusted according to the capacity of the verification center. [Conclusion] The optimized method of the dynamic overall planning of operation, verification, and maintenance of natural gas ultrasonic flowmeters based on verification scheduling is conducive to resisting uncertain risks, reducing verification load, and improving metering safety. It provides technical support for gas commercial metering and pipeline transmission loss control.

Abstract Context Inflammation has been identified as a key factor contributing to the development of numerous diseases. Several anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed to treat inflammation-related diseases. However, some of such drugs are associated with varying degrees of side effects. Therefore, it is imperative to develop new anti-inflammatory drugs with reducing side effects for the treatment of inflammation-related diseases. Natural anti-inflammatory drugs have emerged as an important area of research in recent years. The study was to determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of Paridis rhizoma extract (PRE) in rat models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan and RAW264.7 cells models induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Materials and methods PRE was investigated using the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model on rats in vivo. Histopathology examined the extent of inflammatory infiltration and tissue damage. The effect of PRE on the levels of specific cytokines was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay evaluated the cytotoxic effects of PRE on Raw264.7 cells. The mRNA expression levels of cytokines were quantified using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Western blot measured TNF-α, IL6, TLR4, p-P65, p-IKB, HO1, SOD1 and SOD2. Fluorescence measured the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results PRE treatment reduced interstitial edema and structural damage in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. PRE inhibited inflammatory responses in vivo and in vitro, as evidenced by the decreased expression of inflammatory factors, production of ROS, and increased expression of SOD1, SOD2, and HO1. Moreover, PRE inhibited the activity of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) pathway. Conclusion The anti-inflammatory activity and potential mechanism of PRE were demonstrated according to the results. PRE reduced LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells by inhibiting the NF-KB signaling pathway and ROS production in vitro. PRE alleviated interstitial edema and structural damage in the carrageenan-induced paw edema model on rats in vivo. This study provided an idea for future development of PR-based anti-inflammatory drugs.

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the Hounsfield unit value of chest CT non-contrast enhanced scan in evaluating the severity of anemia in HIV-infected patients.

Ovarian cancer is among the most prevalent gynecological malignancies around the globe. Nonetheless, chemoresistance continues to be one of the greatest obstacles in the treatment of ovarian cancer. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of chemoresistance and identifying new treatment options for ovarian cancer patients is urgently required. In this study, we found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of PRDX1 were significantly increased in cisplatin resistant A2780/CDDP cells. Cell survival assays revealed that PRDX1 depletion substantially increased ovarian cancer cell sensitivity to cisplatin, docetaxel, and doxorubicin. Additionally, PRDX1 significantly increased GSTP1 activity, resulting in multidrug resistance. Biochemical experiments showed that PRDX1 interacted with GSTP1 through Cysteine 83, which regulated GSTP1 activity as well as chemotherapy resistance in ovarian cancer cells. Our findings indicate that the molecular chaperone activity of PRDX1 is a promising new therapeutic target for ovarian cancer.

The melon fly, Bactrocera cucurbitae (Coquillett) (Tephritidae: Diptera), is an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to agriculture in Africa and other regions. Flies are known to use their olfactory systems to recognise environmental chemical cues. However, the molecular components of the chemosensory system of B. cucurbitae are poorly characterised. To address this knowledge gap, we have used next-generation sequencing to analyse the antenna transcriptomes of sexually immature B. cucurbitae adults. The results have identified 160 potential chemosensory genes, including 35 odourant-binding proteins (OBPs), one chemosensory protein (CSP), three sensory neuron membrane proteins (SNMPs), 70 odourant receptors (ORs), 30 ionotropic receptors (IRs), and 21 gustatory receptors (GRs). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the results by assessing the expression profiles of 25 ORs and 15 OBPs. Notably, high expression levels for BcucOBP5/9/10/18/21/23/26 were observed in both the female and male antennae. Furthermore, BcucOROrco/6/7/9/13/15/25/27/28/42/62 exhibited biased expression in the male antennae, whereas BcucOR55 showed biased expression in the female antennae. This comprehensive investigation provides valuable insights into insect olfaction at the molecular level and will, thus, help to facilitate the development of enhanced pest management strategies in the future.

Hydrophobic interactions are widely applied in diverse fields, yet the effect of the degree of hydrophobicity on the interactions between hydrophobic surfaces is still unaddressed, limiting the development of functional hydrophobic surfaces. In this study, the interfacial interactions and configuration of hydrophobic chains on surfaces with ranging hydrophobicity are surveyed by surface forces apparatus. Our findings revealed that with partial hydrophobicity, a long-range electrical double-layer repulsive force pertains between surfaces, while between fully hydrophobized surfaces, only steric hindrance is observed, and the hydrophobic chains maintain configuration even after long time compression. Our findings provide useful implications for understanding hydrophobic interactions.

Objective To understand the current status of surgical treatment for hemophilia osteoarthropathy (HO) in China.Methods Using an online questionnaire, select domestic hospitals that partici-pated in the compilation of the 'Guideline for perioperative management of hemophilia patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery in China ', in addition to members of the National Joint Surgery Group, and the Orthopedic Branch of the Chinese Medical Association for targeted investigation and analysis.Results A total of 17 domestic hospitals were included, all of which were general hospitals. Hospitals that started HO surgery treatment before 2000 accounted for 35.29%. A total of 3057 surgical cases of HO were reported by those hospitals. The most commonly performed surgical procedures were hip and knee joint replacement. The most commonly used coagulation factor replacement regimen was recombinant coagulation factor preparation. Ten hospitals reported finding patients with transfusion-related infectious diseases. Bleeding and hematoma formation were the most frequently reported surgical complications. Excessive length of hospital stay and high economic costs were the most frequently reported problems.Conclusions Surgical treatment for HO in 17 hospitals is mainly carried out in some large comprehensive medical centers in the eastern region. Compared with the patient base, the popularity and number of surgeries are still relatively insufficient. It is necessary to further standardize the treatment system by standardizing factor replacement and strengthening rehabilitation to improve surgical treatment outcomes.

Abstract Transcription factors (TFs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) contribute to gastric cancer (GC). However, the roles of TFs and lncRNAs in the invasion and metastasis of GC remain largely unknown. Here, we observed that the transcription factor VAX2 is significantly upregulated in GC cells and tissues and acts as an oncogene. Moreover, high VAX2 expression is associated with the advancement of tumors in GC. In terms of functionality, the enforced expression of VAX2 promotes the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells. Mechanistically, VAX2 specifically interacts with the LINC01189 promoter and represses LINC01189 transcription. Furthermore, LINC01189 exhibits significant downregulation in GC and functions as a suppressor gene. Functionally, it inhibits migratory and invasive abilities in GC cells. In the context of GC metastasis, VAX2 plays a role in modulating it by trans-repressing the expression of LINC01189. Additionally, LINC01189 binds to hnRNPF to enhance hnRNPF degradation through ubiquitination. The cooperation between LINC01189 and hnRNPF regulates GC cell invasion and migration. In addition, both VAX2 and hnRNPF are highly expressed, while LINC01189 is expressed in at low levels in GC tissues compared to normal gastric tissues. Our study suggests that VAX2 expression facilitates, while LINC01189 expression suppresses, metastasis and that the VAX2-LINC01189-hnRNPF axis plays a contributory role in GC development.

Abstract Various miRNAs have been shown to participate in the tumor progression and development of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the role of miR-3913-5p in CRC are yet to be clearly defined. In the present study, we determine that miR-3913-5p is downregulated in CRC cell lines and CRC tissues. Exogenous miR-3913-5p expression weakens the CRC cells growth, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, miR-3913-5p directly targets the 3’UTR of CREB5. Overexpression of CREB5 reverses the suppression of CRC cells proliferation, migration and invasion induced by miR-3913-5p. Furthermore, ATF2 negatively regulates the transcription of miR-3913-5p by binding to its promoter. CREB5 can cooperate with ATF2. CREB5 is required for ATF2 in regulating miR-3913-5p. Finally, inverse correlations can be found between the expressions of miR-3913-5p and CREB5 or ATF2 in CRC tissues. Thus, a plausible mechanism of ATF2/miR-3913-5p/CREB5 axis regulating CRC progression is elucidated. Our findings suggest that miR-3913-5p functions as a tumor suppressor in CRC. ATF2/miR-3913-5p/CREB5 axis might be a potential therapeutic target against CRC progression.

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) suffer from permanent disabilities such as severe motor, sensory and autonomic dysfunction. Neural stem cell transplantation has proven to be a potential strategy to promote regeneration of the spinal cord, since NSCs can produce neurotrophic growth factors and differentiate into mature neurons to reconstruct the injured site. However, it is necessary to optimize the differentiation of NSCs before transplantation to achieve a better regenerative outcome. Inhibition of Notch signaling leads to a transition from NSCs to neurons, while the underlying mechanism remains inadequately understood. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of fucosyltransferase 9 (Fut9), which is upregulated by Wnt4, promotes neuronal differentiation by suppressing the activation of Notch signaling through disruption of furin-like enzyme activity during S1 cleavage. In an in vivo study, Fut9-modified NSCs efficiently differentiates into neurons to promote functional and histological recovery after SCI. Our research provides insight into the mechanisms of Notch signaling and a potential treatment strategy for SCI.

In hepatocytes, autophagy and ferroptosis, as important biological processes in cells, play important roles in maintaining lipid accumulation homeostasis, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation balance. Here we reviewed the impact of autophagy on the abnormal lipids accumulation in the process of liver lipid metabolism, and its relationship with ferroptosis, which was marked by oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The impact of the interaction between autophagy and ferroptosis on the course of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) might provide some new ideas for the treatment of NAFLD.

Quaternary volcanic rocks are widely distributed in the Leizhou Peninsula, but the age of volcanic formation remains controversial. This study used the high-precision laser stepwise heating 40Ar/39Ar method to date the age of volcanic samples from the midwest of the Leizhou Peninsula, and two volcanic cycles were determined by combining the contact relationship with the neighboring strata. Volcanic rocks of the first cycle (Ⅰ) occur as interlayers in the Zhanjiang Formation, only seen in Borehole ZKC12, and the lithology is olivine tholeiite; volcanic rocks of the second cycle (Ⅱ) are the most widely distributed in the study area, unconformably overlaying on the Zhanjiang Formation, with 40Ar/39Ar ages ranging from 2.02 to 0.88 Ma, indicating that they were erupted from the early stage of the early Pleistocene to the end of the early Pleistocene. On the combination of contact relationship with surrounding strata, the second cycle can be further divided into four eruption stages. The first eruption stage (Ⅱ1) has the largest scale and the most extensive area, forming two eruption centers with 40Ar/39Ar age of 2.02±0.03 Ma. The second eruption stage (Ⅱ2) centers in the areas of Guokailing and Beicha with 40Ar/39Ar ages of 1.77±0.03 Ma and 1.70±0.03 Ma, respectively. The eruptional center of the third eruption stage (Ⅱ3) lies at Huoju Farm, and the age of 40Ar/39Ar is 1.51±0.07 Ma. The lithology of the fourth eruption stage (Ⅱ4) is dominated by basaltic lava of overflow phase formed by fissure eruption, and the 40Ar/39Ar age is 0.88±0.14 Ma. The volcanic activity is obviously controlled by NE-trending and NW-trending basement faults. These results provide reliable age data to constrain Leizhou Peninsula’s forming age, eruption periods, and the law of volcanic activity.

Tumor metabolic reprogramming and epigenetic modification work together to promote tumorigenesis and development. Protein lysine acetylation, which affects a variety of biological functions of proteins, plays an important role under physiological and pathological conditions. Here, through immunoprecipitation and mass spectrum data, we show that phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5) deacetylation enhances malic enzyme 1 (ME1) metabolic enzyme activity to promote lipid synthesis and proliferation of liver cancer cells. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that the deacetylase SIRT2 mediates PGAM5 deacetylation to activate ME1 activity, leading to ME1 dephosphorylation, subsequent lipid accumulation and the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Taken together, our study establishes an important role for the SIRT2-PGAM5-ME1 axis in the proliferation of liver cancer cells, suggesting a potential innovative cancer therapy.

Stroke seriously threatens human life and health worldwide, but only very few effective stroke medicines are currently available. Our previous studies have indicated that the phytoestrogen calycosin exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury rats. Therefore, the objective of this study is to further explore the protective effect of calycosin on inflammatory injury in microglia after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and to clarify whether its protective effect is related to the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Here, the OGD/R model of rodent microglia is established in vitro to simulate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Through the CCK-8 test, ELISA, qRT-PCR, and western blot analysis, we find that the activity of microglia is decreased, the expressions of HMGB1 and TLR4 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB (p-NF-κB) are increased, and the releases of the inflammatory factors IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α are increased after OGD/R. Pretreatment with calycosin could ameliorate these states, increase cell viability, reduce HMGB1, TLR4 and p-NF-κB expression, and reduce inflammatory cytokine production. In addition, the effect of calycosin is similar to that of TAK-242 (an inhibitor of TLR4), and the effect of the combined treatment is better than that of the single treatment. The results indicate that calycosin protects microglia from OGD/R injury and reduces the inflammatory response. Calycosin might alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Zanthoxylum (Sichuan pepper), with its rich cultivars, has long been widely cultivated in China for its unique seasoning and medicinal uses, but most of its cultivars have similar morphological characteristics. Therefore, we hypothesized that the genetic diversity of Zanthoxylum cultivars is low because of their apomixis and long cultivation history. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of three Zanthoxylum species on the cultivar level based on express sequence tag–simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) primers. In total, 121 samples of three Zanthoxylum species (Z. bungeanum, Z. armatum and Z. piperitum) were collected from different areas in China for genetic diversity analysis. A total of six specificity and polymorphism EST-SSR primers, which we selected from among 120 primers based on two transcriptomes (Z. bungeanum, Z. armatum) in our earlier study, were used to evaluate genetic diversity based on capillary electrophoresis technology. The results of our analysis using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) indicated that most of the samples are clustered in one clade in the UPGMA dendrogram, and the average genetic distance was 0.6409. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Z. piperitum may have a closer genetic relationship with Z. bungeanum than with Z. armatum. An analysis of molecular variation (AMOVA) showed that the genetic variation mainly stemmed from individuals within populations; the genetic differentiation coefficient (PhiPT) was 0.429, the gene flow (Nm) between populations was 0.333, and the differences among populations were not significant (p > 0.001). For the intraspecific populations of ZB, the percentage of genetic variation was 53% among populations and 47% within populations, with non-significant differences between populations (p > 0.001). The genetic differentiation coefficient (PhiT) was 0.529, and the gene flow (Nm) was 0.223. For the intraspecific populations of ZA, the results indicated that the percentage of genetic variation was 29% among populations and 71% within populations, with non-significant differences between populations (p > 0.001); the genetic differentiation coefficient (PhiPT) was 0.293, and the gene flow (Nm) was 0.223. Through genetic structure analysis (GSA), we predicted that these 121 samples belonged to two optimal subgroups, which means that all the samples probably originated from two gene pools. Above all, this indicated that the genetic diversity of the 121 Zanthoxylum samples was relatively low at both the species and cultivar levels, a finding which was consistent with our initial assumptions. This study provides a reference, with molecular-level data, for the further identification of Zanthoxylum species.

ObjectiveRapid recognition and automatic positioning of table grapes in the natural environment is the prerequisite for the automatic picking of table grapes by the picking robot.MethodsAn rapid recognition and automatic picking points positioning method based on improved K-means clustering algorithm and contour analysis was proposed. First, euclidean distance was replaced by a weighted gray threshold as the judgment basis of K-means similarity. Then the images of table grapes were rasterized according to the K value, and the initial clustering center was obtained. Next, the average gray value of each cluster and the percentage of pixel points of each cluster in the total pixel points were calculated. And the weighted gray threshold was obtained by the average gray value and percentage of adjacent clusters. Then, the clustering was considered as have ended until the weighted gray threshold remained unchanged. Therefore, the cluster image of table grape was obtained. The improved clustering algorithm not only saved the clustering time, but also ensured that the K value could change adaptively. Moreover, the adaptive Otsu algorithm was used to extract grape cluster information, so that the initial binary image of the table grape was obtained. In order to reduce the interference of redundant noise on recognition accuracy, the morphological algorithms (open operation, close operation, images filling and the maximum connected domain) were used to remove noise, so the accurate binary image of table grapes was obtained. And then, the contours of table grapes were obtained by the Sobel operator. Furthermore, table grape clusters grew perpendicular to the ground due to gravity in the natural environment. Therefore, the extreme point and center of gravity point of the grape cluster were obtained based on contour analysis. In addition, the linear bundle where the extreme point and the center of gravity point located was taken as the carrier, and the similarity of pixel points on both sides of the linear bundle were taken as the judgment basis. The line corresponding to the lowest similarity value was taken as the grape stem, so the stem axis of the grape was located. Moreover, according to the agronomic picking requirements of table grapes, and combined with contour analysis, the region of interest (ROI) in picking points could be obtained. Among them, the intersection of the grapes stem and the contour was regarded as the middle point of the bottom edge of the ROI. And the 0.8 times distance between the left and right extreme points was regarded as the length of the ROI, the 0.25 times distance between the gravity point and the intersection of the grape stem and the contour was regarded as the height of the ROI. After that, the central point of the ROI was captured. Then, the nearest point between the center point of the ROI and the grape stem was determined, and this point on the grape stem was taken as the picking point of the table grapes. Finally, 917 grape images (including Summer Black, Moldova, and Youyong) taken by the rear camera of MI8 mobile phone at Jinniu Mountain Base of Shandong Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute were verified experimentally.Results and Discussions]The results showed that the success rate was 90.51% when the error between the table grape picking points and the optimal points were less than 12 pixels, and the average positioning time was 0.87 s. The method realized the fast and accurate localization of table grape picking points. On top of that, according to the two cultivation modes (hedgerow planting and trellis planting) of table grapes, a simulation test platform based on the Dense mechanical arm and the single-chip computer was set up in the study. 50 simulation tests were carried out for the four conditions respectively, among which the success rate of localization for purple grape picking point of hedgerow planting was 86.00%, and the average localization time was 0.89 s; the success rate of localization for purple grape identification and localization of trellis planting was 92.00%, and the average localization time was 0.67 s; the success rate of localization for green grape picking point of hedgerow planting was 78.00%, and the average localization time was 0.72 s; and the success rate of localization for green grape identification and localization of trellis planting was 80.00%, and the average localization time was 0.71 s.ConclusionsThe experimental results showed that the method proposed in the study can meet the requirements of table grape picking, and can provide technical supports for the development of grape picking robot.

The control of information is a defining feature of the information age, and the optical modulator likewise has a crucial role in optical networks. The transmission, processing, and storage of data have demanded low energy consumption and high speed for photonic systems, promoting the development of electro-optic modulators to all-optical modulators. Although these all-optical modulation methods eliminate the photoelectric conversion, the disadvantage of volatile materials requiring continuous power supply when processing and retaining data in new materials-based devices increase energy consumption. We propose a Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) integrated all-optical, nonvolatile optical modulator for in-fiber operation. The pulse-induced GST phase transition changes the reflectivity of the fiber end face, and this difference affects the result of the interference, achieving a modulation of output light intensity in interference spectra. The experimental results reveal that the device has obtained 13 dB interference intensity contrast in the telecommunications bands, and its response to a pump pulse is around 100 ns. Furthermore, we demonstrated the operation of the device as a scalar multiplication unit and a logic operation unit. The signal can be transmitted, processed, and stored in the fiber without photoelectric conversion. With the benefits of the switching power consumption of less than 100 nJ and the nonvolatile nature of GST, the device will be more energy-efficient in synchronous processing and storing. This in-fiber operating modulator lays the foundation for developing all-optical devices and networks.

To study the natural contamination characteristics of insulators on DC lines， measurement points are set between sections Jiaxing and Huzhou of ±500 kV Gezhouba-Nanqiao HVDC transmission lines to carry out natural contamination tests. The equivalent salt deposit density （ESDD） and non-soluble deposit density （NSDD） of insulators are obtained through tests. Also， the effect of electric field and shed shapes on the contamination characteristics of insulators is studied. The results show that the bell-shaped insulators are more susceptible to contamination in contrast to double-shed ones； the ESDD and NSDD of a bell-shaped insulator are 1.73 and 1.54 times respectively as much as those of the double-shed one； the NSDD/ESDD ratio of a double-shed insulator is slightly smaller than that of a bell-shaped one， and the contamination unevenness of a double-shed insulator is far smaller than that of the latter. Finally， a method for calculating the effective utilization coefficient of insulator creepage distance considering contamination unevenness and NSDD is proposed， and the effective utilization coefficients of the creepage distances of XZWP-160 insulators under different contamination levels are calculated. The research results can be a beneficial reference for line flashover prevention.

Abstract Background Metabolic reprogramming is a critical event for cell fate and function, making it an attractive target for clinical therapy. The function of metabolic reprogramming in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-infected gastric intestinal metaplasia remained to be identified. Methods Xanthurenic acid (XA) was measured in gastric cancer cells treated with H. pylori or H. pylori virulence factor, respectively, and qPCR and WB were performed to detect CDX2 and key metabolic enzymes expression. A subcellular fractionation approach, luciferase and ChIP combined with immunofluorescence were applied to reveal the mechanism underlying H. pylori mediated kynurenine pathway in intestinal metaplasia in vivo and in vitro. Results Herein, we, for the first time, demonstrated that H. pylori contributed to gastric intestinal metaplasia characterized by enhanced Caudal-related homeobox transcription factor-2 (CDX2) and mucin2 (MUC2) expression, which was attributed to activation of kynurenine pathway. H. pylori promoted kynurenine aminotransferase II (KAT2)-mediated kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism, leading to XA production, which further induced CDX2 expression in gastric epithelial cells. Mechanically, H. pylori activated cyclic guanylate adenylate synthase (cGAS)-interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) pathway in gastric epithelial cells, leading to enhance IRF3 nuclear translocation and the binding of IRF3 to KAT2 promoter. Inhibition of KAT2 could significantly reverse the effect of H. pylori on CDX2 expression. Also, the rescue phenomenon was observed in gastric epithelial cells treated with H. pylori after IRF3 inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Most importantly, phospho-IRF3 was confirmed to be a clinical positive relationship with CDX2. Conclusion These finding suggested H. pylori contributed to gastric intestinal metaplasia through KAT2-mediated kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism via cGAS-IRF3 signaling, targeting the kynurenine pathway could be a promising strategy to prevent gastric intestinal metaplasia caused by H. pylori infection. Video Abstract

To explore the pharmacological mechanism of naringin (NRG) in renal fibrosis (RF) based on network pharmacology combined with molecular docking and experimental validation. We used databases to screen for the targets of NRG and RF. The “drug-disease network” was established using Cytoscape. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of targets were performed using Metascape, and molecular docking was performed using Schrödinger. We established an RF model in both mice and cells to validate the results of network pharmacology. After screening the database, we identified 222 common targets of NRG and RF and established a target network. Molecular docking showed that the target AKT had a good interaction with NRG. We found that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway was enriched by multiple targets and served as a target for experimental validation through GO and KEGG. The results revealed that NRG ameliorated renal dysfunction, reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines, decreased the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, and Fn, and recovered the expression of E-cad by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our study used pharmacological analysis to predict the targets and mechanisms of NRG against RF. Furthermore, experiments proved that NRG inhibited RF effectively by targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.