Search

In this study, we present a microstructural and mechanical analysis of Ti–6Al–4V alloys processed by low-temperature multi-directional forging at 900 °C, achieving near-theoretical density (99.9%), with a tensile strength of 1070 MPa and elongation of 14.9%. The microstructure is defined by both continuous and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurring simultaneously, related to an increase in dislocation density. Significantly, this study reveals the interaction between crystallographic orientation and spheroidization during the forging process. Specifically, changes in crystallographic orientation include the asynchronous formation of new subgrains/grains, the disruption of the Burgers orientation relationship, and rotation around the axis, which not only increases the orientation differences between α lamellae but also enhances the spheroidization process. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that during deformation, the activation of basal and pyramidal slip systems is favored over prismatic slip, indicating that the forging process has enhanced slip activity. The average misorientation angle and the fraction of high-angle grain boundaries are quantified, providing a detailed characterization of the evolved microstructure. This study adopts a new perspective to examine the microstructural evolution during the multidirectional forging process in powder metallurgy, presenting findings that elucidate how multidirectional forging effectively controls.

Abstract Polyorchidism is an uncommon congenital condition often discovered incidentally, which may significantly impact male fertility. We present a case of a 34-year-old man with unilateral polyorchidism and associated severe asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia. Despite normal hormonal levels and no detected genetic anomalies, the patient’s sperm showed mitochondrial damage, and his fertility remained compromised after conservative management and assisted reproductive attempts. This case underscores the intricate relationship between polyorchidism and male infertility, highlighting the need for personalized management strategies and further research into its etiology and impact.

Abstract Background The shoot apical meristem (SAM), from which all above-ground tissues of plants are derived, is critical to plant morphology and development. In maize (Zea mays), loss-of-function mutant studies have identified several SAM-related genes, most encoding homeobox transcription factors (TFs), located upstream of hierarchical networks of hundreds of genes. Results Here, we collect 46 transcriptome and 16 translatome datasets across 62 different tissues or stages from the maize inbred line B73. We construct a dynamic regulome for 27 members of three SAM-related homeobox subfamilies (KNOX, WOX, and ZF-HD) through machine-learning models for the detection of TF targets across different tissues and stages by combining tsCUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, and expression profiling. This dynamic regulome demonstrates the distinct binding specificity and co-factors for these homeobox subfamilies, indicative of functional divergence between and within them. Furthermore, we assemble a SAM dynamic regulome, illustrating potential functional mechanisms associated with plant architecture. Lastly, we generate a wox13a mutant that provides evidence that WOX13A directly regulates Gn1 expression to modulate plant height, validating the regulome of SAM-related homeobox genes. Conclusions The SAM-related homeobox transcription-factor regulome presents an unprecedented opportunity to dissect the molecular mechanisms governing SAM maintenance and development, thereby advancing our understanding of maize growth and shoot architecture.

Abstract Background/objectives Malnutrition coexisting with abdominal adipose tissue accumulation bring a double burden on prognosis. More recently, the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) has reached a novel consensus concerning the diagnostic criteria, that is, a two-step modality combining nutritional risk screening and subsequent phenotypic/etiologic parameters for comprehensive evaluation in hopes of harmonizing the malnutrition diagnosis. We aimed to elucidate their synergistic impact among inpatients with decompensated cirrhosis concerning long-term mortality. Subjects/methods Malnutrition, visceral obesity, and visceral adiposity were defined by the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM), visceral fat area (VFA), and visceral to subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) on computed tomography, respectively. Accordingly, the patients were categorized into different groups given their nutritional status and visceral obesity/adiposity. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to identify independent risk factors associated with 1-year all-cause mortality. Kaplan–Meier curves with log-rank tests were compared among distinct groups. Results Totally, 295 patients were recruited. GLIM, VFA, and VSR identified 131 (44.4%), 158 (53.6%), and 59 (20%) patients with malnutrition, visceral obesity and visceral adiposity, respectively. Malnutrition coexisted with visceral obesity in 55 (MO group) relative to visceral adiposity in 40 patients (MA group). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that MA (hazard ratio: 2.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.06, 5.79; P = 0.036) was independently associated with dire outcome rather than MO. Moreover, patients with cirrhosis in the MA group had the worst survival status when compared with other groups (log-rank test: P

Abstract Abscisic acid (ABA) is the primary preventing factor of seed germination, which is crucial to plant survival and propagation. ABA-induced seed germination inhibition is mainly mediated by the dimeric PYR/PYL/RCAR (PYLs) family members. However, little is known about the relevance between dimeric stability of PYLs and seed germination. Here, we reveal that stabilization of PYL dimer can relieve ABA-induced inhibition of seed germination using chemical genetic approaches. Di-nitrobensulfamide (DBSA), a computationally designed chemical probe, yields around ten-fold improvement in receptor affinity relative to ABA. DBSA reverses ABA-induced inhibition of seed germination mainly through dimeric receptors and recovers the expression of ABA-responsive genes. DBSA maintains PYR1 in dimeric state during protein oligomeric state experiment. X-ray crystallography shows that DBSA targets a pocket in PYL dimer interface and may stabilize PYL dimer by forming hydrogen networks. Our results illustrate the potential of PYL dimer stabilization in preventing ABA-induced seed germination inhibition.

Abstract Background There is a paucity of data regarding sex-oriented analyses of connection between muscle quantity and quality and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), taking into account the pathophysiological differences of sarcopenia/myosteatosis in males versus females. We sought to investigate the associations between skeletal muscle index (SMI)-defined sarcopenia and intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC)-defined myosteatosis and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D)-defined HRQoL in patients with decompensated cirrhosis concerning sex disparities. Methods Totally, 382 patients were enrolled. The relationship between SMI/IMAC and HRQoL was evaluated with restricted cubic spline and Pearson correlation analyses. Furthermore, association between SMI or sarcopenia and EQ-5D utility index was determined by multiple linear regression, adjusted for age, BMI and concurrent disease severity. Results The study population comprised evenly distributed male and female patients (190: 192), mean age 61.9 years. The prevalence of sarcopenia (40.5 versus 9.9%, P

Framed in teacher research, this article examines on how a group of 220 preservice language teachers' understandings of teacher agency evolved in a course on second language teaching curriculum. The participants were enrolled on a master's program on teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL), and data were gathered through course activities which included two surveys, reflective blogs, and an essay. Based on inferential statistics and qualitative content analysis, findings show that, with different degrees of confidence, the student-teachers believe that their projective (future) agency was harnessed through the course developing (1) willingness to use teacher agency as a tool for professional development and (2) willingness to use teacher agency as a drive to engage in critical teaching practices for multilingual settings. Drawing on a trans-perspective of language teacher agency, the study advances a model of projective teacher agency.

Abstract Rivers are well known as one of the most threatened aquatic environments, whose structure and water quality can be deeply impacted by intensive anthropogenic activities. Despite the fact that anthropogenic influences on river ecosystems could indeed be deduced from the composition and chemistry of fluvial dissolved organic matter (DOM), sources of anthropogenic loading to DOM are still poorly explored. Here, by uniting fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEM) and principal component absolute coefficient, four sources of DOM from seventeen rivers in major drainage basins of China could be identified, i.e., originating from municipal sewage, domestic wastewater, livestock wastewater, and natural origins, and thus being defined as MS-DOM, DW-DOM, LW-DOM, NO-DOM, respectively. Based on the random forest model, special nodes in EEM could be traced from four sources, respectively. According to parallel factor analysis, DOM mainly contained protein-like, microbial humic-like, and fulvic-like fluorescence substances, among which protein-like was dominant in MS-DOM and DW-DOM, microbial humic-like in LW-DOM, and fulvic-like in NO-DOM. Based on key peaks and essential nodes in EEM, the identifying source indices were first proposed, which could be introduced to simply distinguish the different anthropogenic-derived sources of fluvial DOM. It was associated with intensity ratios of the key peaks and the essential nodes of EEM spectra from four sources, i.e., municipal sewage (MS-SI: Ex/Em = 280/(335, 410) nm), domestic wastewater (DW-SI: Ex/Em = 280/(340, 410) nm), livestock wastewater (LW-SI: Ex/Em = 235/(345, 380) nm), and natural origins (NO-SI: Ex/Em = 260/(380, 430) nm). By statistical analysis, the high identifying source indices of municipal sewage (>0.5) and natural origins (>0.4) values could be related to MS-DOM and NO-DOM, respectively. The identifying source indices of domestic wastewater with 0.1–0.3 might be linked to DW-DOM and the identifying source indices of livestock wastewater with 0.3–0.4 to LW-DOM. Compared with conventional optical indices, the novel identifying source indices showed remarkable discrimination for the sources of fluvial DOM with different forms of anthropogenic disturbances. Hence the innovative approach could be relatively convenient and accurate to evaluate water quality or pollution risk in river ecosystems.

Abstract South-to-North Water Diversion Project, a globally renowned engineering feat, aims to address water supply issues. The sediments within reservoirs play a pivotal role in natural ecosystems, not only as habitats for diverse biota but also as repositories of heavy metals, organic matter, and other contaminants. These sediments serve as a critical interface between sediment and water bodies. This comprehensive analysis focused on the spatial patterns of nutrients, organic matter, and heavy metals in the surface layer and profiles of reservoirs, exploring their interconnectedness. Leveraging the integrated pollution index, organic pollution index, potential ecological risk index, and geo-accumulation index, an ecological risk assessment was performed. The key findings are as follows: (i) Along the Middle Route of the South-to-North Diversion Project, the nutrient and organic matter contents in sediments tends to rise with distance from the Danjiangkou Reservoir, with the TN and TC contents increasing by 2.35- and 3.05-fold, respectively. (ii) As the sediment depth increases, the carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter contents exhibit varying degrees of decline, with average decreases of 62.38%, 67.47%, 17.56%, and 41.83% for TN, TC, TP, and OM, respectively. (iii) Among the eight heavy metals, only manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in the Yahekou Reservoir showed moderate pollution levels, according to the geo-accumulation index. The Mn content within the surface sediments of the six reservoirs ranges from 550 to 1837 mg/kg (average, 1019.5 ± 548.3 mg/kg), whereas the Zn content ranges from 89 to 360 mg/kg (average, 156.5 ± 101.6 mg/kg). (vi) Total phosphorus (TP) and total nitrogen (TN) emerged as the primary pollutants in surface sediments. Comprehensive nitrogen and phosphorus pollution assessment revealed that the surface sediment of Danjiangkou Reservoir is mildly polluted, while Baiguishan and Jiangang Reservoirs are moderately polluted, and the rest are heavily contaminated. For the Yahekou and Chaohe Reservoirs, the average pollutant content indicates moderate pollution, while the remaining reservoirs show mild pollution levels. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Due to the swift progress in the construction sector, there is a global concern about the potential scarcity of river sand and freshwater resources. The development of new construction materials is considered an inevitable trend for industry growth. PVA fibers, known for their strong corrosion resistance, cost-effectiveness, and high toughness, have the potential to enhance the corrosion resistance and seismic performance of structures in marine environments. However, their mechanical properties and durability in the seawater and sea sand environment are not well understood. Therefore, the investigation of the impact of seawater and sea sand on the mechanical properties and durability of PVA fiber-reinforced cement composites is considered crucial. A mechanical performance analysis of PVA fiber-reinforced seawater and sea sand fiber cement composites was conducted in this study. PVA fiber volume fractions of 0%, 0.75%, and 1.5%, cement composite matrix strength grades of C30 and C50, and curing periods of 28 days, 90 days, and 180 days were examined, investigating their influence on the bending toughness of PVA fiber-reinforced seawater and sea sand cement composites. Specific conclusions include the addition of fibers increased the peak bending load, had a less corrosive effect in seawater, and improved the flexural toughness of the material. The most significant improvement was observed at 1.5% fiber content, where the load-deflection curve was fuller and the energy absorption capacity of the material increased by 33–109%, maintaining good bending toughness. Furthermore, higher fiber contents are required for high-strength cementitious composites to improve flexural toughness and durability. The formulation of calculation formulas for predicting bending strength and corresponding deflection, which fit well with the experimental results; and the development of a calculation model for the bending toughness index of PVA fiber-reinforced seawater and sea sand cement composites, providing an effective prediction of material bending toughness.

Abstract Objectives Existing data regarding the risk of COVID‐19 infection and its effects on seizure control in patients with epilepsy (PWE) are inconclusive. Our research aims to investigate the PWE who are susceptible to COVID‐19 and what factors contribute to seizure exacerbation. Methods From Dec 28, 2022 to Feb 19, 2023, a cross‐sectional questionnaire survey among adult PWE was conducted. The demographics, epilepsy‐related information, COVID‐19‐related variables, and seizure outcomes after COVID‐19 infection were collected. Multivariate logistic analyses were performed to determine the risk factors associated with COVID‐19 infection and exacerbated seizures. Results Of 1557 PWE, 829 (53.2%) were infected with COVID‐19 and 136 (16.4%) developed seizure exacerbation after COVID‐19 infection. Overweight/obesity (OR 1.372, 95% CI 1.075–1.753, p = 0.011), immunocompromised (OR 3.301, 95% CI 1.093–9.974, p = 0.031), active epilepsy (OR 1.700, 95% CI 1.378–2.097, p

Abstract Tetrahydro-β-carboline skeletons are prominent and ubiquitous in an extraordinary range of indole alkaloid natural products and pharmaceutical compounds. Powerful synthetic approaches for stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydro-β-carboline skeletons have immense impacts and have attracted enormous attention. Here, we outline a general chiral phosphoric acid catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of 3,4-dihydro-β-carboline-2-oxide type nitrone that enables access to three types of chiral tetrahydro-β-carbolines bearing continuous multi-chiral centers and quaternary chiral centers. The method displays different endo/exo selectivity from traditional nitrone chemistry. The distinct power of this strategy has been illustrated by application to collective and enantiodivergent total syntheses of 40 tetrahydro-β-carboline-type indole alkaloid natural products with divergent stereochemistry and varied architectures.

Abstract Machine learning is becoming a preferred method for the virtual screening of organic materials due to its cost-effectiveness over traditional computationally demanding techniques. However, the scarcity of labeled data for organic materials poses a significant challenge for training advanced machine learning models. This study showcases the potential of utilizing databases of drug-like small molecules and chemical reactions to pretrain the BERT model, enhancing its performance in the virtual screening of organic materials. By fine-tuning the BERT models with data from five virtual screening tasks, the version pretrained with the USPTO–SMILES dataset achieved R2 scores exceeding 0.94 for three tasks and over 0.81 for two others. This performance surpasses that of models pretrained on the small molecule or organic materials databases and outperforms three traditional machine learning models trained directly on virtual screening data. The success of the USPTO–SMILES pretrained BERT model can be attributed to the diverse array of organic building blocks in the USPTO database, offering a broader exploration of the chemical space. The study further suggests that accessing a reaction database with a wider range of reactions than the USPTO could further enhance model performance. Overall, this research validates the feasibility of applying transfer learning across different chemical domains for the efficient virtual screening of organic materials. Scientific contribution This study verifies the feasibility of applying transfer learning to large language models in different chemical fields to help organic materials perform virtual screening. Through the comparison of transfer learning from different chemical fields to a variety of organic material molecules, the high precision virtual screening of organic materials is realized.

Abstract The leaf beetle Ophraella communa LeSage (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is an effective biological control agent of the common ragweed. Here, we assembled a chromosome-level genome of the O. communa by combining Illumina, Nanopore, and Hi-C sequencing technologies. The genome size of the final genome assembly is 733.1 Mb, encompassing 17 chromosomes, with an improved contig N50 of 7.05 Mb compared to the original version. Genome annotation reveals 25,873 protein-coding genes, with functional annotations available for 22,084 genes (85.35%). Non-coding sequence annotation identified 204 rRNAs, 626 tRNAs, and 1791 small RNAs. Repetitive elements occupy 414.41 Mb, constituting 57.76% of the genome. This high-quality genome is fundamental for advancing biological control strategies employing O. communa.

Abstract Proline 4-hydroxylase 2 (P4HA2) is known for its hydroxylase activity, primarily involved in hydroxylating collagen precursors and promoting collagen cross-linking under physiological conditions. Although its overexpression influences a wide variety of malignant tumors' occurrence and development, its specific effects and mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. This study focused on investigating the expression patterns, carcinogenic functions, and underlying mechanisms of P4HA2 in OSCC cells. Various databases, including TCGA, TIMER, UALCAN, GEPIA, and K-M plotter, along with paraffin-embedded samples, were used to ascertain P4HA2 expression in cancer and its correlation with clinicopathological features. P4HA2 knockdown and overexpression cell models were developed to assess its oncogenic roles and mechanisms. The results indicated that P4HA2 was overexpressed in OSCC and inversely correlated with patient survival. Knockdown of P4HA2 suppressed invasion, migration, and proliferation of OSCC cells both in vitro and in vivo, whereas overexpression of P4HA2 had the opposite effects. Mechanistically, the phosphorylation levels of the PI3K/AKT pathway were reduced following P4HA2 silencing. The study reveals that P4HA2 acts as a promising biomarker for predicting prognosis in OSCC and significantly affects metastasis, invasion, and proliferation of OSCC cells through the regulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

In the Healthy China Strategy context, fish are increasingly in demand as a source of high-quality protein. Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) is a resource-rich and highly productive freshwater fish species found in China that is not edible raw or cooked in its original form due to its many boney spines. However, due to its advantages of being low-cost, low in fat, and high in protein, it is an ideal choice for surimi production. Currently, it is widely used in the industrial production of surimi products. The development of the freshwater surimi industry can significantly improve the added value of freshwater fish utilization, which has attracted extensive attention. Freshwater surimi is high in protein and low in fat and has a smooth and delicate taste, making it extremely popular with consumers. It has a high output, low price, is growing in demand, and is gradually being accepted throughout domestic and foreign markets. It has also driven the development of some related industries and produced significant economic and social benefits. As domestic consumers experience improved living standards and a faster pace of work, premade dishes containing surimi products as well as recreational snack surimi products with increased shelf-life are more attractive, as they save the consumer processing time, are enjoyed by the consumer, and meet their nutritional demands, affording these products great market potential. With the development of surimi products and related industries, specific requirements are being put forward for its production. Although China supplanted Japan as the largest producer of surimi products worldwide in 2006, ushering in a period of nearly 10 years of high production growth, the annual production of surimi products in China since 2014 has stagnated or even slightly decreased. Moreover, the surimi industry has entered a bottleneck period for quality enhancement caused by the expansion of quantity. The fishy odor of freshwater surimi is one of the industrial problems that affect the quality and efficiency of surimi. The flavor of surimi products (such as fish balls, fish intestines, fish cakes, and others in hot pot) has become one of the quality attributes that consumers are extremely concerned about. However, the adsorption and release laws of key odor-active substances are still unclear. There are existing research technologies for surimi odor, mainly including instrumental analysis (gas chromatography-mass spectrum, gas chromatography-olfactometry, gas chromatography-olfactometry- mass spectrum, electronic nose technology, etc.), sensomics analysis (odor activity value (OAV), aroma extract dilution analysis, odor recombination, odor omission test, etc.), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The research objects of odor sensory experiments are mostly rice wine, oil, vegetables, fruits, and fungi. Moreover, present odor research is mainly carried out in a prepared solution, mainly using odor recombination of a liquid simulation system, which is different from the interaction between the real odor active substance-solid surimi. Therefore, constructing an odor model based on solid surimi is necessary to better simulate the sensory characteristics of surimi. To build an odor model based on solid surimi, an odorless or low-odor surimi background model must be established in order to investigate the interaction between various odor components and surimi. There are several fishy substances and complex components in freshwater fish and surimi products, including aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, esters, sulfur compounds, nitrogen compounds, and alkanes.At present, most studies on rinsing surimi reported worldwide are based on how to better apply it to the food system, ignoring interactions between components in the complex system of surimi, which creates certain limitations in establishing a background model of surimi. Therefore, salt, salt-alcohol, acid, alkali, and other rinsing media were selected in this study, which was not limited to food systems. By comparing the removal effects of different rinsing media on the odor residue of surimi, an odorless or low-odor background model of surimi could be constructed. Here, the effect of different rinsing media on the odor residue of a surimi background model was studied. Specific rinsing media were as follows: 0.5% NaCl (W/W) + 0.35% Na2CO3 (W/W) + 4.0% C2H5OH (W/W) solution (group A), 0.5% NaCl (W/W) + 0.35% Na2CO3 solution (group B), 0.5% CaCl2 (W/W) + 0.35% Na2CO3 (W/W) + 4.0% C2H5OH (V/W) solution (group C), 0.5% CaCl2 (W/W) + 0.35% Na2CO3 (W/W) solution (group D), 1% NaCl (W/W) + 1% Na2CO3 (W/W) + 4.0% C2H5OH (V/W) solution (group E), 1% NaCl (W/W) + 1% Na2CO3 (W/W) solution (group F), 1 mol/L HCl solution (group G), and 1 mol/L NaOH solution (group H), respectively. The results showed that SPME-GC-MS detected 65 volatile compounds in silver carp surimi, including 22 aldehydes, 13 alcohols, 9 ketones, and 7 hydrocarbons, among which the contents of aldehydes and alcohols were high, which had a major contribution to the odor of silver carp surimi. A total of 18 odor-active substances were detected by the OAV (≥1) method, which helped illustrate that odor-active compounds contribute to the overall odor of surimi. After treatment with eight kinds of rinsing media, the residual amount of the odor-active substances in the silver carp surimi was washed or released to varying degrees, affecting the sample's overall odor contribution. The rinsed surimi samples contained 6,8,7,9,6,12,9, and 9 odor active compounds and residual rates of volatile odor compounds were (0.380±0.120)%, (0.610±0.086)%, (0.280±0.033)%, (0.480±0.037)%, (0.150±0.018)%, (4.330±0.160)%, (18.680±0.081)%, and (0.490±0.003)%, respectively. According to the SPME-GC-MS analysis results, due to the synergistic effect of ethanol, the content of volatile compounds detected in group E was the lowest, the total residual amount of odor-active compounds was reduced to (6.57±0.77) μg/kg, and the total residue rate was only 0.15%. Meanwhile, the total OAV decreased to 2.52±0.25, there were 17 odor-active substances with an OAV

A comparative study of high chromium (Super304H) and high manganese low chromium heat-resistant steel (HT630) was carried out at 650 °C in steam. Results indicate that the high manganese content in HT630 significantly improved its oxidation resistance. It is ascribed to the formation of a dense protective MnCr2O4 oxide layer during oxidation. MnCr2O4 layer effectively inhibits the diffusion of iron, suppresses the growth of iron-rich oxides, promotes the formation of an iron-rich protective interface with the matrix, and improves the overall oxidation resistance.

Interleukin-37 (IL-37), previously known as IL-1F7, is a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines. There are five basic subtypes of IL-37, including IL-37a, IL-37b, IL-37c, IL-37d, and IL-37e. Like other members of the IL-1 family, IL-37 is initially expressed as an immature precursor protein that needs to be processed enzymatically by caspase-1 to generate the bioactive protein. However, unlike most other members of the IL-1 family, IL-37 induces anti-inflammatory activities in IL-37 receptor-positive target cells. IL-37 functions as an extracellular protein by binding to the IL-18 receptor, IL-18R, and an intracellular protein via its interaction with SMAD family member-3 (SMAD-3). This article reviews recent findings regarding the IL-37 protein maturation process and the biological functions mediated by this cytokine.

BackgroundThis study collects and analyzes clinical data on enteral nutrition therapy in neurocritical patients, develops and validates a feeding intolerance (FI) risk prediction model, and provides a theoretical basis for screening patients with high risk of feeding intolerance (FI) and delivering personalized care.MethodsA convenience sampling method was employed to select 300 patients who were admitted to a tertiary hospital in China for early enteral nutrition therapy in the neurointensive care unit between April 2022 and December 2022. Independent risk factors for FI were identified using univariate and logistic regression analyses. A prediction model was established, and the goodness of fit and discriminant validity of the model were evaluated.ResultsThe incidence of FI in neurocritical patients receiving enteral nutrition was 71%. Logistic regression analysis identified age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, mechanical ventilation, feeding via the nasogastric tube route, hyperglycemia, and low serum albumin as independent risk factors for the development of FI (p

Meat and its derivatives serve as crucial sources of protein, vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients for humans. Pork stands as China’s primary animal-derived food product consumed widely across diverse dietary structures; evaluating intramuscular fat content becomes pivotal in assessing its quality standards. Nonetheless, the intricate molecular mechanisms governing intramuscular fat deposition remain elusive. Our study utilized sequencing technology to scrutinize longitudinal development stages within Ningxiang pig’s longest dorsal muscles aiming to unravel these underlying mechanisms. In three distinct comparisons (30d vs. 90d, 90d vs. 150d and 150d vs. 210d) there were 578, 1,000 and 3,238 differentially expressed mRNA, along with 16, 158 and 85 lncRNAs were identified. STEM analysis unveiled six enriched model profiles for lncRNAs while seven such profiles emerged for mRNAs; notably, multiple shared model profiles existed between both RNA types. Enriched analysis highlighted numerous genes from mRNA profile8 and lncRNA profile7 significantly associated with pathways linked to fat deposition. Weight Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed that differential expression modules (DMEs) & differential expression lncRNAs primarily clustered within cyan, dark slate blue and pale turquoise modules. Furthermore, target genes PKD2 (MSTRG21592.MTRSG8859 and MTRSG18175), COL5A1 (MTRSG9969 and MTRSG180) and SOX13 (MTRSG21592 and MTRSG9088) as core components all intricately tied into processes related to fat deposition. This study lays the groundwork for deeper exploration into the molecular mechanisms underlying LDM fat deposition traits, and it also presents candidate genes for future molecular marker-assisted breeding.

When fetuses are exposed to abnormally high levels of glucocorticoids in utero, irreversible damage to neuronal synaptogenesis occurs, leading to long-term cognitive and emotional behavioral abnormalities after birth. In this study, we investigated how maternal exposure to a novel environmental pollutant—synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone—affects offspring cognitive and emotional behaviors enduringly. We noted that offspring subjected to maternal dexamethasone exposure (MDE) displayed cognitive and emotional neurobehavioral deficits beginning in infancy, and these impairments persisted into adulthood. The principal mechanism involves MDE-induced damage to hippocampal neuronal synapse formation in the offspring, primarily due to a cholesterol deficiency which destabilizes neuronal membranes, thereby affecting normal synapse formation and ultimately leading to cognitive and emotional deficiencies. Specifically, we demonstrated abnormal activation of glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampal astroglial cells of MDE offspring, which triggers changes in the miR-450a-3p/HAT1/ABCG1 signaling axis, causing impaired cholesterol efflux in astroglial cells and insufficient cholesterol supply to neurons, further impairing synaptogenesis. This research not only underscores the significant impact of prenatal environmental pollutants on long-term health outcomes in offspring but also broadens our understanding of how prenatal exposure to glucocorticoids affects brain development in the progeny, providing new insights for interventions in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders of fetal origin.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a common concern among individuals with heart failure, and the intersection of these conditions poses significant challenges for scholarly investigation. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to visually depict the current state and emerging trends regarding cognitive impairment among heart failure patients. Methods: Articles focusing on cognitive impairment in heart failure patients published between 2013 and 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection on February 3, 2023. Analysis of publication trends was conducted using Microsoft Excel 2016. The bibliometric analysis，involving identification of the leading countries, institutions, and authors, as well as the analysis of keywords co-occurrence and burst-detection, was performed using CiteSpace and VOSviewer. Results: A total of 260 original articles were included. The data showed a stable pattern of annual publications on cognitive impairment in heart failure patients over the last ten years. The United States stood out with 129 publications, Kent State University in the USA led in institutional output with 32 articles, and Gunstad John was identified as the most influential author with 32 articles and 572 citations. Analysis of keyword co-occurrence network revealed core research themes encompassing risk factors, interventions, assessment, and underlying mechanisms of cognitive impairment in heart failure patients. Conclusions: This study presents the first bibliometric analysis of research on cognitive impairment in heart failure patients over the past decade, offering valuable insights for exploring future research frontiers in this domain. The findings provide researchers, clinicians, and policymakers with key information to advance understanding and interventions for cognitive impairment in heart failure patients.

Ovarian tumors can be divided into epithelial tumors, germ cell tumors, sex cord-stromal tumors and metastatic tumors according to histological types. Their biological behaviors are different. Lymphangioma is a rare benign tumor that can occur anywhere in the body. Among them, ovarian lymphangioma is particularly rare. The case we reported is the case of ovarian lymphangioma. The patient was admitted to the hospital one month after the physical examination found the ovarian mass. After the examination, the patient was treated with laparoscopic surgery. The patient recovered well after the operation, and no recurrence was found after the follow-up.

Magnesium (Mg)-based scaffolds are garnering increasing attention as bone repair materials owing to their biodegradability and mechanical resemblance to natural bone. Their effectiveness can be augmented by incorporating surface coatings to meet clinical needs. However, the limited bonding strength and unclear mechanisms of these coatings have impeded the clinical utility of scaffolds. To address these issues, this study introduces a composite coating of high-bonding-strength polydopamine-microarc oxidation (PDA-MHA) on Mg-based scaffolds. The results showed that the PDA-MHA coating achieved a bonding strength of 40.56 ± 1.426 MPa with the Mg scaffold surface, effectively enhancing hydrophilicity and controlling degradation rates. Furthermore, the scaffold facilitated bone regeneration by influencing osteogenic markers such as RUNX-2, OPN, OCN, and VEGF. Transcriptomic analyses further demonstrated that the PDA-MHA/Mg scaffold upregulated carboxypeptidase Z expression and activated the Wnt-4/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby promoting bone regeneration. Overall, this study demonstrated that PDA can synergistically enhance bone repair with Mg scaffold, broadening the application scenarios of Mg and PDA in the field of biomaterials. Moreover, this study provides a theoretical underpinning for the application and clinical translation of Mg-based scaffolds in bone tissue engineering endeavors.

Cuproptosis, a novel mechanism of programmed cell death, has not been fully explored in the context of spermatogenic cells. This study investigated the potential involvement of cuproptosis in spermatogenic cell death using a mouse model of copper overload. Sixty male Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were randomly divided into four groups that received daily oral gavage with sodium chloride (control) or copper sulfate (CuSO4) at 50 mg kg−1, 100 mg kg−1, or 200 mg kg−1, for 42 consecutive days. Mice subjected to copper overload exhibited a disruption in copper homeostasis. Additionally, significant upregulated expression of key cuproptosis factors was accompanied by a significant rise in the rates of testicular tissue cell apoptosis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the presence of ferredoxin 1 (Fdx1) in Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and spermatogenic cells at various stages of testicular development, and the Fdx1-positive staining area was significantly increased in copper-overloaded mice. Mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased adenosine triphosphate levels were also observed, further implicating mitochondrial damage under cuproptosis. Further analyses revealed pathological lesions and blood−testis barrier destruction in the testicular tissue, accompanied by decreased sperm concentration and motility, in copper-overloaded mice. In summary, our results indicate that copper-overloaded mice exhibit copper homeostasis disorder in the testicular tissue and that cuproptosis participates in spermatogenic cell death. These findings provide novel insights into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying spermatogenic cell death and provide initial experimental evidence for the occurrence of cuproptosis in the testis.

Abstract An Electroencephalography (EEG) dataset utilizing rich text stimuli can advance the understanding of how the brain encodes semantic information and contribute to semantic decoding in brain-computer interface (BCI). Addressing the scarcity of EEG datasets featuring Chinese linguistic stimuli, we present the ChineseEEG dataset, a high-density EEG dataset complemented by simultaneous eye-tracking recordings. This dataset was compiled while 10 participants silently read approximately 13 hours of Chinese text from two well-known novels. This dataset provides long-duration EEG recordings, along with pre-processed EEG sensor-level data and semantic embeddings of reading materials extracted by a pre-trained natural language processing (NLP) model. As a pilot EEG dataset derived from natural Chinese linguistic stimuli, ChineseEEG can significantly support research across neuroscience, NLP, and linguistics. It establishes a benchmark dataset for Chinese semantic decoding, aids in the development of BCIs, and facilitates the exploration of alignment between large language models and human cognitive processes. It can also aid research into the brain’s mechanisms of language processing within the context of the Chinese natural language.

Abstract Objective to investigate the association between cartilage lesion-related features observed in knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients’ first MRI examination and incident knee surgery within 5 years. Additionally, to assess the predictive value of these features for the incident knee surgery. Methods We identified patients diagnosed with knee OA and treated at our institution between January 2015 and January 2018, and retrieved their baseline clinical data and first MRI examination films from the information system. Next, we proceeded to determine joint space narrowing grade, cartilage lesion size grade, cartilage full-thickness loss grade and cartilage lesion sum score for the medial and lateral compartments, respectively. Generalized linear regression models examined the association of these features with 5-year incident knee surgery. Positive and negative predictive values (PPVs and NPVs) were determined referring to 5-year incident knee surgery. Results Totally, 878 participants (knees) were found eligible to form the study population. Within the 5 years, surgery was performed on 61 knees. None of the cartilage-related features had been found significantly associated with incident surgery. The results were similar for medial and lateral compartments. The PPVs were low for all the features. Conclusions Among symptomatic clinically diagnosed OA knees, cartilage lesions observed in the first MRI examinations were not found to be associated with the occurrence of joint surgery within a 5-year period. All these cartilage-related features appear to have no additional value in predicting 5-year incident joint surgery.

Abstract Background To evaluate the hemodynamic characteristics of normal upper extremity arteries from the brachial artery to the fingertip arterioles. Methods We analyzed the characteristics and changes in the regularities of ultrasonic parameters in the upper extremity arteries of 104 healthy volunteers using color Doppler flow imaging and Angio Planewave UltraSensitive™ imaging. The measured ultrasonic parameters included the vessel diameter, blood-flow spectrum waveform, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistance index, pulsatility index, ratio of PSV to EDV, blood-flow volume, along with systolic acceleration of each BA, radial artery, superficial palmar arch artery, palmar proper digital artery, and third-grade artery arch of the fingernail bed. Results From BA to FN3AA, the diameter, PSV, RI, S/D, VFlow, and slope of the artery significantly decreased (P

Abstract Background Understanding factors associated with antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence is crucial for ART success among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the “test and treat” era. Multiple psychosocial factors tend to coexist and have a syndemic effect on ART adherence. We aimed to explore factors associated with ART adherence and the syndemic effect of multiple psychosocial factors on ART adherence among PLHIV newly starting ART in Guangdong Province, China. Methods Newly diagnosed PLHIV from six cities in Guangdong Province were recruited between May 2018 and June 2019, and then followed up from May 2019 to August 2020. Baseline and follow-up data were collected from a questionnaire and the national HIV surveillance system, the follow-up data of which were analyzed in this study. A Center for Adherence Support Evaluation (CASE) index > 10 points was defined as optimal ART adherence, which was measured via participants’ self-reported adherence during follow-up survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with ART adherence. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multi-order latent variable structural equation modeling (SEM) were performed to explore the syndemic effect of multiple psychosocial factors on ART adherence. Results A total of 734 (68.53%) follow-up participants were finally included in this study among the 1071 baseline participants, of whom 91.28% (670/734) had self-reported optimal ART adherence. Unemployment (aOR = 1.75, 95%CI: 1.01–3.02), no medication reminder (aOR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.09–4.74), low medication self-efficacy (aOR = 2.28, 95%CI: 1.27–4.10), low social cohesion (aOR = 1.82, 95%CI: 1.03–3.19), no social participation (aOR = 5.65, 95%CI: 1.71–18.63), and ART side effects (aOR = 0.46, 95%CI: 0.26–0.81) were barriers to optimal ART adherence. The EFA and second-order latent variable SEM showed a linear relationship (standardized coefficient = 0.43, P

Abstract Nao-an Dropping Pill (NADP) is a Chinese patent medicine which commonly used in clinic for ischemic stroke (IS). However, the material basis and mechanism of its prevention or treatment of IS are unclear, then we carried out this study. 52 incoming blood components were resolved by UHPLC-MS/MS from rat serum, including 45 prototype components. The potential active prototype components hydroxysafflor yellow A, ginsenoside F1, quercetin, ferulic acid and caffeic acid screened by network pharmacology showed strongly binding ability with PIK3CA, AKT1, NOS3, NFE2L2 and HMOX1 by molecular docking. In vitro oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) experimental results showed that NADP protected HA1800 cells from OGD/R-induced apoptosis by affecting the release of LDH, production of NO, and content of SOD and MDA. Meanwhile, NADP could improve behavioral of middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rats, reduce ischemic area of cerebral cortex, decrease brain water and glutamate (Glu) content, and improve oxidative stress response. Immunohistochemical results showed that NADP significantly regulated the expression of PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, eNOS, p-eNOS, Nrf2 and HO-1 in cerebral ischemic tissues. The results suggested that NADP protects brain tissues and ameliorates oxidative stress damage to brain tissues from IS by regulating PI3K/Akt/eNOS and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways.

Abstract During freezing periods, nutrients (carbon and organic matter, etc.) are enriched in the water and sediment of lakes in cold-arid regions, leading to potential algal bloom outbreaks and other health risks to the ecosystem. Particularly, dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a critical component of the nutrients and plays an important role in the global carbon cycle. However, the mechanisms of DOM transfer between ice and water remain unclear. This study analyzed the influence of microbial community on DOM composition using 16 s RNA, 3DEEM, and FT-ICR MS in Daihai Lake and Wuliangsuhai Lake in the Yellow River Basin, China. According to the spectral analysis, the content of endogenous organic matter, such as humus, accounted for 40% of the total DOM in water, while the content of tryptophan and tyrosine accounted for 80% of the total DOM in ice. The results of mass spectrometry showed that lignin was the main component, and the content of organic matter in the ice was less than that in the water. Molecular structures of seven DOM coexisting in the lake ice and water were elucidated with adapted Kendrick-analogous network visualization, which clearly illustrates that long-chain DOM molecules are derived from small molecules, while other heteroatoms are complexed with the side groups. The positive correlations between CHO, CHNO, CHOS, CHOS and Actinomyces indicate that DOM actively interacted with the microbial community. 44% of CHO compounds have the same molecular formula in water, the content of CHOS in the water of the two lakes was closed to 7% higher than that in the ice. Meanwhile, DOM dynamically migrate between ice and water via interstitial water because of the solubility changes under microbial transformation, which has been proved by the decrease in the contents of the humus and tryptophan-like substances in the ice from the bottom to the surface and lower contents of carbohydrate and unsaturated aromatic hydrocarbon in the water than the ice. This study helps to predict the composition and structure of DOM during the migration in lakes and provides a scientific basis for environmental remediation with high concentration of carbon.

Abstract Excitonic systems, facilitated by optical pumping, electrostatic gating or magnetic field, sustain composite particles with fascinating physics. Although various intriguing excitonic phases have been revealed via global measurements, the atomic-scale accessibility towards excitons has yet to be established. Here, we realize the ground-state interlayer exciton complexes through the intrinsic charge transfer in monolayer YbCl3/graphite heterostructure. Combining scanning tunneling microscope and theoretical calculations, the excitonic in-gap states are directly profiled. The out-of-plane excitonic charge clouds exhibit oscillating Rydberg nodal structure, while their in-plane arrangements are determined by moiré periodicity. Exploiting the tunneling probe to reflect the shape of charge clouds, we reveal the principal quantum number hierarchy of Rydberg series, which points to an excitonic energy-level configuration with unusually large binding energy. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of mapping out the charge clouds of excitons microscopically and pave a brand-new way to directly investigate the nanoscale order of exotic correlated phases.

Abstract Biochar can improve soil health and fix CO2 by altering soil microenvironment, thus impacting the global carbon cycle and the change of soil ecological environment. Recent studies show that cotton byproduct-derived biochar is a potential effective amendment for soil improvement so that it could play an important role in agricultural and environmental conservation. In this work, research topics on cotton byproduct-derived biochar in soil in last decade and so are systematically reviewed for better understanding of the progresses of cotton byproduct-derived biochar in (i) the morphologic and physicochemical characterization, (ii) latest research hotspots and trends, (iii) the roles in soil reclamation, and (iv) relevant carbon sequestration mechanisms. Finally, the future research directions regarding cotton byproduct-derived biochar mingled to soil environment are discussed. Insight derived from this work would provide scientific basis for promoting more applications of cotton byproduct-derived biochar in soil ecological restoration and carbon fixation. Graphical Abstract