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Abstract Background This study explored similarities and differences among Chinese patients and rheumatologists in their attitudes towards and perceptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), including analyzing factors that influenced their decision making. Methods An anonymous questionnaire was used to conduct a multicenter survey among patients with SS at three tertiary care medical centers in Beijing and among rheumatology clinicians at several hospitals across China. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results There were 942 valid questionnaires from patients from 31 provinces and cities in China, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 1:14, a mean age of 48.81 years, and a median disease duration of 7 (4, 10) years. There were 320 valid questionnaires from rheumatologists, covering 30 provinces and cities in China, with a male-to-female ratio of approximately 0.87:1, a mean age of 48 years, and a median work duration of 10.5 (6, 15) years. The rheumatologists treated a median of 15 (11, 50) SS cases per month, and the median proportion of SS to all rheumatic diseases was 6.66% (6–10%). Many patients believed TCM could cure the root of the disease, and the most expected TCM therapies were TCM patent prescriptions and medicinal teas. Conversely, rheumatologists placed high value on the efficacy of TCM, and most commonly prescribed Chinese herbal decoctions. Most doctor-patient groups were positive about TCM treatment, citing the low side effects as the major advantage. Regression analysis showed that for patients over 40 years old with a course of disease > 4 years, the probability of using TCM has increased by 1–6 times; the probability of recommending TCM in clinical work of doctors who have worked for more than 15 years, TCM and integrated traditional Chinese and western medicine has increased 1–2 times. Conclusions TCM has become widely accepted and earned attention from doctor-patient groups, especially among older patients and experienced rheumatologists. However, negative prejudices and absence of accurate information about TCM treatments and SS itself require improvement. The contradiction between TCM dosage form and efficacy is a major problem, and patient demand for convenient and efficient TCM patent preparations suggests future work should focus on developing TCM patent preparations with clear compositions and mechanisms.

Grain boundaries (GBs) play a crucial role on the structural stability and mechanical properties of Cu and its alloys. In this work, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are employed to study the effects of Fe solutes on the formation energy, excess volume, dislocations and melting behaviors of GBs in CuFe alloys. It is illustrated that Fe solute affects the structural stability of Cu GBs substantially, the formation energy of GBs is reduced, but the thickness and melting point of GBs are increased, that is, the structural stability of Cu GBs is significantly improved owing to the Fe solutes. A strong scaling law exists between the formation energy, excess volume, thickness and melting point of GBs. Therefore, Fe solid solute plays an important role in the characteristics of GBs in bi-crystal Cu.

The potential microclimatic effects of street trees are influenced by their ecological characteristics, planting patterns, and street orientations, especially in subtropical hot and humid areas. To investigate these effects, four typical street tree species in Guangzhou were selected for study during the transition seasons: Khaya senegalensis, Terminalia neotaliala, Ficus microcarpa, and Mangifera indica. Air temperature (AT), relative humidity (RH), solar radiation (SR), surface temperature (ST), wind speed (WS), and the leaf area index (LAI) were monitored. The cooling effects of these four species and the resulting improvements in human thermal comfort (HTC) were assessed. The influences of tree planting patterns and street orientations on cooling benefits were systematically analyzed. The results indicate that, during transition seasons, the four street trees, on average, can block 96.68% of SR, reduce AT by 1.45 °C and ST by 10.25 °C, increase RH by 5.26%, and lower the physiologically equivalent temperature (PET) by 8.34 °C. Terminalia neotaliala, reducing AT and PET by 1.76 °C and 12.4 °C, respectively, offers the greatest potential for microclimate improvement. Among the four tree species, the variations in ST (ΔST) and PET (ΔPET) were minimal, at only 0.76 °C and 0.25 °C, respectively. The average differences in AT and PET between inter-tree and under-tree environments were 0.06 °C and 0.98 °C, respectively. The AT reduction rate was 1.7 times higher in the double-row planting pattern compared to the single-row planting pattern. Street trees planted in the northwest–southeast (NW-SE) orientation exhibited a 16.96% lower WS reduction than those in other orientations. The northeast–southwest (NE-SW) orientation showed the least potential to enhance human thermal comfort. Compared to NE-SW, the northwest–southeast (NW-SE) orientation achieved twice the rate of AT reduction, while the north–south (N-S) orientation improved it by 1.3 times. This data analysis aids in assessing the impact of green infrastructure on urban climates and demonstrates the year-round microclimatic benefits of street trees.

In view of the problem that vibration of superstructures under vibration loads of metro trains causes, this research used a metro depot and superstructure project as its background and proposed a numerical simulation method based on the impedance analytical model and finite element model to simulate and predict the vibration and secondary noise response of subway trains affecting multi-story buildings at different locations on the ground and in the superstructure. The method’s accuracy was verified using real measurement data. The research shows that vibrations generated by subway operations vertically at lower floors remain relatively unchanged, then slowly attenuate before increasing near the top floors. Mitigation measures should primarily address four aspects: rails, fasteners, sleepers, and roadbed. The adverse effects of vibration can be controlled by reducing the excitation intensity of the vibration source, attenuating vibrations along the propagation path, and isolating vibrations in the foundation and interior of the building. This research method can quickly and accurately predict the vibration and noise conditions of superstructure properties and provide support for vibration and noise reduction in practical engineering.

Recent advancements in immunotherapy have substantially improved overall survival and quality of life among patients with cancer. Notably, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a revolutionary strategy, particularly in the management of advanced cancers. However, the success of ICIs is accompanied by the challenge of immune-related adverse events. Although rare, cardiovascular adverse events associated with ICIs are associated with high fatality rates and rapid clinical progression, thereby necessitating timely intervention. This review explores the histopathologic characteristics of ICI-induced myocarditis, shedding light on the complexities of diagnosis and management. Several studies examining the histopathologic features of ICI-induced myocarditis have emphasized the roles of macrophages and the potential utility of ancillary tests such as immunohistochemistry. Quantifying CD68+ macrophage abundance may enhance diagnostic sensitivity, thereby providing valuable insights into clinical outcomes. In conclusion, this review underscores the need for a nuanced approach to diagnosing ICI-induced myocarditis. The comprehensive exploration of histopathologic characteristics, ancillary tests, and emerging diagnostic markers provides valuable guidance for practicing pathologists. As the population of ICI-treated patients with cancer continues to grow, optimizing immunohistochemistry panels and refining diagnostic criteria will be crucial to address the unique challenges posed by ICI-induced myocarditis.

A compact spoof surface plasmon polariton (SSPP) low-pass filter is proposed. By adopting a novel fishbone structure, the effective depth of the groove is increased, reducing the filter width by 24.84%. The length of the filter is reduced by 22.23% with a new transmission structure. To intuitively display this structure, the filter is designed and fabricated. The area of the filter is 47.44 mm×8 mm. The results demonstrate that the insertion and return losses are less than 3 dB and greater than 13 dB, respectively, in a wideband range of 0-10.00 GHz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]