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Abstract Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a common species of microsporidia that infects humans and animals. Current methods for detecting E. bieneusi infections have trade-offs in sensitivity, specificity, simplicity, cost and speed and are thus unacceptable for clinical application. We tested the effectiveness of a previously reported CRISPR/Cas12a-based method (ReCTC) when used for the nucleic acid detection of E. bieneusi. The limit of detection (LOD) and the specificity of the expanded ReCTC were evaluated using prepared target DNA, and the accuracy of the ReCTC-based detection of E. bieneusi in clinical samples was validated. The ReCTC method was successfully used for the nucleic acid detection of E. bieneusi. The sensitivity test indicated an LOD of 3.7 copies/µl for the ReCTC-based fluorescence and lateral flow strip methods. In specificity test involving other common enteric pathogens, a fluorescent signal and/or test line appeared only when the sample was positive for E. bieneusi. These results demonstrated that the ReCTC method can successfully detect E. bieneusi in clinical samples. The ReCTC method was successfully used to detect E. bieneusi nucleic acid with high sensitivity and specificity. It had excellent performance in clinical DNA samples and was superior to nested polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the ReCTC method demonstrated its capability for use in on-site detection.

Abstract Background Giardia duodenalis is a common enteric protozoan parasite that is categorized into eight assemblages (A–H). In particular, assemblages A and B are zoonotic, capable of infecting both humans and animals worldwide, resulting in significant economic losses and public health challenges in epidemic regions. Thus, the development of rapid, accurate and non-laboratory-based diagnostic methods for infected animals is crucial for the effective prevention and control of giardiasis. Recent advancements in clustered, regularly interspaced, short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein (Cas12a) systems allow promising avenues for nucleic acid detection, characterized by their high flexibility, sensitivity and specificity. Methods Combined recombinase polymerase amplification and CRISPR/Cas12a systems were combined and used as end-point diagnostic methods (termed REPORT) to detect G. duodenalis assemblage A and B. The diagnostic results can be observed by fluorescence readouts with the naked eye under blue light or colorimetric signals using a lateral flow strip (LFS). Results The limit of detection (LOD) of the REPORT‑based G. duodenalis assemblage A detection was 2.04 CFU/ml and 10 trophozoites per gram (TPG), and the LOD of assemblage B was 1.1 CFU/ml and 10 cysts per gram (CPG). The REPORT‑based G. duodenalis assemblage A and assemblage B detection methods have strong specificity and no cross-reactivity with other assemblages of G. duodenalis or common enteric parasitic protozoa and have excellent performance in clinical sample detection. Conclusions This study presents a novel strategy for the direct identification of G. duodenalis assemblages A and B, requiring neither highly trained personnel nor costly specialized equipment. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are two common comorbidities of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), each of which can cause right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of DM on RV dysfunction and ventricular interdependence in hypertensive HFrEF patients via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) feature tracking. Methods This study included 249 patients with HFrEF: 77 HFrEF controls, 97 with hypertensive HFrEF (HTN-HFrEF [DM-]) and 75 with hypertensive HFrEF and comorbid DM (HTN-HFrEF [DM+]). The cardiac MRI-derived biventricular global radial (GRS), circumferential (GCS) and longitudinal (GLS) peak strains were obtained and compared among the groups. Multivariable linear regression and mediation analyses were used to evaluate the effects of DM and left ventricular (LV) strain on RV strain. Results The biventricular GLS and GLS of segments 8, 9 and 14 of the interventricular septum (IVS) decreased gradually from the HFrEF control group to the HTN-HFrEF (DM−) group to the HTN-HFrEF (DM+) group (all P

Abstract Drought is the primary driver of wildfires in humid regions, and the main drought drivers for wildfire occurrence and spread vary across different humid climatic areas. This study explores the suitability of different drought descriptions for wildfires under various humid temperate climates in Japan. Based on wildfire data from 1995 to 2012, statistical and correlation analyses were conducted to examine the performance of effective humidity (EH) and soil moisture (SM) as indicators of atmospheric and soil drought. EH is used for nationwide wildfire and drought warnings in Japan. The results show that EH is significantly influenced by seasonal and regional factors, with its ability to assess drought for wildfire varying accordingly, whereas SM demonstrates a more consistent ability to assess drought across different seasons and regions. Correlation analysis revealed that atmospheric drought better explains the drought conditions for wildfire ignition in 11 prefectures, mainly concentrated in the northern regions along the Sea of Japan. In contrast, the correlation coefficients for SM were higher in 33 prefectures, particularly along the Pacific coast, indicating that soil drought better explains the drought conditions for burned areas in these prefectures.

Abstract Background Lung cancer (LC) occupies an important position in the lethality of cancer patients. Acquired resistance to gefitinib in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) seriously affects the therapeutic efficacy of LC. Thus, it is of major scientific and clinical significance to probe the mechanism of gefitinib resistance in LUAD for ameliorating the prognosis of patients. Methods The expression of miRNAs in gefitinib-resistant LUAD cells was validated using qRT-PCR. Cell viability was assessed through CCK-8, whereas cell death was examined through PI staining. Changes in the ferroptosis process were evaluated by detecting the intracellular Glutathione (GSH), Malondialdehyde (MDA), and Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels. Downstream targets of miR-138-5p were verified via luciferase reporter and RNA pull-down assays. RIP and qRT-PCR were employed to evaluate pri-miR-138-5p binding to DiGeorge critical region 8 (DGCR8) and the pri-miR-138-5p m6A modification level. Additionally, the impact of fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) on LUAD gefitinib sensitivity was assessed in vivo by constructing a xenograft model. Results We observed that miR-138-5p was notably diminished in gefitinib-resistant cells. Overexpression of miR-138-5p suppressed viability while facilitated cell death and intracellular ferroptosis in gefitinib-resistant cells. Moreover, lipocalin 2 (LCN2) was the downstream target of miR-138-5p. The biological functions of miR-138-5p on gefitinib-resistant cells was reversed by introduction of LCN2. FTO suppressed the binding of DGCR8 to pri-miR-138-5p through m6A modification, thereby restraining the processing of miR-138-5p. Meanwhile, silencing of FTO enhanced the sensitivity of LUAD to gefitinib treatment. Conclusion FTO suppressed the processing of miR-138-5p and then modulated the proliferation, death, and ferroptosis of gefitinib-resistant cells through the miR-138-5p/LCN2 pathway, which may put forward novel insights for clinically ameliorating the therapeutic effect of gefitinib in LUAD.

Abstract Background It remains unclear whether the association between dyslipidemia status and triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index with myocardial damage varies in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study aimed to determine the differential effects of dyslipidemia status and TyG index on left ventricular (LV) global function and myocardial microcirculation in patients with T2DM using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Methods A total of 226 T2DM patients and 72 controls who underwent CMR examination were included. The T2DM group was further categorized into subgroups based on the presence or absence of dyslipidemia (referred to as T2DM (DysL+) and T2DM (DysL-)) or whether the TyG index exceeded 9.06. CMR-derived LV perfusion parameters, remodeling index, and global function index (GFI) were assessed and compared among groups. A multivariable linear regression model was employed to evaluate the effects of various variables on LV myocardial microcirculation, remodeling index, and GFI. Results The LV GFI sequentially decreased in controls, T2DM (DysL-), and T2DM (DysL+) groups (p

Abstract Tissue-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as pivotal players to maintain organ homeostasis, which show promise as a next-generation candidate for medical use with extensive source. However, the detailed function and therapeutic potential of tissue EVs remain insufficiently studied. Here, through bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses combined with ultrastructural tissue examinations, we first reveal that in situ liver tissue EVs (LT-EVs) contribute to the intricate liver regenerative process after partial hepatectomy (PHx), and that hepatocytes are the primary source of tissue EVs in the regenerating liver. Nanoscale and proteomic profiling further identify that the hepatocyte-specific tissue EVs (Hep-EVs) are strengthened to release with carrying proliferative messages after PHx. Moreover, targeted inhibition of Hep-EV release via AAV-shRab27a in vivo confirms that Hep-EVs are required to orchestrate liver regeneration. Mechanistically, Hep-EVs from the regenerating liver reciprocally stimulate hepatocyte proliferation by promoting cell cycle progression through Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1) activity. Notably, supplementing with Hep-EVs from the regenerating liver demonstrates translational potential and ameliorates insufficient liver regeneration. This study provides a functional and mechanistic framework showing that the release of regenerative Hep-EVs governs rapid liver regeneration, thereby enriching our understanding of physiological and endogenous tissue EVs in organ regeneration and therapy.

Abstract Background Patients with concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and aortic regurgitation (AR) can present with right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of AR on RV impairment and the importance of ventricular interdependence using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR‑FT) in patients with T2DM. Methods This study included 229 patients with T2DM (AR−), 88 patients with T2DM (AR+), and 122 healthy controls. The biventricular global radial strain (GRS), global circumferential strain (GCS), and global longitudinal peak strain (GLS) were calculated with CMR‑FT and compared among the healthy control, T2DM (AR−), and T2DM (AR+) groups. The RV regional strains at the basal, mid, and apical cavities between the T2DM (AR+) group and subgroups with different AR degrees were compared. Backward stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to determine the effects of AR and left ventricular (LV) strains on RV strains. Results The RV GLS, LV GRS, LV GCS, LV GLS, interventricular septal (IVS) GRS and IVS GCS were decreased gradually from the controls through the T2DM (AR−) group to the T2DM (AR+) group. The IVS GLS of the T2DM (AR−) and T2DM (AR+) groups was lower than that of the control group. AR was independently associated with LV GRS, LV GCS, LV GLS, RV GCS, and RV GLS. If AR and LV GLSs were included in the regression analyses, AR and LV GLS were independently associated with RV GLS. Conclusion AR can exacerbate RV dysfunction in patients with T2DM, which may be associated with the superimposed strain injury of the left ventricle and interventricular septum. The RV longitudinal and circumferential strains are important indicators of cardiac injury in T2DM and AR. The unfavorable LV-RV interdependence supports that while focusing on improving LV function, RV dysfunction should be monitored and treated in order to slow the progression of the disease and the onset of adverse outcomes.

Abstract Background The adverse prognostic impact of diabetes on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is poorly understood. We sought to explore the underlying mechanisms in terms of structural and functional remodelling in HCM patients with coexisting diabetes (HCM-DM). Methods A total of 45 HCM-DM patients were retrospectively included. Isolated HCM controls (HCM patients without diabetes) were matched to HCM-DM patients in terms of maximal wall thickness, age, and gender distribution. Left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) performance were evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking strain analyses. The associations between diabetes and LV/LA impairment were investigated by univariable and multivariable linear regression. Results Compared with the isolated HCM controls, the HCM-DM patients had smaller end-diastolic volume and stroke volume, lower ejection fraction, larger mass/volume ratio and impaired strains in all three directions (all P

Abstract A zinc metallopeptidase neurolysin (Nln) processes diverse bioactive peptides to regulate signaling in the mammalian nervous system. To understand how Nln interacts with various peptides with dissimilar sequences, we determined crystal structures of Nln in complex with diverse peptides including dynorphins, angiotensin, neurotensin, and bradykinin. The structures show that Nln binds these peptides in a large dumbbell-shaped interior cavity constricted at the active site, making minimal structural changes to accommodate different peptide sequences. The structures also show that Nln readily binds similar peptides with distinct registers, which can determine whether the peptide serves as a substrate or a competitive inhibitor. We analyzed the activities and binding of Nln toward various forms of dynorphin A peptides, which highlights the promiscuous nature of peptide binding and shows how dynorphin A (1–13) potently inhibits the Nln activity while dynorphin A (1–8) is efficiently cleaved. Our work provides insights into the broad substrate specificity of Nln and may aid in the future design of small molecule modulators for Nln.

Abstract Background Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is associated with a high rate of mortality and morbidity. Evidence has shown that sex differences may be an important contributor to phenotypic heterogeneity in patients with HFrEF. Although diabetes mellitus (DM) frequently coexists with HFrEF and results in a worse prognosis, there remains a need to identify sex-related differences in the characteristics and outcomes of this population. In this study, we aimed to investigate the between-sex differences in clinical profile, left ventricular (LV) remodeling, and cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes in patients with HFrEF concomitant with DM. Methods A total of 273 patients with HFrEF concomitant with DM who underwent cardiac MRI were included in this study. Clinical characteristics, LV remodeling as assessed by cardiac MRI, and cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes were compared between sexes. Results Women were older, leaner and prone to have anemia and hypoproteinemia but less likely to have ischemic etiology. Cardiac MRI revealed that despite similar LVEFs between the sexes, there was more LV concentric remodeling, less impaired global systolic peak strain in longitudinal and circumferential components and a decreased likelihood of late gadolinium enhancement presence in women than in men. During a median follow-up time of 34.6 months, women exhibited better overall survival than men did (log-rank P = 0.042). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated different risk factors for predicting outcomes between sexes, with hypertension [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05 to 4.85, P = 0.041] and hypoproteinemia (HR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.37, P = 0.039) serving as independent determinants of outcomes in women, whereas ischemic etiology (HR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.48, P = 0.021) and atrial fibrillation (HR = 1.86, 95% CI 1.02 to 3.41, P = 0.044) served as independent determinants of outcomes in men. Conclusions Among patients with HFrEF concomitant with DM, women displayed different LV remodeling and risk factors and had better survival than men did. Sex-based phenotypic heterogeneity in patients with HFrEF in the context of DM should be addressed in clinical practice.

Abstract Bioinspired neuromorphic machine vision system (NMVS) that integrates retinomorphic sensing and neuromorphic computing into one monolithic system is regarded as the most promising architecture for visual perception. However, the large intensity range of natural lights and complex illumination conditions in actual scenarios always require the NMVS to dynamically adjust its sensitivity according to the environmental conditions, just like the visual adaptation function of the human retina. Although some opto‐sensors with scotopic or photopic adaption have been developed, NMVSs, especially fully flexible NMVSs, with both scotopic and photopic adaptation functions are rarely reported. Here we propose an ion‐modulation strategy to dynamically adjust the photosensitivity and time‐varying activation/inhibition characteristics depending on the illumination conditions, and develop a flexible ion‐modulated phototransistor array based on MoS2/graphdiyne heterostructure, which can execute both retinomorphic sensing and neuromorphic computing. By controlling the intercalated Li+ ions in graphdiyne, both scotopic and photopic adaptation functions are demonstrated successfully. A fully flexible NMVS consisting of front‐end retinomorphic vision sensors and a back‐end convolutional neural network is constructed based on the as‐fabricated 28 × 28 device array, demonstrating quite high recognition accuracies for both dim and bright images and robust flexibility. This effort for fully flexible and monolithic NMVS paves the way for its applications in wearable scenarios.

China's emphasis on rapid economic growth in the past years has led to irrational exploitation and utilization of water resources. Water rights trading (WRT), as an important initiative carried out by the Chinese government, has been implemented for eight years but mainly in some pilot provinces. In this paper, a multi-point difference-in-difference model is constructed to study the causality of WRT policies in China from 2012 to 2021 and verifies the scientific validity of the research results through parallelism test, time and individual placebo test, endogeneity test of Logit reverse causality, and robustness test. The impact of the WRT system on the utlization efficiency of water resources, as well as its mechanism and heterogeneity characteristics, is mainly explored. The research results demonstrate that WRT helps to improve the utilization efficiency of water resources in polot provinces, which is even more pronounced in the presence of government expenditures. In addition, the effect of WRT implementation is signigicantly related to regional industrial technological empowerment and residents' awareness of environmental protection and insignificantly related to regional agricultural sophistication. The findings of this study will provide empirical support for the Chinese government's local strategy of establishing a unified national WRT market.

Long historical records and free accessibility have made Landsat data valuable for time-series analysis. However, Landsat time-series analysis is restricted for coastal areas due to the lack of sufficient numbers of clear images. The generation of synthetic Landsat images using model-fitting methods is accepted as an effective means of overcoming this problem. But for coastal areas, available observations are typically sparse and irregular, leading to ill-fitted models that distort synthetic Landsat images. In this study, we propose a linear harmonic model with different orders and implement it on an annual basis to generate synthetic Landsat images based on the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform. First, we incorporated the available observations from adjacent years and filtered them by season to address the problems of data sparsity and irregularity. Then, we combined the threshold segmentation and ridge regression approaches to address the fake cloud problem, which sometimes contaminates synthetic Landsat images in summer. All cloud-free real Landsat images from five typical sites along China’s coasts during 1986–2020 were used to evaluate the accuracy and robustness of the synthetic Landsat images generated using our proposed methods. The principal results are as follows: (1) the R2 value of the linear harmonic model averaged across different Landsat bands and land cover types was 0.640, and the model was especially successful in simulating the surface reflectance in near NIR bands in forest and grassland areas; (2) 81.1% of the synthetic Landsat images covered by fake clouds were effectively restored, and there was the particular need to remove fake clouds for the synthetic Landsat images at low latitudes; (3) The mean absolute error for our synthetic Landsat images was 0.015, with the rate of 0.124; this was achieved under the clear-sky probability of only 36% and the average number of annual observations below 9, indicating a good performance. Compared with the continuous change detection and classification (CCDC) and seasonal median composite (SMC) methods, our proposed method offers advantages in both the accuracy and integrity of synthetic Landsat images. Our proposed method for synthesizing images also has potential for application to global coastal areas and other satellite datasets.

LINC01116, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), serves as an important regulator in the progression of cancer cells and has attracted increased attention in biological fields. It is overexpressed in various cancer cells and is significantly correlated with cancer development and poor prognosis in cancer patients. Moreover, LINC01116 regulates the gene expression of various cancers through intricate pathways, such as sponging the microRNAs or other non-genic manners. These signaling pathways greatly affect the cancer's biological functions, including cell growth, migration, invasion, and chemoresistance. Hence, LINC01116 may serve as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancer. This paper summarizes the current evidence regarding the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of LINC01116 in the progression of cancer, providing theoretical references for LINC01116-related cancer treatment in the future.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with corneal Mooren's ulcers (MU) and explore potential risk factors for recurrence after keratoplasty. Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 87 patients (101 eyes) diagnosed with MU. Factors associated with recurrence after keratoplasty were identified using correlation analysis, and a clinical scoring system was developed based on the magnitude of the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The average age of onset for the 87 patients was 55.2 years old, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:0.74. Of the 101 eyes diagnosed with MU, 73 cases (83.9 %) were Unilateral. Eleven eyes (10.9 %) had a history of ocular surgery, and five (5.0 %) had a history of ocular trauma. The perforation rate was 18.8 %, and the recurrence rate after keratoplasty was 37.3 %. Ulcer depth (P

Earthworms are keystone regulators of carbon exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere. However, exactly how earthworms regulate the composition of microbial and plant-derived carbon in soil organic matter remains poorly understood. Here we conducted a microcosm experiment with two species of endogeic earthworms (Drawida gisti and Metaphire guillelmi) to investigate their effects on cellular and extracellular-microbial residues versus fast and slow-decaying plant materials. We found that both species of earthworms reduced microbial residues (amino sugars or the protein content of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)) and facilitated the decomposition of microbial residues rather than their formation. Neither earthworm species affected slow-decaying plant residues (lignin phenols). However, their effects on the fast-decaying fraction of plant residues (particulate organic matter (POM)) depended on the earthworm species. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that earthworms mediated two gradients between microbial and plant residues. The first gradient was between the nitrogenous fraction of microbial residues (e.g., amino sugars and EPS-protein) versus slow-decaying plant lignin, while the second gradient was between the fast-decaying POM versus EPS-polysaccharide. Our results suggest that earthworms play vital roles in mediating plant and microbial residue fractions in soil through their multifaceted mechanisms in regulating the chemical composition of organic carbon, and in understanding biological control of the global soil carbon cycle.

The ocular surface and orbit constitute unique microenvironments in the human body. Current advances in molecular research have deepened our understanding of tumor development in these regions. Tumors exhibit greater heterogeneity compared to normal tissues, as revealed by pathological and histological examinations. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the proliferation and progression of cancer cells. Factors from the external environment or the body’s own inflammation and microcirculation interact within the TME, maintaining a delicate balance. Disruption of this balance, through uncontrolled signal pathway activation, can transform normal or benign tissues into malignant ones. In recent years, various systemic immunotherapies have been developed for cancer treatment. This study reviews the epidemiology of ocular surface and orbital tumors include squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, sebaceous carcinoma and lymphoma in conjunction with their occurrence, growth, and underlying mechanisms. We propose that by examining clinical histopathological images, we can identify specific and shared microscopic features of tumors. By collecting, classifying, and analyzing data from these clinical histopathological images, we can pinpoint independent diagnostic factors characteristic of tumors. We hope this study provides a basis for future exploration of the mechanisms underlying different ocular diseases.

To assure operational safety in the airport apron area and track the process of ground service, it is necessary to analyze key targets and their activities in the airport apron surveillance videos. This research shows an activity identification algorithm for ground service objects in an airport apron area and proposes an improved YOLOv5 algorithm to increase the precision of small object detection by introducing an SPD-Conv (spath-to-depth-Conv) block in YOLOv5's backbone layer. The improved algorithm can efficiently extract the information features of small-sized objects, medium-sized objects, and moving objects in large scenes, and it achieves effective detection of activities of ground service in the apron area. The experimental results show that the detection average precision of all objects is more than 90%, and the whole class mean average precision (mAP) is 98.7%. At the same time, the original model was converted to TensorRT and OpenVINO format models, which increased the inference efficiency of the GPU and CPU by 55.3 and 137.1%, respectively.

Abstract Background Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most prevalent complication of diabetes, and has been demonstrated to be independently associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. This aim of this study was to investigate the subclinical left ventricular (LV) myocardial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with and without DPN. Methods One hundred and thirty T2DM patients without DPN, 61 patients with DPN and 65 age and sex-matched controls who underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging were included, all subjects had no symptoms of heart failure and LV ejection fraction ≥ 50%. LV myocardial non-infarct late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was determined. LV global strains, including radial, circumferential and longitudinal peak strain (PS) and peak systolic and diastolic strain rates (PSSR and PDSR, respectively), were evaluated using CMR feature tracking and compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to determine the independent factors of reduced LV global myocardial strains in T2DM patients. Results The prevalence of non-infarct LGE was higher in patients with DPN than those without DPN (37.7% vs. 19.2%, p = 0.008). The LV radial and longitudinal PS (radial: 36.60 ± 7.24% vs. 33.57 ± 7.30% vs. 30.72 ± 8.68%; longitudinal: − 15.03 ± 2.52% vs. − 13.39 ± 2.48% vs. − 11.89 ± 3.02%), as well as longitudinal PDSR [0.89 (0.76, 1.05) 1/s vs. 0.80 (0.71, 0.93) 1/s vs. 0.77 (0.63, 0.87) 1/s] were decreased significantly from controls through T2DM patients without DPN to patients with DPN (all p 0.05). Radial and longitudinal PSSR were decreased in patients with DPN (p = 0.006 and 0.003, respectively) but preserved in those without DPN (all p > 0.05). Multivariable linear regression analyses adjusting for confounders demonstrated that DPN was independently associated with LV radial and longitudinal PS (β = − 3.025 and 1.187, p = 0.014 and 0.003, respectively) and PDSR (β = 0.283 and − 0.086, p = 0.016 and 0.001, respectively), as well as radial PSSR (β = − 0.266, p = 0.007). Conclusions There was more severe subclinical LV dysfunction in T2DM patients complicated with DPN than those without DPN, suggesting further prospective study with more active intervention in this cohort of patients.

Abstract Whether in the field of medical care, or in people’s daily life and health protection, the importance of masks has been paid more and more attention. Acne, the most common complication after wearing masks, which is also called maskne, has been successfully introduced into the common language as a common topic of dermatologist consultations. This study aims to study the changes of microflora in maskne patients and healthy controls before and after wearing masks. In the summer of 2023, we collected a total of 50 samples from 15 maskne patients and 10 healthy controls before and after wearing surgical masks for a long time. 16 S ribosomal DNA sequencing and identification technology with V3-V4 variable region were adopted to explore the microbiome changes caused by mask wearing, analyze the changes in microbial diversity, and make interaction network. LDA effect size analysis was used to identify which bacteria showed significant changes in their relative abundance from phylum to genus. After wearing a mask, the microbiome of the maskne patients changed significantly more than that of the healthy controls, with both α diversity and β diversity lower than those of maskne patients before wearing masks and those of healthy controls after wearing masks. Co-occurrence network analysis showed that compared with other groups, the network of maskne patients after wearing masks for a long time had the lowest connectivity and complexity, but the highest clustering property, while the opposite was true for healthy controls. Many microbes that are potentially beneficial to the skin decreased significantly after wearing a mask. There was almost no difference in healthy controls before and after wearing a mask.

Abstract Background Glycemic control, as measured by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), is an important biomarker to evaluate diabetes severity and is believed to be associated with heart failure development. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) commonly coexist, and the combination of these two diseases indicates a considerably poorer outcome than either disease alone. Therefore, glycemic control should be carefully managed. The present study aimed to explore the association between glycemic control and clinical outcomes, and to determine the optimal glycemic target in this specific population. Methods A total of 262 patients who underwent cardiac MRI were included and were split by HbA1c levels [HbA1c 7.5% (poor control)]. The biventricular volume and function, as well as left ventricular (LV) systolic strains in patients in different HbA1c categories, were measured and compared. The primary and secondary outcomes were recorded. The association of different HbA1c levels with adverse outcomes was assessed. Results Despite similar biventricular ejection fractions, both patients with intensive and poor glycemic control exhibited prominent deterioration of LV systolic strain in the longitudinal component (P = 0.004). After a median follow-up of 35.0 months, 55 patients (21.0%) experienced at least one confirmed endpoint event. Cox multivariable analysis indicated that both patients in the lowest and highest HbA1c categories exhibited a more than 2-fold increase in the risk for primary outcomes [HbA1c 7.5%: HR = 2.24, 95% CI = 1.01–4.99; P = 0.038] and secondary outcomes (HbA1c 7.5%: HR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.08–6.50; P = 0.038) compared with those in the middle HbA1c category. Conclusions We showed a U-shaped association of glycemic control with clinical outcomes in patients with T2DM and HFrEF, with the lowest risk of adverse outcomes among patients with modest glycemic control. HbA1c between 6.5% and 7.5% may be served as the optimal hypoglycemic target in this specific population.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) can increase the risk of morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease and obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD), which usually have a poor prognosis. This study aimed to explore the impact of MetS on left ventricular (LV) deformation and function in OCAD patients and investigate the independent factors of impaired LV function and deformation. Materials and methods A total of 121 patients with OCAD and 52 sex- and age-matched controls who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance scanning were enrolled in the study. All OCAD patients were divided into two groups: OCAD with MetS [OCAD(MetS+), n = 83] and OCAD without MetS [OCAD(MetS−), n = 38]. LV functional and global strain parameters were measured and compared among the three groups. Multivariable linear regression analyses were constructed to investigate the independent factors of LV impairment in OCAD patients. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to test the prediction efficiency of MetS for LV impairment. Results From controls to the OCAD(MetS−) group to the OCAD(MetS+) group, LV mass (LVM) increased, and LV global function index (LVGFI) and LV global longitudinal peak strain (GLPS) decreased (all p

Abstract Background The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis suggests that males with a higher testosterone level should be better at developing male secondary traits, but at a cost of suppressed immune performance. As a result, we should expect that males with an increased testosterone level also possess a higher parasite load. However, previous empirical studies aimed to test this prediction have generated mixed results. Meanwhile, the effect of testosterone level on parasite load in female hosts remains poorly known. Methods In this study, we tested this prediction by manipulating testosterone level in Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus), a medium-sized rodent widely distributed in northeast Asia. S. dauricus is an important host of ticks and fleas and often viewed as a considerable reservoir of plague. Live-trapped S. dauricus were injected with either tea oil (control group) or testosterone (treatment group) and then released. A total of 10 days later, the rodents were recaptured and checked for ectoparasites. Fecal samples were also collected to measure testosterone level of each individual. Results We found that testosterone manipulation and sex of hosts interacted to affect tick load. At the end of the experiment, male squirrels subjected to testosterone implantation had an averagely higher tick load than males from the control group. However, this pattern was not found in females. Moreover, testosterone manipulation did not significantly affect flea load in S. dauricus. Conclusions Our results only lent limited support for the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, suggesting that the role of testosterone on regulating parasite load is relatively complex, and may largely depend on parasite type and gender of hosts. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular death, overall mortality and heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The present study investigated the additive effects of paroxysmal AF on left ventricular (LV) function and deformation in T2DM patients with or without AF using the cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT) technique. Methods The present study encompassed 225 T2DM patients differentiated by the presence or absence of paroxysmal AF [T2DM(AF+) and T2DM(AF−), respectively], along with 75 age and sex matched controls, all of whom underwent CMR examination. LV function and global strains, including radial, circumferential and longitudinal peak strain (PS), as well as peak systolic and diastolic strain rates (PSSR and PDSR, respectively), were measured and compared among the groups. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with LV global strains in patients with T2DM. Results The T2DM(AF+) group was the oldest, had the highest LV end‑systolic volume index, lowest LV ejection fraction and estimated glomerular filtration rate compared to the control and T2DM(AF−) groups, and presented a shorter diabetes duration and lower HbA1c than the T2DM(AF−) group. LV PS-radial, PS-longitudinal and PDSR-radial declined successively from controls through the T2DM(AF−) group to the T2DM(AF+) group (all p

The geometric positioning accuracy of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images is affected by the radar system measurement and processing parameters, platform ephemeris data and auxiliary DEM data. Geometric calibration can compensate for the SAR systematic parameter errors to produce high-precision SAR products. SAR images of mountainous areas are difficult to be used for geometric calibration due to severe geometric distortion and difficulty in deploying and extracting control points. In this article, a novel and effective geometric calibration method for rugged terrain is proposed. The proposed method exploits the unique geometric and radiometric distortion features of SAR images. Based on the energy variation of SAR orthophoto, the calibration of range and azimuth parameters is achieved by searching for the fast time and slow time offsets that can compensate for the systematic errors. Experiments based on real SAR images from LuTan-1 satellite were conducted. The proposed method shows good performance in the experiments. After geometric calibration, the root-mean-square error of LuTan-1 L1A images is reduced from 80.77 to 6.39 m, which verifies that the proposed method can improve the positioning accuracy of SAR images. The proposed method is simple to realize and does not rely on additional control point data, which provides a new solution for the maintenance and parameter calibration of SAR satellites.

Abstract Poverty eradication is the first goal on the United Nations’ list of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, the relationships between poverty eradication and the other SDGs remain unclear, and thus current knowledge is insufficient to support the synergized achievement of the SDGs. China eliminated extreme poverty in 2021, and thus in this study, we analyzed the variations in sustainability and equality related to the environment and the provision of public services in China during the poverty eradication program from 2010 to 2020. We combined statistical data, point of interest data, and environmental monitoring and remote sensing data to evaluate progress in China’s 832 poverty-stricken counties. The results showed that the mean values of environmental and public service sustainability indicators improved from 2010 to 2020. In addition, the mean Theil index value decreased from 0.46 to 0.35 during this period, implying a reduction in inequality. Inequality between poverty-stricken and non-poverty-stricken areas accounted for 9.3% of overall inequality among the counties in 2010, and this had decreased to 7.7% in 2020. However, unbalanced regional investment resulted in increased gaps between poverty-stricken and non-poverty-stricken counties in relation to education and health care. Overall, 15% of the population and 54.8% of the land area in poverty-stricken counties experienced both a loss of their advantage in terms of environmental quality compared with non-poverty-stricken counties and greater lags in the provision of public services. Linear estimation showed that investment in poverty-stricken counties should be increased by 226.2 and 72.0% in relation to education and health care, respectively, to eliminate these inequalities.

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is frequently found in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and is associated with reduced exercise capacity, poor quality of life and adverse outcomes. Recent evidence suggests that axial thoracic skeletal muscle size could be used as a surrogate to assess sarcopenia in HFrEF. Since diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common comorbidities with HFrEF, we aimed to explore the potential association of axial thoracic skeletal muscle size with left ventricular (LV) remodeling and determine its prognostic significance in this condition. Methods A total of 243 diabetes patients with HFrEF were included in this study. Bilateral axial thoracic skeletal muscle size was obtained using cardiac MRI. Patients were stratified by the tertiles of axial thoracic skeletal muscle index (SMI). LV structural and functional indices, as well as amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), were measured. The determinants of elevated NT-proBNP were assessed using linear regression analysis. The associations between thoracic SMI and clinical outcomes were assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. Results Patients in the lowest tertile of thoracic SMI displayed a deterioration in LV systolic strain in three components, together with an increase in LV mass and a heavier burden of myocardial fibrosis (all P

There are massive amounts of civil aviation safety oversight reports collected each year in the civil aviation of China. The narrative texts of these reports are typically short texts, recording the abnormal events detected during the safety oversight process. In the construction of an intelligent civil aviation safety oversight system, the automatic classification of safety oversight texts is a key and fundamental task. However, all safety oversight reports are currently analyzed and classified into categories by manual work, which is time consuming and labor intensive. In recent years, pre-trained language models have been applied to various text mining tasks and have proven to be effective. The aim of this paper is to apply text classification to the mining of these narrative texts and to show that text classification technology can be a critical element of the aviation safety oversight report analysis. In this paper, we propose a novel method for the classification of narrative texts in safety oversight reports. Through extensive experiments, we validated the effectiveness of all the proposed components. The experimental results demonstrate that our method outperforms existing methods on the self-built civil aviation safety oversight dataset. This study undertakes a thorough examination of the precision and associated outcomes of the dataset, thereby establishing a solid basis for furnishing valuable insights to enhance data quality and optimize information.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, raccoon dogs have been suggested as a potential intermediary in transmitting SARS-CoV-2 to humans. To understand their role in the COVID-19 pandemic and the species barrier for SARS-CoV-2 transmission to humans, we analyzed how their ACE2 protein interacts with SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Biochemical data showed that raccoon dog ACE2 is an effective receptor for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, though not as effective as human ACE2. Structural comparisons highlighted differences in the virus-binding residues of raccoon dog ACE2 compared to human ACE2 (L24Q, Y34H, E38D, T82M, R353K), explaining their varied effectiveness as receptors for SARS-CoV-2. These variations contribute to the species barrier that exists between raccoon dogs and humans regarding SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Identifying these barriers can help assess the susceptibility of other mammals to SARS-CoV-2. Our research underscores the potential of raccoon dogs as SARS-CoV-2 carriers and identifies molecular barriers that affect the virus's ability to jump between species.

Background: Wound healing is a complex biological process that can be impaired in individuals with diabetes. Diabetic wounds are a serious complication of diabetes that require promoting diagnosis and effective treatment. FGF-21, a member of the endocrine FGF factors family, has caught the spotlight in the treatment of diabetes for its beneficial effects on accelerating human glucose uptake and fat catabolism. However, the therapeutic efficacy of FGF-21 in promoting diabetic wounds remains unknown. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic potential of FGF-21 in promoting diabetic wound healing. Methods: we investigated the effects of FGF-21 on wound healing related-cells under high-glucose conditions using various assays such as CCK8, scratch assay, flow cytometry analysis, endothelial tube-formation assay, and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, we used db/db mice to verify the healing-promoting therapeutic effects of FGF-21 on diabetic wounds. We also conducted qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining analyses to elucidate the underlying mechanism. Result: Our results indicate that FGF-21 treatment restored hyperglycemic damage on endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and tube-forming ability. It also reduced endothelial cell death rates under high-glucose conditions. TEM analysis showed that FGF-21 treatment effectively restored mitochondrial damage and morphological changes in endothelial cells caused by glucose. Additionally, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis indicated that FGF-21 treatment restored inflammatory responses caused by hyperglycemic damage. Animal experiments confirmed these findings, suggesting that FGF-21 may be a promising candidate for the treatment of non-healing diabetic wounds due to its effectiveness in stimulating angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory function. Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that FGF-21 is an essential regulator of wound-related cells under high-glucose conditions and has the potential to be a novel therapeutic target for accelerating diabetic wound healing.

Mechanical sensing and transduction are integral to biological systems and have inspired research into the regulation of supramolecular self‐assembly via mechanical forces. This review presents an inaugural discussion on mechanically active supramolecular systems. It focuses on two primary mechanisms for modulating these systems: the incorporation of mechanophores and the application of mechanical forces to modulate non‐covalent interactions. Challenging the traditional view of mechanical forces as solely destructive, their constructive potential when harnessed through sophisticated design is showcased. Investigation is done on how external forces like ultrasound, stirring, vortex, tension, and compression can induce fluorescence in π‐conjugated systems, initiate hydrogelation, propel non‐equilibrium self‐assembly, and affect the structure of vesicles. The review also casts light on the prospective uses of mechanically active supramolecular systems in areas such as protein activation, drug delivery, and stress sensing, illustrating the nuanced role of mechanical forces as both disruptors and enablers in the creation of functional materials.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is associated with pronounced systemic inflammation, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are key components of this response. The primary objective of this study was to establish an NET-related scoring system for patients with HBV-ACLF. A prospective training cohort of 81 patients from the Beijing Ditan Hospital was included. The concentrations of NET markers (cell-free DNA, myeloperoxidase DNA [MPO-DNA], and citrullinated histone H3) in peripheral blood were quantified. Random survival forest, LASSO regression, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify prognostic factors associated with 90-day mortality in ACLF patients and develop a nomogram for visualization, which was followed by evaluation in a validation cohort (n = 40). NET-related marker levels were significantly higher in the non-survival group than in the survival group (p < 0.05). The NET score was constructed by combining MPO-DNA, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and age data. The score’s diagnostic effectiveness, assessed by the area under the curve, yielded values of 0.83 and 0.77 in the training and validation sets, respectively, markedly surpassing those of other established models (p < 0.05). In both groups, the 90-day mortality rates were 88.8% and 75.0%, respectively, for patients categorized as high risk and 18.0% and 12.5%, respectively, for those classified as low risk.

Overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE), a serious complication of liver cirrhosis, is associated with alterations in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. We evaluated the correlation between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and transplant-free (TF) mortality in patients with OHE. Patients with OHE admitted to Beijing Ditan Hospital between January 2010 and August 2016 (n = 821) and between September 2016 and December 2020 (n = 480) were included in the training and validation sets, respectively. Independent predictors were explored by a multivariate Cox regression analysis, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to assess the prognostic value of these factors. The prognostic value of HDL-C was good (AUC at 1 year: 0.745) and was equivalent to that of the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score (AUC at 1 year: 0.788). The optimal threshold values for HDL-C and MELD were 0.5 mmol/L and 17, respectively. The 1-year TF mortality rates in the low-risk (HDL-C ≥ 0.5 mmol/L and MELD < 17) and high-risk (HDL-C < 0.5 mmol/L and MELD ≥ 17) groups were 7.5% and 51.5% in the training set and 10.1% and 48.2% in the validation set, respectively. HDL-C level < 0.5 mmol/L and MELD score > 17 can facilitate the identification of high-risk patients and provide a basis for timely treatment.

Al₂TiO₅ based ceramics with high mechanical strength and good thermal shock resistance were successfully prepared by adding 1 % -7 % CaO to the alumina titanium dioxide mixtures at 1280-1380 °C for 0.5 h, and the effects of the CaO additive and firing temperature on the phase composition and thermo-mechanical properties of the Al₂TiO₅ ceramics were investigated in the present work. The results show that CaO could promote the formation of the Al₂TiO₅ solid solution, showed a significant impact on the development of the phase composition. The aluminium titanate ceramics sintered with 3% CaO at 1350 °C for 30 min gave an average thermal expansion coefficient of (20-600 °C) 0.83×10-6 K-1, and a bending strength before and after three thermal shock cycles in water from 600 °C to room temperature of 40.59 MPa and 42.23 MPa, respectively.

Since the 16th century, Western countries have conducted extensive plant collections in Asia, particularly in China, driven by the need to collect botanical resources and foster academic development. These activities have not only significantly enriched the Western botanical specimen collections but have also had a profound impact on the development of related disciplines such as botany, ecology, and horticulture. During this process, a large number of renowned plant hunters emerged, whose discoveries and contributions are still remembered today. George Forrest (1873–1932) was one of these distinguished plant hunters. From 1904 to 1932, he visited China seven times to collect plants and became famous for the regional distinctiveness of the species he collected. However, due to the lack of systematic collection, organization, and analysis of specimens collected by Forrest, only a few species, such as the species Rhododendron, are well-known among the many species he introduced to the West. Furthermore, the personal collecting characteristics and the characteristic species collected by Forrest are also not clear. This limits a comprehensive understanding of the specimen collection history and impact of Forrest in China. Therefore, systematic organization and analysis of Forrest’s plant specimens collected in China are crucial to understanding his impact on botanical classification, Rhododendrons introduction, global horticulture, and plant propagation. This study aims to systematically organize and analyze the plant specimens collected by George Forrest in China to investigate the family, genus, and species composition of the collected specimens and the seven collection expeditions of Forrest in China, as well as the time and altitude of these collections. Furthermore, it seeks to discuss Forrest’s scientific contributions to the global spread of plants, the widespread application of the Rhododendron, and his impact on the development of modern gardens, providing a theoretical basis and data reference for related research and professional development. To this end, we extensively consulted important historical literature related to Forrest and systematically collected data from online specimen databases. The conclusions drawn from the available data include 38,603 specimens, with 26,079 collection numbers, belonging to 233 families, 1395 genera, and 5426 species, which account for 48.24%, 32.63%, and 14.17% of the plant families, genera, and species in China, respectively. Rhododendron specimens made up 17.20% of the specimens collected in this study. The collection locations cover three provinces or autonomous regions, 11 prefecture-level cities, and 25 counties. Furthermore, we found that Forrest’s collections were concentrated in spring and summer, mainly in high-altitude areas, with 135 species found below 1500 m and 3754 species at 1500 m and above. Rhododendron specimens were mostly found above 3000 m.

We present a systematic study of the environmental impact on star formation activities of galaxies using a mass-complete sample of ∼170k galaxies at z < 4 from the latest COSMOS2020 catalog. At z < 1, we find that the mean star formation rate (SFR) of all galaxies decreases with increasing density of the environment. However, when we only consider star-forming galaxies, the mean SFR becomes independent of the environment at z < 1. At z > 2, we observe a clear positive correlation between the SFR and the density of the environment for all the galaxies. On the other hand, the stellar mass of the galaxies increases significantly with the environment at all redshifts except for star-forming galaxies at z < 1. The fraction of quiescent galaxies increases with increasing density of the environment at z < 2, and the morphology–density relation is confirmed to be present up to z ∼ 1. We also find that environmental quenching is negligible at z > 1, whereas mass quenching is the dominant quenching mechanism for massive galaxies at all redshifts. Based on these results, we argue that stellar mass-regulated physical processes might be the major driving force for star formation activities of galaxies. At low redshift ( z < 1) massive galaxies are quenched primarily due to their high mass, resulting in a normal SFR–density relation. At high redshift ( z > 2) most of the galaxies are star-forming ones tightly following the star-forming main sequence, and the difference in their stellar mass in different environments naturally leads to a reversal of the SFR–density relation.