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Abstract Objective To explore the main factors affecting early dental caries among preschool children aged 3–6 years in Xingtai City to formulate effective preventive measures. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 570 preschool children aged 3–6 years in Xingtai City through questionnaire surveys and oral examinations to understand their dental caries situation. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the main influencing factors for the occurrence of dental caries in preschool children. Results Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in age (χ 2 = 2.636, p = 0.008), father’s education level (χ 2 = 4.207, p

The prevalence of anxiety, depression, and other psychological comorbidities among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) significantly exceeds that of the general population. Moreover, a bidirectional relationship exists between psychological comorbidities and IBD. This intricate interplay has substantial clinical implications, impacting treatment adherence, therapeutic efficacy, and disease recurrence rates. In this review, we explore the multifaceted mechanisms through which psychological factors influence IBD progression, treatment response, and prognosis. Specifically, we delve into the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, enteric nervous system, microbiota-gut-brain axis, systemic inflammatory cytokines, and immune cell function. Additionally, we discuss the potential benefits of antidepressant therapy in mitigating IBD risk and the role of psychotropic drugs in reducing peripheral inflammation. Recognizing and addressing psychological comorbidity is pivotal in comprehensive IBD management. We advocate for the integration of biopsychosocial approaches into IBD treatment strategies, emphasizing the need for innovative psychological interventions as adjuncts to conventional therapies. Rigorous research investigating the impact of antidepressants and behavioral interventions on IBD-specific outcomes may herald a paradigm shift in IBD management.

Abstract Introduction The management of erythrodermic psoriasis (EP), a rare but severe type of psoriasis, is challenging, especially in patients with concomitant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We previously demonstrated that oxymatrine treatment alleviated severe plaque psoriasis, but its therapeutic potential in treating EP remains unexplored. This study was to assess the efficacy and safety of oxymatrine for the treatment of EP, with attention to concomitant CHB. Methods In this investigator-initiated clinical trial, four consecutive patients with EP, including two (A and B) with concomitant CHB, were treated with intravenous administration of oxymatrine as monotherapy for 8 weeks, and scheduled to be followed up for a minimum of 24 weeks. The primary outcome was at least 75% improvement in the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 75) at week 32. Secondary outcomes included the body surface area (BSA) score, dermatology life quality index (DLQI)], and safety. Results Patients A, B, and C achieved PASI 75 at treatment completion and week 32, demonstrating improvements of 77.4%, 97.2%, and 100% in PASI, respectively. Their BSA and DLQI were also improved significantly at week 32 and throughout follow-up of 37, 57, and 105 weeks, respectively. The viral loads in patients A and B with CHB decreased modestly. Patient D discontinued after follow-up for 19 weeks, and the primary outcome could not be analyzed. No adverse events were reported during treatment and follow-up. Conclusion Oxymatrine appears to be efficacious and safe for the treatment of patients with EP, including those with concomitant CHB. Trial Registration This study was registered at the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( www.chictr.org.cn ; Registration number ChiCTR-TRC-14004301).

Abstract Dietary salt has been associated with cognitive impairment in mice, possibly related to damaged synapses and tau hyperphosphorylation. However, the mechanism underlying how dietary salt causes cognitive dysfunction remains unclear. In our study, either a high-salt (8%) or normal diet (0.5%) was used to feed C57BL/6 mice for three months, and N2a cells were cultured in normal medium, NaCl medium (80 mM), or NaCl (80 mM) + Liraglutide (200 nM) medium for 48 h. Cognitive function in mice was assessed using the Morris water maze and shuttle box test, while anxiety was evaluated by the open field test (OPT). Western blotting (WB), immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry were utilized to assess the level of Glucagon-like Peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and mTOR/p70S6K pathway. Electron microscope and western blotting were used to evaluate synapse function and tau phosphorylation. Our findings revealed that a high salt diet (HSD) reduced the level of synaptophysin (SYP) and postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95), resulting in significant synaptic damage. Additionally, hyperphosphorylation of tau at different sites was detected. The C57BL/6 mice showed significant impairment in learning and memory function compared to the control group, but HSD did not cause anxiety in the mice. In addition, the level of GLP-1R and autophagy flux decreased in the HSD group, while the level of mTOR/p70S6K was upregulated. Furthermore, liraglutide reversed the autophagy inhibition of N2a treated with NaCl. In summary, our study demonstrates that dietary salt inhibits the GLP-1R/mTOR/p70S6K pathway to inhibit autophagy and induces synaptic dysfunction and tau hyperphosphorylation, eventually impairing cognitive dysfunction.

Recent studies have shown that deep neural networks (DNNs) may suffer from some security issues such as backdoor attacks. The triggers of backdoor attacks are dynamic and global. However, existing backdoor attack methods are laborious and time-consuming in hiding global triggers, and most of them focus on single-target attacks, with less research on multitarget backdoor attacks. In this work, we present a multitarget attack strategy using texture features of procedural noise. Specifically, we use the k-LSB steganography algorithm to hide the triggers in the image and use different texture features of procedural noise to trigger multiple targets for attack. Poisoned images can be generated more quickly using the k-LSB steganography algorithm without any training process. Multitarget backdoor attacks apply to more scenarios and are more difficult to defend against. We evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed attack method on GTSRB and ImageNet datasets, and the experiments show that the proposed attack can achieve a high attack success rate (up to 100.00% for GTSRB and up to 98.48% for ImageNet) without compromising the clean data’s categorization performance, and thus is less likely to arouse the suspicion of administrators. In addition, the attack can bypass existing defense methods (STRIP defense and Neural Cleanse defense).

Abstract This study aims to experimentally compare the efficacy of different endodontic materials (iRoot BP Plus, Biodentine, MTA, Rootdent, and Trioxide) in the treatment of pulpitis and perforations on extracted tooth specimens. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the influence of iRoot BP Plus endodontic material on the regenerative processes following pulp amputation in laboratory animals. The secondary goal is to evaluate the effect of iRoot BP Plus on the restoration process in laboratory animals after pulp removal. The study presents a micropermeability analysis of the selected biomaterials performed on a sample of 50 single-rooted apical teeth in 2022. All teeth underwent endodontic treatment. Changes in molar morphology were investigated with eight laboratory animals (rabbits, 3 months old, all males) after simulated pulp removal and subsequent treatment with the iRoot BP Plus biomaterials. iRoot BP Plus appeared to be more effective in retrograde apical root filling than other biomaterials, as evidenced by its higher sealing effect. An experiment involving animal participants revealed the presence of protective adaptive mechanisms, which manifested in the form of an inflammatory process within 6 weeks after the dental pulp was removed. The connective tissue replaced the necrosis, and new capillaries began to form intensively. These dental outcomes suggest that iRoot BP Plus enables hermetical sealing in tooth restoration with good adhesion. Thus, it may have the ability to promote more active tissue regeneration after pulp removal. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Many meteorological centers have operationally implemented global model‐based ensemble prediction systems (GEPSs), making tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts from these systems available. The relatively low resolution of these GEPSs means that limits previous studies primarily focused on TC track forecasting. However, recent GEPS upgrades mean that TC intensity predictions from GEPSs are now also becoming of interest. This study focuses on the verification and comparison of the latest generation of GEPSs for TC intensity forecasts, particularly during the rapid intensification (RI) period over the western North Pacific (WP), eastern North Pacific (EP), and North Atlantic (NA) basins in 2021–2022. On average, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) GEPS performed best in predicting both TC intensity and RI across all three basins. Nevertheless, the exact timing of RI remains highly uncertain for these GEPS, indicating significant limitations in using GEPSs to forecast RI.

The development of fluorine-free foaming extinguishing agent, abbreviation FFEA, has become an urgent scientific challenge in the field of fire protection engineering due to the fact that the key component of existing aqueous film-forming foams is listed as a persistent organic pollutant. A study was conducted on foam performance and fire extinguishing efficiency of FFEA prepared by hydrocarbon and silicone surfactants with low-carbon alcohol modulation, using three selected silicone surfactants. The results show that the FFEA, including low-carbon alcohol-modulated Silok8141/SDS and Silok8008/SDS, exhibit low surface tension, good foam stabilization coefficient and long foam drainage time. Laboratory foam extinguishing experiments demonstrate that the FFEA produced by Silok8141/SDS/Isobutanol ternary system has better cooling effect and fire extinguishing performance. And the study of FFEA mechanism reveals that the addition of isobutanol blocks the foam liquid channel and increases the foam stability. The wide applicability of the design route for FFEA prepared by low-carbon alcohol-regulated hydrocarbon and silicone surfactants has been demonstrated.

Age-related cognitive impairment represents a significant health concern, with the understanding of its underlying mechanisms and potential interventions being of paramount importance. This study aimed to investigate the effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) on cognitive function and neuronal integrity in aged (22-month-old) C57BL/6 mice. Male mice were exposed to HBOT for 2 weeks, and spatial learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris water maze. We employed transcriptome sequencing and Gene Ontology (GO) term enrichment analysis to examine the effects of HBOT on gene expression profiles, with particular attention given to synapse-related genes. Our data indicated a significant upregulation of postsynapse organization, synapse organization, and axonogenesis GO terms, likely contributing to improved cognitive performance. Moreover, the hyperphosphorylation of tau, a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, was significantly reduced in the HBO-treated group, both in vivo and in vitro. Transmission electron microscopy revealed significant ultrastructural alterations in the hippocampus of the HBOT group, including an increase in the number of synapses and the size of the active zone, a reduction in demyelinated lesions, and a decreased number of “PANTHOS.” Furthermore, Western blot analyses confirmed the upregulation of PSD95, BDNF, and Syn proteins, suggesting enhanced synaptic plasticity and neurotrophic support. Moreover, HBOT increased autophagy, as evidenced by the elevated levels of Beclin-1 and LC3 proteins and the reduced level of p62 protein. Finally, we demonstrated that HBOT activated the AMPK-mTOR signaling pathway, a critical regulator of autophagy. Notably, our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms by which HBOT ameliorates age-related cognitive impairment, suggesting the potential therapeutic value of this approach.

Objective: Pre-treatment enhanced CT image data were used to train and build models to predict the efficacy of non-small cell lung cancer after conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy using two classification algorithms, Logistic Regression (LR) and Gaussian Naive Baye (GNB). Methods: In this study, we used pre-treatment enhanced CT image data for region of interest (ROI) sketching and feature extraction. We utilized the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) mutual confidence method for feature screening. We pre-screened logistic regression (LR) and Gaussian naive Bayes (GNB) classification algorithms and trained and modeled the screened features. We plotted 5-fold and 10-fold cross-validated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). We performed DeLong's test for validation and plotted calibration curves and decision curves to assess model performance. Results: A total of 102 patients were included in this study, and after a comparative analysis of the two models, LR had only slightly lower specificity than GNB, and higher sensitivity, accuracy, AUC value, precision, and F1 value than GNB (training set accuracy: 0.787, AUC value: 0.851; test set accuracy: 0.772, AUC value: 0.849), and the LR model has better performance in both the decision curve and the calibration curve. Conclusion: CT can be used for efficacy prediction after radiotherapy and chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. LR is more suitable for predicting whether NSCLC prognosis is in remission without considering the computing speed.

The Langmuir probe observed an increase in density and floating potential fluctuations after the sawtooth crash at the edge of HL-2A neutral beam injection heated plasma. This process initiates fluctuating-induced radial inward particle transport once the plasma enters a period with strong sawtooth crash. The inward transport comprises broad-band fluctuations with varying scales, which occur uniquely in the immediate aftermath of the sawtooth crash-driven outflow, signifying a transient phenomenon confined to that specific interval. These results demonstrate that the sawtooth crash can significantly impact edge turbulence by modifying electrostatic fluctuations. This modification changes the direction of electric fluctuation-induced particle transport, thereby reducing the influence of the intense sawtooth crash-driven outflow. Furthermore, the observations support the existence of a damping mechanism for the outflow during the formation of inward flux after the sawtooth crash, which may be associated with the recovery process of sawtooth cycle.

Cost-effective bismuth (Bi) boasts a high theoretical capacity and exceptional selectivity towards Cl- ion storage, making it a promising material for desalination batteries (DBs). However, the substantial volume expansion and low conductivity severely hinder the cycling performance of Bi-based DBs. In this study, a carbon-layer-coated Bi nanocomposite (Bi@C) was synthesized by pyrolyzing a metal–organic framework (Bi-MOF) containing Bi using a straightforward method. The results show that the Bi@C synthesized under the condition of annealing at 700 °C for 2 h has the optimum properties. The Bi@C has good multiplication performance, and the desalination capacity is 106.1 mg/g at a high current density of 1000 mA/g. And the material exhibited a high desalination capacity of 141.9 mg/g at a current density of 500 mA/g and retained 66.9% of its capacity after 200 cycles. In addition, the Bi@C can operate at a wide range of NaCl concentrations from 0.05 to 2 mol/L. The desalination mechanism analysis of the Bi@C revealed that the carbon coating provides space for Bi particles to expand in volume, thereby mitigating the issues of electrode material powdering and shedding. Meanwhile, the porous carbon skeleton establishes electron and ion channels to enhance the electrode material’s conductivity. This research offers a promising strategy for the application of chloride-storage electrode materials in electrochemical desalination systems.

Background: Insomnia is a high-incidence complication in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Auricular therapy can effectively improve sleep with few adverse effects. Acupoint selection affects the impact of auricular therapy. However, there is currently a lack of analysis on the standards of acupoint selection. Our study used data mining technology to investigate the acupoint selection principles and characteristics of auricular therapy for the treatment of MHD-related insomnia. Objective: The objective of the study is to explore the standards of acupoint selection in auricular therapy for the treatment of MHD-related insomnia through data mining technology. Materials and Methods: We searched three English (PubMed, WOS, and Embase) and four Chinese (CNKI, VIP, Wangfang, and CBM) databases for studies on auricular therapy for MHD-related insomnia from self-establishment to November 14, 2022. Results: Eighty-one publications were involved, which included 33 acupoints. The most common auricular points in patients with MHD-related insomnia were the Shenmen, heart, and kidney points. More applications involved the visceral, nervous system, and specific acupoints. Five effective clusters and two clusters were obtained through cluster analysis, including specific auricular points for insomnia, such as the multi-dream area, neurasthenia area, deep sleep point, and anterior ear lobe. Complex network analysis showed that the core auricular acupoint combinations for the intervention of MHD-related insomnia were Shenmen with kidney, Shenmen with heart, heart with kidney, heart with Shenmen, and heart and Shenmen with subcortex. Conclusions: The selection of auricular points for the treatment of MHD-related insomnia was guided by the heart theory of traditional Chinese medicine. Clinical treatment attaches importance to the use of the multi-dream area, neurasthenia area, and other acupoints.