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Abstract High myopia (HM) is a leading cause of blindness worldwide with currently no effective interventions available. A major hurdle lies in its often isolated perception as a purely ocular morbidity, disregarding potential systemic implications. Recent evidence suggests the existence of a gut-eye axis; however, the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of HM remains largely unexplored. Herein, we provide a potential crosstalk among HM’s gut dysbiosis, microbial metabolites, and scleral remodeling. Utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we observed an altered gut microbiota profile in HM patients with a significant reduction in probiotic abundance compared with healthy controls. Subsequent targeted metabolic profiling revealed a notable decrease in plasma levels of the gut microbiota-derived metabolite indole-3-acetic acid (3-IAA) among HM patients, which is closely associated with the reduced probiotics, both negatively correlated with HM severity. Genetic analyses determined that gut microbiota are causally associated with myopia risk. Importantly, when mice subjected to HM modeling receive fecal microbiota transplantation from healthy donors, there is an increase in 3-IAA plasma levels and simultaneous retardation of HM progression along with better maintenance of collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) expression in the sclera. Furthermore, 3-IAA gavage achieves similar effects. Mechanistic investigations confirm the transcriptional activation of COL1A1 by 3-IAA via promoting the enrichment of SP1 to its promoter. Together, our findings provide novel insights into the gut microbiota-eye axis in the pathogenesis of HM and propose new strategies for HM intervention by remodeling the gut microbiota and indole supplementation.

Abstract Purpose To assess the interactive relationship between blood pressure status and diabetic mellitus (DM) with ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness in elderly individuals in rural China. Methods Participants aged 50 years and older in a rural area of Daxing District, Beijing, were recruited in this study from October 2018 to November 2018. All subjects underwent a comprehensive systemic and ocular examination. Blood pressure status was graded as normotension, controlled hypertension and uncontrolled hypertension according to blood pressure measurements and the use of any medication for hypertension treatment. GCC parameters were measured by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Generalized linear models (GLM) adjusted for related potential confounders were used to assess the interaction between DM and blood pressure status. Results Among 1415 screened subjects (2830 eyes), a total of 1117 eyes were enrolled in the final analysis. GLM analysis showed a significant interactive relationship between DM with uncontrolled hypertension status (β = 3.868, p = 0.011). GCC thickness would decrease 0.255 μm per year as the age increased (β=-0.255, p

Background: In past studies, non-medical factors in the social-healthcare-patient triad associated with the prevalence of COVID-19 have led to delays in the presentation of patients with acute appendicitis and an increase in complications. However, as research progresses, there is increasing evidence of a clinical association between COVID-19 and the development of acute appendicitis. Methods: The effect of COVID-19 prevalence and associated factors on acute appendicitis in the control (2016–2019) and exposed (2020−2023) groups was derived from a retrospective study of 3070 patients with acute appendicitis from 2016 to 2023. Results: After the implementation of the restrictions, the rate of acute appendicitis visits in the exposed group compared to the control group dropped sharply in the initial period (P = 0.047) and recovered gradually with the relaxation of the restrictions. Similar changes occurred in the number of acute complicated appendicitis visits. In addition, after the lifting of restrictions and the COVID-19 outbreak, the proportion of acute complicated appendicitis in the exposed group increased significantly (P

Abstract Globally, breast cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer-related incidence and mortality among females. Research has shown that sleep patterns significantly influence tumor onset and progression. In this research, the association was examined through the application of a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. For the analysis of seven sleep patterns, genetic tools were sourced from both the UK Biobank and 23andMe, including morning/evening person (chronotype) n = 177,604, morning person (chronotype) n = 248,094, daytime dozing/sleepiness n = 193,472, getting up in the morning n = 193,717, and sleeplessness n = 193,987; sleep duration n = 192,810; and nap during the day n = 166,853. The Breast Cancer Association Consortium (BCAC) supplied genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data, including 133,384 breast cancer cases and 113,789 controls, alongside subtype-specific data with 106,278 cases and 91,477 controls. We discovered that chronotype encompasses both morning and evening types contributes to the risk of overall breast cancer. While daytime dozing and morning person (chronotype) are linked to a lower risk of breast cancer in general, In subtype-specific analyses, morning person (chronotype) was negatively associated with luminal B, HER2-negative-like, and daytime dozing was negatively correlated with luminal A-like, luminal B-like, and HER2-enriched-like. The study corroborates that chronotype is a danger element for breast cancer, aligning with previous observational findings. The association between being a morning person (chronotype) or having daytime dozing and a decreased risk of breast cancer underscores the significance of sleep patterns in formulating strategies for cancer prevention.

Abstract The human endometrial decidualization is a transformative event in the pregnant uterus that involves the differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells. While crucial to the establishment of a successful pregnancy, the metabolic characteristics of decidual cells in vivo remain largely unexplored. Here, we integrated the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets on the endometrium of the menstrual cycle and the maternal-fetal interface in the first trimester to comprehensively decrypt the metabolic characteristics of stromal fibroblast cells. Our results revealed that the differentiation of stromal cells into decidual cells is accompanied by increased amino acid and sphingolipid metabolism. Furthermore, metabolic heterogeneity exists in decidual cells with differentiation maturity disparities. Decidual cells with high metabolism exhibit higher cellular activity and show a strong propensity for signaling. In addition, significant metabolic reprogramming in amino acids and lipids also occurs during the transition from non-pregnancy to pregnancy in the uteri of pigs, cattle, and mice. Our analysis provides comprehensive insights into the dynamic landscape of stromal fibroblast cell metabolism, contributing to our understanding of the metabolism at the molecular dynamics underlying the decidualization process in the human endometrium.

Abstract The Span-based model can effectively capture the complex entity structure in the text, thus becoming the mainstream model for nested named entity recognition (Nested NER) tasks. However, traditional Span-based models decode each entity span independently. They do not consider the semantic connections between spans or the entities’ positional information, which limits their performance. To address these issues, we propose a Bi-Directional Context-Aware Network (Bi-DCAN) for the Nested NER. Specifically, we first design a new span-level semantic relation model. Then, the Bi-DCAN is implemented to capture this semantic relationship. Furthermore, we incorporate Rotary Position Embedding into the bi-affine mechanism to capture the relative positional information between the head and tail tokens, enabling the model to more accurately determine the position of each entity. Experimental results show that compared to the latest model Diffusion-NER, our model reduces 20M parameters and increases the F1 scores by 0.24 and 0.09 on the ACE2005 and GENIA datasets respectively, which proves that our model has an excellent ability to recognise nested entities.

Highlights Elephant trunk-inspired anisotropic wrinkling structures were formed on a sandwich-like conductive film through a controlled shrinking method. The wrinkled conductive network could withstand up to 200% tensile strain and exhibits a strain-enhanced electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness when stretching parallel to the electric field polarization direction.

Abstract Background The treatment for bilateral synchronous multiple primary lung cancers (MPLC) remains challenging. Simultaneous bilateral video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) may be an optimal treatment with curative intent, but its safety and feasibility are controversial. Methods One hundred and fifty-eight patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral VATS (simultaneous group) and 79 who underwent two-staged bilateral VATS (two-staged group) were included in this study. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results The majority of patients were female and non-smokers. The most common surgical plan was lobectomy and contralateral wedge resection in both groups. There was no significant difference in the postoperative complication rate between the simultaneous groups and two-staged group (13.3% vs. 11.4%, p = 0.73). Patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral resection had shorter hospital stays, shorter anesthesia time and less chest drainage compared with those who underwent two-staged resection. Advanced TNM stage, complicated surgical plan and aggressive lymph node resection were risk factors for postoperative complications in simultaneous bilateral VATS. Patients in two groups had similar overall survival and disease free survival (p = 0.2). Conclusions Simultaneous bilateral VATS for bilateral lung nodule resection is as safe and feasible as two-staged bilateral VATS. Patients who underwent simultaneous bilateral resection had similar or even better outcomes compared to that of the two-staged group. Simultaneous bilateral VATS is potentially an optimal treatment option for patients with erarly cTNM stage and good physical condition.

Abstract Background Culex tritaeniorhynchus is widely distributed in China, from Hainan Island in the south to Heilongjiang in the north, covering tropical, subtropical, and temperate climate zones. Culex tritaeniorhynchus carries 19 types of arboviruses. It is the main vector of the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), posing a serious threat to human health. Understanding the effects of environmental factors on Culex tritaeniorhynchus can provide important insights into its population structure or isolation patterns, which is currently unclear. Results In total, 138 COI haplotypes were detected in the 552 amplified sequences, and the haplotype diversity (Hd) value increased from temperate (0.534) to tropical (0.979) regions. The haplotype phylogeny analysis revealed that the haplotypes were divided into two high-support evolutionary branches. Temperate populations were predominantly distributed in evolutionary branch II, showing some genetic isolation from tropical/subtropical populations and less gene flow between groups. The neutral test results of HNQH (Qionghai) and HNHK(Haikou) populations were negative (P

Abstract Background Norepinephrine and phenylephrine are commonly used vasoactive drugs to treat hypotension during the perioperative period. The increased release of endogenous norepinephrine elicits prothrombotic changes, while parturients are generally in a hypercoagulable state. Therefore, this trial aims to investigate whether there is a disparity between equivalent doses of prophylactic norepinephrine infusion and phenylephrine infusion on prothrombotic response in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Methods Sixty-six eligible parturients will be recruited for this trial and randomly assigned to the norepinephrine or phenylephrine group. The “study drug” will be administered at a rate of 15 ml/h starting from the intrathecal injection. The primary outcome are plasma coagulation factor VIII activity (FVIII: C), fibrinogen, and D-dimer levels. The secondary outcomes include hemodynamic variables and umbilical artery blood pH value. Discussion Our study is the first trial comparing the effect of norepinephrine and phenylephrine on prothrombotic response in patients undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia. Positive or negative results will all help us better understand the impact of vasoactive drugs on patients. If there are any differences, this trial will provide new evidence for maternal choice of vasoactive medications in the perioperative period. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2300077164. Registered on 1 November 2023. https://www.chictr.org.cn/ .

Cascaded H-bridge inverter (CHBI) with supercapacitors (SCs) and dc-dc stage shows significant promise for medium to high voltage energy storage applications. This paper investigates the voltage balance of capacitors within the CHBI, including both the dc-link capacitors and SCs. Balance control over the dc-link capacitor voltages is realized by the dc-dc stage in each submodule (SM), while a hybrid modulation strategy (HMS) is implemented in the H-bridge to balance the SC voltages among the SMs. Meanwhile, the dc-link voltage fluctuations are analyzed under the HMS. A virtual voltage variable is introduced to coordinate the balancing of dc-link capacitor voltages and SC voltages. Compared to the balancing method that solely considers the SC voltages, the presented method reduces the dc-link voltage fluctuations without affecting the voltage balance of SCS. Finally, both simulation and experimental results verify the effectiveness of the presented method.

Abstract Background This study aims to construct a model predicting the probability of RF in AECOPD patients upon hospital admission. Methods This study retrospectively extracted data from MIMIC-IV database, ultimately including 3776 AECOPD patients. The patients were randomly divided into a training set (n = 2643) and a validation set (n = 1133) in a 7:3 ratio. First, LASSO regression analysis was used to optimize variable selection by running a tenfold k-cyclic coordinate descent. Subsequently, a multifactorial Cox regression analysis was employed to establish a predictive model. Thirdly, the model was validated using ROC curves, Harrell’s C-index, calibration plots, DCA, and K-M curve. Result Eight predictive indicators were selected, including blood urea nitrogen, prothrombin time, white blood cell count, heart rate, the presence of comorbid interstitial lung disease, heart failure, and the use of antibiotics and bronchodilators. The model constructed with these 8 predictors demonstrated good predictive capabilities, with ROC curve areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.858 (0.836–0.881), 0.773 (0.746–0.799), 0.736 (0.701–0.771) within 3, 7, and 14 days in the training set, respectively and the C-index was 0.743 (0.723–0.763). Additionally, calibration plots indicated strong consistency between predicted and observed values. DCA analysis demonstrated favorable clinical utility. The K-M curve indicated the model’s good reliability, revealed a significantly higher RF occurrence probability in the high-risk group than that in the low-risk group (P

Abstract It is of great practical significance to explore the relationship between urbanization and CO2 emissions for the low-carbon development of cities. However, the multiscale assessment of spatial relationship between population, land and economic urbanization and CO2 emissions is lacked. In this study, we first adopted the spatial statistical methods to evaluate the spatial pattern of China’s CO2 emissions in 2019. Then, we spatially quantified China’s urbanization of land, population and economy based on statistical data. Finally, we used the geo-weighted regression model to explore the spatial relationship between urbanization and CO2 emissions at the national-economic zone-province scale. The results displayed that there is obvious spatial heterogeneity in the relationship between China’s urbanization and CO2 emissions. The significant positive correlation between urbanization and CO2 emissions were mainly located in the northeastern, eastern and southwestern regions, consistent with the characteristics of the Heihe–Tengchong Line. The uneven development of land, population and economic urbanization would lead to more CO2 emissions. We suggest that China should attend the balanced development of urban land, population and economy, and avoid the additional carbon emissions caused by incongruence, to further the development of low-carbon cities.

Abstract Temporal information in event streams plays a critical role in event‐based video frame interpolation as it provides temporal context cues complementary to images. Most previous event‐based methods first transform the unstructured event data to structured data formats through voxelisation, and then employ advanced CNNs to extract temporal information. However, voxelisation inevitably leads to information loss, and processing the sparse voxels introduces severe computation redundancy. To address these limitations, this study proposes a point‐image fusion network (PIFNet). In our PIFNet, rich temporal information from the events can be directly extracted at the point level. Then, a fusion module is designed to fuse complementary cues from both points and images for frame interpolation. Extensive experiments on both synthetic and real datasets demonstrate that our PIFNet achieves state‐of‐the‐art performance with high efficiency.

Abstract Bridged chiral biaryls are axially chiral compounds with a medium-sized ring connecting the two arenes. Compared with plentiful methods for the enantioselective synthesis of biaryl compounds, synthetic approaches for this subclass of bridged atropisomers are limited. Here we show an atroposelective synthesis of 1,3-diaxial bridged eight-membered terphenyl atropisomers through an Co/SPDO (spirocyclic pyrrolidine oxazoline)-catalyzed aerobic oxidative coupling/desymmetrization reaction of prochiral phenols. This catalytic desymmetric process is enabled by combination of an earth-abundant Co(OAc)2 and a unique SPDO ligand in the presence of DABCO (1,4-diaza[2.2.2]bicyclooctane). An array of diaxial bridged terphenyls embedded in an azocane can be accessed in high yields (up to 99%) with excellent enantio- (>99% ee) and diastereoselectivities (>20:1 dr).

Abstract Introduction Listeriosis is a severe food-borne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes infection. The data of listeriosis in Xi’an population are limited. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical features and fatality risk factors for listeriosis in three tertiary-care hospitals in Xi’an, China Methods The characteristics of demographic data, underlying diseases, clinical manifestations, laboratory indicators, cranial imaging examination, antibiotics therapeutic schemes, and clinical outcomes were collected between 2011 and 2023. Logistic regression analysis was performed. Results Seventy-one etiologically confirmed listeriosis patients were enrolled, including 12 neonatal and 59 non-neonatal cases. The majority of neonatal listeriosis presented as preterm (50%) and fetal distress (75%). The main clinical manifestations of non-neonatal listeriosis included fever (88%), headache (32%), disorder of consciousness (25%), vomiting (17%), abdominal pain (12%), and convulsions (8%). The fatality rate in neonatal cases was higher than in non-neonatal listeriosis (42 vs. 17%). Although no deaths were reported in maternal listeriosis, only two of 23 patients had an uneventful obstetrical outcome. Five maternal listeriosis delivered culture-positive neonates, three of whom decreased within 1 week post-gestation due to severe complications. Twenty-eight cases were neurolisteriosis and 43 cases were bacteremia. Neurolisteriosis had a higher fatality rate compared with bacteremia listeriosis (36 vs. 12%). The main neuroradiological images were cerebral edema/hydrocephalus, intracranial infection, and cerebral hernia. Listeria monocytogenes showed extremely low resistance to ampicillin (two isolates) and penicillin (one isolate). The fatality risk factors were the involvement of the central nervous system, hyperbilirubinemia, and hyponatremia for all enrolled subjects. Hyperuricemia contributed to the elevation of fatality risk in non-neonatal listeriosis. Conclusions When the patients suffered with symptoms of fever and central nervous system infection, they should be alert to the possibility of listeriosis. Early administration of ampicillin- or penicillin-based therapy might be beneficial for recovery of listeriosis.

This study delved into the potential application of Platanus acerifolia leaf extract (PALE) as an environmentally benign corrosion inhibitor. Evaluation of corrosion inhibition was conducted using electrochemical methods, field emission scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometer. The results reveal that PALE offers efficient protection for Q235 steel across the temperature range of 298 K–318 K, achieving a maximum corrosion inhibition efficiency of approximately 93%. Furthermore, Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to elucidate the spontaneous and stable adsorption of PALE molecules onto the surface of Q235 steel. This adsorption impedes the diffusion of corrosive substances towards the steel surface, thereby endowing Q235 steel with robust corrosion resistance.

Abstract A direct strategy to achieve specific treatments and reduce side effects is through cell type‐specific drug delivery. Exosomes (Exos) can be modified with folic acid (FA) to prepare drug delivery systems targeting tumor cells that highly express FA receptors. This study aimed to produce an exo drug delivery system with FA decoration and temozolomide (TMZ) loading to improve the sustained TMZ release and targeting. We used DSPE‐PEG2000‐FA to modify exos derived from astrocyte U‐87 to prepare FA‐modified exos (Astro‐exo‐FA). TMZ was encapsulated into Astro‐exo‐FA or Astro‐exo through electroporation to produce TMZ@Astro‐exo and TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA. In vitro drug release was examined using the dialysis bag method. Through cell experiments in vitro and mouse glioma models in vivo, the effect of TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA on U‐87 cells was determined. Exo properties were not affected by FA modification and TMZ loading. The drug release rate of TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA was slower. TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA uptake by U‐87 cells was higher compared to TMZ@Astro‐exo, indicating that TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA has a stronger targeting toward U‐87 cells. TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA remarkably reduced U‐87 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion compared with TMZ@Astro‐exo and free TMZ. Treatment with TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA reduced the side effects of TMZ (minimal change in body weight), prolonged survival, and inhibited tumor growth in mouse glioma models, and its efficacy was stronger than that of TMZ@Astro‐exo and free TMZ. TMZ@Astro‐exo‐FA could enhance the effect of TMZ against glioma, providing novel ideas for drug targeting delivery and exploring exos as drug carriers against glioma.

Abstract Capsaicin derivatives with thiourea structure (CDTS) is highly noteworthy owing to its higher analgesic potency in rodent models and higher agonism in vitro. However, the direct synthesis of CDTS remains t one or more shortcomings. In this study, we present reported a green, facile, and practical synthetic method of capsaicin derivatives with thiourea structure is developed by using an automated synthetic system, leading to a series of capsaicin derivatives with various electronic properties and functionalities in good to excellent yields.

Anthocyanins play crucial roles in pollen protection and pollinator attraction in flowering plants. However, the mechanisms underlying flower color determination and whether floral anthocyanin regulators participate in other processes remain largely unresolved in soybeans (Glycine max). In this study, we investigated the genetic components and mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean flowers. Molecular and genetic studies have characterized two antagonistic regulators, the positive activator GmMYBA3 and the negative repressor GmMYBR1, that modulate the gene expression of anthocyanin biosynthesis in soybean flowers. Further findings revealed a regulatory interplay between GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1 bridged by GmTT8a, highlighting the complexity of anthocyanin regulation in different soybean organs. Exploration of additional soybean cultivars demonstrated the universality of GmMYBA3 and GmMYBR1 in regulating floral anthocyanin biosynthesis- related genes, with GmF3′5′H identified as a crucial determinant of white flower color. This study provides a molecular mechanism underlying soybean flower color determination, paving the way for the molecular modification of soybean flowers to probably enhance their resistance to abiotic stresses and attractiveness to pollinators.

Abstract Leukemias and their bone marrow microenvironments undergo dynamic changes over the course of disease. However, little is known about the circulation kinetics of leukemia cells, nor the impact of specific factors on the clearance of circulating leukemia cells (CLCs) from the blood. To gain a basic understanding of CLC dynamics over the course of disease progression and therapeutic response, we apply a blood exchange method to mouse models of acute leukemia. We find that CLCs circulate in the blood for 1–2 orders of magnitude longer than solid tumor circulating tumor cells. We further observe that: (i) leukemia presence in the marrow can limit the clearance of CLCs in a model of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and (ii) CLCs in a model of relapsed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) can clear faster than their untreated counterparts. Our approach can also directly quantify the impact of microenvironmental factors on CLC clearance properties. For example, data from two leukemia models suggest that E-selectin, a vascular adhesion molecule, alters CLC clearance. Our research highlights that clearance rates of CLCs can vary in response to tumor and treatment status and provides a strategy for identifying basic processes and factors that govern the kinetics of circulating cells.

Abstract Background Human adipose stromal cells-derived extracellular vesicles (haMSC-EVs) have been shown to alleviate inflammation in acute lung injury (ALI) animal models. However, there are few systemic studies on clinical-grade haMSC-EVs. Our study aimed to investigate the manufacturing, quality control (QC) and preclinical safety of clinical-grade haMSC-EVs. Methods haMSC-EVs were isolated from the conditioned medium of human adipose MSCs incubated in 2D containers. Purification was performed by PEG precipitation and differential centrifugation. Characterizations were conducted by nanoparticle tracking analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Western blotting, nanoflow cytometry analysis, and the TNF-α inhibition ratio of macrophage [after stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)]. RNA-seq and proteomic analysis with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) were used to inspect the lot-to-lot consistency of the EV products. Repeated toxicity was evaluated in rats after administration using trace liquid endotracheal nebulizers for 28 days, and respiratory toxicity was evaluated 24 h after the first administration. In vivo therapeutic effects were assessed in an LPS-induced ALI/ acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) rat model. Results The quality criteria have been standardized. In a stability study, haMSC-EVs were found to remain stable after 6 months of storage at − 80°C, 3 months at − 20 °C, and 6 h at room temperature. The microRNA profile and proteome of haMSC-EVs demonstrated suitable lot-to-lot consistency, further suggesting the stability of the production processes. Intratracheally administered 1.5 × 108 particles/rat/day for four weeks elicited no significant toxicity in rats. In LPS-induced ALI/ARDS model rats, intratracheally administered haMSC-EVs alleviated lung injury, possibly by reducing the serum level of inflammatory factors. Conclusion haMSC-EVs, as an off-shelf drug, have suitable stability and lot-to-lot consistency. Intratracheally administered haMSC-EVs demonstrated excellent safety at the tested dosages in systematic preclinical toxicity studies. Intratracheally administered haMSC-EVs improved the lung function and exerted anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced ALI/ARDS model rats.

Objectives: To investigate prognostic factors in patients with head and neck Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC), especially the impact of treatment modalities on survival. Methods: Patients with primary head and neck MEC between 2000 and 2015 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Prognostic factors related to Overall Survival (OS) and Cancer-Specific Survival (CSS), as well as the impact of treatments, were evaluated by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Results: We identified 2692 patients diagnosed with head and neck MEC, of whom 1397 (51.89%) had a parotid gland primary, 569 (22.14%) died, and 341 (12.67%) died of MEC. Older age (≥53 years), males, unmarried, lower income, tumor site in other head and neck areas, higher tumor grade, larger tumor size, and higher stage were related to poorer OS and CSS. Patients who did not undergo surgery (HR = 3.20, 95% CI 2.45‒4.18) had worse OS, while no significant difference was detected between partial and total organ excision on patients’ OS (p = 0.729). For combination therapy, patients who received radiotherapy only (HR = 3.21, 95% CI 2.27–4.53) or no surgery and no radiotherapy (HR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.83–3.67) were correlated with worse OS (vs. surgery only), but no significant difference was detected between surgery only and surgery combined with radiotherapy on patients’ OS (p = 0.218). For CSS, the corresponding results were consistent with OS. Conclusion: Surgical resection only may be a better survival option for head and neck MEC.

Leaves of Melaleuca alternifolia are abundant in essential oils comprising terpenoids and volatile organic compounds, which play an important role in plant abiotic stress response. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying terpenoid biosynthesis in M. alternifolia remain poorly understood. To fill this knowledge gap, we profiled terpenoid content and composition across four distinct growth phases using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). We also performed an integrated analysis of gene expression in leaf tissues through full-length transcriptome sequencing combined with high throughput RNA sequencing. We identified 46,313 transcripts, 99 % (45,848 transcripts) of which were annotated using existing databases. Our study also revealed 2,792 transcription factors (TFs) and 1,812 alternative splicing (AS) events. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we clustered these identified genes into 11 co-expressed modules. Notably, two modules—designated as blue and brown—were significantly correlated with essential oil content. Homologous annotation with the Arabidopsis database revealed that genes within the blue module are largely involved in the 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, suggesting its pivotal role in essential oil synthesis in M. alternifolia. Furthermore, elevated expression levels of VAMP72 and DGK1 in the brown module indicate their potential function as negative regulators of essential oil synthesis. Our findings unveil key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways that can be targeted to enhance essential oil production in M. alternifolia. The identified TFs may serve as potential candidates for genetic modification through genome editing technologies. This research provides valuable insights into the processes involved in essential oil biosynthesis and highlights key genes for functional characterization in M. alternifolia.

Objective To investigate the correlations between choroidal parameters and primary angle-closure suspect (PACS) in different age subgroups.Methods and analysis Participants aged 50 years or older in a rural area of Daxing District, Beijing, were recruited. Swept-source optical coherence tomography was used to measure the choroidal parameters. Demographic, ocular biometry parameters and choroidal parameters were compared between the PACS and non-PACS (NPACS) eyes. Logistic analysis was performed to explore the association between the choroidal parameters and PACS.Results 192 (26.89%) subjects with PACS and 509 (71.29%) with PACS were analysed. Subjects were divided into two groups: group 1 (50–60 years, n=286) and group 2 (>60 years, n=415). In group 1, the mean subfoveal choroidal thickness of PACS eyes was 341.82±88.23 µm and thicker than NPACS eyes (315.07±83.53 µm, p=0.035). The choroidal volume was greater in PACS eyes (10.61±2.78 mm3) compared with NPACS eyes (9.66±2.49 mm3, p=0.013). In group 2, no significant difference in any choroidal parameters between PACS and NPACS was found. Multivariate regression demonstrated that increased choroidal volume was associated with PACS (OR 1.298, 95% CI 1.117 to 1.510, p

Abstract Exfoliation of 2D non‐Van der Waals (non‐vdW) semiconductor nanoplates (NPs) from inorganic analogs presents many challenges ahead for further exploring of their advanced applications on account of the strong bonding energies. In this study, the exfoliation of ultrathin 2D non‐vdW chromium sulfide (2D Cr2S3) by means of a combined facile liquid‐phase exfoliation (LPE) method is successfully demonstrated. The morphology and structure of the 2D Cr2S3 material are systematically examined. Magnetic studies show an obvious temperature‐dependent uncompensated antiferromagnetic behavior of 2D Cr2S3. The material is further loaded on TiO2 nanorod arrays to form an S‐scheme heterojunction. Experimental measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirm that the formed TiO2@Cr2S3 S‐scheme heterojunction facilitates the separation and transmission of photo‐induced electron/hole pairs, resulting in a significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity in the visible region.

Abstract To ensure compositional consistency while mitigating potential immunogenicity for stem cell therapy, synthetic scaffolds have emerged as compelling alternatives to native extracellular matrix (ECM). Substantial progress has been made in emulating specific natural traits featuring consistent chemical compositions and physical structures. However, recapitulating the dynamic responsiveness of the native ECM involving chemical transitions and physical remodeling during differentiation, remains a challenging endeavor. Here, the creation of adaptive scaffolds is demonstrated through sequential protein‐instructed molecular assembly, utilizing stage‐specific proteins, and incorporating in situ assembly technique. The procedure is commenced by introducing a dual‐targeting peptide at the onset of stem cell differentiation. In response to highly expressed integrins and heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC), the peptides assembled in situ, creating customized extracellular scaffolds that adhered to hMSCs promoting osteoblast differentiation. As the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and collagen (COL‐1) increased in osteoblasts, an additional peptide is introduced that interacts with ALP, initiating peptide assembly and facilitating calcium phosphate (CaP) deposition. The growth and entanglement of peptide assemblies with collagen fibers efficiently incorporated CaP into the network resulting in an adaptive biphasic scaffold that enhanced healing of bone injuries.

Purpose: To develop and validate deep learning algorithms that can identify and classify angle-closure (AC) mechanisms using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images. Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants of the Handan Eye Study aged ≥35 years with AC detected via gonioscopy or on the AS-OCT images. These images were classified by human experts into the following to indicate the predominant AC mechanism (ground truth): pupillary block, plateau iris configuration, or thick peripheral iris roll. A deep learning architecture, known as comprehensive mechanism decision net (CMD-Net), was developed to simulate the identification of image-level AC mechanisms by human experts. Cross-validation was performed to optimize and evaluate the model. Human-machine comparisons were conducted using a held-out and separate test sets to establish generalizability. Results: In total, 11,035 AS-OCT images of 1455 participants (2833 eyes) were included. Among these, 8828 and 2.207 images were included in the cross-validation and held-out test sets, respectively. A separate test was formed comprising 228 images of 35 consecutive patients with AC detected via gonioscopy at our eye center. In the classification of AC mechanisms, CMD-Net achieved a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.980, 0.977, and 0.988 in the cross-validation, held-out, and separate test sets, respectively. The best-performing ophthalmologist achieved an AUC of 0.903 and 0.891 in the held-out and separate test sets, respectively. And CMD-Net outperformed glaucoma specialists, achieving an accuracy of 89.9 % and 93.0 % compared to 87.0 % and 86.8 % for the best-performing ophthalmologist in the held-out and separate test sets, respectively. Conclusions: Our study suggests that CMD-Net has the potential to classify AC mechanisms using AS-OCT images, though further validation is needed.

Selenium (Se), a component of selenoproteins and selenocompounds in the human body, is crucial for the development of male reproductive organs, DNA synthesis, thyroid hormone, metabolism, and defence against infections and oxidative damage. In the testis, it must exceed a desirable level since either a shortage or an overabundance causes aberrant growth. The antioxidant properties of selenium are essential for preserving human reproductive health. Selenoproteins, which have important structural and enzymatic properties, control the biological activities of Se primarily. These proteins specifically have a role in metabolism and a variety of cellular processes, such as the control of selenium transport, thyroid hormone metabolism, immunity, and redox balance. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are less hazardous than selenium-based inorganic and organic materials. Upon being functionalized with active targeting ligands, they are both biocompatible and capable of efficiently delivering combinations of payloads to particular cells. In this review, we discuss briefly the chemistry, structure and functions of selenium and milestones of selenium and selenoproteins. Next we discuss the various factors influences male infertility, biological functions of selenium and selenoproteins, and role of selenium and selenoproteins in spermatogenesis and male fertility. Furthermore, we discuss the molecular mechanism of selenium transport and protective effects of selenium on oxidative stress, apoptosis and inflammation. We also highlight critical contribution of selenium nanoparticles on male fertility and spermatogenesis. Finally ends with conclusion and future perspectives.

Summary: Background: The survival rates of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) have improved significantly, but there is no consensus on whether they can be considered cured. We aimed to determine whether a statistical cure could be achieved for patients with NPC in the contemporary therapeutic landscape. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled 6315 patients with nonmetastatic NPC from nonendemic and endemic regions of China from 2007 to 2020. We applied mixture and nonmixture cure models to estimate the cure probabilities and cure times by incorporating background mortality for the general population, matching by gender, age, and diagnosed year. Findings: With death as the uncured event, the probability of patients with NPC achieving a life expectancy at par with the general population was 78.1%. Considering progression as the uncured event, the likelihood of patients attaining a life expectancy without progression equivalent to that of the general population was 72.4%. For individuals, the probabilities of achieving cure were conditional and time-dependent, requiring approximately 7.1 and 4.7 years with 95% certainty, respectively. The corresponding cure times for uncured patients were 8.9 and 6.8 years, respectively. The cure probability was correlated with age, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score, TNM staging, Epstein–Barr virus DNA copies, and lactate dehydrogenase. The correlation was excellent between 5-year overall survival/progression-free survival and cure fractions. Interpretation: Statistical cure is potentially achievable among patients with NPC undergoing contemporary treatment modalities. The results hold significant potential implications for both clinical practice and patient perspectives. Funding: National High Level Hospital Clinical Research Funding; Beijing Xisike Clinical Oncology Research Foundation; Beijing hope run fund.

Abstract Pain, a comorbidity of anxiety disorders, causes substantial clinical, social, and economic burdens. Emerging evidence suggests that propofol, the most commonly used general anesthetic, may regulate psychological disorders; however, its role in pain‐associated anxiety is not yet described. This study investigates the therapeutic potential of a single dose of propofol (100 mg kg−1) in alleviating pain‐associated anxiety and examines the underlying neural mechanisms. In acute and chronic pain models, propofol decreased anxiety‐like behaviors in the elevated plus maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests. Propofol also reduced the serum levels of stress‐related hormones including corticosterone, corticotropin‐releasing hormone (CRH), and norepinephrine. Fiber photometry recordings indicated that the calcium signaling activity of CRH neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVNCRH) is reduced after propofol treatment. Interestingly, artificially activating PVNCRH neurons through chemogenetics interfered with the anxiety‐reducing effects of propofol. Electrophysiological recordings indicated that propofol decreases the activity of PVNCRH neurons by increasing spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). Further, reducing the levels of γ‐aminobutyric acid type A receptor β3 (GABAAβ3) subunits in PVNCRH neurons diminished the anxiety‐relieving effects of propofol. In conclusion, this study provides a mechanistic and preclinical rationale to treat pain‐associated anxiety‐like behaviors using a single dose of propofol.

IntroductionHemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a serious complication that can occur spontaneously after an acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or after a thrombolytic/mechanical thrombectomy. Our study aims to explore the potential correlations between fibrinogen levels and the occurrence of spontaneous HT (sHT) and HT after mechanical thrombectomy (tHT).MethodsA total of 423 consecutive AIS patients diagnosed HT who did not undergone thrombolysis and 423 age- and sex-matched patients without HT (non-HT) were enrolled. Fibrinogen levels were measured within 24 h of admission after stroke. The cohorts were trisected according to fibrinogen levels. The HT were further categorized into hemorrhagic infarction (HI) or parenchymal hematoma (PH) based on their imaging characteristics.ResultsIn sHT cohort, fibrinogen levels were higher in HT patients than non-HT patients (p

Abstract Patients with locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (LA‐HNSCC) have poor survival outcomes. The real‐world efficacy of nimotuzumab plus intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT)‐based chemoradiotherapy in patients with LA‐HNSCC remains unclear. A total of 25,442 HNSCC patients were screened, and 612 patients were matched by propensity score matching (PSM) (1:1). PSM was utilized to balance known confounding factors. Patients who completed at least five doses of nimotuzumab were identified as study group. The primary end point was 3‐year overall survival (OS) rate. Log‐rank test examined the difference between two survival curves and Cloglog transformation test was performed to compare survival at a fixed time point. The median follow‐up time was 54.2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.7–55.9) months. The study group was associated with improved OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.57–0.99, p = 0.038) and progression‐free survival (PFS) (HR = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.58–0.96, p = 0.021). Subgroup analysis revealed that aged 50–60 year, IV, N2, radiotherapy dose ≥ 60 Gy, without previous surgery, and neoadjuvant therapy have a trend of survival benefit with nimotuzumab. Nimotuzumab showed favorable safety, only 0.2% had nimotuzumab‐related severe adverse events. Our study indicated the nimotuzumab plus chemoradiotherapy provides survival benefits and safety for LA‐HNSCC patients in an IMRT era.

Introduction Peripheral vasodilation causes a redistribution of body temperature from the core to the periphery, resulting in shivering and hypothermia. These are normal pathological and physiological processes during spinal anaesthesia. Two drugs, norepinephrine and phenylephrine, have peripheral vasoconstrictive effects. It is unclear the effects of norepinephrine and phenylephrine on shivering and hypothermia in patients undergoing caesarean section under spinal anaesthesia.Methods analysis 240 eligible parturients will be recruited for this randomised, double-blind, controlled trial and randomly assigned to either the norepinephrine or phenylephrine groups. The primary outcome will be the incidence of shivering while secondary outcomes will include the severity of shivering, rectal temperature, incidence of hypothermia and umbilical artery blood pH value.Ethics and dissemination The Institutional Ethics Committee of The Second People’s Hospital of Hefei approved the trial protocol (ID: 2023-093). The results will be published in a compliant journal. The original data will be released in December 2029 on the ResMan original data-sharing platform of the China Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.medresman.org.cn).Trial registration number ChiCTR2300077164.

Aims and objectives: During the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak period, there was increasing presentation in the number of patients with acute primary angle closure (APAC). This study aimed to report the occurrence of APAC during the COVID-19 post-restriction period and investigate the related characteristics of these patients with APAC. Methods: This retrospective, multi-center study included consecutive patients seeking APAC treatment at two eye centers in China from December 7, 2022 to January 13, 2023 (post-restriction period) and from December 7, 2021 to January 13, 2022 (control period). Electronic medical records were reviewed, and ocular data of the affected eye(s) were analyzed for patients with unilateral or bilateral APAC. Information including COVID-19 related symptoms, medications used for COVID-19 infection, and living habits and emotions related to the COVID-19 outbreak during the post restriction period were collected using a questionnaire. Results: Overall, 189 (219 APAC eyes) and 51 (54 APAC eyes) patients with APAC were identified during the post-restriction and control periods, respectively. The patients identified during the post-restriction period were younger (P = 0.043) and had a longer duration from symptoms to treatment (P = 0.039), shorter axial length (P = 0.002), larger pupil diameter (P = 0.004), larger vertical cup disc ratio (P = 0.004), poorer mean deviation values (P = 0.003), and more glaucomatous optic neuropathy diagnoses (P = 0.032) compared with the patients with APAC identified during the control period. Among 151 included patients with APAC who completed the questionnaires, 130 patients with APAC were diagnosed with concurrent COVID-19 infection, of which 54 (41.5 %) had coughing and/or vomiting as the main symptoms. Of these, 89.2 % spent 0 h per day on outdoor activity; 44.6 % drank more water than usual, with 14.6 % drinking more than twice the amount of water than usual; 91.5 % used antipyretics; and 20.0 % had mood swings, including anxiety, depression, and tension, during the concurrent COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: In our study, a significant increase in the number of patients presenting with APAC with certain characteristics was observed during the COVID-19 post-restriction period. And whether COVID-19 symptoms, such as coughing and vomiting, and behavioral and psychological changes caused by COVID-19 infection contributing to the concurrence of APAC and COVID-19 recurrence require further investigation.

Luteolin, a monomeric substance, is a natural product of the Brucea javanica (BJ) plant. Brucea javanica oil emulsion injection (BJOEI) is a proprietary Chinese medicine purified from BJ that is widely used clinically as an anti-tumor treatment. Although a growing body of research suggests that luteolin and BJOEI have anti-tumor effects, the molecular mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. In this study, through molecular docking technology, we found that luteolin can interact directly with GPSM2 and regulate the FoxO signaling pathway through GPSM2. In addition, the inhibitory effect of luteolin on colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) cells was found to be offset by knockdown of GPSM2. In contrast, the anti-proliferative effects of luteolin could be notably reversed by overexpression of GPSM2. The results reveal that GPSM2 is crucial in luteolin-mediated anti-proliferative effects. The mediation of anti-proliferative effects by GPSM2 has also been indirectly demonstrated in RKO and SW480 xenograft mice models. In addition, we verified that BJOEI inhibits the progression of COAD by mediating GPSM2 and regulating the FoxO signaling pathway. We also found that BJOEI achieved a better anti-tumor effect when combined with fluorouracil injection. Collectively, our data show that the anti-tumor effects of BJOEI and luteolin on COAD are GPSM2-dependent and downregulating the expression of GPSM2 to regulate the FoxO signaling pathway may be an effective way to treat COAD.

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is one of the most common environmental contaminants due to its tremendous industrial applications, but its effects and mechanism remain to be investigated. Our previous studies showed that Cr(VI) exposure caused malignant transformation and tumorigenesis. This study showed that glycolytic proteins HK2 and LDHA levels were statistically significant changed in blood samples of Cr(VI)-exposed workers and in Cr-T cells compared to the control subjects and parental cells. HK2 and LDHA knockdown inhibited cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and higher HK2 and LDHA expression levels are associated with advanced stages and poor prognosis of lung cancer. We found that miR-218 levels were significantly decreased and miR-218 directly targeted HK2 and LDHA for inhibiting their expression. Overexpression of miR-218 inhibited glucose consumption and lactate production in Cr-T cells. Further study found that miR-218 inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis by decreasing HK2 and LDHA expression in vivo. MiR-218 levels were negatively correlated with HK2 and LDHA expression levels and cancer development in human lung and other cancers. These results demonstrated that miR-218/HK2/LDHA pathway is vital for regulating Cr(VI)-induced carcinogenesis and human cancer development.

Neuroimmune and neurodegenerative ailments impose a substantial societal burden. Neuroimmune disorders involve the intricate regulatory interactions between the immune system and the central nervous system. Prominent examples of neuroimmune disorders encompass multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica. Neurodegenerative diseases result from neuronal degeneration or demyelination in the brain or spinal cord, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The precise underlying pathogenesis of these conditions remains incompletely understood. Ferroptosis, a programmed form of cell death characterised by lipid peroxidation and iron overload, plays a pivotal role in neuroimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of ferroptosis, its mechanisms, pathways, and regulation during the progression of neuroimmune and neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, we summarise the impact of ferroptosis on neuroimmune-related cells (T cells, B cells, neutrophils, and macrophages) and neural cells (glial cells and neurons). Finally, we explore the potential therapeutic implications of ferroptosis inhibitors in diverse neuroimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.

Objective To investigate the characteristics of beta parapapillary atrophy (β-PPA) in patients with primary angle-closure suspect (PACS).Methods and analysis In total, 215 and 259 eyes with PACS and non-PACS (NPACS), respectively, were enrolled in this observational, cross-sectional study. Stereoscopic fundus and optical coherence tomography images were used to characterise β-PPA; the former was also used to measure the major β-PPA parameters. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors correlated with the presence of β-PPA and with β-PPA parameters.Results The β-PPA occurrence rates were 48.80% and 44.40% in the PACS and NPACS groups, respectively, with no significant difference between groups. Compared with that in the NPACS group, the β-PPA area was significantly larger (p=0.005) in the PACS group, but the angular extent and maximum radial length did not differ between groups (p=0.110 and 0.657, respectively) after adjusting for age and axial length. The presence of β-PPA was associated with older age (OR 1.057, 95% CI 1.028 to 1.088, p

Objectives Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) are a critical public health concern requiring urgent attention, and severe OVFs impose substantial health and economic burdens on patients and society. Analysis of the risk factors for severe OVF is imperative to actively prevent the occurrence of this degenerative disorder. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with the severity of OVF, with a specific focus on changes in the paraspinal muscles. Methods A total of 281 patients with a first‐time single‐level acute OVF between January 2016 and January 2023 were enrolled in the study. Clinical and radiological data were collected and analyzed. The cross‐sectional area (CSA) and degree of fatty infiltration (FI) of the paraspinal muscles, including the multifidus muscles (MFMs), erector spinae muscles (ESMs), and psoas major muscles (PSMs), were measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the L4/5 intervertebral discs. According to the classification system of osteoporotic fractures (OF classification) and recommended treatment plan, OVFs were divided into a low‐grade OF group and a high‐grade OF group. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyse s were performed to identify risk factors associated with the severity of OVF. Results Ninety‐eight patients were included in the low‐grade OF group, and 183 patients were included in the high‐grade OF group. Univariate analysis revealed a significantly higher incidence of a high degree of FI of MFMs (OR = 1.71, p = 0.002) and ESMs (OR = 1.56, p = 0.021) in the high‐grade OF group. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that a high degree of FI of the MFMs (OR = 1.71, p = 0.002) is an independent risk factor for the severity of OVF. Conclusion A high degree of FI of the MFMs was identified as an independent risk factor for the severity of OVF. Decreasing the degree of FI in the MFMs might lower the incidence of the severity of OVF, potentially reducing the necessity for surgical intervention in OVF patients.

Crucian carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), an extensively cultivated freshwater fish, was one of the model species for the study of fish immunology. Polyclonal antibodies were advantageous molecular tools for studying teleost immune system. Specifically, polyclonal antibodies reacting with immunoglobulins (Ig) were used successfully in studies of the teleost fishes. In the present study, we produced polyclonal antibody against CH2 domains of crucian carp IgM, and measured the in vivo dynamics of IgM mRNA caused by CyHV-2 infection. The recombinant protein IgM with relative molecular weight about 53 KD was correctly expressed in prokaryotic cells. The specificity of the polyclonal antibody was evaluated by Western blotting and results revealed that the antibody not only specifically recognized crucian carp serum but also cross-reacted with grass carp serum. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of IgM mRNA changed significantly after CyHV-2 infection. The expression of IgM in the kidney increased and reached a maximum at 6 h post-infection (hpi), while dropped to a low level at 5 days post-infection (dpi). In conclusion, the expression of IgM was significantly upregulated in the kidney of crucian carp infected with CyHV-2, indicating that IgM played a potential role in systemic immunity against viral infection. Polyclonal antibody against crucian carp IgM had certain clinical relevance, which might provide insight into the early stage of virus infection and prevention of the disease.

Abstract Plasma membrane lysis is an effective anticancer strategy, which mostly relying on soluble molecular membranolytic agents. However, nanomaterial-based membranolytic agents has been largely unexplored. Herein, we introduce a mesoporous membranolytic nanoperforators (MLNPs) via a nano- and molecular-scale multi-patterning strategy, featuring a spiky surface topography (nanoscale patterning) and molecular-level periodicity in the spikes with a benzene-bridged organosilica composition (molecular-scale patterning), which cooperatively endow an intrinsic membranolytic activity. Computational modelling reveals a nanospike-mediated multivalent perforation behaviour, i.e., multiple spikes induce nonlinearly enlarged membrane pores compared to a single spike, and that benzene groups aligned parallelly to a phospholipid molecule show considerably higher binding energy than other alignments, underpinning the importance of molecular ordering in phospholipid extraction for membranolysis. Finally, the antitumour activity of MLNPs is demonstrated in female Balb/c mouse models. This work demonstrates assembly of organosilica based bioactive nanostructures, enabling new understandings on nano-/molecular patterns co-governed nano-bio interaction.

Abstract Background This study was performed to analyze the clinical effect of different concentrations of ropivacaine in the labor analgesia of the dural puncture epidural (DPE) technique for obese puerperae. Methods One hundred and fifty first-term obese women who received vaginal delivery and required labor analgesia in our hospital were selected prospectively for this study, and divided into groups A, B, and C. The three groups of puerpera were given epidurals with different concentrations of ropivacaine (0.075%, 0.10%, and 0.125%) with sufentanil (0.5 μg/ml) for the labor analgesia regimen. The visual analog scale (VAS), Ramsay scale, and Bromage scale of puerperae before analgesia and at different time points after anesthesia, and analgesic onset time, analgesia time, first PCEA time, PCEA pressing time, ropivacaine consumption, labor time, maternal blood pressure and heart rate, maternal adverse reactions, blood gas analysis in the neonatal umbilical artery, and Apgar score were observed. Results The analgesia onset time, PCEA pressing time, and ropivacaine consumption in group C were lower and the analgesia time and the first PCEA time were longer than those in groups A and B. At T1-T3 and T5, VAS scores of group A were higher than those in groups B and C, Ramsay score of group A was lower than that of groups B and C at T2–T3, and Bromage score of group C at any time point was higher than other two groups. The time of the second stage of labor in groups B and C was longer than that in group A, which in group C was longer than that in group B. Compared with groups A and C, the blood pressure and heart rate of puerperae in group B were closer to normal values. Three different concentrations of ropivacaine had no significant effect on the umbilical artery blood gas analysis indices and Apgar scores at 1st minute and 5th minute in neonates. The incidence of maternal adverse reactions in group C was lower than those in groups A and B. Conclusion 0.1% ropivacaine combined with 0.5 μg/ml sufentanil through DPE technique has good analgesic efficacy and few adverse effects in obese puerperae.

Abstract The capacity to identify small amounts of pathogens in real samples is extremely useful. Herein, we proposed a sensitive platform for detecting pathogens using cyclic DNA nanostructure@AuNP tags (CDNA) and a cascade primer exchange reaction (cPER). This platform employs wheat germ agglutinin-modified Fe3O4@Au magnetic nanoparticles (WMRs) to bind the E. coli O157:H7, and then triggers the cPER to generate branched DNA products for CDNA tag hybridization with high stability and amplified SERS signals. It can identify target pathogens as low as 1.91 CFU/mL and discriminate E. coli O157:H7 in complex samples such as water, milk, and serum, demonstrating comparable or greater sensitivity and accuracy than traditional qPCR. Moreover, the developed platform can detect low levels of E. coli O157:H7 in mouse serum, allowing the discrimination of mice with early-stage infection. Thus, this platform holds promise for food analysis and early infection diagnosis.

Drought stress limits agricultural productivity worldwide. Identifying and characterizing genetic components of drought stress-tolerance networks may improve crop resistance to drought stress. We show that the regulatory module formed by miR166 and its target gene, ATHB14-LIKE, functions in the regulation of drought tolerance in soybean (Glycine max). Drought stress represses the accumulation of miR166, leading to upregulation of its target genes. Optimal knockdown of miR166 in the stable transgenic line GmSTTM166 conferred drought tolerance without affecting yield. Expression of ABA signaling pathway genes was regulated by the miR166-mediated regulatory pathway, and ATHB14-LIKE directly activates some of these genes. There is a feedback regulation between ATHB14-LIKE and MIR166 genes, and ATHB14-LIKE inhibits MIR166 expression. These findings reveal that drought-triggered regulation of the miR166-mediated regulatory pathway increases plants drought resistance, providing new insights into drought stress regulatory network in soybean.

One of the key challenge faced by space-based network is how to maximize the demand for on-board resources for ground communication tasks, given the limited availability of satellite resources. For this challenge, firstly, we propose a joint state space of satellite task requirements and resource pools to obtain the global information of the environment, avoiding convergence to local optimal strategies. Secondly, we propose a new joint partitioning method for frequency and time resources, which avoids the fragmentation of the resource to the maximum extent. Thirdly, a new algorithm called dynamic weight based soft actor critic (DWSAC) is proposed, which enhances the update range when the actions taken by the agent significantly contribute to the improvement of system performance, otherwise weakens the update range, significantly improving the convergence efficiency and performance of the soft actor critic (SAC). The results show that the proposed model and algorithm have good practicability, which can make the average resource occupancy rate higher and the running cost lower.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), categorized as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are difficult to degrade, exhibiting reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity. Exposure to dust and soil particles containing BFRs may cause various health problems. The research aimed to assess the concentrations, potential origins, and health risks associated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and novel BFRs (NBFRs) in road dust and green belt soil in Harbin. The study revealed that ΣPBDE concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 193.75 ng/g (median: 48.01 ng/g) in road dust and 8.07 to 195.33 ng/g (median: 38.19 ng/g) in green belt soil. Notably, TBBPA contributed the most to the ΣPBDEs concentrations. And the concentrations of ΣNBFRs ranged from 2.34 to 130.53 ng/g (median: 18.48 ng/g) in road dust and 2.50 to 46.70 ng/g (median: 7.85 ng/g) in green belt soil. And tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was the most dominant compound in both samples. Highways exhibited lower ΣPBDE concentrations in dust samples but higher ΣNBFR concentrations in soil samples compared to other roads. Moreover, most of the BFRs had a positive correlation with each other, suggesting that they may have similar sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested BFRs sources in road dust may come from wire, paint, building materials or commercial products, likewise, BFRs in green belt soil may come from household or industrial products. Health risk assessment indicated that BFRs in both types of samples in Harbin had no non-carcinogenic risk to residents. These findings provide valuable insights into understanding BFR pollution characteristics, identifying specific sources, and recognizing health hazards in dust and soil samples on roads from Harbin.

In order to solve the problem of grasping failure or missing grasping due to the change of target gangue position and posture caused by belt slip, deviation and belt speed fluctuation of belt conveyor when the gangue sorting robot sorts gangue, an improved ORB-FLANN efficient matching method of gangue recognition image and sorting image is proposed. An improved ORB feature point detection method is proposed to detect the feature points in the recognition image and sorting image of coal gangue, so as to realize fast detection of image feature points; An improved FLANN matching algorithm is proposed to match the image feature points to achieve efficient matching between the recognition image of coal gangue and the sorting image. Aiming at the problem of long time and low repetition rate of traditional ORB method for coal gangue image feature detection, an improved ORB feature detection method is proposed to improve the speed and repetition rate of image feature point detection; Aiming at the low accuracy of traditional FLANN matching method for coal gangue image matching, an improved FLANN matching method integrating PROSAC algorithm is proposed to eliminate the wrong feature matching point pairs and improve the accuracy of image matching. The method, SURF feature matching method, HU moment invariant matching method, SIFT feature matching method and ORB feature matching method are applied on the experimental platform of the double mechanical arm truss type gangue sorting robot independently developed by the team to carry out gangue matching experiments under different belt speeds, scales and rotation angles. The results show that the matching rate of the method in this paper is 98.2%, and the matching time is 141 ms. It has the characteristics of high matching rate, good real-time performance and strong robustness, It can meet the requirements of efficient and accurate matching of gangue recognition image and sorting image.

Abstract Objective To explore the risk factors for disease progression after initial treatment of type B thymomas using a predictive nomogram model. Methods A single-center retrospective study of patients with type B thymoma was performed. The Cox proportional hazard model was used for univariate and multivariate analyses. Variables with statistical and clinical significance in the multivariate Cox regression were integrated into a nomogram to establish a predictive model for disease progression. Results A total of 353 cases with type B thymoma were retrieved between January 2012 and December 2021. The median follow-up was 58 months (range: 1–128 months). The 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 91.8%. The final nomogram model included R0 resection status and Masaoka stage, with a concordance index of 0.880. Non-R0 resection and advanced Masaoka stage were negative prognostic factors for disease progression (p

Abstract The Gabija system is a newly discovered bacterial immune system that consists of GajA and GajB. Here we report the cryo-EM structure of the Gabija complex from Bacillus cereus VD045 at 3.6 Å, which provides the direct evidence of interactions between GajA and GajB. The Gabija complex is an octameric ring structure with four GajA and four GajB. GajA is an OLD nucleases family protein, while GajB belongs to the SF1 helicases. The Gabija complex has sequence-specific DNA nuclease activity and prefers circular rather than linear DNA as substrate, its activity is more sensitive to concentrations change of nucleotides compared to GajA alone. Our data suggest a mechanism of Gabija immunity: the nuclease activity of Gabija complex is inhibited under physiological conditions, while it is activated by depletion of NTP and dNTP upon the replication and transcription of invading phages and cleave the circular DNA to prevent phage DNA replication.