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To understand research advances and frontiers of acupuncture regulation on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) over the past decade through a bibliometric analysis. Publications related to acupuncture regulation on the ANS were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. CiteSpace software was used to analyze the datasets and generate knowledge maps. A total of 445 relevant publications published between 2013 and 2022 were included in this bibliometric analysis. The number of annual publications fluctuated from 2013 to 2016 but increased gradually from 2016 to 2022. China produced the highest number of publications, while the USA established the most extensive cooperation relationships. China Academy of Chinese Medical Science was the most productive institution. Chen Jiande D.Z. was the most prolific author and Rong Peijing holds the most extensive cooperation network. Han Jisheng was the most co-cited author. Relevant research involved mechanism exploration and clinical efficacy research, and "anti-inflammatory effect" was the most active research topic, especially cholinergic anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The most cited references mainly focused on inflammation. Gastrointestinal and cardiovascular disorders were the most active medical conditions studied in this field. Research related to acupuncture regulation on the ANS mainly focused on anti-inflammation, and regulating gastrointestinal and cardiovascular function over the past decade. However, the mechanisms of the autonomic effects of acupuncture need further investigation. High-quality clinical studies are required to determine the optimal parameters of acupuncture for clinical application. • Research related to acupuncture regulation on the ANS mainly focused on anti-inflammation. • Gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases are most studied in studying the mechanism of acupuncture regulation on the ANS. • The ANS has the potential to be the structural basis to explain the multi-target effects of acupuncture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes (LODDS) have a better predictive ability than N stage for colon cancer. However, the prognostic value of developing a novel prognostic classification by combining T stage and LODDS (TLODDS) for colon cancer remains unknown. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to develop a TLODDS classification for colon cancer, and assess whether or not the novel TLODDS classification could improve survival stratification by comparing its discrimination, model-fitting, and net benefits, with the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Tumor/Node/Metastasis (TNM) classification. 45,558 Western colon cancers were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database as a training set. A novel LODDS stage was established and patients with similar survival rates were grouped by combining T and LODDS stages to develop a novel TLODDS classification. The TLODDS classification was further assessed in a Chinese validation set of 3,515 colon cancers and an application set of 3,053 rectal cancers. We developed a novel TLODDS classification that incorporated 7 stages: stage I (T1LODDS1), IIA (T2LODDS1, T1LODDS2, T1LODDS3), IIB (T2LODDS2-3, T3LODDS1, T1LODDS4), IIC (T3LODDS2, T2LODDS4, T4aLODDS1), IIIA (T3LODDS3, T1-2LODDS5, T4bLODDS1, T4aLODDS2), IIIB (T3LODDS4-5, T4aLODDS3-4, T4bLODDS2) and IIIC (T4bLODDS3-5, T4aLODDS5). In the training set, it showed significantly better discrimination (area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, 0.691 vs. 0.664, P < 0.001), better model-fitting (Akaike information criteria, 265,644 vs. 267,410), and superior net benefits, than the latest AJCC TNM classification. The predictive performance of the TLODDS classification was further validated in colon cancers and was successfully applied in rectal cancers with regards to both overall and disease-free survival. The TLODDS classification has better discriminatory ability, model-fitting, and net benefits than the existing TNM classification, and represents an alternative to the current TNM classifications for colon and rectal cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the damage and defects related to rolling contact fatigue (RCF), together with wear occurring at the rail surface, the microscopic characteristics of the rail material change with the accumulation of wheel cycles. To find the relationship between rail material characteristics and RCF damage under wheel-rail contact situations, a series of twin-disc rolling-sliding tests, based on real wheel-rail contact situations at a radius of 80 mm rail profile, was established for a heavy-haul railway in China. The microscale characteristics of the rail disc contact surface was researched, including crack, wear, roughness, and hardness of the U75V rail with different load cycles. The results show that the damage mechanism of RCF and wear alternately dominates the rail disc surface at the microscale, taking a certain cycle as a boundary which makes the RCF crack number and wear rate have opposite evolutionary trends. The above factors also affect the wear at the surface rail discs, alternating between fatigue and adhesion. Meanwhile, increasing the surface micro-hardness leads to a decrease in the relative wear rate and an increase in the roughness, length and number of RCF cracks. The plastic deformation layers, including the severely deformed layer (SDL) and the transition layer (TL), almost maintain the same thickness and the dynamic equilibrium increases during the cycles. Two kinds of cracks are initiated and propagated at the rail disc surface, one at the SDL and the other at the junction of SDL and TL. The number of each kind of crack depends on the SDL thickness. • The RCF and wear mechanisms dominated the rail surface alternately by a certain cycle. • Increasing the microhardness makes wear decreasing followed by an increase in roughness and RCF cracks. • The adhesive and fatigue wear happened alternately during the cycles. • The fracture mode of along or through the crystal depends on plastic deformation layer. • The thickness of the severely deformed and transition layers changes on opposite while keeps the entire thickness constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acupuncture is often used as an adjunctive therapy for gastric ulcer (GU). However, there is still a lack of evidence on the appropriate and optimal interventions for acupuncture. This study aimed to optimize the acupuncture treatment of gastric ulcers based on expert consensus for guiding acupuncturists in clinical practice. To conduct this study, research evidence was gathered from databases in both Chinese and English. After discussion, preliminary clinical questions were developed. Following three rounds of multidisciplinary clinical expert consultation, the initial consensus questionnaire was formed after testing and modification by team members. A Delphi consensus was ultimately reached to answer the questionnaire and develop guidance for acupuncture treatment. A 9-point Likert-type scale was used to measure the agreement of expert consensus, where a score of 80% between 7 and 9 was defined as "agreement." After two rounds of Delphi voting, a total of 35 items reached an agreement. These items can be roughly divided into 6 domains. According to expert consensus, the application of acupuncture for gastric ulcer should follow a semistandardized approach. Based on the syndrome differentiation, the main acupoints recommended are Zusanli (ST36), Zhongwan (CV12), Neiguan (PC6), and Sanyinjiao (SP6), while the adjunct acupoints include Taichong (LR3), Guanyuan (CV4), Xuehai (SP10), and Taixi (KI3). In the experience of experts, adverse events associated with acupuncture are typically mild and often manifest as subcutaneous hematomas. There is a lack of definitive acupuncture guidelines that can effectively determine the optimal therapeutic approach for the treatment of gastric ulcer. This expert consensus provides recommendations for clinical research and practice of acupuncture, with a particular focus on the selection of acupoints. However, further exploration through rigorous studies is necessary due to the limited availability of clinical evidence. • Experts believe that acupuncture can assist in the treatment of gastric ulcer and reduce adverse drug reactions. • After two rounds of Delphi voting, a total of 35 items were agreed upon, which can be broadly divided into six areas. • Guidance for acupuncture treatment has been developed through expert consensus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an upper limb rehabilitation program on the quality of life in patients who had been first diagnosed breast cancer and subsequently underwent mastectomy. This randomized controlled trial enrolled 48 breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy at a medical center in Taiwan. The patients were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (n = 24) or control group (n = 24). The patients in the intervention group participated in a 12-week upper limb rehabilitation program involving face-to-face upper limb rehabilitation education and once-a month monitoring of their upper extremity activity. The control group received standard nursing care. Quality of life was assessed through EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR 23 questionnaires at baseline and weeks 4, 8, and 12 after enrollment. Both the intervention and control groups had significantly improved their levels of functioning, symptoms, and quality of life from baseline to week 12 after enrollment. The intervention group showed greater improvements in functioning and symptom levels after the intervention compared to the control group; however, no statistically significant differences were found. Additionally, the levels of global health status/quality of life in both groups gradually increased from baseline to week 12 An upper limb rehabilitation program is effective in improving the functioning and symptoms of breast cancer patients who have undergone mastectomy. Patients are encouraged to undergo upper limb rehabilitation in order to improve their functioning, symptoms and quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High strength-ductility is the prerequisite requirement for the widely used steel wires in engineering applications. Traditional strengthening strategies on these wires are suffocated inevitably by strength-ductility trade-off dilemma. Recent emerging medium-entropy alloys (MEAs) usually exhibits excellent ductility but relatively lower strength. In this paper, a novel CoCrNi MEA wire with superior mechanical properties was successfully fabricated by heavily drawing process. The yield strength, ultimate tensile strength and elongation could reach 1.5 GPa, 1.8 GPa and 37.4% at liquid-nitrogen temperature, respectively. In-depth microstructure characterization indicates this superior strength-ductility derives from the synergy of dislocations, high-density twins and clear FCC-HCP phase transition. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Cobalt and sulfur co-doped Ni electrocatalysts were designed and synthesized. • Ni-Co-S electrocatalysts exhibited the enhanced HER performance. • Role of doped S in inducing electron localization of Ni was demonstrated. • Co and optimized Ni were verified to be active sites in Volmer and Heyrovsky steps, respectively. Developing and synthesizing the economical electrocatalysts for alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is essential for the large-scale production of hydrogen source. Although NiCoS-based electrocatalysts have attracted great attention, deep insight into the mechanism of boosted HER activities still needs to be further investigated, especially based on the doped Ni-based electrocatalyst. Herein, we synthesized the cobalt and sulfur co-doped nickel electrocatalysts (NCS) and the HER performance is evaluated in alkaline medium. The results show that the NCS with optimized component has a boosted HER activity compared to Ni, NiCo, and NiS, which exhibits the lower overpotential of 45.8 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 and Tafel slope of 83.4 mV·dec-1. The co-introduced Co and S are conductive to increase the reactive sites, charge transfer capacity and aerophobic property. The theoretical calculation results reveal that the doped S can induce electron localization at the Ni and Co atoms bonded to S atom. Moreover, we also confirm that the Co sites and Ni sites of NCS represent the reactive sites in the Volmer and Heyrovsky steps, respectively, and thereby boosting the hydrogen evolution activity. The obtained insights could provide a significant guideline for designing highly efficient electrocatalyst toward alkaline hydrogen evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• General 3D plain woven composite with inclusion is reconstructed based on Gaussian random field and threshold segmentation method. • The effective mechanical property based on the asymptotic homogenization is obtained through using the finite element method. • The respective effects of the volume fraction and relative parameters are explode. In this framework, we formulate a procedure to reconstruct the structure of general random 3D braid heterogeneous media based on transformation of Gaussian random fields, where the correlation of the underlying Gaussian field is determined explicitly rather than through iterative methods. The reconstructed media can meet the key microstructural information contained in the micrographs and two-point correlation function of the reference media. A robust and efficient algorithm is the operation for accurate determination the effective physical properties from a local heterogeneous material based on the methods of asymptotic homogenization and the finite element. Comparison of the present result to the experimental data from the literature shows a good agreement. The correlation length, Gaussian complexity, representative volume element size and mesh size are investigated and selected to highlight the importance of morphologically realistic microstructures. The effective properties of 3D braid composites are evaluated numerically and the respective effect of the volume fraction and relative material parameters of the reinforcement is assessed numerically. This breakthrough is the possibility to design, predict properties, and even manufacture materials not only with the help of experiments but also with computer science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the effects of acupressure in alleviating constipation among inpatients with stroke in neurological departments. This was a two-arm, parallel, randomized, controlled trial conducted between September 2020 and August 2021. In total, 128 inpatients with stroke at the acute phase from neurological departments were randomly assigned at a 1:1 ratio to either an acupressure group (ST25, CV12, and CV6) or a sham acupressure group for twice-daily therapy at 4 min per intervention for 7 days. The Bristol Stool Form Scale and Constipation Assessment Scale (CAS) were assessed at the beginning and completion of the study. A generalized estimating equation was used for data analyses. The mean ages were 63.8 ± 19.1 and 66.2 ± 16.0 years, and the average National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were 7.2 ± 5.6 and 8.1 ± 6.3 points for the acupressure and sham acupressure groups, respectively. The acupressure group demonstrated gradually lower scores on the CAS over time than the sham acupressure group. Patients who received acupressure had a lower likelihood of requiring defecation medication and were more likely to have normal bowel movements and a decreased risk of their stool appearing as a hard lump than those who received sham acupressure over time. Traditional Chinese medicine-based acupressure can help alleviate constipation and reduce the use of defecation medication among inpatients with stroke who have been admitted to neurological departments. ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05612646. • We discovered that the constipation alleviation effects achieved at 1–7 days of acupressure intervention performed on the Tianshu, Zhongwan, and Qihai acupoints of stroke survivors were superior to that observed in the control group.A similar constipation improvement effect can be achieved in a shorter time with fewer acupoints. • Using fewer abdominal acupoints increases patient safety because of fewer body position changes, reducing the risk of falls in patients with stroke. • The acupressure intervention performed on the Tianshu, Zhongwan, and Qihai acupoints of stroke survivors were increasing bowel movement and sound frequency, reducing stool softener use, and enhancing stool appearance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of the eighth AJCC TNM staging classification for patients with gastric cancer who had already survived for 5 years. Patients who underwent radical gastrectomy at a large eastern center were considered. The prognostic value of staging systems were assessed and compared. Additional external validation was performed using a dataset from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for patients in the training set was 59.4%. With the prolongation of the survival time after surgery, the 5-year OS improved significantly (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in survival curves among patients who have survived 5 years after surgery. The AUC and χ2 of the eighth AJCC classification for predicting of 5-year OS decreased gradually after surgery and appeared stable after 5 years. For patients who survived 5 years after surgery, we constructed a new TNM staging system (nTNM) according to the survival curves of T stage and N stage. A 2-step multivariate analysis showed that nTNM, age and sex were independent prognostic factors. The nTNM demonstrated superior prognostic stratification, with higher c-statistic and likelihood ratio chi-square scores and lower AIC values than those of the AJCC classification. Similar results were observed in the external validation set. The nTNM predicted an additional survival more accurately than did the AJCC classification for patients who have survived 5 years after surgery; this may guide decisions regarding surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]