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Background: Frequent incidence of futile recanalization decreases the benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) in acute ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that the inflammation and immune response after ischemic are associated with futile recanalization. We aimed to investigate the correlation of admission systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) with futile recanalization post EVT. Methods: Patients with successful recanalization (modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia angiographic score 2b–3) and maintained artery recanalized after 24 h of EVT were chosen from a prospective nationwide registry study. Futile recanalization was defined as a poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 3–6) at 90 days, irrespective of a successful recanalization. At admission, SII was calculated as (platelet count × neutrophil count)/lymphocyte count/100. Logistic regression analysis helped to test the relationship of SII with futile recanalization. Results: Among the 1,002 patients included, futile recanalization occurred in 508 (50.70%). No matter whether tested as quartiles or continuous variables, SII was significantly associated with futile recanalization (P < 0.05), and for every one standard deviation increase of SII, the risk of futile recanalization elevated by 22.3% (odds ratio 1.223, 95% confidence interval 1.053–1.444, P = 0.0093). Moreover, no significant interactions could be observed between SII or SII quartiles and age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, onset-to-recanalization time, and modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Ischemia angiographic scores (all P for interaction > 0.05). Conclusions: Early SII elevation was associated with an increased risk of futile recanalization among patients with EVT. Our results indicated that therapeutic drug targeting hyperreactive immune-inflammation response might be helpful for reducing the incidence of futile recanalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of novel antitumor agents derived from natural plants is a principal objective of anticancer drug research. Frankincense, a widely recognized natural antitumor medicine, has undergone a systematic review encompassing its species, chemical constituents, and diverse pharmacological activities and mechanisms. The different species of frankincense include Boswellia serrata, Somali frankincense, Boswellia frereana, and Boswellia arabica. Various frankincense extracts and compounds exhibit antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties and antioxidation, memory enhancement, and immunological regulation capabilities. They also have comprehensive effects on regulating flora. Frankincense and its principal chemical constituents have demonstrated promising chemoprophylactic and therapeutic abilities against tumors. This review provides a systematic summary of the mechanism of action underlying the antitumor effects of frankincense and its major constituents, thus laying the foundations for developing effective tumor-combating targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is imperative to achieve the co-phase state for large segmented mirrors of telescopes. This paper proposes a novel method for quantifying the co-phase errors of the segmented mirrors, as well as to detect any residual errors by analyzing the surface shape of segmented mirrors using conformal mapping after the correction of the co-phase errors, aiming to achieve a more precise co-phase state. This method applies a dual-wavelength phase-shifting interferometry based on optical vortex to measure the co-phase errors (i.e., tip, tilt, and piston), and measures the surface shape of segmented mirrors based on conformal mapping phase-shifting interferometry to identify which kind of co-phase errors still exist there, and then adjust the segmented mirrors to achieve a more precise co-phase state. The functional relationships between piston error or tip/tilt error and phase distribution in the image plane are derived, and the mathematical tool of conformal mapping is used for surface shape demodulation. The experiment results indicate that the resolution of the piston error measurements is 1.878 nm, and the resolution of the tip/tilt error measurements is 0.760″. Furthermore, the surface shape measurement after adjustment based on conformal mapping phase-shifting interferometry is 7.503 nm (RMS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ginkgo diterpene lactone meglumine (GDLM) could improve the functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of GDLM on cognitive function in patients with AIS. Methods: This is a predefined exploratory analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo Diterpene Lactone Meglumine in Acute Ischemic Stroke trial, which was primarily designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of GDLM versus placebo on functional outcome at 100 centers in China. Cognitive function was measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test. The primary outcomes were changes of MoCA from baseline to Day 14 and Day 90 after randomization. Results: A total of 3163 patients with completed data on MoCA were enrolled. There was statistically significant difference of changes in MoCA scores between the GDLM group and the placebo group from baseline to Day 14 (mean difference, 0.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08–0.53; P = 0.007) and to Day 90 after randomization (mean difference, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22–0.72; P < 0.001). Additionally, GDLM was associated with a higher proportion of patients who reached a clinically significant level of improvement in MoCA from baseline to Day 14 (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% CI, 1.08–1.44; P = 0.002) and Day 90 after randomization (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.03–1.41; P = 0.02). Specially, GDLM could significantly improve the scores of visuo-spatial and executive function and language. Conclusions: In this predefined analysis of patients with AIS, GDLM could improve the 14-day and 90-day cognitive function compared with the placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Currently, the special blood pressure (BP) target for normotensive diabetic patients has not been recommended. We investigated the optimal systolic blood pressure (SBP) for lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in normotensive diabetic patients. Methods: In this 12-year follow-up study using the participants of the Kailuan Study, we mainly compared which SBP, 90–119 mmHg or 120–129 mmHg, had a lower risk of occurrence of CVD (stroke and myocardial infarction) in the 3072 normotensive diabetic participants and 21,532 normotensive and non-diabetic participants, respectively. The SBP was expressed as a mean time-weighted cumulative (MTWC) SBP, calculated from the multiple measurements of SBP during the follow-up. Multivariate competing risk regression analyses were used for the analysis. Results: We found that in normotensive diabetic participants, MTWC SBP of 120–129 mmHg was associated with a lower risk of CVD (HR = 0.69 [0.50–0.95]), myocardial infarction (HR = 0.48 [0.24–0.96]), and trending towards lower risk of stroke (HR = 0.80 [0.55–1.16]), compared to MTWC SBP of 90–119 mmHg. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the relationship between low SBP and increased CVD risk. Whereas, in the normotensive and non-diabetic participants, MTWC SBP of 90–119 mmHg vs 120–129 mmHg did not exhibit any difference in the risk of CVD occurrence (HR = 0.99 [0.83–1.18]). Conclusions: The higher level of SBP in normotensive diabetic patients is especially associated with a lower risk of CVD occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional fabrics that integrate with UV protection, flame retardancy, and antimicrobial performance promise significant applications ranging from smart wear/clothes to biomedical devices. However, the endeavor to design and manufacture multifunctional fabrics using a singular technological approach remains profoundly challenging, primarily due to the interactions of different functions, as well as the requirements for sustainability and cost-effectiveness during the manufacturing process. Here, we devised a novel multifunctional fabric through the rational design of a multicomponent coating that enables UV protection, flame retardancy, and antimicrobial performance for coated fabrics. In this coating, bio-based waterborne polyurethane prepared from polyurethane prepolymers, and modified castor oil biomass can endow a fabric with flame retardancy, and antimicrobial properties induced by the functional compositions of castor oil, glycerophosphate, and 2-chloro-4,6-diamide-1,3,5-triazine (CDT), while UV-531, ultraviolet absorber that is chemically incorporated as the ends of the bio-based waterborne polyurethane, offers UV protection function for the fabric. The as-devised fabrics exhibit effective flame retardancy (limiting oxygen index 27.4%), strong UV protection (ultraviolet protection factor = 106), and excellent antimicrobial properties (antibacterial rate > 95.6). This work paves a practical engineering approach for creating high-performance multifunctional fabrics with sustainable and designable features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the association of body mass index (BMI) with risk of first cardiometabolic disease (FCMD), cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) and death. Methods: 87,512 participants free of CMD were included from the Kailuan cohort, which was established during 2006–2007 and followed up until 2020. BMI was classified as underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), healthy weight (18.5–23.9 kg/m2), overweight (24.0–27.9 kg/m2), mildly obese (28.0–31.9 kg/m2), and severely obese (≥ 32.0 kg/m2). FCMD was defined as the first onset of diabetes, heart disease, or stroke, and CMM as the coexistence of at least two CMD. The hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were estimated with multi-state models. Results: 20,577 participants developed FCMD, 2232 developed CMM afterwards, and 10,191 died. Individuals with higher BMI was more likely to develop FCMD and CMM. Compared with healthy weight, the HR (95%CI) of severe obesity for transition from health to FCMD and from FCMD to CMM was 3.12 (2.91, 3.34) and 1.92 (1.60, 2.31), respectively. On the other hand, underweight was consistently associated with higher mortality risk regardless of initial status, whereas severe obesity was only related to increased risk for transition from health to death (HR: 1.36; 95%CI: 1.17, 1.56) but not for transition from FCMD (HR: 0.70; 95%CI: 0.57, 0.87) or CMM (HR: 0.80; 95%CI: 0.54, 1.19) to death. Conclusion: Our findings highlighted the importance of maintaining healthy weight for primary and secondary prevention of CMD and reflected the demand for more accurate measurement and comprehensive management of obesity for CMD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous studies have demonstrated the ostracism-aggression link, the potent mechanisms of the relationship remain largely unexplored. Based on the General Aggression Model (GAM) and the Script Theory framework, we propose that anger rumination (AR) may mediate the relationship between ostracism and social aggression. Moreover, the relationship between ostracism and anger rumination may be mutual. The present study used a longitudinal design to examine the relationships among ostracism, AR, and SA in 940 college students. The questionnaires were completed on two occasions with a 6-months interval. A cross-lagged analysis revealed that social ostracism at time 1 (T1) predicted subsequent AR and SA at time 2 (T2), AR (T1) predicted ostracism and SA 6 months later. Moreover, AR (T2) mediated the association between ostracism (T1) and SA (T2). These findings deepen our understanding of the link between ostracism and SA and expand and support the General Aggressive Model and Script Theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging pollutants with great concern due to their small size and potential adverse effects on living organisms. This review summarizes the biological effects of NPs in vivo (plants and animals) and in vitro (cells). NPs can be ingested and accumulated in organisms and transferred along the food chain, affecting the growth, development, and reproduction at each trophic level. Several factors including surface charges, size, exposure dose, and exposure time affect the biological effects of NPs. Surface-charged NPs have a more significant impact on the normal physiological activities of cells, while smaller particles facilitate the penetration across the cell membranes. Higher doses and longer exposure time contribute to the higher accumulation. In addition, additives and environmental pollutants attached to NPs pose a greater threat to organisms than NPs themselves. There are still several analytical challenges in the study of the biological effects of NPs, especially their accumulation, degradation, migration and interactions with the biological systems. Further works on the risk assessment of NPs derived from commonly used plastics in our daily life like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) rather than laboratory-made polystyrene (PS) beads are still highly desired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the associations between particulate matter (PM) and hospital admissions for stroke and its subtypes among hypertension patients. We proposed a new modifier named high-concentration duration (HCD). Data on daily hospital admissions, air pollution, and meteorological factors were collected from 2014 to 2018 in Beijing, China. We included all patients with hypertension who were admitted to hospitals of secondary-level and above for stroke. Time-series analysis was conducted by fitting a generalized additive model. An interaction term of daily concentration and an HCD stratum indicator were included in the model. Sex subgroup analysis was performed in four age groups to detect vulnerable populations. A total of 358,577 admissions were identified. The PM was significantly associated with stroke admissions in patients with hypertension. The maximum excess risk (ER) (%) per 10 μg/m3 increase in fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was 0.23% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15%, 0.31%) for overall stroke, 0.25% (95% CI: 0.16%, 0.33%) for ischemic stroke (IS). The maximum ER (%) per 10 μg/m3 increase in inhalable particle (PM10) was 0.14% (95% CI: 0.06%, 0.23%) for overall stroke, 0.15% (95% CI: 0.06%, 0.23%) for IS. For hemorrhagic stroke, significant associations were also observed among males and patients < 55 years. ER (%) in long-HCD strata was significantly larger than that in short-HCD strata. The effects of PM2.5 were significant in long-HCD strata, but insignificant in short-HCD strata. HCD might be a modifier in the association between air pollution and health effects. While controlling the daily average concentration, it is also important to reduce HCD on a given day. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of refrigeration technology is widespread in national security, industrial and agricultural production, biomedicine, and everyday life. High efficiency, environmental friendliness, and low cost make solid-state refrigeration based on electrocaloric effect (ECE) a promising refrigeration technology. Lead-free ferroelectric ceramics (1–x)Ba(Zr0.2Ti0.8)O3–x(Ba0.7Ca0.3)TiO3 (BZT–BCT) are promising materials for electrocaloric refrigeration in the field. In this paper, Sm-doped 0.5BZT–0.5BCT ceramic was fabricated by the conventional solid-state reaction method. The effect of Sm-doping contents (0, 1.0, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 mol.%) on the phase structures, dielectric properties, ferroelectricity, and electrocaloric properties of 0.5BZT–0.5BCT ceramics was systematically examined. The results indicate that all ceramics have a pure perovskite structure with no other secondary phase available. High relative densities are observed in all lead-free ferroelectric ceramics and all of the samples show transgranular fracture with no clear grain boundaries seen. The ceramics' ferroelectric hysteresis loops become thinner as the Sm doping content increases. At that, remanent polarization Pr decreases, indicating that more polar nanoregions (PNRs) are formed in BZT–BCT lead-free ceramics through Sm doping. The increase in Sm doping content resulted in a change in the dielectric permittivity and electrocaloric temperature that first increased and then decreased. The maximum dielectric permittivity is 5,518 when the doping content of Sm is 2.5 mol.% and the maximum electrocaloric temperature change ΔTmax of 0.109 K at 4 kV/mm was obtained when Sm doping content was 2 mol.%. The results show that an appropriate Sm doping is favorable for improving the dielectric, ferroelectric, and electrothermal properties of lead-free ceramics 0.5BZT–0.5BCT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between air pollution and cerebrovascular disease has become a popular topic, yet research findings are highly heterogeneous. This study aims to investigate this association based on detailed individual health data and a precise evaluation of their exposure levels. The integrated models of generalized additive model, land use regression model and back propagation neural network were used to evaluate the exposure concentrations. And doubly robust additive model was conducted to explore the association between cerebrovascular disease and air pollution after adjusted for demographic characteristics, physical examination, disease information, geographic and socioeconomic status. A total of 25097 subjects were included in the Beijing Health Management Cohort from 2013 to 2018. With a 1 µg/m3 increase in the concentrations of PM2.5, SO2 and NO2, the incidence risk of cerebrovascular disease increased by 1.02 (95% CI: 1.008–1.034), 1.06 (95% CI: 1.034–1.095) and 1.02 (95% CI: 1.010–1.029) respectively. Whereas CO exposure could decrease the risk, with an odds ratio of 0.38 (95% CI: 0.212–0.626). In the subgroup analysis, individuals under the age of 50 with normal BMI were at higher risk caused by PM2.5, and So2 was considered more hazardous to women. Meanwhile, the protective effect of CO on women and those with normal BMI was stronger. Successful reduction of long-term exposure to PM2.5, SO2 and NO2 would lead to substantial benefits for decrease the risk of cerebrovascular disease especially for the health of the susceptible individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ego resiliency has been considered to be a vital element for psychological health. The Revised Ego Resiliency Scale (ER89-R) is an efficient instrument of ego-resiliency with promising psychometrics. However, the psychometric properties of the scale in Chinese college students are still unclear. This study was to test the psychometric properties of the ER89-R in a sample of 678 university students in Mainland China (mean age = 20.16, SD =1.69, 68.30% female). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a first-order two-factor model of the Chinese version of the ER89-R and evidence of strong invariance across gender. Moreover, the internal consistency values of the Chinese version of the ER89-R were from marginal to acceptable, the stability coefficients over time were moderate. Finally, the criterion validity of the Chinese version of the ER89-R was supported by the expected relations with resilience, mental health, self-efficacy, and perceived stress. These findings suggest that the Chinese version of the ER89-R holds promise as an instrument for evaluating ego-resiliency among Chinese college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to determine whether liraglutide could effectively reduce insulin resistance (IR) by regulating Sestrin2 (SESN2) expression in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells by examining its interactions with SESN2, autophagy, and IR. L6 cells were incubated with liraglutide (10–1000 nM) in the presence of palmitate (PA; 0.6 mM), and cell viability was detected using the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. IR-related and autophagy-related proteins were detected using western blotting, and IR and autophagy-related genes were analyzed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Silencing SESN2 was used to inhibit the activities of SESN2. A reduction in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was observed in PA-treated L6 cells, confirming IR. Meanwhile, PA decreased the levels of GLUT4 and phosphorylation of Akt and affected SESN2 expression. Further investigation revealed that autophagic activity decreased following PA treatment, but that liraglutide reversed this PA-induced reduction in autophagic activity. Additionally, silencing SESN2 inhibited the ability of liraglutide to up-regulate the expression of IR-related proteins and activate autophagy signals. In summary, the data showed that liraglutide improved PA-induced IR in L6 myotubes by increasing autophagy mediated by SESN2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is the main limiting factor for plant growth, especially in arid areas where viticulture requires extremely high amounts of water. The leaves of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' (Vitis vinifera L.) in Yinchuan, Ningxia, China, were sprayed with kaolin particle film (KPF) before the color change of grapes in 2020 and 2021. The study aimed to determine 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes photosynthetic index, water use efficiency, and the ripening fruit's primary physicochemical index and phenolic content. KPF had no significant effect on overall plant growth indicators and yield of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. In contrast, reduced their net photosynthetic rate (27.45-40.57%), stomatal conductance (34.23-72.5%) and transpiration rate (30.94-72.34%) under deficit irrigation; thereby improving water use efficiency (18.45-64.40%). KPF increased reducing sugars (4.19-11.74%) and soluble solids (2-16.09%) in 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grapes while reducing the 100-berries weight and titratable acid of the grape. Moreover, it increased the anthocyanin content (4.71-29.23%) of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' grape skins and decreased the total phenolic content. KPF spraying significantly decreased in total flavonoids, flavanols and total phenols under deficit irrigation, however, no significant effect was observed on tannins in the seeds. Spraying KPF increased the overall content of monomeric anthocyanins compared to the no-sprayed controls. These results suggest that KPF can improve the water use efficiency of Cabernet Sauvignon grape plants and alter the total flavonoid content (TFo), total anthocyanin content (TAC), total flavanol content (TFa)and total phenolic content (TPC) of the grapes. Thus, KPF has the potential to be applied as an anti-transpirant agent to improve water conservation and fruit quality in arid and semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The rapid seed germination of Caragana species adapted to arid environments is closely related to their high seed coat permeability, mist absorption, high GA promotion, and reduced ABA inhibition. Caragana species is adapted to a low-precipitation environment by rapid seed germination, and this trait has been widely used for afforestation in arid and semiarid regions of China. In this study, seed coat structure, water permeability, mist/dew absorption, gibberellin (GA), and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis inhibitor on seed germination were measured and compared among six Caragana species growing in different mean annual precipitation (MAP) environments. The results showed that three Caragana species from low-MAP environments had a relatively loose seed epidermal cuticle structure, distinct tubular structure of the palisade layer between the epidermal cuticle and osteosclereids layer, high water permeability of the seed coat, rapid mist/dew absorption, rapid seed germination, and higher final germination rate. However, seeds of the three Caragana species from high-MAP environments had dense seed epidermal cuticle structures and lamellar tubular structures of the palisade layer between the epidermal cuticle and osteosclereids layer, and exhibited poor or scarce water permeability of the seed coat. Uniconazole, GA biosynthesis inhibitor, inhibited seed germination in C. korshinskii from low-MAP environments, and nordihydroguaiaretic acid and fluorenone, ABA synthesis inhibitors, prompted seed germination in C. stipitata from high-MAP environments. The findings suggest that the rapid seed germination of Caragana species is closely related to their high seed coat permeability, mist absorption, high GA promotion, and reduced ABA inhibition to adapt to low-MAP environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coriaria nepalensis Wall. (Coriariaceae) is a nitrogen-fixing shrub which forms root nodules with the actinomycete Frankia. Oils and extracts of C. nepalensis have been reported to be bacteriostatic and insecticidal, and C. nepalensis bark provides a valuable tannin resource. Here, by combining PacBio HiFi sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding techniques, we generated a haplotype-resolved chromosome-scale genome assembly for C. nepalensis. This genome assembly is approximately 620 Mb in size with a contig N50 of 11 Mb, with 99.9% of the total assembled sequences anchored to 40 pseudochromosomes. We predicted 60,862 protein-coding genes of which 99.5% were annotated from databases. We further identified 939 tRNAs, 7,297 rRNAs, and 982 ncRNAs. The chromosome-scale genome of C. nepalensis is expected to be a significant resource for understanding the genetic basis of root nodulation with Frankia, toxicity, and tannin biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of additional Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) complex species/genotypes in recent years raises the possibility that there might be more variation among this species in China than is currently understood. The aim of this study was to explore intra- and inter-species variation and population structure of Echinococcus species isolated from sheep in three areas of Western China. Of the isolates, 317, 322, and 326 were successfully amplified and sequenced for cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes, respectively. BLAST analysis revealed that the majority of the isolates were E. granulosus s.s., and using the cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes, respectively, 17, 14, and 11 isolates corresponded to Elodea canadensis (genotype G6/G7). In the three study areas, G1 genotypes were the most prevalent. There were 233 mutation sites along with 129 parsimony informative sites. A transition/transversion ratio of 7.5, 8, and 3.25, respectively, for cox1, nad1, and nad5 genes was obtained. Every mitochondrial gene had intraspecific variations, which were represented in a star-like network with a major haplotype with observable mutations from other distant and minor haplotypes. The Tajima's D value was significantly negative in all populations, indicating a substantial divergence from neutrality and supporting the demographic expansion of E. granulosus s.s. in the study areas. The phylogeny inferred by the maximum likelihood (ML) method using nucleotide sequences of cox1–nad1–nad5 further confirmed their identity. The nodes assigned to the G1, G3, and G6 clades as well as the reference sequences utilized had maximal posterior probability values (1.00). In conclusion, our study confirms the existence of a significant major haplotype of E. granulosus s.s. where G1 is the predominant genotype causing of CE in both livestock and humans in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left-behind children (LBC) is a group of children who live without their parents and receive less parental care and education. Compared with non-left-behind children (NLBC), LBC are more likely to develop emotional or behavior problems. This study aimed to explore the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Chinese version of the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ) in Chinese LBC. A sample of 2960 middle school students (44.35% male, 55.28% female; age: 12 to 20 years) including LBC (n = 1365) and NLBC (n = 1595) was used. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA); confirmatory factor analyses (CFA); tests of measurement invariance; t-tests of gender and left-behind experience differences; tests of reliability and convergent, discriminant, and criterion validity were conducted. The results showed that two factors were extracted, and the CFA replicated the original two-factor structure (S-Bχ2/df ≈ 106.778/34, P <.001, CFI =.948, TLI =.932, RMSEA =.056 [.044,.068]). The measurement invariance of the ERQ across genders, LBC and NLBC was also confirmed. Males use expressive suppression (ES) significantly more than females (t = 2.63, p <.01), and LBC use ES significantly more than NLBC (t = 2.11, p <.05). The internal consistency coefficients for ES and cognitive reappraisal (CR) were acceptable, and the test-retest reliability was.62 and.68, respectively. Good convergent, discriminant and criterion validity were also demonstrated. It can be concluded that the ERQ is a valid measure for investigating the use of two different emotion regulation strategies among Chinese left-behind children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of resilience-promoting interventions among adolescents and youth aged 10–24 years with any type of diabetes. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases from inception to May 25, 2022. The Cochrane risk of bias tool (version 2) was used to assess the quality of the included studies. A meta-analysis was performed to calculate the pooled effects of resilience-promoting interventions. Results: Nineteen articles were included covering an overall sample of 2048 adolescents with diabetes. When analyzing the effectiveness of resilience-promoting interventions, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) at six months [mean difference = − 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = − 0.83 to − 0.12, P = 0.009] after the intervention was improved. However, long-term (≥ 12 months) improvement in HbA1c was not significant. In addition, comparing the control group, there were significant differences in the effect size for stress [standardized mean difference (SMD) = − 0.87, 95% CI = − 1.25 to -0.48, P < 0.05], self-efficacy (SMD = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.02–0.98, P = 0.04) and quality of life (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.03–0.51, P = 0.03). Conclusions: Resilience-promoting intervention is a promising way for adolescent diabetes management to improve HbA1c, stress, self-efficacy, and quality of life. Incorporating resilience-promoting components into diabetes education and re-enforcing these contents every six months are recommended for implementation in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term exposure to ambient particulate pollutants (PM2.5 and PM10) may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the results of previous research were limited and inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships of PM2.5 and PM10 with CKD. This study was a cohort study based on the physical examination data of 2082 Beijing residents from 2013 to 2018 in the Beijing Health Management Cohort (BHMC). A land-use regression model was used to estimate the individual exposure concentration of air pollution based on the address provided by each participant. CKD events were identified based on self-report or medical evaluation (estimated glomerular filtration rate, eGFR less than 60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Finally, the associations of PM2.5 and PM10 with CKD were calculated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. During the research period, we collected potentially confounding information. After adjusting for confounders, each 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 exposure was associated with an 84% (OR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.45, 2.33) and 37% (OR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.63) increased risk of CKD. Adjusting for the four common gaseous air pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, O3), the effect of PM2.5 and PM10 on CKD was significantly enhanced, but the effect of PM10 was no longer significant in the multi-pollutant model. The results of the stratified analysis showed that PM2.5 and PM10 were more significant in males, middle-aged and elderly people over 45 years old, smokers, drinkers, BMI ≥ 24 kg/m2, and abnormal metabolic components. In conclusion, long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and PM10 was associated with an increased risk of CKD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical treatment and endovascular therapy are widely used for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis, but the best treatment strategy remains uncertain. The goal of this study was to compare the safety and effectiveness of medical treatment, stenting, and primary balloon angioplasty (PBA). We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for trials comparing these three treatments for intracranial stenosis up to December 24, 2020. We performed a network meta-analysis with random-effects models. The primary outcome was any stroke or death during a long-term follow-up. Secondary outcomes included ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, and death. This network meta-analysis included 14 trials with 1520 participants. No significant difference was found between the three groups in the primary outcome, while PBA was probably the best treatment according to the ranking plot. Medical treatment had significantly lower rate of any stroke or death (odds ratio (OR), 0.31; 95% CI, 0.17–0.56), ischemic stroke (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23–0.81), and intracranial hemorrhage (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02–0.71) within 30 days than stenting but did not differ from PBA. The ranking plot demonstrated that PBA was also most likely to rank the highest for ischemic stroke during the long-term follow-up and beyond 30 days, although no significant difference was identified. Medical treatment had lower risk of any stroke or death within 30 days than stenting but did not differ from PBA. All the treatments had similar effects on the prevention of long-term stroke, while PBA had the highest probability of being the most effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption desorption is an important behavior affecting the migration of phenanthrene in soil. In this study, three typical soils of loess, silts and silty sand in Guanzhong Basin, Shaanxi Province, China were used as adsorbents. Batch equilibrium experiments were carried out to study the adsorption desorption kinetics and isotherm of phenanthrene in different soils. Response surface method (RSM) was used to study the effects of temperature, pH, phenanthrene concentration and organic matter content on soil adsorption of phenanthrene. The results showed that after adsorption, the outline of soil particles became more blurred and the degree of cementation increased. The kinetic adsorption of phenanthrene by soil conforms to the quasi second-order kinetic model, and the adsorption desorption isotherm is nonlinear and conforms to the Freundlich model. Due to the difference of soil properties, the adsorption amount of phenanthrene by soil is loess > silty sand > silts. The thermodynamic results show that the adsorption of phenanthrene by soil is spontaneous and endothermic, and the desorption is spontaneous and exothermic. Through RSM, the interaction between phenanthrene concentration and soil organic matter in Loess and silts is significant, and the interaction between temperature and soil organic matter in silty sand is significant. Among the four factors affecting the adsorption rate of loess, silts and silty sand, soil organic matter is the most significant. The theoretical optimum adsorption rates of loess, silts and silty sand are 98.89%, 96.59% and 93.37% respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined modification of steam explosion (SE) and enzymatic hydrolysis (EH) was investigated to enhance the yield and improve the structural, physicochemical and functional properties of soluble dietary fibers (SDFs) from apple pomace. Results indicated that SE-EH combined modification enhanced the SDF content from 17.90 to 25.63%, and SDF/IDF ratio from 30.03 to 56.20%. Compared with the control, monosaccharide composition confirmed the large proportion of Rha, Xyl and Glu and the small proportion of Fuc, Ara, Man and Gal in SDF of apple pomace treated by SE and EH (SDFSE−EH). And the average molecular weight (Mw) of SDFSE−EH was slightly higher than that of SDF of untreated apple pomace (SDFu). In addition, SDFs after modifications showed high water-holding and water-swelling capacity and low oil-holding capacity owing to its fluffy and porous structure. Moreover, SDFs after combined modifications exhibited better abilities of exchanging cations and binding glucose and cholesterols in vitro than SDFs with single or no modification. Therefore, this study provides an effective method for apple pomace modification and adds to its economic value, which can be used as functional additives in food products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A temperature-insensitive sensor for glucose brix measurement based on compact spindle-shaped structure with two-mode fiber (TMF) is proposed. Due to the bending of optical fiber caused by flame baking, some of the light energy transmitted in the core leaks into the cladding area as an evanescent wave, which excites the higher-order cladding mode of the sensor. The experimental results show that when the length of TMF is 3 cm and the bending diameter is 4 mm, the maximum glucose brix sensitivity of the sensor is 0.368 nm/% from 0 to 21%. The sensor is insensitive to temperature from 10 °C to 50 °C, which can avoid the problem of temperature cross-sensitivity. A compact spindle-shaped sensor is a potential effective sensor with a simple structure, easy fabrication and low cost. The sensor can be used to detect glucose content in areas such as crops quality assessment and the research of pharmacy and bioengineering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new type of Noether theorem with Caputo Δ -derivative of Birkhoffian systems is the focus of this paper based upon the fractional time-scales calculus, which constructs a model to unify continuous fractional systems and discrete fractional systems. The Caputo Δ -type fractional time-scales Pfaff-Birkhoff principle is given, and its Birkhoff equations are deduced. According to the definition of fractional time-scales Noether symmetry of Birkhoffian systems, its criterion is proved and its Noether theorem is formulated by the generalized Jost method. Furthermore, the corresponding transformation conditions are given to study the relationship among fractional time-scales Birkhoffian systems, Hamiltonian systems and Lagrangian systems. Taking the fractional time-scales Hojman-Urrutia model as an example, the simulation results show the validity of the new Noether theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated aspartate aminotransferase-to-alanine aminotransferase ratio (AAR) has been associated with cardiovascular diseases and mortality. The clinical significance of AAR in the prognosis of stroke has yet to be established. We aimed to investigate the associations between AAR levels and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Patients with AIS or TIA in the Third China National Stroke Registry (CNSR-III) were divided into four groups by quartiles of AAR, and two groups according to AAR < 1 and AAR ≥ 1. Multivariable Cox regression for all-cause mortality and logistic regression for poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale, mRS 3-6/2-6) were adopted to explore the associations between AAR and clinical outcomes at 3 months and 1 year. Among 10,877 included patients, the median AAR was 1.06 (interquartile range [IQR], 0.82 to 1.36). In the multivariable-adjusted model, patients in the fourth AAR quartile had higher risk of all-cause mortality within 3 months and 1 year (hazard ratio [HR] 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25 to 3.47; HR 2.26, 95% CI 1.55 to 3.27), and mRS 3-6/2-6 at 1 year (odds ratio [OR] 1.29, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.55; OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.42), compared with those in the first quartile. Similar associations were also observed when AAR ≥ 1 compared with AAR < 1. Elevated AAR was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality and poor functional outcome after AIS or TIA, and should be carefully assessed after admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution and ischemic stroke (IS) are both vital factors affecting the health of Beijing citizens. This study aims at exploring the associations between air pollution, meteorology, and the hospital admission of IS (IS HA). Information on 476,659 IS inpatients in secondary and higher hospitals in Beijing from 2013 to 2018 were collected. A time-stratified case-crossover design with the generalized additive model and the distributed lag nonlinear model were used. In the single-pollutant models, an inter-quartile range increase in O3, SO2, CO, and NO2 resulted in a significant highest increase in IS HA by 2.23% (95% CI: 1.56%, 2.90%), 1.53% (95% CI: 1.12%, 1.95%), 1.05% (95% CI: 0.70%, 1.40%), and 0.51% (95% CI: 0.24%, 0.79%) on the day of pollution, so did PM2.5 and PM10 by 1.13% (95% CI: 0.68%, 1.59%) and 1.19% (95% CI: 0.74%, 1.64%) at a lag of 0–5 days. There was a nonlinear relationship between meteorology and IS HA. In the multivariate model, the cumulative relative risks with a maximum lag time of 21 days of PM2.5 and NO2 were 1.11 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.19) and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.82, 0.94), while the effects of SO2, O3, and meteorology were insignificant. The findings suggested that particulate pollutants could increase the risk of IS, and the elderly were more sensitive to it, while the results of gaseous pollutants are still discordant. The control of air pollution and the protection of susceptible populations should receive higher attention from policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify specific Chinese medicines (CM) that may benefit patients with primary liver cancer (PLC), and to explore the mechanism of action of these medicines. Methods: In this retrospective, singlecenter study, prescription information from PLC patients was used in combination with Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Supports System to identify the specific core drugs. A system pharmacology approach was employed to explore the mechanism of action of these medicines. Results: Taking CM more than 6 months was significantly associated with improved survival outcomes. In total, 77 putative targets and 116 bioactive ingredients of the core drugs were identified and included in the analysis (P<0.05). A total of 1,036 gene ontology terms were found to be enriched in PLC. A total of 75 pathways identified from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were also enriched in this disease, including fluid shear stress, interleukin-17 signaling, signaling between advanced glycan end products and their receptors, cellular senescence, tumor necrosis factor signaling, p53 signaling, cell cycle signaling, steroid hormone biosynthesis, T-helper 17 cell differentiation, and metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome. Docking studies suggested that the ingredients in the core drugs exert therapeutic effects in PLC by modulating c-Jun and interleukin-6. Conclusions: Receiving CM for 6 months or more improves survival for the patients with PLC. The core drugs that really benefit for PLC patients likely regulates the tumor microenvironment and tumor itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollutants' effect on ischemic stroke (IS) has been widely reported. But the effect of high-level concentrations during people's outdoor periods among hypertension patients was unknown. Peak-hour concentrations were defined considering air pollutants' high concentrations as well as people's outdoor periods. We conducted a time-series study and used the generalized additive model to analyze peak-hour concentrations' acute effect. A total of 315,499 IS patients comorbid with hypertension were admitted to secondary and above hospitals in Beijing from 2014 to 2018. A 10 µg/m3 (CO: 1 mg/m3) increase of the peak-hour concentrations was positively associated with IS hospital admissions among hypertension patients. The maximum effect sizes were as follows: for PM2.5, 0.17% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.10–0.24%) at Lag0 and 0.22% (95% CI: 0.12–0.33%) at Lag0–5; for PM10, 0.09% (95% CI: 0.05–0.13%) at Lag5 and 0.17% (95% CI: 0.09–0.26%) at Lag0–5; for SO2, 0.87% (95% CI: 0.46–1.29%) at Lag5; for NO2, 0.83% (95% CI: 0.62–1.04%) at Lag0 and 0.86% (95% CI: 0.59–1.13%) at Lag0–1; for CO 1.23% (95% CI: 0.66–1.80%) at Lag0 and 1.33% (95% CI: 0.33–2.35%) at Lag0–5; for O3 0.23% (95% CI: 0.12–0.35%) at Lag0 and 0.20% (95% CI: 0.05–0.34%) at Lag0–1. The effect sizes of PM2.5, NO2, and O3 remained significant after adjusting daily mean. Larger effect sizes were observed for PM2.5 and PM10 in cool season and for O3 in warm season. As significant exposure indicators of air pollution, peak-hour concentrations exposure increased the risk of IS hospital admissions among hypertension patients and it is worthy of consideration in relative environmental standard. It is suggested for hypertension patients to avoid outdoor activity during peak hours. More relevant searches are required to further illustrate air pollutant's effect on chronic disease population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the effects of soil structure and anisotropy on the undrained shear behavior of natural clays. A series of laboratory K0-consolidated undrained (CK0U) and isotropically consolidated undrained (CIU) triaxial tests were conducted on both undisturbed and reconstituted clay specimens. Test results showed that the undrained shear strength for both undisturbed and reconstituted specimens obtained from the CK0U test is higher than the CIU test at a given effective global stress (p′). Comparison of the difference in undrained strength showed that the effect of soil structure on undrained shear strength will gradually lose with the increasing consolidation stress while the effect of soil anisotropy will gradually increase with the increase of the consolidation stress. The effect of soil structure and anisotropy on soil cohesion is negligible. The soil structure and anisotropy mainly affect the total friction angle of specimens yet the influence on the effective friction angle is slight. Undrained shear strength of natural undisturbed clay samples consolidated isotropically or anisotropically can be well predicted using the piecewise function proposed in the present study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and obesity are two serious public health problems. Although there have been some research on both, there have few studies on differences in obesity among MDD patients at different ages of onset. The study aims to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with obesity in MDD patients at different ages of onset. This study totally recruited 1718 first-episode drug-naive MDD patients aged from 18 to 60 years. All subjects were divided into two subgroups: early adulthood onset (EAO, 18–45 years) and mid-adulthood onset (MAO, 45–60 years). Clinical symptoms of patients were evaluated using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) positive subscale. Baseline parameters including body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and hematological biochemical parameters were assessed to investigate the association between these parameters and weight gain risk. The percentages of overweight and obesity patients with MDD in EAO group were 54.4% and 4.1%, respectively, and the percentages of overweight and obesity patients with MDD in MAO group were 60.4% and 2.8%, respectively. MDD patients in the MAO group had a longer duration of illness and higher scores in HAMD, HAMA, and PANSS positive subscale. They also had higher levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), anti-thyroglobulin (TgAb), fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) levels. BMI did not differ significantly between the two groups. In the EAO group, statistically significant differences were found among normal weight, overweight and obese group in duration of illness, age of onset, TSH, TgAb, thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPOAb), free thyroxine (FT4), TC, triglycerides (TG), SBP and DBP. The TSH, TgTb and SBP were identified as risk factors for weight gain. In the MAO group, statistically significant differences were found among normal weight, overweight and obese group in TSH and FBG. The two indicators were identified as risk factors for weight gain. There were no significant differences in the weight of MDD patients at different ages of onset, while the factors that could potentially lead to obesity did show some differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of long-term serum uric acid (SUA) exposure and time course of SUA accumulation on diabetes mellitus (DM) is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association of cumulative SUA (cumSUA) exposure and its accumulation time course with risk of DM. Methods: This prospective study included 46,434 participants without DM and underwent three examinations at 2006, 2008, and 2010. CumSUA from 2006 to 2010 was calculated, multiplying mean values between consecutive examinations by time intervals between visits. Time course of SUA accumulation was categorized as the slope of SUA versus time from 2006 to 2010, or by splitting the overall accumulation into an early (cumSUA06-08) and late accumulation (cumSUA08-10). Results: During 6.99 years of follow-up, we identified 2971 incident DM cases. In the fully adjusted model, a higher risk of DM was observed in participants with the highest quartile of cumSUA (hazard ratio [HR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–1.46), cumulative burden >0 (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.08–1.40), and with 6 year of hyperuricemia exposure duration (HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.01–1.55). When considering the time course of SUA accumulation, participants with a negative slope (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01–1.12), or combined with cumSUA ≥ median and a negative slope had elevated risk of DM (HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.18–2.11). Conclusions: Incident DM risk depends on cumulative exposure of SUA and time course of SUA accumulation. Early SUA accumulation resulted in a greater risk increase compared with later accumulation, emphasizing the importance of optimal SUA control early in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relaxor ferroelectric ceramics (1–x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3 (PMN–PT) at the morphotropic phase boundary exhibit high piezoelectric and electromechanical performances. In this study, translucent 0.67PMN–0.33PT piezoelectric ceramics with various Ce doping concentrations (0, 1, 2, 2.5, and 3 mol%) were fabricated using a two-step synthesis method. All ceramics exhibited a high relative density (> 97%). The valence of Ce ions in PMN–PT ceramics and their influence on the piezoelectric, ferroelectric, dielectric, strain behavior, and luminescence properties of PMN–PT ceramics were investigated. A maximum d33 of 800 pC/N was obtained when the doping amount of Ce was 2 mol%. The maximum dielectric constant and corresponding temperature Tm decreased with the increase of Ce doping concentration, and all the dielectric loss factors were lower than 0.15. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that Ce3+ and Ce4+ coexist in PMN–PT ceramics, and Ce3+ is dominant with a low Ce doping content, which enhances the luminous intensity of Pb2+ ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to identify the joint associations of modifiable lifestyle and metabolic factors with the incidences of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Methods: We recruited 94,831 participants (men, 79.76%; median age, 51.60 [43.47–58.87]) without a history of cardiovascular disease from the Kailuan study during 2006 and 2007 and followed them until a cardiovascular disease event, or death occurred, or until December 31, 2017. Baseline metabolic health status was assessed using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria, and details of the lifestyles of the participants were recorded using a self-reported questionnaire. We used Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate the joint associations. Results: During a median follow-up of 11.03 years, we recorded 6590 cardiovascular disease events and 9218 all-cause mortality. Participants with the most metabolic risk components and the least healthy lifestyle had higher risk of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.77–2.39]) and mortality (HR 1.53 [95% CI 1.31–1.78]), than participants with fewer metabolic risk components and the healthiest lifestyle. Compared with those in participants with the healthiest lifestyle, the HRs for cardiovascular disease in participants with the least healthy lifestyle were 1.26 (95% CI 1.17–1.37), 1.16 (95% CI 1.03–1.31), and 1.07 (95% CI 0.90–1.27) for those with low, medium, and high metabolic risk, respectively. Conclusion: Healthy lifestyle is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and there is no significant interaction between metabolic risk and a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, a healthy lifestyle should be promoted, even for people with high metabolic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of the triglyceride glucose (TyG) index, a simple surrogate marker of insulin resistance, with intra-cranial and extra-cranial artery stenosis (ICAS and ECAS) in Chinese adults. Methods: Participants were recruited from the Asymptomatic Polyvascular Abnormalities Community study, 5381 participants were enrolled in the cross-sectional analysis, then 3447 and 1853 participants in the longitudinal analysis for incident ICAS and ECAS, respectively. The TyG index was calculated as ln [fasting triglyceride (mg/dL) × fasting glucose (mg/dL)/2]. Multivariable logistic analysis was used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The results of the cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis were basically the same, as the fully adjusted OR comparing participants in the highest tertile versus lowest tertile of the TyG index was 1.34 (95% CI, 1.13–1.59) for the prevalence of ECAS and 1.85 (95% CI, 1.26–2.71) for incident ECAS, respectively. The addition of TyG index to a conventional model had an incremental effect on the predictive value for ECAS. However, we did not observe any significant association between the TyG index and ICAS. Conclusions: Elevated TyG index was significantly associated with a higher risk of ECAS, but not with ICAS in Chinese adults. This conclusion lends support to the clinical significance of the TyG index for the assessment of artery stenosis, especially for ECAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine, and the main raw material of various Chinese patent medicines. Continuous cropping obstacle (CCO) is the main factor leading to the decline of crop yields and quality. Methods: Metagenomics sequencing technology was used to analyze the microbial community and functional genes of continuous cropping (CC) and control (CK) soils of P. ternata. In addition, differences in physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, microbial community composition and the abundance of functional genes in CC and CK were evaluated, as well as the relationship between these factors and CCO. Results: Results indicated that CC of P. ternata led to the decline of rhizosphere soil pH, nutrient imbalance and enzyme activity reduction. Metagenomic analysis indicted that CC also changed the composition of the microbial community, causing an increase in the relative abundance of pathogenic microorganisms such as Fusarium, Klebsiella oxytoca and Pectobacterium carotovorum in the P. ternata rhizosphere. The relative abundance of potentially beneficial Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium was recorded to decrease. Results also showed that there were considerable differences in CC and CK about the abundances of functional genes related to soil enzymes and the degradation of P. ternata allelochemicals, as well as the microbial groups which they belong. These results clarified the effects of CC on the microbial community structure and functional genes of soil. In addition, Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium might play important roles in enhancing soil fertility and reducing the toxicity of phenolic acids in rhizosphere soil. Conclusions: CC of P. ternata changed the physicochemical properties, microbial community and functional genes of rhizosphere soil. Burkholderia and Bradyrhizobium for enhancing soil fertility and reducing the toxicity of phenolic acids might be potentially beneficial. These results provide theoretical guidance for bioremediation of CCO soil of P. ternata and other staple crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a scheme for realizing controllable photon transport in a three-mode optomechanical system comprising one cavity and two mechanical modes. We found that the non-rotating wave approximation effect can cause the ideal optomechanically induced transparency of the output field. The effects of the cavity mode decay rate on the width of the optomechanically induced transparency window, the dispersion curve slope are discussed in the resolved sideband regime and the unresolved sideband regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azaleas (Ericaceae) comprise one of the most diverse ornamental plants, renowned for their cultural and economic importance. We present a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Rhododendron simsii, the primary ancestor of azalea cultivars. Genome analyses unveil the remnants of an ancient whole-genome duplication preceding the radiation of most Ericaceae, likely contributing to the genomic architecture of flowering time. Small-scale gene duplications contribute to the expansion of gene families involved in azalea pigment biosynthesis. We reconstruct entire metabolic pathways for anthocyanins and carotenoids and their potential regulatory networks by detailed analysis of time-ordered gene co-expression networks. MYB, bHLH, and WD40 transcription factors may collectively regulate anthocyanin accumulation in R. simsii, particularly at the initial stages of flower coloration, and with WRKY transcription factors controlling progressive flower coloring at later stages. This work provides a cornerstone for understanding the underlying genetics governing flower timing and coloration and could accelerate selective breeding in azalea. Azaleas are one of the most diverse ornamental plants and have cultural and economic importance. Here, the authors report a chromosome-scale genome assembly for the primary ancestor of the azalea cultivar Rhododendro simsi and identify transcription factors that may function in flower coloration at different stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the stimulated Raman adiabatic passage for a pair of interacting cold atoms driven into the Y-type configuration with two adjacent Rydberg states. The results show that the self and cross dipole-dipole interactions will cause the blockade effect of states |rr〉 (|ll〉) and |rl〉 (|lr〉), respectively. However, it is viable to overcome the blockade effect and achieve efficient population transfer to different Rydberg states |r〉 and |l〉 by choosing appropriate single-photon and two-photon detunings to fully compensate dipole-induced shifts. Moreover, a maximal entangled state composed of two Rydberg states will generate with the proper detunings of coherent fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was a systematic review comparing the clinical outcomes of nonsurgical and surgical management for distal radius fractures. Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using multiple databases, including Medline, Embase, and Cochrane. All databases were searched from the earliest records through June 2019 using the following Boolean operators: distal radius fracture, conservative treatment, nonoperative treatment, nonsurgical treatment, surgical treatment, and operative. All prospective and retrospective controlled trials were retrieved that directly compared the functional outcomes between the nonsurgical and surgical groups. Results: Five prospective studies and six retrospective comparative studies were retrieved. A total of 1049 patients were included: 529 in the nonsurgical group and 520 in the surgical group. Both types of treatment led to similar results with respect to DASH and grip strength, as well as and most other functional assessments. However, there was significant difference in radial inclination, radial length, ulnar variance and range of wrist flexion. Conclusions: No significant differences in most functional assessments were found when comparing surgical and nonsurgical management of distal radius fractures. Although there were significant differences in radial inclination, radial deviation, ulnar variance, and wrist flexion, they did not seem to have impacts on the quality of wrist. Nonsurgical treatment for the distal radius fractures should be considered firstly. Indications for operative fixation should be considered carefully in the treatment of DRFs. Level of evidence: Therapeutic study (systematic review), Level III. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topology concept in the condensed physics and acoustics is introduced into the elastic wave metamaterial plate, which can show the topological property of the flexural wave. The elastic wave metamaterial plate consists of the hexagonal array which is connected by the piezoelectric shunting circuits. The Dirac point is found by adjusting the size of the unit cell and numerical simulations are illustrated to show the topological immunity. Then the closing and breaking of the Dirac point can be generated by the negative capacitance circuits. These investigations denote that the topological immunity can be achieved for flexural wave in mechanical metamaterial plate. The experiments with the active control action are finally carried out to support the numerical design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel Sn(II) supramolecular isomeric frameworks, with the identical formula of {(NH2Me2)2[Sn(BDC)(SO4)]}n, Sn-CP-1-α (1) and Sn-CP-1-β (2) (H2BDC=terephthalic acid) were synthesized under solvothermal condition and fully characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), elemental analyses, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Interestingly, the structures of 1 and 2 are governed by the temperature of the reaction, suggesting a temperature-induced supramolecular isomerism. The supramolecular isomers are primarily caused by the different bridging alignments of SO42−. Compounds 1 and 2 display 2D layer and 3D framework with different topologies, non-interpenetrated 44-sql and two-fold interpenetrated 4-connected dia topology, respectively. Due to Lewis acid properties of coordinatively unsaturated Sn(II) sites in CPs, they have been utilized as heterogeneous catalyst for the cyanosilylation of aldehydes with an excellent conversion yield over 99% under solvent-free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both conservative and nonconservative systems can be studied simultaneously using the differential variational principle of Herglotz type. For a perturbed system, in which parameters change with time, it is useful to find adiabatic invariants. Based on the Herglotz differential variational principle, we study the perturbation of infinitesimal transformations and adiabatic invariants for perturbed nonconservative Lagrangian systems. From the generalized Euler-Lagrange equation and the invariance condition for the Hamilton-Herglotz action under the group of infinitesimal transformations, we obtain an exact invariant of Herglotz type for a holonomic nonconservative system. We propose a definition of higher-order adiabatic invariants of Herglotz type and obtain such adiabatic invariants for nonconservative Lagrangian systems with small perturbations. We prove the corresponding inverse theorem of adiabatic invariants. As examples of using the obtained results, we consider an oscillator with square damping and a system with two degrees of freedom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Metastatic esophageal cancer (mEC) is the end stage of esophageal cancer. We aimed to construct a predictive model predicting the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of mEC patients.Methods: Data from 1917 patients with initially diagnosed mEC were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2010 and 2015. Patients were randomly divided into the training and validation cohorts (7:3). Cox regression was conducted to select the predictors of CSS. The validation of the nomogram was performed using concordance index (C-index), calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCAs).Results: Cancer-specific death occurred in 1559/1917 (81.3%) cases. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that factors including age, sex, grade at diagnosis, number of metastatic organs at diagnosis, pathological type, local treatment, and chemotherapy were independent predictors of CSS. Based on these factors, a predictive model was built and virtualized by nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.762. The calibration curves showed good consistency of CSS between the actual observation and the nomogram prediction, and the DCA showed great clinical usefulness of the nomogram. A risk classification system was built that could perfectly classify mEC patients into three risk groups. In the total cohort, the median CSS of patients in the low-, intermediate- and high-risk groups was 11.0 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.1-11.9), 8.0 months (95% CI 7.3-8.7), and 2.0 months (95% CI 1.8-2.2), respectively.Conclusions: We constructed a nomogram and a corresponding risk classification system predicting the CSS of patients with initially diagnosed mEC. These tools can assist in patient counseling and guiding treatment decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the spatio-temporal and compositional variation of selected water quality parameters and understand the purifying effects of wetland in Fujin National Wetland Park (FNWP), China, the trophic level index (TLI), paired samples t-test and correlation analysis were used for the statistical analysis of a set of 10 water quality parameters. The analyses were based on water samples collected from 22 stations in FNWP between 2014 and 2016. Results initially reveal that total nitrogen (TN) concentrations are above class V levels (2 mg/L), total phosphorus (TP) concentrations are below class III levels (0.2 mg/L), and that all other parameters fall within standard ranges. Highest values for TN, pH, and Chlorophyll-a were recorded in 2016, while the levels of chemical oxygen demand (CODMn) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) were lowest during this year. Similarly, TN values were highest between 2014 and 2016 while dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations were lowest in the summer and TP concentrations were highest in the autumn. Significant variations were also found in Secchi depth (SD), TN, CODMn (P < 0.01), TP, and DO levels (P < 0.05) between the inlet and outlet of the park. High-to-low levels of TN, TP, and TDS were found in cattails, reeds, and open water (the opposite trend was seen in SD levels). Tested wetland water had a light eutrophication status in most cases and TN and TP removal rates were between 7.54%-84.36% and 37.50%-70.83%, respectively. Data also show no significant annual changes in water quality within this wetland, although obvious affects from surrounding agricultural drainage were nevertheless recorded. Results reveal a high major nutrient removal efficiency (N and P). The upper limits of these phenomena should be addressed in future research alongside a more efficient and scientific agricultural layout for the regions in and around the FNWP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]