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In recent years, due to the shortage of blood products, some extensive burn patients were forced to adopt an "ultra-restrictive" transfusion strategy, in which the hemoglobin levels of RBC transfusion thresholds were < 7 g/dl or even < 6 g/dl. This study investigated the prognostic impacts of ultra-restrictive RBC transfusion in extensive burn patients. This retrospective multicenter cohort study recruited extensive burns (total body surface area ≥ 50%) from three hospitals in Eastern China between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2022. Patients were divided into an ultra-restrictive transfusion group and a restrictive transfusion group depending on whether they received timely RBC transfusion at a hemoglobin level < 7 g/dl. 1:1 ratio propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance selection bias. Modified Poisson regression and linear regression were conducted for sensitive analysis. Subsequently, according to whether they received timely RBC transfusion at a hemoglobin level < 6 g/dl, patients in the ultra-restrictive transfusion group were divided into < 6 g/dl group and 6–7 g/dl group to further compare the prognostic outcomes. 271 eligible patients with extensive burns were included, of whom 107 patients were in the ultra-restrictive transfusion group and 164 patients were in the restrictive transfusion group. The ultra-restrictive transfusion group had a significantly lower RBC transfusion volume than the restrictive transfusion group (11.5 [5.5, 21.5] vs 17.3 [9.0, 32.5] units, p = 0.004). There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of in-hospital mortality, risk of infection, hospital length of stay, and wound healing time after PSM or multivariate adjustment (p > 0.05). Among the ultra-restrictive transfusion group, patients with RBC transfusion threshold < 6 g/dl had a significantly higher hospital mortality than 6–7 g/dl (53.1% vs 21.3%, p = 0.001). For extensive burn patients, no significant adverse effects of ultra-restrictive RBC transfusion were found in this study. When the blood supply is tight, it is acceptable to adopt an RBC transfusion threshold of < 7 g/dL but not < 6 g/dL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magic is an important part of quantum resource theory. The quantitative study of magic is a difficult but important task, which means a suitable magic measure is needed. We generalize the magic measure introduced by Leone et al. (Phys Rev Lett 128:050402, 2022) and extend the Pauli operators acting on qubits to the discrete Heisenberg–Weyl operators (i.e., the generalized Pauli operators) acting on qudits. We show that it is a suitable magic measure. We use this measure to calculate some related qutrit magic states and compare it with other measures. Subsequently, a tighter upper bound of this measure is obtained by using the group covariant symmetric informationally complete (SIC) states. Moreover, we extend this measure to mixed states and calculate the corresponding mixed magic states. Then, it is shown that there are different fundamental limits for the distillation of four qutrit magic states by using the quantum hypothesis testing at the end of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The SOE reform was the first time that economic insecurity was introduced since 1949 in China, with hundreds of million employees affected by the laid off. This study took the State-Owned Enterprises (SOE) reform in China as a natural experiment to explore the impact of economic insecurity on depressive symptoms in later life. Methods: Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), 2014 and 2015. CHARLS is a nationally representative survey covering 28 provinces in China. CHARLS used the probabilities proportional to size (PPS) sampling method and involved 450 villages/resident committees, 150 counties/districts and 12,400 households. A total of 5113 urban dwellers born earlier than 1971 (aged 25 years old and above at the start of the SOE reform, 1995) were involved. Using the province-level economic loss from the layoffs, we examined the impact of economic insecurity exposure on the score of depressive symptoms using a difference-in-differences model (DID). Results: Individuals with economic insecurity exposure had a significantly increased risk of higher depressive symptoms scores, in which a 1 percentage point increase in expected economic loss would increase the CESD-10 score by 0.10. For an individual at the median distribution (CESD-10 = 5), this implies a shift to the 58th percentile (CESD-10 = 6). Given that the average intensity of expected economic loss is 10.22% and the mean CESD-10 is 6.92, exposure to the SOE reform led to an average increase in the CESD-10 score by 1.02 and by at least 14.74%. The heterogeneity analyses showed that the role of SOE reform in depressive symptoms scores was robust in both female and male groups and groups with different educational attainment. Conclusions: Economic insecurity exposure increased the depressive symptoms score later in life in the context of China. Programs, such as adequate unemployment insurance benefits, can protect individuals against the risk of financial loss, thereby reducing their negative impact on depressive symptoms. Providing mental symptoms surveillance and psychological counseling to those experienced at a time of great uncertainty is important for preventing depression in times of economic insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the determination of the mass of a de Sitter–Schwarzschild black hole from one quasinormal mode. We prove a local uniqueness result with a Hölder type stability estimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the similarities and differences between the Montreux definition and the Berlin definition in terms of the prevalence, mortality, and complications of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We retrospectively analyzed the data of neonates with respiratory failure treated in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) between 1 November 2019 and 31 December 2021. In total, 554 infants had neonatal ARDS (524 infants, Montreux definition; 549 infants, Berlin definition). The prevalence (3.1% vs. 3.3%, p = 0.438) and mortality (18.9% vs.18.0%, p = 0.716) of neonatal ARDS did not differ between the definitions. Among the 519 infants meeting both definitions, key clinical outcomes did not differ between the definitions such as ventilation duration, NICU stay, complication rates, and antibiotic use, except for nitric oxide inhalation. The Montreux and Berlin definitions identified an additional 5 and 30 patients, respectively, not captured by the other definition. The rate of inhaled nitric oxide treatment (20.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.013), air leaks (20.0% vs. 0%, p = 0.013), and invasive ventilation duration (110.00 vs.0.00 h, p = 0.002) significantly differed between the above two groups. Sixty-two patients had moderate and severe ARDS according to the Montreux and Berlin definitions, respectively. The rates of adverse outcomes (e.g., mortality, invasive ventilation time) among these patients were similar to the rates among patients with moderate ARDS according to both definitions than among patients with severe ARDS according to both definitions. Conclusion: The prevalence, mortality, and most complications of neonatal ARDS were similar between the Montreux and Berlin definitions, which mainly differed in terms of the severity of neonatal ARDS. What is Known: • The Montreux definition was first proposed for the diagnosis of neonatal acute respiratory distress syndrome and was established in 2017. To date, the Montreux definition has not been compared with other diagnostic definitions of ARDS. What is New: • The study suggests that perinatal lung disease need not be excluded in the diagnosis of neonatal ARDS, and that the Montreux definition is more applicable to neonates, taking into account their specific physiological characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease but still lacks a preclinical strategy to identify it. The diagnostic value of intestinal mucosal α-synuclein (αSyn) in PD has not drawn a uniform conclusion. The relationship between the alteration of intestinal mucosal αSyn expression and mucosal microbiota is unclear. Nineteen PD patients and twenty-two healthy controls were enrolled in our study from whom were collected, using gastrointestinal endoscopes, duodenal and sigmoid mucosal samples for biopsy. Multiplex immunohistochemistry was performed to detect total, phosphorylate, and oligomer α-synuclein. Next-generation 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing was applied for taxonomic analysis. The results implied that oligomer α-synuclein (OSyn) in sigmoid mucosa of PD patients was transferred from the intestinal epithelial cell membrane to the cytoplasm, acinar lumen, and stroma. Its distribution feature was significantly different between the two groups, especially the ratio of OSyn/αSyn. The microbiota composition in mucosa also differed. The relative abundances of Kiloniellales, Flavobacteriaceae, and CAG56 were lower, while those of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Burkholderiales, Burkholdriaceae, Oxalobacteraceae, Ralstonia, Massilla, and Lactoccus were higher in duodenal mucosa of PD patients. The relative abundances of Thermoactinomycetales and Thermoactinomycetaceae were lower, while those of Prevotellaceae and Bifidobacterium longum were higher in patients' sigmoid mucosa. Further, the OSyn/αSyn level was positively correlated with the relative abundances of Proteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Burkholderiales, Pseudomonadales, Burkholderiaceae, and Ralstonia in the duodenal mucosa, while it was negatively correlated with the Chao1 index and observed operational taxonomic units of microbiota in sigmoid mucosa. The intestinal mucosal microbiota composition of PD patients altered with the relative abundances of proinflammatory bacteria in the duodenal mucosa increased. The ratio of the OSyn/αSyn level in the sigmoid mucosa indicated a potential diagnostic value for PD, which also correlated with mucosal microbiota diversity and composition. Key points: • The distribution of OSyn in sigmoid mucosa differed between PD patients and healthy controls. • Significant alterations in the microbiome were found in PD patients' gut mucosa. • OSyn/αSyn level in sigmoid mucosa indicated a potential diagnostic value for PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs), on the one hand, the energy of nodes is limited. On the other hand, the network topology often changes due to human movement or posture changes. Unstable network topology is easy to cause packet loss, and packet loss will cause inaccurate data collection. Therefore, how to effectively use energy to transmit data reliably becomes a key issue. For this problem, we propose an optimized routing protocol namely Energy Efficient and Reliable Routing based on Reinforcement Learning and Fuzzy Logic (EERR-RLFL). In EERR-RLFL, considering the heterogeneity of nodes in WBANs, we first establish a node rank division mechanism, by which sensor nodes are divided into different ranks from three aspects. Each rank is considered to be one of the factors that affect the link quality. Then, we propose the Fuzzy-Logic-based Link Quality Evaluation (FLLQE) algorithm. It makes use of the fuzzy evaluation method of fuzzy logic and considers the comprehensive influence of multiple factors to evaluate the link quality between two nodes, which will provide reference for routing path selection. In the process of data transmission, based on the FLLQE algorithm, we use a hybrid data transmission mode, in which the time when a forwarding node is needed is first determined, and then the Reinforcement Learning algorithm is used to select the global optimized routing path. Simulation results show that EERR-RLFL outperforms Single Hop Transmission and Optimized Cost Effective and Energy Efficient Routing in terms of network lifetime, packet loss ratio and energy efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we consider an online enrichment procedure in the context of the Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (GMsFEM) for the two-phase flow model in highly heterogeneous porous media. The coefficient of the pressure equation is referred to as the permeability and is the main source of heterogeneity within the model. The elliptic pressure equation is solved using online GMsFEM, which is coupled with a hyperbolic transport equation where local conservation of mass is necessary. To satisfy the conservation property, we aim at constructing conservative fluxes within the space of multiscale basis functions through the use of a postprocessing technique. In order to improve the accuracy of the pressure and velocity solutions in the online GMsFEM, we apply a systematic online enrichment procedure. The increase in pressure accuracy due to the online construction is inherited by the conservative flux fields and the desired saturation solutions from the coupled transport equation. Despite the fact that the coefficient of the pressure equation is dependent on the saturation which may vary in time, we construct an approximation space using the absolute permeability field (λ(S) = 1) and no further basis updates follow. Numerical results corresponding to three different types of heterogeneous permeability coefficients are exhibited to show the performance of the proposed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the light ray transform on Minkowski space-time and its small metric perturbations acting on scalar functions which are solutions to wave equations. We show that the light ray transform uniquely determines the function in a stable way. The problem is of particular interest because of its connection to inverse problems of the Sachs–Wolfe effect in cosmology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monodispersed Au nanoparticles in ordered mesoporous carbon/silica (Au/OMCS) nanocomposites were prepared by the solvent evaporation induced self-assembly. Au/OMCS nanocomposites were characterized through XRD, BET, and TEM. The obtained nanocomposites exhibit uniform mesopores with the size of 18 ± 2 nm. And ultrafine Au nanoparticles with the size of 3~7 nm are well dispersed in the cavities. An ultrasensitive nanoenzyme sensor was fabricated based on a Au/OMCS-modified electrode. The Au/OMCS-modified electrode displays high xanthine oxidase–like catalytic activity evaluated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The DPV response currents are linearly dependent on concentrations of xanthine (Xa) in the range 0.10–20 μM, along with a high sensitivity of 6.84 μA μM−1 cm−2 and very low detection limit of 0.006 μM (S/N = 3) under the optimal working potential of 0.64 V vs. SCE. Interference experiments show that the nanoenzyme sensor has no obvious responses to most potentially interfering species at a potential of 0.64 V. The fabricated sensor has been applied to the determination of Xa in spiked urine samples with recoveries ranging from 98.26 to 101.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An imine-functionalized mesoporous solid base catalyst (BA@BE-PMO) was prepared by template agent-directed self-assembly condensation of bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]amine and 1,2-bis(triethoxysilyl)ethane in acid solution. The imine groups with catalytic activity were integrally embedded into mesopore walls of as-made BA@BE-PMO. In Knoevenagel reactions in aqueous medium, the BA@BE-PMO catalyst exhibited better catalytic activity than imine-functionalized SBA-15 catalyst synthesized using the traditional co-condensation method, which can be attributed to the pore surface with strong hydrophobicity originating from –CH2CH2– group fragments incorporated into pore walls. The strong hydrophobicity of the surface facilitates adsorption and diffusion of organic compounds on the catalyst surface in reactions in aqueous medium. Moreover, it exhibited comparable catalytic activity to dipropylamine homogeneous base catalyst because of the uniform dispersion of imine group active sites. The BA@BE-PMO catalyst could also be recovered and reused in up to five runs without significant loss in activity without any negative environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fluid resuscitation is one of the main therapies for acute pancreatitis (AP). There is still no consensus on the type of fluid resuscitation. This study investigated the differences between lactate Ringer's (LR) and normal saline (NS) in treating AP. Methods: Two authors systematically searched Web of Science, Embase (via OVID), Cochrane Library, and PubMed to find all published research before July, 2023. The odds of moderately severe/severe AP and intensive care unit (ICU) admission are set as primary endpoints. Results: This meta-analysis included 5 RCTs and 4 observational studies with 1424 AP patients in LR (n = 651) and NS (n = 773) groups. The results suggested that the odds of moderately severe/severe AP (OR 0.48; 95%Cl 0.34 to 0.67; P < 0.001) and ICU admission (OR 0.37; 95%Cl 0.16 to 0.87; P = 0.02) were lower in the LR group compared to NS group. In addition, the LR group had lower rates of local complications (OR 0.54; 95%Cl 0.32 to 0.92; P = 0.02), lower level of CRP, as well as a shorter hospital stay (WMD, − 1.09 days; 95%Cl − 1.72 to − 0.47 days; P < 0.001) than the NS group. Other outcomes, such as mortality, the rate of organ failure, SIRS, acute fluid collection, pancreatic necrosis, pseudocysts, and volume overload, did not differ significantly between two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: LR is preferred over NS as it decreases the odds of moderately severe/severe AP, the rate of ICU admission, local complication, and length of hospital stay. However, large-scale RCT are lacking to support these evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We demonstrated, for the first time to our knowledge, a diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked (KLM) Yb:YSiO laser. No cavity dispersion compensation components were applied and the shortest pulse width of 1.2 ps was obtained. The maximum KLM output power of 1.05 W was obtained at a central wavelength of 1,058 nm. The pulse repetition rate was 97.8 MHz, corresponding to a pulse energy of 10.7 nJ and a peak power of 8.9 kW, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the ZrC particles and/or Ni-coated carbon fibers-reinforced 2024Al matrix composites are prepared by spark plasm sintering and solution aging treatment, which are denoted as Cf(Ni)–ZrC/2024Al, ZrC/2024Al, and Cf(Ni)/2024Al composites. It takes 12 h for 2024Al alloy, 10 h for ZrC/2024Al and Cf(Ni)/2024Al, and 8 h for Cf(Ni)–ZrC/2024Al to reach the peak-aged condition. The increased number of interfaces and the growing dislocations account for the accelerated aging behavior. Among all prepared samples, the Cf(Ni)–ZrC/2024Al demonstrates the highest hardness of 139.4 HV, which is 17.8% higher than the 2024Al. The tensile experiments indicate the Cf(Ni)–ZrC/2024Al displays the highest yield strength of 350.5 MPa, tensile strength of 536.4 MPa, and strain of 14.8%, which has 56.7%, 45.8%, 52.6% increasements, respectively, over those of 2024Al. The results illustrate that dual reinforcement demonstrates a better strengthening and toughening effect than the monolithic reinforcement. The improvement of strength and strain of Cf(Ni)–ZrC/2024Al is contributed to the load transfer effect, dislocation strengthening, grain refinement, and Orowan strengthening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to image-based quick response (QR) codes, acoustic QR codes have some advantages. However, an acoustic QR scanner cannot recognize an acoustic QR code at a distance of more than two meters from an acoustic QR announcer. To this end, we propose a new sort of acoustic QR code, called an audible acoustic QR code (AAQRC), which employs humanly audible sound to carry users' information directly. First, a user's string of characters is translated into a string of pitches. Then, the related algorithms convert the string of pitches into a playable audio file. As a result, an AAQRC is generated, consisting of the audio itself. AAQRC recognition is the opposite process of AAQRC generation. Compared with the existing approach for acoustic QR codes, the new method can recognize acoustic QR codes at a longer distance, even if there are obstacles between the AAQRC announcer and AAQRC scanner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the presence of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), the delivery of general drugs into the brain tissue remains to be a tricky problem. For patients with brain metastases from breast cancer, drug delivery systems must overcome this physical barrier. Targeted nano vehicles arise as a promising alternative to deliver drugs to brain tissues successively. Herein, a dual targeting micelle drug delivery system loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) and lapatinib (LPTN) was developed for combinational therapy of brain metastases. In our study, it was shown the micelles modified with Angiopep-2 had high loading efficiency of paclitaxel and lapatinib (Ang-MIC-PTX/LP). In addition, Ang-MIC-PTX/LP could transport across the in vitro BBB model and accumulate in breast cancer cells. After intravenous injection, Ang-MIC significantly accumulated in the brain metastasis. Ang-MIC-PTX/LP could also extend the life span of brain metastasis mouse models. Overall, this study provided a promising method for treatment of brain metastases from breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Full-disk solar chromospheric and photospheric images are widely used to monitor solar activity. Flat-fielding is a basic step during scientific data production. Here, a Gaussian-type diffuser is used to measure the flat-field of full-disk solar chromospheric and photospheric images. The effectiveness of the method is verified by theoretical simulation and practical measurement. First, the uniformity of the light source generated by the Gaussian diffuser and the sunlight, with a field of view the same as the full-disk solar image, is calculated. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the scatter angle of the Gaussian diffuser is one degree, such that the light source presents a Gaussian distribution. After the correction of the Gaussian background, the uniformity of the area light source is 99.6%, which can be regarded as a uniform area light source. Second, experiments are conducted on full-disk solar telescopes at Huairou solar observing station and Yangbajing station. The diffuser covers the entire entrance aperture when taking flat-field frames. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of experimental results, it is confirmed that a revised flat-field frame can modify uniformity caused by various aspects of the telescope, including vignetting, non-uniformities of filters, and contamination of optical components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a life-threatening brain tumor. This study aimed to identify potential targets of the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) HULC that promoted the progression of GBM. Two U87 cell lines were constructed: HULC-siRNA and negative control (NC). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to validate the transfection efficiency of HULC silencing vector. Mass spectrometry (MS) was used to generate proteomic profiles for the two cell lines. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed to distinguish HULC-related genes and pathway mapping. Colony formation, Transwell, and wound-healing assays were used to investigate the functional effects of HULC knockdown on GBM. We identified 112 up-regulated proteins and 24 down-regulated proteins from a total of 4360 quantified proteins. GO enrichment illustrated that these proteins were mainly involved in organelle structure, catalysis, cell movement, and material metabolism. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that some of these proteins were significantly enriched in tight junction, metabolic pathways, and arachidonic acid metabolism. In vitro experiments demonstrated that HULC knockdown inhibited GBM cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Our KEGG analyses revealed that PLA2G4A was a shared protein in several enriched pathways. HULC silencing significantly down-regulated the expression of PLA2G4A. Knockdown of HULC changed the proteomic characteristics of GBM and altered the behaviors of GBM cells. Specifically, we identified PLA2G4A as an HULC target in GBM. This study provides a new perspective on the mechanisms and potential drug targets of GBM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extended Langmuir isotherm is commonly used to describe multi-component adsorption. In batch adsorption, the equilibrium composition can be computed by solving simultaneously the Langmuir equations and the material balance equations numerically. We demonstrate that for given values of the initial fluid-phase concentrations, the adsorbed phase composition of all components can be expressed in terms of the fluid-phase concentration of a reference species. As a result, the adsorbed phase composition is easily derived by combining the isotherm expression for the reference species with the corresponding material balance. We derive a general graphical representation of the underlying mathematics valid for N components along with the analytic solution for two-component systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this work is to evaluate the intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility of corneal power measurements obtained with a swept-source optical coherence tomographer (CASIA 2, Tomey, Japan) in healthy subjects. Methods: A total of 67 right eyes from 67 healthy subjects were enrolled. Two experienced observers measured each eye three times consecutively with the CASIA 2. Corneal power values were recorded as simulated keratometry, anterior, posterior, and total corneal power. Parameters were flattest keratometry (Kf), steepest keratometry (Ks), mean keratometry (Km), astigmatism magnitude, astigmatism power vectors J0 and J45. Intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility of the CASIA 2 were assessed by the within-subject standard deviation (Sw), test–retest repeatability (TRT), coefficients of variation (CoV), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Double-angle plots were used for astigmatism vector analysis. Results: The CASIA 2 had high repeatability for all corneal power values, with Sw values ≤ 0.17 diopters (D), TRT ≤ 0.46 D, and ICCs ranging from 0.866 to 0.998. Interobserver reproducibility was also high, showing all Sw values ≤ 0.10 D, TRT ≤ 0.27 D, and ICCs ≥ 0.944. The reproducibility of the average of three consecutive measurements (Sw 0.01–0.10 D, TRT 0.03–0.27 D, ICC 0.944–0.998) was higher than the reproducibility of single measurements (Sw 0.01–0.17 D, TRT 0.03–0.47 D, ICC 0.867–0.996). Conclusions: The CASIA 2 showed high intraobserver repeatability and interobserver reproducibility for anterior, posterior, and total corneal power measurements in 6.0-mm diameter area. In addition, we suggest that using the average of three consecutive measurements can improve reproducibility between observers, compared to single measurements only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study evaluated the differences and agreement between a new Scheimpflug camera (Scansys) and a swept-source anterior segment optical coherence tomographer (CASIA 2) for measurements of the anterior segment of the eye in normal subjects. Methods: This prospective study included 84 eyes from 84 normal adult subjects who underwent three consecutive measurements with the Scansys and the CASIA 2 in random order. The mean keratometry (Km), astigmatism magnitude (AST), J0, and J45 vectors for both anterior and posterior corneal surfaces, central corneal thickness (CCT), thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were obtained by both devices. The difference between these two devices was assessed using paired t test and violin plots. Bland–Altman plots and 95% limits of agreement (LoAs) were used to evaluate agreement. Results: No statistically significant differences between the two devices were found for the anterior AST, anterior J45, and posterior J45 (P > 0.05). The remaining parameters were statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05), but the differences not clinically significant. The violin plots showed that the distribution and probability density of the measured parameters were similar for both devices. Bland–Altman plots revealed high agreement for the measured parameters between the Scansys and CASIA 2, with narrow 95% LoAs. Conclusions: In terms of assessing parameters for the anterior segment, our study indicated that Scansys and CASIA 2 generally showed significant agreement. The two devices used in this study's assessment of all the parameters can be used interchangeably in refractive analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of studies indicate that cancer patients' histidine (HIS) circulating levels have changed. However, the causality between HIS and cancer is still not well established. Thus, to ascertain the causal link between HIS and cancers, we performed a bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Summary-level data are derived from publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The causal effects were mainly estimated using the inverse-variance weighted method (IVW). The weighted-median (WM) method and MR-Egger regression were conducted as sensitivity analyses. In the forward-MR, we found malignant neoplasm of respiratory system and intrathoracic organs (OR: 1.020; 95% CI: 1.006–1.035; pIVW = 0.007) genetically associated with circulating HIS. And there was no significant genetic correlation between HIS and another 11 site-specific cancers using IVW method. In the reversed-MR, we did not observe the causal relationship between HIS and 12 site-specific cancers. Our findings help clarify that HIS, as a biomarker for malignant neoplasms of respiratory system and intrathoracic organs, is causal rather than a secondary biomarker of the cancerous progression. The mechanism between histidine and cancer progression deserves further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider inverse problems in space-time (M, g), a 4-dimensional Lorentzian manifold. For semilinear wave equations □gu+H(x,u)=f, where □g denotes the usual Laplace-Beltrami operator, we prove that the source-to-solution map L:f→u|V, where V is a neighborhood of a time-like geodesic μ, determines the topological, differentiable structure and the conformal class of the metric of the space-time in the maximal set, where waves can propagate from μ and return back. Moreover, on a given space-time (M, g), the source-to-solution map determines some coefficients of the Taylor expansion of H in u. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the lack of efficient control elements and tools, the fine-tuning of gene expression in the multi-gene metabolic pathways is still a great challenge for engineering microbial cell factories, especially for the important industrial microorganism Corynebacterium glutamicum. In this study, the promoter library-based module combination (PLMC) technology was developed to efficiently optimize the expression of genes in C. glutamicum. A random promoter library was designed to contain the putative − 10 (NNTANANT) and − 35 (NNGNCN) consensus motifs, and refined through a three-step screening procedure to achieve numerous genetic control elements with different strength levels, including fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) screening, agar plate screening, and 96-well plate screening. Multiple conventional strategies were employed for further precise characterizations of the promoter library, such as real-time quantitative PCR, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, FACS analysis, and the lacZ reporter system. These results suggested that the established promoter elements effectively regulated gene expression and showed varying strengths over a wide range. Subsequently, a multi-module combination technology was created based on the efficient promoter elements for combination and optimization of modules in the multi-gene pathways. Using this technology, the threonine biosynthesis pathway was reconstructed and optimized by predictable tuning expression of five modules in C. glutamicum. The threonine titer of the optimized strain was significantly improved to 12.8 g/L, an approximate 6.1-fold higher than that of the control strain. Overall, the PLMC technology presented in this study provides a rapid and effective method for combination and optimization of multi-gene pathways in C. glutamicum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the construction of rail transit, some road resources are occupied under construction and hence the capacity of affected road sections is reduced. Due to such temporary impact, the low operational efficiency of bus routes when passing these road sections is following suit, which is inevitably detrimental to the short-term traffic conditions and the urban environment. This paper proposes a three-step adjustment framework to actively mitigate the impact of rail transit construction on bus operations. In Step I, a criterion is developed for selecting bus routes significantly affected due to rail transit construction. In Step II, we design a stop-skipping strategy and truncation strategy, and check whether they are opportune to ameliorate the service of each affected bus route. Yet, these two strategies result in a loss of ridership since some previous stops are not served. In Step III, the feeder bus service is further designed to guarantee spatial coverage nearby the construction area. A mixed-integer linear programming model is developed to determine the optimal configuration of the feeder bus service incorporating two strategies. Finally, a case study based on the Sioux-Falls network is carried out to demonstrate that the proposed adjustment framework is conducive to mitigating negative construction effects and reducing costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coronary slow flow phenomenon (CSFP) is common in coronary angiography, however its impact on left atrial (LA) function is still controversial. This study aims to evaluate the LA structure and function of patients with CSFP using two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Consecutive patients scheduled for coronary angiography from January 2016 to September 2017 were enrolled in this study. Patients' demographic data, clinical histories, laboratory and angiographic findings were collected and recorded. Diagnostic criteria for CSFP is based on Beltrame et al. proposed in 2012. Meanwhile 139 patients who have no significant stenosis (≤ 40%) and normal blood flow were selected as control. All patients received an echocardiographic examination 24 h before coronary angiography. LA structure and function were measured with echocardiography and 2D-STE. Our results showed that among the 1,954 patients who had received coronary angiography, 512 patients were included in the analysis after the exclusion criteria was implemented. Of those, 101 patients met the CSFP criteria (5.5%). CSFP is mainly seen in LAD (~ 70%). There was no statistical difference in baseline characteristics between the CSFP group and control group, except for a higher proportion of smokers in the CSFP group (P = 0.001). The percentage of monocytes is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of CSFP (P = 0.036) after binary logistic regression analysis. The LA global longitudinal strain (LA-GLS, represents reservoir functions) decreased and LA strain rate at late diastole (LA-SRa, represents booster function) increased in patients with CSFP compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Correlation test of continuous variables by Pearson test suggested that LA-GLS was negatively correlated with TIMI frame count (TFC). We concluded that the percentage of monocytes is an independent risk factor for the CSFP; the LA reservoir and booster functions were impaired in patients with CSFP; LA-GLS is negatively correlated with TFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the treatment of acetabular anterior column fractures using a two-incision minimally invasive (TIMI) approach and minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) technique using a preshaped 3D plate.Methods: A group of 12 consecutive cases of acetabular fractures from March 2013 to July 2014 were treated with the TIMI approach. 3D mirror models of the uninjured side of the hemipelvis were printed preoperatively; the plates used in surgery were preshaped according to these models. MIPO surgical techniques were applied. All patients had a minimum one year radiographic and clinical follow-up.Results: Seven fractures involved the anterior column, four were anterior column with posterior hemitransverse, and one was anterior column with the pubic symphysis. The average surgery time was 200 minutes, and mean blood loss was 1004 ml. The fracture reduction results as assessed by Matta radiographic outcome scores were good in eight, satisfactory in three, and poor in one patient. Functional outcomes according to the Harris hip scores were excellent for seven, good for three, and fair for two. Post-operative complications included incomplete femoral nerve damage and abdominal cavity injury.Conclusions: The TIMI approach is an alternative to the ilioinguinal approach for anterior column acetabular fracture treatment, especially for fractures involving the dome and quadrilateral plate that are feasible for application of MIPO techniques. The technique of preshaping the 3D plate makes the plate better accommodated to the fracture surface and easier to apply in MIPO procedures. All dissection was between the anatomical interval, which allowed less soft tissue injury and related complications, and caused less bleeding. The fracture types in our case series were relatively simple, and follow-up time was short; more clinical trials are necessary for evaluation of middle- and late-term results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We recently found lytic action of the truncated yncE gene. When the truncated yncE gene of Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A was expressed in Escherichia coli DH5α under the control of the Ara promoter, bacterial growth was markedly inhibited. In the present study, we characterized this lytic action. The N-terminal 103 aa of YncE, containing a signal peptide, was demonstrated to be essential for inhibition. Microscopic observation showed that the bacterial envelope of E. coli was damaged by the expression of truncated yncE, resulting in the release of cytoplasmic content and the formation of bacterial ghosts. The addition of MgSO or spermine, which is the stabilizer of bacterial membrane structure, dramatically reversed the cell lysis induced by the toxic truncated YncE. In contrast, the lytic action was significantly enhanced by the addition of SDS or EDTA. Our data indicated that the toxic truncated YncE could cause cell lysis by the disruption of the bacterial membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Northern Zhongtiaoshan Fault is a major deep fault at the southern margin of the Yuncheng Basin. There have been few studies on the fault, and the historical earthquakes are few and weak. However, the intensity of activity on the fault should never be underestimated. Through interpretations of aerial images, topography measurements and excavation of trenches, this paper studied the fault distribution, the surface deformation and the activity of the normal fault south of Salt Lake near the city of Yuncheng. By tracing faults in the three trenches, it was found that there had been at least three large paleoseismic events, at 1-3.5, 3.6-4.4 and 7.4-8.8 ka BP. Employing C dating, we determined the same gravel layers in the uplifted side and downthrown side. Making differential Global Positioning System measurements of the vertical difference and topographic profile, we obtained the mean slip rate of the Northern Zhongtiaoshan Fault since 24.7 ka BP (0.75±0.05 mm/a). Using the results of relevant studies, we calculated the possible vertical fault displacement of one earthquake (2.35 m) and obtained the recurrence interval of characteristic earthquakes as 2940-3360 a after dividing the displacement by the mean slip rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pancreatic adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) is an enigmatic and aggressive tumor that has a worse prognosis and higher metastatic potential than its adenocarcinoma counterpart. Here we report that ASC tumors frequently harbor somatically acquired mutations in the UPF1 gene, which encodes the core component of the nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) pathway. These tumor-specific mutations alter UPF1 RNA splicing and perturb NMD, leading to upregulated levels of NMD substrate mRNAs. UPF1 mutations are, to our knowledge, the first known unique molecular signatures of pancreatic ASC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]