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This study aimed to design a VEGFR-targeting peptide–drug conjugate with the ability to decrease tumor burden and suppress tumor angiogenesis, and to further evaluate the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1 antibody in HCC therapy. A VEGFR-targeting peptide VEGF125 − 136 (QR) was conjugated with a lytic peptide (KLU) to form a peptide–drug conjugate QR-KLU. And the efficacy of QR-KLU in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody for HCC therapy in vivo and in vitro were evaluated. QR-KLU inhibited the proliferation and migration of mouse HCC cell line (Hepa1–6) cells under normoxic and hypoxic conditions in a dose-dependent manner. In the subcutaneous Hepa1–6 tumor model, QR-KLU combined with the anti-PD-1 antibody substantially inhibited tumor growth, promoted tumor necrosis, and prolonged the survival time of tumor-bearing mice. QR-KLU substantially inhibited hypoxia-induced expression of VEGF, promoted tumor vascular normalization, and increased cluster of differentiation 8+ (CD8+) T cell infiltration in the tumor. In addition, QR-KLU and anti-PD-1 antibody demonstrated a strong synergistic effect in promoting the activation of intratumoral CD8+ T cells, reducing the expression of immune-inhibitory factors, and increasing the expression of immune-stimulatory factors. This study proposed a novel approach for enhancing the efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibody using a VEGFR-targeting peptide–drug conjugate in HCC therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the periprostatic adipose tissue thickness (PPATT) is an independent prognostic factor for prostate cancer patients after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP). This retrospective cohort study included consecutive prostate cancer patients who underwent LRP treatment at Wuhan Union Hospital from June 2, 2016, to September 7, 2023. PPATT was defined as the thickness of periprostatic fat and was obtained by measuring the shortest vertical distance from the pubic symphysis to the prostate on the midsagittal T2-weighted MR images. Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SATT) was obtained by measuring the shortest vertical distance from the pubic symphysis to the skin at the same slice with PPATT. The primary outcome of the study was biochemical recurrence (BCR), and the secondary outcome was overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent prognostic factors for prostate cancer survival and prognosis. Based on the optimal cutoff value, 162 patients were divided into a low PPATT/SATT group (n = 82) and a high PPATT/SATT group (n = 80). During the entire follow-up period (median 23.5 months), 26 patients in the high PPATT/SATT group experienced BCR (32.5%), compared to 18 in the low PPATT/SATT group (22.0%). Kaplan–Meier curve analysis indicated that the interval to BCR was significantly shorter in the high PPATT/SATT group (P = 0.037). Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that an increase in the PPATT/SATT ratio was associated with BCR (hazard ratio: 1.90, 95% CI, 1.03–3.51; P = 0.040). The PPATT/SATT ratio is a significant independent risk factor for BCR after LRP for prostate cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) are the main active components of Panax notoginseng. But after oral administration, they need to be converted into rare ginsenosides by human gut microbiota and gastric juice before they can be readily absorbed into the bloodstream and exert their effects. The sources of rare ginsenosides are extremely limited in P. notoginseng and other medical plants, which hinders their application in functional foods and drugs. Therefore, the production of rare ginsenosides by the transformation of PNS using Aspergillus fumigatus was studied in this research. During 50 days at 25 ℃ and 150 rpm, A. fumigatus transformed PNS to 14 products (1–14). They were isolated by varied chromatographic methods, such as silica gel column chromatography, Rp-C18 reversed phase column chromatography, semi-preparative HPLC, Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, and elucidated on the basis of their 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and ESIMS spectroscopic data. Then, the transformed products (1–14) were isolated and identified as Rk3, Rh4, 20 (R)-Rh1, 20 (S)-Protopanaxatriol, C-K, 20 (R)-Rg3, 20 (S)-Rg3, 20 (S)-Rg2, 20 (R)-R2, Rk1, Rg5, 20 (S)-R2, 20 (R)-Rg2, and 20 (S)-I, respectively. In addition, all transformed products (1–14) were tested for their antimicrobial activity. Among them, compounds 5 (C-K) and 7 [20 (S)-Rg3] showed moderate antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans with MIC values of 6.25, 1.25 μg/mL and 1.25, 25 μg/mL, respectively. This study lays the foundation for production of rare ginsenosides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe(III) has been proved to be a more effective oxidant than dissolved oxygen at ambient temperature, however, the role of Fe(III) in pyrite acidic pressure oxidation was rarely discussed so far. In this paper, in-situ electrochemical investigation was performed using a flow-through autoclave system in acidic pressure oxidation environment. The results illustrated that increasing Fe(III) concentrations led to raising in redox potential of the solution, and decreased passivation of pyrite caused by deposition of elemental sulfur. Reduction of Fe(III) at pyrite surface was a fast reaction with low activation energy, it was only slightly promoted by rising temperatures. While, the oxidation rate of pyrite at all investigated Fe(III) concentrations increased obviously with rising temperatures, the anodic reaction was the rate-limiting step in the overall reaction. Activation energy of pyrite oxidation decreased from 47.74 to 28.79 kJ/mol when Fe(III) concentration was increased from 0.05 to 0.50 g/L, showing that the reaction kinetics were limited by the rate of electrochemical reaction at low Fe(III) concentrations, while, it gradually turned to be diffusion control with increasing Fe(III) concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) has emerged as a promising non-invasive technique for studying metabolism in vivo. This review aims to summarize the current developments and discuss the futures in DMI technique in vivo. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted based on the PRISMA 2020 statement by two authors. Specific technical details and potential applications of DMI in vivo were summarized, including strategies of deuterated metabolites detection, deuterium-labeled tracers and corresponding metabolic pathways in vivo, potential clinical applications, routes of tracer administration, quantitative evaluations of metabolisms, and spatial resolution. Results: Of the 2,248 articles initially retrieved, 34 were finally included, highlighting 2 strategies for detecting deuterated metabolites: direct and indirect DMI. Various deuterated tracers (e.g., [6,6′-2H2]glucose, [2,2,2′-2H3]acetate) were utilized in DMI to detect and quantify different metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and fatty acid oxidation. The quantifications (e.g., lactate level, lactate/glutamine and glutamate ratio) hold promise for diagnosing malignancies and assessing early anti-tumor treatment responses. Tracers can be administered orally, intravenously, or intraperitoneally, either through bolus administration or continuous infusion. For metabolic quantification, both serial time point methods (including kinetic analysis and calculation of area under the curves) and single time point quantifications are viable. However, insufficient spatial resolution remains a major challenge in DMI (e.g., 3.3-mL spatial resolution with 10-min acquisition at 3 T). Conclusions: Enhancing spatial resolution can facilitate the clinical translation of DMI. Furthermore, optimizing tracer synthesis, administration protocols, and quantification methodologies will further enhance their clinical applicability. Relevance statement: Deuterium metabolic imaging, a promising non-invasive technique, is systematically discussed in this review for its current progression, limitations, and future directions in studying in vivo energetic metabolism, displaying a relevant clinical potential. Key points: • Deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) shows promise for studying in vivo energetic metabolism. • This review explores DMI's current state, limits, and future research directions comprehensively. • The clinical translation of DMI is mainly impeded by limitations in spatial resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the jolt vibration impact of marine circuit breakers, this paper studies the relationship between the influence parameters and the contact performance of the contact system. A parametric approach is utilized to explore the effects of load size, pulse width, and different waveform loads on the vibration response of the contact system. The results show that the vibration increases with the increase in acceleration at peak contact acceleration. The ultimate upsetting acceleration peak of the contact system is determined to be 9.2 g. Large acceleration impacts should be avoided. As far as pulse width is concerned, the vibration response of the system with narrow pulse width is more sensitive than that with broad pulse width. So, monitoring of narrow pulses should be increased. Additionally, under various forms of load, the range of safe contact areas is triangular load, half-sine load, and step load in that order. Thus, circuit breakers need to increase the detection of step loads to prevent faults. The findings provide a theoretical foundation and guidance for the design of low-vibration marine circuit breakers and the improvement of their contact performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a double REduced SURface Field (RESURF) P-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistor with a partial N-GaN channel (DR-HFET) is proposed to improve the on-state performance in the high-voltage P-GaN gate AlGaN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistor (PG-HFET). The partial N-GaN channel between the gate and the drain increases the carrier density in the channel layer, and markedly reduces the on-resistance (Ron). The P-top layer and the P-buffer layer modulate the distribution of the electric field along the GaN channel to achieve a high breakdown voltage. After validation of the simulation models and parameters, the DR-HFETs are optimized using the charge balance principle. The optimum DR-HFET with a gate-to-drain distance of Lgd = 6 μm shows a BV of 1100 V and Ron of 5.5 Ω mm, which is 50.9% of the Ron in PG-HFET. The highest Baliga figure of merit (BFOM) of 2.3 GW/cm2 is obtained when the channel charge density Qch is 3.2 × 1013 cm−2 and the ratio of the P-top charge density Qpt to the buffer charge density Qbuf is 1.625. We also examine the influence of the AlGaN/GaN quality on the performance of the DR-HFETs. The simulation results indicate that the double RESURF structure may be less effective in the high-quality AlGaN/GaN epitaxial layer. Overall, the DR-HFET shows a good balance between off-state blocking capability and on-state performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimizing the slug bubble size specifically for ultra-thin flat sheet membranes in MBR systems can effectively enhance the scouring force and improve fouling control efficiency, thereby further advancing their targeted and widespread application. In this study, a three-dimensional model was developed based on the practical application to investigate the impact of slug bubbles on scouring performance in ultra-thin flat sheet MBR systems, encompassing their evolution, disturbance level, and shear stress. A membrane fouling probability index for quantifying the distribution of membrane fouling, along with a turbulence intensity index have been proposed. The findings revealed that the 20-mL slug bubble induced the highest disturbance level in the surrounding fluid, characterized by an instantaneous peak velocity of 0.63 m/s at the local system level, conducive to bubble scouring. And exerted the greatest shear stress effect, achieving the most effective reduction in membrane contamination, with a maximum shear stress of 1.82 Pa. The experimental validation conducted during the operational cycles confirmed that the scouring effect of 20-mL slug flow yielded in a maximum proportion of 48.16% within the low fouling probability region. The results provided evidence supporting the assertion that specific aeration conditions producing 20 mL of bubbles resulted in minimal membrane fouling, ensuring a more pronounced scouring effect. The combination anythsis of slug bubble characteristics and behaviors, integrating theoretical and experimental approaches, implied that 20 mL was the optimal bubble size in ultra-thin flat sheet MBR, which fulfilled the optimal air scouring effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heavy fermion physics is dictated by subtle competing exchange interactions, posing a challenge to their understanding. One-dimensional (1D) Kondo lattice model has attracted special attention in theory, because of its exact solvability and expected unusual quantum criticality. However, such experimental material systems are extremely rare. Here, we demonstrate the realization of quasi-1D Kondo lattice behavior in a monolayer van der Waals crystal NbSe2, that is driven into a stripe phase via Se-deficient line defects. Spectroscopic imaging scanning tunneling microscopy measurements and first-principles calculations indicate that the stripe-phase NbSe2 undergoes a novel charge-density wave transition, creating a matrix of local magnetic moments. The Kondo lattice behavior is manifested as a Fano resonance at the Fermi energy that prevails the entire film with a high Kondo temperature. Importantly, coherent Kondo screening occurs only in the direction of the stripes. Upon approaching defects, the Fano resonance exhibits prominent spatial 1D oscillations along the stripe direction, reminiscent of Kondo holes in a quasi-1D Kondo lattice. Our findings provide a platform for exploring anisotropic Kondo lattice behavior in the monolayer limit. The realization of heavy-fermion physics in van der Waals materials with d-electrons has attracted attention recently. Here the authors present evidence for a quasi-1D Kondo lattice in monolayer NbSe2, driven into a stripe phase by Se-deficient line defects created during growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the efficacy of two low-invasive treatments, ablation, and radiotherapy, has been fully compared for the patients with the early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the comparison between radiotherapy plus ablation and ablation alone has been less frequently reported. Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were searched for early-stage HCC patients treated with ablation plus radiotherapy or ablation alone. The outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). The propensity score matching (PSM) was used to reduce selection bias. We included 240 and 6619 patients in the radiotherapy plus ablation group and ablation group before the PSM. After PSM, 240 pairs of patients were included. The median OS (mOS) and median CSS (mCSS) of patients receiving ablation alone were longer than that of receiving radiotherapy plus ablation (mOS: 47 vs. 34 months, P = 0.019; mCSS: 77 vs. 40 months, P = 0.018, after PSM) before and after PSM. The multivariate analysis indicated that radiotherapy plus ablation independent risk factor for OS and CSS before PSM, but the significance disappeared after PSM. The detailed subgroup analyses indicated ablation alone brought more benefit in very early-stage HCC and older patients. In addition, we found different types of radiotherapy might lead to different outcomes when combined with ablation. In conclusion, ablation alone is noninferior to radiotherapy plus ablation in patients with early-stage HCC. The additional radiation prior to ablation may bring survival benefits in the patients with higher tumor stage. However, due to the risk of selection bias in that study, the results should be interpreted cautiously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other forms of dementia are the seventh leading cause of death. Studies discern the inclusion of air pollution among modifiable risk factors for dementia, while limited studies are for China. This study aims to examine the short-term association between airborne particulate matter (PM) and the hospitalizations of AD, including the economic costs in China. Methods: A total of 4975 cases of AD patients hospitalized from 2017 to 2019, were collected from nine city and 411 medical institutions in Sichuan Province, China. Data on air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 were obtained from 183 air quality monitoring stations in Sichuan Province. A time series-generalized additive model was used to estimate the association between short-term exposure to PM (lag1–lag7 and moving average lag01–lag07) and AD hospital admissions (HAs), stratified by gender, age, and season. Results: Positive short-term exposure to airborne PM was found for the HAs of AD. The greatest effect on the number of AD inpatients was on single-day lag1 (PM2.5:1.034 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.011, 1.058)). The association was also significant in the two-pollutant model. In the study period, 16.48% of AD HAs were attributed to the effect of PM. The total economic costs of AD attributable to PM exposure were US$ 2.56 million, including US$ 2.25 million of direct medical costs and US$ 0.31 million of indirect economic costs. Conclusions: This study suggests that short-term exposure to airborne PM may increase the risk of AD HAs in Sichuan Province and result in associated economic costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrafiltration (UF) is widely used in wastewater reclamation treatments. Conventional backwashing is usually performed at regular time intervals (10–120 min) with permeate and without the addition of chemicals. Chemical enhanced backwashing (CEB) is usually applied after 70–90 filtration cycles with added chemicals. These cleaning methods cause membrane fouling and require costly chemicals. Instead of conventional backwashing, we propose herein a new backwashing method involving backwashing the effluent with low doses of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) named as BELN. The performance and cost of UF backwashing were investigated with Beijing wastewater reclamation treatment. The results showed that the transmembrane pressure (TMP) increased from 33.2 to 48.2 kPa during hydraulic backwashing after 80 filtration cycles but increased from 33.3 to 39.3 kPa during backwashing with a low NaClO content of 20 mg/L. It was also noticed that the hydraulic-irreversible fouling index decreased from 5.58 × 10−3 m2/L to 3.58 × 10−3 m2/L with the new method. According to the three-dimensional fluorescence excitation-emission (3D-EEM), the response increased from 11.9 to 15.2% with BELN. Protein-like material was identified as the main component causing membrane fouling by blocking the membrane pores. The results indicated that the low dosage of NaClO effectively stripped the fouling layer. Finally, based on an economic evaluation, the capacity of the UF process was increased from 76,959 to 109,133 m3/d with the new method. The amount of NaClO consumed for Beijing wastewater reclamation treatment was similarly compared with the conventional backwashing in per year under BELN. The new method has good potential for application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of aneurysm and possibility of aneurysm rupture are crucial for avoiding brain hemorrhage. In this work, blood stream inside internal carotid arteries (ICAs) are simulated in diverse working conditions to disclose the importance of hemodynamic factors on the rupture of aneurysm. The main attention of this study is to investigate the role of hemodynamic on the aneurysm rupture. Statistical and computational methods are applied to investigate coiling porosity and blood hematocrit in 9 specific real ICA geometries. Response surface model (RSM) develops 25 runs to investigate all features of selected geometrical parameters and treatment factors. Computational fluid dynamic is used for the simulation of the blood stream in the selected aneurysms. The effects of sac section area and mean radius of parent vessel on blood hemodynamics are fully investigated. Hemodynamic factors are examined and compared at the peak systolic time instant, including pressure distributions, and velocity. Achieved results indicate that the increasing sac section area (from 36.6 to 75.4 mm2) results in 20% pressure reduction on the sac wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three weeks after surgery, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) showed hypermetabolic lesions in the lumbar spinal canal, which were considered to be residual tumors (Fig. On brain computed tomography (CT), a hyperdense nodule was identified in the left pons (Fig. 2a 18F-FDG-PET/CT images showed hypermetabolic lesions in the lumbar spinal canal (red arrow). b 18F-FDG-PET/CT images showed the hypermetabolic lesion in the left of pons (red arrow). c CT images showed the hyperdense nodule in the left of pons (red arrow) gradually increased in size from admission to 6 weeks after surgery Discussion Primary leptomeningeal melanomatosis is a diffuse or multifocal meningeal proliferation of melanoma cells that often shows central nervous system invasion, which can mimic several other neurologic diseases [[4]]. 18F-FDG-PET/CT could reveal diffuse hypermetabolic lesions matching with MRI contrast enhancement regions [[2], [8]]. [Extracted from the article]

Clinical trials on icotinib, a first-generation epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI), have shown promising results as targeted therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to establish an effective scoring system to predict the one-year progression-free survival (PFS) of advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations treated with icotinib as targeted therapy. A total of 208 consecutive patients with advanced EGFR-positive NSCLC treated with icotinib were enrolled in this study. Baseline characteristics were collected within 30 days before icotinib treatment. PFS was taken as the primary endpoint and the response rate as the secondary endpoint. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis were used to select the optimal predictors. We evaluated the scoring system using a five-fold cross-validation. PFS events occurred in 175 patients, with a median PFS of 9.9 months (interquartile range, 6.8-14.5). The objective response rate (ORR) was 36.1%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 67.3%. The final ABC-Score consisted of three predictors: age, bone metastases and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Upon comparison of all three factors, the combined ABC-score (area under the curve (AUC)= 0.660) showed a better predictive accuracy than age (AUC = 0.573), bone metastases (AUC = 0.615), and CA19-9 (AUC = 0.608) individually. A five-fold cross-validation showed good discrimination with AUC = 0.623. The ABC-score developed in this study was significantly effective as a prognostic tool for icotinib in advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum coherence and entanglement are two basic aspects of nonclassicality. With the specific bipartite quantum systems which entanglement and coherence can be calculated, we provide a quantitative connection between the coherence and the dynamical entanglement that be created with the help of incoherent operations. We show that the coherence upper bounds the dynamical entanglement, and in particular conditions of the initial quantum states, the coherence of a single-party is equal to the dynamical entanglement. We extend these results to multipartite quantum systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have proven the relationship between air pollutants and respiratory diseases, but few studies have assessed the impacts of air particulate matter exposure on older patients with pneumonia. This study aimed to reveal the impacts of short-term exposure to air particulate matter on the daily number of older adult patients hospitalized due to pneumonia and calculate the economic costs attributable to this exposure. We collected inpatient data from 9 city hospitals in Sichuan Province, China, from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, and calculated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals using a time-stratified case-crossover study design and an attributable risk model to calculate the economic burden due to particulate matter pollution. It was found that for every 10 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, the daily number of older adult pneumonia inpatients increased by 1.5% (95% CI: 1.010–1.021) and 1.0% (95% CI: 1.006–1.014), respectively. Those 65 ~ 79 years old were more susceptible to air particulate pollutants (P < 0.05). During the study period, the total hospitalization costs and out-of-pocket expenses attributable to PM2.5 and PM10 exposure were 44.60 million CNY (6.22%) and 16.03 million CNY (6.21%), respectively, with PM2.5 being the primary influencing factor. This study revealed the relationship between particulate matter pollution and pneumonia among older adults. The role of policies to limit particulate matter concentrations in reducing disease burden among older adults can be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At 12:52 pm on September 5, 2022, an Ms 6.8 earthquake occurred in Luding County, Sichuan Province, China. Based on high-resolution aerial photographs and satellite imageries obtained after the earthquake, as well as field investigation, a total of 8685 earthquake-triggered landslides (EQTLs) were interpreted. The landslides covered an area of 30.7 km2, with a source area of 9.4 km2. These EQTLs were mainly distributed in areas with a seismic intensity of VIII and IX. Most of the landslides were small and medium in size, and their types included landslide, rockfall, and rock slump. Characteristic landslide distributions were found, EQTLs were distributed along the Xianshuihe fault, landslide area decreased gradually with an increased distance to the fault; EQTLs were distributed along the Daduhe River and roads; besides, landslide distribution was associated with ground deformation caused by the earthquake. EQTLs' characteristics indicated that, a large number of EQTLs were located near the foot of the slope; the full area of EQTLs and their source area followed a power function. This study concluded that Luding EQTLs were greater in number and area but relatively smaller in terms of affected area. Investigations on geo-hazards post-earthquake and risk assessment were proposed in the earthquake-stricken area to support the rehabilitation and reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia, resulting in serious cardiovascular diseases. Air pollution may cause heart rate disturbance, but there is no clear or consistent evidence that short-term exposure to air pollution leads to an increased risk of hospitalisation for symptomatic episodes of AF. This study aimed to assess the impact of short-term exposure to air pollution on inpatient numbers. Methods: The inpatient records of AF cases in nine cities of the Sichuan Province, China and air pollution and meteorological data from 183 monitoring stations from 2017 to 2018 were collected. The impact of short-term exposure to air pollution on AF inpatients was evaluated using a time-stratified crossover case study design. The economic burden of AF attributable to air pollution was also estimated. Results: A total of 5,958 patients with AF from 123 medical institutions were included in the analysis. Air pollutants had a significant impact on the number of patients with AF. The number increased by 2.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.006 to 1.044) and 1.8% (95% CI = 1.003–1.033) for every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5, PM10, concentration, respectively. Moreover, the number increased by 12.7% (95% CI = 1.006 to 1.262) for every 10 µg/m3 increase of SO2 concentration. For every 0.1 μg/m3 increase in CO concentration, the number of inpatients with AF increased by 3.9% (95% CI = 1.010–1.070). People aged 65 years or older and women were more likely to be affected by air pollutants. The AF in 430 and 209 inpatients were attributable to PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. The total hospitalization expenses attributed to excessive exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 were 13.98 million CNY and 6.68 million CNY, respectively. Furthermore, the out-of-pocket expenses were 6.81 million CNY and 3.28 million CNY, respectively. Conclusions: This study showed a strong correlation between air pollution and AF. Hence, there is a need to reduce air pollution to control health risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although numerous studies have reported the association between sarcopenia and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, there is lack of a newer and more comprehensive meta-analysis. Herein, a comprehensive literature search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Embase databases to identify relevant studies published up to February 2022. The outcomes were overall survival (OS), recurrence, progression‐free survival, tumor response, severe postoperative complications, and toxicity of drugs. A total of 57 studies involving 9790 HCC patients were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of sarcopenia in HCC patients was 41.7% (95% CI 36.2–47.2%). Results demonstrated that sarcopenia was significantly associated with impaired OS (HR: 1.93, 95% CI 1.73–2.17, P < 0.001), higher risk of tumor recurrence (HR: 1.75, 95% CI 1.56–1.96, P < 0.001), lower objective response rate (OR: 0.37 95% CI 0.17–0.81, P = 0.012), and more drug-related adverse events (OR: 2.23, 95% CI 1.17–4.28, P = 0.015) in HCC patients. The subgroup analyses revealed that the OS of patients at the early stage of tumor was more severely affected by sarcopenia than for patients at other stages. Moreover, the presence of cirrhosis and Child Pugh class B increased the hazard of mortality from sarcopenia. This study has shown that sarcopenia is highly associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. In addition, cirrhosis and poor liver functional reserve increase the danger of sarcopenia. OS was more impaired in HCC patients with sarcopenia at early stage of tumor than at other tumor stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and hypothesis: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most common form of urinary incontinence in women, which affects women's quality of life worldwide. Mechanical injury of the pelvic floor may disrupt the pelvic supportive tissues and connections via the remodeling of extracellular matrix (ECM), which is supposed to be one of the main pathological mechanisms of SUI. Methods: The SUI mouse model was established using vaginal distension (VD). Leak point pressure (LPP), maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), collagen, Nrf2 and TGF-β1 in the anterior vaginal wall were measured in either wild-type or Nrf2-knockout (Nrf2-/-) female C57BL/6 mice with or without puerarin treatment. Then, the mechanical stretching (MS) loaded on L929 cells was generated by a four-point bending device. mTGF-β1 or LY2109761 (an inhibitor of TGF-β1) was used to verify the protective effect of puerarin after Nrf2 knockdown or overexpression. Results: The collagen content of the anterior vaginal tissues in VD mice and LPP and MCC was decreased significantly. Besides, the expression levels of Nrf2, TGF-β1, collagen I and collagen III of MS group were downregulated in L929 cells. Puerarin pretreatment could reverse mechanical injury-induced collagen downregulation and Nrf2/TGF-β1 signaling inhibition. Moreover, both LY2109761 pretreatment and Nrf2 knockdown could attenuate the protective effect of puerarin in the mechanical injury-induced ECM remodeling, whereas exogenous TGF-β1 could counteract the effect of Nrf2 downregulation. Conclusions: Puerarin protected fibroblasts from mechanical injury-induced ECM remodeling through the Nrf2/TGF-β1 signaling pathway. This might be a new strategy for the treatment of SUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The application of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in combination with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) to diagnose acute traumatic cervical SCI has not been studied. This study explores the role of MRI with DTI-DTT in the diagnosis of acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Thirty patients with acute traumatic cervical SCI underwent conventional MRI and DTI-DTT. Conventional MRI was used to detect the intramedullary lesion length (IMLL) and intramedullary hemorrhage length (IMHL). DTI was used to detect the spinal cord's fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient value, and DTT detected the imaginary white matter fiber volume and the connection rates of fiber tractography (CRFT). Patients' neurological outcome was determined using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS) grades. Results: Patients were divided into group A (without AIS grade conversion) and group B (with AIS grade conversion). The IMLL and IMHL of group A were significantly higher than those of group B. The FA and CRFT of group A were significantly lower than those of group B. The final AIS grade was negatively correlated with the IMLL and IMHL, and positively correlated with the FA and CRFT. According to imaging features based on conventional MRI and DTI-DTT, we propose a novel classification and diagnostic procedure. Conclusions: The combination of conventional MRI with DTI-DTT is a valid diagnostic approach for SCI. Lower IMLL and IMHL, and higher FA value and CRFT are linked to better neurological outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have investigated the effects of air pollutants on children with acute bronchitis. This study aimed to explore the acute effects of four air pollutants [fine particulate matter (PM2.5), inhalable particulate matter (PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)] on the daily number of children admitted to the hospital for acute bronchitis in Sichuan Province, China. Methods: The 49,975 records of hospitalized children with acute bronchitis from medical institutions in nine cities/prefectures, Sichuan Province, China, as well as the simultaneous meteorological data and air pollution data from 183 monitoring sites, were collected from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018. A generalized additive model was adopted to analyze the exposure–response and lag effects of hospitalizations of children with acute bronchitis to air pollutants. Stratified analyses were conducted based on sex, age, and season. Results: The single-pollutant model showed that a 10 µg/m3 increase at lag07 of PM2.5, PM10, SO2, and NO2 corresponded to an increase of 1.23% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.21–2.26%], 1.33% (95% CI 0.62–2.05%), 23.52% (95% CI 11.52–36.81%), and 12.47% (95% CI 8.46–16.64%) in daily hospitalizations for children with acute bronchitis, respectively. Children aged 0–2 were more prone to PM2.5 (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the effects were stronger in the warm season than in transition seasons and the cool season for PM2.5 and PM10 (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The higher daily average concentrations of four pollutants in Sichuan Province can result in an increased number of children hospitalized for acute bronchitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a pervasive health tissue among women, which seriously affects the quality of life. The etiology of SUI is complex and diverse in women, with past studies having demonstrated that estrogen deficiency plays an important role in pelvic floor muscle atrophy and urethral degeneration. We comprehensively investigated the effects of estrogen in the treatment of SUI in female mice at cellular and animal levels.Methods: L929 fibroblasts mechanical injury model was established by four-point bending device, and SUI mouse model was established by vaginal dilation method commonly used to simulate labor injury. After estrogen treatment, the expressions of Collagen I, Collagen III, Elastin, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-2, and MMP-9 were detected, the leak point pressure (LPP) and abdominal leak point pressure (ALPP) of mice in each group were detected, and both the effect of estrogen on extracellular matrix remodeling of mouse urethra and anterior vaginal wall was observed from the histological level.Results: The results revealed that an appropriate amount of estrogen can promote the expression of Collagen I, Collagen III, Elastin, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, decrease the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, and maintain the dynamic balance of MMPs/TIMPs at both cellular and animal levels. Meanwhile, we determined that estrogen can increase the LPP and ALPP values of SUI mice. The collagen fibers' content in the mice treated with estrogen was significantly greater than in the control group mice.Conclusions: The estrogen may alleviate the symptoms of SUI by reconstituting ECM, thus laying a solid foundation for further exploration of estrogen therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis, a frequent age-related metabolic bone disorder, remain incomprehensive and challenging. The potential regulatory role of lncRNA XIST and sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) pathway need experimental investigations. Materials and methods: RAW264.7 cells and BMMs were obtained for in vitro studies and 30 ng/mL RANKL was implemented for induction of osteoclast differentiation. The suppressing of lncRNA XIST, SPHK1 and fused in sarcoma (FUS) was achieved using small hairpin RNA, while overexpression of XIST and FUS was constructed by pcDNA3.1 vector system. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining was used for observation of formation of osteoclasts. RNA-pulldown analysis and RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) was implemented for measuring mRNA and protein interactions. RT-qPCR was conducted to determining mRNA expression, whereas ELISA and Western blotting assay was performed for monitoring protein expression. Results: RANKL induced osteoclast differentiation and upregulated expression of osteoclastogenesis-related genes that included NFATc1, CTSK, TRAP and SPHK1 and the level of lncRNA XIST in both RAW264.7 cells and BMMs. However, knockdown of lncRNA XIST or suppressing SPHK1 significantly reserved the effects of RANKL. LncRNA XIST was further demonstrated to be interacted with FUS and increased the stability of SPHK1, indicating its ability in promoting osteoclast differentiation through SPHK1/S1P/ERK signaling pathway. Conclusion: LncRNA XIST promoted osteoclast differentiation via interacting with FUS and upregulating SPHK1/S1P/ERK pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effects of concentrated growth factors (CGFs) combined with bone substitutes for alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) in the maxillary molar area. Methods: Thirty-six patients who underwent extraction of the upper molars were recruited and randomly divided into three groups: 1. Grafted with CGFs combined with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) and covered with CGFs membrane (CGFs/DBBM group), 2. Grafted with DBBM alone and covered with collagen membrane (DBBM group), 3. Control group spontaneous healing. The area of the alveolar bone in center (C-), mesial (M-) and distal (D-) section was compared with preoperative in radiography. Bone cores were obtained for histopathology observation and comparison. Results: In C-, M- and D-section, the alveolar ridge area in all three groups was significantly reduced at 8 months postoperatively compared to the baseline (P < 0.05). The alveolar ridge area declines in the CGFs/DBBM group (C-12.75 ± 2.22 mm2, M-14.69 ± 2.82 mm2, D-16.95 ± 4.17 mm2) and DBBM group (C-14.08 ± 2.51 mm2, M-15.42 ± 3.47 mm2, D-16.09 ± 3.97 mm2) were non-significant differences. They were significantly less than the decline in the control group (C-45.04 ± 8.38 mm2 M-31.98 ± 8.34 mm2, D-31.85 ± 8.52 mm2) (P < 0.05). The percentage of newly formed bone in the CGFs/DBBM group (41.99 ± 12.99%) was significantly greater than that in DBBM group (30.68 ± 10.95%) (P < 0.05). The percentage of residual materials in the CGFs/DBBM group (16.19 ± 6.63%) was significantly less than that in the DBBM group (28.35 ± 11.70%) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Combined application of CGFs and DBBM effectively reduced the resorption of alveolar ridge and resulted in more newly formed bone than the use of DBBM with collagen membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two accelerated iterative methods for curves approximation are presented in this paper. These presented methods are used to reduce the degree of Bézier curves and approximate rational Bézier curves by polynomials. By employing the preconditioned progressive iterative approximation (PPIA), we approximate the points sampled from target curves, and generate polynomial approximations. The equi-parametric and adaptive sampling methods are introduced. Both of them are well performed in degree reduction of Bézier curves and polynomial approximation of rational Bézier curves. Due to the effectiveness of the preconditioned technique, the accuracy and efficiency of approximation are improved significantly. More importantly, we can obtain the approximation within an user-defined error bound. Numerical examples demonstrate the effectiveness of our methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a neuropeptide that has been found to reduce liver inflammation and protect liver from steatosis. We aimed to measure the level of plasma PACAP in patients with liver cirrhosis and to correlate its level with disease severity and laboratory parameters. 113 patients with clinically diagnosed liver cirrhosis and 110 healthy individuals were selected. Child–Pugh score was performed to evaluate disease severity. Liver biopsy was performed using the Knodell modified histology activity index (KmHAI). The L3 skeletal muscle index (L3SMI) was calculated to evaluate the nutrition status. Plasma PACAP concentrations were detected using ELISA. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of PACAP for detecting the severity of liver cirrhosis. Plasma PACAP levels were found to be significantly downregulated in patients with liver cirrhosis compared with healthy controls. The case group included 38 Child–Pugh A patients, 39 Child–Pugh B patients, and 36 Child–Pugh C patients. Cirrhosis patients with Child–Pugh C had significantly lower plasma PACAP levels compared with those with Child–Pugh B and A. Cirrhosis patients with Child–Pugh B demonstrated markedly decreased plasma PACAP concentrations compared with those with Child–Pugh A. ROC curve analysis indicated that low level of plasma PACAP may act as a potential indicator for disease progression of liver cirrhosis determined by Child–Pugh classification at both compensation stage (Child–Pugh A developed to Child–Pugh B) and decompensation stage (Child–Pugh B developed to Child–Pugh C).In addition, plasma PACAP levels were inversely associated with KmHAI and ALT as well as AST levels. In both male and female patients, plasma PACAP levels were positively related to L3SMI score. Decreased plasma PACAP levels are linked with disease severity in patients with liver cirrhosis. Reduced plasma PACAP may serve as a biomarker for detection and assessment of the severity of liver cirrhosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Increasing evidence suggests that poor glycemic control in diabetic individuals is associated with poor coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia outcomes and influences chest computed tomography (CT) manifestations. This study aimed to explore the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM) and glycemic control on chest CT manifestations, acquired using an artificial intelligence (AI)-based quantitative evaluation system, and COVID-19 disease severity and to investigate the association between CT lesions and clinical outcome. Methods: A total of 126 patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in this retrospective study. According to their clinical history of DM and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level, the patients were divided into 3 groups: the non-DM group (Group 1); the well-controlled blood glucose (BG) group, with HbA1c < 7% (Group 2); and the poorly controlled BG group, with HbA1c ≥ 7% (Group 3). The chest CT images were analyzed with an AI-based quantitative evaluation system. Three main quantitative CT features representing the percentage of total lung lesion volume (PLV), percentage of ground-glass opacity volume (PGV) and percentage of consolidation volume (PCV) in bilateral lung fields were used to evaluate the severity of pneumonia lesions. Results: Patients in Group 3 had the highest percentage of severe or critical illness, with 12 (32%) cases, followed by 6 (11%) and 7 (23%) cases in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.042). The composite endpoints, including death or using mechanical ventilation or admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), were 3 (5%), 5 (16%) and 10 (26%) in Groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively (p = 0.013). The PLV, PGV and PCV in bilateral lung fields were significantly different among the three groups (all p < 0.001): the median PLVs were 12.5% (Group 3), 3.8% (Group 2) and 2.4% (Group 1); the median PGVs were 10.2% (Group 3), 3.6% (Group 2) and 1.9% (Group 1); and the median PCVs were 1.8% (Group 3), 0.3% (Group 2) and 0.1% (Group 1). In the linear regression analyses, which were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, and comorbidities, HbA1c remained positively associated with PLV (β = 0.401, p < 0.001), PGV (β = 0.364, p = 0.001) and PCV (β = 0.472, p < 0.001); this relationship was also observed between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and the three CT quantitative parameters. In the logistic regression analyses, PLV [OR 1.067 (1.032, 1.103)], PGV [OR 1.076 (1.034, 1.120)] and PCV [OR 1.280 (1.110, 1.476)] levels were independent predictors of the composite endpoints, as well as the areas under the ROC (AUCs) for PLV [AUC 0.796 (0.691, 0.900)], PGV [AUC 0.783 (0.678, 0.889)] and PCV [AUC 0.816 (0.722, 0.911)]; the ORs were still significant for CT lesions after adjusting for age, sex and poorly controlled diabetes. Conclusions: Increased blood glucose level was correlated with the severity of lung involvement, as evidenced by certain chest CT parameters, and clinical prognosis in diabetic COVID-19 patients. There was a positive correlation between blood glucose level (both HbA1c and FBG) on admission and lung lesions. Moreover, the CT lesion severity by AI quantitative analysis was correlated with clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore and compare a novel deep learning-based quantification with the conventional semi-quantitative computed tomography (CT) scoring for the serial chest CT scans of COVID-19. 95 patients with confirmed COVID-19 and a total of 465 serial chest CT scans were involved, including 61 moderate patients (moderate group, 319 chest CT scans) and 34 severe patients (severe group, 146 chest CT scans). Conventional CT scoring and deep learning-based quantification were performed for all chest CT scans for two study goals: (1) Correlation between these two estimations; (2) Exploring the dynamic patterns using these two estimations between moderate and severe groups. The Spearman's correlation coefficient between these two estimation methods was 0.920 (p < 0.001). predicted pulmonary involvement (CT score and percent of pulmonary lesions calculated using deep learning-based quantification) increased more rapidly and reached a higher peak on 23rd days from symptom onset in severe group, which reached a peak on 18th days in moderate group with faster absorption of the lesions. The deep learning-based quantification for COVID-19 showed a good correlation with the conventional CT scoring and demonstrated a potential benefit in the estimation of disease severities of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the chest computed tomography (CT) findings between survivors and non-survivors with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Between 12 January 2020 and 20 February 2020, the records of 124 consecutive patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were retrospectively reviewed and divided into survivor (83/124) and non-survivor (41/124) groups. Chest CT findings were qualitatively compared on admission and serial chest CT scans were semi-quantitively evaluated between two groups using curve estimations. On admission, significantly more bilateral (97.6% vs. 73.5%, p = 0.001) and diffuse lesions (39.0% vs. 8.4%, p < 0.001) with higher total CT score (median 10 vs. 4, p < 0.001) were observed in non-survivor group compared with survivor group. Besides, crazy-paving pattern was more predominant in non-survivor group than survivor group (39.0% vs. 12.0%, p < 0.001). From the prediction of curve estimation, in survivor group total CT score increased in the first 20 days reaching a peak of 6 points and then gradually decreased for more than other 40 days (R2 = 0.545, p < 0.001). In non-survivor group, total CT score rapidly increased over 10 points in the first 10 days and gradually increased afterwards until ARDS occurred with following death events (R2 = 0.711, p < 0.001). In conclusion, persistent progression with predominant crazy-paving pattern was the major manifestation of COVID-19 in non-survivors. Understanding this CT feature could help the clinical physician to predict the prognosis of the patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium alloy is widely used in manufacturing because of its high heat resistance, excellent corrosion resistance, high specific strength, and low thermal conductivity. This study led to the development of a multi-physics field-coupling model of vibrating feed electrolysis processing of diamond-shaped hole in titanium alloy TC4. The model is based on the coupling relationships among the electric, flow, and temperature fields of electrolytic processing. The distributions of the electric field, flow field, temperature field, and bubble rate were obtained via vibration feed electrolysis processing of three kinds of flutes for the cathode tool. Compared with the diamond-shaped and circular liquid channels, no liquid vacancy arises at the acute angle of the rhombic hole, and the stability of the flow field is good when the cathode tool has a short circular arc liquid channel. In addition, the test results show that a channel with this form allows sufficient fluid at the acute angle of the diamond-shaped hole, and the quality of the sidewall and the bottom surface are uniform. The coupling of the electric, flow, and temperature fields increases the forming accuracy of the short circular arc liquid channel. This is consistent with the results of the multi-physics field coupling calculation of the titanium alloy vibration feed electrolysis processing. The reciprocating motion of the cathode tool at the time of vibration feed also facilitates the discharge of insoluble matter on the surface of the titanium alloy in the processing area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the problem of a functionally graded multilayered one-dimensional orthorhombic quasicrystal plate with simply supported edge conditions. Assuming that the functionally graded material properties vary exponentially along the thickness direction, a solution for a functionally graded plate subjected to top surface loading is obtained by using the pseudo-Stroh formalism. The propagator matrix method is utilized to get the solution for the corresponding multilayered case. The exact solution is applied to a multilayered plate made of quasicrystals and crystals. The influences of the exponential factor, load form, and stacking sequence on physical quantities are studied in numerical examples. The exact solution can be used to design a functionally graded multilayered plate composed of one-dimensional quasicrystals and crystals. The numerical results can also serve as a basis for other numerical methods, such as finite element and boundary element methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) plays a role in aging adipose tissue dysfunction by directly promoting chronic inflammation. The JNK/p53 pathway was reported as a potential mechanism that mediates SASP. In this study, we investigated the effects of L-carnitine, an inhibitor of the JNK/p53 pathway in adipose tissue SASP and dysfunction. Young and aging rat were given L-carnitine by gavage. Next, we detected the senescence, cytokines expression, chronic inflammation and insulin resistance of adipose tissue. Additionally, JNK/p53 pathway was estimated. Our results show a significant increase expression of SASP components in the adipose tissue of aging rats compared to young rats. Further, we found that infiltration of immune cells and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines were enhanced in aging adipose tissue while insulin signaling activity was reduced in aging adipose tissue. Interestingly, L-carnitine markedly reduced the expression of SASP factors. L-Carnitine could significantly reduce chronic inflammation, improving insulin resistance. Further, L-carnitine inhibited SASP by inhibiting JNK/p53 pathway. L-Carnitine inhibited SASP by JNK/p53 pathway and attenuated adipose tissue dysfunction of aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Zinc smelting activity generates large volumes of highly toxic waste slags and poses a potential extreme environmental risk for the surrounding areas. The establishment of a vegetation cap for the phytostabilization of abandoned mine tailing heaps using plants is usually considered a beneficial approach. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of phytostabilization of zinc smelting slag using four woody plants combined with organic amendments, to investigate the distribution of heavy metals in the slag-plant system, and to better understand how the direct revegetation of a zinc smelting slag site can influence the mobility and geochemical fraction of heavy metals.Materials and methods: Slags were collected from the areas planted with vegetation (Arundo donax, Broussonetia papyrifera, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Cryptomeria fortunei) and a bare area in a zinc smelting waste slag site using an indigenous method. Physicochemical properties were determined with the usual procedures. The geochemical fraction and bioavailability of heavy metals was determined using the three-step modified European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) sequential extraction schemes. Heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in the slag and plant samples were also measured.Results and discussion: Vegetation planted directly in the zinc smelting waste slag significantly enhanced the nutrient accumulation and reduced the bioavailability of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Cd) with the exception of A. donax for Zn and Cd. The presence of four woody plants increased the bioavailability of Pb. Sequential extraction revealed that revegetation reduced the acid-soluble extractable fraction and increased the fraction of heavy metals associated with the Fe/Mn oxy(hydr)oxides or organic matter. This is attributed to the establishment of plant-enhanced weathering of minerals in the waste slag that resulted in the formation of an amount of dissolved metals, and the amount of dissolved metals was partly redistributed into the soluble extractable fraction of the zinc smelting waste slag. The final concentration of metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd) in the soluble extractable fraction is dependent on the dynamics of metals induced by root activity in the rhizosphere. Much lower levels of heavy metals with lower translocation factors accumulated in the four woody plants than in the associated slags.Conclusions: We conclude that the studied four woody plants showed a beneficial vegetation cover and phytostabilization potential within 5 years of revegetation. These woody plants have the potential for high heavy metal tolerance and low heavy metal accumulation. Therefore, these woody plants could be used for revegetation and phytostabilization of zinc smelting slag sites under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the non-homogeneity of material properties has been considered the important variation mechanism in the static responses of quasicrystal structures, but the existing theoretical model for it is unable to simulate the material change format beyond the exponential function. In this paper, we create a new model of functionally graded multilayered 1D piezoelectric quasicrystal plates using the state vector approach, in which varying functionally graded electro-elastic properties can be extended from exponential to linear and higher order in the thickness direction. Based on the state equations, an analytical solution for a single plate has been derived, and the result for the corresponding multilayered case is obtained utilizing the propagator matrix method. The present study shows, in particular, that coefficient orders of two varying functions (the power function and the exponential function) of the material gradient provide the ability to tailor the mechanical behaviors in the system's phonon, phason, and electric fields. Moreover, the insensitive points of phonon stress and electric potential under functionally graded effects in the quasicrystal layer are observed. In addition, the influences of stacking sequences and discontinuity of horizontal stress are explored in the simulation by the new model. The results are very useful for the design and understanding of the characterization of functionally graded piezoelectric quasicrystal materials in their applications to multilayered systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a process that combines a photosensitizing drug and light and promotes phototoxic responses in target cells, mainly via oxidative damage. Antifungal photodynamic therapy has been successfully employed against Candida species, dermatophytes, and deep mycoses. We present a case of a cutaneous granuloma caused by C. albicans treated with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-PDT. A 64-year-old man presented with two plaques on his right hand and wrist for 2 years. The diagnosis was made based on histopathology, mycology, and molecular identification of paraffin-embedded tissues. The patient was treated with itraconazole for 1 month and two sessions of ALA-PDT. After 2 months of follow-up, the patient was cured and has not experienced any recurrence to date. ALA-PDT was well tolerated in this patient with little pain. In general, application of PDT in mycoses is safe and effective in most cases. ALA-PDT is a good choice for inactivation of C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To investigate the cerebral structural changes related to venous erectile dysfunction (VED) and the relationship of these changes to clinical symptoms and disorder duration and distinguish patients with VED from healthy controls using a machine learning classification.Methods: 45 VED patients and 50 healthy controls were included. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM), tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) and correlation analyses of VED patients and clinical variables were performed. The machine learning classification method was adopted to confirm its effectiveness in distinguishing VED patients from healthy controls.Results: Compared to healthy control subjects, VED patients showed significantly decreased cortical volumes in the left postcentral gyrus and precentral gyrus, while only the right middle temporal gyrus showed a significant increase in cortical volume. Increased axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD) and mean diffusivity (MD) values were observed in widespread brain regions. Certain regions of these alterations related to VED patients showed significant correlations with clinical symptoms and disorder durations. Machine learning analyses discriminated patients from controls with overall accuracy 96.7%, sensitivity 93.3% and specificity 99.0%.Conclusions: Cortical volume and white matter (WM) microstructural changes were observed in VED patients, and showed significant correlations with clinical symptoms and dysfunction durations. Various DTI-derived indices of some brain regions could be regarded as reliable discriminating features between VED patients and healthy control subjects, as shown by machine learning analyses.Key Points: • Multimodal magnetic resonance imaging helps clinicians to assess patients with VED. • VED patients show cerebral structural alterations related to their clinical symptoms. • Machine learning analyses discriminated VED patients from controls with an excellent performance. • Machine learning classification provided a preliminary demonstration of DTI's clinical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comparative field study examined the responses of bacterial community structure and diversity to the revegetation of zinc (Zn) smelting waste slag with eight plant species after 5 years. The microbial community structure of waste slag with and without vegetation was evaluated using high-throughput sequencing. The physiochemical properties of Zn smelting slag after revegetation with eight plant rhizospheres for 5 years were improved compared to those of bulk slag. Revegetation significantly increased the microbial community diversity in plant rhizospheres, and at the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were notably more abundant in rhizosphere slags than those in bulk waste slag. Additionally, revegetation increased the relative abundance of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria such as Flavobacterium, Streptomyces, and Arthrobacter as well as symbiotic N2 fixers such as Bradyrhizobium. Three dominant native plant species (Arundo donax, Broussonetia papyrifera, and Robinia pseudoacacia) greatly increased the quality of the rhizosphere slags. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the differences in bacterial community structure between the bulk and rhizosphere slags were explained by slag properties, i.e., pH, available copper (Cu) and lead (Pb), moisture, available nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), and organic matter (OM); however, available Zn and cadmium (Cd) contents were the slag parameters that best explained the differences between the rhizosphere communities of the eight plant species. The results suggested that revegetation plays an important role in enhancing bacterial community abundance and diversity in rhizosphere slags and that revegetation may also regulate microbiological properties and diversity mainly through changes in heavy metal bioavailability and physiochemical slag characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ratio of intercellular to ambient CO concentrations ( c / c ) plays a key role in ecophysiology, micrometeorology, and global climatic change. However, systematic investigation on c / c variation and its determinants are rare. Here, the c / c was derived from measuring ecosystem fluxes in an even-aged monoculture of rubber trees ( Hevea brasiliensis). We tested whether c / c is constant across environmental gradients and if not, which dominant factors control c / c variations. Evidence indicates that c / c is not a constant. The c / c exhibits a clear ' V'-shaped diurnal pattern and varies across the environmental gradient. Water vapor pressure deficit ( D) is the dominant factor controls over the c / c variations. c / c consistently decreases with increasing D. c / c decreases with square root of D as predicted by the optimal stomatal model. The D-driving single-variable model could simulate c / c as well as that of sophisticated model. Many variables function on longer timescales than a daily cycle, such as soil water content, could improve c / c model prediction ability. Ecosystem flux can be effectively used to calculate c / c and use it to better understand various natural cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths owing to its high rate of postoperative recurrence and metastasis. New research is continuously identifying novel metastasis-associated oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. miRNAs are noncoding RNAs that regulate protein synthesis post-translationally. miR-130b is one of several miRNAs involved in tumor metastasis. However, the role of miR-130b in HCC remains controversial. Here, we demonstrate that miR-130b is highly expressed in HCC and that it correlates with tumor number, vascular invasion, and TNM stage-important predictors of postoperative recurrence and metastases. Moreover, high levels of miR-130b predicted poor overall and disease-free survival of HCC patients, and in vitro and in vivo research revealed that knockdown or overexpression of miR-130b inhibited and promoted proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells, respectively. We identified PTEN as a direct functional target of miR-130b using miRNA databases and a dual luciferase report assay. Next, using a gain and loss assay and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) relative assays, we show that miR-130b may promote proliferation and EMT-induced metastasis via PTEN/p-AKT/HIF-1α signaling. Collectively, our data suggests that miR-130b may have prognostic value in HCC. Additionally, the miR-130b/PTEN/p-AKT/HIF-1α axis identified in this study provides novel insight into the mechanisms of HCC metastasis, which may facilitate the development of new therapeutics against HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]