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Abstract Traditional pseudo‐satellite‐based indoor positioning techniques are greatly affected by the presence of multipath effects, leading to a notable reduction in the positioning precision. In order to tackle this challenge, a pseudo‐satellite indoor positioning method based on deep learning is proposed. The method grids the localization region, thus transforming positioning from a regression problem to a classification problem in the gridded areas. 1D‐convolutional neural network is employed to extract the correlation between pseudo‐satellite data and the positioning of indoor areas. Data are collected and the method is validated in three types of areas of the experimental field, namely unobstructed area, semi‐unobstructed area and obstructed area. The experimental results demonstrate that the method exhibits superior positioning accuracy compared to traditional methods, enabling effective localization even in obstructed area.

Abstract Polysaccharides are widely used as quality improvers for meat products. However, the mechanisms of how different ionic polysaccharides regulate the gelling properties of myofibrillar protein (MP) are still unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the contribution of different ionic polysaccharides to MP gelation and its mechanism. The enhancement of hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction, and disulfide bond between carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC‐Na, anionic polysaccharide) and MP made them bind tightly, which contributes to the improvement of gel strength, water‐holding capacity, and viscoelasticity. Konjac glucomannan (neutral polysaccharide) mainly relied on physical filling to support the gel network and improve the gel characteristics. The electrostatic attraction between cationic polysaccharides and MP enhanced the binding between them. However, due to the large structure of chitosan (cationic polysaccharide) sugar chain, it can only attach to the surface of protein, which limits the interaction between them. These findings will provide guidance for the application of polysaccharides as food quality improvers or fat substitutes and the design of new low‐fat restructured meat products.

Abstract In recent years, development in high‐throughput sequencing technologies has experienced an increasing application of statistics, pattern recognition, and machine learning in bioinformatics analyses. SangeBox platform to meet different scientific demands. The new version of Sangs is a widely used tool among many researchers, which encourages us to continuously improve the plerBox 2 (http://vip.sangerbox.com) and extends and optimizes the functions of interactive graphics and analysis of clinical bioinformatics data. We introduced novel analytical tools such as random forests and support vector machines, as well as corresponding plotting functions. At the same time, we also optimized the performance of the platform and fixed known problems to allow users to perform data analyses more quickly and efficiently. SangerBox 2 improved the speed of analysis, reduced resource required for computer performance, and provided more analysis methods, greatly promoting the research efficiency.

ABSTRACT This study reports a significant clinical outcome following the use of bronchoscopic interventional therapy combined with pembrolizumab for treating pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC), showcasing a novel approach in managing this aggressive cancer.

Abstract Objective To compare the survival discrimination of the TNM9th and 8th editions for localized and locally advanced anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) treated nonsurgically and suggest a simple revised staging system with data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Methods Overall survival (OS) was the primary endpoint. Survival comparisons between the T and N stages and the different staging systems were performed using the Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test, followed by correlation analysis and variable importance analysis (VIA). Additionally, multivariate analysis was employed to identify significant predictors, which were further visualized using a nomogram. Finally, calibration curve, C‐index, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were applied to assess the performance of the different staging systems. Results A total of 5384 patients with ASCC were analyzed, revealing superior discrimination OS by the TNM9th edition compared to that by the TNM8th edition. Multivariate analysis identified the T and N stages as significant OS predictors (all p 0.05). Correlation analysis demonstrated an increased correlation for the T stage between the TNM8th and 9th editions (ρ value from 0.7 to 0.89), while the N stage correlation decreased (ρ value from 0.84 to 0.56). VIA and the prognostic nomogram highlighted the greater importance of the T stage over the N stage. Based on these findings, a new staging system was developed, and its clinical utility was confirmed through calibration curves, C‐index values (from 0.598 to 0.604), and DCAs. Conclusions Our new staging system exhibited slightly better prognostic value compared to the TNM9th staging systems for nonmetastatic ASCC and warrants further validation.

Abstract Ruthenium (Ru) has been recognized as a prospective candidate to substitute platinum catalysts in water‐splitting‐based hydrogen production. However, minimizing the Ru contents, optimizing the water dissociation energy of Ru sites, and enhancing the long‐term stability are extremely required, but still face a great challenge. Here, we report on creating tungsten oxide‐anchored Ru clusters (Ru–WOx) with electron‐rich and anti‐corrosive microenvironments for efficient and robust seawater splitting. Benefiting from the abundant oxygen vacancy structure in tungsten oxide support, the Ru–WOx exhibits strong Ru–O and Ru–W bonds at the interface. Our study elucidates that the strong Ru–O bonds in Ru–WOx may accelerate the water dissociation kinetics, and the Ru–W bonds will lead to the strong metal–support interaction and electrons transfer from W to Ru. The optimal Ru–WOx catalysts exhibit a low overpotential of 29 and 218 mV at the current density of 10 mA cm−2 in alkaline and seawater media, respectively. The outstanding long‐term stability discloses that the Ru–WOx catalysts own efficient corrosion resistance in seawater electrolysis. We believe that this work offers new insights into the essential roles of electron‐rich and anti‐corrosive microenvironments in Ru‐based catalysts and provide a new pathway to design efficient and robust cathodes for seawater splitting.

Abstract Lithium metal, with ultrahigh theoretical specific capacity, is considered as an ideal anode material for the lithium‐ion batteries. However, its practical application is severely plagued by the uncontrolled formation of dendritic Li. Here, a cation‐loaded porous Mg2+‐Zeolite layer is proposed to enable the dendrite‐free deposition on the surface of Li metal anode. The skeleton channels of zeolite provide the low coordinated Li+‐solvation groups, leading to the faster desolvation process at the interface. Meanwhile, anions‐involved solvation sheath induces a stable, inorganic‐rich SEI, contributing to the uniform Li+ flux through the interface. Furthermore, the co‐deposition of sustained release Mg2+ realizes a new faster migration pathway, which proactively facilitates the uniform diffusion of Li on the lithium substrate. The synergistic modulation of these kinetic processes facilitates the homogeneous Li plating/stripping behavior. Based on this synergistic mechanism, the high‐efficiency deposition with cyclic longevity exceeding 2100 h is observed in the symmetric Li/Li cell with Mg2+‐Zeolite modified anode at 1 mA cm−2. The pouch cell matched with LiFePO4 cathode fulfills a capacity retention of 88.4% after 100 cycles at a severe current density of 1 C charge/discharge. This synergistic protective mechanism can give new guidance for realizing the safe and high‐performance Li metal batteries.

Abstract SnO2 has been extensively investigated as an anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) and potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) due to its high Na/K storage capacity, high abundance, and low toxicity. However, the sluggish reaction kinetics, low electronic conductivity, and large volume changes during charge and discharge hinder the practical applications of SnO2‐based electrodes for SIBs and PIBs. Engineering rational structures with fast charge/ion transfer and robust stability is important to overcoming these challenges. Herein, S‐doped SnO2 (S–SnO2) quantum dots (QDs) (≈3 nm) encapsulated in an N, S codoped carbon fiber networks (S–SnO2–CFN) are rationally fabricated using a sequential freeze‐drying, calcination, and S‐doping strategy. Experimental analysis and density functional theory calculations reveal that the integration of S–SnO2 QDs with N, S codoped carbon fiber network remarkably decreases the adsorption energies of Na/K atoms in the interlayer of SnO2–CFN, and the S doping can increase the conductivity of SnO2, thereby enhancing the ion transfer kinetics. The synergistic interaction between S–SnO2 QDs and N, S codoped carbon fiber network results in a composite with fast Na+/K+ storage and extraordinary long‐term cyclability. Specifically, the S–SnO2–CFN delivers high rate capacities of 141.0 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1 in SIBs and 102.8 mAh g−1 at 10 A g−1 in PIBs. Impressively, it delivers ultra‐stable sodium storage up to 10,000 cycles at 5 A g−1 and potassium storage up to 5000 cycles at 2 A g−1. This study provides insights into constructing metal oxide‐based carbon fiber network structures for high‐performance electrochemical energy storage and conversion devices.

Abstract Objective To investigate the relationship between icariin and the osteoblastic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the signal pathway involved. Methods We applied a universally accepted calcification model of VSMCs induced by β glycerophosphate. Then the VSMCs calcification was observed by treatment with icariin and/or inhibitors of estrogen receptors (ERs) and p38‐mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Results Icariin inhibited osteoblastic differentiation and mineralization of VSMCs due to decreased ALP activity and Runx2 expression. Further study demonstrated that icariin exerted this suppression effect through activating p38‐MAPK but not extracellular‐regulated kinase, JNK or Akt. An inhibitor of p38‐MAPK partially reversed the inhibitory effects of icariin on osteoblastic differentiation. Interestingly, treatment of VSMCs with an ER antagonist ICI182780 and a selective ERα receptor antagonist PPT attenuated icariin‐mediated inhibition effect of VSMCs calcification, associated with suppression of p38‐MAPK phosphorylation. Conclusions Icariin inhibited the osteoblastic differentiation of VSMCs, and that the inhibitory effects were mediated by p38‐MAPK pathways through ERα.

Abstract Different from object detection in natural images, aerial‐view object detection faces special challenges with large changes in object orientation and wide multi‐scale distribution. Many methods based on Oriented Bounding Boxes (OBB) can reach accurate results, yet may face the problem of parameter mutation and axis prediction deviation. To address these problems, a two‐stage detection framework is proposed for arbitrary‐oriented traffic participant detection and axis prediction, named Axis Prediction Network. First, a Deformable Convolution Fusion Module (DCF‐Module) is proposed to enhance the ability of FPN to extract multi‐scale semantic features, for dealing with the multi‐scale change of objects. Then, the axis heat‐map prediction head network is proposed to fit the long axis of oriented objects labeled with Gaussian model, which uses pixel‐by‐pixel prediction heatmap to calculate the long axis of the object, avoiding the angle mutation of an OBB. Last, the long and short side prediction head network is proposed to predict the shape of an oriented object, avoiding the mutation of the width and height of an OBB. The experiments are conducted on the new built Crossroad dataset and the public DOTA dataset. Experiment results show that the proposed method achieve good performance in arbitrary‐oriented traffic participant detection and axis prediction in aerial view.

Abstract Recombinant proteins are gaining increasing popularity for treating human diseases. The clinical effectiveness of recombinant proteins is directly related to their biological activity, which is an important indicator in drug development and quality control. However, certain recombinant proteins have unclear or complex signal pathways, making detecting their activity in vitro difficult. For instance, recombinant human endostatin (endostatin), a new antitumor drug developed in China, lacks a sensitive and stable assay for its biological activity since being market approval. To address this issue, we performed a genome‐wide screening of immortalized human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) using a CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library containing 20,000 targeted genes. We identified two potential endostatin‐resistant genes, NEPSPP and UTS2, and successfully constructed a highly sensitive cell line, HUVEC‐UTS2‐3#, by knocking down the UTS2 gene. Based on the optimized parameters of HUVEC‐UTS2‐3# cells, we established a new method for detecting the biological activity of endostatin. The method was validated, and it produced results consistent with primary HUVEC cells but with higher sensitivity and more stable data. The use of gene‐editing technology provides a novel solution for detecting the biological activity of recombinant proteins that other methods cannot detect.

Abstract Aim To evaluate the efficacy of expressive writing (EW) versus positive writing (PW) in different populations focusing on mood, health and writing content and to provide a basis for nurses to carry out the targeted treatment. Design Systematic review and meta‐analysis. Methods This study was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Twelve electronic databases and references from articles were searched. All randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing EW and PW were included. Statistical analyses were executed using Stata 15.0 software. Results Twenty‐four RCTs and a total of 1558 participants were analysed. The results showed that for the general population, PW was more positive on mood than EW and could offer more changes in cognitive mechanisms. Among patients, although PW was more conducive to generating positive emotions, EW could stimulate cognitive changes more. Nursing staff should clarify the mechanism of PW and EW, combine the advantages of both and implement intervention according to the characteristics of different populations. No Patient or Public Contribution It does not apply to your work because this study is an analysis of published studies and does not involve patients or the public.

Abstract Aim To explore the relationship between university nursing students' academic procrastination, mindfulness, and future time perspective. Design A cross‐sectional study. Methods A total of 343 university nursing students recruited from eight provinces in China have reported procrastination characteristics through fulfilling an online website link. The main instruments involved Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS), Zimbardo Time Perspective Scale, and Procrastination Assessment Scale (PASS). Results Participants who self‐assessed higher frequency and degree of academic procrastination tended to possess lower future time consciousness, and lower mindfulness. Mindfulness served as a mediation effect between future time perspective and academic procrastination. The study indicates that weakening an individual's procrastination can be alleviated through future time awareness and mindfulness. Concentrating on influencing factors, strengthening nursing student's future time perspective, and practicing mindfulness training could assist educators to decrease students' procrastination intentions and behaviours.

Abstract Aim The purpose of this study is to explore the influence of self‐management intervention on four prognostic indicators of readmission rate, mortality rate, self‐management ability and quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Design A meta‐analysis. Methods This study was selected from the related studies published from January 1999 to January 2022, and was searched by searching five databases: PubMed, Science of Website, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wan Fang and Wei Pu (VIP). All standardized randomized controlled trial studies were collected, and the quality evaluation and meta‐analysis of the included literature were conducted. Results This study included 20 randomized controlled trials involving 3459 patients with chronic heart failure. Meta‐analysis results showed that self‐management intervention could reduce the readmission rate of patients with chronic heart failure, improved self‐management ability of patients, improved quality of life, but there was no statistical significance in mortality.

Abstract Aim Student engagement is an important factor to the success of higher education. This study aimed to develop a Generic Student Engagement Scale (GSES) for face‐to‐face and online learning. Design This was a cross‐sectional psychometric study. Methods We tested the psychometric properties of GSES in 451 students at the school of nursing and health studies undertaking online and face‐to‐face learning at a local university in Hong Kong between 2016 and 2018. Results Content validity, face validity and test–retest reliability of GSES were satisfactory. The 29‐item GSES contains five factors “self‐regulated learning,” “cognitive strategy use,” “experienced emotion,” “teacher–student interaction,” and “enjoyment of school life” with the good model fit. The GSES is a reliable and valid psychometric instrument to measure student engagement in face‐to‐face and online learning among undergraduates and higher diploma students. Our results implied that student engagement can be assessed in routine or research by using our instrument.

Abstract Electrocatalytic urea synthesis via coupling of nitrate with CO2 is considered as a promising alternative to the industrial urea synthetic process. However, the requirement of sub‐reaction (NO3RR and CO2RR) activities for efficient urea synthesis is not clear and the related reaction mechanisms remain obscure. Here, the construction, breaking, and rebuilding of the sub‐reaction activity balance would be accompanied by the corresponding regulation in urea synthesis, and the balance of sub‐reaction activities was proven to play a vital role in efficient urea synthesis. With rational design, a urea yield rate of 610.6 mg h−1 gcat.−1 was realized on the N‐doped carbon electrocatalyst, superior to that of noble‐metal electrocatalysts. Based on the operando SR‐FTIR measurements, we proposed that urea synthesis arises from the coupling of *NO and *CO to generate the key intermediate of *OCNO. This work provides new insights and guidelines into urea synthesis from the aspect of activity balance.

Abstract The layered crystal structure of Cr2Ge2Te6 shows ferromagnetic ordering at the two‐dimensional limit, which holds promise for spintronic applications. However, external voltage pulses can trigger amorphization of the material in nanoscale electronic devices, and it is unclear whether the loss of structural ordering leads to a change in magnetic properties. Here, it is demonstrated that Cr2Ge2Te6 preserves the spin‐polarized nature in the amorphous phase, but undergoes a magnetic transition to a spin glass state below 20 K. Quantum‐mechanical computations reveal the microscopic origin of this transition in spin configuration: it is due to strong distortions of the CrTeCr bonds, connecting chromium‐centered octahedra, and to the overall increase in disorder upon amorphization. The tunable magnetic properties of Cr2Ge2Te6 can be exploited for multifunctional, magnetic phase‐change devices that switch between crystalline and amorphous states.

Abstract The variation of surface hydrophobicity of silicone rubber materials covered with porous inorganic pollution layer under the action of atmospheric pressure plasma jet presents some new features, which have important engineering applications in the field of outdoor insulation of power systems. Interaction of the plasma with the polluted silicone rubber is studied and surface hydrophobicity is measured. Experimental results show that the exposure of plasma greatly accelerates the transfer of low molecular weight siloxanes (LMWs) in the pollution layer. However, the surface hydrophobicity is determined by the LMWs contents and the exposure time. Two acceleration effects of plasma during and after plasma exposure are proposed, their influence on surface hydrophobicity is analysed and related mechanisms are clarified. In addition, the competing influence of plasma‐induced acceleration of the transfer of LMWs towards the surface and plasma‐oxidation of LMWs on surface hydrophobicity is discussed.

Objective To compare the biomechanical properties of percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) in the spinal column between different implant‐endplate friction. Methods A validated L3‐Scarumfinite element (FE) model was modified for simulation. In the PCD model, the L4/5 level was modified based on model 1 (M1) and model 2 (M2). In M1, the interaction between bone cement and endplate was defined as face‐to‐face contact with a friction coefficient of 0.3; in M2, the contact was defined as a Tie constraint. 7.5 N m moments of four physiological motions and axial load of 15, 100 and 400 N preload were imposed at the top of L3. The range of motion (ROM) and interface stress analysis of endplates, annulus fibrosus and bone cement of the operated level were calculated for comparisons among the three models. Results The ROM of M1 and M2 increased when compared with the intact model during flexion (FL) (17.5% vs 10.0%), extension (EX) (8.8% vs −8.8%), left bending (LB) (19.0% vs −17.2%) and left axial rotation (LR) (34.6% vs −3.8%). The stress of annulus fibrosus in M1 and M2 decreased in FL (−48.4% vs −57.5%), EX (−25.7% vs −14.7%), LB (−47.5% vs −52.4%), LR (−61.4% vs −68.7%) and axis loading of 100 N (−41.5% vs −15.3%), and 400 N (−27.9% vs −27.3%). The stress of upper endplate of M1 and M2 increased in FL (24.6% vs 24.7%), LB (82.2% vs 89.5%), LR (119% vs 62.4%) and axis loading of 100 N (64.6% vs 45.5%), and 400 N (58.2% vs 24.3%), but was similar in EX (2.9% vs 0.3%). The stress of lower endplate of M1 and M2 increased in FL (170.9% vs 175.0%), EX (180.8% vs 207.7%), LB (302.6% vs 274.7%), LR (332.4% vs 132.8%) and axis loading of 100 N (350.7% vs 168.6%), and 400 N (165.2% vs 106.7%). Conclusion Percutaneous cement discoplasty procedure could make effect on the mobility or stiffness. The fusion of bone cement and endplate might have more biomechanical advantages, including of the decreasing rate of implant subsidence and dislocation, and the increase spine stability.

Abstract Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BMSCs) have a protective effect against liver cirrhosis. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in the progression of liver cirrhosis. Therefore, it is aimed to clarify the lncRNA Kcnq1ot1 involved protective mechanism of BMSCs in liver cirrhosis. This study found that BMSCs treatment attenuates CCl4‐induced liver cirrhosis in mice. Additionally, the expression of lncRNA Kcnq1ot1 is upregulated in human and mouse liver cirrhosis tissues, in addition to TGF‐β1‐treated LX2 cells and JS1 cells. The expression of Kcnq1ot1 in liver cirrhosis is reversed with BMSCs treatment. The knockdown of Kcnq1ot1 alleviated liver cirrhosis both in vivo and in vitro. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirms that Kcnq1ot1 is mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of JS1 cells. It is predicted that miR‐374‐3p can directly bind with lncRNA Kcnq1ot1 and Fstl1, which is verified via luciferase activity assay. The inhibition of miR‐374‐3p or the overexpression of Fstl1 can attenuate the effect of Kcnq1ot1 knockdown. In addition, the transcription factor Creb3l1 is upregulated during JS1 cells activation. Moreover, Creb3l1 can directly bind to the Kcnq1ot1 promoter and positively regulate its transcription. In conclusion, BMSCs alleviate liver cirrhosis by modulating the Creb3l1/lncRNA Kcnq1ot1/miR‐374‐3p/Fstl1 signaling pathway.

Abstract Histones are DNA‐binding basic proteins found in chromosomes. After the histone translation, its amino tail undergoes various modifications, such as methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination, malonylation, propionylation, butyrylation, crotonylation, and lactylation, which together constitute the “histone code.” The relationship between their combination and biological function can be used as an important epigenetic marker. Methylation and demethylation of the same histone residue, acetylation and deacetylation, phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, and even methylation and acetylation between different histone residues cooperate or antagonize with each other, forming a complex network. Histone‐modifying enzymes, which cause numerous histone codes, have become a hot topic in the research on cancer therapeutic targets. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the role of histone post‐translational modifications (PTMs) in cell life activities is very important for preventing and treating human diseases. In this review, several most thoroughly studied and newly discovered histone PTMs are introduced. Furthermore, we focus on the histone‐modifying enzymes with carcinogenic potential, their abnormal modification sites in various tumors, and multiple essential molecular regulation mechanism. Finally, we summarize the missing areas of the current research and point out the direction of future research. We hope to provide a comprehensive understanding and promote further research in this field.

Abstract MnTe has been considered a promising candidate for lead‐free mid‐temperature range thermoelectric clean energy conversions. However, the widespread use of this technology is constrained by the relatively low‐cost performance of materials. Developing environmentally friendly thermoelectrics with high performance and earth‐abundant elements is thus an urgent task. MnTe is a candidate, yet a peak ZT of 1.4 achieved so far is less satisfactory. Here, a remarkably high ZT of 1.6 at 873 K in MnTe system is realized by facilitating multiple valence band convergence and localized lattice engineering. It is demonstrated that SbGe incorporation promotes the convergence of multiple electronic valence bands in MnTe. Simultaneously, the carrier concentration can be optimized by SbGeS alloying, which significantly enhances the power factor. Simultaneously, MnS nanorods combined with dislocations and lattice distortions lead to strong phonon scattering, resulting in a markedly low lattice thermal conductivity(κlat) of 0.54 W m K−1, quite close to the amorphous limit. As a consequence, extraordinary thermoelectric performance is achieved by decoupling electron and phonon transport. The vast increase in ZT promotes MnTe as an emerging Pb‐free thermoelectric compound for a wide range of applications in waste heat recovery and power generation.

Abstract Objective To investigate the relationships between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and body composition among postmenopausal women in China. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted with 776 postmenopausal women in China from May to July 2008. Clinical information was collected using a standardized questionnaire. Measures of body composition were obtained using dual X‐ray absorptiometry. Body lean mass and fat mass indices were calculated by dividing total body lean/fat weight (kg) by body height squared (kg/m2). Blood samples were collected to assess liver and renal functions and lipid profiles. Analysis of variance, Pearson correlations, and multiple regression were used to analyze the associations between serum ALT and body composition. Results We found negative relationships of serum ALT with age, menopause duration, and serum HDL‐C levels. Serum ALT was positively correlated with BMI, serum TG levels, and the lean mass index and fat mass index. In a multivariate model adjusted for age, menopause duration, serum TG, and HDL‐C levels, a 1‐unit increase in the fat mass index was associated with a 0.176 U/L increase in ALT (95% CI 0.020 to 0.050, P

Abstract Multiphase sulfur redox reactions with advanced homogeneous and heterogeneous electrochemical processes in lithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries possess sluggish kinetics. The slow kinetics leads to significant capacity decay during charge/discharge processes. Therefore, electrocatalysts with adequate sulfur‐redox properties are required to accelerate reversible polysulfide conversion in cathodes. In this study, we have fabricated an oxygen‐modulated metal nitride cluster (C‐MoNx‐O) that has a moderate binding ability to the insoluble Li2Sx for reversible polysulfide electrocatalysis. A Li–S battery equipped with C‐MoNx‐O electrocatalyst displayed a high discharge capacity of 875 mAh g−1 at 0.5 C. The capacity decay rate of each cycle was only 0.10% after 280 cycles, which is much lower than the control groups (C‐MoOx: 0.16%; C‐MoNx: 0.21%). Kinetic studies and theoretical calculations suggest that C‐MoNx‐O electrocatalyst presents a moderate binding ability to the insoluble Li2S2 and Li2S when compared to the C‐MoOx and C‐MoNx surfaces. Thus, the C‐MoNx‐O can effectively immobilize and reversibly catalyze the solid–solid conversion of Li2S2–Li2S during charge–discharge cycling, thus promoting reaction kinetics and eliminating the shuttle effect. This study to design oxygen‐doped metal nitrides provides innovative structures and reversible solid–solid conversions to overcome the sluggish redox chemistry of polysulfides.

Abstract Metal‐porphyrins or metal‐phthalocyanines‐based organic frameworks (POFs), an emerging family of metal‐N‐C materials, have attracted widespread interest for application in electrocatalysis due to their unique metal‐N4 coordination structure, high conjugated π‐electron system, tunable components, and chemical stability. The key challenges of POFs as high‐performance electrocatalysts are the need for rational design for porphyrins/phthalocyanines building blocks and an in‐depth understanding of structure–activity relationships. Herein, the synthesis methods, the catalytic activity modulation principles, and the electrocatalytic behaviors of 2D/3D POFs are summarized. Notably, detailed pathways are given for modulating the intrinsic activity of the M‐N4 site by the microenvironments, including central metal ions, substituent groups, and heteroatom dopants. Meanwhile, the topology tuning and hybrid system, which affect the conjugation network or conductivity of POFs, are also considered. Furthermore, the representative electrocatalytic applications of structured POFs in efficient and environmental‐friendly energy conversion areas, such as carbon dioxide reduction reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, and water splitting are briefly discussed. Overall, this comprehensive review focusing on the frontier will provide multidisciplinary and multi‐perspective guidance for the subsequent experimental and theoretical progress of POFs and reveal their key challenges and application prospects in future electrocatalytic energy conversion systems.

Abstract Fatigue causes deleterious effects to physical and mental health of human being and may cause loss of lives. Therefore, the adverse effects of fatigue on individuals and the society are massive. With the ever‐increasing frequency of overtraining among modern military and sports personnel, timely, portable and accurate fatigue diagnosis is essential to avoid fatigue‐induced accidents. However, traditional detection methods require complex sample preparation and blood sampling processes, which cannot meet the timeliness and portability of fatigue diagnosis. With the development of flexible materials and biosensing technology, wearable biosensors have attracted increased attention to the researchers. Wearable biosensors collect biomarkers from noninvasive biofluids, such as sweat, saliva, and tears, followed by biosensing with the help of biosensing modules continuously and quantitatively. The detection signal can then be transmitted through wireless communication modules that constitute a method for real‐time understanding of abnormality. Recent developments of wearable biosensors are focused on miniaturized wearable electrochemistry and optical biosensors for metabolites detection, of which, few have exhibited satisfactory results in medical diagnosis. However, detection performance limits the wide‐range applicability of wearable fatigue diagnosis. In this article, the application of wearable biosensors in fatigue diagnosis has been discussed. In fact, exploration of the composition of different biofluids and their potential toward fatigue diagnosis have been discussed here for the very first time. Moreover, discussions regarding the current bottlenecks in wearable fatigue biosensors and the latest advancements in biochemical reaction and data communication modules have been incorporated herein. Finally, the main challenges and opportunities were discussed for wearable fatigue diagnosis in the future.

Abstract Detecting small objects are difficult because of their poor‐quality appearance and small size, and such issues are especially pronounced for aerial images of great importance. To address the small object detection (SOD) problem, a united architecture that tries to upsample small objects into super‐resolved versions, achieving characteristics similar to those large objects and thus resulting in more discriminative detection is used. For this purpose, a new end‐to‐end multi‐task generative adversarial network (GAN) is proposed. In the architecture, the generator is a super‐resolution (SR) network, and the discriminator is a multi‐task network. In the generator, a gradient guide and an edge‐enhancement strategy are introduced to alleviate structural distortions. In the discriminator, a faster region‐based convolutional neural network (FRCNN) is incorporated for the task of object detection. Specifically, the discriminator outputs a distribution scalar to measure the realness. Then, each super‐resolved image passes through the discriminator with a realness distribution, classification scores, and bounding box regression offsets. Furthermore, the losses of the detection task are backpropagated into the generator during training rather than being optimized independently. Extensive experiments on the challenging cars overhead with context dataset (COWC), detectIon in optical remote sensing images (DIOR), vision meets drones (VisDrone), and dataset for object detection in aerial images (DOTA) demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in reconstructing structures while generating natural super‐resolved images and show the superiority of the proposed method in detecting small objects over state‐of‐the‐art detectors.

Abstract In recent decades, with the continuous development of high‐throughput sequencing technology, data volume in medical research has increased, at the same time, almost all clinical researchers have their own independent omics data, which provided a better condition for data mining and a deeper understanding of gene functions. However, for these large amounts of data, many common and cutting‐edge effective bioinformatics research methods still cannot be widely used. This has encouraged the establishment of many analytical platforms, a portion of databases or platforms were designed to solve the special analysis needs of users, for instance, MG RAST, IMG/M, Qiita, BIGSdb, and TRAPR were developed for specific omics research, and some databases or servers provide solutions for special problems solutions. Metascape was designed to only provide functional annotations of genes as well as function enrichment analysis; BioNumerics and RidomSeqSphere+ perform multilocus sequence typing; CARD provides only antimicrobial resistance annotations. Additionally, some web services are outdated, and inefficient interaction often fails to meet the needs of researchers, such as our previous versions of the platform. Therefore, the demand to complete massive data processing tasks urgently requires a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis platform. Hence, we have developed a website platform, Sangerbox 3.0 (http://vip.sangerbox.com/), a web‐based tool platform. On a user‐friendly interface that also supports differential analysis, the platform provides interactive customizable analysis tools, including various kinds of correlation analyses, pathway enrichment analysis, weighted correlation network analysis, and other common tools and functions, users only need to upload their own corresponding data into Sangerbox 3.0, select required parameters, submit, and wait for the results after the task has been completed. We have also established a new interactive plotting system that allows users to adjust the parameters in the image; moreover, optimized plotting performance enables users to adjust large‐capacity vector maps on the web site. At the same time, we have integrated GEO, TCGA, ICGC, and other databases and processed data in batches, greatly reducing the difficulty to obtain data and improving the efficiency of bioimformatics study for users. Finally, we also provide users with rich sources of bioinformatics analysis courses, offering a platform for researchers to share and exchange knowledge.

Abstract Aim The study aimed to explore the association between diabetes‐related distress as a dependent variable and fear of hypoglycaemia as a independent variable in Chinese individuals with type 2 diabetes, which can provide a basis for the development of effective nursing interventions. Design A cross‐sectional descriptive study. Methods Pre‐piloted scales were used to determine whether they experienced fear of hypoglycaemia and whether this impacted upon their management of the disease. From June–October 2019, participants were asked to complete the “hypoglycaemia fear survey” and “diabetes distress scales” to assess levels of fear and distress. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis was applied to reveal relationship between distress as a dependent variable and fear as a independent variable. Covariates included demographic, clinical or lifestyle factors. Results A total of 258 participants were recruited for the survey, and they were characterized by little or no distress (39.53%), moderate distress (45.35%) and high distress (15.12%). The prevalence of moderate to severe distress in patients was 60.47%. Increased diabetes‐related distress was strongly correlated with increased fear of hypoglycaemia and closely associated with the scores of the worry and behaviour subscales. These results indicated that 62.3% of diabetes‐related distress may be explained by fear of hypoglycaemia. Conclusion Increased diabetes‐related distress is associated with increased fear of hypoglycaemia in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Abstract Background Although Mex3 RNA‐binding family member A (Mex3a) has demonstrated an important role in multiple cancers, its role and regulatory mechanism in CRC is unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role and clinical significance of Mex3a in CRC and to explore its underlying mechanism. Methods Western blotting and quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) were performed to detect the expression levels of genes. 5‐Ethynyl‐2'‐deoxyuridine (EDU) and transwell assays were utilized to examine CRC cell proliferation and metastatic ability. The R software was used to do hierarchical clustering analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. Overexpression and rescue experiments which included U0126, a specific mitogen activated protein kinase kinase/extracellular regulated protein kinase (MEK/ERK) inhibitor, and PX‐478, a hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF‐1α) inhibitor, were used to study the molecular mechanisms of Mex3a in CRC cells. Co‐immunoprecipitation (Co‐IP) assay was performed to detect the interaction between two proteins. Bioinformatics analysis including available public database and Starbase software (starbase.sysu.edu.cn) were used to evaluate the expression and prognostic significance of genes. TargetScan (www.targetscan.org) and the miRDB (mirdb.org) website were used to predict the combination site between microRNA and target mRNA. BALB/c nude mice were used to study the function of Mex3a and hsa‐miR‐6887‐3p in vivo. Results Clinicopathological and immunohistochemical (IHC) studies of 101 CRC tissues and 79 normal tissues demonstrated that Mex3a was a significant prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in CRC patients. Mex3a knockdown substantially inhibited the migration, invasion, and proliferation of CRC cells. Transcriptome analysis and mechanism verification showed that Mex3a regulated the RAP1 GTPase activating protein (RAP1GAP)/MEK/ERK/HIF‐1α pathway. Furthermore, RAP1GAP was identified to interact with Mex3a in Co‐IP experiments. Bioinformatics and dual‐luciferase reporter experiments revealed that hsa‐miR‐6887‐3p could bind to the 3'‐untranslated regions (3'‐UTR) of the Mex3a mRNA. hsa‐miR‐6887‐3p downregulated Mex3a expression and inhibited the tumorigenesis of CRC both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that the hsa‐miR‐6887‐3p/Mex3a/RAP1GAP signaling axis was a key regulator of CRC and Mex3a has the potential to be a new diagnostic marker and treatment target for CRC.

Abstract Objective Cardiovascular diseases and vascular aging are common in patients with diabetes. High glucose is a major cause of vascular aging and cardiovascular diseases. Premature senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is one of the main contributors to vascular aging. Adiponectin has been demonstrated to have an anti‐aging effect. The present study explored the mechanisms by which adiponectin protects VSMCs against high‐glucose‐induced senescence. Methods Senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal) staining was used to detect senescence cells. Western blot was used for measuring protein levels. Flow cytometry was carried out to detect the cell cycle and telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP)–polymerase chain reaction (PCR) silver staining was selected to measure the telomerase activity. Results Premature senescence of VSMCs was induced by high glucose (30 mM) in a time‐dependent manner, which was verified by an increased number of senescence cells, p21 and p53 expression, as well as the decreased proliferation index. High glucose reduced telomerase activity of VSMCs via inhibition of the AMPK/TSC2/mTOR/S6K1 pathway and activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K1 pathway, while adiponectin treatment significantly increased telomerase activity of VSMCs through activation of AMPK/TSC2/mTOR/S6K1 signaling and inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K1 signaling. Conclusion Adiponectin attenuated the high‐glucose‐induced premature senescence of VSMCs via increasing telomerase activity of VSMCs, which was achieved by activation of AMPK/TSC2/mTOR/S6K1 signaling and inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR/S6K1 signaling.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While rapid progression (RP) has been proposed as a non‐negligible pattern of response to ICIs, its definition and related factors remain unclear. This study aimed to develop a clinical definition of RP and to identify related factors. Methods We retrospectively evaluated Chinese patients who had received an ICI as second‐line or later treatment for locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC at a single center. We defined RP as radiological progression at the first response assessment (

Patients with metastatic gastric cancer (GC) have a poor prognosis; however, the molecular mechanism of GC metastasis remains unclear. Here, we employed bioinformatics to systematically screen the metastasis‐associated genes and found that the levels of basal cell adhesion molecule (BCAM) were significantly increased in GC tissues from patients with metastasis, as compared to those without metastasis. The upregulation of BCAM was also significantly associated with a shorter survival time. Depletion of BCAM inhibited GC cell migration and invasion. Knockout (KO) of BCAM by the CRISPR/Cas9 system reduced the invasion and metastasis of GC cells. To explore the mechanism of BCAM upregulation, we identified a previously uncharacterized BCAM sense lncRNA that spanned from exon 6 to intron 6 of BCAM, and named it as BCAM‐associated long noncoding RNA (BAN). Knockdown of BAN inhibited BCAM expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of BAN suppressed GC cell migration and invasion, which was effectively rescued by ectopic expression of BCAM. Further clinical data showed that BAN upregulation was associated with GC metastasis and poor prognosis. Importantly, BAN expression was also significantly associated with that of BCAM in GC tissues. Taken together, these results indicate that increased expression of BCAM and its sense lncRNA BAN promote GC cell invasion and metastasis, and are associated with poor prognosis of GC patients.

Abstract Benefiting from the merits of low cost, ultrahigh‐energy densities, and environmentally friendliness, metal–sulfur batteries (M–S batteries) have drawn massive attention recently. However, their practical utilization is impeded by the shuttle effect and slow redox process of polysulfide. To solve these problems, enormous creative approaches have been employed to engineer new electrocatalytic materials to relieve the shuttle effect and promote the catalytic kinetics of polysulfides. In this review, recent advances on designing principles and active centers for polysulfide catalytic materials are systematically summarized. At first, the currently reported chemistries and mechanisms for the catalytic conversion of polysulfides are presented in detail. Subsequently, the rational design of polysulfide catalytic materials from catalytic polymers and frameworks to active sites loaded carbons for polysulfide catalysis to accelerate the reaction kinetics is comprehensively discussed. Current breakthroughs are highlighted and directions to guide future primary challenges, perspectives, and innovations are identified. Computational methods serve an ever‐increasing part in pushing forward the active center design. In summary, a cutting‐edge understanding to engineer different polysulfide catalysts is provided, and both experimental and theoretical guidance for optimizing future M–S batteries and many related battery systems are offered.

Aims. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in the diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study of 117 patients with proteinuria and diabetes mellitus (DM) in which 45 patients were diagnosed with DN by renal pathology. Demographic information, clinical features, and laboratory data were collected. A total of 234 eyes underwent evaluation of DR and the CVI using enhanced depth imaging-optical coherence tomography scans. We analyzed the association between the CVI and DN and compared the CVI and DR for diagnosing DN using area under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROCs). Results. The severe nonproliferative DR and proliferative DR groups showed a lower CVI than the no DR and mild/moderate nonproliferative DR groups (P

The global production of farmed Atlantic salmon amounts to over 2 million tons per year. Consumed all over the world, salmon is not only delicious but also nutritious. This paper deals with the relationship between moisture content, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and sensory evaluation in the baking process of salmon. An artificial neural network (ANN) model has been established to simulate the change of moisture content and energy consumed in the baking process. Through the study of LF-NMR, SEM, and sensory evaluation, it was found that the change of sensory indexes was consistent with the results observed by LF-NMR and SEM. With the increase of temperature, muscle fibers contracted, the interstices increased, the rate of water loss increased, and the sensory score decreased. Initial moisture content, baking time, baking temperature, baking humidity, and baking air velocity were employed as the baking control parameters for the ANN. ANN can be used to determine the moisture content and energy consumed of baking salmon. The best network topology occurred with 5 input layer neurons, 17 hidden layer neurons, and 2 output layer neurons, and the MSE was 0.00153, and Rall was 0.99661. According to the experiment, it was demonstrated that the ANN is a reliable software-based method.

Abstract Background Accumulated evidence has indicated that a high‐normal FT4 level is an independent risk factor for the clinical progression of AF. However, the association between elevated FT4 concentration within the normal range and AF recurrence after cryoballoon ablation in China is unknown. Methods This retrospective and observational study included 453 AF patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation from January 2016 to August 2018. Patients were classified into quartiles based on preprocedural serum FT4 concentration. The clinical characteristics of the patients and the long‐term rate of AF recurrence after ablation were assessed. Results After a mean follow‐up period of 17.4 ± 9.0 months, 91 (20.1%) patients suffered from AF recurrence. The AF recurrence rate by FT4 quartile was 17.7%, 19.0%, 21.4%, and 22.3% for participants with FT4 in quartile 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively (p

How do investors require a distribution of the wealth among multiple risky assets while facing the risk of the uncontrollable payment for random liabilities? To cope with this problem, firstly, this paper explores the approach of asset-liability management under the state-dependent risk aversion with only risky assets, which has been considered under a continuous-time Markov regime-switching setting. Next, based on this realistic modelling, an extended Hamilton-Jacob-Bellman (HJB) system has been necessarily established for solving the optimization problem of asset-liability management. It has been derived closed-form analytical expressions applied in the time-inconsistent investment with optimal control theory to see that happens to the optimal value of the function. Ultimately, numerical examples presented with comparisons of the analytical results under different market conditions are exposed to analyse numerically the developed mean variance asset liability management strategy. We find that our proposed model can explain the financial phenomena more effectively and accurately.

Abstract The formation of the soluble polysulfides (Na2Sn, 4 ≤ n ≤ 8) causes poor cycling performance for room temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) batteries. Moreover, the formation of insoluble polysulfides (Na2Sn, 2 ≤ n < 4) can slow down the reaction kinetics and terminate the discharge reaction before it reaches the final product. In this work, coffee residue derived activated ultramicroporous coffee carbon (ACC) material loading with small sulfur molecules (S2–4) as cathode material for RT Na–S batteries is reported. The first principle calculations indicate the space confinement of the slit ultramicropores can effectively suppress the formation of polysulfides (Na2Sn, 2 ≤ n ≤ 8). Combining with in situ UV/vis spectroscopy measurements, one‐step reaction RT Na–S batteries with Na2S as the only and final discharge product without polysulfides formation are demonstrated. As a result, the ultramicroporous carbon loaded with 40 wt% sulfur delivers a high reversible specific capacity of 1492 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C (1 C = 1675 mA g−1). When cycled at 1 C rate, the carbon–sulfur composite electrode exhibits almost no capacity fading after 2000 cycles with 100% coulombic efficiency, revealing excellent cycling stability and reversibility. The superb cycling stability and rate performance demonstrate ultramicropore confinement can be an effective strategy to develop high performance cathode for RT Na–S batteries.

Fundamental understanding of the dissociation mode of 〈c + a〉 dislocations on the 101¯1 plane is required before the goal of improving the ductility of Mg alloys attained. In this study, our density-functional theory calculations reveal that the atoms in the 101¯1 plane slip along a zigzag trace through a low-energy pathway. We thus propose a novel zigzag dissociation mode based on this slip trace. In particular, the shuffling motion of atoms is observed at the position of stable stacking fault, which is closely related to the c/a ratio of the hexagonal closed-packed lattices.

Acupuncture is widely used in the clinical treatment of liver cirrhosis (LC) in China. However, the efficacy of acupuncture on LC has not been fully confirmed by systematic analysis. This current meta-analysis evaluated the impact effect of acupuncture on patients with LC. We conducted a systematic literature search of the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Database (SinoMed), VIP medicine information system, Wanfang Data, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase. Further, we used Review Manager 5.3 software for the analysis of the data and Stata 14.0 software for the Egger test to assess publication bias. Fifteen studies involving 1066 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The primary outcome was the efficacy rate of acupuncture therapy. The secondary outcomes were impact on acupuncture on liver function grading assessment and lab tests related to liver functions. The result suggested that acupuncture is an effective treatment option for patients with LC as a complementary therapy. However, the recommendation is weak due to some limitations of the included studies.

In order to tackle the problem of how investors in financial markets allocate wealth to stochastic interest rate governed by a nested stochastic differential equations (SDEs), this paper employs the Nash equilibrium theory of the subgame perfect equilibrium strategy and propose an extended Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (HJB) equation to analyses the optimal control over the financial system involving stochastic interest rate and state-dependent risk aversion (SDRA) mean-variance utility. By solving the corresponding nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) deduced from the extended HJB equation, the analytical solutions of the optimal investment strategies under time inconsistency are derived. Finally, the numerical examples provided are used to analyze how stochastic (short-term) interest rates and risk aversion affect the optimal control strategies to illustrate the validity of our results.

Abstract Glutathione S‐transferase M (GSTM) family is concerned with oxidative stress, which is associated with breast carcinogenesis and chemotherapy response. The null polymorphism of GSTM1 gene results in a thorough absence of the enzyme function. Our study was to evaluate the association between GSTM1 null/present polymorphism and chemotherapy treatment outcome in breast cancer patients. A total of unrelated 714 patients with a histologically confirmed breast cancer were randomly selected from two independent cancer centers. Polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze null/present genotypes of GSTM1 in our study. Our study found that the present genotype of GSTM1 was associated with a better relapse‐free survival (RFS) (P = .03) with adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 0.63 (95% CI: 0.42‐0.93). The present genotype of GSTM1 was significantly correlated with a better RFS compared with the null genotype in the nonchemotherapy group (HR = 0.17, 95% CI: 0.06‐0.50; P = 0.001), but no effect was observed in the chemotherapy group (HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.52‐1.26; P = 0.35). Moreover, the interaction between the GSTM1‐null/present genotype and adjuvant chemotherapy was significant (P = 0.04) in further analysis. Our study suggests that the GSTM1 polymorphism plays a complex role in influencing the chemotherapy response and breast cancer survival. It is suggested that the GSTM1‐present genotype might prevent progression in breast cancer patients. In the meanwhile, it could damage the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy as well in certain ways.

Objective: To evaluate the parathyroid function in maintenance hemodialysis patients from 4 hemodialysis centers and to analyze the cause of the dysfunction. Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients with chronic renal disease undergoing maintenance hemodialysis treatment at 4 hemodialysis centers in Changchun, China, between March 2014 and August 2015. A total of 337 patients were asked to complete a questionnaire including their name, gender, age, hemodialysis duration, the use of calcium carbonate and vitamin D3 supplements, health education status, hemofiltration frequency, appetite, and education level. Serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), phosphorus, total calcium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (Cre) levels were obtained from clinical information. Patients with iPTH data were divided into 2 groups: Normal group: the patients with an iPTH level  100 pg/ml (136 subjects). Intergroup differences were analyzed using the t-test. The enumeration data were analyzed by the Ï2 test. Results: The iPTH levels were not monitored for 173 maintenance hemodialysis patients (51.3%) but for 164 patients (48.7%). Of the 164 patients, 28 (17.1%) had a normal serum iPTH level, while the other 136 (82.9%) had an abnormal iPTH level. The maintenance hemodialysis duration and phosphorus levels in the Abnormal group were higher than those in the Normal group (PÂ

Background Current treatment guidelines strongly recommend statin therapy for secondary prevention. However, it remains unclear whether patients’ perceptions of cardiovascular risk, beliefs on cholesterol, or the intensity of prescribed statin therapy differs for patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) versus cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) versus both CAD and CeVD (CAD&CeVD). Methods and Results The PALM (Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management) registry collected data on statin use, intensity, and core laboratory low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels for 3232 secondary prevention patients treated at 133 US clinics. Among individuals with CeVD only (n=403), CAD only (n=2202), and CeVD&CAD (n=627), no significant differences were observed in patient‐perceived cardiovascular disease risk, beliefs on cholesterol lowering, or perceived effectiveness and safety of statin therapy. However, patients with CeVD only were less likely to receive any statin therapy (76.2% versus 86.2%; adjusted odds ratio 0.64, 95% CI 0.45–0.91), or guideline‐recommended statin intensity (34.6% versus 50.4%; adjusted odds ratio 0.60, 95% CI 0.45–0.81) than those with CAD only. Individuals with CeVD only were also less likely to achieve low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol

Abstract Surfactin is one of the most widely studied biosurfactants due to its many potential applications in different fields. In the present study, Bacillus velezensis BS‐37, initially identified as a strain of Bacillus subtilis, was used to efficiently produce surfactin with the addition of glycerol, an inexpensive by‐product of biodiesel production. After 36 hr of growth in glycerol medium, the total surfactin concentration reached more than 1,000 mg/L, which was two times higher than that in sucrose medium. Moreover, the addition of l‐ and d‐Leu to the culture medium had opposite effects on surfactin production by BS‐37. While surfactin production increased significantly to nearly 2,000 mg/L with the addition of 10 mM l‐Leu, it was dramatically reduced to about 250 mg/L with the addition of 10 mM d‐Leu. To systemically elucidate the mechanisms influencing the efficiency of this biosynthesis process, we sequenced the genome of BS‐37 and analyzed changes of the transcriptome in glycerol medium in response to d‐/l‐leucine. The RPKM analysis of the transcriptome of BS‐37 showed that the transcription levels of genes encoding modular surfactin synthase, the glycerol utilization pathway, and branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) synthesis pathways were all at a relatively high level, which may offered an explanation why this strain can efficiently use glycerol to produce surfactin with a high yield. Neither l‐Leu nor d‐Leu had a significant effect on the expression of genes in these pathways, indicating that l‐Leu plays an important role as a precursor or substrate involved in surfactin production, while d‐Leu appears to act as a competitive inhibitor. The results of the present study provide new insights into the synthesis of surfactin and ways of its regulation, and enrich the genomic and transcriptomic resources available for the construction of high‐producing strains.

This study proposes an improved interferogram filtering method with mathematical morphology. The algorithm firstly converts the interferogram in cosine and sine parts to preserve the continuity of phases, then adopts the improved adaptive line structure elements to run reconstruction process on two parts based on grey scale morphological opening and closing operations. In addition combine the two filtered parts to get the wrapped phases. Simulated and real-data experiments show that the proposed algorithm is more robust in filtering compared with other algorithms referred in this study.

Room temperature vulcanised (RTV) silicone rubber is widely used in electrical power system, applied to the glass or porcelain insulator surface to enhance insulation. RTV coatings get contaminated after long-term operation and need to be recoated. Contaminants accumulate and embed into the surface of base RTV coating, forming a hard-to-remove inorganic transition layer. Such sandwiched contaminant layer destroys the adhesion between original and reapplied silicone rubber coating greatly. Authors’ study innovatively reports a method to enhance interfacial bond properties of the RTV recoating with sandwiched contaminant layer, by using an atmospheric-pulsed discharge plasma jet (APPJ) for surface treatment. Water boiling test and 180-degree peel test were conducted to evaluate interfacial bond properties macroscopically. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to observe the cross-section of recoating interface, while Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to detect chemical changes of contaminant layer, giving out microscopic and theoretical explanation.

Background Many adults eligible for statin therapy for cardiovascular disease prevention are untreated. Our objective was to investigate patient‐reported reasons for statin underutilization, including noninitiation, refusal, and discontinuation. Methods and Results This study included the 5693 adults recommended for statin therapy in the PALM (Patient and Provider Assessment of Lipid Management) registry. Patient surveys evaluated statin experience, reasons for declining or discontinuing statins, and beliefs about statins and cardiovascular disease risk. Overall, 1511 of 5693 adults (26.5%) were not on treatment. Of those not on a statin, 894 (59.2%) reported never being offered a statin, 153 (10.1%) declined a statin, and 464 (30.7%) had discontinued therapy. Women (relative risk: 1.22), black adults (relative risk: 1.48), and those without insurance (relative risk: 1.38) were most likely to report never being offered a statin. Fear of side effects and perceived side effects were the most common reasons cited for declining or discontinuing a statin. Compared with statin users, those who declined or discontinued statins were less likely to believe statins are safe (70.4% of current users vs. 36.9% of those who declined and 37.4% of those who discontinued) or effective (86.3%, 67.4%, and 69.1%, respectively). Willingness to take a statin was high; 67.7% of those never offered and 59.7% of patients who discontinued a statin would consider initiating or retrying a statin. Conclusions More than half of patients eligible for statin therapy but not on treatment reported never being offered one by their doctor. Concern about side effects was the leading reason for statin refusal or discontinuation. Many patients were willing to reconsider statin therapy if offered.