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Abstract The antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition is a basic principle that holds promise for antiferroelectric ceramics in high capacitance density nonlinear capacitors. So far, the property optimization based on antiferroelectric-ferroelectric transition is solely undertaken by chemical composition tailoring. Alternately, here we propose a phase transition engineering tactic by applying pulsed electric stimulus near the critical electric field, which finally results in ~54.3% enhancement and quick stabilization of capacitance density in Pb0.97La0.02(Zr0.35Sn0.55Ti0.10)O3 antiferroelectric ceramics. Ex-situ and in-situ structural characterizations show that electric stimuli can induce the charming successive structural evolution, including domain evolution from multidomain to monodomain state, and modulation period change from 7.49 to 7.73. Structure-property correlation indicates that the antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition engineering mainly stems from the unexpected irreversible recovery of the modulated structures. The present findings would deepen the understanding of the structural phase transition and provoke composition-independent post-treatment property innovation in the incommensurate antiferroelectric materials and devices.

Abstract Rechargeable batteries with high durability over wide temperature is needed in aerospace and submarine fields. Unfortunately, Current battery technologies suffer from limited operating temperatures due to the rapid performance decay at extreme temperatures. A major challenge for wide-temperature electrolyte design lies in restricting the parasitic reactions at elevated temperatures while improving the reaction kinetics at low temperatures. Here, we demonstrate a temperature-adaptive electrolyte design by regulating the dipole-dipole interactions at various temperatures to simultaneously address the issues at both elevated and subzero temperatures. This approach prevents electrolyte degradation while endowing it with the ability to undergo adaptive changes as temperature varies. Such electrolyte favors to form solvation structure with high thermal stability with rising temperatures and transits to one that prevents salt precipitation at lower temperatures. This ensures stably within a wide temperature range of ‒60 −55 °C. This temperature-adaptive electrolyte opens an avenue for wide-temperature electrolyte design, highlighting the significance of dipole-dipole interactions in regulating solvation structures.

Abstract Background Although hypertension is a significant public health challenge globally, only a few studies have assessed the effectiveness of risk factor control and adherence to recommended lifestyle among United States hypertension patients. Methods In this study, a detailed, stratified analysis of the 1999–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted to assess the adequacy of risk factor control and conformity to recommended lifestyle among United States patients with hypertension. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify influencing factors associated with not acheving risk factors and lifestyle targets. Results A total of 21,770 participants (mean age, 62 ± 15 years) were enrolled in this study. About one in five (20%) participants achieved the recommended body mass index goal, 40% achieved the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goal, and 30% achieved the recommended waist circumference. Most patients (80%) achieved the recommended smoking goal, 58% met the recommended alcohol consumption, and 19% achieved the recommended physical activity goal. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that age, gender, race, education, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes mellitus were independent predictors of not achieving risk factors and lifestyle targets. Conclusions Controlling risk factors and adherence to recommended lifestyles are not ideal for hypertension patients. Therefore, further research should assess how to improve the compliance rate and take targeted measures based on influencing factors for long-term prognosis.

Abstract Background Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the optimal radiotherapy regimen, particularly in terms of total dose and planned range of irradiation field, remains unclear. This phase III clinical trial aimed to compare the survival benefits between different radiation doses and different target fields. Methods This trial compared two aspects of radiation treatment, total dose and field, using a two‐by‐two factorial design. The high‐dose (HD) group received 59.4 Gy radiation, and the standard‐dose (SD) group received 50.4 Gy. The involved field irradiation (IFI) group and elective nodal irradiation (ENI) group adopted different irradiation ranges. The participants were assigned to one of the four groups (HD+ENI, HD+IFI, SD+ENI and SD+IFI). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints included progression‐free survival (PFS). The synergy indexwas used to measure the interaction effect between dose and field. Results The interaction analysis did not reveal significant synergistic effects between the dose and irradiation field. In comparison to the target field, patients in IFI or ENI showed similar OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.80‐1.23, p = 0.930) and PFS (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.82–1.25). The HD treatment did not show significantly prolonged OS compared with SD (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.72–1.11, p = 0.318), but it suggested improved PFS (25.2 months to 18.0 months). Among the four groups, the HD+IFI group presented the best survival, while the SD+IFI group had the worst prognosis. No significant difference in the occurrence of severe adverse events was found in dose or field comparisons. Conclusions IFI demonstrated similar treatment efficacy to ENI in CCRT of ESCC. The HD demonstrated improved PFS, but did not significantly improve OS. The dose escalation based on IFI (HD+IFI) showed better therapeutic efficacy than the current recommendation (SD+ENI) and is worth further validation.

Abstract Aims The endoscopic treatment of esophagogastric varices is challenging, and the nationwide application of endoscopic therapies for various types of esophagogastric varices and different clinical scenarios remains unclear. This study investigated the use of endoscopic therapy for portal hypertension in China. Methods This study used a questionnaire survey initiated by the Liver Health Consortium in China to investigate the use of endoscopic therapies for portal hypertension. Questionnaires were released online from January 30, 2023 to February 28, 2023 and filled out by chief physicians or senior instructors responsible for endoscopic therapies in participating hospitals across 31 provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities) in China. Comparisons of guideline adherence between primary and referral medical centers were performed using the chi‐square test or Fisher's exact test. Results In total, 836 hospitals participated in the survey. For primary and secondary prophylaxis of esophagogastric variceal bleeding (EGVB), adherence to the national guidelines was 72.5% (606/836) and 39.2% (328/836), respectively. Significant differences were observed in the rate of adherence between the primary and referral centers for primary (79.9% [111/139] vs. 71.0% [495/697], p = 0.033) and secondary prophylaxis (27.3% [38/139] vs. 41.6% [290/697], p = 0.002). Of the hospitals, 78.2% (654/836) preferred endoscopic therapies for acute EGVB, and the timing of endoscopy was usually within 12 h (48.5%, 317/654) and 12–24 h (36.9%, 241/654) after bleeding. Endoscopic therapy was more likely to be the first choice of treatment for acute EGVB in referral centers than in primary centers (82.6% [576/697] vs. 56.1% [78/139], p

Abstract Objective To investigate the impact of vitamin A (VA), vitamin D (VD), and homocysteine (Hcy) on cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM). Methods This study is a cross-sectional study conducted in Ningxia Province, China. A total of 5000 participants aged 25–74 were recruited and divided into two groups based on the definition of cardiometabolic multimorbidity: the CMM group and the Non CMM group. Demographic, lifestyle, and laboratory data were collected to investigate the correlation between vitamin A, D, Hcy levels and CMM risk. The association was analyzed using multiple logistic regression and restricted cubic spline method. Results CMM incidence increased with age, being higher in females (20.05%) compared to males, Hypertension was present in 96.20% of CMM cases. Reduced VD levels correlated with an elevated CMM risk (OR = 1.799, 95% CI: 1.466–2.238), showing an inverse dose-response relationship, even after adjusting for confounders (OR = 1.553, 95% CI: 1.233–1.956). However, VA and Hcy levels were not significantly associated with CMM risk. The inverse correlation between VD status and CMM risk was more pronounced in males, obese individuals, and those with normal blood lipid profiles (P

In the last 40 years, there has been a notable rise in the occurrence of diabetes within China, leading to the country now having the highest number of individuals affected by this condition globally. This prospective observational study examined the effect of different baseline relative leukocyte telomere length (RTL) and the combined effect of baseline RTL and plasma phospholipid fatty acid (PPFA) on the risk of developing diabetes. Adults from Ningxia Province who underwent baseline and follow-up surveys were included in the study. The correlation between the baseline RTL and PPFA was investigated using a multiple linear regression model. The combined effects of baseline RTL and PPFA levels on the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were investigated using a Cox regression model with time as the covariate. A total of 1461 study subjects were included in this study. According to the diagnostic criteria of the Chinese Diabetes Society, 141 subjects developed T2DM during the follow-up period. The baseline age was negatively correlated with RTL. After adjustment for age, C16:0, C18:1 n-9, C20:4 n-6, C20:3 n-3, and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) concentrations were negatively correlated with RTL. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that C16:0 and MUFA concentrations influenced RTL. Subjects with shorter RTL at baseline had a higher risk of developing diabetes than those with longer RTL. Subjects with shorter RTL and higher C16:0 and MUFA concentrations at baseline had a higher risk of developing T2DM than those with longer RTL and lower C16:0 and MUFA concentrations. Our findings indicated that PPFA affects changes in RTL. In addition, RTL and PPFA are associated with the occurrence of T2DM.

Abstract Aphids cause enormous financial losses to various crop plants on a global scale. Moreover, aphids are vectors for many plant viral diseases that can further hasten crop yield losses. Aphids secrete saliva during feeding that contains effectors that can regulate plants' defense responses and their underlying mechanisms. Although much research has been undertaken to determine the mechanisms contributing to plant-aphid interactions, our understanding of defense mechanisms against aphids is insufficient. The presence of piercing-sucking mouthparts in aphids makes the identification of aphid resistance more challenging, hindering our understanding of the mechanisms of plant resistance to aphids. In this article, we consolidate and assess the evidence that is currently available on plant-aphid interactions, address the gaps in our understanding, and propose new research directions. As an outcome, we present an in-depth review of the molecular mechanisms of aphid resistance in crops from five perspectives: physical protection against aphids using volatile compounds, PAMP-triggered immunity (PTI), effector-triggered immunity (ETI), plant hormone signaling and the inheritance of induced resistance through epigenetics.

ABSTRACT Background Nab‐sirolimus (ABI‐009, nab‐rapamycin; Aadi Bioscience Inc. [Aadi]) is a human albumin‐bound form of sirolimus nanoparticles, a potent mTOR inhibitor. This phase I trial was conducted to define dose‐limiting toxicities (DLT), maximum tolerated or recommended phase II dose (MTD/RP2D), and pharmacokinetics of Nab‐sirolimus in combination with temozolomide and irinotecan. Methods Using a rolling 6 design, Nab‐sirolimus was administered intravenously (IV) on days (D) 1 and 8 of cycle (C) 1. In subsequent cycles, Nab‐sirolimus was administered D1 and D8 in combination with temozolomide (125 mg/m2/dose, maximum 250 mg/dose) and irinotecan (90 mg/m2/dose) orally, daily on D1–5. Cycle duration was 21 days. Three dose levels (DL) of Nab‐sirolimus were investigated (DL1: 35 mg/m2/dose, DL‐1: 20 mg/m2/dose, and DL‐2: 15 mg/m2/dose). The observation period for estimating the MTD/RP2D was defined by cycles 1 and 2. Results Thirty‐three patients were enrolled, 32 were eligible. Dose determination included 17 evaluable patients, median (range) age 12 (2–20) years and six additional patients were enrolled (four evaluable for toxicity) on a pharmacokinetic cohort. C1 or C2 DLTs were primarily thrombocytopenia including 2/5 patients at DL1, 2/6 patients at DL‐1, and 1/6 patients at DL‐2. One patient (DL1) with Ewing Sarcoma had a partial response and remained on study for 35 cycles. Rapamycin clearance was dose dependent. Irinotecan clearance and its active metabolite SN‐38 exposure were not affected by coadministration with Nab‐sirolimus. Conclusion The MTD for Nab‐sirolimus was 15 mg/m2/dose IV on D1 and D8 in combination with temozolomide 125 mg/m2/dose and oral irinotecan 90 mg/m2/dose daily for 5 days during 21D cycles. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02975882

Maize plant architecture influences planting density and, in turn, grain yield. Most of the plant architecture-related traits can be described as organ size. We describe a miniature maize mutant, Tiny plant 4 (Tip4), which exhibits reduced size of multiple organs and exhibits a semi-dominant monofactorial inheritance characteristic. Positional cloning confirmed that a 4-bp deletion in the NAC TF with transmembrane motif 1-Like (NTL) gene ZmNTL2, denoted as ZmNTL2Δ, confers the Tip4 mutation. qRT-PCR showed that ZmNTL2 was expressed in all tested tissues. ZmNTL2 functions as a transcriptional activator and is located in both the nucleus and biomembranes. The mutation does not affect the mRNA abundance of ZmNTL2 locus, but it does result in the loss of transmembrane domain and confines the ZmNTL2Δ protein to the nucleus. Knocking out ZmNTL2 has no effect on maize organ size development, indicating that the 4-bp deletion might be a gain-of-function mutation in organ size regulation. Combining transcriptome sequencing with cytokinin and auxin content determination suggests that the decreased organ size may be possibly mediated by changes in hormone homeostasis.

Abstract The subthalamic nucleus (STN) is pivotal in basal ganglia function in health and disease. Micro-electrode recordings of >25,000 recording sites from 146 Parkinson’s patients undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) allowed differentiation between subthalamic input, represented by local field potential (LFP), and output, reflected in spike discharge rate (SPK). As with many natural systems, STN neuronal activity exhibits power-law dynamics characterized by the exponent α. We, therefore, dissected STN data into aperiodic and periodic components using the Fitting Oscillations & One Over F (FOOOF) tool. STN LFP showed significantly higher aperiodic exponents than SPK. Additionally, SPK beta oscillations demonstrated a downward frequency shift compared to LFP. Finally, the STN aperiodic and spiking parameters explained a significant fraction of the variance of the burden and treatment efficacy of Parkinson’s disease. The unique STN input-output dynamics may clarify its role in Parkinson’s physiology and can be utilized in closed-loop DBS therapy.

The S(IV)–Fe(II)/PM pretreatment has demonstrated preliminary potential as an effective ultrafiltration (UF) pretreatment technology. However, a comprehensive understanding of its impact on UF membrane fouling control and the dynamic evolution of membrane fouling during prolonged operation is still lacking. In this study, a relatively prolonged fouling experiment was conducted. Results revealed that the S(IV)–Fe(II)/PM pretreatment exhibited superior performance over Al(III) coagulation pretreatment in mitigating the transmembrane pressure difference and addressing both reversible and irreversible membrane fouling. The application of a cluster analysis method to classify membrane fouling evolution stages further confirmed that S(IV)–Fe(II)/PM pretreatment effectively decelerated the rate of membrane fouling evolution. The surface cake layer of UF membranes pretreated with S(IV)–Fe(II)/PM exhibited greater looseness and smoothness. It also showed better results than Al(III) coagulation pretreatment in reducing the accumulation of organic foulants, controlling the Si content and reducing the total microorganisms and live microorganisms in the UF feed water. Variance Partitioning Analysis indicated that the combined contribution of organic, inorganic, and biological foulants was the most significant for UF membranes after S(IV)–Fe(II)/PM pretreatment (50.4%) and UF membranes after Al(III) coagulation pretreatment (70.2%). These findings underscore the efficacy of S(IV)–Fe(II)/PM pretreatment in controlling UF membrane fouling under prolonged operation. HIGHLIGHTS S(IV)/Fe(II)/PM pretreatment efficiently mitigated UF membrane fouling during long-term operation.; S(IV)/Fe(II)/PM pretreatment yielded a long uncontaminated stage and accelerated contaminated stage.; S(IV)/Fe(II)/PM pretreatment suppressed the contribution of organic–inorganic–biological composite fouling.;

Abstract Background Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is pivotal in Crohn’s disease (CD) and modulated by host physiological conditions. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a promising treatment for CD that can regulate gut microbiota. The relationship between HBOT and the gut microbiota in CD remains unknown. Methods CD patients were divided into an HBOT group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10) in this open-label prospective interventional study. The fecal samples before and after HBOT were used for 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). A colitis mouse model was constructed using dextran sulfate sodium, and intestinal and systematic inflammation was evaluated. The safety and long-term effect of HBOT were observed. Results HBOT significantly reduced the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) (80.79 ± 42.05 mg/L vs. 33.32 ± 18.31 mg/L, P = 0.004) and the Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) (274.87 ± 65.54 vs. 221.54 ± 41.89, P = 0.044). HBOT elevated the declined microbial diversity and ameliorated the altered composition of gut microbiota in patients with CD. The relative abundance of Escherichia decreased, and that of Bifidobacterium and Clostridium XIVa increased after HBOT. Mice receiving FMT from donors after HBOT had significantly less intestinal inflammation and serum CRP than the group before HBOT. HBOT was safe and well-tolerated by patients with CD. Combined with ustekinumab, more patients treated with HBOT achieved clinical response (30%vs.70%, P = 0.089) and remission (20%vs.50%, P = 0.160) at week 4. Conclusions HBOT modulates the dysbiosis of gut microbiota in CD and ameliorates intestinal and systematic inflammation. HBOT is a safe option for CD and exhibits a promising auxiliary effect to ustekinumab. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2200061193. Registered 15 June 2022, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=171605 .

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are used to relieve and refuel anti-tumor immunity by blocking the interaction, transcription, and translation of co-inhibitory immune checkpoints or degrading co-inhibitory immune checkpoints. Thousands of small molecule drugs or biological materials, especially antibody-based ICIs, are actively being studied and antibodies are currently widely used. Limitations, such as anti-tumor efficacy, poor membrane permeability, and unneglected tolerance issues of antibody-based ICIs, remain evident but are thought to be overcome by small molecule drugs. Recent structural studies have broadened the scope of candidate immune checkpoint molecules, as well as innovative chemical inhibitors. By way of comparison, small molecule drug-based ICIs represent superior oral bioavailability and favorable pharmacokinetic features. Several ongoing clinical trials are exploring the synergetic effect of ICIs and other therapeutic strategies based on multiple ICI functions, including immune regulation, anti-angiogenesis, and cell cycle regulation. In this review we summarized the current progression of small molecule ICIs and the mechanism underlying immune checkpoint proteins, which will lay the foundation for further exploration.

Abstract The therapeutic efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy is largely restricted by reduced viability and dysfunction of CD8+ T cells. Continuous antigen stimulation disrupts the expansion, effector function, and metabolic fitness of CD8+ T cells, leading to their differentiation into an exhausted state within the tumor microenvironment (TME). While the function of the cell cycle negative regulator p16 in senescent cells is well understood, its role in T cell exhaustion remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that TCR stimulation of CD8+ T cells rapidly upregulates p16 expression, with its levels positively correlating with TCR affinity. Chronic TCR stimulation further increased p16 expression, leading to CD8+ T cell apoptosis and exhaustion differentiation, without inducing DNA damage or cell senescence. Mechanistic investigations revealed that p16 downregulates mTOR, glycolysis, and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) associated gene expression, resulting in impaired mitochondrial fitness, reduced T cell viability, and diminished effector function. Furthermore, the deletion of p16 significantly enhances the persistence of CD8+ T cells within tumors and suppresses the terminal exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Overall, our findings elucidate how increased p16 expression reshapes T cell intracellular metabolism, drives T cell apoptosis and exhaustion differentiation, and ultimately impairs T cell anti-tumor function.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology. Although the pharmacotherapies for Crohn’s disease are constantly updating, nutritional support and adjuvant therapies have recently gained more attention. Due to advancements in clinical nutrition, various clinical nutritional therapies are used to treat Crohn’s disease. Doctors treating inflammatory bowel disease can now offer several diets with more flexibility than ever. The Crohn’s disease exclusion diet is a widely used diet for patients with active Crohn’s disease. The Crohn’s disease exclusion diet requires both exclusion and inclusion. Periodic exclusion of harmful foods and inclusion of wholesome foods gradually improves a patient’s nutritional status. This article reviews the Crohn’s disease exclusion diet, including its structure, mechanisms, research findings, and clinical applications.

Abstract Background Previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between adipocyte factors, insulin resistance, and other indicators with telomere length. However, these studies did not consider the influence of changes in different indicators on telomere length over time. Therefore, the aim of this study is to elucidate the impact of changes in adipocyte factors, HOMA-IR, and other indicators on the dynamic variation of telomere length. Methods The data were from a cohort study conducted in Ningxia, China. A total of 1624 subjects were analyzed. Adipokines and relative leukocyte telomere length (RLTL) were measured, and changes in Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), Homeostatic Model Assessment for β-Cell Function (HOMA-β), and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) were calculated. Generalized linear models evaluated associations between changes in adipokines and RLTL changes. Furthermore, univariate analyses examined the effects of changes in adipokines and insulin resistance indicators on ΔRLTL. Results The research findings indicate that females generally have shorter telomeres compared to males. In comparison to the low-level group of Δleptin (LEP), the high-level group of ΔLEP shows a negative correlation with ΔRLTL (B=-1.32, 95% CI (-2.38, -0.27)). Even after multivariable adjustments, this relationship persists (B=-1.31, 95% CI (-2.24, -0.23)). Further analysis reveals that after adjusting for ΔHOMA-IR, ΔHOMA-β, and ΔQUICKI, the high-level group of ΔLEP still exhibits a significant negative correlation with ΔRLTL (B=-1.37, 95% CI (-2.43, -0.31)). However, the interaction effects between ΔHOMA-IR, ΔHOMA-β, ΔQUICKI, and ΔLEP do not affect ΔRLTL. Conclusions Elevated levels of leptin were significantly correlated with shortened telomere length. This suggests that increased leptin levels may impact overall individual health by affecting telomere length, underscoring the importance of measures to reduce leptin levels to mitigate the onset and progression of related diseases.

In recent years, the utilization of solar energy for conversion of CO2 into fuels has emerged as a promising strategy for mitigating the Greenhouse effect. However, transport efficiency of photogenerated carriers plays a crucial role in determining the efficacy of CO2 photocatalytic reaction. In this paper, a 2D/2D composite material consisting of NiFe-LDH/MoS2, presenting high efficiency in separating photogenerated electron-hole pairs, has been successfully synthesized using a straightforward hydrothermal method. XRD, XPS, FTIR and other characterization results proved that the composite was successfully prepared, and its unique direct Z-scheme heterostructure improved the efficiency of CO2 photocatalytic reduction effectively. The composite material NiFe-LDH/MoS2 demonstrated enhanced rate of photo-induced electron-hole pair separation comparing with pure NiFe-LDH. Apart from this, the charge transfer resistance was reduced simultaneously, the composite material exhibited perfect photocatalytic activity. In photocatalytic reduction reaction experiment, CO yield of NiFe-LDH/MoS2 can reach 10.72 μmol/g, which is 3.93-fold and 4.17-fold that of bare NiFe-LDH and MoS2. The cyclic test also shows that the catalyst has good stability under visible light irradiation.

Skin pathological fibrosis conditions, such as hypertrophic scars (HS) and keloids, where the scar tissue is raised and extends beyond the original wound boundary, are aesthetically unappealing and sometimes painful or itchy, significantly impacting the life quality of patients. In this review, the advances of nanobiomaterials in treating skin pathological fibrosis are summarized and discussed. The focus is on the therapeutic approaches to cellular and molecular targets of HS, highlighting the potential of nanotechnology in scar management. The biofunctional nanomaterials can modulate inflammation, regulate angiogenesis, and promote fibroblast apoptosis. The nanotechnology‐based drug delivery systems such as liposomes, ethosomes, and dendritic macromolecules can improve the solubility, stability, and efficacy of drugs, and enhance precise delivery, resulting in better outcomes in HS therapy. Integrating nanomaterials or nanostructures into hydrogels, nanofibers, and microneedles can enhance the biological functionality and maximize the therapeutic effect of nanoparticles (NPs) at the wound site. The important potential of nanotechnology‐based scar treatment should be further explored to overcome the current challenges and promote its application in clinical practice.

ABSTRACT Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is an unbiased and rapid method for detecting pathogens. This study enrolled 145 suspected severe pneumonia patients who were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University. This study primarily aimed to determine the diagnostic performance of mNGS and conventional microbiological tests (CMTs) using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid samples for detecting pathogens. Our findings indicated that mNGS performed significantly higher sensitivity (97.54% vs 28.68%, P < 0.001), coincidence (90.34% vs 35.17%, P < 0.001), and negative predictive value (80.00% vs 13.21%, P < 0.001) but performed lower specificity than CMTs (52.17% vs 87.5%, P < 0.001). Streptococcus pneumoniae as the most common bacterial pathogen had the largest proportion (22.90%, 30/131) in this study. In addition to bacteria, fungi, and virus, mNGS can detect a variety of atypical pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-tuberculous. Mixed infections were common in patients with severe pneumonia, and bacterial-fungal-viral-atypical pathogens were the most complicated infection. After adjustments of antibiotics based on mNGS and CMTs, the clinical manifestation improved in 139 (95.86%, 139/145) patients. Our data demonstrated that mNGS had significant advantage in diagnosing respiratory tract infections, especially atypical pathogens and fungal infections. Pathogens were detected timely and comprehensively, contributing to the adjustments of antibiotic treatments timely and accurately, improving patient prognosis and decreasing mortality potentially.IMPORTANCEMetagenomic next-generation sequencing using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid can provide more comprehensive and accurate pathogens for respiratory tract infections, especially when considering the previous usage of empirical antibiotics before admission or complicated clinical presentation. This technology is expected to play an important role in the precise application of antimicrobial drugs in the future.

Abstract Cancer cells develop multiple strategies to evade T cell-mediated killing. On one hand, cancer cells may preferentially rely on certain amino acids for rapid growth and metastasis. On the other hand, sufficient nutrient availability and uptake are necessary for mounting an effective T cell anti-tumor response in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Here we demonstrate that tumor cells outcompete T cells for cystine uptake due to high Slc7a11 expression. This competition induces T-cell exhaustion and ferroptosis, characterized by diminished memory formation and cytokine secretion, increased PD-1 and TIM-3 expression, as well as intracellular oxidative stress and lipid-peroxide accumulation. Importantly, either Slc7a11 deletion in tumor cells or intratumoral cystine supplementation improves T cell anti-tumor immunity. Mechanistically, cystine deprivation in T cells disrupts glutathione synthesis, but promotes CD36 mediated lipid uptake due to dysregulated cystine/glutamate exchange. Moreover, enforced expression of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (Gclc) promotes glutathione synthesis and prevents CD36 upregulation, thus boosting T cell anti-tumor immunity. Our findings reveal cystine as an intracellular metabolic checkpoint that orchestrates T-cell survival and differentiation, and highlight Gclc as a potential therapeutic target for enhancing T cell anti-tumor function.

Abstract Objectives Creeping fat is a kind of unique abnormal mesenteric tissue at the sites of diseased bowel of Crohn’s disease. By using dual-energy CT enterography, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of spectral parameters in the quantitative analysis of mesenteric adipose tissue or creeping fat. Methods In this study, patients with known or suspected Crohn’s disease who underwent dual-energy CT enterography from March 1, 2019, to March 31, 2021, were enrolled. Among them, 40 patients with surgery and pathology-proven creeping fat were selected as the creeping fat Crohn’s disease group, and 40 normal patients were selected as the control group. The quantitative spectral parameters including the slope of the Hounsfield unit curve, normalised fat–water concentration, normalised fat-iodine concentration, and normalised fat volume fraction at the enteric phases were obtained. Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were applied to compare quantitative parameters among various groups. Results A significant difference was observed in the slope of the Hounsfield unit curve, normalised fat–water concentration, normalised fat-iodine concentration, and normalised fat volume fraction between mesenteric adipose tissue and creeping fat with Crohn’s disease at the enteric phase (all p

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of organic fertilizer replacing part of the nitrogen fertilizers on the structure and diversity of the inter-root soil fungal communities of potatoes. By carrying out a field trial in Gaoquan Village, Tuanjie Town, Dingxi City, Gansu Province, the main potato-producing area in China, the optimal proportion of organic fertilizer to replace nitrogen fertilizer was determined to provide a scientific basis for the rational use of organic fertilizer to improve the structure and function of soil fungal communities. The experiment was laid out with six treatments: CK (no nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate and potash fertilizer applied), CF (nitrogen fertilizer alone, control), T1 (25% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer), T2 (50% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer), T3 (75% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer), and T4 (100% replacement of nitrogen fertilizer). A systematic study of the inter-root soil fungal community structure, diversity, and soil physicochemical properties during potato harvesting was conducted using high-throughput sequencing technology. The results show that the organic fertilizer replacing part of the nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased the content of alkaline dissolved nitrogen, quick-acting potassium, quick-acting phosphorus, and organic matter in the inter-root soil of the potatoes, and significantly reduced the pH value of the soil. There was a trend of decreasing soil fungal abundance and a significant decrease in the Alpha diversity of the soil fungi. The treatment groups in the soil had as their core fungi Acomycota, Mortierellomycota, Basidiomycota, and others. The organic fertilizers replacing the nitrogen fertilizers significantly altered the structural composition of the inter-root soil fungal community of the potatoes, and increased the differential fungi in the soil. The number of functionally diverse and complex fungi in the soil gradually increased, and the function of the fungal community gradually changed from Singularity to diversification and complexity. A redundancy analysis showed that the soil pH was the main environmental factor affecting the inter-root soil fungal communities of potatoes under organic fertilizer replacing N fertilizer.

BackgroundAlthough prognostic models based on pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) have been constructed in bladder cancer (BLCA), the comprehensive impact of these genes on tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapeutic response has yet to be investigated.MethodsBased on expression profiles of 52 PRGs, we utilized the unsupervised clustering algorithm to identify PRGs subtypes and ssGSEA to quantify immune cells and hallmark pathways. Moreover, we screened feature genes of distinct PRGs subtypes and validated the associations with immune infiltrations in tissue using the multiplex immunofluorescence. Univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to construct the scoring scheme.ResultsFour PRGs clusters were identified, samples in cluster C1 were infiltrated with more immune cells than those in others, implying a favorable response to immunotherapy. While the cluster C2, which shows an extremely low level of most immune cells, do not respond to immunotherapy. CXCL9/CXCL10 and SPINK1/DHSR2 were identified as feature genes of cluster C1 and C2, and the specimen with high CXCL9/CXCL10 was characterized by more CD8 + T cells, macrophages and less Tregs. Based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among PRGs subtypes, a predictive model (termed as PRGs score) including five genes (CACNA1D, PTK2B, APOL6, CDK6, ANXA2) was built. Survival probability of patients with low-PRGs score was significantly higher than those with high-PRGs score. Moreover, patients with low-PRGs score were more likely to benefit from anti-PD1/PD-L1 regimens.ConclusionPRGs are closely associated with TME and oncogenic pathways. PRGs score is a promising indicator for predicting clinical outcome and immunotherapy response.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between dietary and some other environmental factors and the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in Chinese population.Materials and methodsA multicenter case-control study was conducted involving 11 hospitals across China. A total of 1,230 subjects were enrolled consecutively, and diet and environmental factor questionnaires were collected. IBD patients were matched with healthy controls (HC) using propensity-score matching (PSM) at a 1:1 ratio with a caliper value of 0.02. Multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between diet, environmental factors, and IBD.ResultsModerate alcohol and milk consumption, as well as daily intake of fresh fruit, were protective factors for both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Conversely, the consumption of eggs and chocolate increased the risk of IBD. Outdoor time for more than 25% of the day was a protective factor only for CD. In eastern regions of China, CD patients had higher egg consumption and less outdoor time, while UC patients consumed more chocolate. IBD patients from urban areas or with higher per capita monthly income consumed more fruit, eggs, and chocolate.ConclusionsThis study reveals an association between specific foods, outdoor time, and the emergence of IBD in the Chinese population. The findings emphasize the importance of a balanced diet, sufficient outdoor time and activities, and tailored prevention strategies considering regional variations.

Super‐resolution chip (SRC) made of fluorescent polymer film and polygon film waveguide can realize subdiffraction imaging. However, the propagation losses of evanescent waves impose a serious restriction on imaging performance. Meanwhile, the required redundant raw images hinder the imaging speed. Multiple‐azimuths evanescent illumination at the same time can efficiently increase the illumination intensity and uniformity, and reduce the number of required raw images. But, the experimental realization is impeded by the complex spatial frequency mixing problem. Herein, an SRC microscopy method with counter‐propagating evanescent illumination is demonstrated, which circumvents the influence of complex spatial frequency mixing, and efficiently enhances the reconstructed results. Meanwhile, the proposed method reduces the number of required raw images by half and saves the image acquisition time, which benefits the imaging speed enhancement of the SRC microscopy system and promotes its future practical application.

Patent lifespan is commonly used as a quantitative measure in patent assessments. Patent holders maintain exclusive rights by paying significant maintenance fees, suggesting a strong correlation between a patent’s lifespan and its business potential or economic value. Therefore, accurately forecasting the duration of a patent is of great significance. This study introduces a highly effective method that combines LightGBM, a sophisticated machine learning algorithm, with a customized loss function derived from Focal Loss. The purpose of this approach is to accurately predict the probability of a patent remaining valid until its maximum expiration date. This research differs from previous studies that have examined the various stages and phases of patents. Instead, it assesses the commercial viability of individual patents by considering their lifespan. The evaluation process utilizes a dataset consisting of 200,000 patents. The experimental results show a significant improvement in the performance of the model by combining Focal Loss with LightGBM. By incorporating Focal Loss into LightGBM, its ability to give priority to difficult instances during training is enhanced, resulting in an overall improvement in performance. This targeted approach enhances the model’s ability to distinguish between different samples and its ability to recover from challenges by giving priority to difficult samples. As a result, it improves the model’s accuracy in making predictions and its ability to apply those predictions to new data.

INTRODUCTION: Research on intelligent defect detection technology using machine vision was conducted to address the challenging problem of detecting and localizing PV defects in photovoltaic power generation system operation and maintenance. OBJECTIVES: The aim is to improve the accuracy of PV defect detection and enhance the operation and maintenance efficiency of PV power plants. METHODS: In this paper, three detection methods such as image processing based detection, traditional machine learning based detection, and deep learning algorithm based detection are discussed and compared, and analyzed respectively. It is finally concluded that the deep learning based detection is more efficient in comparison. Then further analysis and simulation experiments are done through several detection algorithms based on deep learning. RESULTS: The experiment yields a high accuracy of the detection model based on the Faster-RCNN algorithm. Its mAP value reaches 92.6%. The detection model based on the YOLOv5 algorithm reaches a mAP value of 91.4%. But its speed is as much as 7 times faster than the model based on the Faster-RCNN algorithm. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive speed and accuracy index. Combining the needs of PV defect detection in the operation and maintenance of PV power generation systems with the results of simulation experiments. It is concluded that the detection model based on the YOLOv5 algorithm can provide better detection capability. Modeling with this algorithm is more suitable for PV defect detection.

INTRODUCTION: Based on machine vision technology to carry out photovoltaic panel defect detection technology research to solve the photovoltaic panel production line automation online defect detection and localization problems. OBJECTIVES: The goal is to improve the accuracy of defect detection on PV cell production lines, increase the speed of defect detection to meet real-time monitoring needs, and improve production efficiency. METHODS: In this paper, three detection methods such as image processing based detection, traditional machine learning based detection and deep learning algorithm based detection are discussed and compared and analyzed respectively. Finally, it is concluded that deep learning based detection methods are more effective in comparison. Then, further analysis and simulation experiments are done by several deep learning based detection algorithms. RESULTS: The experimental results show that the YOLOv8 algorithm has the highest precision rate and maintains good results in terms of recall and mAP values. The detection speed is all less than other algorithms, 10.6ms. CONCLUSION: The inspection model based on yolov8 algorithm has the highest comprehensive performance and is the most suitable algorithmic model for detecting defects in solar panels in production lines.

Background: Pharmacologic therapies, risk factor control, and lifestyle alterations were independently proven to reduce long-term cardiovascular events. However, comprehensive research examining the extent to which individuals aged 75 and above in the United States adhere to national guidelines for the secondary prevention of coronary heart disease is limited. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to examine the current state of secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in persons 75 years of age and older in the United States and to examine the factors that contribute to inadequate drug utilization and poor control of numerous risk factors. Methods: We identified patients over 75 years of age with coronary heart disease based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 to 2018 and analyzed the adequacy of risk factor control and adherence to lifestyle and medication recommendations to assess the effectiveness of coronary heart disease management. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with uncontrolled risk factors or noncompliance with recommended medications. Results: We collected information from 1566 known coronary heart disease patients aged ≥75 years of age. The majority were at target goals for blood pressure (58.88%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (66.85%), and glycated hemoglobin (76.12%). Only 27.8% and 36.06% were at targets for body mass index and waist circumference, respectively. 91.95% reported smoking cessation, 85.98% followed recommended alcohol consumption, whereas only 10.34% reported sufficient physical activity. For β blockers, angiotensin -converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, statins, and antiplatelet drugs, the utilization of indicated therapy was 54.41%, 49.36%, 54.79%, and 19.03%, respectively (6.26% for all 4 medications). The results of the logistic regression analysis demonstrated that diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome were critical markers of numerous uncontrolled risk variables as well as noncompliance with medication regimens. Conclusions: A vast majority of coronary heart disease patients ≥75 years in the USA exhibited suboptimal overall control of critical coronary heart disease risk factors. For this patient population, more knowledge is necessary to enable patients to receive continuous support, guidance, and counseling.

Abstract Background Patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) often exhibit neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS), particularly delusions. Previous studies have shown an association between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and specific NPS. This study aims to explore the relationship between WMH volume and delusions in AD patients by comparing the WMH volumes of delusional and non-delusional subgroups. Methods 80 AD patients were divided into a delusion group (n = 36) and a non-delusion group (n = 44) based on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). The brain cortical volume and WMH volume were quantitatively calculated for all 80 patients, including total WMH volume, periventricular WMH (PVWMH) volume, deep WMH volume, as well as bilateral frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and occipital lobe WMH volumes. Firstly, we compared the differences in WMH volumes between the delusion group and non-delusion group. Then, within the delusion group, we further categorized patients based on severity scores of their delusional symptoms into mild (1 point), moderate (2 points), or severe groups (3 points). We compared the WMH volumes among these three groups to investigate the role of WMH volume in delusional symptoms. Results There was a significant difference in left occipital lobe WMH volume between the delusion group and non-delusion group(P

Abstract Background Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is one of the most common autosomal dominant genetic diseases. Whole exome sequencing (WES) is a routine tool for diagnostic confirmation of genetic diseases, and it is usually performed to confirm the clinical diagnosis in ADPKD. Reciprocal translocation is the most common chromosomal structural abnormalities and most of its carriers have normal phenotypes until they are encountered infertility problems in adulthood. However, for the polycystic kidney disease caused by abnormal chromosome structure, WES is difficult to achieve the purpose of gene diagnosis. Methods ADPKD-related genes were detected by WES; Chromosomal karyotyping and Optical Genome Mapping (OGM) were used to detect structural variant; The genomic break-point locations and the abnormal splicing were detected by reverse transcription-PCR and Sanger sequencing; The karyomapping gene chip and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) were performed to screen aneuploidy and to distinguish the non-carrier embryos from the carrier embryos. Results No pathogenic variant was found after the first round of WES analysis. Karyotyping data showed 46, XX, t (16; 17) (p13.3; q21.3). With the help of OGM, the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 16 was located within the PKD1 gene. With re-analysis of WES raw data, the breakpoint of translocation was verified to be located at the c.10618 + 3 of PKD1 gene. Based on this molecular diagnosis, a non-carrier embryo was selected out from three blastocysts. With preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) after in vitro fertilization (IVF), it was then transferred into uterus. With confirmation by prenatal and postnatal testing, the pedigree delivered a healthy baby. Conclusion We identified a case of ADPKD caused by balanced translocation and assisted the patient to have a healthy child. When the phenotype was closely related with a monogenic disease and the WES analysis was negative, chromosomal structural analysis would be recommended for further genetic diagnosis. Based on the precision diagnosis, preventing the recurrence of hereditary diseases in offspring would be reachable.

Abstract Background and aims Leukocyte telomere length (LTL) as a ‘biological clock’ of aging is closely related to human health, its association with an aging-related disease, dyslipidemia, has been less studied and mainly focused on cross-sectional investigations. Methods Two rounds of information and blood collections were conducted on a cohort of 1624 individuals residing in rural Ningxia, located in northwest China, with an average time gap of 9.8 years. The relative telomere length (RTL) of peripheral blood leukocytes was assessed using real-time quantitative PCR. To investigate the association between dyslipidemia, blood lipid levels, and alterations in RTL, multiple linear regression and generalized linear models were employed. Results After conducting the follow-up analysis, it was observed that 83.3% of the participants in the study exhibited a reduction in telomere length, while 16.7% experienced an increase in telomere length. The results suggested that dyslipidemia at baseline or follow-up may increase longitudinal changes in telomere length, but it was more significant in the healthy group, especially in those aged ≥ 60 years. Furthermore, HDL-C levels in baseline and follow-up were found to be associated with longitudinal changes in telomere length, and lower HDL-C levels may be associated with increased longitudinal changes in telomere length. Conclusions The change in telomere length is correlated with dyslipidemia and its lipid indicators especially HDL-C. Persistent dyslipidemia and a reduction in HDL-C levels may be associated with elevated longitudinal fluctuations in telomere length.

Abstract Background BRAF non-V600 mutation occupies a relatively small but critical subset in colorectal cancer (CRC). However, little is known about the biological functions and impacts of BRAF class III mutation in CRC. Here, we aim to explore how D594A mutation impacts on biological behaviors and immune related signatures in murine CRC cells. Methods BRAF V600E (class I), G469V (class II) and D594A (class III) mutant cell lines were established based on MC38 cells. The biological behaviors of cells were evaluated in respect of cell growth, cell proliferation, cell apoptosis, cell migration and invasion by the methods of colony-forming assay, CCK-8 assay, Annexin V/PI staining and transwell assay. The concentrations of soluble cytokines were detected by ELISA. The membrane expression of immuno-modulatory molecules and the pattern of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte were evaluated by flow cytometry. The molecular mechanism was explored by RNA sequencing. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was used for the detection of CD8α in tumor tissues. qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to assess the mRNA and protein expression. Anti-PD-L1 treatment and cytokines neutralization experiments were conducted in in vivo models. Results D594A mutant cells displayed lower grade malignancy characteristics than V600E (class I) and G469V (class II) mutant cells. Meanwhile, D594A mutation led to evident immuno-modulatory features including upregulation of MHC Class I and PD-L1. In vivo experiments displayed that the frequency of infiltrated CD8+ T cells was significantly high within D594A mutant tumors, which may provide potential response to anti-PD-L1 therapy. RNA sequencing analysis showed that D594A mutation led to enhanced expression of ATF3 and THBS1, which thus facilitated CXCL9 and CXCL10 production upon IFN-γ treatment. In addition, CXCL9 or CXCL10 neutralization reduced the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into THBS1-overexpressing tumors. Conclusions D594A mutant CRC exhibited lower aggressiveness and immune-activated phenotype. ATF3-THBS1-CXCL9/CXCL10 axis mediated functional CD8+ T cells infiltration into the microenvironment of D594A mutant CRC. Our present study is helpful to define this mutation in CRC and provide important insights in designing effective immunotherapeutic strategies in clinic.

Abstract Background Since the connection between muscle atrophy and vitamin D and estradiol status ambiguous, this study was thus conducted to determine whether low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) in middle-aged and elderly women was affected by estradiol and vitamin D levels together. Methods Baseline data from a sub-cohort of the China Northwest Natural Population Cohort: Ningxia Project (CNC-NX) were analyzed. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D) and estradiol were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer. Bivariate logistic regression and multiplicative interaction analyses were used to assess the impact of estradiol level and vitamin D status on low SMM, as well as the combined impact of estradiol and low vitamin D status on low SMM. Results A total of 287 (9.49%) participants had low SMM, which had lower levels of estradiol and vitamin D concentration than normal SMM group. While, after adjusting the confounding variables, these correlations were maintained in estradiol Q1, Q2, Q3 and vitamin D Q1. Furthermore, the significant combined effect of the highest quartile of estradiol concentrations and non-vitamin D deficiency, and interactions between vitamin D Q1 and estradiol Q2, vitamin D Q1 and estradiol Q3, vitamin D Q2 and estradiol Q1, vitamin D Q3 and estradiol Q3 on low SMM were stably reflected (P for interaction

Abstract Bacteria abundance alternation in the feces or mucosa of Crohn’s disease (CD) patients has long been applied to identify potential biomarkers for this disease, while the taxa occurrence frequency and their correlations with clinical traits were understudied. A total of 97 samples from the feces and gut mucosa were collected from CD patients and healthy controls (HCs), 16S rRNA-based analyses were performed to determine the changes in taxa abundance and occurrence frequency along CD and to correlate them with clinical traits. The results showed that bacteria communities were divergent between feces and mucosa, while the taxa abundance and occurrence frequency in both partitions showed similar exponential correlations. The decrease of specific fecal bacteria was much more effective in classifying the CD and HCs than that of the mucosal bacteria. Among them, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminococcus were predicted as biomarkers by using random forest algorithm, which were persistently presented (> 71.40% in frequency) in the feces of the HCs with high abundance, whereas transiently presented in the feces (

Мета. Мета дослідження – установлення закономірностей щодо забезпечення раціону громадян України основними видами харчових продуктів в умовах воєнного стану шляхом проведення системного аналізу впливу різних факторів на рівень продовольчої безпеки населення України та визначення динаміки змін у споживчих звичках і доступу до достатньої кількості якісних харчових продуктів в умовах російсько-української війни. Методологія / методика / підхід. Для досягнення мети використано такі методи дослідження: системний і логічний аналіз, метод синтезу інформації, узагальнення наукових публікацій, порівняння, економічний аналіз і регресійний аналіз. Опитування проведено з використанням описової статистики MS Forms Pro, із залученням 21350 респондентів для оцінки продовольчої безпеки в Україні та впливу різних факторів на доступність і якість харчових продуктів. Результати. У результаті проведеного опитування встановлено, що значна частина респондентів (49 %) оцінює стан продовольчої безпеки в Україні як середній, відзначено зростання цін на харчові продукти (78 %) і підкреслено вплив цього фактора на можливість респондентів забезпечити собі та родині необхідний харчовий раціон (79 %). Визначено, що у 2022 р. зафіксовано зниження темпів зростання реальної заробітної плати стосовно до вартості продовольчого кошика, що спричинено значним зростанням рівня інфляції. У результаті регресійного аналізу встановлено, що регресійна модель на 90 % пояснює залежність варіації рівня забезпечення раціону громадян основними видами харчових продуктів від варіації номінального ВВП і споживчих витрат, проте є ще незначна кількість інших факторів, які не включено в модель. Україна посіла 71-ше місце серед 113 країн у 2022 р. за даними Глобального індексу продовольчої безпеки та значно погіршила свій рейтинг порівняно з 2021 р. (58-ме місце). За показниками Глобального індексу продовольчої безпеки відбулися зміни в середніх витратах на харчування, що, своєю чергою, свідчить про низьку платоспроможність населення в Україні. На ринку є достатня кількість харчових продуктів, але водночас є проблема доступності через фінансові обмеження населення. Оригінальність / наукова новизна. Новизна одержаних результатів зумовлена вирішенням важливого наукового завдання, де нами уперше: представлено результати регресійного моделювання, які дали змогу відобразити вплив факторів на забезпечення раціону громадян України основними видами харчових продуктів; на основі проведеного опитування визначено стан продовольчої безпеки в Україні та встановлено вплив різних чинників на доступність і якість харчових продуктів; сформовано політичні та практичні рекомендації для забезпечення продовольчої безпеки в умовах воєнного стану. У статті одержало подальший розвиток дослідження основних показників, які визначають забезпечення раціону громадян основними видами харчових продуктів. Практична цінність / значущість. Результати дослідження можуть бути використані в процесі вивчення особливостей забезпечення населення харчовими продуктами в умовах воєнного стану, що може стати основою для розробки стратегій і програм державної та гуманітарної допомоги населенню в умовах війни.

Introduction Neck pain is a common problem that severely affects physical and mental health. While musculoskeletal manipulations are recommended as the first-line treatment for adults with neck pain, the comparative effectiveness of different musculoskeletal manipulations remains unclear. This systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) will compare the effectiveness of different types of musculoskeletal manipulations, with the overarching aim of guiding clinical practice.Methods and analysis Two independent reviewers will search four English electronic databases (Web of Science, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, PubMed) and three Chinese electronic databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science and Technology Journal Database, Wanfang) for relevant RCTs published from 1 January 2013 to 30 April 2023. The Clinical Trials Registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) will be searched for completed but unpublished RCTs. English and Chinese will be used to search English databases and Chinese databases, respectively. RCTs of musculoskeletal manipulations for adults (aged ≥18 years) with neck pain will be considered eligible for inclusion. A pairwise meta-analysis and network meta-analysis will be performed, and pooled risk ratios, standardised mean differences and 95% CIs will be determined.Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required as this study is a literature review. The results of this review will be published in peer-reviewed journals or disseminated at conferences.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023420775.

We present early-phase good-cadence (hour-to-day) simultaneous multiband ( ugi and vrz bands) imaging of the nearby supernova SN 2024ggi, which exploded in the nearby galaxy NGC 3621. A quick follow-up was conducted within less than a day after the explosion and continued for ∼23 days. The uvg band light curves display a rapid rise (∼1.4 mag day ^−1 ) to maximum in ∼4 days and absolute magnitude M _g ∼ −17.75 mag. The postpeak decay rate in redder bands is ∼0.01 mag day ^−1 . Different colors (e.g., u − g and v − r ) of SN 2024ggi are slightly redder than SN 2023ixf. A significant rise (∼12.5 kK) in blackbody temperature (optical) was noticed within ∼2 days after the explosion, which successively decreased, indicating shock break out inside a dense circumstellar medium surrounding the progenitor. Using semianalytical modeling, the ejecta mass and progenitor radius were estimated as 1.2 M _☉ and ∼550 R _☉ . The archival deep images ( g , r , i , and z bands) from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey were examined, and a possible progenitor was detected in each band (∼22–22.5 mag) and had a mass range of 14–17 M _☉ .

The Milky Way is widely considered to exhibit features of a rotational bar or quadrupole bar. In either case, the feature of the resonance of the Galactic bar should be present in the properties of the chemistry and kinematics, over a large area of the disk. With a sample of over 170,000 red clump stars from LAMOST-APOGEE data, we attempt to detect the chemical and kinematic signatures of the resonances of the Galactic bar, within 4.0 ≤ R ≤ 15.0 kpc and ∣ Z ∣ ≤ 3.0 kpc. The measurement of the Δ[Fe/H]/Δ∣ Z ∣– R with subtracted global profiles trends shows that the thin and thick disks values are Cor_Δ[Fe/H]/Δ∣ Z ∣ = 0.010 sin (1.598 R + 2.551) and Cor_Δ[Fe/H]/Δ∣ Z ∣ = 0.006 sin (1.258 R − 0.019), respectively. The analysis of the tilt angle of the velocity ellipsoid indicates that the thin and thick disks are accurately described as α = α _0 arctan ( Z / R ), with ${\alpha }_{0}=0.198\,\sin $ (0.853 R + 1.982) + 0.630 and ${\alpha }_{0}=0.220\,\sin $ (0.884 R + 2.012) + 0.679 for thin and thick disks, respectively. These periodic oscillations in Cor_Δ[Fe/H]/Δ∣ Z ∣ and α _0 with R appear in both thin and thick disks are the most likely chemical and kinematic signatures of the resonance of the Galactic bar. The difference in the phase of the functions of the fitted periodic oscillations for the thin and thick disks may be related to the presence of a second Galactic bar.

Current cloud application program interface (API) recommendation methods mainly use similarity calculation or historical calls of Mashup to generate recommendation results, while ignoring the beneficial functional complementarity (FC) between Mashup and cloud API.To address the above issue, a FC relationship enhanced cloud API recommendation approach was proposed.Firstly, label co-occurrence was applied to describe the FC relationship.Then, the FC score was calculated to describe the degree of FC between the cloud API and the Mashup, and the FC vector was learned to describe the potential FC relationship.Based on this, FC scores and FC vectors were embedded into the cloud API recommendation model, so that FC relationship played a key role in the cloud API recommendation process.Experiments were conducted on real-world cloud API datasets, and the AUC, F1 and HR@5 of the proposed approach improved by an average of 2.32%, 1.86% and 9.15%, respectively, in the sparse scenario.Finally, the proposed approach can improve the accuracy of cloud API recommendation results, while improving the recommendation performance of long-tail cloud API.

Abstract Background Coronary computed tomography-derived fractional flow reserve (CT-FFR) and intravascular ultrasound-derived fractional flow reserve (IVUS-FFR) are two functional assessment methods for coronary stenoses. However, the calculation algorithms for these methods differ significantly. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of CT-FFR and IVUS-FFR using invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) as the reference standard. Methods Six hundred and seventy patients (698 lesions) with known or suspected coronary artery disease were screened for this retrospective analysis between January 2020 and July 2021. A total of 40 patients (41 lesions) underwent intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and FFR evaluations within six months after completing coronary CT angiography were included. Two novel CFD-based models (AccuFFRct and AccuFFRivus) were used to compute the CT-FFR and IVUS-FFR values, respectively. The invasive FFR ≤ 0.80 was used as the reference standard for evaluating the diagnostic performance of CT-FFR and IVUS-FFR. Results Both AccuFFRivus and AccuFFRct demonstrated a strong correlation with invasive FFR (R = 0.7913, P

During vascular development, endothelial cells (ECs) undergo arterialization in response to genetic programs and shear stress-triggered mechanotransduction, forming a stable vasculature. Although the Notch receptor is known to sense shear stress and promote EC arterialization, its downstream mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the Notch downstream miR-342-5p was found to respond to shear stress and promote EC arterialization. Shear stress upregulated miR-342-5p in a Notch-dependent manner in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). miR-342-5p overexpression upregulated the shear stress-associated transcriptomic signature. Moreover, miR-342-5p upregulated arterial markers and promoted EC arterialization in a Matrigel plug assay and retinal angiogenesis model. In contrast, miR-342-5p knockdown downregulated arterial markers, compromised retinal arterialization, and partially abrogated shear stress and Notch activation-induced arterial marker upregulation. Mechanistically, miR-342-5p overexpression suppressed MYC to repress EC proliferation and promote arterialization, achieved by promoting MYC protein degradation by targeting the EYA3. Consistently, EYA3 overexpression rescued miR-342-5p-mediated MYC downregulation and EC arterialization. In vivo, miR-342-5p expression was notably decreased in the ligated artery in a hindlimb ischemia model, and an intramuscular injection of miR-342-5p promoted EC arterialization and improved perfusion. In summary, miR-342-5p, a mechano-miR, mediates the effects of shear stress-activated Notch on EC arterialization and is a potential therapeutic target for ischemic diseases.

Objective Postoperative discal pseudocyst (PDP) is a rare complication after discectomy. This study aimed to summarize the characteristics, pathological mechanisms and management of PDPs. Methods Nine patients with PDP who received surgical treatment at our institution from January 2014 to December 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. A systematic review of the literature on PDP was performed. The demographic data, clinical and imaging features, surgical options and patient prognosis were analyzed. Results Among the nine patients treated at our center, seven were male and two were female. The mean patient age (± standard deviation) at the time of surgery was 28.3 ± 5.7 years (range 18–37 years). The first operation performed on seven patients was percutaneous endoscopic transforaminal discectomy (PETD) and two patients underwent microdiscectomy. The time to conservative treatment before surgical intervention was 20 ± 9.2 days. In three cases, the disc cysts were located in L4/5 and in six cases the lesions were located in L5/S1. Intervertebral disc cyst interventions included foraminal scope (three cases), open discectomy (three cases), conservative treatment with a quadrant channel (one case) and CT‐guided puncture (one case). All patients fully recovered after surgery and the mean follow‐up time was 3.5 ± 2.1 years. A literature review identified 14 relevant articles that reported 43 PDP cases of PDP. Conclusion PDP occurs in Asian males with mild intervertebral disc degeneration and occurs 1 month after discectomy. Treatment should be based on specific patient scenarios. Conservative treatment is necessary and surgery should be performed with caution.

Abstract Aims Copy number variant‐sequencing (CNV‐seq) and exome sequencing (ES) have been used as powerful tools in understanding the role of genetic variants in congenital heart diseases (CHDs). A few previous large cohort studies have utilized CNV‐seq and ES to investigate prenatally diagnosed CHD. Here, we sought to determine the value of CNV‐seq and ES for genetic evaluation of foetal CHDs. Methods and results We recruited 398 pregnant women diagnosed with CHDs between 8 January 2017 and 30 November 2020. CNV‐seq and ES were performed on foetal and parent samples. CHD cases were classified following the guidelines of the International Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Code and the Tenth and Eleventh Revisions of the International Classification of Diseases. Data on aneuploids (AUP), pathogenic CNVs (pCNVs), and single nucleotide variants (SNVs) were collected and compared, following appropriate procedures. We identified genetic abnormalities in 129 (32.41%) foetuses. These abnormalities included AUP (10.80%), pCNVs (13.32%), and SNVs (8.04%). ES analysis yielded higher SNVs in cases without AUP or pCNVs. Non‐isolated CHDs were associated with higher genetic abnormalities than isolated CHDs, mainly due to AUP differences between the two groups. The prevalence of genetic defects was the highest in foetuses with atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD), left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), and conotruncal defects (CTD). AVSD and anomalies of atrioventricular junctions and valves were associated with AUP abnormalities. CTD, anomalies of extrapericardial arterial trunks, and anomalies of the ventricular outflow tracts were the most common CHD categories diagnosed using CNVs. The most common CHDs associated with single ventricle (SV) abnormalities were heterotaxy (Hex) (14.89%), LVOTO (14.58%), and ventricular septal defect (VSD) (26.67%, 4/15). Although the ES yields were higher than CNV‐seq for VSD (44.4%, 4/9), LVOTO (20%, 7/35), Hex (14.89%, 7/47), and CTD (9.1%, 11/121), its diagnostic yield did not increase for SV (6.7%, 1/15), AVSD (3.8%, 1/26), or right ventricular obstruction defects (2.6%, 1/38). The most common mutations were observed in KMT2D, CHD7, and NOTCH1. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the largest cohort study to investigate the incidence of SNVs using ES in foetal CHD. CNV‐seq and ES identified genetic abnormalities in nearly 1/3 of foetal CHD cases. Thus, CNV‐seq and ES can provide clinically relevant information for pregnancy management.

Callose contributes to many biological processes of higher plants including pollen development, cell plate and vascular tissue formation, as well as regulating the transport function of plasmodesmata. The functions of callose synthase genes in maize have been little studied. We describe a maize male-sterile mutant 39 (ms39) characterized by reduced plant height. In this study, we confirmed using CRISPR/Cas9 technology that a mutation in Zm00001d043909 (ZmCals12), encoding a callose synthase, is responsible for the male sterility of the ms39 mutant. Compared with male-fertile plants, callose deposition around the dyads and tetrads in ms39 anthers was significantly reduced. Increased cell autophagy observed in ms39 anthers may have been due to the premature programmed cell death of tapetal cells, leading to collapse of the anther wall structure. Disordered glucose metabolism in ms39 may have intensified autophagy in anthers. Evaluation of the ms39 gene on maize heterosis by paired-crossed experiment with 11 maize inbred lines indicated that ms39 can be used for maize hybrid seed production.

Climate change has a significant impact on human economic and social life, and climate issues have rapidly emerged as a global hot topic. Using data from prefecture-level cities in China from 2005 to 2020 as a sample, this study explores the relationship between climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and urban green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE). The results show that, first, the CPU can significantly improve urban GTFEE, and results are reconfirmed after various robustness tests. Second, the CPU promotes urban GTFEE by improving public environmental concerns and optimizing the energy consumption structure. Third, the promotion role of CPU in urban GTFEE is particularly significant in resource-based cities and economically developed cities. The results of this study provide a theoretical basis and practical enlightenment for the government to formulate forward-looking climate policies and promote the transformation of green development in cities.

Improving the energy efficiency of enterprises is one of the key means to solve the problem of energy shortage. It is of great significance to investigate how environmental information disclosure (EDI) promotes the green total factor energy efficiency (GTFEE) of enterprises. Based on this, this study calculates the GTFEE of enterprises by combining the database of Chinese manufacturing and the pollutant emission of industrial enterprises and investigates the impact of EDI on the GTFEE of manufacturing industries by using a difference-in-difference model. The following is found: (1) EDI can significantly promote the manufacturing enterprises’ GTFEE, and the results are still valid after a series of robustness tests; (2) Mechanism analysis shows that EDI can improve the GTFEE of manufacturing enterprises by promoting technological innovation and optimizing energy structure; (3) The heterogeneity analysis shows that EID is more positive on firms’ GTFEE in the eastern than western regions. The positive impact is greater for non-state-owned, low-energy consumption, export, and polluting enterprises. The findings of this paper provide a theoretical basis and practical enlightenment for the government to promote the green development transformation of enterprises.