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Large thin-walled parts are generally featured with large in-plane dimension and thin thickness. This kind of parts deforms easily under the action of gravity due to their low out-of-plane stiffness in the assembly process. In order to reduce the part deformation, the "N-2–1" locating principle is used for large thin-walled parts. The part deformation leads to the assembly gap between two parts, which affects the assembly quality. In this paper, the influence of the fixture layout on the assembly gap is considered. The assembly gap is taken as the optimization objective to minimize by integrating the modified direct stiffness method (MDSM) and the improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm. Then, the assembly of two ship parts is studied and the results show that the optimization method proposed in this paper can effectively reduce the assembly gap between two large thin-walled parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The involvement of quality of life as the UNAIDS fourth 90 target to monitor the global HIV response highlighted the development of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures to help address the holistic needs of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) beyond viral suppression. This study developed and tested preliminary measurement properties of a new patient-reported outcome (PROHIV-OLD) measure designed specifically to capture influences of HIV on patients aged 50 and older in China. Methods: Ninety-three older people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) were interviewed to solicit items and two rounds of patient cognitive interviews were conducted to modify the content and wording of the initial items. A validation study was then conducted to refine the initial instrument and evaluate measurement properties. Patients were recruited between February 2021 and November 2021, and followed six months later after the first investigation. Classical test theory (CTT) and item response theory (IRT) were used to select items using the baseline data. The follow-up data were used to evaluate the measurement properties of the final instrument. Results: A total of 600 patients were recruited at the baseline. Of the 485 patients who completed the follow-up investigation, 483 were included in the validation sample. The final scale of PROHIV-OLD contained 25 items describing five dimensions (physical symptoms, mental status, illness perception, family relationship, and treatment). All the PROHIV-OLD dimensions had satisfactory reliability with Cronbach's alpha coefficient, McDonald's ω, and composite reliability of each dimension being all higher than 0.85. Most dimensions met the test-retest reliability standard except for the physical symptoms dimension (ICC = 0.64). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the structural validity of the final scale, and the model fit index satisfied the criterion. The correlations between dimensions of PROHIV-OLD and MOS-HIV met hypotheses in general. Significant differences on scores of the PROHIV-OLD were found between demographic and clinical subgroups, supporting known-groups validity. Conclusions: The PROHIV-OLD was found to have good feasibility, reliability and validity for evaluating health outcome of Chinese older PLWHA. Other measurement properties such as responsiveness and interpretability will be further examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The endometrium of most unexplained infertility (UI) patients has been altered histologically. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is utilized to assess the signature of living tissue. This study aimed to explore the value of SWE in evaluating endometrial receptivity (ER) in UI patients. Methods: In total, 59 UI patients (UI group) and 52 normal control women (NC group) who received fertility consultation in our hospital were included between January 2022 and June 2023. We divided them into the late-proliferative phase of UI group (LPUI; n = 59), mid-secretory phase of UI group (MPUI; n = 41), late-proliferative phase of NC group (LPNC; n = 52), and mid-secretory phase of NC group (MPNC; n = 45). Transvaginal ultrasonography and SWE were performed during the LP and MP. Endometrial thickness (EMT), uterine artery pulsatility index (UA-PI), endometrial mean elasticity (E-mean), and mean shear wave velocities (SWV-mean) were measured. Results: There were significant differences in E-mean, SWV-mean, EMT, and UA-PI between the UI group and the NC group during both the LP and MP (p MPNC vs MPUI < 0.05, p LPNC vs LPUI < 0.05). E-mean and SWV-mean decreased with increasing EMT but increased with increasing UA-PI (p < 0.05). The most effective parameter for evaluating ER in UI patients is the E-mean (AUC = 0.89). Conclusions: UI patients exhibited thinner endometrium, increased endometrial stiffness, and poor endometrial blood perfusion. E-mean was the most effective parameter to evaluate ER in UI patients. The study preliminarily proved that SWE is a promising non-invasive tool for evaluating the condition of endometrium. Critical relevance statement: This study aimed to explore the significance of endometrial elasticity measured by SWE in evaluating patients with UI. The findings revealed a correlation between EMT, UA-PI, and E-mean. Endometrial elasticity can serve as an effective indicator for predicting ER. Key points: 1. To explore the significance of endometrial elasticity in assessing patients with UI. 2. The endometrium of UI patient exhibited thinness, stiffness, and poor blood perfusion. 3. Endometrial elasticity serves as a valuable indicator for evaluating endometrial receptivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Our previous study found that it could significantly increase the expression of IL32 after stimulating the human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (S-HuMSCs). However, its role on the osteogenesis and cranial bone regeneration is still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the possible mechanism of this effect. Material and Methods. A series of experiments, including single-cell sequencing, flow cytometry, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and western blotting, were carried out to evaluate the characteristic and adipogenic–osteogenic differentiation potential of IL-32 overexpression HuMSCs (IL-32highHuMSCs) through mediating the P38 signaling pathway. Moreover, a rat skull bone defect model was established and treated by directly injecting the IL-32highHuMSCs to conduct its role on the cranial bone regeneration. Results. In total, it found that compared to HuMSCs, IL32 was significantly increased and promoted the osteogenic differentiation (lower expressions of PPARγ, Adiponectin, and C/EBPα, and increased expressions of RUNX2, ALP, BMP2, OPN, SP7, OCN, and DLX5) in the S-HuMSCs (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the enhanced osteogenic differentiation of HuMSCs was recovered by IL-32 overexpression (IL-32highHuMSCs) through activating the P38 signaling pathway, like as the S-HuMSCs (P < 0.05). However, the osteogenic differentiation potential of IL-32highHuMSCs was significantly reversed by the P38 signaling pathway inhibitor SB203580 (P < 0.05). Additionally, the HuMSCs, S-HuMSCs, and IL-32highHuMSCs all presented adipogenic–osteogenic differentiation potential, with higher levels of CD73, CD90, and CD105, and lower CD14, CD34, and CD45 (P > 0.05). Furthermore, these findings were confirmed by the rat skull bone defect model, in which the cranial bone regeneration was more pronounced in the IL-32highHuMSCs treated group compared to those in the HuMSCs group, with higher expressions of RUNX2, ALP, BMP2, and DLX5 (P < 0.05). Conclusion. We have confirmed that S-HuMSCs can enhance the osteogenesis and cranial bone regeneration through promoting IL-32-mediated P38 signaling pathway, which is proved that IL-32 may be a therapeutic target, or a biomarker for the treatment of cranial bone injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seeking new cathode chemistry with high onset potential and compatibility with electrolytes has become a challenge for aqueous Zn ion batteries. Anion intercalation in graphite (4.5 V vs Li+/Li) possesses the potentiality but usually shows a competitive relationship with oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in aqueous solutions. Herein, a decoupled design is proposed to optimize a full utilization of perchlorate ion intercalation in graphite cathode by pH adjustment. Benefiting from the decoupled design, high Coulombic efficiency is obtained by decelerating the kinetic of OER in acidic media. The decoupled Zn‐graphite battery exhibits a wide potential window of 2.01 V, as well as an attractive energy density of 231 Wh kg−1. In addition, a Zn‐graphite battery with SO42−${\mathrm{SO}}_4^{2 - }$ insertion is assembled, which demonstrates the capability of the proposed decoupled strategy to integrate novel electrode chemistries for high‐performance aqueous Zn‐based energy storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LR004 is a novel chimeric (human/mouse) monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of advanced colorectal carcinoma with detectable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. We aimed to investigate the preclinical pharmacokinetics (PK) and in vivo biodistribution of LR004. The PK profiles of LR004 were initially established in rhesus monkeys. Subsequently, 125I radionuclide-labeled LR004 was developed and the biodistribution, autoradiography, and NanoSPECT/CT of 125I-LR004 in xenograft mice bearing A431 tumors were examined. The PK data revealed a prolonged half-life and nonlinear PK characteristics of LR004 within the dose range of 6–54 mg/kg. The radiochemical purity of 125I-LR004 was approximately 98.54%, and iodination of LR004 did not affect its specific binding activity to the EGFR antigen. In a classical biodistribution study, 125I-LR004 exhibited higher uptake in highly perfused organs than in poorly perfused organs. Prolonged retention properties of 125I-LR004 in tumors were observed at 4 and 10 days. Autoradiography and NanoSPECT/CT confirmed the sustained retention of 125I-LR004 at the tumor site in xenograft mice. These findings demonstrated the adequate tumor targeting capabilities of 125I-LR004 in EGFR-positive tumors, which may improve dosing strategies and future drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to frequent traffic accidents around the world, people often take out car insurance to mitigate their losses and receive compensation in a traffic accident. However, in the existing car insurance claims process, there are problems such as insurance fraud, inability to effectively track and transmit insurance data, cumbersome insurance procedures, and high insurance data storage costs. Since the immutability and traceability features of blockchain technology can prevent data manipulation and trace past data, we have used the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) to sign and encrypt car insurance data, ensuring both data integrity and security. We propose a blockchain and IPFS-based anticounterfeiting and traceable car insurance claims system to improve the above problems. We incorporate the Interplanetary File System (IPFS) to reduce the cost of storing insurance data. This study also attempts to propose an arbitration mechanism in the event of a car insurance dispute. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive review explores recent catalyst advancements for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of aromatic oxygenates derived from lignin, with a specific focus on the selective production of valuable aromatics under moderate reaction conditions. It addresses critical challenges in bio-crude oil upgrading, encompassing issues related to catalyst deactivation from coking, methods to mitigate deactivation, and techniques for catalyst regeneration. The study investigates various oxygenates found in bio-crude oil, such as phenol, guaiacol, anisole, and catechol, elucidating their conversion pathways during HDO. The review emphasizes the paramount importance of selectively generating arenes by directly cleaving C–O bonds while avoiding unwanted ring hydrogenation pathways. A comparative analysis of different bio-crude oil upgrading processes underscores the need to enhance biofuel quality for practical applications. Additionally, the review focuses on catalyst design for HDO. It compares six major catalyst categories, including metal sulfides, transition metals, metal phosphides, nitrides, carbides, and oxides, to provide insights for efficient bio-crude oil upgrading toward sustainable and eco-friendly energy alternatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boehmeria formosana, with its related species, demonstrates anti-glycemic effect, inhibition of HBV production, anticancer activities, etc. Some indolizidine alkaloids from the same genus are bioactive but sensitive to light. To overcome this problem and obtain more phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids, isolation was performed in darkness, yielding 10 new indolizidine alkaloids and 17 known compounds. Among them, seven enhanced glucagon-like receptor 1 (GLP-1) activity at 50 mM, especially 14 and 6 (3.5- and 2.3-fold than the negative control). This procedure yielded bioactive indolizidine alkaloids with novel structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multi-factor complex trait and is heritable, especially in early-onset families. However, the genetic factors affecting the susceptibility of early-onset CAD are not fully characterized. Methods: In the present study, we identified a rare nonsense variant in the CYP17A1 gene from a Chinese Han family with CAD. To validate the effect of this variation on atherosclerosis and early-onset coronary artery disease, we conducted studies on population, cells, and mice. Results: The mutation precisely congregated with the clinical syndrome in all the affected family members and was absent in unaffected family members and unrelated controls. Similar to the human phenotype, the CYP17A1-deficient mice present the phenotype of metabolic syndrome with hypertension, increased serum glucose concentration, and presentation of central obesity and fatty liver. Furthermore, CYP17A1 knockout mice or CYP17A1 + ApoE double knockout mice developed more atherosclerotic lesions than wild type (WT) with high fat diary. In cell models, CYP17A1 was found to be involved in glucose metabolism by increasing glucose intake and utilization, through activating IGF1/mTOR/HIF1-α signaling way, which was consistent in CYP17A1 knockout mice with impaired glucose tolerance and insulin resistance. Conclusions: Through our study of cells, mice and humans, we identified CYP17A1 as a key protein participating in the pathophysiology of the atherosclerotic process and the possible mechanism of CYP17A1 C987X mutation induced atherosclerosis and early-onset CAD involving glucose homeostasis regulation was revealed. 4TTV6qaEtBhVuN78SSsyWi Video Abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infrared (IR) small-target-detection performance restricts the development of infrared search and track (IRST) systems. Existing detection methods easily lead to missed detection and false alarms under complex backgrounds and interference, and only focus on the target position while ignoring the target shape features, which cannot further identify the category of IR targets. To address these issues and guarantee a certain runtime, a weighted local difference variance measure (WLDVM) algorithm is proposed. First, Gaussian filtering is used to preprocess the image by using the idea of a matched filter to purposefully enhance the target and suppress noise. Then, the target area is divided into a new tri-layer filtering window according to the distribution characteristics of the target area, and a window intensity level (WIL) is proposed to represent the complexity level of each layer of windows. Secondly, a local difference variance measure (LDVM) is proposed, which can eliminate the high-brightness background through the difference-form, and further use the local variance to make the target area appear brighter. The background estimation is then adopted to calculate the weighting function to determine the shape of the real small target. Finally, a simple adaptive threshold is used after obtaining the WLDVM saliency map (SM) to capture the true target. Experiments on nine groups of IR small-target datasets with complex backgrounds illustrate that the proposed method can effectively solve the above problems, and its detection performance is better than seven classic and widely used methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Prospection" refers to the ability to mentally simulate one's future episodes. Negative bias in prospection, which includes both reduced positivity and enhanced negativity, is considered to be closely related to the development and maintenance of depression. However, there is a relative paucity of measures that adequately assess negative bias in prospection in depressed people. The current study developed and initially validated the Negative Bias in Prospection Scale (NBPS) using a nonclinical sample (n = 959). The validity and reliability of the NBPS were investigated in several ways. Results suggested the 14 NBPS items loaded onto three factors, namely the "Increased negativity," the "Reduced positivity," and the "Overgeneralization." The NBPS demonstrated decent internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Further, the NBPS was strongly associated with severity of depressive symptoms. Moreover, the NBPS was correlated in a theoretically meaningful way with other measures of future‐oriented cognitions or negative biases. In conclusion, the NBPS has promising preliminary psychometric properties. It will be an efficient tool for exploring dysfunctional prospection in depression and provides a novel measure for mechanism of change in prospection‐based interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human visual system (HVS) mechanism has been successfully introduced into the field of infrared small target detection. However, most of the current detection algorithms based on the mechanism of the human visual system ignore the continuous direction information and are easily disturbed by highlight noise and object edges. In this paper, a multi-scale strengthened directional difference (MSDD) algorithm is proposed. It is mainly divided into two parts: local directional intensity measure (LDIM) and local directional fluctuation measure (LDFM). In LDIM, an improved window is used to suppress most edge clutter, highlights, and holes and enhance true targets. In LDFM, the characteristics of the target area, the background area, and the connection between the target and the background are considered, which further highlights the true target signal and suppresses the corner clutter. Then, the MSDD saliency map is obtained by fusing the LDIM map and the LDFM map. Finally, an adaptive threshold segmentation method is employed to capture true targets. The experiments show that the proposed method achieves better detection performance in complex backgrounds than several classical and widely used methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genes associated with specific neurocognitive phenotypes in Williams–Beuren syndrome are still controversially discussed. This study identified nine patients with atypical deletions out of 111 patients with Williams–Beuren syndrome; these deletions included seven smaller deletions and two larger deletions. One patient had normal neurodevelopment with a deletion of genes on the distal side of the Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region, including GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. However, another patient retained these genes but showed neurodevelopmental abnormalities. By comparing the genotypes and phenotypes of patients with typical and atypical deletions and previous reports in the literature, we hypothesize that the BAZ1B, FZD9, and STX1A genes may play an important role in the neurodevelopment of patients with WBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shaft-driven Roll-to-Roll (R2R) printing systems have advantages in keeping the printing rolls synchronously rotating, thereby reducing the register errors of R2R printing systems. However, tension oscillations and propagation are still inevitable due to other factors such as disturbances, which lead to the fluctuation of register errors. In this paper, a new mechanical model is established for the shaft-driven R2R systems. Then, a model-based precise control (MBPC) method is proposed, in which an implicit coupling algorithm is designed for the cooperate actions of the dancer rolls to rapidly suppress the tension oscillations and propagation. The stability of the proposed control system is proved via Lyapunov analysis. Moreover, the effectiveness of the proposed modeling and control method is verified via an industrial example. The results indicate that the proposed model can accurately characterize the dynamics of the R2R systems, and the MBPC can effectively eliminate the register errors caused by the tension oscillations and propagation, through the implicit coupling algorithm. Additionally, the results also demonstrate that the MBPC can increase the register precision of package manufacturing R2R systems into ± 40 micrometers, which is superior to the existing control method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genes associated with specific neurocognitive phenotypes in Williams–Beuren syndrome are still controversially discussed. This study identified nine patients with atypical deletions out of 111 patients with Williams–Beuren syndrome; these deletions included seven smaller deletions and two larger deletions. One patient had normal neurodevelopment with a deletion of genes on the distal side of the Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region, including GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. However, another patient retained these genes but showed neurodevelopmental abnormalities. By comparing the genotypes and phenotypes of patients with typical and atypical deletions and previous reports in the literature, we hypothesize that the BAZ1B, FZD9, and STX1A genes may play an important role in the neurodevelopment of patients with WBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current work, a core-shell type exchange coupled composite structure was constructed by micromagnetic simulation with a phase FePt core and an iron shell. Four types of switching loops with magnetic domain structure evolution were demonstrated. Based on the simulation results, a switching type diagram was constructed, which displays various hysteresis loops as a function of core radius and shell thickness. Furthermore, the effects of switching type and composite structure on the coercivity and remanent magnetization were predicted and discussed. This finding indicates that core-shell type FePt/Fe composite structure film has a large advantage in designing exchange-coupled bit patterned media to realize high-density storage devices at the nanoscale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Chinese Americans (CAs). Although death rates of cancers can be significantly reduced by screening cancers at an early stage, cancer screening (CS) rates are low among CAs. Interventions on CS may increase the uptake rates of CS and help to decrease the death rates of cancers in CAs. Objectives: This study aims to summarize the intervention methods on CS among CAs and compare effects of various intervention methods on the outcomes of CS, including knowledge levels of CS, intentions to complete CS, and actual completions of CS. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis design was used. Keyword searching was conducted on PubMed, Google Scholar, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. The PEDro scale was used to evaluate the quality of the studies. Data was analyzed using Review Manager Version 5.4 software. Random effect model and subgroup analyses were conducted. Results: The search yielded 13 eligible studies. All of the reviewed interventions were culturally tailored. Systematic review results were categorized by intervention delivery objects, intervention led, intervention contact, intervention types, and intervention focus according to group consensus. Meta-analysis results showed that the interventions on CS had a positive effect on all outcomes, including a 1.58 (95% CI, 1.17–2.14; P = 0.003), 1.78 (95% CI, 1.27–2.48; P = 0.0007), and 1.72 (95% CI, 1.22–2.42; P = 0.002) effect on knowledge of CS, intentions to complete CS, and completions of CS, respectively, compared to the control group. The subgroup analysis suggested that physician-led, individual-based, face-to-face client-focused interventions with multiple components increased CS among CAs, with the OR ranging from 1.60 (95% CI, 1.08–2.39; P = 0.02) to 3.11 (95%CI, 1.02–9.49; P = 0.05). Discussion: Interventions on CS significantly increased CAs' knowledge of CS, intentions to complete CS, and completions of CS. Physician-led, individual-based, face-to-face client-focused interventions with multiple components should be utilized for CAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we explore the possibility that a hexagonal ring structure can be used as a solar absorber and a thermal emitter for multiple applications. By using FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) Solutions for numerical simulation, the light source is set to 280 nm–2500 nm, and the following properties of the structure are studied. Firstly, the structure achieves an average absorption efficiency of 92.57 % and 97.88 % at AM (Air Mass) 1.5, and the bandwidth is 283 nm–2006 nm (absorption efficiency greater than 90 %), which achieves ultra-broadband perfect absorption. Secondly, the structure can theoretically work at 1500 K, at which the thermal radiation efficiency is 89.13 %. When considering the oxidation and decomposition of materials in practical applications, the structure can work up to 700 K, and the thermal radiation efficiency decreases to 77.07 %. Therefore, the structure has excellent absorption and radiation performance, and has a wide range of applications as a solar absorber or thermal emitter. We studied the absorption and thermal radiation properties of a structure using refractory metals and TMDCs. The average absorption efficiency of the structure in 280–2500 nm reaches 93.19 %, and the bandwidth of A>90 % reaches 1747 nm. In addition, the average absorption efficiency under AM 1.5 is 98.64 %. We also studied the thermal radiation properties of the structure. Theoretically, the structure can work stably at a high temperature of 1500 K; in practical applications, it can also withstand a high temperature of 700 K, and the thermal radiation efficiency reaches 90.59 % and 79.98 %, respectively. In summary, the structure achieves ultra-broadband perfect absorption, can work at high temperatures theoretically and practically, and has high thermal radiation efficiency. Therefore, it has a very wide range of applications, such as thermal management, energy utilization, thermal and optical applications. [Display omitted] • A hexagonal ring structure obtains an average absorption efficiency of 93.19 % in 280–2500 nm. • The structure obtains an average absorption efficiency of 98.64 % at AM1.5. • The structure has an ultra-high thermal emission efficiency of 90.59 % at 1500 K and 79.98 % at 700 K. • The multilayer structure can be used as a solar absorber and a thermal emitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydroformylation reactions promoted by Rh single-atom catalysts typically exhibit a negative reaction order for CO and a positive reaction order for H 2 and alkenes. To enhance the catalytic activity, efforts have been concentrated on reducing the CO adsorption strength and/or enhancing the hydrogenation capacity at Rh sites. This report introduces an optimized Rh single-atom catalyst, utilizing positively charged Mn species to weaken the CO adsorption strength. Our strategy involves placing MnOx clusters in the proximity to the Rh single atom. This arrangement allows the reduction of Rh3+ to produce electronically deficient Rhδ+ species (1 < δ < 2), rather than the usual formation of the lower valence state Rh+ species. The weakened CO adsorption strength on the more positively charged Rhδ+ results in reduced CO coverage on the Rh active site, and enhanced adsorption of propylene. Our mechanistic study reveals that H 2 and CO adsorption on Rh catalyzes the reduction of adjacent Mn(IV) species, inducing the formation of a Rh-MnOx paired active site. The neighboring MnOx clusters hinder the extensive reduction of Rh3+ to Rh+. This study presents MnOx as an inorganic ligand in Rh-MnOx pair site modifies the electronic properties of Rh sites to modulate the hydroformylation activity of Rh single-atom catalysts. [Display omitted] • H 2 and CO on Rh catalyzes the reduction of adjacent Mn(IV) to form Rh-MnOx pair site. • The neighboring MnOx hinder the reduction of Rh3+ to Rh+, forming Rhδ+ (1 < δ < 2). • Rhδ+ shows weakened CO adsorption strength than Rh+ species • Weakened CO adsorption strength on Rhδ+ benefits high hydroformylation activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Xantphos coordination enhances steric hindrance at Rh active sites. • Improved regioselectivity for butyraldehyde (n/i ratio equal to 13) achieved. • Propylene adsorption configuration shifts from hybrid modes to the terminal mode. • Electron-rich Rh sites with P/Rh ratio of 3 benefits activity. Single-atom Rh catalysts have been reported to exhibit high activity in olefin hydroformylation, yet with limited regioselectivity. We develop a Xantphos ligand coordinated single-atom Rh/CeO 2 catalyst, which exhibits improved regioselectivity for butyraldehyde (n/i ratio equal to 13) while maintaining good activity (TOF = 476 h−1) in hydroformylation of propylene. The unique coordination environment created by Xantphos enhances steric hindrance at Rh active sites, thereby improving its regioselectivity for n-butyraldehyde. That is, two P atoms from a Xantphos ligand bind directly to Rh, while a P atom from another Xantphos attaches to an oxygen vacancy on CeO 2 near Rh, achieving a P-Rh coordination number of 3. This unique structure shifts the propylene adsorption configuration from hybrid modes to the terminal mode, favoring n-butyraldehyde formation. The creation of electron-rich Rh sites with P/Rh ratio of 3 benefits the formation of Rh-H species for the rate-determining step, thus showing commendable activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, a wide-band solar absorber (WA) is constructed and simulated in this paper. Due to the Fabry-Perot resonance (FPR), the near-field resonance mode, the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and gap resonance in different structure, the WA obtains efficient and wide-band absorption. The absorption efficiency in 373–1967 nm band is >90 %, and in 817–1830 nm band is >98 %, and the average absorption efficiency at air mass 1.5 (AM 1.5) reaches 91.10 % (280–2500 nm). The structure is insensitive to the change of incident angle. The reduced absorption efficiency is 9.23 % when the incident angle increases from 0° to 60°. In addition, the structure can work stably at high temperature, and the thermal radiation efficiency at 1500 K is as high as 85.13 %. Due to the efficient and wide-band absorption and high thermal emission efficiency, the WA can be widely used in solar energy collection and energy radiation. [Display omitted] • The bandwidth of the absorption efficiency ≥ 90 % is 1594 nm, and of the absorption efficiency ≥ 98 % is 1013 nm. • The average absorption efficiency of the structure at AM 1.5 is 91.10 %. • The thermal radiation efficiency of the structure is 85.13% % at 1500 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of skin-to-skin contact (SSC) on postpartum depression and physical rehabilitation of cesarean section women was explored. 280 parturients undergoing cesarean section were selected and were rolled into two groups randomly. The parturients in the control group (Con group, 140 cases) received routine care, and those in the experimental group (Exp group, 140 cases) received SSC on the basis of routine care. The postpartum depression and physical recovery of parturients in two groups were compared. It was found that, in the Exp group, the number of pregnant women with no or with very mild depression was much more 85% vs. 55%), the number of women with adequate lactation was more (53 cases vs. 27 cases), the first lactation time (FLT) was dramatically shorter (41.25 ± 4.81 h vs. 58.43 ± 5.43 h), the breastfeeding success rate (BFSR) and breastfeeding rate (BFR) were obvious higher, the days for uterine involution was much shorter (6.96 ± 1.13 days vs. 9.47 ± 1.75 days), the descent of uterine fundus 24 hours after delivery (24 h-DUF) was obviously larger (3.17 ± 0.26 mm vs. 1.56 ± 0.43 mm), the duration of lochia (DOL) was remarkably shorter (33.21 ± 5.32 days vs. 25.32 ± 3.54 days), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score was lower (4.88 ± 0.32 points vs. 3.41 ± 0.53 points), showing statistical differences for all above indicators (P < 0.05). It suggested that SSC could effectively relieve the postpartum depression of uterine parturients, promote the lactation, increase the BFR, facilitate uterine involution, and alleviate chronic uterine inflammation and postpartum pain, showing high clinical application and promotion value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women with advanced-stage high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) are likely to have a bad prognosis. Relapses are common in patients even with no evidence of disease after primary treatment. We aimed to identify the prognostic factors for disease recurrence in these patients. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted in a large medical center in Southwest China. The primary outcome was recurrence of disease within 3 years after clinical remission (CR). Cox regression was used to calculate the time to event analysis in different groups. Results: Ninety-seven patients were finally included. Fifty-seven patients (58.8%) relapsed within 3 years after CR. Among all the variables, the difference in posttreatment CA-125 level was statistically significant (P <0.05) between the recurrent group and the progression-free group in both univariate and multivariable analysis. A cutoff value was set at the median level in the recurrent group (10 U/ml) to categorize patients into two arms. In Cox regression, the posttreatment CA-125 level was identified as a prognostic factor for recurrence with an OR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.02–1.10, P = 0.033). The median time (from initiation of treatment) until relapse was 25 months for patients whose posttreatment CA-125 levels were higher than 10 U/ml, while it was undefined for patients whose posttreatment CA-125 level were ≤ 10 U/ml. Patients with a higher posttreatment CA-125 level showed an increased risk for OC relapse compared to those with a lower posttreatment CA-125 level. Furthermore, as shown in line graphs recording serum CA-125 levels during follow-up in each recurrent case, the increments of serum CA-125 levels were delayed in recurrent OC patients who had a posttreatment CA125 level ≤ 10 U/ml compared with those with a higher CA-125 level. Conclusion: A low serum CA-125 level after primary treatment was a potential prognostic factor in women with advanced HGSOC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β secretion plays an important role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin has been shown to improve cognitive impairment and learning ability of AD mice by reducing IL-1β secretion. However, its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we explored the relationship between the neuroprotective effect of curcumin and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Methods: BV2 cells were primed with 500 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h and subsequently treated with 50 μM Aβ25-35 for 24 h or pretreated with 2.5–10 μM curcumin for 4 h and exposed to 50 μM Aβ25-35 for 24 h. The effects of curcumin and Aβ25-35 were assessed by the CCK8 assay. ELISA was used for the detection of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in the supernatant of the cell culture medium. The viability of SH-SY5Y cells, which were incubated with conditioned medium (CM) was assessed using the CCK8 assay. The percentage of apoptotic SH-SY5Y cells incubated with CM was assessed using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry analysis. The expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β were observed by western blot and immunofluorescence staining analyses; the mRNA levels of nlrp3, caspase-1 and IL-1β were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Results: Low (2.5 μM), medium (5 μM), and high (10 μM) concentrations of curcumin and 50 μM Aβ25-35 were used to perform the experiments in the present study. Curcumin attenuated the IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α release and increased SH-SY5Y cell activity, while decreasing the apoptotic percentage of SH-SY5Y cells using Aβ25-35 for cell stimulation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β and nlrp3 in BV-2 cells (p < 0.05), However, curcumin did not affect the expression levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β (p > 0.05) Conclusion: Overall, the data indicated that curcumin is a promising neuroprotective agent for suppressing neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-temperature superconducting material is a promising candidate to fabricate superconducting magnet for magnetic confinement fusion reactors. The DPA number of the 1 µm thick superconducting layer in a high temperature superconducting tape under neutron irradiation needs to be calculated to predict the property changes. The DPA cross sections, which ignore the spatial distribution of vacancies caused by PKAs, are commonly used to obtain the results of the damage energy and DPA. However, for geometric models with the thickness as small as 1 µm, the energy and angular distribution of PKAs reveal that a significant number of PKAs with relatively high energy tend to scatter forward and cross the boundary of model, so the thickness of model has the potential to affect the number of displaced atoms. In this paper, we developed a method based on Geant4 and SRIM to evaluate the deviation of the traditional analytic method caused by the thickness. Geant4 is used to obtain the location, direction, and energy of PKAs, while SRIM is used to track every PKA and obtain damage energy and the number of displaced atoms. The radiation damage calculation of simple thin plate models with different thicknesses and the tape model are conducted with the neutron energies from 1 to 14 MeV. The results show that PKAs need to be tracked continuously for models with thickness less than 10 µm and the deviation of the analytic formulas increases rapidly with the decrease of thickness. For the superconducting layer composed of four different elements in the tape, the deviation also depends on the proportion of each atomic species and the neutron-atom interaction cross sections under different incident neutron energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many genetic syndromes (GSs) have distinct facial dysmorphism, and facial gestalts can be used as a diagnostic tool for recognizing a syndrome. Facial recognition technology has advanced in recent years, and the screening of GSs by facial recognition technology has become feasible. This study constructed an automatic facial recognition model for the identification of children with GSs.Results: A total of 456 frontal facial photos were collected from 228 children with GSs and 228 healthy children in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital from Jun 2016 to Jan 2021. Only one frontal facial image was selected for each participant. The VGG-16 network (named after its proposal lab, Visual Geometry Group from Oxford University) was pretrained by transfer learning methods, and a facial recognition model based on the VGG-16 architecture was constructed. The performance of the VGG-16 model was evaluated by five-fold cross-validation. Comparison of VGG-16 model to five physicians were also performed. The VGG-16 model achieved the highest accuracy of 0.8860 ± 0.0211, specificity of 0.9124 ± 0.0308, recall of 0.8597 ± 0.0190, F1-score of 0.8829 ± 0.0215 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.9443 ± 0.0276 (95% confidence interval: 0.9210-0.9620) for GS screening, which was significantly higher than that achieved by human experts.Conclusions: This study highlighted the feasibility of facial recognition technology for GSs identification. The VGG-16 recognition model can play a prominent role in GSs screening in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gynecologic cancers are among the most prevalent malignancies in China. Cervical and uterine cancer respectively account for the sixth and eighth highest incidence of cancer among Chinese women. Abdominal surgery is one of the important treatment methods for gynecological tumors. However, the tumor- and surgery-related symptom burden are not well studied owing to a lack of a standardized and validated assessment tool in the Chinese population. The study aimed to translate and validate the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for measuring perioperative symptom burden in gynecologic cancer patients (MDASI-PeriOp-GYN) and examine the utility of the Chinese version of MDASI-PeriOp-GYN.Methods: The MDASI-PeriOp-GYN was translated in a stepwise manner. First, two native speakers independently translated the 9 PeriOp-GYN symptom items. Then the nine items were translated back into English by two different bilingual translators. After discussion and revision, the four translators reached an agreement. Finally, the finalized Chinese version was administered to women with three common gynecologic cancer types (cervical, ovarian, and endometrial cancers) recruited from the gynecological oncology department of Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute between July and October 2019. The reliability and validity of the translated version were assessed.Results: Overall, 324 women with gynecologic cancers were enrolled. Cronbach's α values were 0.826 and 0.735 for the symptom severity and interference scales, respectively. Test-retest reliability values were 0.885, 0.873, and 0.914 for symptom severity, PeriOp-GYN, and interference scales. Significant correlations were found between the MDASI-PeriOp-GYN-C and EORTC QLQ-C30 along with the QLQ-OV28 module (- 0.608-0.871, P < 0.001). Known-group validity was supported by significant differences in the scores of the four scales grouped by time intervals, surgery type, and functional status (all P < 0.01).Conclusions: The MDASI-PeriOp-GYN-C is a valid and reliable tool for measuring symptoms in Chinese patients undergoing surgery for gynecologic cancers. The tool could be used in clinical practice and clinical trials to instantly gather patients' health and quality of life data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fault diagnosis(FD) is vital for monitoring of industrial processes. Actually, both the multiple fault variables and minor faults are inclined to bring wrong diagnosis results. In this paper, a fault variable identification method is proposed for multivariate/minor fault diagnosis. The deviation factor is adopted as the characteristic of the sample, and Bayesian decision theory is adopted to calculate the possibility of the variable being faulty, then multi-dimensional reconstruction-based contribution (MRBC) is used to determine the fault source variables. This method not only improves the diagnosis rate for multiple/minor faults with less computation time, but also can indicate severity level of the different fault variables according to the fault occurrence probability. A Numerical example and Tennessee Eastman process are given to show the efficiency of the proposed method. • A fault variable identification method is proposed for multivariate/minor fault. • The deviation factor, the Bayesian decision theory and MRBC is used for FD. • The proposed method can indicate severity level of the different fault variables. • The proposed method will improve the diagnosis rate with less computation time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional data-driven methods generally suppose the training dataset is not corrupted by outliers. However, outliers are inevitable in the real industrial processes even with a relatively high ratio, which degrades the accuracy of data-based models. For multimode process monitoring, outliers may deteriorate the accuracy of both mode identification and fault detection. However, the existing robust methods can hardly deal with a large percentage of outliers, i.e., dirty data in neither single nor multimode processes. In this paper, a robust multimode process monitoring scheme is developed by alleviating the negative effect of dirty data. A difference-based decomposition of matrix (DDM) algorithm is first proposed to divide the data into a basic subpart and a non-basic subpart. The optimization function of the proposed DDM algorithm is solved by the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). In the off-line procedure, an iterative decomposition strategy is designed based on the proposed DDM approach to identify dirty data and obtain the clean dataset of each mode. In the on-line procedure, an on-line sample identification strategy is developed by the type indicator derived from the DDM algorithm to determine whether the current sample belongs to a mode, the dirty data, or the fault. A numerical example and an industrial-scale multiphase flow facility indicate the proposed method can improve the accuracy of both mode identification and fault detection for multimode processes even under dirty data. • The proposed method monitors multimode processes corrupted with dirty data. • The proposed DDM algorithm selects non-similar data from a certain class of data. • The method detects dirty data and identifies modes concurrently without mode numbers. • Numerical case and multiphase flow process proved the effectiveness of our proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria fulfill vital functions in energy production, maintaining ion balance, and facilitating material metabolism. Mitochondria are sacrificed to protect cells or induce apoptosis when the body is under stress. The regulatory pathways of mitophagy include both ubiquitin-dependent and non-dependent pathways. The involvement of mitophagy has been demonstrated in the onset and progression of numerous diseases, highlighting its significant role. Endocrine hormones are chemical substances secreted by endocrine organs or endocrine cells, which participate in the regulation of physiological functions and internal environmental homeostasis of the body. Imbalances in endocrine hormones contribute to the development of various diseases. However, the precise impact of mitophagy on the physiological and pathological processes involving endocrine hormones remains unclear. This article aims to comprehensively overview recent advancements in understanding the mechanisms through which mitophagy regulates endocrine hormones. [Display omitted] • Hormones metabolism is intricately linked to mitochondrial quality-control. • Hormones regulate both mitochondria and mitophagy. • Dysregulated mitophagy contribute to the development of endocrine disorders. • Targeting mitophagy is an innovative approach for treating endocrine disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain like receptors protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome-mediated interleukin (IL)-1β secretion plays an important role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Curcumin has been shown to improve cognitive impairment and learning ability of AD mice by reducing IL-1β secretion. However, its exact mechanism of action remains unclear. In the present study, we explored the relationship between the neuroprotective effect of curcumin and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. Methods: BV2 cells were primed with 500 ng/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h and subsequently treated with 50 μM Aβ25-35 for 24 h or pretreated with 2.5–10 μM curcumin for 4 h and exposed to 50 μM Aβ25-35 for 24 h. The effects of curcumin and Aβ25-35 were assessed by the CCK8 assay. ELISA was used for the detection of IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels in the supernatant of the cell culture medium. The viability of SH-SY5Y cells, which were incubated with conditioned medium (CM) was assessed using the CCK8 assay. The percentage of apoptotic SH-SY5Y cells incubated with CM was assessed using Annexin V-FITC/PI staining flow cytometry analysis. The expression levels of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β were observed by western blot and immunofluorescence staining analyses; the mRNA levels of nlrp3, caspase-1 and IL-1β were analyzed using qRT-PCR. Results: Low (2.5 μM), medium (5 μM), and high (10 μM) concentrations of curcumin and 50 μM Aβ25-35 were used to perform the experiments in the present study. Curcumin attenuated the IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α release and increased SH-SY5Y cell activity, while decreasing the apoptotic percentage of SH-SY5Y cells using Aβ25-35 for cell stimulation (p < 0.05). Furthermore, curcumin inhibited the expression of NLRP3, caspase-1 and IL-1β and nlrp3 in BV-2 cells (p < 0.05), However, curcumin did not affect the expression levels of caspase-1 and IL-1β (p > 0.05) Conclusion: Overall, the data indicated that curcumin is a promising neuroprotective agent for suppressing neuroinflammation by inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many continuous industrial processes operate in different steady states with different grades or products. The switching between two steady states is called transition. Transition consists of a series of operation changes that should be carried out in proper order, within certain magnitudes and time region. Since faulty operation may lead to increase in inferior products or even hazard events, monitoring of the transition is desired. In this work, a transition identification and monitoring scheme is proposed based on slow feature analysis. Two monitoring statistics which represent the location of the trajectory and the speed of transition are proposed. Besides, operating faults are generated based on the guidewords of hazard and operability analysis (HAZOP). Using a numerical case and the mode 4-to-2 transition of the Tennessee-Eastman process in which catastrophic failures exist, the effectiveness of the proposed method is validated. In addition to missed detection rate and false alarm rate, two performance indexes known as detection time (DT) and rescue time (RT) are introduced. The advantages of proposed method are benchmarked against the stage-based sub principle component analysis(sub-PCA) and the global preserving statistics slow feature analysis(GSSFA). • A transition identification and monitoring scheme is proposed based on SFA. • The trajectory-based transion monitoring method is presented with two statistics. • Operating faults for transition switching are generated based on HAZOP. • Two performance indexes (DT and RT) are introduced for the catastrophic failures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MicroRNA-155 is over-expressed in many human cancers, but researches on its association with malignant oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) are limited. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential value of miR-155 as a biomarker for ESCC diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, we found that miR-155 was significantly increased in ESCC tissues compared with the paired adjacent tissues and healthy normal controls (p <.001), according to qRT-PCR, which suggested that miR-155 might act as an oncogene in ESCC. In addition, clinical features such as the depth of tumour invasion, tumour size, and TNM stage were all proved to impact the expression of miR-155 (p <.01). Then, ROC curve analysis, reaching an AUC of 0.870, and a sensitivity and specificity of 83.5% and 77.5%, respectively, revealed that miR-155 was a predictive factor for ESCC. As well, high expression of miR-155 was associated with poor overall survival of the patients (log-rank test, p =.004), according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. MiR-155 might be an independent predictor for overall survival in ESCC patients, manifested by Cox regression analysis (HR = 16.94, 95%CI = 3.33–86.12, p =.001). Taken together, miR-155 could be an independent diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A macrophage is an important component of innate immunity which can be activated by infection. A series of inflammatory cytokines are produced and released to eliminate pathogens. CpG DNA is an immune stimulator recognized by TLR9, subsequently inducing inflammatory responses in macrophages. Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) is a novel class of noncoding RNA, whose length is more than 200 nt, but without protein-coding capacity. lncRNAs are involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including inflammatory responses. In our study, a lncRNA microarray assay was performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs in RAW264.7 cells at different time points following CpG ODN stimulation. The results revealed that expression levels of 734 lncRNAs and 734 mRNAs were altered at all time points. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) biological pathway analyses were performed to predict the functions of dysregulated genes. Coexpression networks of lncRNA-mRNA were constructed based on the correlation analysis between differentially expressed lncRNAs and 10 selected upregulated mRNAs, which have been reported to be involved in CpG DNA-induced inflammatory responses. In addition, we selected 8 dysregulated lncRNAs for further validation by quantitative real-time PCR. The present study provided a systematic perspective on the potential functions of lncRNAs in CpG ODN-induced macrophage activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi5Ti3FeO15 (pentabismuth trititanium iron pentadecaoxide), which is a multiferroic four‐layer Aurivillius phase compound, has received much attention in recent years. However, three mutually inconsistent orthorhombic space groups, i.e. A21am, Fmm2 and Pnn2, have been reported for the room‐temperature phase of Bi5Ti3FeO15 by X‐ray and neutron diffraction investigations. Here, electron diffraction results are presented and discussed for the first time to unambiguously clarify the room‐temperature space group of ceramic Bi5Ti3FeO15. It has been found that all the observed reflections from the ceramic agree with those expected in A21am, while the observed reflections 011, 013 and 015 should be forbidden in the case of Fmm2, and no 107 and 109 reflections were observed although allowed for Pnn2. The present study has demonstrated that the space group of Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramic is A21am rather than Fmm2 or Pnn2, an identification that proved to be a challenge for X‐ray diffraction. On the basis of the space group A21am, the lattice parameters of the Bi5Ti3FeO15 ceramic were calculated from its X‐ray diffraction data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was measured not only to detect liver disease, but also to monitor overall health. The purpose of this study was to obtain the prevalence of elevated ALT levels among adolescents. Methods. In a school-based cross-sectional study, a representative sample was analyzed from 9 middle and high schools in Shenzhen, China, during 2017 to 2018. Elevated ALT was defined as diagnostic criterion I (>30 U/L for boys and >19 U/L for girls) and diagnostic criterion II (>40 U/L). Results. From the adolescent population, a total of 7281 students (boys, 4014, and girls, 3267) aged from 10 to 17 years were collected. The prevalence of elevated ALT was 7.11% (6.88% for boys and 7.41% for girls) by criterion I and 2.72% (3.96% for boys and 1.19% for girls) by criterion II. Based on the Shenzhen census and Chinese national census population, the adjusted prevalence of elevated ALT was 7.65% (boys 7.19% and girls 8.21%) and 6.79% (boys 6.07% and girls 7.56%) by criterion I and 2.85% (boys 4.20% and girls 1.16%) and 2.43% (boys 3.49% and girls 1.29%) by criterion II. For age, the overall trends were increasing progressively, regardless of the use of diagnostic criteria for an elevated ALT activity. Conclusions. This study supplements the gap that the prevalence of elevated ALT levels differed in gender, age, and criteria among adolescents of Shenzhen. We should take the prevalence as a predictor and continue to play a warning and preventive role in preparation for further intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The 2017 high blood pressure (BP) clinical practice guideline reported by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association put forward new categories of BP. This study aimed to assess the applicability of the new guideline in a nondialysis chronic kidney disease (CKD) population. Methods This is a nationwide, multicenter, cross-sectional study with a large sample. A total of 8927 nondialysis CKD patients in 61 tertiary hospitals in all 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of China (except Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) were analyzed. The categories of BP were defined as normal BP (<120/80 mmHg), elevated BP [systolic BP (SBP) 120–130 and diastolic BP (DBP) <80 mmHg], and Stage 1 (SBP 130–139 or DBP 80–89 mmHg) and Stage 2 (SBP ≥140 or DBP ≥90 mmHg) hypertension. The prevalence and control of hypertension were estimated using a new definition, and the association between the main target organs' injury and new categories of BP was analyzed. Results The prevalence, awareness and treatment of hypertension in nondialysis CKD patients were 79.8, 72.4 and 68.3%, respectively. Approximately 11.9% had BP <130/80 mmHg and 6.6% had BP <120/80 mmHg. Subgroups by categories of BP had significant differences in age, sex, body mass index category, primary cause and CKD stage (P   <   0.001). After multivariable adjustment, only Stage 2 hypertension was associated with decreased renal function [odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–3.0, P   <   0.001], cardiovascular disease (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.3–3.1, P   =   0.001) and cerebrovascular disease (OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.2–5.8, P   =   0.015). Conclusions Using the new definition of hypertension, the higher prevalence and lower control of hypertension were shown in nondialysis CKD participants. More studies are necessary to confirm the applicability of new categories of BP in CKD population because only Stage 2 hypertension showed statistical association with the main target organs' injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanisms of species coexistence within a community have always been the focus in ecological research. Community phylogenetic structure reflects the relationship of historical processes, regional environments, and interactions between species, and studying it is imperative to understand the formation and maintenance mechanisms of community composition and biodiversity. We studied the phylogenetic structure of the shrub communities in arid and semiarid areas of the Mongolian Plateau. First, the phylogenetic signals of four plant traits (height, canopy, leaf length, and leaf width) of shrubs and subshrubs were measured to determine the phylogenetic conservation of these traits. Then, the net relatedness index (NRI) of shrub communities was calculated to characterize their phylogenetic structure. Finally, the relationship between the NRI and current climate and paleoclimate (since the Last Glacial Maximum, LGM) factors was analyzed to understand the formation and maintenance mechanisms of these plant communities. We found that desert shrub communities showed a trend toward phylogenetic overdispersion; that is, limiting similarity was predominant in arid and semiarid areas of the Mongolian Plateau despite the phylogenetic structure and formation mechanisms differing across habitats. The typical desert and sandy shrub communities showed a significant phylogenetic overdispersion, while the steppified desert shrub communities showed a weak phylogenetic clustering. It was found that mean winter temperature (i.e., in the driest quarter) was the major factor limiting steppified desert shrub phylogeny distribution. Both cold and drought (despite having opposite consequences) differentiated the typical desert to steppified desert shrub communities. The increase in temperature since the LGM is conducive to the invasion of shrub plants into steppe grassland, and this process may be intensified by global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is becoming increasingly clear that brain network organization shapes the course and expression of neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson disease (PD) is marked by progressive spread of atrophy from the midbrain to subcortical structures and, eventually, to the cerebral cortex. Recent discoveries suggest that the neurodegenerative process involves the misfolding and prion-like propagation of endogenous α-synuclein via axonal projections. However, the mechanisms that translate local "synucleinopathy" to large-scale network dysfunction and atrophy remain unknown. Here, we use an agent-based epidemic spreading model to integrate structural connectivity, functional connectivity, and gene expression and to predict sequential volume loss due to neurodegeneration. The dynamic model replicates the spatial and temporal patterning of empirical atrophy in PD and implicates the substantia nigra as the disease epicenter. We reveal a significant role for both connectome topology and geometry in shaping the distribution of atrophy. The model also demonstrates that SNCA and GBA transcription influence α-synuclein concentration and local regional vulnerability. Functional coactivation further amplifies the course set by connectome architecture and gene expression. Altogether, these results support the theory that the progression of PD is a multifactorial process that depends on both cell-to-cell spreading of misfolded proteins and regional vulnerability. Many neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease, may be prion illnesses characterized by propagation of abnormal proteins through the brain. An agent-based model informed by infectious disease epidemiology recapitulates the distribution of atrophy in Parkinson's disease, suggesting that connectomics and local gene expression interact to shape the spatial progression of the disease in the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands are one of the most critical resources in Inner Mongolia Plateau. However, the region has experienced severe wetland loss in the context of global change. To quantify the dynamic change and the related driving forces, we extracted wetland information using multi-temporal Landsat images between 1993 and 2013 using ArcGIS platform and man-machine interactive interpretation. Dynamically changing characteristics for the past 20 years were analyzed, including wetland types and spatial distribution patterns of the wetlands in Inner Mongolia. We also performed correlation analysis and generalized linear models to quantify the contribution of natural and human factors to the changes in natural wetland area. Our results indicated that the total area of wetlands was 42421.2 km2 in 1993, and decreased to 38912.4 km2 in 2013, a decline ratio of 8.3%. Meanwhile, all types of wetlands showed a trend of transformation into non-wetlands. Anthropogenic factors led to the loss of natural wetlands in Inner Mongolia. In grasslands, mining coal was the dominant driver for natural wetland loss, while in arable lands, agricultural encroachment and irrigation were the primary driving forces. These findings can provide meaningful information for improving sustainable wetlands management strategies according to local conditions in different sub-regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Ga geometrically and electronically modify Ni in Ni-Ga alloy and IMC. • Direct deoxygenation (DDO) was more preferential on Ni-Ga alloy and IMC than Ni. • Benzene hydrogenation, C C cleavage and methanation was suppressed on alloy and IMC. • H 2 was generated from anisole via methanol decomposition on Ni-Ga alloy and IMC. • There was a synergetic effect between Ni and Ga on alloy and IMC for HDO. Abstract Herein, Ni/SiO 2 and bimetallic Ni x Ga/SiO 2 (Ni/Ga atomic ratio x = 6 and 3) catalysts were prepared by the impregnation method followed by reduction at 550 °C and tested in the vapor hydrodeoxygenation of anisole at 0.1 MPa and 300 °C. Ni-Ga alloy and Ni 3 Ga intermetallic compound (IMC) formed in Ni 6 Ga/SiO 2 and Ni 3 Ga/SiO 2 , respectively, where the Ga atoms break contiguous Ni ones reducing the ensembles of Ni atoms and the H 2 uptakes. Also, a charge transfer from Ga to Ni increased the electron density of Ni, and hydrogen spill-over occurred on Ni x Ga/SiO 2. In contrast to Ni/SiO 2 , Ni x Ga/SiO 2 improved not only the hydrodeoxygenation activity but also the selectivity to benzene. At the similar anisole conversion (˜31%), the selectivity to benzene was 75.2%, 83.0% and 92.6% on Ni/SiO 2 , Ni 6 Ga/SiO 2 and Ni 3 Ga/SiO 2 , respectively. Reactivity evaluation, anisole-TPD and TPSR results show that the direct C Ar OCH 3 bond cleavage (C Ar represents the carbon in benzene ring) to benzene was more preferential on Ni x Ga/SiO 2 than on Ni/SiO 2. Isotope tracing experiment indicates that the spilt-over hydrogen at the interface between the Ni 3 Ga particles and support participated in the reaction. We suggest that the synergetic effect between Ni and Ga facilitated the direct C Ar O bond cleavage. Moreover, Ni x Ga/SiO 2 were less active for benzene hydrogenation and C C bond hydrogenolysis than Ni/SiO 2 , contributing to higher selectivity to benzene. Significantly, methanol, derived from the direct the C Ar OCH 3 bond cleavage, dominatingly decomposed to CO and H 2 and methanation scarcely occurred on Ni x Ga/SiO 2 , however, it was mainly converted to methane on Ni/SiO 2. Low activities for benzene hydrogenation, C C bond hydrogenolysis and methanation on Ni x Ga/SiO 2 (especially Ni 3 Ga/SiO 2) are attributed to the geometric and electronic effects of Ga in alloy and IMC. The finding is significant in rationally designing the catalyst with high benzene yield and low H 2 consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoelectrochemical sensing is a promising solution for health monitoring and food safety guarantee, and developing novel strategies for the facile preparation of advanced photoelectrochemical sensors is challenging. In this work, we report a novel strategy for preparing TiO 2 nanofibers threaded ZnO heterostructures and the selective photoelectrochemical detection of lactic acid. Cascade electrospinning and hot-pressing technologies were employed to prepare TiO 2 nanofibers threaded ZIF-8 precursor, and subsequent pyrolysis of ZIF-8 nanocrystals afforded beads-on-a-string heterostructures of TiO 2 @ZnO. The bead-like TiO 2 @ZnO heterostructures exhibit significantly enhanced charge transfer activity, photocurrent density and the smallest overpotential compared against that of ZnO and TiO 2. The resultant photoelectrochemical sensors demonstrate a low detection limit of 0.031 μM, a high sensitivity of 29.18 μA mM−1, a wide linear range between 0.1 and 1.0 mM, and excellent reproducibility. Furthermore, GC-MS and in situ FTIR studies confirm the mechanistic pathway of photoelectrochemical oxidation. This work provides a facile strategy for developing MOFs derived heterostructures, and advances in various high performance photoelectrochemical applications could be envisioned. [Display omitted] • Beads-on-a-string heterostructures of 1D TiO2@ZnO were fabricated. • Facile strategy of cascade hot-pressing ZIF-8 onto electrospun TiO2 was designed. • PEC detection of lactic acid was achieved with excellent selectivity and sensitivity. • Sensing mechanism was revealed by GC-MS and in situ DRIFTS studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of red blood cell distribution width (RDW) in patients with coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: A retrospective cohort study (CORFCHD-PCI, [Identifier: ChiCTR-INR-16010153]) of 6050 patients who were hospitalized with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD) and treated with PCI from January 2008 to December 2016 were enrolled in the study. The primary outcome was long-term mortality after PCI. Clinical follow-up data of participating patients were obtained during an outpatient examination 35.9 ± 22.6 months after PCI. Demographic and clinical data and admission laboratory parameters were recorded, and patients were categorized into two groups according to RDW level (high group ≥13.1%; low group < 13.1%). Results: Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed RDW as an independent prognosis factor for cardiac death. The incidence of cardiac death increased 1.33 times in patients in the high RDW group (HR, 1.331; 95% CI, 1.009–1.755, P = 0.043). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis suggested that patients with high RDW tended to have an increased accumulated risk of cardiac death. However, we did not found significant differences in the incidence of long-term mortality (adjusted HR = 1.203[0.941–1.537], P = 0.140), MACCE (adjusted HR = 1.128[0.979–1.301], P = 0.096), MACE (adjusted HR = 1.155[0.994–1.341], P = 0.059), stroke, bleeding events or readmission between the two groups. Conclusion: The baseline level of RDW is an independent predictor for cardiac death in post-PCI CAD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Bimetallic catalysts impacted glucose decomposition and performed in situ deoxygenation under low H 2 pressure. • 0.5%Co4%Fe/SiO 2 and 0.5%Ni4%Fe/SiO 2 catalysts are strong candidates for in situ selective deoxygenation. • Co stabilizes Fe in CoFe bimetal alloys. • Activity tests and EDS mappings demonstrate differences between co-impregnated and sequentially-impregnated catalysts. Bimetallic catalysts, CoFe, NiFe, PdFe, and PtCo were studied for their ability to perform in situ deoxygenation of glucose decomposition production at 350 °C. Catalysts were prepared via co-impregnation and sequential impregnation methods on SiO 2 in combinations of 4 wt% and 0.5 wt% for the two metals. Easily identifiable furanic compounds in the products were used to establish an understanding of deoxygenation activity. Co-impregnated 0.5%Co4%Fe/SiO 2 and sequentially impregnated (Fe first) 0.5%Ni4%Fe/SiO 2 catalysts provided the most favourable results. Thanks to the alloying of Co and Fe which stabilized Fe, the 0.5%Co4%Fe/SiO 2 catalyst eliminated furfural content and maintained a higher output of H 2. The 0.5%Ni4%Fe/SiO 2 catalyst required the Ni and Fe phases to remain uninterrupted to perform their synergistic roles which boosted DMF content and overall reduced solid residue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The relationship between heart rate in CAD patients who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and had long-term outcomes over up to 10 years of follow-up has not been investigated. Methods. All patients were from the CORFCHD-PCI, a retrospective cohort study that included a total of 6050 CAD patients who underwent PCI from January 2008 to December 2016. One patient was excluded due to a lack of heart rate data. Ultimately, 6049 patients were enrolled. The primary outcome was long-term mortality after PCI. Results. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to heart rate quintiles: 1st quintile (heart rate <66 beats/min; n=1123), 2nd quintile (heart rate ≥66 beats/min to 72 beats/min; n=1010), 3rd quintile (heart rate ≥72 beats/min to 78 beats/min; n=1442), 4th quintile (heart rate ≥78 beats/min to 84 beats/min; n=1211), and 5th quintile (heart rate ≥84 beats/min; n=1263). After multivariate Cox regression analyses, the respective risks of ACM, CM, and MACEs were increased 79.1% (hazard risk (HR) = 1.791, 95% CI: 1.207–2.657, P=0.004), 56.9% (HR = 1.569, 95% CI: 1.019–2.416, P=0.041), and 25.5% (HR = 1.255, 95% CI: 0.990–1.590, P=0.060) in the 4th quintile and 98.7% (HR = 1.987, 95% CI: 1.344–2.937, P=0.001), 98.8% (HR = 1.988, 95% CI: 1.310–3.016, P<0.001), and 0.36.1% (HR = 1.361, 95% CI: 1.071–1.730, P=0.012) in the 5th quintile compared with those in the 1st quintile. Patients with a heart rate of ≥80 beats/min had 89.4%, 115.2%, and 39.1% increased risk of ACM, CM, and MACEs, respectively, compared to those patients with a heart rate of <80 beats/min. Conclusion. The present study indicated that the resting heart rate is an independent predictor of adverse long-term outcomes in CAD patients who underwent PCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Decomposition of glucose with various monometallic catalysts to perform in situ deoxygenation under low H 2 pressure. • Dispersed and small catalyst sites (0.5%Ni/SiO 2) promoted glucose decomposition. • Large metal sites (4%Co/SiO 2) demonstrated the best in situ selective deoxygenation. • Additional H 2 was produced in situ and utilized by catalysts. Abstract Glucose was decomposed at 350 °C within a dilute H 2 environment in the presence of monometallic, deoxygenation catalysts to promote in situ deoxygenation. The catalysts, which were supported on SiO 2 , included Ni, Cu, Co, and Fe in concentrations of 0.5 wt% and 4 wt% as well as Re, Pt, and Pd in concentrations of 0.5 wt%. Furanic compounds were used to identify deoxygenation due to their unique structures which allow them to be readily identified and because of their well-established deoxygenation reaction pathways. The 4% Co catalyst was deemed most superior at in situ deoxygenation. Ni catalysts were competitive in deoxygenation and helped reduce solid residue most substantially. 0.5 wt% catalysts reduced solid content the most however higher concentrations were needed for better in situ deoxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of self-driving vehicles, pedestrian recognition plays an integral role. The following work proposes a pedestrian gesture recognition method based on a k-nearest neighbour algorithm combined with pyramid residual module to reduce computation and improve real-time performance of gesture recognition. The method was formulated using a data from Udacity, and subsequently compared with other recognition methods. The experimental results showed that the accuracy of the new method was as high as 92%, which is an improvement over the conventional histogram of oriented gradient method. The proposed method was further verified by other indicators, demonstrating its robustness and generality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: IgA nephropathy is the most prevalent form of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. Among patients with kidney disease, hypertension is one of the most important risk factors of disease progression. Considering the limited evidence regarding the appropriate blood pressure (BP) goal for patients with IgA nephropathy, our aim was to critically appraise the potential BP goal in IgA nephropathy. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of the BP data from 1055 patients with IgA nephropathy, extracted from the database of a nationwide, multi-center, cross-sectional study, including 61 tertiary hospitals in China. Hypertension was defined by a BP ≥140/90 mmHg. Three BP cutoff levels were evaluated as control values: < 140/90 mmHg, < 130/80 mmHg and < 125/75 mmHg. The primary outcome of our study was the prevalence of BP control among patients with a 24-h proteinuria < 1 g/d or ≥ 1 g/d. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with a decrease in renal function for the different target levels of BP. Results: The overall prevalence of hypertension was 63.3%. BP was controlled under 140/90 mmHg in 49.1% of patients, with 34.3% of patients with proteinuria < 1 g/d reaching the target BP < 130/80 mmHg and only 12.9% of patients with proteinuria > 1 g/d achieving a BP < 125/75 mmHg. Among patients with proteinuria < 1 g/d, the adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of a decrease in renal function, for the 3 target BP levels, were as follows (P > 0.05): < 140/90 mmHg, 0.9 (0.5 - 1.6); < 130/80 mmHg, 1.0 (0.5 - 1.8); and < 125/75 mmHg, 1.0 (0.5 - 2.0). With proteinuria ≥1 g/d, the adjusted ORs (95%CI) of attaining the BP targets of < 140/90 mmHg, < 130/80 mmHg and < 125/75 mmHg were 0.4 (0.2 - 0.6), 0.2 (0.1 - 0.4) and 0.3 (0.1 - 0.5), respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Hypertension was common in IgA nephropathy and hypertensive control was suboptimal. Our result supports a benefit of intensive control of BP < 130/80 mmHg for patients with proteinuria ≥1 g/d. However, in patients with proteinuria < 1 g/d, a renoprotective effect of this BP goal was not identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]