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We conducted a retrospective analysis of 68 newly diagnosed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) patients who were treated in the Department of Hematology at Yuncheng Central Hospital affiliated to Shanxi Medical University from October 2017 to March 2022. Based on the serum ferritin (SF) level, the newly diagnosed MDS patients were divided into two groups: iron overload (IOL) group (SF > 1000 ng/mL) and non-iron overload (NIOL) group(SF ≤ 1000 ng/mL). General clinical data, peripheral blood cells, lymphocyte subsets and marrow karyotypes were compared. We found that MDS patients with IOL had lower hemoglobin (Hb), lower reticulocyte (RET) counts, and lower absolute natural killer (NK) cell counts compared with NIOL group (p

Abstract Study design A retrospective study. Purpose The study objectives were as follows: 1) to analyze the factors influencing the occurrence of the intravertebral shell phenomenon (ISP) after thoracolumbar spinal fracture surgery and the evolutionary outcome of this phenomenon; and 2) to make recommendations for the clinical prevention and treatment of ISP. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 331 patients with single-segment fractures of the thoracolumbar spine treated with internal fixation via a pedicle screw-rod system. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze factors influencing ISP. Results A total of 260 patients (78.5%) developed ISP after surgery. Reduced bone mineral density, screw insertion depth, degree of vertebral body injury, and excessive vertebral body spreading were significantly associated with the occurrence of ISP (P

Abstract Radiation is a curative treatment for localized prostate cancer (PCa). Unfortunately, radiotherapeutic efficacy is often diminished when patients develop more aggressive or metastatic phenotypes. Recent studies have demonstrated that extracellular vesicles participate in cancer therapeutic resistance by delivering small bioactive molecules, such as small non‐coding RNAs. Here, we show that stromal cell‐derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) facilitate the radioresistance of PCa cells by transporting interleukin‐8 (IL‐8). Indeed, prostatic stromal cells secrete more IL‐8 than AR‐positive PCa cells, which can be accumulated in sEVs. Intriguingly, the uptake of stromal cells‐derived sEVs by radiosensitive PCa cells enhanced their radioresistance, which could be attenuated by silencing CXCL8 in stromal cells or inhibiting its receptor CXCR2 in PCa cells. sEV‐mediated radioresistance has been validated in zebrafish and mouse xenograft tumours. Mechanistically, the uptake of stromal sEVs triggers the AMPK‐activated autophagy pathway in PCa cells under the irradiation condition. Consequently, inactivating AMPK efficiently resensitized radiotherapy either by utilizing an AMPK inhibitor or silencing AMPKα in PCa cells. Furthermore, chloroquine (CQ), a lysosomal inhibitor, sufficiently resensitized radiotherapy via blockade of autophagolysosome fusion, leading to autophagosome accumulation in PC cells. Collectively, these results suggest that stromal cells enhance the radioresistance of PCa cells mainly through sEVs that deliver IL‐8.

Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) is an RNA-mediated reverse genetics technique that has become an effective tool to investigate gene function in plants. Cotton is one of the most important economic crops globally. In the past decade, VIGS has been successfully applied in cotton functional genomic studies, including those examining abiotic and biotic stress responses and vegetative and reproductive development. This article summarizes the traditional vectors used in the cotton VIGS system, the visible markers used for endogenous gene silencing, the applications of VIGS in cotton functional genomics, and the limitations of VIGS and how they can be addressed in cotton.

Cotton fibers provide an important source of raw materials for the textile industry worldwide. Cotton fiber is a kind of single cell that differentiates from the epidermis of the ovule and provides a perfect research model for the differentiation and elongation of plant cells. Cotton fiber initiation is the first stage throughout the entire developmental process. The number of fiber cell initials on the seed ovule epidermis decides the final fiber yield. Thus, it is of great significance to clarify the mechanism underlying cotton fiber initiation. Fiber cell initiation is controlled by complex and interrelated regulatory networks. Plant phytohormones, transcription factors, sugar signals, small signal molecules, functional genes, non-coding RNAs, and histone modification play important roles during this process. Here, we not only summarize the different kinds of factors involved in fiber cell initiation but also discuss the mechanisms of these factors that act together to regulate cotton fiber initiation. Our aim is to synthesize a systematic and comprehensive review of different factors during fiber initiation that will provide the basics for further illustrating these mechanisms and offer theoretical guidance for improving fiber yield in future molecular breeding work.

Objective To investigate the effect of mind mapping based on teach-back method in health education of functional exercise for patients after surgery management of lumbar intervertebral disc prolapsed. Methods A total of 72 postoperative patients with lumbar disc herniation that met the diagnostic exclusion criteria were included. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: 36 cases in the study group received health education of functional exercise based on mind mapping and teach-back method, 36 cases in the control group received routine health education of functional exercise. The Japan Orthopaedic Association Low Back Pain Evaluation Form (JOA), TCM diagnosis and treatment efficacy criteria, compliance scale, WHO QOL-bref Short Form (WHOQOL-bref) were adopted at admission, before discharge, and at 1 month follow-up after discharge, respectively. Results The JOA score in the study group was higher than that in the control group before discharge and at 1 month follow-up after discharge respectively(P＜0. 05). According to the TCM Diagnosis and Treatment Efficacy Criteria, a higher response rate was found in the study group than that in the control group before discharge and at 1 month follow-up after discharge(P＜0. 05). Patients in the study group had higher treatment compliance and score of WHOQOL-bref compared with those in the control group before discharge and at 1 month follow-up after discharge(P＜0. 05). Conclusion The mind mapping based on teach-back method is better than conventional functional exercise health education program in improving lumbar function, improving functional exercise compliance and quality of life in patients with lumbar disc herniation. It shows great significance to promote active and continuous postoperative rehabilitation exercises for patients. (目的 探讨回授法联合思维导图训练法在腰椎间盘突出术后患者功能锻炼中的应用效果。方法 纳入符合诊断排除标准的腰椎间盘突出症术后患者72例, 采用随机数字表法分为研究组和对照组, 各36例。对照组实施常规功能锻炼健康教育计划, 研究组实施基于回授法的功能锻炼思维导图。采用日本骨科学会腰痛评估表(JOA)、中医病症诊断疗效标准、依从性、世界卫生组织生活质量测定量表简表(WHOQOL-bref)分别在患者入院时、出院前及出院后1个月进行随访和评估。结果 出院前及出院后1个月, 研究组JOA腰椎评分均高于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。中医病症诊断疗效评价结果显示, 出院前与出院后1个月研究组干预效果均优于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。出院前与出院后1个月研究组依从性评价优于对照组(P＜0. 05), WHOQOL-bref生活质量评分高于对照组, 差异有统计学意义(P＜0. 05)。结论 基于回授法的功能锻炼思维导图在改善腰椎间盘突出症术后患者腰椎功能、提高功能锻炼的依从性及生活质量方面优于常规功能锻炼健康教育计划, 对促进患者进行主动性和连续性的术后康复锻炼具有重要意义。)

Abstract Background Burkholderia pseudomallei, a facultative intracellular bacterium, is the aetiological agent of melioidosis that is responsible for up to 40% sepsis-related mortality in epidemic areas. However, no effective vaccine is available currently, and the drug resistance is also a major problem in the treatment of melioidosis. Therefore, finding new clinical treatment strategies in melioidosis is extremely urgent. Results We demonstrated that tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a clinically available endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inhibitor, can promote B. pseudomallei clearance both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we investigated the effects of TUDCA on the survival of melioidosis mice, and found that treatment with TUDCA significantly decreased intracellular survival of B. pseudomallei. Mechanistically, we found that B. pseudomallei induced apoptosis and activated IRE1 and PERK signaling ways of ER stress in RAW264.7 macrophages. TUDCA treatment could reduce B. pseudomallei-induced ER stress in vitro, and TUDCA is protective in vivo. Conclusion Taken together, our study has demonstrated that B. pseudomallei infection results in ER stress-induced apoptosis, and TUDCA enhances the clearance of B. pseudomallei by inhibiting ER stress-induced apoptosis both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that TUDCA could be used as a potentially alternative treatment for melioidosis.

This study uses methods, such as a nearest proximity index, nuclear density, spatial interpolation, buffering zone, and overlay analysis, based on an exploratory spatial data analysis tool. It focuses on a large commercial facility in which a mathematical analysis is conducted on its spatial patterns. In the study, 45 large-scale retail commercial facilities (LSRCFs) in the Gulou District, Nanjing, China, were chosen, and the spatial concentration, density, and structure of the LSRCFs in this area were analyzed. Three additional factors, namely, population, transportation, and consumption, were examined to determine their impact on the spatial patterns of the LSRCFs. Finally, this study recommends a spatial layout for the future of the Gulou District according to the analysis results.

Abstract Background Soybean (Glycine max) is an important oil provider and ecosystem participant. The protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) plays important roles in key biological processes. Molecular evolution and functional analysis of the PP2C family in soybean are yet to be reported. Results The present study identified 134 GmPP2Cs with 10 subfamilies in soybean. Duplication events were prominent in the GmPP2C family, and all duplicated gene pairs were involved in the segmental duplication events. The legume-common duplication event and soybean-specific tetraploid have primarily led to expanding GmPP2C members in soybean. Sub-functionalization was the main evolutionary fate of duplicated GmPP2C members. Meanwhile, massive genes were lost in the GmPP2C family, especially from the F subfamily. Compared with other genes, the evolutionary rates were slower in the GmPP2C family. The PP2C members from the H subfamily resembled their ancestral genes. In addition, some GmPP2Cs were identified as the putative key regulator that could control plant growth and development. Conclusions A total of 134 GmPP2Cs were identified in soybean, and their expansion, molecular evolution and putative functions were comprehensively analyzed. Our findings provided the detailed information on the evolutionary history of the GmPP2C family, and the candidate genes can be used in soybean breeding.

Affordable housing is an effective approach for relieving the residential stress of moderate and low-income citizens; it is not only a macro study but also a micro one in the processive phase focusing on site selection and so on. From this view, the site selection of affordable housing in the direct management district under Jiangbei New District in Nanjing is analyzed, including summarizing the status quo and construction models of affordable housing’s site selection; quantifying the influential elements of site selection by the AHP method and GIS spatial analysis. The final result shows that the site of Jiangbei’s new district in Nanjing, with a score ranging from 2.7792 to 3.8572, is recommended for affordable housing. According to this result, the optimization strategy of affordable housing planning and location is put forward to ensure the balance of work and housing and the interests of low-income groups.

In this paper, energy management strategy (EMS) model based on deep recurrent neural network (DRNN) is presented to learn optimal torque distribution for the single-axle parallel hybrid electric vehicle. The model has two distinguishing properties: 1) because the EMS is formulated as a time series prediction problem, taking historical data as input of the EMS model captures the input-and-output dynamic characteristics and enhances the prediction capability and 2) the EMS model based on end-to-end framework directly generates torque distribution results without extracting features of driving cycles and other artificial interference. The extensive simulations are conducted to demonstrate the accuracy and generalization capability of the EMS model in public platform TensorFlow. Comparing with other energy management strategies, our proposed model yields better performance in terms of fuel economy and accuracy. The simulation results show that our proposed EMS model provides a novel way to study the energy management strategy.

Simultaneous removal of Hg0 and H2S over a regenerable activated coke supported Fe2O3 catalyst (Fe2O3/AC) was studied in simulated coal-derived syngas. It was found that the Fe2O3/AC catalyst exhibited high capability for Hg0 and H2S removal, which was attributed to the catalytic oxidation activity of Fe2O3. Its capability for Hg0 and H2S removal increased with an increase of Fe2O3 loading amount, and the highest was at 150 °C for Hg0 removal. CO and H2 showed no obvious effect on Hg0 removal by Fe2O3/AC, while H2S had a promotion effect, which was due to S and FeSx produced by the H2S reaction on Fe2O3/AC. The results of SEM-EDX and the temperature programmed desorption experiment (TPD) revealed that Fe2O3 played a critical role in Hg0 oxidation, and HgS was generated upon the reaction of Hg0 with H2S on Fe2O3/AC. The used Fe2O3/AC catalyst after Hg0 and H2S removal could be effectively regenerated and still had high capability for Hg0 and H2S removal.

Oxidative stress caused by the exposure of pancreatic ß-cells to high levels of fatty acids impairs insulin secretion. This lipotoxicity is thought to play an important role in ß-cell failure in type 2 diabetes and can be prevented by antioxidants. Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), an endogenous antioxidant and energy source, has previously been shown to protect mice from streptozotocin and alloxan-induced diabetes; both compounds are generators of oxidative stress and yield models of type-1 diabetes. We sought to determine whether GHB could protect mouse islets from lipotoxicity caused by palmitate, a model relevant to type 2 diabetes. We found that GHB prevented the generation of palmitate-induced reactive oxygen species and the associated lipotoxic inhibition of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion while increasing the NADPH/NADP+ ratio. GHB may owe its antioxidant and insulin secretory effects to the formation of NADPH.

To eliminate hazards during early phase of chemical process and obtain chemical reaction path with benign safety, the strategy is proposed by considering safety factors during reaction path synthesis. Material screening rules, safety constraints and inherent safety evaluation were integrated during reaction path synthesis. Safety factors were considered in this process. The implement of the strategy was divided into three steps. Based on inherent safety principles and indices, and reaction path including fire, explosion, toxicity hazards, material screening rules that considered safety were formed. According to material screening rules, the substance with extreme hazardous characteristics can be eliminated from materials. Focus on reaction hazards and substantial hazards, the NLP (non linear programming) model involving safety constraints was established. The result was shown that it was a more benign chemical reaction path. By inherent safety evaluation, the best relatively benign reaction path was obtained. Finally, by analyzing the application of reaction path synthesis for carbaryl production, the results were indicated that safety factors were considered during the early phase of process, and stoichiometric equations of chemical reaction path with benign safety were acquired. In conclusion, the strategy is useful in process decision-making.

Mapping the fine-scale spatial distribution of emergency shelter demand is crucial for shelter planning during disasters. To provide shelter for people within a reasonable evacuation distance under day and night disaster scenarios, we formed an approach for examining the distribution of day and night shelter demand at the plot-scale using point of interest (POI) data, and then analyzed the supply and demand status of shelters after an evacuation simulation built in Python programming language. Taking the downtown areas of Guangzhou, China as a case study, the results show that significant differences exist in the size and spatial distribution of shelter demand in daytime and nighttime, and the total demand is 7.929 million people, which is far larger than the resident population. The average evacuation time of all 16,883 routes is 12.6 min, and after the evacuation, 558 of 888 shelters exceed their capacity to varying degrees, accounting for 62.84% of the total, indicating that the shelters cannot completely receive the potential evacuees. The method proposed in this paper provides a direct quantitative basis for the number and size of new shelter resources being planned during urban renewal activities, and form a reference for land reuse and disaster prevention space organization in future urban planning.

Abstract Water/bubbles separation has great practical significance, which can avoid the harm caused by underwater bubbles or cleverly collect useful gas bubbles in water. Here, a Cu(OH)2‐nanoneedles‐structured rough copper mesh is fabricated by a one‐step chemical reaction. The original rough mesh shows superhydrophilicity in air and superaerophobicity in water. The underwater superaerophobic mesh has great anti/removing‐bubbles ability in water. In contrast, the rough mesh switches to superhydrophobicity in air and superaerophilicity in water after further being modified with fluoroalkylsilane. The underwater superaerophilic mesh can absorb bubbles and allow bubbles to pass through the mesh. Based on the superhydrophilic/superaerophobic mesh and the superhydrophobic/superaerophilic mesh, a strategy to remove gas bubbles from the water pipe is proposed, and an in‐water bubbles‐collection device is also designed. It is believed that these two kinds of mesh will have more applications in controlling the behavior of underwater bubbles.

Cytotoxin-associated-gene A (CagA) of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a virulence factor that plays critical roles in H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation. In the present study, gastric biopsies were used for genotyping cagA and vacA genes, determining the autophagic activity, and the severity of gastric inflammation response. It was revealed that autophagy in gastric mucosal tissues infected with cagA+H. pylori strains was lower than the levels produced by cagA−H. pylori strains, accompanied with accumulation of SQSTM1 and decreased LAMP1 expression. In vitro, deletion mutant of cagA gene resulted in increased autophagic activity, and decreased expression of SQSTM1 and cytokines, whereas over-expression of CagA down-regulated the starvation-induced autophagy, and induced more production of the cytokines. Moreover, the production of the cytokines was increased by inhibition of autophagy, but decreased by enhancement of autophagy. Deletion of CagA decreased the ability to activate Akt kinase at Ser-473 site and increased autophagy. c-Met siRNA significantly affected CagA-mediated autophagy, and decreased the level of p-Akt, p-mTOR, and p-S6. Both c-Met siRNA and MK-2206 could reverse inflammatory response. H. pylori CagA protein negatively regulates autophagy and promotes the inflammation in H. pylori infection, which is regulated by c-Met-PI3K/Akt-mTOR signaling pathway activation.

Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) plays a critical role in gastrointestinal inflammation. However, the exact mechanism by which F. nucleatum contributes to inflammation is unclear. In the present study, it was revealed that F. nucleatum could induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-8, IL-1β and TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Caco-2 colorectal) adenocarcinoma cells. Furthermore, ROS scavengers (NAC or Tiron) could decrease the production of proinflammatory cytokines during F. nucleatum infection. In addition, we observed that autophagy is impaired in Caco-2 cells after F. nucleatum infection. The production of proinflammatory cytokines and ROS induced by F. nucleatum was enhanced with either autophagy pharmacologic inhibitors (3-methyladenine, bafilomycin A1) or RNA interference in essential autophagy genes (ATG5 or ATG12) in Caco-2 cells. Taken together, these results indicate that F. nucleatum-induced impairment of autophagic flux enhances the expression of proinflammatory cytokines via ROS in Caco-2 Cells.