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Objective To retrospectively analyze the efficacy of low dose apheresis platelet prophylactic infusion and explore its feasibility. Methods A total of 392 inpatients with platelet transfusion in our hospital from November 2020 to September 2021 were selected. The conventional dose (1 therapeutic dose) of apheresis platelet transfusion was set as the control group, and the low dose (0.5 therapeutic dose) as the experimental group. Platelet count before and after infusion, platelet elevation value (△PLT) and 24 h platelet count correction increase index (CCI) were observed, and the efficacy of low-dose platelet infusion was analyzed by disease type and gender. Results The △PLT value and 24h CCI effective infusion rate in control group were higher than those in experimental group: (16±16) ×109vs (7±10) ×109, 71.94% vs 60.46%, PAA (14±14) >ALL (13±12) >NHL (9±8) >MDS (7±6). In the experimental group, the △PLT (×109) was AA (11±18) >AML (8±8) >ALL (5±7) >NHL (5±7) >MDS (6±16). The 24h CCI was AML(163/188, 86.70%)>AA(23/32, 71.88%)>ALL(65/98, 66.33%)>MDS(9/17, 52.94%)>NHL(12/22, 51.55%) in the control group, and AML(133/188, 70.74%)>AA(19/32, 59.38%)>NHL(12/22, 51.55%)>ALL(47/98, 47.96%)>MDS(8/17, 47.06%) in the experimental group. The effective infusion rates of AML and ALL2 in the experimental groups were 70.74% (133/188) and 47.96% (47/98), respectively, significantly lower than 86.7% (163/188) and 66.33% (65/98) in the control group(P0.05). Conclusion Low-dose apheresis platelet prophylactic infusion can alleviate the between supply shortage, with an effective infusion rate of 60.46% (236/392), which has certain clinical application value. Patients with AML, AA or ALL were recommended with low dose platelets, while patients with MDS and NHL were not recommended.

This study aims to investigate the influencing factors and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) related knowledge among high-risk male population in Chongqing. A total of 388 men who had sex with their fellow men (MSM) and volunteered for counseling or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing in Chongqing were divided into two groups identified as: aware group (n = 299) and unaware group (n = 89). According to the study subjects, the MSM sentinel surveillance questionnaire of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention was utilized to investigate their AIDS awareness demographic and behavioral characteristics. Univariate analysis was also applied to analyze the influencing factors of their AIDS knowledge. Binary multivariate logistic analysis was further used to screen the independent risk factors of AIDS inadequate knowledge, leading to the use of regression analysis model. Furthermore, hosmer and lemeshow were employed to test the goodness and fitness of the regression analysis model. Finally, SPSS was used to draw receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to evaluate the predictive value of the regression analysis model. Among 388 respondents, 299 participants were aware while 89 participants were unaware of AIDS-related knowledge with an overall awareness rate of 77.06%; univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that education (high school and below) and household registration (other places) were risk factors for AIDS-related knowledge in high-risk male groups in Chongqing. In addition, a probability model predicted high incidence of AIDS in high-risk male groups in Chongqing because of inadequate AIDS knowledge: P = 1/[1 + exp (1.429 − 1.169X2 − 0.969X3)]. The overall level of awareness of AIDS-related knowledge among high-risk male groups in Chongqing was not high because of low education levels (high school or below) and foreign household registration.

Abstract The effective storage and utilization of hydrogen energy is expected to solve the problems of energy shortage and environmental pollution currently faced by human society. Metal–organic framework materials (MOFs) have been shown by scientists to be very potential hydrogen storage materials. However, the current design methods and strategies for MOFs are still generally in the trial‐and‐error stage, and the research works are at the overall level. To solve the problems of directional design and rational construction of new MOFs, this work uses the principles and methods of coordination chemistry and crystal engineering to carry out the theoretical design and mechanism research of new MOFs for high‐efficiency hydrogen storage application scenarios. In this study, the structures selected for theoretical calculation were divided into two types: different ligands for the same metal (IRMOFs, MOF‐205, and DUT‐23‐Zn) and different metals for the same ligand (DUT‐23‐M [(M = Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn]). The model construction process, hydrogen loading with temperature, specific surface area, hydrogen adsorption energy, charge density and hydrogen storage mechanism of the above structures were analyzed, and the key indicators that may affect the hydrogen storage performance of MOFs were summarized: type and quantity of coordination metals, temperature, pressure, adsorption site and specific surface area.

Objective: This prospective single-arm clinical trial aimed to evaluated the feasibility and safety of the application of the SHURUI system (Beijing Surgerii Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China), a novel purpose-built robotic system, in single-port robotic radical prostatectomy. Methods: Sixteen patients diagnosed with prostate cancer were prospectively enrolled in and underwent robotic radical prostatectomy from October 2021 to August 2022 by the SHURUI single-port robotic surgical system. The demographic and baseline data, surgical, oncological, and functional outcomes as well as follow-up data were recorded. Results: The mean operative time was 226.3 (standard deviation [SD] 52.0) min, and the mean console time was 183.4 (SD 48.3) min, with the mean estimated blood loss of 116.3 (SD 90.0) mL. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 4.50 (SD 0.97) days. Two patients had postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo Grade II), and both patients improved after conservative treatment. All patients’ postoperative prostate-specific antigen levels decreased to below 0.2 ng/mL 1 month after discharge. The mean prostate-specific antigen level further decreased to a mean of 0.0219 (SD 0.0641) ng/mL 6 months after surgery. Thirty days postoperatively, 12 out of 16 patients reported using no more than one urinary pad per day, and all patients reported satisfactory urinary control without the need for pads 6 months after surgery. Conclusion: The SHURUI system is safe and feasible in performing radical prostatectomy via both transperitoneal and extraperitoneal approaches. Tumor control and urinary continence were satisfying for patients enrolled in. The next phase involves conducting a large-scale, multicenter randomized controlled trial to thoroughly assess the effectiveness and safety of the new technology in a broader population.

Abstract Developing efficient artificial photocatalysts for the biomimetic photocatalytic production of molecular materials, including medicines and clean energy carriers, remains a fundamentally and technologically essential challenge. Hydrogen peroxide is widely used in chemical synthesis, medical disinfection, and clean energy. However, the current industrial production, predominantly by anthraquinone oxidation, suffers from hefty energy penalties and toxic byproducts. Herein, we report the efficient photocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide by protonation-induced dispersible porous polymers with good charge-carrier transport properties. Significant photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation occurs under ambient conditions at an unprecedented rate of 23.7 mmol g–1 h–1 and an apparent quantum efficiency of 11.3% at 450 nm. Combined simulations and spectroscopies indicate that sub-picosecond ultrafast electron “localization” from both free carriers and exciton states at the catalytic reaction centers underlie the remarkable photocatalytic performance of the dispersible porous polymers.

Abstract Aims Robot-assisted total hip arthroplasty (rTHA) boasts superior accuracy in implant placement, but there is a lack of effective assessment in perioperative management in the context of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness and safety of rTHA versus conventional total hip arthroplasty (cTHA) in ERAS-managed patients. Methods In this prospective trial, a total of 60 eligible patients aged between 18 and 80 years were randomly divided into two groups to undergo either rTHA or cTHA. The primary outcomes included blood loss parameters. Secondary outcomes were the duration of the operation, surgical time, WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score, WOMAC physical function score, Harris score, and postoperative complications. Results The study cohort analyzed 59 eligible participants, 30 of whom underwent rTHA and 29 of whom underwent cTHA. Analysis could not be conducted for one patient due to severe anemia. Notably, the cTHA group had a significantly shorter surgical time than the rTHA group (69.49 ± 18.97 vs. 104.20 ± 19.63 min, P

Casting performance is seriously jeopardized by metallurgical defects, especially the long-neglected bifilm defects that have been found in various alloys. The theory of entrainment formation of bifilm defects has been commonly accepted, but their visualization of the formation process and fracture behavior are absent to date, which is explored in the present work. The vivid numerical simulation results showed that the rapid rise of the liquid level leads to violent melt fluctuation, which results in the repeated folding-entrainment-detachment process of the oxide film on the melt surface. Different motion trajectories would be produced by the bifilm defects based on their composition. The observation of metallographic samples confirmed the corresponding results. Meanwhile, the fracture behavior of bifilm defects can be studied using optical in situ tensile. The results show that the bifilm defects are the source of cracks, and the connection of their influence domains causes the cracks to expand laterally. These results will shed new light on the understanding of the formation and fracture process of bifilm defects and improve the defect control of castings.

Abstract Background Bronchogenic cysts (BCs) are rare and usually asymptomatic malformations detected during imaging examinations. We aimed to investigate the clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with BCs. Methods We retrospectively evaluated patients who received surgery to remove their BCs from January 2015 to January 2019. Their baseline characteristics, clinical information, and imaging results were reviewed. Results Our study included 129 patients, with 57 males and 72 females and a mean age of 42.7 years old. The most common location for BCs was the mediastinum (67 patients, 51.9%). Fewer than half of the patients (53 patients, 41.1%) reported clinical symptoms, with chest pain being the most common (16 patients, 30.2%). Neck BCs were more frequently observed in young patients (P = 0.002) and were more often associated with thyroid cancer (P = 0.007). A computed tomography scan was the most commonly used method to diagnose BCs in the lung and mediastinum, whereas ultrasound was the most commonly used diagnostic method for neck BCs. The characteristic images were well-defined, thin-wall cystic lesions in varying densities. A few lesions showed small, calcified spots along the rim or cavities. Conclusions Although most BCs were found in the mediastinum, their locations could vary in different sex and age groups. Particular attention should be paid to young patients with BCs in the neck to rule out thyroid cancer.

Abstract Minimal change disease (MCD) is the common type of nephrotic syndrome (NS) in children. Currently, there is an urgent need to explore new treatments because of the significant side effects of long-term use of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs and the failure to reduce proteinuria in some patients. Angiopoietin-like protein 3 (Angptl3) is an essential target of NS, and anti-ANGPTL3-FLD monoclonal antibody (mAb) significantly reduces proteinuria in mice with adriamycin nephropathy (AN). However, some proteinuria is persistent. Minnelide, a water-soluble prodrug of triptolide, has been used for the treatment of glomerular disease. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate whether minnelide combined with mAb could further protect mice with AN and the underlying mechanisms. 8-week-old C57BL/6 female mice were injected with 25 mg/kg of Adriamycin (ADR) by tail vein to establish the AN model. A dose of 200 μg/kg of minnelide or 20 mg/kg of mAb was administered intraperitoneally for the treatment. In vitro, the podocytes were treated with 0.4 μg/mL of ADR for 24 h to induce podocyte injury, and pretreatment with 10 ng/mL of triptolide for 30 min or 100 ng/mL of mAb for 1 h before ADR exposure was used to treat. The results showed that minnelide combined with mAb almost completely ameliorates proteinuria and restores the ultrastructure of the podocytes in mice with AN. In addition, minnelide combined with mAb restores the distribution of Nephrin, Podocin, and CD2AP and reduces the level of inflammatory factors in mice with AN. Mechanistically, minnelide combined with mAb could further alleviate apoptosis and promote autophagy in mice with AN by inhibiting the mTOR signaling pathway. In vitro, triptolide combined with mAb increases the expression of Nephrin, Podocin, and CD2AP, alleviates apoptosis, and promotes autophagy. Overall, minnelide combined with mAb completely protects the mice with AN by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis.

The effects of scandium (Sc) additions on the solidification microstructure and mechanical properties of Al–7Si–0.6Mg-0.25Ti alloy at different cooling rates have been systematically studied by thermal analysis and detailed SEM and TEM microstructure characterization of the castings. It is found that the addition of Sc has significant effects of refining the grain structure and modifying the Al–Si eutectics into fibrous structure. As a result, substantially improved strength and ductility in the as-cast state have been achieved in the Sc-added alloy. More importantly, the addition of Sc reduces the sensitivity of the alloy's strength and ductility to local cooling rates in the castings. The underlying mechanisms on the grain refinement, modification of Al–Si eutectics and strengthening by Sc addition have been studied. A new phase, DO22 structured (Al, Si)3(Ti, Sc), has been found to form in the liquid aluminium, acting as high potency nucleation sites of Al grains, which overcomes the Si poisoning effect on grain refinement for Al–Ti–B grain refiners.

Among non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques, fast neutron radiography with a higher penetration capability has achieved rapid advancements. However, the application of the radiography detector in many fast neutron imaging systems is limited by unfavorable detection efficiency and imaging spatial resolution. In this paper, a fast neutron radiography detector was designed, which was composed of a pixelated EJ200 scintillator array, a 16 × 16 silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) array, and capacitive multiplexing network readout electronics. The main parameters of the detector were optimized using Monte Carlo simulations. In addition, the prototype of the detector was fabricated and tested under a 14 MeV D-T neutron source. The preliminary test results demonstrated that the spatial resolution of the prototype reached 1.2 mm. Moreover, the conflict between spatial resolution and detection efficiency could be mitigated by using a pixelated scintillator structure. Overall, SiPMs enabled the extensive application of the imaging system because of their excellent photon detection performance, relatively low price, and joint possibility for large areas.

Previous studies have suggested an association between Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to assess the association between PPI use and CKD progression by analysing estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories using a process mining approach. We conducted a retrospective cohort study from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2011, utilising data from the Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM). New users of PPIs and H2 blockers (H2Bs) with CKD (eGFR < 60) were identified using a new-user and active-comparator design. Process mining discovery is a technique that discovers patterns and sequences in events over time, making it suitable for studying longitudinal eGFR trajectories. We used this technique to construct eGFR trajectory models for both PPI and H2B users. Our analysis indicated that PPI users exhibited more complex and rapidly declining eGFR trajectories compared to H2B users, with a 75% increased risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.75, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49 to 2.06) of transitioning from moderate eGFR stage (G3) to more severe stages (G4 or G5). These findings suggest that PPI use is associated with an increased risk of CKD progression, demonstrating the utility of process mining for longitudinal analysis in epidemiology, leading to an improved understanding of disease progression.

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BackgroundGaussian shaping is commonly used to filter and extract the amplitude of nuclear pulse signals owing to its high signal-to-noise ratio, resistance to ballistic loss, and ease of amplitude extraction. However, the problems of asymmetry and downwash exist in Gaussian-like signals generated by Sallen-Key and CR-(RC)m filters.PurposeThis study aims to address the problems of asymmetry and downwash in Gaussian-like signals generated by Sallen-Key and CR-(RC)m filters, this paper presents a trigonometric function-based Gaussian-like pulse shaping algorithm for dual-exponential signals.MethodsFirst, the impact of shaping parameters on the shaping pulse and filtering performance of the algorithm was examined by applying Gaussian-like pulse shaping to simulated nuclear pulse signals. Then, the filtering performances of Gaussian-like and sin pulse shaping algorithms were compared and analyzed using the same shaping width. Finally, the characteristic X-ray signals of manganese (FAST-SDD detector) were collected using a self-made digital nuclear signal acquisition board under various tube flows. The energy resolution and count rate characteristics of the energy spectra obtained from Gaussian-like, sin, and trapezoidal shaping algorithms were comparatively analyzed for different tube flows and shaping times.ResultsComparison results show that Gaussian pulse shaping exhibits superior denoising performance to sin pulse shaping, with an 8.95% improvement in the SNR for the same peak arrival time. Additionally, the energy resolution of the spectrum obtained using Gaussian pulse shaping exceeds that of sin pulse shaping, and its stacking pulse separation ability outperforms that of trapezoidal pulse shaping, making it highly applicable.ConclusionsGaussian-like pulse shaping presented in this study demonstrats better stacking pulse separation capability than trapezoidal pulse shaping, indicating promising application prospects.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the predominant pathogen causing chronic gastric mucosal infections globally. During the period from 2011 to 2022, the global prevalence of H. pylori infection was estimated at 43.1%, while in China, it was slightly higher at approximately 44.2%. Persistent colonization by H. pylori can lead to gastritis, peptic ulcers, and malignancies such as mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas and gastric adenocarcinomas. Despite eliciting robust immune responses from the host, H. pylori thrives in the gastric mucosa by modulating host immunity, particularly by altering the functions of innate and adaptive immune cells, and dampening inflammatory responses adverse to its survival, posing challenges to clinical management. The interaction between H. pylori and host immune defenses is intricate, involving evasion of host recognition by modifying surface molecules, manipulating macrophage functionality, and modulating T cell responses to evade immune surveillance. This review analyzes the immunopathogenic and immune evasion mechanisms of H. pylori, underscoring the importance of identifying new therapeutic targets and developing effective treatment strategies, and discusses how the development of vaccines against H. pylori offers new hope for eradicating such infections.

In recent years, colon cancer has become one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide, posing a great threat to human health. Studies have shown that natural polysaccharides have rich biological activities and medicinal value, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, and immune-enhancing effects, especially with potential anti-colon cancer mechanisms. Natural polysaccharides can not only protect and enhance the homeostasis of the intestinal environment but also exert a direct inhibition effect on cancer cells, making it a promising strategy for treating colon cancer. Preliminary clinical experiments have demonstrated that oral administration of low and high doses of citrus pectin polysaccharides can reduce tumor volume in mice by 38% (p

This study is aimed at assessing the impact of soluble dietary fiber inulin on the treatment of diabetes-related chronic inflammation and kidney injury in mice with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The T2DM model was created by feeding the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice a high-fat diet and intraperitoneally injecting them with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg for 5 consecutive days). The thirty-six ICR mice were divided into three dietary groups: the normal control (NC) group, the T2DM (DM) group, and the DM + inulin diet (INU) group. The INU group mice were given inulin at the dose of 500 mg/kg gavage daily until the end of the 12th week. After 12 weeks, the administration of inulin resulted in decreased serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE). The administration of inulin not only ameliorated renal injury but also resulted in a reduction in the mRNA expressions of inflammatory factors in the spleen and serum oxidative stress levels, when compared to the DM group. Additionally, inulin treatment in mice with a T2DM model led to a significant increase in the concentrations of three primary short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid), while the concentration of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), a prominent inflammatory factor in diabetes, exhibited a significant decrease. The results of untargeted metabolomics indicate that inulin has the potential to alleviate inflammatory response and kidney damage in diabetic mice. This beneficial effect is attributed to its impact on various metabolic pathways, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and tryptophan metabolism. Consequently, oral inulin emerges as a promising treatment option for diabetes and kidney injury.

With the increasing demand for electric vehicles, further development of Li+ batteries require more comprehensive studies and advanced techniques to analyze various battery material and mechanisms. Determining the concentration of Li+ and electric potential inside batteries can effectively reveal and predict the electrochemical performance, understanding the charge/discharge processes and failure mechanisms. Recently, in situ observation of Li+ movement have been reported by utilizing optical microscopy, neutron imaging (NI), neutron depth profiling (NDP), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-based electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS). These extensive works suggest their broad potential applications, including revealing the spatial distribution of Li+, mapping electrode elements, and indicating degradation mechanisms. Moreover, direct visualization of potential changes through TEM-based electron holography (EH) and Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) can discover and validate more valuable information. This perspective paper summarizes the current development of advanced in situ techniques for observing Li+ and potential distribution inside batteries for the first time. Additionally, we address the key challenges faced by these techniques along with their possible solutions. The aim of this paper is to provide a comprehensive discussion of in situ methods for analyzing reaction mechanisms, optimizing electrochemical performance, and potentially supporting the further development of battery simulation.

Objective. Large-scale studies on the characteristics and management of abdominal trauma in megacities in China are lacking. The aim of this study was to analyze and present the clinical patterns and treatment status of abdominal trauma in regional medical centers. Methods. Cases of abdominal trauma treated at seven medical centers in Beijing from 2010 to 2021 were collected. Clinical information about age, sex, injury cause, geographic distribution, abbreviated injury scale/injury severity score (AIS/ISS) value, injury-hospital time, preoperative time, surgically identified organ injuries, type of surgery, causes of reoperation and 90-day mortality was included in this study. Clinical characteristics, treatment methods, and short-term prognoses (90-days survival) were compared between blunt abdominal trauma (BAT) and penetrating abdominal trauma (PAT) cases. Non-normally distributed data are described as medians (IQR), and the Mann‒Whitney U test was performed; qualitative data were analyzed using the X2 test. Univariate and multivariate survival analyses were performed by the Cox proportional hazards model. Results. A total of 553 patients (86.98% male) with a median age of 36.50 (27.00–48.00) years were included. The BAT group had a significantly higher proportion of serious injury (P=0.001), lower initial hemoglobin level (P=0.001), and a lower laparoscopy surgery rate (P=0.044) compared to the PAT group. Additionally, more BAT cases were from the area around Beijing (P=0.008) and a longer injury-regional hospital time (10.47 (5.18–22.51) hours vs. 7.00 (3.80–15.38) hours, P=0.001). In the hollow viscus injury subgroup, the BAT group had a significantly longer injury-regional hospital time and preoperative time compared to the PAT group (injury-regional hospital time: 10.23 (6.00–21.59) hours vs. 7.07 (3.99–13.85) hours, P=0.002; preoperative time: 3.02 (2.01–5.58) hours vs. 2.81 (1.85–3.63) hours, P=0.047). The overall 90-day mortality was 11.9%, and longer injury-regional hospital time (HR: 1.01, 95% CI: 1.00–1.02, P=0.008), receipt of ICU treatment (HR: 4.69, 95% CI: 2.54–8.65, P=0.001), and severe ISSs (ISS > 25 vs. ISS

Cellobiose, a β-1,4-linked glucose dimer, is a major cellodextrin resulting from the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose. It is a major source of carbon for soil bacteria. In bacteria, the phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP): carbohydrate phosphotransferase system (PTS), encoded by the cel operon, is responsible for the transport and utilization of cellobiose. In this study, we analyzed the transcription and regulation of the cel operon in Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The cel operon is composed of five genes forming one transcription unit. β-Galactosidase assays revealed that cel operon transcription is induced by cellobiose, controlled by Sigma54, and positively regulated by CelR. The HTH-AAA+ domain of CelR recognized and specifically bound to three possible binding sites in the celA promoter region. CelR contains two PTS regulation domains (PRD1 and PRD2), which are separated by two PTS-like domains-the mannose transporter enzyme IIA component domain (EIIAMan) and the galactitol transporter enzyme IIB component domain (EIIBGat). Mutations of His-546 on the EIIAMan domain and Cys-682 on the EIIBGat domain resulted in decreased transcription of the cel operon, and mutations of His-839 on PRD2 increased transcription of the cel operon. Glucose repressed the transcription of the cel operon and catabolite control protein A (CcpA) positively regulated this process by binding the cel promoter. In the celABCDE and celR mutants, PTS activities were decreased, and cellobiose utilization was abolished, suggesting that the cel operon is essential for cellobiose utilization. Bt has been widely used as a biological pesticide. The metabolic properties of Bt are critical for fermentation. Nutrient utilization is also essential for the environmental adaptation of Bt. Glucose is the preferred energy source for many bacteria, and the presence of the phosphotransferase system allows bacteria to utilize other sugars in addition to glucose. Cellobiose utilization pathways have been of particular interest owing to their potential for developing alternative energy sources for bacteria. The data presented in this study improve our understanding of the transcription patterns of cel gene clusters. This will further help us to better understand how cellobiose is utilized for bacterial growth.

Objectives: Rituximab is frequently used off-label for the treatment of frequent-relapsing/steroid-dependent nephrotic syndrome (FRNS/SDNS). However, the optimal dosing schedules remain undetermined. The objective of this study was to establish a population pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model in pediatric patients with FRNS/SDNS, and to investigate dosing regimens that provide adequate suppression of B lymphocytes.Methods: A prospective, open-label, single-center study was conducted in Nephrology Department at Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, and a two-compartment PK model of rituximab in pediatric FRNS/SDNS has been developed previously by our group. CD19+ lymphocyte count profiles were obtained from these patients. The presence of anti-rituximab antibodies was assessed prior to medication in children who had previously received rituximab or during follow-up at the last sampling point for PK analysis. PK-PD analyses were performed to describe the changes of CD19+ lymphocytes, with rituximab assumed to increase their death rate. Monte Carlo simulation was conducted to evaluate different dosing regimens.Results: In total, 102 measurements of CD19+ lymphocyte counts were available for PK-PD analysis. No detectable levels of anti-rituximab antibodies were observed during the PK follow-up period. A turnover model with saturable stimulatory action of rituximab on the removal of lymphocytes best characterized the relationship between rituximab concentration and CD19+ lymphocyte counts, where the Emax and EC50 were estimated to be 99.6*106/L and 5.87 μg/mL, respectively. Simulations indicated that a single infusion of 750 mg/m2 and 2 infusions of 375 mg/m2 both yielded a 10-week suppression of CD19+ lymphocytes.Conclusion: This study represents a first attempt to quantitatively describe the PK-PD relationship of rituximab in pediatric patients with FRNS/SDNS, and provide a potential pathway for future precision dosing strategy for rituximab therapy. Further clinical studies are warranted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of different dosing schemes.

Abstract Aims This article aimed to explore the efficacy of robotic arm-assisted total hip arthroplasty (THA) in improving preoperative planning and intraoperative decision-making. Methods In this single-center, prospective, randomized clinical controlled trial, 60 patients were randomly divided into two groups: conventional THA (cTHA) and robotic arm-assisted THA (rTHA). The rTHA underwent procedures using a robot-assisted surgical system, which generated three-dimensional models to determine the most appropriate prosthesis size and position. The standard process of replacement was executed in cTHA planned preoperatively via X-ray by experienced surgeons. Differences between predicted and actual prosthetic size, prosthetic position, and leg length were evaluated. Results Sixty patients were included in the study, but one patient was not allocated due to anemia. No significant preoperative baseline data difference was found between the two groups. The actual versus predicted implantation size of both groups revealed that 27/30 (90.0%) in the rTHA group and 25/29 (86.2%) in the cTHA group experienced complete coincidence. The coincidence rate for the femoral stem was higher in the rTHA group (83.3%) than that in the cTHA group (62.7%). Between the actual and predicted rTHA, the difference in anteversion/inclination degree (

In order to further explore the added value of corn bran and improve the processing and application of AX, this study used the corn bran as raw material, optimized its extraction process by alkaline preparation, and explored its gel characteristics. AX was extracted from bran, a by-product of deep processing of corn, by using Ba(OH)2. A response surface optimization with three factors and three levels was constructed based on the ratio of material to liquid, extraction temperature and extraction time. The structure of the optimized polysaccharide was characterized by monosaccharide composition, molecular weight and ferulic acid content. On this basis, AX was oxidized and cross-linked by laccase to explore the formation conditions, gel structure and thermal stability of AX gel. The results showed that the optimized extraction conditions of AX were as follows: Solid-liquid ratio 1:44 (g:mL), extraction temperature 69 ℃, extraction time 6.3 h, and the yield of AX was 23.07%±1.15%. The obtained AX was mainly composed of arabinose and xylose. The Ara/Xyl ratio was 2.28±0.11, the weight average molecular weight was 265±6.68 kDa, and the ferulic acid content was 9.6±0.32 mg/100 g. AX could form a stable gel structure under the condition of pH2.0 after laccase oxidation and cross-linking. The microstructure of AX was a dense porous gel structure and had good thermal stability according to scanning electron microscope. Arabinoxylan and its gel prepared in this study had good physical and chemical properties, and had potential application in improving the texture quality of food, embedding and controlled release of functional factors. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the further processing of corn by-products and the application of arabinoxylan in food industry.

Abstract Background Online education has become increasingly popular, but research on the effectiveness of different teaching models in developing cognitive skills is limited. This study investigated the relationship between different teaching models (online and offline) and the development of cognitive skills in clinical medicine students. Methods Survey data were collected from 2018 entry students who participated in online teaching and 2019 entry students in offline teaching at Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University. National Quality Open Courses (NQROC) were provided to both groups of students. The study examined the total score of physiology final exam, score of each type of question, and NQROC learning engagement in different score segments under the two teaching models. Non-parametric statistical methods were utilized to analyze the total score of physiology final exam, score of each type of question, and the NQROC learning engagement. Spearman’s rank correlation was utilized to analyze the relationship between the score of physiology final exam and the students’ NQROC learning engagement. Results The study found no statistically significant difference in the total score, short-answer questions (SAQs) score, and case study questions (CSQs) score between online and offline teaching models. However, the multiple-choice questions (MCQs) score was higher in the online teaching model (Z=-4.249, P

Abstract Background RNA methylation modifications, such as N1-methyladenosine/N6-methyladenosine /N5-methylcytosine (m1A/m6A/m5C), are the most common RNA modifications and are crucial for a number of biological processes. Nonetheless, the role of RNA methylation modifications of m1A/m6A/m5C in the pathogenesis of renal interstitial fibrosis (RIF) remains incompletely understood. Methods Firstly, we downloaded 2 expression datasets from the GEO database, namely GSE22459 and GSE76882. In a differential analysis of these datasets between patients with and without RIF, we selected 33 methylation-related genes (MRGs). We then applied a PPI network, LASSO analysis, SVM-RFE algorithm, and RF algorithm to identify key MRGs. Results We eventually obtained five candidate MRGs (WTAP, ALKBH5, YTHDF2, RBMX, and ELAVL1) to forecast the risk of RIF. We created a nomogram model derived from five key MRGs, which revealed that the nomogram model may be advantageous to patients. Based on the selected five significant MRGs, patients with RIF were classified into two MRG patterns using consensus clustering, and the correlation between the five MRGs, the two MRG patterns, and the genetic pattern with immune cell infiltration was shown. Moreover, we conducted GO and KEGG analyses on 768 DEGs between MRG clusters A and B to look into their different involvement in RIF. To measure the MRG patterns, a PCA algorithm was developed to determine MRG scores for each sample. The MRG scores of the patients in cluster B were higher than those in cluster A. Conclusions Ultimately, we concluded that cluster A in the two MRG patterns identified on these five key m1A/m6A/m5C regulators may be associated with RIF.

Abstract Background Exercise is an effective treatment in chronic low back pain (CLBP), but there are few studies on CLBP in the elderly, and the intervention effect is controversial. We aimed to compare the efficacy of different exercises therapy on CLBP, dysfunction, quality of life, and mobility in the elderly. Methods We searched Web of Science, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, EMBASE, and PubMed from the database inception till December 31, 2022. The publication languages were Chinese and English. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of exercise intervention in the elderly (≥ 60 years) with CLBP were included. Two reviewers independently extracted the data and evaluated them using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials 2 (RoB2). The pooled effect sizes on different aspects of outcome measures were calculated. Results Sixteen articles (18 RCTs) were included, comprising a total of 989 participants. The quality of included studies was relatively high. Meta-analysis results indicated that exercise therapy could improve visual analog scale (VAS) (WMD = − 1.75, 95% CI − 2.59, − 0.92, p

Abstract Because of inadequate information provided by the on-going population level risk analyses for Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), this study aimed to evaluate the risk factors and develop an individual-level precision diagnostic method for COVID-19 related severe outcome in New York State (NYS) to facilitate early intervention and predict resource needs for patients with COVID-19. We analyzed COVID-19 related hospital encounter and hospitalization in NYS using Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System hospital discharge dataset. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the risk factors for COVID-19 related mortality. We proposed an individual-level precision diagnostic method by taking into consideration of the different weights and interactions of multiple risk factors. Age was the greatest risk factor for COVID-19 related fatal outcome. By adding other demographic variables, dyspnea or hypoxemia and multiple chronic co-morbid conditions, the model predictive accuracy was improved to 0.85 (95% CI 0.84–0.85). We selected cut-off points for predictors and provided a general recommendation to categorize the levels of risk for COVID-19 related fatal outcome, which can facilitate the individual-level diagnosis and treatment, as well as medical resource prediction. We further provided a use case of our method to evaluate the feasibility of public health policy for monoclonal antibody therapy.

Al/steel bimetal prepared by compound casting process exhibits an increasing application prospect in the lightweight field due to the combination of the advantages of Al alloy with steel materials. Unfortunately, a large number of hard and brittle Al–Fe intermetallic compounds (IMCs) are prone to form at the interface, resulting in insufficient interfacial bonding strength of Al/steel bimetal. Therefore, in the present work, the typical CoCrFeNiMn high entropy alloy (HEA) coating fabricated by laser cladding technique was used as the interlayer of Al/steel bimetal to suppress the Al–Fe IMCs. The results showed that the reaction layer of Al/steel bimetal with HEA interlayer first forms Al5Co2 rather than Al5Fe2 phases compared with the as-cast bimetal. More importantly, the Al5Co2 phase layer consists of nanocrystals. Besides, the elements like Cr, Ni and Mn are uniformly distributed into the reaction layer and no IMCs are detected. This contributes to a reduction in the grain size of Al5Fe2 phase. Although the characteristic of brittle with respect to Al5Co2 compound, the interfacial bonding strength of bimestal is improved by 33% compared with that of the as-cast bimetal, attributing to the fact that the nanocrystals formed at the interface make the surface energy and defect size increase in terms of Griffith's theory. In short, laser cladded CoCrFeNiMn HEA coating provides a new choice for the interlayer selection of Al/steel bimetal.

In cast aluminum alloys, nanoparticle addition and increasing the cooling rate can enhance the strength of the alloy while improving its undesirable properties such as thermal cracking, shrinkage porosity, and casting micropores. Thus, the issues of nanoparticle distribution and shape size in alloys still need to be resolved. In this study, an innovative process known as freeze-ablation was introduced. This environmentally friendly, safe, and low-cost casting process could greatly increase the cooling rate of the melt. After pouring the Al–Cu-6wt%TiB2 alloy into a frozen sand mold, we used low-temperature fluid (such as water) to disperse the sand mold, and the cooling liquid could directly contact the casting to significantly increase the cooling rate. The results showed that the cooling rate of the alloy using the freeze-ablation process was nearly 40 times higher than that of ordinary resin sand molds, and its average grain size and secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) decreased by 50% and 70%, respectively, compared to ordinary resin sand molds. At a high cooling rate, the TiB2 particles showed a more dispersed distribution and were smaller in size, with the smaller TiB2 particles exhibiting a better effect on grain refinement. With the addition of the TiB2 particles and solidification at a high cooling rate, the tensile strength of the TiB2/Al–Cu alloy reached 495.2 MPa under the freeze-ablation process, which was 15.2% higher than using a resin sand mold.

Objective To retrospectively analyze the effect of AB platelet secondary compatible transfusion on the efficacy of matched platelet transfusion. Methods A total of 2 276 cases of platelet transfusion in our hospital were selected from November 2020 to September 2021, including 2 068 ABO matched platelet transfusions and 206 AB platelet secondary compatible transfusions. 117 cases were selected for the first occasion of AB platelet secondary compatible transfusion. The controls were matched transfusion receipts before given AB platelet secondary compatible transfusion, and the experimental group was given matched transfusion after AB platelet secondary compatible transfusion (take the first, second and third transfusion as group 1, 2 and 3, respectively). The platelet count(Plt), platelet elevation (△Plt) and 24 h Plt correction increase index (CCI) of patients before and after platelet transfusion were used as observation indexes to analyze the effect of AB type mis-matched platelet transfusion on the efficacy of matched platelet preventive transfusion by gender, blood type and disease type. Results Among the 2 276 platelet transfusions, and the △Plt of matched platelet transfusions was significantly higher than that of AB type secondary compatible transfusions, with the mean values at (14±15)×109/L and (11±14)×109/L(P0.05). The △Plt of the experimental group 3 was significantly lower compared with the experimental group 1, (10±13) ×109/L vs (14±12) ×109/L, P0.05. No significant difference in △Plt and the number of effective 24 h CCI cases was found between the experimental group and the control group in terms of gender, blood type and disease type (P>0.05). Conclusion The △Plt and the effective rate of AB platelet secondary compatible transfusion were lower than those of matched platelet transfusions, and has no significant effect on short term(less than 10 days) matched platelet transfusion.

Abstract Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent and a leading cause of in-hospital death worldwide. Early prediction of AKI-related clinical events and timely intervention for high-risk patients could improve outcomes. We develop a deep learning model based on a nationwide multicenter cooperative network across China that includes 7,084,339 hospitalized patients, to dynamically predict the risk of in-hospital death (primary outcome) and dialysis (secondary outcome) for patients who developed AKI during hospitalization. A total of 137,084 eligible patients with AKI constitute the analysis set. In the derivation cohort, the area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) for 24-h, 48-h, 72-h, and 7-day death are 95·05%, 94·23%, 93·53%, and 93·09%, respectively. For dialysis outcome, the AUROC of each time span are 88·32%, 83·31%, 83·20%, and 77·99%, respectively. The predictive performance is consistent in both internal and external validation cohorts. The model can predict important outcomes of patients with AKI, which could be helpful for the early management of AKI.

Abstract This paper proposes a novel variational Bayesian (VB) adaptive Kalman filter with mismatched process noise covariance matrix (PNCM). Firstly, this paper explains the reason why the predicted error covariance matrix (PECM) is chosen for variational inference. Secondly, compared with the earlier VB adaptive Kalman filter (VB‐AKF‐Q), the proposed filter calculate the dynamic model of the PECM with its historical estimation information. Therefore, the proposed filter can overcome the influence of mismatched PNCM on the initial value setting of PECM in the VB‐AKF‐Q. Finally, we use the evidence lower bound for the proposed filter and give the convergence criterion on this basis. Some examples with a target tracking simulation are carried out to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed filter.

Abstract A polysaccharide LDOP‐A with a molecular weight of 9.9 kDa was isolated and purified from Dendrobium officinale leaves by membrane separation, cellulose column, and dextran gel column. The Smith degradable products, methylation products, and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis showed that LDOP‐A may be composed of →4)‐Glc‐(1→, →3,6)‐Man‐(1→, and →6)‐Glc‐(1→sugar residues. In vitro, simulated digestion assays showed that LDOP‐A could be partially digested in the stomach and small intestine, and produced a large amount of acetic acid and butyric acid during colonic fermentation. Further cell experiment results illustrated that LDOP‐A‐I (LDOP‐A digested by gastrointestinal tract) could induce glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) secretion in NCI‐H716 cells without showing any cytotoxicity.

Abstract Machine learning (ML) could have advantages over traditional statistical models in identifying risk factors. Using ML algorithms, our objective was to identify the most important variables associated with mortality after dementia diagnosis in the Swedish Registry for Cognitive/Dementia Disorders (SveDem). From SveDem, a longitudinal cohort of 28,023 dementia-diagnosed patients was selected for this study. Sixty variables were considered as potential predictors of mortality risk, such as age at dementia diagnosis, dementia type, sex, body mass index (BMI), mini-mental state examination (MMSE) score, time from referral to initiation of work-up, time from initiation of work-up to diagnosis, dementia medications, comorbidities, and some specific medications for chronic comorbidities (e.g., cardiovascular disease). We applied sparsity-inducing penalties for three ML algorithms and identified twenty important variables for the binary classification task in mortality risk prediction and fifteen variables to predict time to death. Area-under-ROC curve (AUC) measure was used to evaluate the classification algorithms. Then, an unsupervised clustering algorithm was applied on the set of twenty-selected variables to find two main clusters which accurately matched surviving and dead patient clusters. A support-vector-machines with an appropriate sparsity penalty provided the classification of mortality risk with accuracy = 0.7077, AUROC = 0.7375, sensitivity = 0.6436, and specificity = 0.740. Across three ML algorithms, the majority of the identified twenty variables were compatible with literature and with our previous studies on SveDem. We also found new variables which were not previously reported in literature as associated with mortality in dementia. Performance of basic dementia diagnostic work-up, time from referral to initiation of work-up, and time from initiation of work-up to diagnosis were found to be elements of the diagnostic process identified by the ML algorithms. The median follow-up time was 1053 (IQR = 516–1771) days in surviving and 1125 (IQR = 605–1770) days in dead patients. For prediction of time to death, the CoxBoost model identified 15 variables and classified them in order of importance. These highly important variables were age at diagnosis, MMSE score, sex, BMI, and Charlson Comorbidity Index with selection scores of 23%, 15%, 14%, 12% and 10%, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of sparsity-inducing ML algorithms in improving our understanding of mortality risk factors in dementia patients and their application in clinical settings. Moreover, ML methods can be used as a complement to traditional statistical methods.

Abstract Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a kind of crystalline polymeric materials with high compositional and geometric tunability. Most COFs are currently designed and synthesized as mesoporous (2–50 nm) and microporous (1–2 nm) materials, while the development of ultramicroporous (

Sperm motility, the percentage of sperm with forward progressions, is one of the semen quality traits that is highly related with male fertility potential in farm animals. The proportion of roosters with low sperm motility impedes the reproduction efficiency. This study aimed to determine crucial testicular proteins linked to sperm motility defects as causes of subfertility in roosters. iTRAQ was performed with the testis from five low sperm motility roosters and three high ones. A total of 2345 proteins were identified, of which, 86 were differentially expressed (DEPs), including 5 up-regulated and 88 down-regulated proteins in the low group. These DEPs were mainly enriched in cytoskeleton and cilium cell component, and biological processes related to sperm motility, and protein transport, and cellular protein localization. A cluster of 13 down-regulated proteins such as IFT88, TEKT1, ACTN2, DNAH5, RSPH9, and SPAG6, were associated with axoneme assembly. Further western blot and immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the down-regulated SPAG6 expression in low group, and indicated its expression in other cell types in testis beyond round spermatids, and that its pattern was in accordance with testis development and recession pace. Silencing transcription factor SOX5 down-regulated SPAG6 transcripts and impaired the cell proliferation and migration. In summary, this study highlights that down-regulated sperm flagellar structure associated proteins were the potential cause of low sperm motility. More specifically, the highly conserved SPAG6 protein across species is a positive regulator for testis development, spermatogenesis, and sperm motility regulation in chickens.

In deep underground engineering, the deformation, failure characteristics, and mechanism of surrounding rock under the influence of grain sizes and mineral compositions are not clear. Based on CJPL-II variously colored marbles, the differences in grain size and mineral composition of the marble were analyzed by thin-section analysis and XRD tests, and the effect of intermediate principal stress on the mechanical properties of marble was investigated. Both SEM and microfracture analysis were coupled to reveal the failure mechanisms. The results highlight that the crack initiation strength, damage strength, peak strength, and elasticity modulus of Jinping marble exhibit an increasing trend with an increase in intermediate principal stress, while the peak strain initially increases and subsequently decreases. Moreover, this study established negative correlations between marble strength, brittleness characteristics, and fracture angle with grain size, whereas positive correlations were identified with the content of quartz, sodium feldspar, and the magnitude of the intermediate principal stress. The microcrack density in marble was found to increase with larger grain sizes and decrease with elevated quartz and sodium feldspar content, as well as with increasing intermediate principal stress. Notably, as the intermediate principal stress intensifies and grain size diminishes, the transgranular tensile failure of marble becomes more conspicuous. These research findings contribute to the effective implementation of disaster prevention and control strategies.

To investigate the ameliorative effects and mechanism of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on growth performance, oxidative stress, and lipid deposition in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed with high-fat diets, fish with an initial weight of 5.29 ± 0.12 g were divided into five experimental groups—including normal-fat diets, high-fat diets, and high-fat diets—supplemented with LBP (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g/kg) for 8 weeks. The results showed that high-fat diets resulted in significant decreases in final body weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rate of fish, as well as causing a significant decrease in hepatic total antioxidant capacity, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. These changes were accompanied by a significant decrease in lipase activity and ATP level and a significant increase in malondialdehyde content. The expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes (acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1, fat synthase, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, fructofuranose bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase) were also markedly elevated by high-fat diets. Supplementation with 0.5–2.0 g/kg LBP in high-fat diets improved the reduced growth performance, increased hepatic total antioxidant enzymes, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities, and lowered malondialdehyde level in fish fed with high-fat diets. Additionally, dietary supplementation with LBP significantly downregulated hepatic gene expression levels of acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase 1, fat synthase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, fructofuranose bisphosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase. In conclusion, fish fed with high-fat diets demonstrated impaired growth performance, antioxidant capacity, and lipid metabolism, and dietary supplementation with 0.5–2.0 g/kg LBP ameliorated the impairments induced by high-fat diets.

Soybean sprouts constitute a significant segment of the vegetable market due to their nutritional richness, particularly in various flavonoids, which contribute to numerous health benefits. The augmentation of the flavonoid content in soybean sprouts is pivotal for enhancing their economic value. While research has established the potential of blue light in promoting the synthesis of anthocyanins, a subclass of flavonoids known for their health advantages, the precise regulatory mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we identified a notable upregulation of an R2R3 type MYB transcription factor, GmMYB114, in response to blue light exposure, exhibiting a significant positive correlation with anthocyanin accumulation in soybean sprouts. The functional role of GmMYB114 was validated in soybean hairy roots, wherein its overexpression substantially augmented anthocyanin synthesis. Further investigations employing yeast one-hybrid (Y1H), dual-luciferase reporter (LUC), and GUS assays revealed that GmMYB114 indirectly influences anthocyanin synthesis as it does not directly bind to the promoters of anthocyanin synthesis genes to activate their expression. These findings contribute to elucidating the mechanism underlying blue light-mediated enhancement of anthocyanin synthesis in soybean sprouts, offering valuable insights for harnessing molecular technologies to obtain anthocyanin-enriched soybean sprouts.

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) faces complex challenges in identifying underground rock formations and lithological structures. The diversity, intricate shapes, and electromagnetic properties of subsurface rock formations make their accurate detection difficult. Additionally, the heterogeneity of subsurface media, signal scattering, and non-linear propagation effects contribute to the complexity of signal interpretation. To address these challenges, this study fully considers the unique advantages of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in accurately identifying underground rock formations and lithological structures, particularly their powerful feature extraction capabilities. Deep learning models possess the ability to automatically extract complex signal features from radar data, while also demonstrating excellent generalization performance, enabling them to handle data from various geological conditions. Moreover, deep learning can efficiently process large-scale data, thereby improving the accuracy and efficiency of identification. In our research, we utilized deep neural networks to process GPR signals, using radar images as inputs and generating structure-related information associated with rock formations and lithological structures as outputs. Through training and learning, we successfully established an effective mapping relationship between radar images and lithological label signals. The results from synthetic data indicate a rock block identification success rate exceeding 88%, with a satisfactory continuity identification of lithological structures. Transferring the network to measured data, the trained model exhibits excellent performance in predicting data collected from the field, further enhancing the geological interpretation and analysis. Therefore, through the results obtained from synthetic and measured data, we can demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of this research method.

Previous studies on global carbon emissions from forest loss have been marked by great discrepancies due to uncertainties regarding the lost area and the densities of different carbon pools. In this study, we employed a new global 30 m land cover dynamic dataset (GLC_FCS30D) to improve the assessment of forest loss areas; then, we combined multi-sourced carbon stock products to enhance the information on carbon density. Afterwards, we estimated the global carbon emissions from forest loss over the period of 1985–2020 based on the method recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Guidelines (IPCC). The results indicate that global forest loss continued to accelerate over the past 35 years, totaling about 582.17 Mha and leading to total committed carbon emissions of 35.22 ± 9.38 PgC. Tropical zones dominated global carbon emissions (~2/3) due to their higher carbon density and greater forest loss. Furthermore, global emissions more than doubled in the period of 2015–2020 (1.77 ± 0.44 PgC/yr) compared to those in 1985–2000 (0.69 ± 0.21 PgC/yr). Notably, the forest loss at high altitudes (i.e., above 1000 m) more than tripled in mountainous regions, resulting in more pronounced carbon emissions in these areas. Therefore, the accelerating trend of global carbon emissions from forest loss indicates that great challenges still remain for achieving the COP 26 Declaration to halt forest loss by 2030.

Abstract LiNiPO4 (working at ~5.1 V) shows potential advantages in the competition of cathode materials for lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) because of high energy density. However, the high‐voltage electrolyte developed can only remain relatively stable in the range of less than 4.8 V, so the operating voltage of LiNiPO4 needs to be adjusted to smaller to better exploit its high‐voltage advantages. To regulate the operating voltage of LiNiPO4 while ensuring the relative stability of its electrochemical properties, in this work, all the 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals (TMs) are, respectively, doped into the Ni site of LiNiPO4 to screen out the doped models with excellent electrochemical performance. In particular, the changes in lattice structure, electronic properties, formation energy, mechanical properties, anisotropy, and working voltage were used as screening criteria. By considering the above screening criteria, the Cr‐ and Fe‐doped LiNiPO4 with open circuit voltage ~4.7 and ~4.8 V are considered to have leading performance and can be used for applicable high‐voltage LIBs. The screening results of this work can provide an overall understanding of the doping of LiNiPO4 by TMs and have advanced a theoretical idea for the design of new high‐voltage LIBs cathode materials.

Highlights Polyimides (PIs) as coatings, separators, binders, solid-state electrolytes, and active storage materials help toward safe, high-performance, and long-life lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Strategies to design and utilize PI materials have been discussed, and the future development trends of PIs in LIBs are outlooked.

Abstract Background The efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid (TXA) in reducing blood loss following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with osteoarthritis have been widely confirmed. However, there is still a paucity of the evidences regarding the effectiveness of TXA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of the study is to explore the efficacy and safety of intravenous TXA on blood loss and transfusion risk following simultaneous bilateral TKA (SBTKA) in patients with RA. Methods As a multicenter retrospective study, a total of 74 patients diagnosed with RA who underwent SBTKA were assigned into TXA group (15 mg/kg intravenous TXA before skin incision, n = 50) and control group (no TXA use, n = 24). The primary outcomes were total blood loss (TBL) and intraoperative blood loss (IBL). The secondary outcomes were hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) drop on postoperative day 3, transfusion rate and volume, ambulation time, length of stay, hospitalization expenses and the incidence of complications. Results The mean TBL, IBL and transfusion volume in TXA group were significantly lower than those in control group. The Hb and Hct drop on postoperative day 3 in control group were higher than those in TXA group (p0.05). Conclusions TXA could effectively reduce blood loss, decrease transfusion risk, shorten ambulation time and length of stay following SBTKA in patients with RA, without increasing the risk of complications.

Abstract Deoxys‐BC is the internal tweakable block cipher of the authenticated encryption (AE) Deoxys family, in which Deoxys‐II is the primary choice for the use case of ‘Defence in depth’ among the portfolio of CAESAR competition. Improvements of the related‐tweakey rectangle attacks on round‐reduced Deoxys‐BC using the known distinguishers is focussed in this study. Under the new related‐key rectangle attack framework proposed by Dong et al. in EUROCRYPT 2022, we present three kinds of precomputed tables to further reduce the time complexity in the key‐recovery phase. In the related‐tweakey rectangle attack, the invalid quartets are filtered or the subtweakey candidates are obtained by lookup the precomputed tables without more computation. Based on the precomputed table technique, we improved the related‐tweakey rectangle attacks on 11‐round Deoxys‐BC‐256, 13‐round and 14‐round Deoxys‐BC‐384. Furthermore, we reduce the time complexity of the 13‐round related‐tweakey rectangle attack on Deoxys AE scheme Deoxys‐I‐256‐128 by a factor of 224 compared with the best previous attack.

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze mid- to long-term outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) following failed internal fixation of femoral neck fracture. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 345 patients with femoral neck fracture who underwent THA after failure of internal fixation at our hospital between January, 2003 and December, 2019. Patients older than 55 years (n = 175) and patients no older than 55 years (n = 170) were compared in terms of complications and survival rates during follow-up, which lasted a mean of 6 years. Results The two age groups showed similarly low incidence of complications and similarly long periods of survival without revision surgery. Only three younger patients and two older patients underwent revision surgery during follow-up. The two groups showed similarly high survival rates at the end of follow-up (> 93%). Younger patients showed significantly bettter Harris hip score at last follow-up (90.2 vs. 88.1 points, p

The introduction of heterogeneous elements and the presence of the oxide layer on the surface of aluminum alloy usually play a negative role in the interfacial bonding of Al/Al bimetallic composites. To solve these two key problems of interfacial bonding of bimetallic composites. This work proposes to composite SiCp/7075(solid)-7075 alloy(liquid). The main alloying element Zn of 7075 alloy is selected to perform hot dip treatment on SiCp/7075(solid) to reduce the influence of the oxide layer on the surface of the aluminum alloy and the introduction of heterogeneous elements. Al/Al bimetallic composites were prepared by using a hot-dip/non-hot-dip zinc + liquid–solid composite casting process. The bimetallic composite interfacial bonding of SiCp/7075–7075 matrix alloy was studied. The results revealed that an oxide layer existed at the interface of the bimetallic composite upon preheating at 400–475 °C and hot dipping at 400–425 °C. With an increase in the hot-dip temperature, the interface oxide layer disappeared because of the combined effect of thermal expansion deformation, lower solidus temperature of the zinc-rich layer, and volume expansion of the solid–liquid phase transition. Metallurgically bonded interfaces were obtained at the hot-dip temperatures of 450 and 475 °C. The fracture location was on the SiCp/7075 Al matrix composite side, showing that this composite's interfacial bond strength was higher than that of the SiCp/7075 Al matrix composites. The results of this study provide a new idea for the preparation of lightweight wear-resistant Al/Al bimetallic composites by liquid-solid composite casting.

Abstract Background Clinical practices have demonstrated that disease treatment can be very complex. Patients with chronic diseases often suffer from more than one disease. Complex diseases are often treated with a variety of drugs, including both primary and auxiliary treatments. This complexity and multidimensionality increase the difficulty of extracting knowledge from clinical data. Methods In this study, we proposed a subgroup identification algorithm for complex prescriptions (SIAP). We applied the SIAP algorithm to identify the importance level of each drug in complex prescriptions. The algorithm quickly classified and determined valid prescription combinations for patients. The algorithm was validated through classification matching of classical prescriptions in traditional Chinese medicine. We collected 376 formulas and their compositions from a formulary to construct a database of standard prescriptions. We also collected 1438 herbal prescriptions from clinical data for automated prescription identification. The prescriptions were divided into training and test sets. Finally, the parameters of the two sub-algorithms of SIAP and SIAP-All, as well as those of the combination algorithm SIAP + All, were optimized on the training set. A comparison analysis was performed against the baseline intersection set rate (ISR) algorithm. The algorithm for this study was implemented with Python 3.6. Results The SIAP-All and SIAP + All algorithms outperformed the benchmark ISR algorithm in terms of accuracy, recall, and F1 value. The F1 values were 0.7568 for SIAP-All and 0.7799 for SIAP + All, showing improvements of 8.73% and 11.04% over the existing ISR algorithm, respectively. Conclusion We developed an algorithm, SIAP, to automatically match sub-prescriptions of complex drugs with corresponding standard or classic prescriptions. The matching algorithm weights the drugs in the prescription according to their importance level. The results of this study can help to classify and analyse the drug compositions of complex prescriptions.

Negative Poisson's ratio (NPR) materials are a type of structural materials that show an atypical deformation response. In general, metal-based porous materials with NPR do not have good mechanical properties due to the substrate's limited yield strength and plasticity, as the NPR behavior is unlikely to play a continuous role in the deformation. AlCoCrFeNi2.1, a eutectic high-entropy alloy (EHEA) with high yield strength and high ductility was used to fabricate the NPR structures by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) to enhance the structures mechanical properties and NPR behavior. Structures with four different sets of structural parameters were designed for this study. The microstructure and mechanical properties of AlCoCrFeNi2.1 EHEA, synthesized by LPBF were studied, and the strength and energy absorption effect of NPR porous structure materials were investigated by static and dynamic compression experiments. Research showed the large number of inter-phase interfaces provided by the nano-scale cellular eutectic microstructure effectively restrict dislocation movement, thereby enhancing the strength and toughness of this EHEA alloy, endowing it with superior impact resistance, fracture resistance, and mechanical energy absorption. The compressive performance and the mechanical energy absorption capacity of the 3D EHEA-based NPR porous structure strongly depend on the inclination angle Ф between the thick rod and the horizontal direction in the 2D single-body model design. The strength and energy absorption of the structure with a high inclination angle of 75° material are both higher than those of the structure with a low inclination angle of 45° by almost a factor of two.