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Abstract In the mammalian visual system, the ventral lateral geniculate nucleus (vLGN) of the thalamus receives salient visual input from the retina and sends prominent GABAergic axons to the superior colliculus (SC). However, whether and how vLGN contributes to fundamental visual information processing remains largely unclear. Here, we report in mice that vLGN facilitates visually-guided approaching behavior mediated by the lateral SC and enhances the sensitivity of visual object detection. This can be attributed to the extremely broad spatial integration of vLGN neurons, as reflected in their much lower preferred spatial frequencies and broader spatial receptive fields than SC neurons. Through GABAergic thalamocollicular projections, vLGN specifically exerts prominent surround suppression of visuospatial processing in SC, leading to a fine tuning of SC preferences to higher spatial frequencies and smaller objects in a context-dependent manner. Thus, as an essential component of the central visual processing pathway, vLGN serves to refine and contextually modulate visuospatial processing in SC-mediated visuomotor behaviors via visually-driven long-range feedforward inhibition.

Abstract Mitochondria dysfunction contributes to acute liver injuries, and mitochondrial regulators, such as PGC-1α and MCJ, affect liver regeneration. Therefore, identification of mitochondrial modulators may pave the way for developing therapeutic strategies. Here, ZHX2 is identified as a mitochondrial regulator during acute liver injury. ZHX2 both transcriptionally inhibits expression of several mitochondrial electron transport chain genes and decreases PGC-1α stability, leading to reduction of mitochondrial mass and OXPHOS. Loss of Zhx2 promotes liver recovery by increasing mitochondrial OXPHOS in mice with partial hepatectomy or CCl4-induced liver injury, and inhibition of PGC-1α or electron transport chain abolishes these effects. Notably, ZHX2 expression is higher in liver tissues from patients with drug-induced liver injury and is negatively correlated with mitochondrial mass marker TOM20. Delivery of shRNA targeting Zhx2 effectively protects mice from CCl4-induced liver injury. Together, our data clarify ZHX2 as a negative regulator of mitochondrial OXPHOS and a potential target for developing strategies for improving liver recovery after acute injuries.

Nowadays, 3D printing has become a popular method among surgeons due to its merits in orthopedic treatments. In this method, polymeric biomaterials are deposited in a layer-by-layer manner to fabricate 3D objects that can be used as orthopedic implants and plates; however, 3D-printed implants or plates may lack properties required to bond with host tissue. Coating surface of plates with nano-fibers is an appropriate way to modify plates to overcome this challenge. In this study, first, an orthopedic plate was 3D printed with Polylactic acid (PLA) and coated with polycaprolactone (PCL)/Akermanite (AKT) nano-fibers. The composition included 8 wt% of PCL and 3 wt% of nAKT, while diameter of the PCL/AKT nano-fibers was approximately 253 nm ± 33 nm. Thermomechanical properties such as pressure, three-point bending flexural, and thermal conductivity of coated and non-coated specimens were examined and compared. In the next step, the bioactivity of the coated samples was evaluated following a 28-day immersion in simulated body fluid (SBF). Further, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were taken to assess morphology of nanofibers and apatite formation on samples. By adding PCL to PLA, the maximum pressure force is enhanced by 16.83%. Further by adding nAKT to PLA + PCL sample, the maximum pressure force is enhanced by 4.72%. Further, by adding PCL to PLA, the maximum bending flexural force is enhanced by 21.06%. Further by adding nAKT to PLA + PCL sample, the maximum bending flexural force is enhanced by 21.39%. The results of this study are used to improve modeling of the orthopedic plates.

Infection by the mustard clubroot disease pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae has a significant negative impact on the quality and yield of Chinese mustard (Brassica juncea). At present, screening resistant resources for breeding programs is the most economical and effective method available to control this disease. In this study, we isolated P. brassicae physiological race 4 from Chinese cabbage and examined 483 mustard germplasm resources (193 leaf mustard, 96 stem mustard, and 194 root mustard) from China and abroad to identify resistance to clubroot disease at the seedling stage through irrigation inoculation with the isolated pathogen. The results showed that there were no immune varieties among the tested mustard germplasm, but that there were differences in resistance to clubroot disease among the three mustard types. More than 90% of leaf and stem mustard resources were susceptible to clubroot disease, whereas 38.66% of root mustard resources showed resistance. In total, we detected 4 highly resistant, 9 resistant, and 83 moderately resistant varieties, of which 4 highly resistant, 8 resistant, and 63 moderately resistant varieties were root mustard resources, whereas only 1 resistant and 5 moderately resistant varieties were stem mustard resources, and 15 moderately resistant varieties were leaf mustard resources. In addition, we used seven molecular markers for clubroot disease resistance in Chinese cabbage to detect stem and root mustard resources. The results showed that the marker CRk was detected in 97.87% of stem mustard and 92.49% of root mustard resources. Six markers (Crr1, Crr2, Crr3, CRa, CRb, and CRc) were detected in 18.09%, 7.45%, 2.13%, 6.38%, 12.77%, and 12.77% of stem mustard germplasms, and four markers (Crr1, Crr2, Crr3, and CRc) were detected in 8.09%, 8.67%, 10.40%, and 8.67% of root mustard germplasms, respectively, suggesting that these markers are not suitable for detecting mustard germplasm resistance to clubroot disease. This study provides a technical reference and material support for the breeding of mustard varieties resistant to clubroot disease.

Within the “dual carbon” framework, sustainable agriculture is pivotal for climate change mitigation and long-term agricultural health. To explore the environmental effects of agricultural trade, this study assesses the carbon emissions from agriculture using information from 30 provinces in China (excluding Tibet, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan due to a lack of available data) from 2001 to 2021. Then, we analyzed the impact of agricultural trade on agricultural carbon emissions and tested for the possible existence of mechanisms. Finally, we validate the synergistic effects of agricultural trade on pollution and carbon abatement. The findings were as follows: (1) Agricultural trade significantly suppresses agricultural carbon emissions. (2) Agricultural technological progress and the rationalization of the structure of the agricultural industry are the two influencing mechanisms. (3) The inhibitory effect of agricultural trade on agricultural carbon emissions is more pronounced in southern regions and regions with lower degree of topographic relief and higher agricultural industrial agglomeration. (4) Agricultural trade fosters the collaborative advancement of mitigating agricultural pollution and reducing carbon emissions. As a result, this study confirms that agricultural trade has a role in reducing carbon emissions and that giving full play to the environmental effects of trade in agricultural products contributes to the high-quality development of agriculture.

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease associated with B‐cell hyperactivity. Telitacicept is a transmembrane activator, calcium modulator, and cyclophilin ligand interactor‐Fc fusion protein, which can neutralize both B‐cell lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation‐inducing ligand. Patients with active SLE who received telitacicept were prospectively followed at month 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 after telitacicept initiation. Thirty‐seven participants were involved and followed for 6.00 [3.00, 6.00] months. SRI‐4 rate at month 6 was 44.7%. The median dosage of prednisone was decreased by 43.8% (from 10 to 5.62 mg/d) at month 6. The anti‐dsDNA level was significantly decreased, while complement levels were significantly increased at month 6 from baseline. Continuously significant reductions in serum immunoglobin (Ig)G IgA, and IgM levels were also observed. Patients experienced significant decreases in the numbers of total and naive B cells, whereas memory B cells and T cell populations did not change. The number of NK cells was significantly increased during the follow‐up. At month 6, 58.3% (14 out of 24) patients experienced improved fatigue accessed by FACIT–Fatigue score exceeding the minimum clinically important difference of 4. Most adverse events were mild, but one each case of severe hypogammaglobulinemia, psychosis with suicidal behavior, and B‐cell lymphoma were occurred. In our first prospective real‐world study, telitacicept treatment led to a significant clinical and laboratory improvement of disease activity, as well as fatigue amelioration in patients with SLE. Safety profile was favorable overall, but more studies are greatly needed.

Summary: Directed self-assembly (DSA) lithography has demonstrated significant potential in fabricating integrated circuits. However, DSA encounters limited processing windows due to the requirement for precise matching between the period of block copolymers (BCPs) and graphoepitaxy templates. We propose a binary BCP/homopolymer blending strategy to manipulate the self-assembly behavior and the processing window of graphoepitaxy DSA in contact hole shrinking. By carefully tailoring the blending rates of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) with different molecular weights in cylindrical polystyrene-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA), we manipulate the period and morphology of BCP/homopolymer self-assembly. Specifically, we employ BCP/homopolymer blending to fine-tune the critical dimension (CD) of contact holes with PS-affined topographical templates. Subsequent pattern transferring is achieved by selectively etching defect-free shrinkable cylinders as hard masks. Furthermore, self-consistent field theory (SCFT) simulation was employed to explore the self-assembly of BCP/homopolymer blending in confined cylindrical space and the results were in good consistency with the experimental results.

The recycling of key components in waste lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is an important route to make up for the shortage of battery materials. Metal separation and purification is an important step. It is of great significance to propose an efficient and green separation technology. In this paper, an electrochemical precipitation method was applied to metal separation from spent LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathode material. The Li and metal elements were effective separated and the precipitates were then used as precursor to synthesize high-performance R–O3-NaNFM cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. The R–O3-NaNFM exhibits excellent electrochemical cycling stability. The capacity retains 71.3 mAh g−1 after a long-term cycling of 200 times at 1 C. This method offers a referable strategy of the recycling for the waste cathode material in spent LIBs.

The chemical recycling of polyolefin presents a considerable challenge, especially as upcycling methods struggle with the reality that plastic wastes typically consist of mixtures of polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polypropylene (PP). We report a catalytic aerobic oxidative approach for polyolefins upcycling with the corresponding carboxylic acids as the product. This method encompasses three key innovations. First, it operates under atmospheric pressure and mild conditions, using O2 or air as the oxidant. Second, it is compatible with high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, PS, PP, and their blends. Third, it uses an economical and recoverable metal catalyst. It has been demonstrated that this approach can efficiently degrade mixed wastes of plastic bags, bottles, masks, and foam boxes.

Summary: Tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (TEVs) play a pivotal role in cancer progression by transferring functional biomolecules between the parental and recipient cells. Here, we present a protocol to isolate TEVs directly from murine primary mammary tumor using differential centrifugation. We describe steps for tissue dissociation, enzymatic digestion, and centrifugation. We then detail procedures for characterization of TEVs through transmission electron microscopy, immunoblotting, and nano-flow cytometry. This protocol can be used to extract EVs from other solid tumor types.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Li, Mei-Xin et al. (2023).1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Summary: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the basal lateral amygdala (BLA) has been established to correct symptoms of refractory post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, how BLA DBS operates in correcting PTSD symptoms and how the BLA elicits pathological fear and anxiety in PTSD remain unclear. Here, we discover that excitatory synaptic transmission from the BLA projection neurons (PNs) to the adBNST, and lateral central amygdala (CeL) is greatly suppressed in a mouse PTSD model induced by foot shock (FS). BLA DBS revises the weakened inputs from the BLA to these two areas to improve fear and anxiety. Optogenetic manipulation of the BLA-adBNST and BLA-CeL circuits shows that both circuits are responsible for anxiety but the BLA-CeL for fear in FS mice. Our results reveal that synaptic transmission dysregulation of the BLA-adBNST or BLA-CeL circuits is reversed by BLA DBS, which improves anxiety and fear in the FS mouse model.

Abstract Integration of magnetic materials into bio‐integrated flexible electronics will bring multi‐functionality, such as magnetoception and wireless communication. In practical application, the performance of magnetic materials and devices should remain stable during cyclic bending–unbending and they can be degradable within a designated lifetime. However, direct integration of magnetic materials with flexible and biocompatible materials and maintaining mechanically stable microwave performance have not been achieved yet. Here, ultrathin (5–50 nm) permalloy (NiFe) films deposited on biocompatible silk fibroin (SF) films are shown to be bending stable, and dissolvable. The ferromagnetic properties of NiFe films deposited on SF, Kapton, and silicon are studied and compared by ferromagnetic resonance. Benefiting from the low surface roughness of fibroin, which is only ≈0.8 nm, SF/NiFe films exhibit comparable ferromagnetic properties to Si/NiFe, better than that of Kapton/NiFe films. Moreover, the ferromagnetic resonance field of SF/NiFe films remains highly stable during cyclic bending that is exposed to both compressive and tensile strain/stress, and its temperature stability is very close to that of Si/NiFe. Finally, the whole SF/NiFe films are demonstrated to be dissolvable and biocompatible. Therefore, SF/NiFe films can be a useful and stable platform for flexible and biocompatible microwave applications.

ABSTRACT: Heat stress (HS) can result in sudden death and is one of the most stressful and costly events in chicken. Currently, biomarkers used clinically to detect heat stress state in chickens are not optimal, especially for living ones. Analysis of changes in serum proteins of heat-stressed chickens can help to identify some novel convenient biomarkers for this. Twenty-four chickens were exposed to HS at 42°C ± 1°C with a relative humidity of 65% for continuous 5 h in a single day, and 10 birds were used as controls (Con). During HS, 15 dead chickens were categorized as heat stress death group (HSD), and 9 surviving ones served as heat stress survivor group (HSS). Label-free quantitative proteomics (LFQP) was used to analyze differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in serum of tested animals. Candidate proteins associated with HS were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Diagnostic value of candidate biomarkers was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Source of the selected proteins was analyzed in liver tissues with immunohistochemistry and in cell culture supernatant of primary chicken hepatocytes (PCH) using ELISA. In this study, compared to Con, LFQP identified 123 and 53 significantly different serum proteins in HSD and HSS, respectively. Bioinformatics analysis showed that XDH, POSTN, and HSP90 were potential HS biomarkers in tested chickens, which was similar with results from serum ELISAs and immunohistochemistry in liver tissues. The ROC values of 0.793, 0.752, and 0.779 for XDH, POSTN, and HSP90, respectively, permitted the distinction of heat-stressed chickens from the control. Levels of 3 proteins above in the cell culture supernatant of PCH showed an increasing trend as HS time increased. Therefore, considering that mean concentration of POSTN in serum was higher than that of HSP90, XDH, and POSTN may be optimal biomarkers in serum for detecting HS level in chickens, and mainly secreted from hepatocytes. The former indicates that heat-stressed chickens are in a damaged state, and the latter implies that chickens can repair heat stress damage.

Abstract. Background:. Vaccination has been shown effective in controlling the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and reducing severe cases. This study was to assess the flare and change in disease activity after COVID-19 vaccination in patients with stable rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods:. A prospective cohort of RA patients in remission or with low disease activity was divided into a vaccination group and a non-vaccination group based on their COVID-19 vaccination status. Each of them was examined every 3 to 6 months. In the vaccination group, disease activity was compared before and after vaccination. The rates of flare defined as disease activity scores based on 28-joint count (DAS28) >3.2 with ΔDAS28 ≥0.6 were compared between vaccination and non-vaccination groups. Results:. A total of 202 eligible RA patients were enrolled. Of these, 98 patients received no vaccine shot (non-vaccination group), and 104 patients received two doses of vaccine (vaccination group). The median time interval from pre-vaccination visit to the first immunization and from the second dose of vaccine to post-vaccination visit was 67 days and 83 days, respectively. The disease activity scores at pre-vaccination and post-vaccination visits in the vaccination group patients were similar. At enrollment, gender, RA disease course, seropositivity, and disease activity were comparable across the two groups. Flare was observed in five (4.8%) of the vaccination group patients and nine (9.2%) of the non-vaccination group patients at post-vaccination assessment (P = 0.221). In terms of safety, 29 (27.9%) patients experienced adverse events (AEs) after vaccination. No serious AEs occurred. Conclusions:. COVID-19 vaccinations had no significant effect on disease activity or risk of flare in RA patients in remission or with low disease activity. Patients with stable RA should be encouraged to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

Abstract Background Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), as a key enzyme in the phenylalanine metabolism pathway in plants, plays an important role in the response to environmental stress. However, the PAL family responding to abiotic stress has not been fully characterized in rapeseed. Results In this study, we conducted a genome-wide study of PAL family, and analyzed their gene structure, gene duplication, conserved motifs, cis-acting elements and response to stress treatment. A total of 17 PALs were identified in the rapeseed genome. Based on phylogenetic analysis, the BnPALs were divided into four clades (I, II, IV, and V). The prediction of protein structure domain presented that all BnPAL members contained a conservative PAL domain. Promoter sequence analysis showed that the BnPALs contain many cis-acting elements related to hormone and stress responses, indicating that BnPALs are widely involved in various biological regulatory processes. The expression profile showed that the BnPALs were significantly induced under different stress treatments (NaCl, Na2CO3, AlCl3, and PEG), suggesting that BnPAL family played an important role in response to abiotic stress. Conclusions Taken together, our research results comprehensively characterized the BnPAL family, and provided a valuable reference for revealing the role of BnPALs in the regulation of abiotic stress responses in rapeseed.

PURPOSETo assess the quantification accuracy of pulmonary nodules using virtual monoenergetic images (VMIs) derived from spectral-detector computed tomography (CT) under an ultra-low-dose scan protocol.METHODSA chest phantom consisting of 12 pulmonary nodules was scanned using spectral-detector CT at 100 kVp/10 mAs, 100 kVp/20 mAs, 120 kVp/10 mAs, and 120 kVp/30 mAs. Each scanning protocol was repeated three times. Each CT scan was reconstructed utilizing filtered back projection, hybrid iterative reconstruction, iterative model reconstruction (IMR), and VMIs of 40–100 keV. The signal-to-noise ratio and air noise of images, absolute differences, and absolute percentage measurement errors (APEs) of the diameter, density, and volume of the four scan protocols and ten reconstruction images were compared.RESULTSWith each fixed reconstruction image, the four scanning protocols exhibited no significant differences in APEs for diameter and density (all P > 0.05). Of the four scan protocols and ten reconstruction images, APEs for nodule volume had no significant differences (all P > 0.05). At 100 kVp/10 mAs, APEs for density using IMR were the lowest (APE-mean: 6.69), but no significant difference was detected between VMIs at 50 keV (APE-mean: 11.69) and IMR (P = 0.666). In the subgroup analysis, at 100 kVp/10 mAs, there were no significant differences between VMIs at 50 keV and IMR in diameter and density (all P > 0.05). The radiation dose at 100 kVp/10 mAs was reduced by 77.8% compared with that at 120 kVp/30 mAs.CONCLUSIONCompared with IMR, reconstruction at 100 kVp/10 mAs and 50 keV provides a more accurate quantification of pulmonary nodules, and the radiation dose is reduced by 77.8% compared with that at 120 kVp/30 mAs, demonstrating great potential for ultra-low-dose spectral-detector CT.

Abstract Cancer-associated cachexia is a multi-organ weight loss syndrome, especially with a wasting disorder of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) serve as emerging messengers to connect primary tumour and metabolic organs to exert systemic regulation. However, whether and how tumour-derived sEVs regulate white adipose tissue (WAT) browning and fat loss is poorly defined. Here, we report breast cancer cell-secreted exosomal miR-204-5p induces hypoxia-inducible factor 1A (HIF1A) in WAT by targeting von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene. Elevated HIF1A protein induces the leptin signalling pathway and thereby enhances lipolysis in WAT. Additionally, exogenous VHL expression blocks the effect of exosomal miR-204-5p on WAT browning. Reduced plasma phosphatidyl ethanolamine level is detected in mice lack of cancer-derived miR-204-5p secretion in vivo. Collectively, our study reveals circulating miR-204-5p induces hypoxia-mediated leptin signalling pathway to promote lipolysis and WAT browning, shedding light on both preventive screenings and early intervention for cancer-associated cachexia.

The physical phenomenon of the annular hollow laser surface treatment process is complex, and the internal mechanism involves multiple disciplines and fields. In addition to the general parameters of laser beams, such as laser power and scanning speed, an annular hollow laser beam exhibits unique physical characteristics, including hollow ratio and hollow area. The selection of the inner and outer annular radii of the laser plays a critical role in the study of metal surface heat treatment. From the point of view of heat transfer, the entransy dissipation theory is introduced in the metal surface treatment process with an annular hollow heat source. Firstly, using the principle of the extreme value of the entransy dissipation rate, under a constant heat flux boundary condition, the entransy dissipation rate is obtained through the temperature field distribution in the calculation area by numerical simulation. Secondly, the selection of the inner and outer ring radii of the annular laser is explored, and the average temperature difference of the heating surface is minimized to reduce the thermal stresses of the material. This paper seeks new insights into the geometric parameters of the inner and outer radii of the annular heat source.

As an emerging environmentally friendly fuel, biodiesel has excellent fuel properties comparable to those of petrochemical diesel. Oleic acid methyl ester, as the main component of biodiesel, has the characteristics of high cetane number and low emission rate of harmful gases. However, the comprehensive chemical conversion pathway of oleic acid methyl ester is not clear. In this paper, the reactive force field molecular dynamics simulation (ReaxFF-MD) method is used to construct a model of oleic acid methyl ester pyrolysis and combustion system. Further, the chemical conversion kinetics process at high temperatures (2500 K–3500 K) was studied, and a chemical reaction network was drawn. The research results show that the density of the system has almost no effect on the decomposition activation energy of oleic acid methyl ester, and the activation energies of its pyrolysis and combustion processes are 190.02 kJ/mol and 144.89 kJ/mol, respectively. Ethylene, water and carbon dioxide are the dominant and most accumulated products. From the specific reaction mechanism, the main pyrolysis path of oleic acid methyl ester is the breakage of the C-C bond to produce small molecule intermediates, and subsequent transformation of the ester group radical into carbon oxides. The combustion path is the evolution of long-chain alkanes into short-carbon-chain gaseous products, and these species are further burned to form stable CO2 and H2O. This study further discusses the microscopic combustion kinetics of biodiesel, providing a reference for the construction of biodiesel combustion models. Based on this theoretical study, the understanding of free radicals, intermediates, and products in the pyrolysis and combustion of biomass can be deepened.

Abstract Introduction Both mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and intravenous cyclophosphamide (CYC) have been recommended in the induction therapy of lupus nephritis (LN) for years; nevertheless, their effectiveness and safety in a real-world setting are extremely lacking. Therefore, we decided to conduct this real-world study. Methods A total of 195 Chinese patients with LN who were initially treated with MMF (n = 98), or intravenous CYC (n = 97) as induction therapy were enrolled. All of the patients were followed up to 12 months. Complete renal remission (CRR) was defined as 24-h urinary protein (24 h-UTP) 0.5 g, both with a change of serum creatinine (SCr) within 10% from baseline. The proportions of CRR, PRR, and total renal remission (TRR), as well as adverse events, were compared by Chi-square test and Kaplan–Meier analysis (log-rank test). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used for propensity score matching and multivariable logistic regression analyses were employed. Results The cumulative proportion of TRR in 6 months (79.4 vs. 63.8%, p = 0.026) and CRR in 12 months (72.8 vs. 57.6%, p = 0.049) in MMF group were significantly higher than CYC group, and the above conclusions were further confirmed by IPTW. The proportions of PRR, CRR, and TRR at other time points were equivalent between two groups. Further subgroup analysis in 111 patients with biopsy-proven III–V LN also showed a significantly higher proportion of TRR at 6 months in the MMF group than in the CYC group (78.3 vs. 56.9%, p = 0.026). In the Kaplan–Meier analysis and after IPTW, the MMF group showed better TRR and CRR responses than CYC group in 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that MMF use was the only predictor of CRR (HR 2.12, 95% CI 1.90–4.09, p = 0.026), while low complement level was also a predictor, albeit risk was reduced (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.17–0.86, p = 0.019). Moreover, compared to the CYC group, MMF group patients were more likely to have significantly lower SCr (μmol/l) [72.5 (62.5, 86.5) vs. 79.0 (71.1, 97.5), p = 0.001] and daily dose of prednisone (mg/day) (15.7 ± 5.2 vs. 18.6 ± 11.3, p = 0.022) at 6 months; lower 24 h-UTP (g) [0.1 (0.1, 0.3) vs. 0.2 (0.1, 0.9), p = 0.005] and daily dose of prednisone (mg/day) (9.6 ± 3.3 vs. 11.2 ± 5.5, p = 0.023) at 12 months. Infection was the most common adverse event. Pneumonia and gastrointestinal discomfort were more frequently observed in the CYC group. Conclusions Real-world data are a key component of the evidence supporting the effectiveness of drugs and are of interest to all stakeholders. Our comparative study demonstrated the effectiveness of MMF in LN induction therapy was at least equivalent to intravenous CYC, with superior tolerance.

Abstract Introduction The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on vulnerable populations with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRDs) has been variable with variants and of great concern. Here we report the clinical features, outcomes, and risk factors for infection and hospitalization in patients with AIIRDs in the first wave of infection in China in December 2022. Methods A real-world survey was conducted in Chinese patients with AIIRDs from 8 December 2022 to 13 January 2023. The survey was distributed via internet nationwide, clinic consultation, and to inpatients at a tertiary hospital in Beijing. Clinical features, outcomes, and vaccination status were collected. Results A total of 2005 patients with AIIRDs completed the survey. There were 1690 (84.3%) patients infected and only 48.2% of patients received COVID-19 vaccination. Most of the fully vaccinated patients received inactivated COVID-19 vaccines, including Sinovac (55.6%) and Sinopharm (27.2%), followed by recombinant subunit vaccine from Zhifei Longcom (2.0%). The independent protecting factors for infection were a time interval of less than 3 months from last vaccination (OR 0.53, p = 0.037) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as the underlying AIIRD (OR 0.62, p = 0.041). A total of 57 out of 1690 patients (3.4%) were hospitalized for COVID, with 46 (2.7%) experiencing severe/critical course and 6 deaths (0.4%). In multivariable logistic regression analysis, independent risk factors for hospitalization were age over 60 years (OR 11.52, p

Abstract Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) expresses abundant programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1), which shields tumor cells from immune attacks through the PD‐L1/PD‐1 signaling axis. The mechanism of PD‐L1 overexpression includes the deletion of the 3′end of PD‐L1, which increases its mRNA stability, and the gain or amplification of PD‐L1. Previous studies found two cases of DLBCL carrying an IGH::PD‐L1 by whole genome sequencing. We describe two more such cases by a targeted DNA next‐generation sequencing (NGS) capable of detecting IGH rearrangements, leading to PD‐L1 overexpression. DLBCL with PD‐L1 overexpression is often resistant to R‐CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine and prednisolone). Our patients responded to a combination of R‐CHOP and a PD‐1 inhibitor.

IntroductionThe host immune response determines the differential outcome of acute or chronic viral infections. The comprehensive comparison of lymphoid tissue immune cells at the single-cell level between acute and chronic viral infections is largely insufficient.MethodsTo explore the landscape of immune responses to acute and chronic viral infections, single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq), scTCR-seq and scBCR-seq were utilized to evaluate the longitudinal dynamics and heterogeneity of lymph node CD45+ immune cells in mouse models of acute (LCMV Armstrong) and chronic (LCMV clone 13) viral infections.ResultsIn contrast with acute viral infection, chronic viral infection distinctly induced more robust NK cells and plasma cells at the early stage (Day 4 post-infection) and acute stage (Day 8 post-infection), respectively. Moreover, chronic viral infection exerted decreased but aberrantly activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) at the acute phase. Simultaneously, there were significantly increased IgA+ plasma cells (MALT B cells) but differential usage of B-cell receptors in chronic infection. In terms of T-cell responses, Gzma-high effector-like CD8+ T cells were significantly induced at the early stage in chronic infection, which showed temporally reversed gene expression throughout viral infection and the differential usage of the most dominant TCR clonotype. Chronic infection also induced more robust CD4+ T cell responses, including follicular helper T cells (Tfh) and regulatory T cells (Treg). In addition, chronic infection compromised the TCR diversity in both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells.DiscussionIn conclusion, gene expression and TCR/BCR immune repertoire profiling at the single-cell level in this study provide new insights into the dynamic and differential immune responses to acute and chronic viral infections.

Background The objective of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) derived from baseline 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), in conjunction with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status, among patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Methods We performed a retrospective analysis on 141 patients with LUAD (74 males, 67 females, median age 67 (range 34–86)) who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and had their EGFR mutation status determined. Optimal cutoff points for TMTV were determined using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The survival difference was compared using Cox regression analysis and Kaplan‒Meier curves. Results The EGFR mutant patients (n = 79, 56.0%) exhibited significantly higher 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates compared to those with EGFR wild-type (n = 62, 44.0%), with rates of 74.2% vs 69.2% (P = 0.029) and 86.1% vs 67.7% (P = 0.009), respectively. The optimal cutoff values of TMTV were 36.42 cm3 for PFS and 37.51 cm3 for OS. Patients with high TMTV exhibited significantly inferior 2-year PFS and OS, with rates of 22.4% and 38.1%, respectively, compared to those with low TMTV, who had rates of 85.8% and 95.0% (both P < 0.001). In both the EGFR mutant and wild-type groups, patients exhibiting high TMTV demonstrated significantly inferior 2-year PFS and OS compared to those with low TMTV. In multivariate analysis, EGFR mutation status (hazard ratio, HR, 0.41, 95% confidence interval, CI [0.18–0.94], P = 0.034) and TMTV (HR 8.08, 95% CI [2.34–28.0], P < 0.001) were independent prognostic factors of OS, whereas TMTV was also an independent prognosticator of PFS (HR 2.59, 95% CI [1.30–5.13], P = 0.007). Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the integration of TMTV on baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT with EGFR mutation status improves the accuracy of prognostic evaluation for patients with LUAD.

Block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly has tremendous potential applications in next-generation nanolithography. It offers significant advantages, including high resolution and cost-effectiveness, effectively overcoming the limitations associated with conventional optical lithography. In this work, we demonstrate a focused solar annealing (FSA) technique that is facile, eco-friendly, and energy-efficient for fast self-assembly of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS-b-PMMA) thin films. The FSA principle involves utilizing a common biconvex lens to converge incident solar radiation into a high-temperature spot, which is directly used to drive the microphase separation of PS-b-PMMA thin films. As a result, PS-b-PMMA undergoes self-assembly, forming ordered nanostructures in a vertical orientation at seconds timescales on silicon substrates with a neutral layer. In addition, the FSA technique can be employed for grafting neutral polymer brushes onto the silicon substrate. Furthermore, the FSA's compatibility with graphoepitaxy-directed self-assembly (DSA) of BCP is also demonstrated in the patterning of contact holes. The results of contact hole shrinking show that contact hole prepatterns of ∼60.4 nm could be uniformly shrunk to ∼20.5 nm DSA hole patterns with a hole open yield (HOY) of 100 %. For contact hole multiplication, doublet DSA holes were successfully generated on elliptical templates, revealing an average DSA hole size of ∼21.3 nm. Most importantly, due to the direct use of solar energy, the FSA technique provides many significant advantages such as simplicity, environmental friendliness, solvent-free, low cost, and net-zero carbon emissions, and will open up a new direction for BCP lithography that is sustainable, pollution-free, and carbon-neutral.

IntroductionAttempts to artificially activate unfertilized oocytes at 24 h post intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) have generally resulted in poor outcomes. This study aims to explore a new strategy for early judgement and rescue activation of unfertilized oocytes at 5 h post ICSI to avoid unexpected fertilization failure (UFF) or unexpected low fertilization (ULF) in ICSI cycles.MethodsFirstly, time-lapse data from 278 ICSI cycles were retrospectively analyzed to establish an indicator for fertilization failure prediction. Secondly, 14 UFF and 20 ULF cycles were enrolled for an observational study, early rescue oocyte activation (EROA) was performed on oocytes without post-ICSI Pb2 extrusion to investigate fertilization efficiency, embryo development and clinical outcomes.ResultsThe average time to Pb2 extrusion post-ICSI was 3.03±1.21 h, 95.54% of oocytes had extruded Pb2 before 5 h, and the sensitivity and specificity for monitoring Pb2 extrusion at 5 h by time-lapse imaging to predict fertilization were 99.59% and 99.78%, respectively. Early rescue activation of oocytes with no Pb2 extrusion resulted in acceptable fertilization and embryo developmental outcomes, in terms of the fertilization rate (75.00, 72.99%), 2PN fertilization rate (61.36, 56.93%), good-quality embryo rate (42.59, 50.00%), blastocyst formation rate (48.28, 46.03%), good-quality blastocyst rate (34.48, 33.33%), and oocyte utilization rate (36.36, 27.74%), for both UFF and ULF cycles. The clinical pregnancy, embryo implantation, and early miscarriage rates in the rescue oocyte activation group did not significantly differ from those in the Pb2 extrusion group. Fourteen unexpected fertilization failures and 20 low fertilization ICSI cycles were rescued and resulted in clinical pregnancy rates of 40.00% (4/10) and 57.14% (8/14), respectively. ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that monitoring Pb2 extrusion by time-lapse imaging can accurately predict fertilization outcomes, suggesting that early rescue oocyte activation at 5 h post ICSI is an effective strategy for avoiding unexpected fertilization failure and low fertilization in ICSI cycles.

Background Recently, with the rapid development of the perinatal medical system and related life-saving techniques, both the short-term and long-term prognoses of extremely preterm infants (EPIs) have improved significantly. In rapidly industrialising countries like China, the survival rates of EPIs have notably increased due to the swift socioeconomic development. However, there is still a reasonably lower positive response towards the treatment of EPIs than we expected, and the current situation of withdrawing care is an urgent task for perinatal medical practitioners.Objective To develop and validate a model that is practicable for EPIs as soon as possible after birth by regression analysis, to assess the risk of mortality and chance of survival.Methods This multicentre prospective cohort study used datasets from the Sino-Northern Neonatal Network, including 46 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Risk factors including maternal and neonatal variables were collected within 1 hour post-childbirth. The training set consisted of data from 41 NICUs located within the Shandong Province of China, while the validation set included data from 5 NICUs outside Shandong Province. A total of 1363 neonates were included in the study.Results Gestational age, birth weight, pH and lactic acid in blood gas analysis within the first hour of birth, moderate-to-severe hypothermia on admission and adequate antenatal corticosteroids were influencing factors for EPIs’ mortality with important predictive ability. The area under the curve values for internal validation of our prediction model and Clinical Risk Index for Babies-II scores were 0.81 and 0.76, and for external validation, 0.80 and 0.51, respectively. Moreover, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that our model has a constant degree of calibration.Conclusions There was good predictive accuracy for mortality of EPIs based on influencing factors prenatally and within 1 hour after delivery. Predicting the risk of mortality of EPIs as soon as possible after birth can effectively guide parents to be proactive in treating more EPIs with life-saving value.Trial registration number ChiCTR1900025234.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common degenerative disease among the older people that severely affects their daily life. Previous studies have confirmed that movement biomechanics are altered in patients with KOA during task performance. However, changes that occur in lower limb joints and muscles in the three planes during stand-to-sit (STS) tasks in patients with early-stage KOA are unclear.Method: Of the 36 participants recruited in this study, 24 (8 males and 16 females) and 12 (4 males and 8 females) were added to the KOA and control groups, respectively. The Nexus Vicon motion capture system along with Delsys wireless surface electromyography devices and plantar pressure measurement mat was used to record test data. A Visual 3D software was used to process the data and calculate the biomechanical and electromyographic parameters during STS tasks.Results: There was no significant difference in task duration between the two groups. Patients with KOA could perform a greater range of pelvic motion and smaller range of hip and knee joint motion with a lower maximum hip joint angular acceleration in the sagittal plane and greater knee and ankle joint motion in the coronal plane. There was no significant difference in the motion range in the horizontal plane. During the STS task, patients in the KOA group had a lower vertical ground reaction force (GRF) amplitude on the injured side but a higher integrated GRF on both sides than those in the control group. Moreover, patients with KOA demonstrated higher PERM and PABM of the lower limb joints and smaller knee PADM and ankle PEM. Additionally, maximum activation levels of GMed muscle, affected-side gluteus medius (GM), ST, rectus femoris (RF), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were lower in patients with KOA than in controls. Conversely, the activation level of biceps femoris (BF) was higher. Furthermore, the integral EMG values of GMed, GM, ST, VL, RF, vastus medialis VM, and TA muscles on the affected side were lower, except for the BF muscle, in patients with KOA.Conclusion: Compared with the participants in the control group, patients with early-stage KOA exhibited consistent changes in sEMG parameters and biomechanical alterations in the sagittal plane, as observed in previous studies. However, differences in parameters were observed in the coronal and transverse planes of these patients. The noninvasive analysis of the 3D parameters of the involved motion patterns may lead to the early detection of KOA.

The nitrogen vacancy (NV) color centers are a solid-state quantum system with the ability to maintain long coherence times at room temperatures. NV centers have potential applications in quantum detection, which necessitates their positioning at minimal distances from surfaces. However, the existing methods for fabricating NV centers are cumbersome, expensive, and difficult to control. This study investigates the etching mechanism of transition metals on diamond under plasma conditions and develops a method for producing shallow NV centers on the surface of high pressure and high temperature diamond. Our proposed method enables the production of shallow NV centers below the surface in the longitudinal direction, while simultaneously allowing precise control over the lateral distribution. Moreover, the operating costs associated with our technique are significantly lower than those of ion implantation and electron irradiation. This research contributes to the advancement of iron-etching diamond processing technology, and the proposed method facilitates the more portable preparation of shallow color centers in specific regions, enabling the realization of locally controllable and scalable coupled quantum systems.

Background Cardiovascular calcification includes cardiac valve calcification (CVC) and vascular calcification. We aimed to analyze risk factors for CVC, and construct a predictive model in maintenance peritoneal dialysis (MPD) patients.Methods We retrospectively analyzed MPD patients who began peritoneal dialysis between January 2014 and September 2021. Patients were randomly assigned to the derivation cohort and validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio. The patients in the derivation cohort were divided into the CVC group and non-CVC group. Logistic regression was used to analyze risk factors, then the rms package in R language was used to construct a nomogram model to predict CVC.Results 1,035 MPD patients were included, with the age of 50.0 ± 14.2 years and 632 males (61.1%). Their median follow-up time was 25 (12, 46) months. The new-onset CVC occurred in 128 patients (12.4%). In the derivation cohort, multivariate logistic regression indicated old age, female, high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high calcium-phosphorus product (Ca × P), high Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and long dialysis time were independent risk factors for CVC (p

Abstract Introduction This study aimed to investigate the effect of electro‐nape‐acupuncture (ENA) on the differentiation of microglia and the secondary brain injury in rats with acute‐phase intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) through the programmed cell death protein‐1/ligand‐1 (PD‐1/PD‐L1) pathway. Methods A total of 27 male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham group, ICH group, and ENA group. The autologous blood infusion intracerebral hemorrhage model was used to study the effects of ENA by administering electroacupuncture at GB20 (Fengchi) and Jiaji (EX‐B2) acupoints on 24 h after the modeling, once per day for 3 days. The neurological function damage, hematoma lesion, and inflammatory cell infiltration were measured by the beam walking test and hematoxylin‐eosin staining. The expression of PD‐1, PD‐L1, CD86, CD206, and related cytokines around the hematoma was measured by western blot, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence. Results The ICH group had significant neurological deficits (p < .001), hematoma lesions, and inflammatory cell infiltration. The levels of CD86 protein, inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factors (TNF)‐α, interleukin (IL)‐1β, and IL‐6 were increased (p < .001), while CD206 protein was reduced (p < .01), and the number of CD86+/CD11b+ cells was also increased (p < .001) compared to the sham group. However, after ENA intervention, there was a significant reduction in neurological function damage (p < .05), infiltration of inflammatory cells, and the expression levels of CD86+/CD11b+ cells (p < .05), resulting in the increased expression of PD‐1 protein and differentiation of M2 phenotype significantly (p < .001). Conclusion The study concludes that ENA could reduce neurological function damage, inhibit the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and improve the infiltration of inflammatory cells to improve secondary brain injury in acute‐phase intracerebral hemorrhage rats. These effects could be related to the increased expression of PD‐1 around the lesion, promoting the differentiation of microglia from M1 to M2 phenotype.

Introduction: An accurate knowledge of the isomeric yield ratio (IR) induced by the photonuclear reaction is crucial to study the nuclear structure and reaction mechanisms. 165Ho is a good candidate for the investigation of the IR since the Ho target has a natural abundance of 100% and the residual nuclide has a good decay property.Methods: In this study, the photoneutron production of 164m, gHo induced by laser-accelerated electron beams is investigated experimentally. The γ-ray spectra of activated Ho foils are off-line detected. Since the direct transitions from the 164mHo are not successfully observed, we propose to extract the IRs of the 164m, gHo using only the photopeak counts from the ground-state decay.Results: The production yields of 164m, gHo are extracted to be (0.45 ± 0.10) × 106 and (1.48 ± 0.14) × 106 per laser shot, respectively. The resulting IR is obtained to be 0.30 ± 0.08 at the effective γ-ray energy of 12.65 MeV.Discussion: The present data, available experimental data, and TALYS calculations are then compared to examine the role of the excitation energy. It is found that besides the giant dipole resonance, the excitation energy effect also plays a key role in the determination of the IRs.

The proportion of advanced age patients undergoing surgical procedures is on the rise owing to advancements in surgical and anesthesia technologies as well as an overall aging population. As a complication of anesthesia and surgery, older patients frequently suffer from postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), which may persist for weeks, months or even longer. POCD is a complex pathological process involving multiple pathogenic factors, and its mechanism is yet unclear. Potential theories include inflammation, deposition of pathogenic proteins, imbalance of neurotransmitters, and chronic stress. The identification, prevention, and treatment of POCD are still in the exploratory stages owing to the absence of standardized diagnostic criteria. Undoubtedly, comprehending the development of POCD remains crucial in overcoming the illness. Neuroinflammation is the leading hypothesis and a crucial component of the pathological network of POCD and may have complex interactions with other mechanisms. In this review, we discuss the possible ways in which surgery and anesthesia cause neuroinflammation and investigate the connection between neuroinflammation and the development of POCD. Understanding these mechanisms may likely ensure that future treatment options of POCD are more effective.

Dissolved oxygen is an important biogenic element in marine ecosystem, and the variation of its content and distribution could affect marine life activities directly or indirectly. In this paper, the spatial and temporal variaton characteristics were systematically analyzed and the occurrence of hypoxia was preliminarily discussed based on the seawater field monitoring data in Zhejiang coastal area from 2014 to 2018. The results showed that the spatial and temporal variation characteristics of dissolved oxygen and its saturation were obvious in Zhejiang coastal area. The spatial span analysis showed that the horizontal distribution of dissolved oxygen and its saturation presented different characteristics in different seasons, and the vertical distribution showed that dissolved oxygen and its saturation in the surface layer was higher than that in the bottom layer, and the difference between the surface layer and the bottom layer was larger in spring and summer, but smaller in autumn and winter, which was related to surface photosynthesis and seasonal thermohalocline. The time span analysis showed that the highest dissolved oxygen content in surface layer appeared in winter and the lowest in summer, which were affected by water temperature and surface photosynthesis, and the highest dissolved oxygen in surface layer in summer appeared in 2018 and the lowest in 2015, which was mainly caused by sea surface temperature. In addition, hypoxia was also found in some areas outside the coastal area, and its potential risks are being further tracked and monitored.

Abstract Achieving multiband camouflage covering both visible and infrared regions is challenging due to the broad bandwidth and differentiated regulation demand in diverse regions. In this work, we propose a programmable microfluidic strategy that uses dye molecules in layered fluids to manipulate visible light- and infrared-semitransparent solvent to manipulate infrared light. With three primary fluid inputs, we achieve 64 chromaticity values and 8 emissivities from 0.42 to 0.90. In view of the wide tuning range, we demonstrate that the microfluidic film can dynamically change its surface reflectance to blend into varying backgrounds in both visible and infrared images. Moreover, we fabricate the microfluidic device in a textile form and demonstrate its ability to match exactly with the colors of natural leaves of different seasons in the full hyperspectrum range. Considering the broadband modulation and ease of operation, the programmable microfluidic strategy provides a feasible approach for smart optical surfaces in long-span optical spectra.

Abstract Background The high incidence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations is usually found in female patients with lung adenocarcinoma who have never-smoked. However, reports concerning male patients are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to explore a novel approach based on 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-2-deoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT and serum tumor markers (STMs) to determine EGFR mutation status in male patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A total of 121 male patients with NSCLC were analyzed between October 2019 and March 2022. All patients underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT scan before treatment and monitored 8 STMs (cytokeratin 19 fragment [CYFRA21-1], squamous cell carcinoma-related antigen [SCC-Ag], carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], neuron-specific enolase [NSE], carbohydrate antigen [CA] 50, CA125, CA72-4, and ferritin). A comparison was done between EGFR mutant and wild-type patients in terms of the maximum standardized uptake value of primary tumors (pSUVmax) and 8 STMs. We performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multiple logistic regression analyses to determine predictors for EGFR mutation status. Results EGFR mutations were detected in 39 patients (32.2%). Compared with patients with EGFR wild-type, EGFR-mutant patients had lower concentrations of serum CYRFA21-1 (2.65 vs. 4.01, P = 0.002) and SCC-Ag (0.67 vs. 1.05, P = 0.006). No significant differences of CEA, NSE, CA 50, CA125, CA72-4 and ferritin were found between the two groups. The presence of EGFR mutations was significantly associated with low pSUVmax (

Abstract The rapid development of photovoltaics (PVs) and load caused a significant increase in peak loads and peak‐valley differences in rural distribution networks, which require load peak shifting and line upgrading. Large peak‐valley differences also bring challenges on the safe operation of the utility power grid. Considering the integration of a high proportion of PVs, this study establishes a bilevel comprehensive configuration model for energy storage allocation and line upgrading in distribution networks, which can reduce peak loads and peak‐valley differences. In the upper level, a minimum annual planning cost is obtained by developing the installation capacity of centralised energy storage in transformer stations, the installation location and capacity of decentralised energy storage on lines and a scheme of line upgrading. In the lower level, the minimum total annual operation cost of the distribution network is obtained by developing an optimal scheduling for the centralised energy storage in transformer stations and decentralised energy storage on lines. Simulation results show that compared with the conventional energy storage planning strategy, the configuration investment can be reduced by 467.66 million yuan at least with the proposed strategy.

There is a low efficiency of A-to-G base conversion in at specific positions using base editors. Here the authors fuse ABE8e with the Rad51 DNA-binding domain to generate a hyperactive ABE allowing improved A-to-G editing efficiency at the region proximal to the PAM and improved simultaneous A/C conversion efficiency.

Highlights (1) Quantified the level of heavy metal(loid) pollution around the metal ore processing, mining and smelting factories in Chifeng. (2) Heavy metal(loid) risks were assessed based on optimized ecological and health risk model. (3) Cd, As and Pb posed a relatively serious threat to the region. (4) Targeted emission reduction and soil remediation measures are required to reduce heavy metal(loid) pollution in factories.

Abstract Previous studies suggested that upper and lower facial halves might be involved in the human holistic face processing differently. In this study, we replicated and extended the finding above. In Experiment 1, we used the standard composite-face task to measure holistic face processing when participants made judgements on the upper and lower facial halves separately. Results showed that the composite-face effect was stronger for the upper facial half compared to the lower half. In Experiment 2, we investigated how facial information was integrated when participants focused on different features, using the perceptual field paradigm. Results showed that: (1) more “peripheral faces” were chosen when participants fixated at the eyes than when they fixated at the mouth; (2) less “peripheral faces” were chosen for inverted faces regardless of the fixated features. Findings from both experiments together indicate that more peripheral facial information were integrated when participants focused on the upper facial half, highlighting the significance of focusing on the upper facial half in face processing.

Abstract Objectives To estimate the progress towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of syphilis in Zhejiang province. Methods Data were obtained from Zhejiang provincial EMTCT network. Childbearing women infected with syphilis during 2015–2020 were recruited. Joinpoint mode was used to analyze changing trends in syphilis screening, treatment and adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs). Changing trends were presented as the annual percentage of change (APC). Multivariate logistic regression mode was used to analyzerisk factors of APOs. Results Of 3,658,266 participants, an average maternal syphilis incidence was 0.38%. From 2015 to 2020, the coverage of syphilis screening in pregnancy (96.31% to 99.24%; P

Tailoring both the core size and shell thickness of core-shell bimetallic nanocatalysts to the dedicated geometrical and electronic properties are vital for catalytic performance optimization. Here the authors demonstrate such conjugated dual particle size effects on Au@Pd catalyzed benzyl alcohol oxidation.

Understanding the shear mechanical properties of shale reservoirs is of great significance in the study of the formation stability around horizontal shale wells and the propagation and evolution of fractures for shale fracturing. However, the existing direct shear test results are limited due to small sample sizes and low shear rates. Based on previous experimental research results, the mechanical properties of anisotropic reservoir shale in direct shear tests with different experimental conditions were explored in this study. It was found that the shear mode, shear strain rate, and normal stress have a significant impact on the deformation and failure characteristics of shale. The peak shear displacement, peak shear strength, and shear stiffness of shale present an increasing trend of fluctuation, with an increase in the bedding angle. The peak shear strength of shale decreases with an increase in the shear strain rate, and this decrease trend descends with an increase in the shear strain rate. The shape of the shear fracture zone and the shear fracture mode of shale exhibit bedding effect characteristics. The fractal dimension of the shale shear fracture surface morphology shows a trend of fluctuation with the variation in the bedding angle. Further, the shear strain rate was found to play a dominant role in the fractal dimension of the shear fracture surface. The larger shear strain rate strengthens the bedding effect of the roughness for the shear fracture surface morphology. The results of this study provide a theoretical reference for determining the engineering geomechanics characteristics of shale reservoirs.

In the micro-tube gas-assisted extrusion process, flow theories ignoring cross-scale viscoelastic variations fail to effectively characterize the rheological state of the melt. To investigate the impact of cross-scale viscoelastic variation on the quality of the micro-tube gas-assisted extrusion, a 3D multiphase flow extrusion model incorporating a double gas-assisted layer was developed. Subsequently, we modified the DCPP constitutive equations based on the cross-scale factor model. Both the traditional and gas-assisted extrusions were simulated under macroscale and cross-scale models using the Ansys Polyflow. Finally, using the established gas-assisted extrusion platform, extrusion experiments were conducted. The results indicate that, owing to the reduced melt viscosity under the cross-scale model, the deformation behavior of the melt is more pronounced than in the macroscale model. The cross-scale model’s numerical results more closely match the experimental outcomes under the same parameters, thereby confirming the feasibility of the theoretical analysis and numerical simulation. Moreover, the predictive capability of the cross-scale model for the micro-tube gas-assisted extrusion is further validated through numerical and experimental analyses with varying parameters. It is demonstrated that the cross-scale viscoelastic variation is a critical factor that cannot be overlooked in the gas-assisted extrusion.

In this paper, non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are used to study the interfacial heat exchange capacity of one-dimensional carbon nanotube nested structures. When the radius of the CNT substrate is increased from 1.356 to 2.712 nm, the ITC has a great enhancement from 1.340 to 2.949 nw/k. After this, we investigate the effects of overlap length, CNT length, and van der Waals interaction strength on the thermal resistance of the interface between carbon nanotubes. Firstly, we found that the nesting depth can significantly increase the ITC, and the increase in ITC is more obvious at an overlap length of 40 Å than at 30 Å. After this, the effect of length on the interfacial thermal conductivity is investigated, and the interfacial thermal conductivity is enhanced by 33.8% when the length is increased to 30 nm. Finally, the effect of van der Waals interaction strength was investigated, and the ITC increased from 1.60 nW/K to 2.71 nW/K when the scale factor was increased from 1 to 2.

The Chengdu–Chongqing urban agglomeration (CCUA), as the only national-level city cluster in southwestern China, serves as a strategic support for the Yangtze River Economic Belt and an important demonstration area for promoting new urbanization in the country. The study of the networked characteristics of the CCUA contributes to a systematic understanding of its spatial connectivity patterns, optimization of spatial structure and layout, and promotion of high-quality regional development. In this study, we constructed models for traffic flow, information flow, migration flow, and composite flow to calculate the strength of connections between cities and the total flow of various elements in the CCUA. ArcGIS spatial visualization tools were used to depict the spatial connectivity patterns of the element flows within the CCUA. Additionally, social network analysis methods, including network density, centrality, and cohesive subgroups analysis, were employed to reveal the spatial network structure characteristics of the CCUA. The findings are as follows: (1) The overall structure of the cities within the CCUA is relatively loose, with significant differences in connectivity strength. It exhibits a west-strong and east-weak pattern, with Chengdu-Chongqing, Chengdu-Deyang, Chengdu-Mianyang, and Chengdu-Meishan occupying the top tier, while Zigong and Ya'an have relatively weak connections with other cities. Chengdu and Chongqing have prominent positions in the CCUA, with Chengdu having a more prominent core position compared to Chongqing, resulting in an overall hierarchical distribution of “1 + 1+7 + 7”. (2) The network density of the element flows in the CCUA is relatively low, indicating a generally weak element connectivity. The centrality of cities other than Chengdu and Chongqing is at a moderate to lower level, suggesting a weak overall resource connectivity capacity in the CCUA. (3) Most cities tend to form cohesive subgroups based on geographic proximity, while the cohesive subgroup in Chongqing is still in its early stages of development due to administrative boundaries. The research results quantitatively depict the spatial network structure characteristics of the CCUA, providing theoretical references for its development.

IntroductionUrban green space is one of the most closely related ecosystem services to residents’ lives, and it can be regarded as a preventive public health measure. Residents living in parks and other green environments can help improve their physical and mental health, reduce stress and even prevent crime and violence. Therefore, based on the actual situation in China, this paper analyzes the relationship between urban green space and the health of middle-aged and older adults and its mechanisms.MethodsThis study used multiple linear regression, based the data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) in 2013, 2015, and 2018, to explore the relationship between urban green space and the health of middle-aged and older adults. At the same time, group regression was conducted to identify the heterogeneity of health effects of urban green space.ResultsThe research shows that the increase of urban green space areas can significantly improve the health status of middle-aged and older adults. After a series of robustness tests, the results are still valid. In addition, the health effects of urban green space are different because of gender, age, education level, marital status residence, geographical location of the respondents and park quantity distribution. Further research found that reducing hot weather and optimizing air quality are the potential mechanisms of urban green space affecting the health of middle-aged and older adults, providing new evidence for the causal mechanism between urban green space and the health of middle-aged and older adults.DiscussionThis study expanded the research scope of the impact of urban green space on the health of middle-aged and older adults, covering a representative sample in China. The results show that urban green space has an important impact on the health of middle-aged and older adults. Policy suggestions are made to help cities optimize the landscape and residents to enjoy ecology.

IntroductionUrban ozone pollution in China is becoming increasingly serious. Climate warming, high temperatures, and ozone pollution all have significant impacts on human health. However, the synergistic effects of high temperatures and ozone pollution in summer on human health are rarely studied. China is at a critical stage of environmental pollution control. Assessing the health impact of high temperatures and ozone exposure on the number of deaths from circulatory diseases is of great significance for formulating ozone-related prevention and control policies.MethodsThis study uses daily data on deaths from circulatory system diseases in Shijiazhuang from June to August during the summer of 2013–2016, as well as concurrent meteorological data and concentration of O3 and PM2.5 pollution data. The generalized additive model (GAM) with Poisson distribution, smooth curve threshold effect, and saturation effect method is used to control for confounding effects.ResultsThe study evaluates the impact of short-term exposure to temperature and ozone on deaths from circulatory system diseases and the synergistic effect after controlling for confounding factors. The results show that the impact of temperature and ozone on deaths from circulatory system diseases in Shijiazhuang is nonlinear, with a temperature threshold of 27.5°C and an ozone concentration threshold of 100 μg/m3. With an increase of temperature by 1°C, the risk of deaths for total population, men and women are 6.8%, 4.6% and 9.3%, respectively. The increase in temperature and ozone concentration has a greater impact on women; in men, the increase has a lag effect of 2 to 3 days, but the lag did not affect women.DiscussionIn conclusion, high temperatures and high ozone concentration have synergistic enhancement effects on circulatory system diseases. Prevention and scientific management strategies of circulatory system diseases in high temperatures and high ozone environments should be strengthened.