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BackgroundThe novel COVID-19 disease has spread worldwide, resulting in a new pandemic. The Chinese government implemented strong intervention measures in the early stage of the epidemic, including strict travel bans and social distancing policies. Prioritizing the analysis of different contributing factors to outbreak outcomes is important for the precise prevention and control of infectious diseases. We proposed a novel framework for resolving this issue and applied it to data from China. ObjectiveThis study aimed to systematically identify national-level and city-level contributing factors to the control of COVID-19 in China. MethodsDaily COVID-19 case data and related multidimensional data, including travel-related, medical, socioeconomic, environmental, and influenza-like illness factors, from 343 cities in China were collected. A correlation analysis and interpretable machine learning algorithm were used to evaluate the quantitative contribution of factors to new cases and COVID-19 growth rates during the epidemic period (ie, January 17 to February 29, 2020). ResultsMany factors correlated with the spread of COVID-19 in China. Travel-related population movement was the main contributing factor for new cases and COVID-19 growth rates in China, and its contributions were as high as 77% and 41%, respectively. There was a clear lag effect for travel-related factors (previous vs current week: new cases, 45% vs 32%; COVID-19 growth rates, 21% vs 20%). Travel from non-Wuhan regions was the single factor with the most significant impact on COVID-19 growth rates (contribution: new cases, 12%; COVID-19 growth rate, 26%), and its contribution could not be ignored. City flow, a measure of outbreak control strength, contributed 16% and 7% to new cases and COVID-19 growth rates, respectively. Socioeconomic factors also played important roles in COVID-19 growth rates in China (contribution, 28%). Other factors, including medical, environmental, and influenza-like illness factors, also contributed to new cases and COVID-19 growth rates in China. Based on our analysis of individual cities, compared to Beijing, population flow from Wuhan and internal flow within Wenzhou were driving factors for increasing the number of new cases in Wenzhou. For Chongqing, the main contributing factor for new cases was population flow from Hubei, beyond Wuhan. The high COVID-19 growth rates in Wenzhou were driven by population-related factors. ConclusionsMany factors contributed to the COVID-19 outbreak outcomes in China. The differential effects of various factors, including specific city-level factors, emphasize the importance of precise, targeted strategies for controlling the COVID-19 outbreak and future infectious disease outbreaks.

Abstract Color centers, arising from zero-dimensional defects, exploit quantum confinement to access internal electron quantum degrees of freedom, holding potential for quantum technologies. Despite intensive research, the structural origin of many color centers remains elusive. In this study, we employ in-situ cathodoluminescence scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with integrated differential phase contrast imaging to examine how defect configuration in tungsten sulfide determines color-center emission. Using an 80-kV accelerated electron beam, defects were deliberately produced, visualized, excited in situ and characterized in real time in monolayer WS2 within hBN|WS2 | hBN heterostructures at 100 K. These color centers were simultaneously measured by cathodoluminescence microscopy and differentiated by machine learning. Supported by DFT calculations, our results identified a crucial sulfur vacancy configuration organized into featured vacancy pairs, generating stable and bright luminescence at 660 nm. These findings elucidate the atomic-level structure-exciton relationship of color centers, advancing our understanding and quantum applications of defects in 2D materials.

Magmatism at continental margins is of great significance in understanding the continental rifting. We present a two-dimensional P-wave velocity model derived from an ocean bottom seismometer experiment, conducted across the middle northern continental margin of the South China Sea (SCS). The detailed velocity structures reveal significant heterogeneities extending from the continental shelf to the continent-ocean transition zone. The crust exhibits its greatest thickness below the continental shelf, measuring ∼23 km and gradually thins to ∼13 km at the distal margin. Furthermore, a narrow and distinct continent-ocean transition with only 40-km width is revealed. We also observe a high-velocity layer within the transition zone, reaching thickness of up to 4 km, characterized by P-wave velocities ranging from 7.0 km/s to 7.6 km/s in the lower crust. Based on the syn-rift melt generation using decompression melting model, we ascertain that syn-rift magmatism cannot fully account for the observed thick high-velocity layer. By integrating findings from previous geophysical and geochemical studies presenting extensive volcanic edifice on the seafloor at the northern margin, as well as ocean-island-basalt-type magmatic samples in the SCS area, we propose that post-rifting magmatism associated with the Hainan Plume may have influenced the formation of the high-velocity lower crust within the transition zone and the northern margin of the SCS can thus be recognized as magma-poor type margin.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that cell deaths are involved in tumorigenesis and progression, which may be treated as a novel direction of cancers. Recently, a novel type of programmed cell death, disulfidptosis, was discovered. However, the detailed biological and clinical impact of disulfidptosis and related regulators remains largely unknown. Methods: In this work, we first enrolled pancancer datasets and performed multi-omics analysis, including gene expression, DNA methylation, copy number variation and single nucleic variation profiles. Then we deciphered the biological implication of disulfidptosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) by machine learning. Finally, a novel agent targeting at disulfidptosis in ccRCC was identified and verified. Results: We found that disulfidptosis regulators were dysregulated among cancers, which could be explained by aberrant DNA methylation and genomic mutation events. Disulfidptosis scores were depressed among cancers and negatively correlated with epithelial mesenchymal transition. Disulfidptosis regulators could satisfactorily stratify risk subgroups in ccRCC, and a novel subtype, DCS3, owning with disulfidptosis depression, insensitivity to immune therapy and aberrant genome instability were identified and verified. Moreover, treating DCS3 with NU1025 could significantly inhibit ccRCC malignancy. Conclusion: This work provided a better understanding of disulfidptosis in cancers and new insights into individual management based on disulfidptosis.

PurposeThe split-elbow sign (SES), characterized by preferential dysfunction of the biceps brachii compared to the triceps, is a clinical feature observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the quantified SES index has not been extensively investigated, and its role in diagnosing ALS remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the split-elbow index (SEI) derived from compound muscle action potential (CMAP), motor unit number index (MUNIX), and echo intensity (EI) in ALS.MethodsA cohort comprising 70 individuals diagnosed with ALS, along with 41 disease controls and 40 healthy controls, was recruited for the study. The SEI was calculated by dividing the recorded values of CMAP, MUNIX, and EI obtained over the biceps brachii by the corresponding value measured in the triceps, resulting in SEICMAP, SEIMUNIX, and SEIEI, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the three methods were used for comparison. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V.26.0 and R software.ResultsBoth SEICMAP and SEIMUNIX exhibited significant reductions in ALS patients compared to that in controls (PSEICMAp

ObjectiveTo systemically assess the relationship between serum osteocalcin levels and the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in the Chinese population.MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP and Chinese Medical Journal full-text Database were searched. Two investigators independently reviewed the literature and extracted data based on predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was used to assess the quality of the literature. The statistical analysis was performed using Stata16 software.ResultsA total of 20 case-control studies encompassed 4 565 cases, consisting of 643 healthy controls (CN), 1 649 individuals with simple diabetes mellitus (DM), 1 305 with microalbuminuria (MI), and 968 with macroalbuminuria (MA). The meta-analysis results indicated that the serum osteocalcin levels in MI group were significantly lower than those in CN group and DM group [SMD = -1.15, 95% CI (-1.46, -0.85), P < 0.01; and SMD = -0.53, 95% CI (-0.69, -0.37), P < 0.01, respectively], and lower in the MA group compared to the CN group [SMD = -1.28, 95% CI (-1.79, -0.76), P < 0.01]. In the MA group, the serum osteocalcin levels were considerably lower compared to those in DM group and MI group [SMD = -0.93, 95% CI (-1.28, -0.58), P < 0.01; and SMD = -0.41, 95% CI (-0.65, -0.17), P < 0.01, respectively].ConclusionThe serum osteocalcin levels are typically reduced and show a negative correlation with the severity of proteinuria in Chinese patients with DKD. This indicates a decline in bone formation at early-stage in DKD patients, which worsens as the disease progresses.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/,identifier CRD42024580324.

Objective To investigate the effect of down-regulating adenosine deaminase acting on RNA-1(ADAR1) on the radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells. Methods Lentiviral transfection was used to establish an ADAR1 knockdown cell line based on A549 cells.Then the cells were divided into negative control (shNC) and ADAR1 knockdown (shADAR1) groups, which were followed by a single-dose irradiation of 0 Gy and 6 Gy X-rays.Western blotting and RT-PCR were utilized to detect the expression of ADAR1 at protein and mRNA levels, respectively.CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay were applied to measure cell proliferation and migration abilities.Meanwhile, clone formation assay was performed to detect the effect of down-regulating ADAR1 on the radiosensitivity of A549 cells.Flow cytometry and Western blotting were conducted to detect the expression levels of apoptosis and apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2.Immunofluorescence assay and Western blotting were used to detect the expression level of γ-H2AX.Comet assay was performed to detect the level of cellular DNA damage.Twelve female nude mice (4~6 weeks old, weighing 16~18 g) were divided into shNC group, shADAR1 group, shNC+ionizing radiation (IR) group and shADAR1+IR group, with 3 mice in each group.The growth of tumor of different groups was observed with subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay. Results Western blotting and RT-qPCR showed that the protein and mRNA expression of ADAR1 were significantly reduced in A549 shADAR1 cells (P < 0.05).CCK-8 assay, wound healing assay and Transwell migration assay indicated that down-regulation of ADAR1 inhibited the proliferation and migration abilities of A549 cells, and this inhibition trend became more obvious (P < 0.01) after IR.Cell clone formation assay showed that the clone formation rate of both groups was decreased, with the increase of radiation dose.But the number of formed clones was lower in the shADAR1 group than the shNC group.Flow cytometry and Western blotting displayed that down-regulation of ADAR1 increased the apoptotic rate and Bax expression in A549 cells (P < 0.01) and decreased Bcl-2 expression (P < 0.05), and the apoptotic rate and Bax protein level were further increased in A549 shADAR1 cells after IR (P < 0.01), and the Bcl-2 protein level was further decreased (P < 0.01).The number of γ-H2AX foci and protein level in A549 shADAR1 cells were significantly increased after IR (P < 0.05), and the results of comet assay showed that the DNA damage was more obvious in A549 shADAR1 cells after IR (P < 0.01).Subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay in nude mice showed that the growth of subcutaneous tumour of A549 shADAR1 cells was significantly inhibited after IR (P < 0.01). Conclusion Down-regulation of ADAR1 significantly inhibits the proliferation and migration of A549 cells after IR and promotes apoptosis and DNA damage, and thereby increases the radiosensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells.

The visual search for product packaging involves intricate cognitive processes that are prominently impacted by learned associations derived from extensive long-term experiences. The present research employed EEG technology and manipulated the color display of reference pictures on beverage bottles to explore the underlying neurocognitive pathways. Specifically, we aimed to investigate the influence of color-flavor association strength on the visual processing of such stimuli as well as the in-depth neural mechanisms. The behavioral results revealed that stimuli with strong association strength triggered the fastest response and the highest accuracy, compared with the stimuli with weak association strength and the achromatic ones. The EEG findings further substantiated that the chromatic stimuli evoked a more pronounced N2 component than achromatic ones, and the stimuli with strong association strength elicited larger P3 and smaller N400 amplitudes than the ones with weak association strength. Additionally, the source localization using sLORETA showed significant activations in the inferior temporal gyrus. In conclusion, our research suggests that (1) color expectations would guide visual search process and trigger faster responses to congruent visual stimuli, (2) both the initial perceptual representation and subsequent semantic representation play pivotal roles in effective visual search for the targets, and (3) the color-flavor association strength potentially exerts an impact on visual processing by modulating memory accessibility.