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Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an increasingly prevalent global health concern that has garnered substantial attention. However, the underlying mechanisms are still unclear and the current treatments have significant limitations. Intestinal organoids provide an in vitro model to explore the pathogenesis, test the therapeutic effects, and develop regenerative treatments as well as offer the potential to transform drug discovery of IBD. Methods: To advance our understanding of the whole story of IBD spanning from the pathogenesis to the current therapeutic strategies and latest advancements, a comprehensive search of major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted to retrieve original articles and reviews related to IBD, organoids, pathogenesis and therapy. Results: This review deciphers the etiopathogenesis and the current therapeutic approaches in the treatment of IBD. Notably, critical aspects of intestinal organoids in IBD, such as their potential applications, viability, cell renewal ability, and barrier functionality are highlighted. We also discuss the advances, limitations, and prospects of intestinal organoids for precision medicine. Conclusion: The latest strides made in research about intestinal organoids help elucidate intricate aspects of IBD pathogenesis, and pave the prospective avenues for novel therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune diseases are typically characterized by aberrant activation of immune system that leads to excessive inflammatory reactions and tissue damage. Nevertheless, precise targeted and efficient therapies are limited. Thus, studies into novel therapeutic targets for the management of autoimmune diseases are urgently needed. Radical S-adenosyl methionine domain-containing 2 (RSAD2) is an interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) renowned for the antiviral properties of the protein it encodes, named viperin. An increasing number of studies have underscored the new roles of RSAD2/viperin in immunomodulation and mitochondrial metabolism. Previous studies have shown that there is a complex interplay between RSAD2/vipeirn and mitochondria and that binding of the iron-sulfur (Fe-S) cluster is necessary for the involvement of viperin in mitochondrial metabolism. Viperin influences the proliferation and development of immune cells as well as inflammation via different signaling pathways. However, the function of RSAD2/viperin varies in different studies and a comprehensive overview of this emerging theme is lacking. This review will describe the characteristics of RSAD2/viperin, decipher its function in immunometabolic processes, and clarify the crosstalk between RSAD2/viperin and mitochondria. Furthermore, we emphasize the crucial roles of RSAD2 in autoimmune diseases and its potential application value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An available approach to ameliorate the property of electrocatalysts for transition metal selenides (TMSs) is to transform their structure, morphology, and elemental composition, especially for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), which can be a long-term task. In this work, Ni-Co nanospheres were synthesized by a hydrothermal method, and then in the synchronous processes of selenization and carbonization, it reacted with the peripherally coated melamine-copper complex, which was the reactant between melamine and copper ions. Ultimately, CoSe 2 /NiSe 2 @Cu 2 Se-NC nanospheres with a core-shell structure were synthesized after annealing process. This special structure provided more active attachment sites, enabling CoSe 2 /NiSe 2 @Cu 2 Se-NC to exhibit excellent HER properties under wide-pH range. Especially, in acidic conditions, it had a low initial potential of 41.0 mV, a small Tafel slope value of 48.7 mV dec–1, and a long service life. The proposed scheme indicates that a new approach will be added to the synthesis of electrocatalysts based on TMSs. [Display omitted] • CoSe 2 /NiSe 2 @Cu 2 Se-NC core-shell nanosphere was synthesized by a facile method. • The unique structure and synergistic effect enhanced the electrocatalytic performance. • CoSe 2 /NiSe 2 @Cu 2 Se-NC had large surface area and high catalytic activity for HER. • CoSe 2 /NiSe 2 @Cu 2 Se-NC had satisfactory HER performance over a wide pH range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) have become the main choice for electric vehicles (EVs). However, the thermal runaway problems of LIBs largely limit the wider promotion of EVs. To provide background and insight for the improvement of battery safety, the general working mechanism of LIBs is described in this review, followed by a discussion of the thermal runaway process, including the trigger conditions and material factors. Moreover, advances made to improve battery safety are examined from the perspective of battery materials and management systems. Thus, this review provides a general picture of the thermal runaway risks of LIBs and corresponding solutions with the aim of facilitating safer battery designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Combined detection of sST2 and FIB-4 can be used to diagnosis of liver fibrosis. • HBx promotes sST2 expression in liver cells, and changes T cells function by IL-33/ST2 axis. • HBx influence the activity of ST2 promoter by interacting with GATA2. At present, most studies on the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and IL-33/ST2 axis focus on clinical detection, but the underlying molecular mechanisms of HBx and IL-33/ST2 axis regulation and Th cell function regulation have not been explored. In this study, serum samples of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and HBV-related liver cancer (HBV-HCC), and healthy controls, as well as the supernatant solutions of HL7702-WT, HL7702-NC, and HL7702-HBx cells were collected to detect the content of soluble ST2 (sST2). The contents of Th1 cytokines (TNF-α and TNF-γ) and Th2 cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) in the supernatant of different co-culture groups were detected. The effects of GATA2 on ST2 promoter transcription were investigated by upregulation or interference with GATA2 expression, dual-luciferase reporting, and ChIP experiments. The combined detection of sST2 and FIB-4 was beneficial to the non-invasive diagnosis of liver fibrosis. HBx promotes sST2 expression in liver cells, upregulates Th2 cell function, and inhibits Th1 cell function through IL-33/ST2 axis. HBx interacts with GATA2 to influence the activity of ST2 promoter. Serum sST2 detection is an invaluable indicator for the assessment of the progress of HBV infectious diseases, and the IL-33/ST2 axis plays an important role in changing the cellular immune function caused by HBV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ZnIn 2 S 4 @CdS photocatalyst with tuned catalytic sites promotes selective benzyl alcohol oxidation on the ZnIn 2 S 4 surface and H 2 evolution on the CdS surface. [Display omitted] Photocatalytic selective oxidation of alcohols into aldehydes and H 2 is a green strategy for obtaining both value-added chemicals and clean energy. Herein, a dual-purpose ZnIn 2 S 4 @CdS photocatalyst was designed and constructed for efficient catalyzing benzyl alcohol (BA) into benzaldehyde (BAD) with coupled H 2 evolution. To address the deep-rooted problems of pure CdS, such as high recombination of photogenerated carriers and severe photo-corrosion, while also preserving its superiority in H 2 production, ZnIn 2 S 4 with a suitable band structure and adequate oxidizing capability was chosen to match CdS by constructing a coupled reaction. As designed, the photoexcited holes (electrons) in the CdS (ZnIn 2 S 4) were spatially separated and transferred to the ZnIn 2 S 4 (CdS) by electrostatic pull from the built-in electric field, leading to expected BAD production (12.1 mmol g−1 h−1) at the ZnIn 2 S 4 site and H 2 generation (12.2 mmol g−1 h−1) at the CdS site. This composite photocatalyst also exhibited high photostability due to the reasonable hole transfer from CdS to ZnIn 2 S 4. The experimental results suggest that the photocatalytic transform of BA into BAD on ZnIn 2 S 4 @CdS is via a carbon-centered radical mechanism. This work may extend the design of advanced photocatalysts for more chemicals by replacing H 2 evolution with N 2 fixation or CO 2 reduction in the coupled reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The mechanisms of distant metastasis in pancreatic cancer (PC) have not been elucidated, and this study aimed to explore the risk factors affecting the metastasis and prognosis of metastatic patients and to develop a predictive model. Method: Clinical data from patients meeting criteria from 1990 to 2019 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, and two machine learning methods, random forest and support vector machine, combined with logistic regression, were used to explore risk factors influencing distant metastasis and to create nomograms. The performance of the model was validated using calibration curves and ROC curves based on the Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital cohort. LASSO regression and Cox regression models were used to explore the independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of patients with distant PC metastases. Results: We found that independent risk factors affecting PC distant metastasis were: age, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, T and N; the independent risk factors for patient prognosis were: age, grade, bone metastasis, brain metastasis, lung metastasis, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Conclusion: Together, our study provides a method for risk factors and prognostic assessment for patients with distant PC metastases. The nomogram we developed can be used as a convenient individualized tool to facilitate aid in clinical decision making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we propose a meshless symplectic algorithm for two-dimensional time-dependent Schrödinger equation with radial basis functions (RBFs) approximation theory. The truncation error and global error are also investigated. The numerical experiments show that the scheme is higher-order accuracy, easy to implement with the scattered knots. Furthermore, the algorithm possesses a long-time tracking capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We comprehensively illustrate a general process of fitting allatom molecular mechanics force field (FF) parameters based on quantum mechanical calculations and experimental thermodynamic data. For common organic molecules with free dihedral rotations, this FF format is comprised of the usual bond stretching, angle bending, proper and improper dihedral rotation, and 1-4 scaling pair interactions. An extra format of 1-n scaling pair interaction is introduced when a specific intramolecular rotation is strongly hindered. We detail how the preferred order of fitting all intramolecular FF parameters can be determined by systematically generating characteristic configurations. The intermolecular Van der Waals parameters are initially taken from the literature data but adjusted to obtain a better agreement between the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation results and the experimental observations if necessary. By randomly choosing the molecular configurations from MD simulation and comparing their energies computed from FF parameters and quantum mechanics, the FF parameters can be verified self-consistently. Using an example of a platform chemical 3-hydroxypropionic acid, we detail the comparison between the new fitting parameters and the existing FF parameters. In particular, the introduced systematic approach has been applied to obtain the dihedral angle potential and 1-n scaling pair interaction parameters for 48 organic molecules with different functionality. We suggest that this procedure might be used to obtain better dihedral and 1-n interaction potentials when they are not available in the current widely used FF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase 1 (mPGES-1) is the terminal regulator of PGE 2 synthesis. The expression of mPGES-1 is increased by stimulating inflammatory factors in various human cancers. However, whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects mPGES-1 and its molecular mechanism in liver cells has not been studied. In this study, we observed that mPGES-1 expression was positively correlated with HBV X protein (HBx) in hepatocellular carcinoma cancerous tissue, and HBx enhanced the mPGES-1 promoter activity in HL7702 liver cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that HBx can increase the early growth response 1 (EGR1) binding to the transcription site of mPGES-1 promoter. The overexpression and knockdown of EGR1 did not affect cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) transcription and expression in HL7702-HBx cells. We also investigated the unique function of 15-deoxy-Δ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 (15d-PGJ 2 ), a kind of PGE 2 inhibitor, in the regulation of mPGES-1 expression in HBx-positive liver cells. In the presence of 15d-PGJ 2 , the expression of COX-2 was unaffected, but that of the EGR1-mPGES-1-PGE 2 axis was inhibited. Moreover, the capacity of EGR1 binding to the mPGES-1 promoter decreased, and the change in HL7702-HBx cells was more significant. The results indicated that EGR1 is a specific transcription factor in the up-regulation of mPGES-1 expression by HBx, and targeting EGR1 may contribute to inhibiting the change from inflammation to HBV-induced cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building energy consumption (BEC) control is of significance in the context of pursuing more intensive carbon emission reduction. How climatic and socioeconomic conditions dually drive regional BEC remains to be explored in depth. This study tracks the whole-process BEC in 24 Chinese provincial regions with diverse climatic and socioeconomic conditions and reveals the spatial pattern and driving mechanism. The results indicate that the BEC is 1.51 billion tons of oil-equivalent in 2016, with 51.7% for material preparation, 4.0% for construction-demolition and 44.3% for operation stage. More economically developed regions have larger BEC (Jiangsu, Shandong, Guangdong). Climatic conditions have more decisive effect on regions with larger energy consumption of operation (mainly distributed in severe cold zone and hot summer warm winter zone), which is determined by thermal performance of buildings. Socioeconomic conditions have more decisive effect on regions with larger energy consumption of material preparation (mainly distributed in cold zone, hot summer cold winter zone and temperate zone), which is determined by trends in urbanization rate and population. Based on the findings of this work, more consideration regarding climatic and socioeconomic conditions can be incorporated into the formulation of regional building energy conservation policies for more pertinent BEC control. • Whole-process building energy consumption (BEC) of Chinese provincial regions is tracked. • How climatic and socioeconomic conditions dually drive regional BEC is investigated. • Spatial patterns of energy consumption in each process of buildings are presented. • Energy consumption of material preparation accounts for 51.7% in total BEC. • Jiangsu has the largest BEC, followed by Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan and Hubei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] HBx induces PGE2 accumulation and promotes apoptosis inhibition in HL7702 cells. [•] 15d-PGJ2 increases apoptosis rate of HL7702-HBx and HL7702 cells. [•] HBx expression causes liver cells to be more sensitive to 15d-PGJ2. [•] 15d-PGJ2 may be used for preventing inflammatory changes in liver cells caused by HBV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, the dynamical process of money creation in a random exchange model with debt is investigated. The money creation kinetics are analyzed by both the money-transfer matrix method and the diffusion method. From both approaches, we attain the same conclusion: the source of money creation in the case of random exchange is the agents with neither money nor debt. These analytical results are demonstrated by computer simulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Landslides in nature are harmful to economic development and people's lives and cause irreparable losses to the environment. With the application of image detection technology and intelligent algorithm, a new way for landslide detection is proposed to achieve effective detection and identification of hazards. This paper takes the landslide as the data set, carries on the noise reduction, the image expansion, and the image segmentation processing to the image, and extracts the object region information. The quantitative description of the azimuth displacement and displacement change of the crack curve is completed in this paper. This method is suitable for 3D simulation model, sand and stone model, soil model, and the sliding test results of Panzhihua Flight Field, which proves that the design method is effective. Experiments show that when sliding occurs, the texture and color become chaotic, the usual mountain becomes more in the regular state, and the extraction of features is very different. The method has better recognition effect for the hillside covered with vegetation, the recognition time is short, and the recognition rate can reach 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestinal pathogen Salmonella enterica rapidly enters the bloodstream after the invasion of intestinal epithelial cells, but how Salmonella breaks through the gut-vascular barrier is largely unknown. Here, we report that Salmonella enters the bloodstream through intestinal CX3CR1+ macrophages during early infection. Mechanistically, Salmonella induces the migration/invasion properties of macrophages in a manner dependent on host cell actin and on the pathogen effector SteC. SteC recruits host myosin light chain protein Myl12a and phosphorylates its Ser19 and Thr20 residues. Myl12a phosphorylation results in actin rearrangement, and enhanced migration and invasion of macrophages. SteC is able to utilize a wide range of NTPs other than ATP to phosphorylate Myl12a. We further solved the crystal structure of SteC, which suggests an atypical dimerization-mediated catalytic mechanism. Finally, in vivo data show that SteC-mediated cytoskeleton manipulation is crucial for Salmonella breaching the gut vascular barrier and spreading to target organs. Synopsis: Salmonella enters the bloodstream early during infection. Here, the effector protein SteC is found to activate myosin light chain (MLC), thereby facilitating Salmonella dissemination by manipulating macrophage motility. Salmonella enters the bloodstream via infection of intestinal CX3CR1+ macrophages. Salmonella promotes macrophage migration and invasion in an actin- and SteC-dependent manner. SteC acts as an atypical kinase that phosphorylates host MLC using a broad range of NTPs. SteC-mediated MLC activation is essential for Salmonella dissemination within the host. Dissemination of the intestinal pathogen Salmonella enterica within the host depends on motility of infected intestinal macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemiparesis is a frequently observed manifestation of stroke but exceptionally rare in the context of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). In this case, a 68-year-old woman initially presented with acute right-sided weakness, leading to suspicion of ischemic stroke. However, her symptoms worsened despite treatment with aspirin and statins. Subsequent spinal MRI and aquaporin 4 antibody testing confirmed the diagnosis of NMOSD. The administration of methylprednisolone and immunoglobulin resulted in improved clinical outcomes. This case serves as an illustrative example of the diverse manifestations encountered in NMOSD and underscores the significance of considering this potential etiology in elderly patients to facilitate prompt diagnosis and therapeutic intervention. • Hemiparesis due to NMOSD is rare and can be misdiagnosed as stroke. • Our patient exhibited unilateral symptoms accompanied by asymmetrical involvement of the spinal cord. • Physicians should be more attentive to the diverse presentations of NMOSD in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigated distinct manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome (SS) patients with neurological complications and the potential risk factors associated with neurological complications in SS, and to produce a disease evaluation and neurological involvement prediction for SS.Methods: 566 patients who fulfilled the 2002 classification criteria for SS from the Rheumatology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were included in the cross-sectional study. Clinical, immunological and histological characteristics were surveyed, and potential risk factors for neurological complications were examined by multivariate analysis.Results: Among 566 SS patients, 184 (32.5%) patients had neurological involvement, with more than 10% got limbs pain, limbs numbness and cerebral infarction, respectively. Of these 184 SS patients with neurological complications, secondary SS (sSS) patients had a higher prevalence of peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement than primary SS (pSS) patients (31.1 vs. 19%). And sSS patients showed higher total ESSPRI score and higher prevalence of xerostomia and low C3, C4 levels with more liver, articular involvement and saliva gland atrophy, and more severe lymphocyte infiltration in salivary glands than pSS patients. As for the specific factors associated with neurological involvement, low C3 level were found to be significant in pSS or sSS patients who were younger 50 year old, and ANA positivity, cardiac involvement, saliva gland atrophy were demonstrated to be associated in elder pSS patients. And xerophthalmia was found to be associated in sSS patients.Conclusion: Low complement (C3) levels, xerophthalmia, ANA positive, cardiac involvement and labial salivary gland histological result were good ways to predict neurological complications in different subgroups of SS, which might provide insight into better clinical decision-making, especially at early stages of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supramolecular responsive microcarriers based on chitosan microspheres were prepared and applied for nonenzymatic cell detachment. Briefly, chitosan microspheres (CSMs) were first prepared by an emulsion crosslinking approach, the surface of which was then modified with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) by chemical grafting. Subsequently, gelatin was attached onto the surface of the CSMs via the host–guest interaction between β-CD groups and aromatic residues in gelatin. The resultant microspheres were denoted CSM-g-CD-Gel. Due to their superior biocompatibility and gelatin niches, CSM-g-CD-Gel microspheres can be used as effective microcarriers for cell attachment and expansion. L-02, a human fetal hepatocyte line, was used to evaluate cell attachment and expansion with these microcarriers. After incubation for 48 h, the cells attached and expanded to cover the entire surface of microcarriers. Moreover, with the addition of adamantane (AD), cells can be detached from the microcarriers together with gelatin because of the competitive binding between β-CD and AD. Overall, these supramolecular responsive microcarriers could effectively support cell expansion and achieve nonenzymatic cell detachment and may be potentially reusable with a new cycle of gelatin attachment and detachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A resonant frequency tracking method based on phase control method is proposed. • A shunted piezoelectric transducer which could tune itself by digitally programmable inductance is presented. • Fuzzy PI-based frequency tracking algorithm is introduced with the advantage of eliminating the percent overshoot. • An impedance matching network is designed to accommodate piezoelectric transducers with different parameters. Piezoelectric ultrasonic transducers, vital in medical devices and aerospace, often face challenges like resonant frequency shifts and impedance variations affecting their operational efficiency. This paper introduces a shunted piezoelectric transducer which could tune itself by digitally programmable inductance. A transformer and inductance-capacitance matching network ensures enhanced compatibility and impedance management. Proposing a fuzzy PI-based phase control method achieves resonant frequency tracking, synchronizing operational frequency with the transducer. In contrast to traditional methods, our approach enables faster and more precise fine-tuning, detecting and rectifying real-world deviations for optimal performance. A comprehensive experimental validation, based on fundamental knowledge analysis, confirms the feasibility and superiority of our proposed method, and the commonly encountered issues of resonance frequency deviation and impedance variation in high-power piezoelectric transducer applications can be effectively mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Black adults have a higher incidence of peripheral artery disease and limb amputations than White adults in the United States. Given that peripheral endovascular intervention (PVI) is now the primary revascularization strategy for peripheral artery disease, it is important to understand whether racial differences exist in PVI incidence and outcomes.Methods: Data from fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries ≥66 years of age from 2016 to 2018 were evaluated to determine age- and sex-standardized population-level incidences of femoropopliteal PVI among Black and White adults over the 3-year study period. Patients' first inpatient or outpatient PVIs were identified through claims codes. Age- and sex-standardized risks of the composite outcome of death and major amputation within 1 year of PVI were examined by race.Results: Black adults underwent 928 PVIs per 100 000 Black beneficiaries compared with 530 PVIs per 100 000 White beneficiaries (risk ratio, 1.75 [95% CI, 1.73-1.77]; P<0.01). Black adults who underwent PVI were younger (mean age, 74.5 years versus 76.4 years; P<0.01), were more likely to be female (52.8% versus 42.7%; P<0.01), and had a higher burden of diabetes (70.6% versus 56.0%; P<0.01), chronic kidney disease (67.5% versus 56.6%; P<0.01), and heart failure (47.4% versus 41.7%; P<0.01) than White adults. When analyzed by indication for revascularization, Black adults were more likely to undergo PVI for chronic limb-threatening ischemia than White adults (13 023 per 21 352 [61.0%] versus 59 956 per 120 049 [49.9%]; P<0.01). There was a strong association between Black race and the composite outcome at 1 year (odds ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.16-1.25]). This association persisted after adjustment for socioeconomic status (odds ratio, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.03-1.13]) but was eliminated after adjustment for comorbidities (odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.92-1.01]).Conclusions: Among fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries, Black adults had substantially higher population-level PVI incidence and were significantly more likely to experience adverse events after PVI than White adults. The association between Black race and adverse outcomes appears to be driven by a higher burden of comorbidities. This analysis emphasizes the critical need for early identification and aggressive management of peripheral artery disease risk factors and comorbidities to reduce Black-White disparities in the development and progression of peripheral artery disease and the risk of adverse events after PVI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mortality rates for patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and cardiogenic shock (CS) remain high despite advances in revascularization strategies and mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices.Objectives: This study sought to elucidate the association between comorbid lower extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) and outcomes in CS and AMI.Methods: PAD status was defined in Medicare beneficiaries hospitalized with CS and AMI from October 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018. Primary outcomes ascertained through December 31, 2018 included in- and out-of-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included bleeding, amputation, stroke, and lower extremity revascularization. Multivariable regression models with adjustment for confounders were used to estimate risk. Subgroup analyses included patients treated with MCS and those who underwent coronary revascularization.Results: Among 71,690 patients, 5.9% (N = 4,259) had PAD. Mean age was 77.8 ± 7.9 years, 58.7% were male, and 84.3% were White. Cumulative in-hospital mortality was 47.2%, with greater risk among those with PAD (56.3% vs 46.6% without PAD; adjusted OR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.40-1.59). PAD patients also had greater risk of in-hospital amputation (1.6% vs 0.2%; adjusted OR: 7.0; 95% CI: 5.26-9.37) and out-of-hospital mortality (67.9% vs 40.7%; adjusted HR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.67-1.90). MCS was less frequently utilized in PAD patients (21.5% vs 38.6% without PAD; P < 0.001) and was associated with higher mortality, need for lower extremity revascularization, and amputation risk. Findings were consistent in patients who underwent coronary revascularization.Conclusions: Among patients presenting with AMI and CS, PAD was associated with worse limb outcomes and survival. In addition to lower MCS utilization rates, those with PAD who received MCS had increased mortality, lower extremity revascularization, and amputation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate early prediction of the degradation trajectory of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) can accelerate battery development, production, and design optimization. However, existing early-stage prediction methods for degradation trajectory prediction face challenges in dealing with insufficient data and the generalization under different operational conditions. To address this issue, a novel transfer learning based data-driven method is proposed, which integrates convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks. Additionally, we incorporate a temporal attention (TA) mechanism to selectively focus on informative capacity fade patterns and leverage Bayesian Optimization (BO) for hyper-parameters optimization. The proposed method is validated using experimental degradation data from six 5Ah low-temperature batteries (−20 °C, −10 °C) and public datasets. Results demonstrate high accuracy leveraging merely 10% of initial battery data. For the low-temperature aging experimental data, the best prediction result proposed is 0.025 Ah root mean square error (RMSE) and 0.019 Ah mean absolute error (MAE). Compared to baseline CNN-LSTM models, our framework achieved an average reduction of 62.6% in RMSE for early battery capacity trajectory prediction, while maintaining high accuracy across diverse operational conditions. The proposed framework puts forward a promising solution toward enabling adaptive data-driven capacity monitoring under different practical application conditions. • Early degradation trajectory prediction method is proposed. • Bayesian optimization strategy efficiently optimizes the hyper-parameters. • Temporal attention mechanism is used to focus on informative fading patterns. • Validation is conducted on low-temperature experimental and public data. • Realizes high prediction accuracy across diverse operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SeNPs and a subunit tuberculosis vaccine were synthesized. • SeNPs were firstly used as a mucosal adjuvant and exhibited a strong immunoenhancing effect. • SeNPs-AHB demonstrated a strong protective effect in mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis. • SeNPs can be used as an effective novel adjuvant for immunoenhancement. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) enhance the immune response as adjuvants, increasing the efficacy of viral vaccines, including those for COVID-19. However, the efficiency of mucosal SeNPs in boosting vaccine-induced protective immunity against tuberculosis remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate whether the combination of SeNPs with the AH antigen (Ag85A-HspX) can boost respiratory mucosal immunity and thereby enhance the protective effects against tuberculosis. We synthesized SeNPs and assessed their impact on the immune response and protection against Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) as a mucosal adjuvant in mice, administered intranasally at a dose of 20 µg. SeNPs outperformed polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly IC) in stimulating the maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), which enhanced antigen presentation. SeNPs significantly activated and proliferated tissue-resident memory T cells (T RMs) and effector CD4+ T cells in the lungs. The vaccines elicited specific antibody responses in the respiratory tract and stimulated systemic Th1 and Th17 immune responses. Immunization with AH and SeNPs led to higher levels of mucosal secretory IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and secretory IL-17 in splenocytes. Moreover, SeNPs immunized mice showed reduced M. bovis infection loads and inflammatory lesions in the lungs post-challenge. Notably, immunization with AH and SeNPs significantly reduced bacterial load in the lungs, achieving the lowest levels compared to all other tested groups. This study calls for pre-clinical investigation of AHB-SeNPs as an anti-bovine tuberculosis vaccine and for exploring its human vaccine potential, which is anticipated to aid in the development of innovative vaccines or adjuvants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Defatted Schizochytrium residue hydrolysate (SRH) was used for erythritol production. • Biochar was incorporated in medium to relieve toxic inhibition of SRH to cultivation. • Enhanced erythritol yield of 190.5 mg/gds was achieved under the optimum conditions. • An economical and viable approach for low-cost erythritol production was proposed. Defatted Schizochytrium residue was used as a supplementary feedstock for efficiency erythritol production in this study. Microalgae are attractive feedstocks for the microbial process. However, proper enzymatic hydrolysis and toxicity alleviation must be considered for efficient fermentation. A strategy was proposed herein for producing erythritol from enzymatic hydrolysate of the defatted Schizochytrium residue (SRH), resorting to the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw biochar-incorporated solid-state fermentation (SSF) of agricultural wastes to relieve the toxicant inhibition. Enhanced erythritol production (190.5 mg/gds) was achieved in batch SSF supplemented with 4% biochar and 20 % concentrated SRH, which was obtained from the cellulose–protease (1:1) system performed under pH 5.0 and 45 °C for 24 h with 0.8 % (m/v) of enzyme addition. Fed- and repeated-batch fermentation demonstrated enduring high cell viability and improved erythritol yield of 223.2 and 205.4 mg/gds, respectively. Cost analysis suggested high availabilities of raw substrates for erythritol cultivation, which was energy conserving and operable. Moreover, SRH was proven to be an economic alternative feedstock for low-cost erythritol production via the biochar-incorporated SSF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although the direct toll of COVID-19 in the United States has been substantial, concerns have also arisen about the indirect effects of the pandemic. Hospitalizations for acute cardiovascular conditions have declined, raising concern that patients may be avoiding hospitals because of fear of contracting severe acute respiratory syndrome- coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Other factors, including strain on health care systems, may also have had an indirect toll.Objectives: This investigation aimed to evaluate whether population-level deaths due to cardiovascular causes increased during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The authors conducted an observational cohort study using data from the National Center for Health Statistics to evaluate the rate of deaths due to cardiovascular causes after the onset of the pandemic in the United States, from March 18, 2020, to June 2, 2020, relative to the period immediately preceding the pandemic (January 1, 2020 to March 17, 2020). Changes in deaths were compared with the same periods in the previous year.Results: There were 397,042 cardiovascular deaths from January 1, 2020, to June 2, 2020. Deaths caused by ischemic heart disease increased nationally after the onset of the pandemic in 2020, compared with changes over the same period in 2019 (ratio of the relative change in deaths per 100,000 in 2020 vs. 2019: 1.11, 95% confidence interval: 1.04 to 1.18). An increase was also observed for deaths caused by hypertensive disease (1.17, 95% confidence interval: 1.09 to 1.26), but not for heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, or other diseases of the circulatory system. New York City experienced a large relative increase in deaths caused by ischemic heart disease (2.39, 95% confidence interval: 1.39 to 4.09) and hypertensive diseases (2.64, 95% confidence interval: 1.52 to 4.56) during the pandemic. More modest increases in deaths caused by these conditions occurred in the remainder of New York State, New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois but not in Massachusetts or Louisiana.Conclusions: There was an increase in deaths caused by ischemic heart disease and hypertensive diseases in some regions of the United States during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings suggest that the pandemic may have had an indirect toll on patients with cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Bright light therapy (BLT) is known to treat depression and sleep disorders in clinical practice, but its efficacy on poststroke depression (PSD) has not been studied. Objective: To investigate the therapeutic effects and safety of BLT combined with escitalopram oxalate (ESC) on insomnia in patients with PSD. Methods: Ischemic stroke patients with depressive symptoms and a score of ≥8 on the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD‐17) while meeting DSM‐IV criteria were diagnosed as having PSD. A total of 112 PSD patients with symptoms of insomnia were randomly assigned to polytherapy (BLT plus ESC) and monotherapy (ESC only) groups. Each regimen continued for 6 weeks. The primary outcomes were a change in scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a remission rate (PSQI ≤7 at the endpoint). The secondary outcomes included changes in the HAMD‐17 and Barthel Index (BI) scores. Adverse effects were assessed by the Adverse Events Scale. Results: The endpoint assessment included 106 patients (monotherapy, 54; polytherapy, 52). The mean changes in the PSQI scores for the monotherapy and polytherapy groups were 4.85 (1.47) and 5.87 (1.72) (P = 0.001), respectively. Compared to monotherapy, polytherapy improved PSQI remission rate (71.4% vs 50.0%; χ2 = 5.390; P = 0.020), and HAMD‐17 score (6.70 [2.12] vs 4.75 [1.98]; P < 0.001). Both treatments improved BI score, with no statistical difference, and were well tolerated, with few significant differences in treatment‐associated adverse events. Conclusion: BLT combined with ESC is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of PSD‐associated insomnia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore whether poor sleep is associated with post‐stroke anxiety (PSA) in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and to verify whether poor sleep is a predictor of PSA. Methods: A total of 327 patients with AIS were enrolled and followed up for 1 month. Sleep quality within 1 month before stroke was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at admission. The patients were divided into the poor sleep group (PSQI > 7, n = 76) and good sleep group (PSQI ≤ 7, n = 251). One month after stroke, patients with obvious anxiety symptoms and a Hamilton Anxiety Scale score >7 were diagnosed with PSA. Results: Eighty‐seven patients (26.6%) were diagnosed with PSA. Compared to the good sleep quality group, the incidence of PSA in patients with poor sleep quality was higher (42.1% vs. 21.9%, p =.001). Poor sleep quality is more common in patients with PSA (35.6% vs. 18.8%, p =.001). A logistic regression analysis indicated that poor sleep quality was significantly associated with PSA (OR: 2.265, 95% CI: 1.262–4.067, p =.003). After adjusting for conventional and identified risk factors, poor sleep quality was found to be independently associated with PSA (OR: 2.676, 95% CI: 1.451–4.936, p =.001). Conclusions: Poor sleep quality before stroke was associated with PSA and may be an independent risk factor of PSA 1 month after AIS onset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To ensure the secure and healthy usage of lithium-ion batteries, it is necessary to accurately estimate the state of charge (SOC) in battery management systems. The development of deep learning (DL) provides a new solution for battery SOC estimation. However, the directly measured physical quantities contain less useful information and have low estimation accuracy. This paper proposes a method of integrating the mechanism knowledge of the battery domain into the DL framework. Firstly, the simplified electrochemical model is utilized to obtain the mechanism-related physical variables to expand the input of the DL model. Secondly, the long short-term memory (LSTM) network is used with the Bayesian optimization, and the variables with high correlation are identified. The best SOC estimation performance can be obtained by adding all the selected highly-correlated variables to the input for training together. The results show that the proposed method can improve the SOC estimation performance with only a slight increase in computation cost. Finally, other DL models are utilized to further validate the effectiveness, to reveal the universality. These results show that the performance of the DL model can be effectively improved by using the knowledge of the battery domain. • Electrochemical mechanism provides useful information for deep learning. • Variables highly correlated with SOC are selected to be added into input. • All statistical errors are reduced by more than half relatively to each other. • Multiple deep learning models are used to verify universality of the method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It is unknown whether prediabetes is a predictor of poststroke depression (PSD). We aimed to explore the relationship between prediabetes and PSD in Chinese patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods: This is a prospective cohort study, and a total of 358 patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited and enrolled. Patients were divided into 3 groups: normal glucose group (NGT, n = 96), prediabetes group (preDM, n = 134, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and/or HbA1c (A1c) 5.7%-6.4%), and the diabetes mellitus group (DM, n = 128). At 1 month after stroke, patients with a Hamilton Depression Scale score of ≥8 were diagnosed as PSD.Results: In post hoc comparisons, the risk of PSD in patients with diabetes and prediabetes was higher than patients with NGT (37.5% vs 31.3% vs 14.6%, P = .001). Compared with NGT, the incidence rate of PSD in patients with prediabetes with HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4% and patients with prediabetes with IFG/IGT + HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4% was higher (35.3% vs 14.6%, 38.0% vs 14.6%; P = .006; P = .003, respectively). In logistic regression, prediabetes with HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4% and prediabetes with IFG/IGT + HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4% were a significant independent predictor of PSD after adjusting for potential confounding factors, with odd ratios of 1.731 and 1.978, respectively.Conclusions: Our study showed that prediabetes was associated with PSD and may predict its development at 1 month poststroke. In prediabetes subgroups, patients with HbA1c 5.7% to 6.4% were more likely to develop PSD compared to NGT and IFG/IGT groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) [Co(AIA)(3-bpdh), Mn(AIA)(3-bpdh)], featuring 2-dimensional layer network topologies are successfully assembled by the solvent diffusion method as CoII and MnII isostructural MOFs, hereafter, 1Co and 1Mn. Moreover, a series of micro-crystals of these two kinds of MOFs with different morphologies and sizes are also obtained by adjusting the synthesis systems. Interestingly, one MOF exhibits selective catalytic oxidation properties for the degradation of malachite green dye, whereas the other MOF shows corresponding properties for methylene blue. In addition, a detailed possible oxidation catalytic mechanism is proposed. This work highlights that MOFs are functional materials for selective dye degradation and demonstrates that metal ion replacement is an efficient way to regulate MOFs for deserving applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have demonstrated that matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is involved in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. However, there is no information available on the association of MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism with recurrent ischemic stroke (IS) in different IS subtypes. We investigated the potential associations between MMP-3 serum level and −1171 5A/6A polymorphism and the recurrence of IS in a Chinese population. Consecutive acute first-ever IS patients were enrolled between August 2008 and October 2013. The genotypes of MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. IS recurrence was monitored after the index event and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to identify factors related to future IS recurrence. A total of 1282 eligible patients were enrolled. During a 2-year follow-up period, 157 (12.25%) patients had recurrent events. MMP-3 level was significantly higher in patients with 5A/6A or 5A/5A genotype (22.72 ± 7.29 ng/ul) than in patients with 6A/6A genotype (20.48 ± 7.58 ng/ul), P < 0.001. No interaction between MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism and the risk of recurrence in total IS patients was found. The variant 5A/6A + 5A/5A genotype and the 5A allele were significantly associated with a high risk of recurrence for large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) (multivariate-adjusted, P = 0.002, 0.001, respectively), but not for small-artery occlusion and cardioembolism. Our finding showed that MMP-3 5A/6A may be a useful biomarker for predicting recurrence for LAA stroke patients and 5A allele carrier may bear a higher risk of recurrence among patients with the subtype of LAA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the neuroprotective properties of berberine (a natural isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from the Rhizoma coptidis) and finds that berberine could promote β-amyloid (Aβ) clearance and inhibit Aβ production in the triple-transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (3 × Tg-AD). During the study, berberine was first administrated to treat 3 × Tg-AD mice and primary neurons. Morris water maze assay, western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunofluorescence staining and histological analysis, transmission electron microscopic analysis were then used to evaluate the effects of the berberine administration. The result showed that berberine significantly improved 3 × Tg-AD mice's spatial learning capacity and memory retention, promoted autophagy activity identified by the enhancement of brain LC3-II, beclin-1, hVps34, and Cathepsin-D levels as well as the reduction of brain P62 and Bcl-2 levels in AD mice, facilitated reduction of Aβ and APP levels, reduced Aβ plaque deposition in the hippocampus of AD mice, and inhibited b-site APP cleavage enzyme 1 (BACE1) expression. Similar results were also found in 3 × Tg-AD primary hippocampal neurons: berbernine treatment decreased the levels of extracellular and intracellular Aβ1-42, increased the protein levels of LC3-II, beclin-1, hVps34, and Cathepsin-D, and decreased the levels of P62, Bcl-2, APP and BACE1 levels. In summary, berberine shows neuroprotective effects on 3 × Tg-AD mice and may be a promising multitarget drug in the preventionand protection against AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Hollow bipyramidal Ni-Fe-MoS x was synthesized by a template conversion process. • (NH 4) 2 MoS 4 was used to react with Ni-Fe LDH to form a hollow structure. • Ni-Fe-MoS x had large surface area and high catalytic activity for HER. • The PCE of Ni-Fe-MoS x (9.37%) for DSSC was much higher than that of Pt (8.12%). The effective improvements in structure and composition are critical to the performances of inexpensive electrocatalysts based on transition metal chalcogenides (TMCs), especially in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), which will be an ongoing challenge. Herein, a novel method of forming Ni-Fe-Mo sulfide composite electrocatalyst (denoted as Ni-Fe-MoS x) by adding molybdenum element when modifying the active sites on the surface of Ni-Fe layered double hydroxide (Ni-Fe LDH) was proposed and studied. Beginning with MIL-88A (Fe), Ni-Fe LDH was prepared by the hydrolysis of nickel and iron ions in alkaline solution, and then vulcanized by ammonium tetrathiomolybdate to synthesize Ni-Fe-MoS x electrocatalyst with hollow bipyramidal structure and rich active sites on the modified surface. Benefiting from the advantages of hollow construction and the enhanced intrinsic activity of more active sites, Ni-Fe-MoS x electrode delivered an outstanding power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 9.37% in DSSC. Accompanying with a low onset potential of 30.4 mV, its stability in acid HER could maintain well over long periods of time. The successful implementation of the scheme is expected to provide a novel avenue for synthesizing bifunctional electrocatalysts based on TMCs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New metal-organic framework (MOF) materials 1Co [Co(AIA)(bpd)] and 2Co composed of cobalt salt, 5-aminoisophthalic acid (AIA), and 1,4-bis(4-pyridyl)-2,3-diaza-1,3-butadiene (bpd) are successfully synthesized by a temperature-controlled self-assembly reaction. 1Co exhibits a three-dimensional extended porous structure and oxidation catalytic property for the degradation of methyl orange (MO) (conversion 88%), and 2Co is a powder crystal and catalyzes the degradation of malachite green (MG) (conversion 71%). The assembling temperature of MOFs is shown to regulate structures to present not only high activity but also significant selectivity for the degradation of different dyes. Furthermore, microcrystals of 1Co and 2Co with different sizes and morphologies are obtained under various conditions. The results reveal that their catalytic activity for the degradation of organic dyes can be drastically affected by assembly conditions, especially the synthesis time and concentration of reactants. In addition, a detailed possible oxidation catalytic mechanism is proposed. The high flexibility of this strategy will certainly enhance new potential applications of micro/nano-MOFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in the assembly of battery packs for electric vehicles and energy storage grids due to their high power density, low self-discharge rate and reasonable costs. Accurate estimation of state of health (SOH) and remaining useful life (RUL) are crucial challenges in developing battery management systems (BMS). In this paper, differential thermal voltammetry (DTV) signal analysis methods and recursive neural networks data-driven methods are combined to approach battery degradation tracking. Firstly, with the Savitzky-Golay (SG) method and Pearson correlation analysis, the DTV curve is smoothed, and three useful feature variables are extracted from different dimensions, bridging signaling characteristics and phase transition characteristics. Then four recursive neural networks are constructed and compared based on NASA databases. The Bayesian optimization method is applied to improve hyperparameter values and the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is used to quantify uncertainties. The proposed data-driven method can predict the RUL and estimate the SOH of battery accurately. The root mean square error (RMSE) for prediction results could reach below 1% and the capacity rebound phenomenon could be captured as well. The proposed integrated degradation model can contribute to the real-time prediction and optimization of battery health conditions based on cloud computing platform, promoting the continuous development of cloud battery management systems in framework of Cyber Hierarchy and Interactional Network (CHAIN). [Display omitted] • Battery degenerative model establishes completed process for SOH and RUL estimation. • DTV method bridges microscopic phase transition and macroscopic signaling characteristic. • Dropout and Bayesian optimization achieve low error for SOH estimation within 1%. • The model is promised to serve for cloud management in CHAIN framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Loss of function mutations of Park7/DJ-1 gene increase the susceptibility of dopaminergic cells to reactive oxygen species and cause early onset familial Parkinson disease (PD). However, the mechanisms underlying dopaminergic neuron loss related to DJ-1 mutation remain undefined. Therefore, it is important to find the new mechanisms underlying the antioxidative functions of DJ-1. Methods: DJ-1 knockdown cells and DJ-1 knockout mice were used to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the antioxidative stress of DJ-1. Preliminary study of the saliva from PD patients and controls was used to confirm our findings obtained from the above studies. Results: Our experiments showed that DJ-1 interacted with Erk1/2 and was required for the nuclear translocation of Erk1/2 upon oxidative stimulation. The translocation of Erk1/2 activated Elk1 and sequentially promoted superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1) expression. The nuclear translocation of Erk1/2, the activation of Elk1, and the ensuing upregulation of SOD1 were all suppressed in DJ-1 knockdown cells and DJ-1 null mice treated with oxidative insult. Furthermore, reintroduction of SOD1 into DJ-1 knockdown cells protected them against oxidative stress. Finally, in the preliminary study, we found close correlation between the protein levels of DJ-1 and SOD1 in the saliva samples from different stages of PD patients. Interpretation: Our studies suggest that DJ-1 regulates SOD1 expression through Erk1/2-Elk1 pathway in its protective response to oxidative insult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report molecular dynamics simulations on bottle-brush polyelectrolytes end-grafted to a planar surface. For each bottle-brush polyelectrolyte, flexible charged side chains are anchored to one neutral main chain. The effects of the counterion valence and the grafting density on the density profiles and the structural characteristics of the brush were studied in this work. It is found that the electrostatic repulsion between charged monomers in the side chains leads an extended conformation of the brush in a solution containing monovalent counterions, while strong electrostatic binding of multivalent counterions to the side chains has a significant contribution to the collapse of the brush. For the trivalent case, the distribution of end monomers in the main chains becomes broader upon decreasing the grafting density, as compared with the monovalent case. However, the position of the distribution for the monovalent case is relatively insensitive to the change of the grafting density. Additionally, with increased counterion valence, enhanced electrostatic correlation between counterions and charged side chains also weakens the diffusive ability of counterions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Non-invasive mALPS-index was closely related to the classical detected glymphatic clearance function, providing an alternative method in researches on glymphatic system. • WMHs, lacunas, microbleeds and EPVS in basal ganglia were related to glymphatic clearance function. • Glymphatic clearance function was related to cognitive function in CSVD patients. Few studies have focused on the connection between glymphatic dysfunction and cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), partially due to the lack of non-invasive methods to measure glymphatic function. We established modified index for diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (mALPS-index), which was calculated on diffusion tensor image (DTI), compared it with the classical detection of glymphatic clearance function calculated on Glymphatic MRI after intrathecal administration of gadolinium (study 1), and analyzed the relationship between CSVD imaging markers and mALPS-index in CSVD patients from the CIRCLE study (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03542734) (study 2). Among 39 patients included in study 1, mALPS-index were significantly related to glymphatic clearance function calculated on Glymphatic MRI (r = -0.772~-0.844, p < 0.001). A total of 330 CSVD patients were included in study 2. Severer periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities (β = -0.332, p < 0.001; β = -0.293, p < 0.001), number of lacunas (β = -0.215, p < 0.001), number of microbleeds (β = -0.152, p = 0.005), and severer enlarged perivascular spaces in basal ganglia (β = -0.223, p < 0.001) were related to mALPS-index. Our results indicated that non-invasive mALPS-index might represent glymphatic clearance function, which could be applied in clinic in future. Glymphatic clearance function might play a role in the development of CSVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain-like intelligent decision-making is a prevailing trend in today's world. However, inspired by bionics and computer science, the linear neural network has become one of the main means to realize human-like decision-making and control. This paper proposes a method for classifying drivers' driving behaviors based on the fuzzy algorithm and establish a brain-inspired decision-making linear neural network. Firstly, different driver experimental data samples were obtained through the driving simulator. Then, an objective fuzzy classification algorithm was designed to distinguish different driving behaviors in terms of experimental data. In addition, a brain-inspired linear neural network was established to realize human-like decision-making and control. Finally, the accuracy of the proposed method was verified by training and testing. This study extracts the driving characteristics of drivers through driving simulator tests, which provides a driving behavior reference for the human-like decision-making of an intelligent vehicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Rs12083537 and rs8192284 were significantly associated with the risk of IS in MetS patients. • Compared with the ACCG haplotype, the ATCT haplotype increased the risk of IS in MetS patients. • Rs8192284 was the most influential contributor to IS in analysis of SNP-SNP interactions. The interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R) gene has been shown to locate in the chromosome 1q21 associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS), a condition related to the augmented risk of ischaemic stroke (IS), cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between IL6R gene polymorphisms and IS in patients with MetS in the Chinese Han population. We designed a case-control study enrolling 447 patients with MetS plus IS and 438 patients with MetS alone. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL6R gene were determined by a fine-mapping strategy and genotyped using SNPscan technology. A logistic regression model was used to analzse the associations between the genetic variations in IL6R and the risk of IS in MetS patients. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis was performed and four gamete rules were used to define the block. The haplotypes was reconstructed by the SNPstats software. Two SNPs were significantly related to the risk of IS in MetS patients after adjusting for potential confounders as follows: regarding rs12083537, the GG genotype and the GA genotype decreased the risk of IS in the MetS patients compared with the IS risk in the patients with the AA genotype (multivariate-adjusted, P = 0.005); and regarding rs8192284, the CC genotype and the AC genotype decreased the risk of IS compared with the IS risk in the patients with the AA genotype (multivariate-adjusted, P = 0.004). Strong LD was existed in block 2 and the haplotype analysis showed that compared with the ACCG haplotype, the ATCT haplotype (adjusted OR 1.700; 95% CI 1.246–2.319; P = 0.001) increased the risk of IS in the MetS patients. The analysis of the SNP-SNP interactions showed that rs8192284 was the most influential contributor to the risk of IS in the MetS patients. Our results indicate that rs12083537 and rs8192284 in the IL6R gene might be related to the risk of IS in MetS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]