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Background and objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP), an opportunistic infection, often leads to an increase in hospitalization time and mortality rates in kidney transplant (KT) recipients. However, the risk factors associated with PJP in KT recipients remain debatable. Therefore, we conducted this meta‐analysis to identify risk factors for PJP, which could potentially help to reduce PJP incidence and improve outcome of KT recipients. Methods: We systematically retrieved relevant studies in PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to November 2023. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) or mean differences (MDs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the impact of potential risk factors on the occurrence of PJP. Results: 27 studies including 42383 KT recipients were included. In this meta‐analysis, age at transplantation (MD = 3.48; 95% CI =.56–6.41; p =.02), cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (OR = 4.00; 95% CI = 2.53–6.32; p =.001), BK viremia (OR = 3.38; 95% CI = 1.70–6.71; p =.001), acute rejection (OR = 3.66; 95% CI = 2.44–5.49; p =.001), ABO‐incompatibility (OR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.57–4.01; p =.001), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (MD = ‐14.52; 95% CI = ‐25.37– (‐3.67); p =.009), lymphocyte count (MD = ‐.54; 95% CI = ‐.92– (‐.16); p =.006) and anti‐PJP prophylaxis (OR =.53; 95% CI =.28–.98; p =.04) were significantly associated with PJP occurrence. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that transplantation age greater than 50 years old, CMV infection, BK viremia, acute rejection, ABO‐incompatibility, decreased eGFR and lymphopenia were risk factors for PJP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pichia pastoris is a widely utilized host for heterologous protein expression and biotransformation. Despite the numerous strategies developed to optimize the chassis host GS115, the potential impact of changes in cell wall polysaccharides on the fitness and performance of P. pastoris remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate how alterations in cell wall polysaccharides affect the fitness and function of P. pastoris, contributing to a better understanding of its overall capabilities. Results: Two novel mutants of GS115 chassis, H001 and H002, were established by inactivating the PAS_chr1-3_0225 and PAS_chr1-3_0661 genes involved in β-glucan biosynthesis. In comparison to GS115, both modified hosts exhibited a looser cell surface and larger cell size, accompanied by faster growth rates and higher carbon-to-biomass conversion ratios. When utilizing glucose, glycerol, and methanol as exclusive carbon sources, the carbon-to-biomass conversion rates of H001 surpassed GS115 by 10.00%, 9.23%, and 33.33%, respectively. Similarly, H002 exhibited even higher increases of 32.50%, 12.31%, and 53.33% in carbon-to-biomass conversion compared to GS115 under the same carbon sources. Both chassis displayed elevated expression levels of green fluorescent protein (GFP) and human epidermal growth factor (hegf). Compared to GS115/pGAPZ A-gfp, H002/pGAPZ A-gfp showed a 57.64% higher GFP expression, while H002/pPICZα A-hegf produced 66.76% more hegf. Additionally, both mutant hosts exhibited enhanced biosynthesis efficiencies of S-adenosyl-L-methionine and ergothioneine. H001/pGAPZ A-sam2 synthesized 21.28% more SAM at 1.14 g/L compared to GS115/pGAPZ A-sam2, and H001/pGAPZ A-egt1E obtained 45.41% more ERG at 75.85 mg/L. The improved performance of H001 and H002 was likely attributed to increased supplies of NADPH and ATP. Specifically, H001 and H002 exhibited 5.00-fold and 1.55-fold higher ATP levels under glycerol, and 6.64- and 1.47-times higher ATP levels under methanol, respectively, compared to GS115. Comparative lipidomic analysis also indicated that the mutations generated richer unsaturated lipids on cell wall, leading to resilience to oxidative damage. Conclusions: Two novel P. pastoris chassis hosts with impaired β-1,3-D-glucan biosynthesis were developed, showcasing enhanced performances in terms of growth rate, protein expression, and catalytic capabilities. These hosts exhibit the potential to serve as attractive alternatives to P. pastoris GS115 for various bioproduction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in children with hematological malignancies. Although AKI due to infiltration of tumor cells in children is rare, it negatively impacts treatment outcomes and increases the risk of mortality. We introduce a case of a child with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who experienced kidney relapse resulting in asymptomatic AKI after remission from treatment, to remind clinicians not to overlook the primary disease in clinical judgment. In cases of unexplained AKI, kidney biopsy should be performed when feasible to get an accurate diagnosis and scientific treatment. In brief, children with leukemia who have achieved remission after treatment still need regular monitoring of urine routine and kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock brittleness is one of the key factors determining the fracturing effect of hydrocarbon reservoirs and whether these reservoirs can be successfully exploited. However, existing rock brittleness prediction methods still suffer certain defects, such as high core acquisition costs, regional limitations of experimental statistical rules, and the lack of a theoretical basis for elastic parameter normalization. Therefore, based on the Mohr–Coulomb rock failure criterion and effective in situ stress principle, by studying the mathematical relationship between rock mechanical properties and in situ stress, calculation equations of the rock brittleness index, which include elastic and in situ stress parameters of rock, such as Poisson's ratio, overburden pressure, maximum horizontal stress, and minimum horizontal stress, were derived. This method combines a variety of reservoir parameters reflecting objective geological factors, such as lithology, porosity, reservoir sedimentary and tectonic environments, and the stress-bearing state. Thus, the calculation method proposed in this paper not only accurately reflects rock mechanical properties—brittleness—but also builds a bridge between rock mechanics and geophysics. The brittleness index can be determined by comprehensively considering geological and geophysical core, logging and seismic wave data to achieve the spatial distribution prediction of brittle reservoirs. This approach can further provide support for well location deployment and reservoir fracturing positioning at both the horizontal and vertical levels. Practice has demonstrated that this method can overcome the shortcomings of existing methods and yield a high practical value. Highlights: Introduction of the geostress elastic parameter (GEP) method for rock brittleness. Comparison of seven calculation methods of the brittleness index. Trial calculation of core test data. Trial calculation of logging data. Trial calculation of seismic data and brittleness prediction of target shale reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α‐glucosidase inhibitors have been used to treat diabetes for many years. Recently, natural products have attracted much attention, because they are kinds of safety source to screen α‐glucosidase inhibitor. In this study, we separated two monomers (quercitrin and afzelin) from Houttuynia cordata with notable inhibitory activity against α‐glucosidase, and evaluated inhibitory kinetics and the binding mechanisms. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the quercitrin and afzelin were 0.231±0.033 mg/mL and 0.215±0.004 mg/mL, which were lower than the IC50 of acarbose. The inhibitory type between α‐glucosidase and the two monomers was a competitive inhibition, which is similar to acarbose and could compete binding sites. The fluorescence spectroscopy showed that quercitrin and afzelin statically quenched the fluorescence of α‐glucosidase. Circular dichroism and molecular docking analyses indicated that quercitrin and afzelin changed the alpha‐helix structure of α‐glucosidase and bound with the key amino acids through hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonds and salt bridge interaction. This study is the first time to clarify the inhibitory kinetics and binding mechanisms of quercitrin and afzelin on α‐glucosidase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The flexible FeCo@NFM was prepared by simple electrospinning method. • Small FeCo nanoparticles (∼10 nm) are uniformly encapsulated in the CNFs. • The as-prepared FeCo@NFM is directly used as a binder-free electrode. • The hierarchical structure can greatly promote Li+ insertion/extraction kinetics. • The electrode exhibits high capacity, good rate capability and cycling stability. The design of electrodes with excellent mechanical elasticity is the significant to developing flexible electronic devices with mechanical endurance and outstanding lithium storage properties. Herein, the flexible FeCo/carbon hybrid nanofiber membranes (named as FeCo@CNFM) were successfully prepared via electrospinning and subsequent carbonization process. From the macroscopic perspective, the FeCo@CNFM can bend at a large angle without any destruction, and be directly used as working electrode of lithium ions batteries (LIBs) without any expensive additives, demonstrating its extraordinary mechanical flexibility. From the microscopic perspective, the homogeneously dispersed fine FeCo nanoparticles and the three-dimensional (3D) interconnected transport network constructed of carbon nanofibers significantly shorten the lithium-ion transfer distance, eliminate the volume fluctuation during lithiation/delithiation process, enhance the utilization rate of active materials, and promote the electrical conductivity of the composite electrode, thus leading to remarkably improved electrochemical properties. As a consequence, the optimized FeCo@CNFM manifests a superior discharge capacity of 584.9 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1 after 100 cycles with long cycling stability and good rate capability of 227.1 mA h g−1 even at a large current rate of 2 A g−1, making it a promising flexible self-supporting anode for LIBs. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reefs represent a special type of carbonate trap that plays a key role in the migration, accumulation, and formation of a reservoir. They have commonly been the targets of exploration and development. However, reefs have complex interior structures and easily grow as thin, interbedded geological frames with reef microfacies that include the cap, core, and base of the reef. Because of the inherent drawbacks of seismic signals, including their low frequencies and narrow bandwidths, it is difficult to accurately identify reef reservoirs. Fortunately, the seismic frequency, phase, energy, waveform and other dynamic and geometrical properties can be used to compensate for the energy, expand the frequency bandwidth, and decompose and reconstruct the wavelet to obtain high-resolution seismic data. These data can highlight certain seismic responses of reefs, including boundary reflections, dome-shaped reflections from the reef outline, strong reflections from the reef cap, reflections from the reef bottom, and onlap reflections from the reef flanks. Some impedance response regularities, such as the lower impedance of the reef cap relative to the reef core and biodetritus beach and the fluctuating impedance of the reef-flat complex, are observed by combining log data with geological and high-resolution seismic data for a reef reservoir inversion. These methods were applied to the Changxing Formation in the Yuanba Gas Field. Good prediction results were obtained with a high consistency between the log and seismic data in a comparative analysis with the original seismic data and well logs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organic reef is a special type of carbonate reservoir which always dominates the spatial distribution, reserves and accumulations of natural gas. However, it is difficult to determine the organic reef's internal structure and gas reservoirs due to numerous adverse factors such as the low resolution of seismic data, depth of burial, strong anisotropy, irregular spatial distribution and complex internal structure. A case study of wavelet decomposition and reconstruction technology applied to elucidate the features of organic reef reservoirs in the Changxing formation from Yuanba gas field shows that the seismic record reconstructed by high frequency signal can adequately describe the internal properties of organic reef reservoirs. Furthermore, the root mean square amplitude ratio of both low and high frequency data obtained from the reconstructed seismic data clearly show spatial distribution of gas and water in reef reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binary composite, ZnSnO3 microcubes (ZSO MC) homogeneously parceled in an N-doped carbon nanofiber membrane (ZSO@CNFM), was synthesized via a mild hydrothermal, electrospinning and carbonization process as a flexible lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode material. The unique carbon-coating layer architecture of ZSO@CNFM not only plays a crucial role in alleviating the volume change of ZSO MC during lithium ion insertion/extraction processes, but also constructs a three-dimensional (3D) transport network with the help of interconnected carbon nanofibers (CNFs) to ensure the structural integrity of the material and promote the electrochemical reaction kinetics. Due to its good flexibility characteristics, the as-prepared ZSO@CNFM can be directly adopted as an anode material for LIBs without the use of copper foil, conductive carbon black and any binder. Electrochemical surveying results manifest that the optimal ZSO@CNFM electrode displays excellent cycling stability (582.6 mA h g−1 after 100 lithiation/delithiation cycles at 100 mA g−1), high coulombic efficiency (CE, 99.6% at 100th cycles), and superior rate performance (349.5 mA h g−1 at 2 A g−1). The good electrochemical properties can be ascribed to the synergistic effect of the high theoretical specific capacity of ZSO MC, favourable stability of the carbon substrate, the open structure of ZSO@CNFM and the 3D continuous highly conductive framework for rapid electron/ion transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) is a syndrome of bone marrow failure caused by T cell-mediated destruction of haematopoietic stem cells and progenitor cells. Whether patients with SAA should be treated with eltrombopag (EPAG) and immunosuppressive therapy (IST) or IST alone remains debatable. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of eltrombopag + IST with that of IST alone in patients with SAA and to assess the difference in the efficacy of eltrombopag in adults and children. Methods: We performed this meta-analysis by retrieving studies that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria from PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library up to 1 January 2023. We used a random-effects model to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for primary and secondary outcomes. I2 statistics were used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results: Six studies involving a total of 699 patients were included. In terms of the primary outcomes, our pooled results indicated that patients treated with EPAG + IST had a higher 6-month overall response rate (OR = 2.25; 95% CI, 1.60–3.16; p < 0.00001), a higher 6-month complete response rate (OR = 2.61; 95% CI, 1.82–3.74; p < 0.00001), and a lower 6-month nonresponse rate (OR = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.19–0.52; p < 0.00001). However, there was no significant difference in the rate of 6-month partial response (OR = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.49–1.81; p = 0.85). Conclusion: This meta-analysis indicated that patients treated with additional eltrombopag for IST may have a higher rate of haematological response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans increasingly rely on GPS-enabled mobile maps to navigate novel environments. However, this reliance can negatively affect spatial learning, which can be detrimental even for expert navigators such as search and rescue personnel. Landmark visualization has been shown to improve spatial learning in general populations by facilitating object identification between the map and the environment. How landmark visualization supports expert users' spatial learning during map-assisted navigation is still an open research question. We thus conducted a real-world study with wayfinding experts in an unknown residential neighborhood. We aimed to assess how two different landmark visualization styles (abstract 2D vs. realistic 3D buildings) would affect experts' spatial learning in a map-assisted navigation task during an emergency scenario. Using a between-subjects design, we asked Swiss military personnel to follow a given route using a mobile map, and to identify five task-relevant landmarks along the route. We recorded experts' gaze behavior while navigating and examined their spatial learning after the navigation task. We found that experts' spatial learning improved when they focused their visual attention on the environment, but the direction of attention between the map and the environment was not affected by the landmark visualization style. Further, there was no difference in spatial learning between the 2D and 3D groups. Contrary to previous research with general populations, this study suggests that the landmark visualization style does not enhance expert navigators' navigation or spatial learning abilities, thus highlighting the need for population-specific mobile map design solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]