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Abstract To study the effect of polycrystalline 3C-SiC rough friction surface on the mechanism of subsurface brittleness during nanocrystalline grinding. Initial grinding models of polycrystalline 3C-SiC and diamond abrasive grains on rough friction surfaces are developed using molecular dynamics methods and the Voronoi method for constructing polycrystalline abrasive grains. The processing mechanism of 3C-SiC is analyzed by post-processing methods such as dislocation defect analysis, atomic arrangement analysis and stress analysis. At 2.6 nm, "stress concentration" occurs between the abrasive particles and the workpiece, forming irregular force shapes. The larger the grain size, the smaller the crystal hardness, the greater the possibility of crystal fracture, and it is obvious in the crystal of larger grains. At 8 nm, the crystal breaks and creates vacancies. The roughness of the polycrystalline 3C-SiC friction surface and the cross-cutting mechanism between grains with grain boundaries are found to be effective in ameliorating the damage in the subsurface layer.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the selective death of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brainstem, and motor cortex. This study investigates the effects of simvastatin on the G93A-copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (G93ASOD1) transgenic mouse model of ALS. The experiment included three groups: C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) mice, C57BL/6J SOD1G93A mice treated with PBS (SOD1G93A + PBS), and C57BL/6J SOD1G93A mice treated with simvastatin (SOD1G93A + simvastatin). The primary endpoints were survival rates, body weight changes, performance in pole climbing and suspension tests, and neurological deficit scores. Pathological changes were assessed using H&E staining, transmission electron microscopy, Nissl staining, and Masson staining. Proteomic and metabolomic analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and metabolites. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting were used to measure gene expression. Although there were no significant differences in survival rates, body weight, pole climbing, and suspension test performance, or neurological deficit scores between the SOD1G93A + simvastatin and SOD1G93A + PBS groups, simvastatin treatment improved axonal organization within the spinal cord, increased the number of neurons, and reduced cytoplasmic swelling and gastrocnemius fibrosis. A total of 47 DEPs and 13 differential metabolites were identified between the SOD1G93A + PBS and SOD1G93A + simvastatin groups. Notably, the expression levels of Apoa4 and Alb were elevated in the SOD1G93A + simvastatin group compared to the SOD1G93A + PBS group. Our results suggest that simvastatin may have potential therapeutic effects in ALS, likely involving the modulation of Apoa4 and Alb expression.

Abstract Background DNA methylation is an essential epigenetic modification. However, its contribution to trait changes and diversity in the domestication of perennial fruit trees remains unknown. Results Here, we investigate the variation in DNA methylation during pear domestication and improvement using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing in 41 pear accessions. Contrary to the significant decrease during rice domestication, we detect a global increase in DNA methylation during pear domestication and improvement. We find this specific increase in pear is significantly correlated with the downregulation of Demeter-like1 (DML1, encoding DNA demethylase) due to human selection. We identify a total of 5591 differentially methylated regions (DMRs). Methylation in the CG and CHG contexts undergoes co-evolution during pear domestication and improvement. DMRs have higher genetic diversity than selection sweep regions, especially in the introns. Approximately 97% of DMRs are not associated with any SNPs, and these DMRs are associated with starch and sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. We also perform correlation analysis between DNA methylation and gene expression. We find genes close to the hypermethylated DMRs that are significantly associated with fruit ripening. We further verify the function of a hyper-DMR-associated gene, CAMTA2, and demonstrate that overexpression of CAMTA2 in tomato and pear callus inhibits fruit ripening. Conclusions Our study describes a specific pattern of DNA methylation in the domestication and improvement of a perennial pear tree and suggests that increased DNA methylation plays an essential role in the early ripening of pear fruits.

Tissue-resident memory T cells (TRM) are a specialized subset of long-lived memory T cells that reside in peripheral tissues. However, the impact of TRM-related immunosurveillance on the tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) and tumor progression across various non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient populations is yet to be elucidated. Our comprehensive analysis of multiple independent single-cell and bulk RNA-seq datasets of patient NSCLC samples generated reliable, unique TRM signatures, through which we inferred the abundance of TRM in NSCLC. We discovered that TRM abundance is consistently positively correlated with CD4+ T helper 1 cells, M1 macrophages, and resting dendritic cells in the TIME. In addition, TRM signatures are strongly associated with immune checkpoint and stimulatory genes and the prognosis of NSCLC patients. A TRM-based machine learning model to predict patient survival was validated and an 18-gene risk score was further developed to effectively stratify patients into low-risk and high-risk categories, wherein patients with high-risk scores had significantly lower overall survival than patients with low-risk. The prognostic value of the risk score was independently validated by the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) dataset and multiple independent NSCLC patient datasets. Notably, low-risk NSCLC patients with higher TRM infiltration exhibited enhanced T-cell immunity, nature killer cell activation, and other TIME immune responses related pathways, indicating a more active immune profile benefitting from immunotherapy. However, the TRM signature revealed low TRM abundance and a lack of prognostic association among lung squamous cell carcinoma patients in contrast to adenocarcinoma, indicating that the two NSCLC subtypes are driven by distinct TIMEs. Altogether, this study provides valuable insights into the complex interactions between TRM and TIME and their impact on NSCLC patient prognosis. The development of a simplified 18-gene risk score provides a practical prognostic marker for risk stratification.

Reversible protonic ceramic electrochemical cells (R-PCECs) demonstrate great feasibility for efficient energy storage and conversion. One critical challenge for the development of R-PCECs is the design of novel air electrodes with the characteristics of high catalytic activity and acceptable durability. Here, we report a donor doping of Hf into the B-site of a cobalt-based double perovskite with a nominal formula of PrBa0.8Ca0.2Co1.9Hf0.1O5+δ (PBCCHf0.1), which is naturally reconfigured to a double perovskite PrBa0.8-xCa0.2Co1.9Hf0.1-xO5+δ (PBCCHf0.1-x) backbone and nano-sized BaHfO3 (BHO) on the surface of PBCCHf0.1−x. The air electrode demonstrates enhanced catalytic activity and durability (a stable polarization resistance of 0.269 ​Ω ​cm2 for ∼100 ​h at 600 ​°C), due likely to the fast surface exchange process and bulk diffusion process. When employed as an air electrode of R-PCECs, a cell with PBCCHf0.1 air electrode demonstrates encouraging performances in modes of the fuel cell (FC) and electrolysis (EL) at 600 ​°C: a peak power density of 0.998 ​W ​cm−2 and a current density of −1.613 ​A ​cm−2 ​at 1.3 ​V (with acceptable Faradaic efficiencies). More importantly, the single-cell with PBCCHf0.1 air electrode demonstrates good cycling stability, switching back and forth from FC mode to EL mode ±0.5 ​A ​cm−2 for 200 ​h and 50 cycles.

Acupuncture is an important therapeutic method of traditional Chinese medicine and can effectively modulate brain disorders. The therapeutic efficacy of acupuncture is hard to evaluate due to lacking of effective measurements of brain activity. In this work, we design an EEG-based monitoring system to evaluate therapeutic effect of acupuncture on human brain by extracting periodic-aperiodic features. Power spectral density is estimated to compute the adjusted power of periodic oscillatory rhythm in EEG under acupuncture stimulation. It is exhibited that the brain activity in alpha band (8–12 Hz) is significantly enhanced during acupuncture, especially in parietal and occipital lobe regions. To probe the modulatory effect of acupuncture on aperiodic brain activity, we calculate the aperiodic exponent based on the parameterization of EEG power spectra. The aperiodic exponent decreases along with acupuncture process, which is more significant in central and frontal lobe regions. Furthermore, sensitivity of different brain regions to acupuncture is assessed by the integration of adjusted power and aperiodic exponent. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of proposed periodic-aperiodic measurements of EEG signals, by which different effects of four acupuncture manipulations are precisely evaluated and a knowledge graph is established. The monitoring system provides a new perspective to quantitatively evaluate acupuncture effect on human brain and improve its therapeutic efficacy in clinical applications for neural disorders.

Abstract Background Accumulating evidence has indicated that oxidative stress (OS) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) may contribute to the mechanism of schizophrenia. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the associations of OS parameters and MMP-9 levels with psychopathological symptoms in male chronic schizophrenia patients. Methods This study was an observational, cross-sectional, retrospective case-control study. Plasma hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) levels were assayed in 80 male patients with chronic schizophrenia and 80 matched healthy controls. Schizophrenia symptoms were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Multivariate regression was used to analyze relationships between OS parameters and MMP-9, and clinical symptoms. Results Our results demonstrated that levels of antioxidant enzymes, SOD, GSH-Px, H2O2, and MDA were significantly decreased, whereas CAT and MMP-9 levels were increased in patients with schizophrenia, when compared with healthy controls (all P 0.05). Conclusions Our results showed that alterations of plasma OS parameters in male patients with chronic schizophrenia were associated with psychopathology and MMP-9, suggesting that OS and neuroinflammation may play important role in the mechanism of schizophrenia.

Attaining precise and dynamic speed control is pivotal for the efficient sensorless operation of permanent magnet synchronous motors. Addressing the challenge of parameter mismatch within the cascaded control structure of these motors, which results in diminished dynamic performance and increased static deviation, this paper introduces a speed-current single-loop control method for permanent magnet synchronous motors based on non-singular terminal sliding mode control. To begin, a second-order mathematical model of the motor under parameter disturbances is analyzed and derived. To suppress system disturbances arising from parameter mismatches, a cascaded extended state observer is established. A ultra-local model of the motor is then derived based on the mathematical model, and an adaptive non-singular fast terminal sliding mode controller is designed. The proposed method aims to optimize dynamic performance, steady-state accuracy, and system robustness. Finally, a rigorous stability analysis has been conducted for the proposed composite strategy. The feasibility and effectiveness of this approach are verified through comparative experiments with PID and sliding mode control (SMC).

Infectious diseases pose a huge threat to human health. Human infectious diseases, especially infections originating from zoonotic or vector-borne sources, are an important global challenge. With the rising number of humans that engage in international travel, infectious disease outbreaks can spread rapidly across continents and borders worldwide. It is therefore important to monitor the transmission of infectious disease efficiently to prevent epidemics. We obtained surveillance data from the Shusi Tech Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System and comprehensively analyzed the timing and location of outbreaks in infected populations from April-June 2024.

Cholesteatoma of the middle ear is a common disease in otolaryngology that is receiving increasing attention. It is estimated that over five million people around the world have suffered from middle ear cholesteatoma. The annual incidence of middle ear cholesteatoma has been reported to be 9.2 per 100,000 in adults and 3 per 100,000 in children. Without timely discovery and intervention, cholesteatomas can become perilously large and damage intratemporal structures, causing various intracranial and extracranial complications. No practical nonsurgical treatments are currently available. Although multiple hypotheses exist, research directions have consistently focused on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and bone destruction. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), especially microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), have recently received increasing attention because of their key roles in gene expression, cell cycle regulation, and the development of many diseases. Although ncRNAs are not involved in protein translation, they are abundant in the genome, with only approximately 2% of genes encoding proteins and the remaining approximately 98% encoding ncRNAs. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge regarding the specific role of ncRNAs in middle ear cholesteatoma.

Abstract Background The rapid development of synthetic biology relies heavily on the use of databases and computational tools, which are also developing rapidly. While many tool registries have been created to facilitate tool retrieval, sharing, and reuse, no relatively comprehensive tool registry or catalog addresses all aspects of synthetic biology. Results We constructed SynBioTools, a comprehensive collection of synthetic biology databases, computational tools, and experimental methods, as a one-stop facility for searching and selecting synthetic biology tools. SynBioTools includes databases, computational tools, and methods extracted from reviews via SCIentific Table Extraction, a scientific table-extraction tool that we built. Approximately 57% of the resources that we located and included in SynBioTools are not mentioned in bio.tools, the dominant tool registry. To improve users’ understanding of the tools and to enable them to make better choices, the tools are grouped into nine modules (each with subdivisions) based on their potential biosynthetic applications. Detailed comparisons of similar tools in every classification are included. The URLs, descriptions, source references, and the number of citations of the tools are also integrated into the system. Conclusions SynBioTools is freely available at https://synbiotools.lifesynther.com/ . It provides end-users and developers with a useful resource of categorized synthetic biology databases, tools, and methods to facilitate tool retrieval and selection.

Abstract The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) will be a transformative experiment for gravitational wave astronomy, and, as such, it will offer unique opportunities to address many key astrophysical questions in a completely novel way. The synergy with ground-based and space-born instruments in the electromagnetic domain, by enabling multi-messenger observations, will add further to the discovery potential of LISA. The next decade is crucial to prepare the astrophysical community for LISA’s first observations. This review outlines the extensive landscape of astrophysical theory, numerical simulations, and astronomical observations that are instrumental for modeling and interpreting the upcoming LISA datastream. To this aim, the current knowledge in three main source classes for LISA is reviewed; ultra-compact stellar-mass binaries, massive black hole binaries, and extreme or interme-diate mass ratio inspirals. The relevant astrophysical processes and the established modeling techniques are summarized. Likewise, open issues and gaps in our understanding of these sources are highlighted, along with an indication of how LISA could help making progress in the different areas. New research avenues that LISA itself, or its joint exploitation with upcoming studies in the electromagnetic domain, will enable, are also illustrated. Improvements in modeling and analysis approaches, such as the combination of numerical simulations and modern data science techniques, are discussed. This review is intended to be a starting point for using LISA as a new discovery tool for understanding our Universe.

To shorten the complex and time-consuming process of the identification method of the traditional food angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE-I) inhibitory peptides, we propose AHTPeptideFusion based on a segmented fusion with the protein language model and deep learning. The statistical analysis found that hydrophobic amino acids, N-terminal valine is a dominant amino acid in the activity of ACE-I inhibitory peptides. In 12 machine learning (ML) algorithms, the transformer outperformed the other 11 models, with the best performance in predicting short and medium peptides. In the external dataset, AHTPeptideFusion fused by transformer and random forest (RF) showed excellent performance (accuracy > 0.9) in predicting ACE-I inhibitory peptides with lengths ranging from 2 to 15 amino acid residues and different activity distributions, and the reliability and accuracy of AHTPeptideFusion was demonstrated by synthetic peptide and ACE-I inhibition experiments. In addition, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction between 4 synthetic peptides and active residues of ACE-I were found by molecular docking. To further explore the ACE-I inhibitory peptides from animal-derived foods, we established an automated pipeline consisting of the trinity of proteomics, virtual enzymatic digestion and AHTPeptideFusion, and tapped the ACE-I inhibitory peptide released from royal jelly after digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. In conclusion, this computational pipeline will become a powerful screening tool for active peptides from animal-derived foods, which can help food scientists accelerate the mining and design of active peptides from animal-derived foods. Overall, AHTPeptideFusion will be a powerful ACE-I inhibitor peptide prediction tool, it can help food scientists accelerate the mining and design of ACE-I inhibitory peptides.

Abstract Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with connective tissue disease (CTD) belongs to Group 1 pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease (PVOD), which is characterized by venous system aberrations, has been previously reported in CTD-PAH; however, it has rarely been observed in Sjogren’s syndrome (SS). Case presentation Our 28-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with recurrent shortness of breath even after minimal physical activity. Her chest high-resolution CT scan demonstrated pulmonary artery dilatation and bilateral ground-glass nodules. A subsequent right heart catheterization confirmed pulmonary hypertension because her mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 62 mmHg. Our inquisitive genomic assessment identified a novel EIF2AK4 mutation at c.1021 C > T (p. Gln341*), the dominant causal gene of PVOD. Histological examination demonstrated stenosis and occlusions in the pulmonary veins. Because she presented with features such as dry eyes and Raynaud's phenomenon, we performed a biopsy on the labial salivary gland, which confirmed SS. Her treatment regimen included PAH-targeted therapies (tadalafil and macitentan) in combination with hydroxychloroquine. Although she was hospitalized several times due to acute exacerbation of PAH, her disease progression was under control, and she did not demonstrate any signs of pulmonary edema even after a three-year treatment period. Conclusion Here, we report the case of an SS-PAH patient with PVOD who carried a novel biallelic EIF2AK4 mutation, and PAH-targeted therapies were well tolerated by our patient.

A plethora of infectious diseases have plagued mankind since the dawn of civilization. Historically, humans have suffered from a range of infectious diseases, including MPOX, Ebola virus, dengue virus, malaria, and influenza. Many respiratory infectious diseases are more likely to occur in cold weather. Due to the speed and easy mode of transmission, and short latency, respiratory infectious diseases are more likely to cause epidemics. It is more likely that influenza will circulate during the autumn-winter months, resulting in great outbreaks of influenza-like illnesses and even serious seasonal epidemics in some cases. We obtained surveillance data from the Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System and comprehensively analyzed the timing and location of outbreaks in infected populations from September-December 2023.

The blast furnace is the dominant high-temperature reactor in the modern ironmaking industry. Iron oxide in iron ores can be converted to metallic iron through blast furnace smelting, and this high-temperature melting can be used to separate the molten iron from the gangue components. The formation and thickness of the hot-surface slag crust on the copper stave in the high-temperature area of the middle and lower parts of the blast furnace are crucial for the safe operation and long campaign of the blast furnace. To enhance the precision of determining the thickness of the slag crust in this specific region, samples were extracted from the hot surface of the copper cooler situated in the high-temperature area. This extraction was carried out during the maintenance procedure of the blast furnace stockline. Subsequently, the thermal conductivity and melting performance of the slag crust were measured. The slag crust thicknesses corresponding to the various temperature measurement sites of the stave were determined by developing a mathematical model for the heat transfer of the copper stave. The actual slag crust thickness measurement data were acquired while the blast furnace stockline was in operation, and the data were then utilized to corroborate the model’s predictions. A blast furnace with an effective volume of 3200 m3 was used to test the model. The average thickness of the hot-surface slag crust was computed for cases that occurred between 2020 and 2022. The data’s correlations with the blast furnace’s technical and economic indices during the same time period were examined. The findings indicated that the blast furnace’s operation indices improved with a thinner slag crust, but there was also a higher chance of damage to the copper stave’s internal cooling water pipes. Taking into account the technical and economic indices as well as a long campaign of the blast furnace, 150–200 mm is recommended as the appropriate average slag crust thickness on the surface of the copper stave in the high-temperature section.

Abstract Background Microbial strain information databases provide valuable data for microbial basic research and applications. However, they rarely contain information on the genetic operating system of microbial strains. Results We established a comprehensive microbial strain database, SynBioStrainFinder, by integrating CRISPR/Cas gene-editing system information with cultivation methods, genome sequence data, and compound-related information. It is presented through three modules, Strain2Gms/PredStrain2Gms, Strain2BasicInfo, and Strain2Compd, which combine to form a rapid strain information query system conveniently curated, integrated, and accessible on a single platform. To date, 1426 CRISPR/Cas gene-editing records of 157 microbial strains have been manually extracted from the literature in the Strain2Gms module. For strains without established CRISPR/Cas systems, the PredStrain2Gms module recommends the system of the most closely related strain as a reference to facilitate the construction of a new CRISPR/Cas gene-editing system. The database contains 139,499 records of strain cultivation and genome sequences, and 773,298 records of strain-related compounds. To facilitate simple and intuitive data application, all microbial strains are also labeled with stars based on the order and availability of strain information. SynBioStrainFinder provides a user-friendly interface for querying, browsing, and visualizing detailed information on microbial strains, and it is publicly available at http://design.rxnfinder.org/biosynstrain/ . Conclusion SynBioStrainFinder is the first microbial strain database with manually curated information on the strain CRISPR/Cas system as well as other microbial strain information. It also provides reference information for the construction of new CRISPR/Cas systems. SynBioStrainFinder will serve as a useful resource to extend microbial strain research and application for biomanufacturing.

Plasmonic-enhanced photocatalysis using visible light is considered a promising strategy for pollution photodegradation. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive and quantitative understanding of the underlying mechanisms and interactions involved. In this study, we employed a two-step process to fabricate arrays of ZnO nanosheets decorated with Au nanoparticles (Au-ZnO NS). Various characterization techniques were used to examine the morphological, structural, and chemical properties of the fabricated Au-ZnO NS array. Furthermore, we systematically investigated the photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange under visible light irradiation using Au-ZnO NS arrays prepared with varying numbers of photochemical reduction cycles. The results indicated that as the number of photochemical reduction cycles increased, the photodegradation efficiency initially increased but subsequently decreased. Under visible light irradiation, the Au-ZnO NS array obtained via four cycles of photochemical reduction exhibits the highest photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange 0.00926 min−1, which is six times higher than that of the ZnO NS array. To gain a better understanding of the plasmonic effect on photodegradation performance, we utilized electromagnetic simulations to quantitatively investigate the enhancement of electric fields in the Au-ZnO NS array. The simulations clearly presented the nonlinear dependencies of electric field intensity on the distribution of Au nanoparticles and the wavelength of radiation light, leading to a nonlinear enhancement of hot electron injection and eventual plasmonic photodegradation. The simulated model, corresponding to four cycles of photochemical reduction, exhibits the highest electric field intensity at 550 nm, which can be attributed to its strong plasmonic effect. This work provides mechanistic insights into plasmonic photocatalysts for utilizing visible light and represents a promising strategy for the rational design of high-performance visible light photocatalysts.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is associated with ototoxicity, which is caused by external factors. Mitophagy plays a key role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis and function and is regulated by a series of key mitophagy regulatory proteins and signaling pathways. The results of ototoxicity models indicate the importance of this process in the etiology of ototoxicity. A number of recent investigations of the control of cell fate by mitophagy have enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms by which mitophagy regulates ototoxicity and other hearing-related diseases, providing opportunities for targeting mitochondria to treat ototoxicity.

Tinnitus is perception of sound in the absence of an apparent external acoustic stimulus. The condition is prevalent in adults, especially the elderly (≥65 years), and may be associated with cognitive function decline and significantly impacts on the quality of life, heralding difficulties in managing this challenging disorder. Interventions for tinnitus have been varied. However, drugs have not yet been approved for the treatment of tinnitus and there is no pharmacotherapy recommended by existing guidelines. Still, herbal medicines are used for the treatment of tinnitus in many countries, especially Gingko (G.) biloba. In the current updated literature review, we evaluated the efficacy of herbal medicines in the treatment of tinnitus by reviewing the evidence of relevant randomized controlled trials. The authors also highlight some of the issues in clinical trials of herbal medicines given that currently available evidence on herbal medicines for tinnitus is overall of insufficient quality and the conclusions from existing trials are conflicting. Nevertheless, there is a clear and urgent need for safe and effective pharmacotherapy of tinnitus.

Abstract Outbreak of global pandemic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has so far caused countless morbidity and mortality. However, a detailed report on the impact of COVID-19 on hypertension (HTN) and ensuing cardiac injury is unknown. Herein, we have evaluated the association between HTN and cardiac injury in 388 COVID-19 (47.5 ± 15.2 years) including 75 HTN and 313 normotension. Demographic data, cardiac injury markers, other laboratory findings, and comorbidity details were collected and analyzed. Compared to patients without HTN, hypertensive-COVID-19 patients were older, exhibited higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and comorbidities such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and chronic kidney disease. Further, these hypertensive-COVID-19 patients presented more severe disease with longer hospitalization time, and a concomitant higher rate of bilateral pneumonia, electrolyte disorder, hypoproteinemia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. In addition, cardiac injury markers such as creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin, lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), and N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide were significantly increased in these patients. Correlation analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure correlated significantly with the levels of CK, and LDH. Further, HTN was associated with increased LDH and CK-MB in COVID- 19 after adjusting essential variables. We also noticed that patients with elevated either high sensitivity-CRP or CRP demonstrated a significant high level of LDH along with a moderate increase in CK (p = 0.07) and CK-MB (p = 0.09). Our investigation suggested that hypertensive patients presented higher risk of cardiac injury and severe disease phenotype in COVID-19, effectively control blood pressure in HTN patients might improve the prognosis of COVID-19 patients.

Summary: Most cancers harbor a diverse collection of cell types including a typically heterogeneous cancer cell fraction. To reconstruct cell-intrinsic and heterotypic interactions driving tumor progression, we combine the XDec deconvolution method with cell-type-specific gene expression correlation analysis into the XDec-CHI method. XDec-CHI identifies intra- and inter-cellular pathways using correlation and places them in the context of specific tumor subtypes, as defined by the state of constituent cancer cells. We make the method web-accessible for analysis of publicly accessible pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, breast, head and neck, glioblastoma, and glioma tumors. We apply the method to TCGA and ICGC datasets to identify immune-suppressive interactions within PDAC tumors that are relevant for immunotherapies targeting PD-L1. Subtype-specific interactions derived from correlative analyses validated in co-culture experiments suggest PDAC subtypes have distinct therapeutic weaknesses, with Basal-like and MSLN-high Classical B tumors most likely to respond to therapies targeting PD-L1.

Many infectious diseases are ubiquitous and pose persistent adverse effects on public health. Infectious diseases have also been leading causes of high mortality in different periods of history. Real-time monitoring and analysis of global infectious disease transmission can provide a comprehensive understanding of critical information regarding the transmission routes, scope, velocity, and effects of viruses or bacteria. Here, using Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System, we analyzed the prevalence of infectious diseases worldwide. We describe types of infectious diseases with relatively low incidence from 24 June 2023 to 23 July 2023 as comprehensibly as possible.

Hydrogels are materials consisting of a network of hydrophilic polymers. Due to their good biocompatibility and hydrophilicity, they are widely used in biomedicine, food safety, environmental protection, agriculture, and other fields. This paper summarizes the typical complex materials of photocatalysts, photosensitizers, and hydrogels, as week as their antibacterial activities and the basic mechanisms of photothermal and photodynamic effects. In addition, the application of hydrogel-based photoresponsive materials in microbial inactivation is discussed, including the challenges faced in their application. The advantages of photosensitive antibacterial complex hydrogels are highlighted, and their application and research progress in various fields are introduced in detail.

Cenozoic collision between the Indian and Asian continents is generally considered as the main driver forming the high Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, it remains hotly debated when and how the relatively flat and highly elevated TP was formed. Here, we present combined analyses of the apatite fission track (AFT) and apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) of 18 granite samples along three steep topographic transects in the central part of the Qiangtang Terrane (QT), TP. The results indicate that the AFT ages of all samples are mostly between 130 Ma and 80 Ma, while the AHe ages range from 80 Ma to 40 Ma. Further thermal history modeling indicates that no significant cooling occurred after 40 Ma for most samples, except those lying close to the Reganpei Co extensional fault in the QT. The results are generally consistent with other low-temperature thermochronological data, as well as structural and sedimentologic data from the QT, suggesting that low relief and the relatively flat topography of the QT were almost completely formed before ∼40 Ma. As both megafossils and pollen had undergone a sharp change from subtropical- to psychro-species, indicating a relatively low elevation (∼2 km) at ∼40 Ma and >2 km uplift during the Oligocene. We use simple one-dimensional isostatic modeling to assess the contribution of convective removal of the lithospheric mantle to the present elevation of the QT. The results suggest that a combined effect of isostatic rebound (≥2 km) and thermal expansion related to asthenosphere upwelling and subsequent crustal base heating (∼0.4 km) led to the final uplift of the QT. Therefore, the QT experienced multiple-stage uplift processes which were controlled by crustal thickening before ∼40 Ma and lithospheric mantle delamination during the Oligocene, respectively.

BackgroundThe present study aimed to examine whether plasma oxidative stress is associated with cognitive impairment in long term hospitalized patients with chronic schizophrenia.MethodNinety-six chronic schizophrenia patients and 94 healthy unaffected subjects were enrolled. Plasma markers of oxidative stress, including malondialdehyde (MDA), manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), were measured. Psychiatric symptoms and cognitive function were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), respectively.ResultsPlasma MDA levels and MnSOD and GSH-Px activities were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients than in healthy controls (P < 0.001), while plasma CAT activity was higher than in healthy controls (P < 0.005). Cognitive scores on the RBANS and all of its five subscales (all P < 0.001) were significantly lower in schizophrenia patients than in healthy unaffected subjects. CAT and GSH-Px activities were positively correlated with the cognitive function scores corresponding to Visuospatial/Constructional abilities in the patient group (r = 0.298, 0.213, respectively, P < 0.05). Also, the multiple regression analysis revealed that CAT and GSH-Px activities were independent and separate contributors to the Visuospatial/Constructional index of the RBANS. Meanwhile, CAT activity was negatively correlated with general pathological symptoms (r = −0.307, Bonferroni corrected P = 0.008) and the total score of the PANSS domains (r = −0.299, Bonferroni corrected P = 0.012).ConclusionOur results that the reduced of MDA level and the increased CAT activity in plasma in male patients with chronic schizophrenia suggest that redox imbalance may be associated with the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, and it can induce impaired cognition and psychiatric symptoms.

In the past 5 years, there has been a growing focus on infectious diseases, such as viral infections (coronavirus, Mpox, and influenza), sudden pandemics, and persistent bacterial infections (cholera, malaria, and tuberculosis) that continue to be a challenge in epidemic areas. We analyzed epidemic data from dozens of infectious diseases between 24 April and 23 May 2023 using Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System. This analysis will provide a quick overview of the global epidemic status, and will facilitate the prediction and assessment of future pandemics.

Thousands of years have passed since infectious diseases first endangered human health as the most potentially lethal and debilitating diseases worldwide. The global incidence of infectious diseases has increased significantly over the past decades, such as COVID-19, cholera, dengue, and influenza. Key elements in combating and controlling diseases include monitoring and reporting infectious disease timelines and geographic distribution. We obtained surveillance data from Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System and comprehensively analyzed the timing and location of outbreaks in infected populations from 24 March 2023 to 23 April 2023. Recent worldwide outbreaks of infectious diseases highlight the need to implement effective monitoring strategies and warning systems.

Infectious diseases pose a major burden on public health and economic stability among societies worldwide. For centuries, they have been among the leading causes of death and disability, and are currently presenting growing challenges to health security and human progress. This report focuses on global outbreaks of infectious diseases, relying on Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System to systematically summarize outbreak timing and location in infected populations from February 24, 2023, to March 23, 2023. Therefore, surveillance of infectious diseases on a continental scale is important to assess, recognize and protect against the risks that these diseases may pose to animal, domestic animal and human health on a global scale.

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of tumor-related deaths globally. Herein, we attempted to build a novel immune-related gene (IRG) signature that could predict the prognosis and immunotherapeutic efficiency for GC patients.Methods: The mRNA transcription data and corresponding clinical data of GC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database as the training group and the GSE84437 data set as the testing cohort, followed by acquisition of IRGs from the InnateDB resource and ImmPort database. Using the univariate Cox regression analysis, an IRG signature was developed. Several immunogenomic analyses were performed to illustrate the associations between the immune risk score and tumor mutational burden, immune cell infiltrations, function of immune infiltration, clinical characteristics, immune subtype, and immunotherapeutic response.Results: The analysis of 343 GC samples and 30 normal samples from the TCGA database gave rise to 8,713 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 513 differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) were extracted. The novel IRG signature contained eight DEIRGs (FABP4, PI15, RNASE2, CGB5, INHBE, RLN2, DUSP1, and CD36) and was found to serve as an independent predictive and prognostic factor for GC. Then, the GC patients were separated into the high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score, wherein the low-risk group presented a better prognosis and was more sensitive to immunotherapy than did the high-risk group. According to the time-dependent ROC curves and AUCs, the immunotherapeutic value of the signature was better than the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) and T-cell inflammatory signature (TIS) scores. In addition, the AUCs of the risk score for predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-year OS were 0.675, 0.682, and 0.710, respectively, which indicated that the signature had great predictive power.Conclusion: This study presents a novel IRG signature based on the tumor immune microenvironment, which could improve the prediction of the prognosis and immunotherapeutic efficiency for GC patients. The powerful signature may serve as novel biomarkers and provide therapeutic targets for precision oncology in clinical practice.

PurposeProgrammed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor plus apatinib is reported to be a promising strategy for advanced cancers. Moreover, a PD-1 inhibitor or apatinib exerts a certain efficacy in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), whereas their synergistic effect is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the treatment efficacy and safety of a PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib in advanced CRC patients.MethodsIn total, 45 advanced CRC patients who received a PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib (PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib group, N=20) or apatinib monotherapy (apatinib group, N=25) as third-line therapies were enrolled in the current study.ResultsThe objective response rate (20.0% vs. 8.0%) (P=0.383) and disease control rate (70.0% vs. 52.0%) (P=0.221) were numerically increased in the PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib group, respectively, compared with the apatinib group, but no statistical significance was observed. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.5 versus 4.8 months; the 1-year PFS rate was 32.5% versus 9.9%; the median overall survival (OS) was 12.3 versus 8.7 months; and the 1-year OS rate was 50.7% versus 27.0% in the PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib group versus the apatinib group, respectively. PFS (P=0.038) and OS (P=0.048) were prolonged in the PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib group compared with the apatinib group. PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib (versus apatinib) was independently associated with longer PFS (P=0.012) and OS (P=0.009). The majority of the adverse events were of grade 1-2, wherein the incidence was similar between groups, except for the fact that the incidence of capillary proliferation was elevated in the PD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib group compared with the apatinib group (25.5% versus 0.0%) (P=0.013).ConclusionPD-1 inhibitor plus apatinib presents a potential improvement in efficacy and survival benefit compared with apatinib monotherapy, with tolerable safety in advanced CRC patients.

Abstract Aiming at the pre-stretching and disassembling link in chain manufacturing process， a universal device for pre-stretching and disassembling chain is designed. On the premise of realizing continuous processing of pre-stretching and disassembling chain， the device sets up driving sprocket moving module， cylinder connecting parts with T-groove and punching nail installation module， chain limit plate with straight groove and chain block to improve the versatility and interchangeability of the device. The whole device has the function of replacing fewer parts to process many kinds of chains. The product quality is high and the service life is long.

A two port 2.4 to 24 GHz cryogenic Quadruple-Ridged Flared Horn (QRFH) Feed with 10:1 impedance bandwidth is selected for presentation and investigation in this paper. The antenna geometry is formed by using simulation-based optimization which satisfies several stringent design requirements, including impedance bandwidth and radiation characteristics of the proposed antenna. To verify the theoretical performance, a prototype of the optimized QRFH was manufactured and tested. The reflection coefficients of the antenna are below -10 dB and the mutual coupling is better than -25 dB. Meanwhile, the antenna aperture efficiency is above 55% and maximum gain is from 10.5 to 21.1dBi across the desired working frequency band. Both the simulated and measured results exhibit good agreement. To demonstrate the suitability of the proposed design in a practical environment, a prototype Cryogenic system composed of a cryogenic Dewar and a QRFH, has been designed and its performance was measured. The results showed that the physical temperature reached an acceptable level which was less than 45 K. The overall performance of the proposed QRFH feed suggests that it would be applicable to the receivers for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) reflector antenna, and meets requirements of the SKA advanced instrumentation program (AIP).

Background: Integrin β superfamily members (ITGBs) are documented to play important roles in various biological processes, and accumulating evidence suggests that ITGBs are associated with carcinogenic effects in several malignancies. Gastric cancer (GC) is a complicated and highly heterogeneous disease; however, the expression and prognostic values of eight ITGBs and potential mechanism in GC remain largely unclear.Methods: The expression and prognostic significance of ITGBs in GC were systematically analyzed through Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, and cBioPortal databases. Then, the mRNA transcription data and corresponding clinical data of GC were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database as a testing cohort, and differentially expressed and prognostic genes were identified. The correlation between ITGB5 expression and overall survival and various clinical parameters were found by using univariate/multivariable Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Additionally, differential analysis of gene expression profiles in low- and high-ITGB5 expression groups and pathway enrichment analysis was performed. Finally, the correlation of ITGB5 expression with immune infiltrates in GC was clarified.Results: Compared with adjacent normal tissue, the results reveal that the mRNA levels of ITGB1-2 and ITGB4-8 are significantly higher in GC, and immunohistochemistry results show the consistency between RNA and protein expression levels. Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis indicate that high ITGB5 expression contributes to a poor prognosis and could be an independent prognostic factor in GC patients. Besides this, gene functional enrichment analysis indicates that ITGB5 expression is significantly associated with extracellular matrix organization, cell-substrate adhesion, and ossification. The KEGG pathway analysis of ITGB5 shows a close association between ITGB5 and focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, phagosome, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Last, the infiltrating level of CD4+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells are positively related to the expression of ITGB5, especially macrophages, and lower levels of macrophages predict a better prognosis in GC in our study.Conclusion: Our findings investigate that ITGB5 may function as a valid biomarker of prognosis, and high expression of ITGB5 predicts poor prognosis for patients with GC. Besides this, it might be a potential target of precision therapy against GC.

Public health security in human societies is placed under enormous strain by infectious disease epidemics. According to the WHO, COVID-19 and Mpox remain on the list of PHEICs, whereas cholera, dengue, and other contagious diseases remain endemic in several countries and regions. Data on prevalent infectious diseases have been collected worldwide in recent weeks, and may provide new ideas for international collaboration in public health.

Infectious diseases are a major threat to global health and the economic stability of societies worldwide. To prevent outbreaks, monitoring the growth trends of infectious diseases appears to be particularly important and necessary. Herein, data from epidemiological websites, such as the World Health Organization and National Health Council are used to illustrate the outbreak trends for infectious diseases worldwide. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, a global resurgence in other infectious diseases has been observed, particularly influenza in the United States. Proper surveillance and effective strategies are urgently required to keep emerging infectious diseases under control.

Supported nanostructured photocatalysis is considered to be a sustainable and promising method for water pollution photodegradation applications due to its fascinating features, including a high surface area, stability against aggregation, and easy handling and recovery. However, the preparation and morphological control of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst remains a challenge. Herein, a one-step hydrothermal method is proposed to fabricate the supported vertically aligned ZnO nanosheet arrays based on aluminum foil. The morphologically controlled growth of the supported ZnO nanosheet arrays on a large scale was achieved, and the effects of hydrothermal temperature on morphologic, structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties were observed. The results reveal that the surface area and thickness of the nanosheet increase simultaneously with the increase in the hydrothermal temperature. The increase in the surface area enhances the photocatalytic activity by providing more active sites, while the increase in the thickness reduces the charge transfer and thus decreases the photocatalytic activity. The influence competition between the area increasing and thickness increasing of the ZnO nanosheet results in the nonlinear dependence between photocatalytic activity and hydrothermal temperature. By optimizing the hydrothermal growth temperature, as fabricated and supported ZnO nanosheet arrays grown at 110 °C have struck a balance between the increase in surface area and thickness, it exhibits efficient photodegradation, facile fabrication, high recyclability, and improved durability. The RhB photodegradation efficiency of optimized and grown ZnO nanosheet arrays increased by more than four times that of the unoptimized structure. With 10 cm2 of as-fabricated ZnO nanosheet arrays, the degradation ratio of 10 mg/L MO, MB, OFL, and NOR was 85%, 51%, 58%, and 71% under UV irradiation (365 nm, 20 mW/cm2) for 60 min. All the target pollutant solutions were almost completely degraded under UV irradiation for 180 min. This work offers a facile way for the fabrication and morphological control of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst with excellent photodegradation properties and has significant implications in the practical application of the supported nanostructured photocatalyst for water pollution photodegradation.

Abstract Background Most coronary spastic angina patients are responsive to coronary vasodilators therapy, and stent implantation is not recommended for regular use. We reported the angiographic and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images of a rare case who responded poorly to medical treatment due to progressive atherosclerotic plaque at the spastic site. Case presentation A 60-year-old man complaining of 1-month history of episodic chest pain at rest was admitted to our hospital. The diagnosis of coronary spastic angina was made based on the angiographic evidence of vasospasm at the right coronary artery (RCA). The patient responded poorly to conventional medical treatment during the 1-year follow-up. The repeated angiography revealed totally occlusion of the proximal segment of the RCA at the same location as 1 year before, and IVUS demonstrated there was vulnerable plaque and thrombus at the site of spasm. Episodic chest pain ceased completely in the follow up period after stenting. Conclusion Coronary spasm might present at the vessel site with advanced atherosclerotic plaque. For patients with refractory vasospastic angina and significant occlusion, stenting might be a viable and valuable treatment strategy under the guidance of intracoronary imaging.

The Cenozoic collision between India and Asia promoted the widespread uplift of the Tibetan Plateau, with significant deformation documented in the Pamir Plateau and West Kunlun Mountains. Low-temperature thermochronology and basin provenance analysis have revealed three episodes of rapid deformation and uplift in the Pamir–West Kunlun Mountains during the Cenozoic. However, there is very little low-temperature thermochronology age–elevation relationship (AER) data on fast exhumation events in this area—especially in the West Kunlun Mountains— leading to uncertainty surrounding how these events propagated within and around the mountain range. In this study, we produced an elevation profile across granite located south of Kudi, Xijiang Province, China, to reveal its exhumation history. Apatite fission track AER data show that a rapid exhumation event occurred at ∼26 Ma in the southern West Kunlun Mountains. When combined with published data, we interpret that the initial uplift events related to the India–Asia collision began in the central Pamir, southern West Kunlun, and northern West Kunlun regions during the Late Eocene, Oligocene, and Middle Miocene periods, respectively. Therefore, the Cenozoic northward growth process occurred from south to north around West Kunlun.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a severe subtype of stroke with high mortality. Hyperglycemia is a common phenomenon in critically ill patients and associated with poor clinical outcome. However, the predictive value of admission hyperglycemia for 30 and 90-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with SAH remains controversial. All SAH patients between 2001 and 2012 were included based on the MIMIC-III database and were further classified according to the tertiles of blood glucose (BG) measured on intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Clinical information including demographic data, comorbidities, and laboratory indicators were exacted and analyzed. The primary outcomes were 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality. A total of 1,298 SAH patients were included. The 30 and 90-day mortality rates were 19.80% and 22.73%, respectively. Subjects in the high glucose tertile were older, were overweight, had higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) scores, and presented higher mortality rate. Generalized additive model revealed a U-shaped relationship between BG and 30 and 90-day all-cause mortality. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier (K-M) survival curve also illustrated that subjects with admission hyperglycemia presented lower survival rate and shorter survival time. In Cox analysis, after adjustment for potential confounders, admission hyperglycemia was related to an increase in 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality in SAH patients. In subgroup analysis, the association between admission hyperglycemia and all-cause mortality was consistent. In conclusion, admission hyperglycemia is associated with significantly increased 30- and 90-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with SAH.

The Pamir Plateau region of the Northwestern Tibetan Plateau forms a prominent tectonic salient, separating the Tajik and Tarim basins. However, the topographic evolution of the Pamir Plateau remains elusive, despite the key role of this region played in the retreat of the Paratethys Ocean and in aridification across Central Asia. Therefore, the SW Tarim and Tajik basins are prime locations to decipher the geological history of the Pamir Plateau. Here, we present detrital zircon U/Pb and apatite fission-track (DAFT) ages from the Keliyang section of the SW Tarim Basin. DAFT ages show that sediments had three components during the Late Cretaceous and two components since the Oligocene. Detrital zircon U/Pb ages mainly cluster between 400 and 500 Ma during the Late Cretaceous, and coincide with ages of the Songpan-Ganzi and the West Kunlun Mountains. In contrast, detrital zircon U/Pb ages in the Eocene sediments are centered at around 200–300 Ma and 40–70 Ma, with a peak at ∼45 Ma, consistent with data from the Central Pamir and the West Kunlun Mountains. The ∼45 Ma peak in detrital zircon U/Pb ages since the Eocene indicates a new sedimentary source from the Central Pamir. Non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) analyses also show that the sedimentary source was closer to the Central Pamir after the Eocene, when compared to the Late Cretaceous. The result shows a clear Eocene provenance change in the Keliyang area. Moreover, this Eocene provenance shift has been detected in previous studies, in both the Tajik and Tarim basins, suggesting that the entire Central Pamir region likely experienced quasi-simultaneous abrupt uplift and paleo-geomorphological changes during the Eocene.

Infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and monkeypox, pose a severe threat to economic development in all countries, as well as to the health of people everywhere. The World Health Organization and National Health Council epidemiological websites were used herein as data sources. Shusi Tech’s Global Epidemic Information Monitoring System was used to analyze the data for infectious diseases, determine changes in global epidemics, determine the distribution and quantity of infectious disease cases from October 24, 2022 to November 23, 2022, and analyze their changing trends. Furthermore, the analysis of these data can be used to predict prevalence rates, and assess epidemic prevention and control measures.

Infectious diseases continue to pose a major threat to worldwide public health. Infections by Coronavirus Disease 2019 have eased but continue to negatively affect international economic development. The situation of other infectious diseases, such as monkeypox and mosquito-borne diseases, became stable in October. Monitoring epidemic situation of infectious diseases can provide rapid insight into global transmission trends and assist in predicting epidemic situations. Visualizations and analyses summarizing the past few weeks of global data on major infectious diseases are provided.

The threat of infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms to both human health and the economy is enormous. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains a global pandemic. In contrast to many other infectious diseases, monkeypox spreads rapidly and cannot be ignored. Collection of data on contagious diseases can provide quantitative evidence to support effective pandemic control strategies. Global data on predominant infectious diseases collected in the past several weeks and a summary of their epidemiology are presented herein.

Materials with excellent biocompatibility and targeting can be widely used in the biomedical field. Hydrogels are an excellent biomedical material, which are similar to living tissue and cannot affect the metabolic process of living organisms. Moreover, the three-dimensional network structure of hydrogel is conducive to the storage and slow release of drugs. Compared to the traditional hydrogel preparation technologies, ionizing radiation technology has high efficiency, is green, and has environmental protection. This technology can easily adjust mechanical properties, swelling, and so on. This review provides a classification of hydrogels and different preparation methods and highlights the advantages of ionizing radiation technology in smart hydrogels used for biomedical applications.

Abstract Background Several studies have been performed to investigate the associations between interleukin (IL)-8 rs4073 polymorphism and acute pancreatitis (AP), but the results are inconclusive. We conducted this cumulative meta-analysis for a precise estimate of the relationship between IL-8 rs4073 polymorphism and acute pancreatitis. Methods We searched the electronic databases for relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the associations. For a better presentation of how the pooled ORs changed as updated evidence accumulated, we used forest plots from a cumulative meta-analysis method. Results Ten studies involving 1646 AP patients and 1816 controls were finally included in this meta-analysis. Cumulative meta-analyses indicated there is a consistent trend toward association after the initial discovery. Under the allelic, dominant, recessive and homozygous models, the pooled ORs were 1.265 (1.147–1.395, p

In order to explore the deformation law of nanoindentation dislocation on different crystal planes of 6H-SiC by cube indenter at high temperature, the (0001), (11¯00) and (21¯1¯0) crystal planes were simulated by molecular dynamics, and changes of dislocation and shear stress under different crystal planes were analyzed. With the deepening of indentation depth, the formation of dislocations on different indentation surfaces has a certain repeatability. The crystal plane (0001) continuously generates horizontal dislocations around the indentation, (11¯00) the crystal plane generates two square dislocation rings moving downward at a time, and (21¯1¯0) the crystal plane generates one square dislocation ring moving downward at a time.

Over time, difficulties have been encountered in detecting potential fingerprints. In this study, an Ag/CMCS/PVA(ACP) hydrogel film was developed for fingerprint development by electron beam radiation method. The chemical bond, thermostability, chemical components, microstructure, and micromorphology of the CMCS/PVA composite hydrogel film were characterized by FT-IR, TG, XRD, and SEM, respectively. Swelling behaviors and mechanical performance of the CMCS/PVA composite hydrogel were also investigated at different irradiation doses, pH, media, and NaCl contents to obtain the optimum preparation conditions. Through experimental exploration, we found that the fingerprints appeared more obvious when the irradiated prepared ACP hydrogel film was sprayed with 0.6 mg/mL of Ag+ and the excitation wavelength was about 254 nm with UV lamp irradiation for 20 min. The cytotoxicity the CMCS/PVA composite hydrogel on mouse skin fibroblasts L929 cells was also studied, confirming its biological security. Sweat latent fingerprint manifestation has important scientific significance with respect to the development of new processes and functional materials in the field of fingerprint manifestation, enriching and complementing the application of composite hydrogels.

The mechanisms underlying drug addiction remain nebulous. Furthermore, new psychoactive substances (NPS) are being developed to circumvent legal control; hence, rapid NPS identification is urgently needed. Here, we present the construction of the comprehensive database of controlled substances, AddictedChem. This database integrates the following information on controlled substances from the US Drug Enforcement Administration: physical and chemical characteristics; classified literature by Medical Subject Headings terms and target binding data; absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity; and related genes, pathways, and bioassays. We created 29 predictive models for NPS identification using five machine learning algorithms and seven molecular descriptors. The best performing models achieved a balanced accuracy (BA) of 0.940 with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.986 for the test set and a BA of 0.919 and an AUC of 0.968 for the external validation set, which were subsequently used to identify potential NPS with a consensus strategy. Concurrently, a chemical space that included the properties of vectorised addictive compounds was constructed and integrated with AddictedChem, illustrating the principle of diversely existing NPS from a macro perspective. Based on these potential applications, AddictedChem could be considered a highly promising tool for NPS identification and evaluation.