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A 2D superconductor, named Be2Al and Be2Ga monolayer, containing anti-van’t Hoff/Le Bel planar hexacoordinate Be and Al/Ga bonding was theoretically designed.

A lot of evidence has emphasized the function of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumors’ development and progression. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of lncRNA biomarkers that can predict the prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our goal was to develop a lncRNA marker with prognostic value for the survival of AML. AML patients’ RNA sequencing data as well as clinical characteristics were obtained from the public TARGET database. Then, differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in female and male AML samples. By adopting univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, AML patients’ survival was predicted by a seven-lncRNA signature. It was found that 95 abnormal expressed lncRNAs existed in AML. Then, the analysis of multivariate Cox regression showed that, among them, 7 (LINC00461, RP11-309M23.1, AC016735.2, RP11-61I13.3, KIAA0087, RORB-AS1, and AC012354.6) had an obvious prognostic value, and according to their cumulative risk scores, these 7 lncRNA signatures could independently predict the AML patients’ overall survival. Overall, the prognosis of AML patients could be predicted by a reliable tool, that is, seven-lncRNA prognostic signature.

To investigate the feasibility of automatic machine learning (autoML) based on native T1 mapping to predict late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) status in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Ninety-one HCM patients and 44 healthy controls who underwent cardiovascular MRI were enrolled. The native T1 maps of HCM patients were classified as LGE ( +) or LGE (-) based on location-matched LGE images. An autoML pipeline was implemented using the tree-based pipeline optimization tool (TPOT) for 3 binary classifications: LGE ( +) and LGE (-), LGE (-) and control, and HCM and control. TPOT modeling was repeated 10 times to obtain the optimal model for each classification. The diagnostic performance of the best models by slice and by case was evaluated using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and microaveraged area under the curve (AUC). Ten prediction models were generated by TPOT for each of the 3 binary classifications. The diagnostic accuracy obtained with the best pipeline in detecting LGE status in the testing cohort of HCM patients was 0.80 by slice and 0.79 by case. In addition, the TPOT model also showed discriminability between LGE (-) patients and control (accuracy: 0.77 by slice; 0.78 by case) and for all HCM patients and controls (accuracy: 0.88 for both). Native T1 map analysis based on autoML correlates with LGE ( +) or (-) status. The TPOT machine learning algorithm could be a promising method for predicting myocardial fibrosis, as reflected by the presence of LGE in HCM patients without the need for late contrast-enhanced MRI sequences. • The tree-based pipeline optimization tool (TPOT) is a machine learning algorithm that could help predict late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) status in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. • The TPOT could serve as an adjuvant method to detect LGE by using information from native T1 maps, thus avoiding the need for contrast agent. • The TPOT also detects native T1 map alterations in LGE-negative patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Formamidine lead iodide chalcogenide (FAPbI3) is often used as a light-absorbing layer in solar cells to alleviate the energy crisis because of its own good photovoltaic properties.however, the lack of stability is also an obstacle to the current development. It has been found that doping with different kinds of elements at different sites can enhance its stability and improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency of solar cells. In this paper, the geometry, electronic structure and optical properties of FA1 − xCsxPbI3−yCly were calculated using Cs and Cl co-doped with FAPbI3 using the first nature principle. The analysis revealed that the Goldschmidt factors of the doped system were between 0.962 and 0.974, indicating that the system could maintain a stable chalcogenide structure, and the doped system had lower energy and more stable structure. By calculating the energy bands, it is found that the doped ions have a more pronounced effect on the increase of the dispersion at the bottom of the conduction band than the decrease of the dispersion at the top of the valence band of the system, and the reduction of the effective mass of carriers is more favorable for transport. As for the optical properties, the right amount of doping is favorable to the improvement of light absorption, while the excess doping shortens the light absorption range and weakens the light absorption effect, in which FA0.875Cs0.125PbI2.958Cl0.125 has the largest light absorption coefficient. It is shown that the photoelectric properties of chalcogenide FAPbI3 can be effectively modulated by the co-doping of Cs and Cl, which can provide theoretical reference for the precise preparation of more efficient solar cells experimentally.

Danhong injection (DHI), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) injection that has been widely used to treat coronary heart disease and angina pectoris. However, its underlying pharmacological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Not all patients benefit from DHI to the same extent. We attempted to explore the characteristics of potential therapeutic targets in different responsive populations.This study aimed to reveal the potential molecular mechanisms of DHI in treating chronic stable angina and identify potential therapeutic targets for DHI.Based on a previous phase IV clinical trial of DHI in treating chronic stable angina, drug response modules were identified through structural entropy and similarity. Drug response-related genes were screened out based on the correlations between drug response module/module-related genes and clinical features and were assessed using a random forest model. Further validation was conducted using a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model.Seven DHI-related response modules were identified. Eight drug response-related genes were screened out, and principal component analysis showed that DHI responders were distinguished from responders in the control group based on their expression values. The combination of the two most important genes, SHC4 and PIP5K1P1, discriminated between responders and nonresponders with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.714; however, no significant difference was found in the AUC between the combination and a single gene. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction showed that middle-dose DHI treatment significantly decreased SHC4 mRNA expression compared with that in the H/R group (P = 0.026), a finding consistent with our previous analysis of differentially expressed genes.DHI comprehensively exerted a therapeutic effect by acting on multiple response modules related to angina pectoris and drug response-related genes. Our findings indicate that the dimensionality reduction strategy based on the target network-drug response module-therapeutic targets can contribute to revealing the mechanism of action of TCM compounds and guiding precise clinical medication.

To explore the diagnostic performance of deep learning (DL) model in early detection of the interstitial myocardial fibrosis using native T1 maps of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE).Sixty HCM patients and 44 healthy volunteers who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance were enrolled in this study. Each native T1 map was labeled according to its LGE status. Then, native T1 maps of LGE (-) and those of the controls were preprocessed and entered in the SE-ResNext-50 model as the matrix for the DL model for training, validation and testing.A total of 241 native T1 maps were entered in the SE-ResNext-50 model. The model achieved a specificity of 0.87, sensitivity of 0.79, and area under curve (The DL model based on SE-ResNext-50 could be used for identifying native T1 maps of LGE (-) with relatively high accuracy. It is a promising approach for early detection of myocardial fibrosis in HCM without the use of contrast agent.

In the fields of chemical graph theory, topological index is a type of a molecular descriptor that is calculated based on the graph of a chemical compound. In this paper, M-polynomial OKn and OPn networks are computed. The M-polynomial is rich in information about degree-based topological indices. By applying the basic rules of calculus on M-polynomials, the first and second Zagreb indices, modified second Zagreb index, general Randić index, inverse Randić index, symmetric division index, harmonic index, inverse sum index, and augmented Zagreb index are recovered.

This study investigates the effect of block ownership (institutions and state) on CEO compensation and the extent to which gender diversity in the corporate board moderates this nexus during the period from 2008 to 2016 in all Chinese A-share listed firms. The empirical findings of our study are twofold. First, our results indicate that institutional ownership has a positive and significant impact on CEO compensation, while state ownership has a negative and significant impact on CEO compensation. Second, by analysing the moderating role of gender diversity, our results show that gender diversity negatively (positively) moderates the relationship between institutional (state) ownership and CEO compensation. These findings are robust with the use of an alternative measure of CEO compensation and estimation techniques. Overall, our study supports the resource dependence perspective of the moderating role of board gender diversity. Refereed/Peer-reviewed

BACKGROUND Aspirin hyporesponsiveness increases the risk of ischemic events. Therefore, it is important to investigate the factors influencing aspirin hyporesponsiveness. MATERIAL AND METHODS Patients aged 60 years or older who did not take aspirin before enrollment were included, with aspirin 100 mg/day administered after enrollment. The arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation rate (Ara) was measured by light transmission assay to evaluate aspirin responsiveness. Patients with Ara in the upper quartile after taking aspirin were assigned to the aspirin hyporesponsive group (Ara-Q4). RESULTS A total of 292 elderly patients were included. The median value of Ara after taking aspirin was 5.87% (interquartile range 3.86-10.04%). Compared with the aspirin non-hyporesponsive group (Ara-Q1-3, Ara ≤10.04%, n=220), the level of uric acid (UA) (341.30 µmol/L vs. 299.10 µmol/L, p=0.027) and the ratios of s-blockers (9.72% vs. 2.27%, p=0.015) and diuretics (6.94% vs. 1.36%, p=0.036) were higher in the aspirin hyporesponsive group (Ara-Q4, Ara >10.04%, n=72). After multivariate adjustment, the results demonstrated baseline Ara (odds ratio [OR]: 1.030, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.004-1.056, p=0.021), UA level (OR: 1.003, 95% CI: 1.000-1.006, p=0.038), and s-blockers use (OR: 5.487, 95% CI: 1.515-19.870, p=0.010) were independently and positively associated with aspirin hyporesponsiveness. CONCLUSIONS This study found that baseline Ara, UA level, and s-blockers use were independently and positively associated with aspirin hyporesponsiveness in elderly Chinese patients, which needs to be validated in large-scale studies.

Background: Tracheal mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare form of non-small cell lung carcinoma and is defined as a tumor characterized by a combination of squamous, mucus-secreting, and intermediate cell types. This carcinoma is usually located in the lobar or segmental bronchus. Currently, surgery is the preferred treatment for this disease, which includes pneumonectomy, lobectomy, and sleeve lobectomy. Case presentation: A 50-year-old Chinese male presented with cough, shortness of breath and hemoptysis, and the effect of antibiotic therapy was not good. Subsequently, the airway occupied lesion was found by chest CT, and he was transferred to our hospital for surgical resection. Histologically, the tumor contained squamous epidermal cells, mucoepidermoid cells and intermediate cells. Immunohistochemistrically, the tumor cells were positive for p63, CK5/6, CK7 and Ki67. However, the tumor is generally negative for TTF-1 and neuroendocrine markers. The patient had no recurrence 15 months after the surgery.Conclusions: We report a rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the distal trachea in which the surgery was difficult and could not be performed like a traditional pulmonary resection. We first provide a comprehensive description of airway management and anesthesia intubation. After surgery, we reviewed the literature and found that PD-1/PD-L1 detection had never been reported in tracheal mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Therefore, we studied the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in this patient, and the results were negative, which may indicate that potential adjuvant therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is not useful in this case.

Purposes: The purposes of this review were to compare sensitivity and specificity of the new generation tympanic thermometry under different cutoffs and to give the optimal cutoff. Methods: Articles were derived from a systematic search in PubMed, Web of science, and Embase, and were assessed for internal validity by QUADAS-Ⅱ. The figure of risk of bias was drew by Review Manager 5.3 and data were synthesized by MetaDisc 1.4. Results: Nineteen diagnostic studies, involving 4,639 pediatric patients, were included. The cut-offs varied from 37.0℃ to 38.0℃ among these studies. The cut-off 37.8 was with the highest sROC AUC (0.97) and Youden Index (0.83) and was deemed to be the optimal cutoff. Conclusion: New Generation Tympanic Thermometry is with high diagnostic accuracy in pediatric patients and can be an alternative for rectal measurements.

To explore the influence of calibration position on digital image correlation measurement of dual cameras in engineering application, an experimental method of displacement stepping for digital image correlation measurement of dual cameras under different calibration locations is designed. Through precise displacement stepping of samples, the results of digital image correlation measurement and dial gauge measurement are compared. The influence of different calibration locations on the measurement results of digital image correlation method with dual cameras is analyzed. The results show that when the calibration position and collection conditions are unified, there will be no large displacement measurement error, and the discreteness of repeated measurement results is relatively small. The calibration position has more influence on the measurement of ordinary glass in the measuring optical path than that of quartz glass. The relative error caused by calibration position is relatively large for small displacement measurement and relatively small for large displacement measurement

The DNS method is used to calculate the unsteady flowfield around blunt cone under the action of a single frequency finite amplitude continuous entropy wave. The hypersonic flowfield response to single frequency finite amplitude entropy wave is investigated, and the hypersonic boundary layer receptivity features under single frequency finite amplitude disturbance are explored. The results find that the strong disturbance wave is produced by the interaction of freestream wave with shock wave and boundary layer, and there are regular high-entropy and low-entropy regions in the downstream evolution process. The frequency characteristics of boundary layer disturbance wave are directly related to freestream disturbance wave, and the frequency characteristics become weaker as the disturbance wave evolves downstream. During the development of disturbance downstream, the second, third and fourth (f2-f4) order modes in the boundary layer increase relatively. The central disturbance modes of the nose region are the fundamental mode in the boundary layer, and the main disturbance modes in the boundary layer of the downstream region of the flowfield are composed of the fundamental mode (f1) and the second, third and fourth (f2-f4) order modes.

This study examines the impact of chief executive officer (CEO) attributes on sustainable performance, environmental performance, and environmental reporting, which are motivated by institutionally driven environmental policies, regulations, and management in the context of Chinese listed firms. With the use of a comprehensive dataset of 2,854 Chinese listed firms over the 2010–2017 period (i.e., making over 16,000 individual firm-year observations), our findings are fourfold. First, our overall findings reveal that CEOs with research background tend to engage more in activities that improve sustainable performance, environmental performance, and environmental reporting than do those without research background. Second, CEOs with financial expertise are positively linked with increased sustainable performance and environmental reporting. Third, CEOs with foreign exposure are more eager to engage in activities that enhance sustainable and environmental performance than do those without foreign exposure. Fourth, young CEOs tend to take actions that reduce both sustainable and environmental performance than do their older counterparts. We interpret our results within upper echelons theoretical perspective. The results are robust to alternative measures, potential endogeneities, and sample selection problems.

In this article, the percolation threshold for tensile strength of polymer/CNT nanocomposites (PCNT) is studied by known Pukanszky model. Since the network of nanoparticles forms at very low concentration of CNT, the filler network shows strengthening efficiency in PCNT beside the interphase regions surrounding nanoparticles. The Pukanszky model is developed by the properties of network such as density (N) and strength (σN). The suggested equations are applied in some samples and the results are explained. Also, the effects of several parameters such as “N”, “σN” and percolation volume fraction ( ϕ p ) on the strength of PCNT are plotted based on the developed model. The direct influences of “N” and “σN” as well as the inverse effect of “ ϕ p ” on the tensile strength of PCNT are displayed. The “σN” parameter only changes the strength of PCNT at low “ ϕ p ”, which shows the important role of percolation level.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complicated neurodegenerative disease attributed to multifactorial changes. However, its pathological mechanism remains undetermined. Accumulating evidence has revealed the emerging functions of gut microbiota and microbial metabolites, which can affect both the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Accordingly, intestinal dysbiosis might be closely associated with PD. This review explores alterations to gut microbiota, correlations with clinical manifestations of PD, and briefly probes the underlying mechanisms. Next, the highly controversial roles of microbial metabolites including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), H2 and H2S are discussed. Finally, the pros and cons of the current treatments for PD, including those targeting microbiota, are assessed. Advancements in research techniques, further studies on levels of specific strains and longitudinal prospective clinical trials are urgently needed for the identification of early diagnostic markers and the development of novel therapeutic approaches for PD.

The Tandon–Weng expression of the Mori–Tanaka theory comprises some complex terms for estimating Young’s modulus in composites, which limit its application to polymer nanocomposites. In this article, this model is simplified for clay/polymer nanocomposites (CPNs). The original model demonstrates that the Poisson ratio and modulus of the matrix, as well as the aspect ratio, modulus, and concentration of the filler, play chief roles in determining the modulus. However, the simplified Tandon–Weng model shows that some parameters, such as the modulus of nanoparticles, do not affect the modulus of CPNs. The moduli calculated by the simplified model are compared with experimental measurements of several samples as well as to predictions made by other known models (e.g., the Halpin–Tsai model).

Objective: To study the renal function, peroxidation damage and inflammatory injury after epalrestat combined with alprostadil treatment of early diabetic nephropathy. Methods: 90 patients with early diabetic nephropathy treated in our hospital between June 2011 and November 2015 were collected and divided into observation group and control group (n=45) according to the single-blind randomized control method. Observation group received epalrestat combined with alprostadil treatment, control group received alprostadil treatment alone, and the treatment of both groups lasted for 3 months. Before treatment and after 3 months of treatment, turbidimetric immunoassay was used to detect the renal function indexes in peripheral blood, rate method was used to detect the renal function indexes in urine, and ELISA method was used to detect the levels of peroxidation indexes and inflammation indexes. Results: Before treatment, differences in renal function, peroxidation damage and inflammatory damage indexes were not statistically significant between two groups of patients (P>0.05). After 3 months of treatment, creatinine (Scr), cystatin C (CysC), β2 microglobulin (β2-MG), N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), reactive oxygen species (ROS), advanced protein oxidation products (AOPPs), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-27 (IL-27) and procalcitonin (PCT) levels of observation group were lower than those of control group while catalase (CAT), total superoxide dismutase (TSOD), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) levels were higher than those of control group (P

This 2-year longitudinal study aimed to detect the associations of sex steroids, sex hormone-binding globulin with bone parameters and the changes thereof in Chinese male adolescents. A total of 642 male students aged 12-16 years from a secondary school in Jiangmen, China, were included. Total testosterone (T), total oestradiol (E2), and sex hormone-binding globulin were measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. The bioavailable T (BioT) and E2 (BioE2) were calculated. The speed of sound, broadband ultrasound attenuation, and stiffness index of the right heel were measured by Sahara Clinical Bone Sonometer at both baseline and 2-year follow-up. The confounding effects of age, height, weight, pubertal stage, physical activity, energy-adjusted dietary calcium intake, and dietary vitamin D intake were adjusted. The baseline value of each bone parameter was also adjusted in the longitudinal analysis. Results showed that total T and BioT were positively associated with bone parameters and changes in them (β = 0.076-0.115, p0.05). A threshold effect of BioT on broadband ultrasound attenuation, stiffness index and their changes were also observed. Positive associations between BioT and bone mass gain were observed only in individuals with BioT levels240.0 ng/dl (β = 0.088-0.131, p0.05). Moreover, total E2 or BioE2 were found to be inversely associated with speed of sound and its change (β = -0.109 to -0.077, p0.05). This study supported that in Chinese male adolescents, serum T was a positive predictor for bone formation with a threshold effect, and E2 could have influence on the changes in bone architecture during puberty. These findings may improve the understanding of the effects of sex steroids on the acceleration of bone formation in male adolescents and provide useful information for the prediction model establishment of peak bone mass.

Hematuria is the most typical presentation of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN); however, its role in disease progression is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the association of hematuria and progression of IgAN.Retrospective cohort study.A cohort of 1,333 patients with IgAN treated at a Chinese referral hospital with a median follow-up of 45 months.Microhematuria was evaluated in fresh urine using a fully automated urine particle analyzer (automated method) and urine sediment examination by a skilled examiner (manual method). Hematuria was characterized as a time-varying attribute; namely, average hematuria level was calculated for every 6-month period for each patient during follow-up. Remission was defined as average red blood cell count ≤5/high-power field (manual method) or ≤28 red blood cells/μL (automated method) during the first 6 months of follow-up.Composite event of 50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate or development of kidney failure.Multivariable cause-specific hazards models to analyze the relationship between hematuria and the composite kidney disease progression event.Time-varying hematuria during follow-up was an independent risk factor for the composite kidney disease progression event (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.13-1.87; P = 0.003). Hematuria remission during the 6 months after diagnosis was associated with a significantly lower rate of the composite kidney disease progression event (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.28-0.61; P 0.001). A significant interaction was detected between remission of proteinuria and remission of hematuria during the first 6 months (P 0.001). The association between remission of hematuria and kidney disease progression was detectable (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.32-0.68) within the subpopulation with persistent proteinuria (protein excretion1.0 g/d during the first 6 months), but not among patients whose proteinuria had remitted (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.31-1.29; P = 0.2). The 2 techniques for hematuria evaluation were strongly and significantly linearly correlated (r = 0.948; P 0.001), and results using these 2 methods were consistent.A single-center retrospective study. Proportional hazards regression incorporating time-varying covariates may create time-varying confounding. The predictive value of reductions in hematuria was not directly evaluated.Level of hematuria was independently associated with kidney disease progression, whereas hematuria remission was associated with improved kidney outcomes in IgAN among patients with persistent proteinuria. Additionally, to monitor IgAN progression, automated methods to evaluate hematuria hold promise as a replacement for manual evaluation of urinary sediment.

This study examines the impact of CEO attributes on sustainable performance, environmental performance and environmental reporting, which are motivated by institutionally-driven environmental policies, regulations, and management in the context of Chinese listed firms. Using a comprehensive dataset of 2,854 Chinese listed firms over the 2010-2017 period (i.e., making over 16,000 individual firm-year observations), our findings are four-fold. First, our overall findings reveal that CEOs with research background tend to engage more in activities that improve sustainable performance, environmental performance, and environmental reporting compared with those that are not. Second, CEOs with financial expertise are positively linked with increased sustainable performance and environmental reporting. Third, CEOs with foreign exposure are more eager to engage in activities that enhance sustainable and environmental performance than those that are not. Fourth, young CEOs tend to take actions that reduce both sustainable and environmental performance than their older counterparts. We interpret our results within upper echelons theoretical perspective. The results are robust to alternative measures, potential endogeneities and sample selection problems.

Hetero-nanomaterials constructed by plasmonic metals and functional semiconductors show enormous potential in photocatalytic applications, such as in hydrogen production, CO2 reduction, and treatment of pollutants. Their photocatalytic performances can be better regulated through adjusting structure, composition, and components’ arrangement. Therefore, the reasonable design and synthesis of metal/semiconductor hetero-nanostructures is of vital significance. In this mini-review, we laconically summarize the recent progress in efficiently establishing metal/semiconductor nanomaterials for improved photocatalysis. The defined photocatalysts mainly include traditional binary hybrids, ternary multi-metals/semiconductor, and metal/multi-semiconductors heterojunctions. The underlying physical mechanism for the enhanced photocatalysis of the established photocatalysts is highlighted. In the end, a brief summary and possible future perspectives for further development in this field are demonstrated.