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Abstract Background Enterovirus E (EV-E) has been called bovine enterovirus and has been found in both healthy animals and sick animals. To date, the pathogenicity of EV-E in goats is still unclear, and the natural infection of EV-E in goats has not been reported in China. In this study, natural infections of EV-E in goat herds were reported in China. Results From March 2023 to April 2023, an emerging respiratory disease affected goats in 12 backyard farms in Henan Province, central China. To investigate the pathogens associated with the disease, samples were collected: sick group included six lung samples from dead goats and 68 nasal swabs and 68 blood samples from sick goats; health group included 36 nasal swabs and 36 blood samples from healthy goats in the same farms; control group included 15 nasal swabs and 15 blood samples from healthy goats in five different farms. Then, these samples were analysed by serology, isolation and molecular detection methods. By molecular detection, 83.3% (5/6) of lung samples, 51.5% (35/68) of nasal samples, and 33.8% (23/68) of blood samples were positive for EV-E in sick group. Four complete EV-E genomes were successfully sequenced and analysed. Compared with genomic sequences of EV A-J, at the nucleotide level the similarities of VP1, P1 and polyprotein genes of the 4 strains were 35.3% to 80.4%, 40.2% to 79.3%, and 49.5% to 82.0%, respectively. At the amino acid level, the similarities of VP1, P1 and Polyprotein were 38.4% to 87.1%, 42.9% to 88.7%, and 51.4% to 91.6%, respectively. Based on the VP1, P1 and Polyprotein sequences, the four strains were clustered with the subtype EV-E4 isolates. In addition, no recombinant event was observed in the four strains in our work by RDP analysis. Conclusions This is the first molecular evidence of natural infection of genotype E4 in goats with respiratory disease in China. Greater prevention and control measures should be carried out for this disease.

Abstract To investigate the effectiveness of cap-assisted endoscope synchronous advancement and tube direction adjustment for inserting transnasal ileus tubes in patients with malignant adhesive bowel obstruction (MABO). 25 patients with cap-assisted endoscopic synchronous method (Group A, Dec 2023–Apr 2024) were reviewed retrospectively. Accordingly, those with forceps-grasping method (Group B: 27, Aug 2022–Nov 2023) were included as controls. Both groups were similar in terms of age, sex, primary tumor, doctor experience distribution and technical success rate. The proportion of gynecological cancers was the highest in either group. The time required for insertion was shorter in Group A than in Group B (5 vs. 12 min; P = 0.000). Group A also had slightly longer tube insertion length than Group B (129.8 ± 14.1 vs. 121.3 ± 12.0 cm; P = 0.008), and the remission rate of intestinal obstruction symptoms in Group A was similar to that in Group B (75.0% vs. 74.1%; P = 0.940). There were no significant differences in complications between the two groups. One patient suffered MABO recurrence 14 days after withdrawal of the tube. Our findings indicate that transnasal ileus tube insertion with cap-assisted endoscopic synchronous method took shorter time and had the same rate of technical success and advantage of decompression compared with forceps-grasping method.

Abstract Existing research has found that the number, insertion depth and angle, filling rate, and working fluid of heat pipe (HP) can affect the distribution of temperature field inside coal gangue dumps. However, there is relatively little research on the optimal arrangement of heat pipes (HPs) in coal gangue dumps. In response to the above issues, based on the theoretical model of HP heat transfer, the influence of HPs layout on the temperature field of coal gangue dumps is analyzed through a combination of numerical simulation and experiments, and the optimal layout of HPs is obtained. The results show that the presence of HPs can change the heat conduction path in a coal gangue dump and help the coal gangue dumps to dissipate heat in time. As the insertion spacing of the HPs decreases and the insertion depth of the HPs increases, the area of the spontaneous combustion danger zone (SCDZ) decreases, the maximum temperature value (Tmax) decreases, and the better the cooling effect. The influence of the insertion spacing of HPs on the spontaneous combustion volume of coal gangue dumps is greater than the influence of the insertion depth of HPs. When the insertion spacing of HPs is 3 m and the insertion depth of HPs is 7 m, the spontaneous combustion volume and the highest temperature point respectively decrease by 11755m3 and 302.57 ℃, and the cooling effect of coal gangue dumps is the best. Consequently, this study provides a reference for the design and optimization of coal gangue fire fighting engineering with HP application in the future.

ObjectiveTo compare the electroencephalogram power spectrum of patients with primary insomnia and good sleep controls in multiple brain areas and different frequency bands during non-rapid eye movement sleep.Methods48 primary insomnias and 30 age-and gender-matched good sleep controls were recorded overnight with polysomnography. Power spectral analysis was performed in six brain areas (F3, F4, C3, C4, O1 and O2) and across seven frequency bands (delta, sigma, alpha, theta, beta1, beta2, and gamma) during non-rapid eye movement sleep between primary insomnias and good sleep controls.ResultsIn primary insomnias, there were significant differences in frequency bands and areas. Compared to good sleep controls, delta power was lower in primary insomnias, while beta1, beta2, and gamma were higher. Beta2 power was substantially higher in all areas, sigma power was significantly higher on the right side, and gamma power was considerably higher on the left side in primary insomnias. The Beta1 power was positively correlated the number of awakenings (r = 0.3291, p = 0.02) in primary insomnias on the right side.ConclusionThis study marked the first specialized comparison of power spectral analysis during non-rapid eye movement sleep in different areas and across different frequency bands. The result suggested that primary insomnias had reduced deep sleep (lower delta power) and hyperarousal state (higher beta 2 power). Primary insomnia was associated with significant fragmented sleep, and an increase in beta1 power was related to the number of awakenings.SignificanceThese findings revealed the hemispheric lateralization characteristics of power spectral disturbances during non-rapid eye movement sleep in primary insomnias and provided valuable insights for selecting electrode placements in future power spectral analyses of primary insomnias.

Abstract Background This study aims to investigate the association between malnutrition and early childhood caries (ECC) and caries activity among children aged 3–5 years, in order to provide a theoretical basis for preventing and blocking ECC and improving malnutrition. Methods Children aged 3–5 years from six kindergartens in Zhao Xian, China were enrolled in this study. The decayed, missing, filled teeth (dmft) of all children were examined and recorded. The Cariostat method was used to detect dental caries activity, collect anthropometric data and measure haemoglobin concentration. Parents were asked to complete a questionnaire on the general characteristics and oral health behaviour of the participants. The “Growth Standards for Chinese Children Under 7 Years Old” was used to assess the nutritional status of all participating children. Wilcoxon rank sum test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to analyse and evaluate the relationship between ECC, caries activity and malnutrition. Results A total of 635 children who met the criteria were included in this study. After adjusting for confounding factors, logistic regression showed that the risk of ECC was significantly increased in underweight children compared with normal children (OR = 5.43, P

Abstract Background Early childhood caries (ECC) is a challenge for pediatric dentists all over the world, and dietary factor is an important factor affecting the occurrence of ECC. Currently, there is limited research on the impact of dietary nutrient intake from Chinese diets on ECC. The purpose of this study is to explore the correlation of dietary nutrients intake with ECC and caries activity (CA) among children aged 3–5 years, and to provide dietary guidance to slow down the occurrence and development of ECC. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2022. A total of 155 children were divided into three groups: caries-free group, ECC group and Severe early childhood caries (SECC) group according to the caries statues. And according to the caries activity test (CAT) value, they were also divided into three group: low CA group (L-CA), middle CA group (M-CA) and high CA group (H-CA). The 24-hour dietary intake information was collected by mobile phone application (APP). The intake of children’s daily dietary nutrients were calculated referring to “China Food Composition Tables”. Results In this study, 17, 39,and 99 children were diagnosed with caries-free, ECC, and SECC. There were 33, 36, and 86 children diagnosed with L-CA, M-CA, and H-CA. The risk of ECC was increased with the intake of cholesterol(OR = 1.005) and magnesium (OR = 1.026) and decreased with the intake of iron (OR = 0.770). The risk of SECC was increased with the intake of cholesterol (OR = 1.003). The risk of high CA was increased with the intake of cholesterol (OR = 1.002). The combined application of dietary total calories, carbohydrate, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium and selenium in the diagnosis of ECC had an area under ROC curve of 0.741. Conclusions The increased dietary cholesterol intake may be a common risk factor for ECC and high CA in children aged 3–5. The combined application of dietary intake of total calories, carbohydrate, cholesterol, sodium, magnesium and selenium has a higher predictive value for the occurrence of ECC.

Introduction Myocardial injury is a common complication of thoracoscopic surgery. The stellate ganglion block is believed to affect myocardial oxygen consumption. The Stellate Ganglion Block and Myocardial Injury (SGBMI) trial aims to test the hypothesis that stellate ganglion block can reduce the incidence of perioperative myocardial injury in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.Methods and analysis The SGBMI trial is a double-blind, randomised trial comparing the effects of a stellate ganglion block and a sham procedure in patients with cardiovascular risk factors undergoing thoracoscopic surgery. The exclusion criteria include procedure-related contraindications and severe heart failure. The stellate ganglion block or sham procedures will be performed preoperatively. The primary outcome is myocardial injury within 30 days of the follow-up. The main safety outcomes are sepsis, infection and procedure-related complications. We will enrol 248 patients to ensure at least 80% power for the evaluation of the primary outcome. The primary results of the SGBMI trial are expected to be announced by the year 2027.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval for the study is obtained from the Ethics Committee of the Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (approval number: L22-394). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participating patients. The publication of results in a peer-reviewed journal and presentations at conferences are anticipated.Trial registration number ChiCTR2300071469 (registered on 16 May 2023).

It is increasingly urgent to constantly monitor and analyze the carbon emission of international tourism activities. This paper focuses on countries and regions along the Belt and Road (B&R), utilizes the MRIO model to approximate international tourism carbon footprint (ITCT), and analyzes the patterns of carbon transfer. Panel model is further applied to discuss the effects of various influencing factors. The results show that: 1) in 2015, ITCT along the B&R accounts for approximately 40.74% of global carbon emission of the year; 2) ITCT along the B&R experienced continuous growth from 2005 to 2015, with an annual growth rate of 3.22%; 3) individual income level, urbanization, and air passenger volume in the countries along the B&R has positive impact on ITCT, which varies according to the income level of the country. The results are of significance for countries and regions along the B&R to formulate future policies for tourism development.

Untargeted metabolomics can be used for the comprehensive analysis of metabolite profiles in biological samples without preset targets, making them particularly suitable for exploring metabolic characteristics and potential mechanisms in complex diseases. Therefore, in this study, we employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques to analyze the serum metabolic characteristics of patients with pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism (PA-VTE). In this study, 11 pregnant women with VTE and 11 healthy pregnant women were included in the experimental and control groups, respectively. Using GC-MS, we identified 325 metabolites, with the highest proportion being organic oxygen compounds. Using LC-MS, we identified 3104 metabolites, with the highest proportion being acylcarnitine. The results revealed significant differences in the levels of lipids, organic compounds, and other metabolites between patients compared to healthy pregnant women. Pathways such as pyrimidine metabolism, linoleic acid metabolism, and mineral absorption differed between patients with PA-VTE and controls. Furthermore, we identified biomarkers associated with metabolic processes, such as fatty acids and amino acids (2-hydroxyhexanedioic acid, hexadecenal, palmitoylethanolamide, glycerol-1-phosphate, and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosamine). These findings revealed the metabolic characteristics of PA-VTE and provided important clues for further research on its pathophysiological mechanisms. Our findings may contribute to the development of new diagnostic markers and support early diagnosis and treatment of PA-VTE.

Abstract Background The erector spinae plane block (ESPB) is a new analgesic method used in thoracic surgery. However, few studies have characterized their effects on perioperative opioid consumption. We aimed to evaluate the effects of ESPB on perioperative opioid consumption in patients who underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). Methods This was a randomized, observer-blinded clinical trial at a single-centre academic hospital. Eighty patients were scheduled for thoracoscopic segmentectomy or lobectomy by VATS for lung cancer. Forty participants were randomly assigned to ESPB or control group. All patients received intravenous patient-controlled postoperative analgesia. Perioperative opioid consumption, visual analogue scale (VAS) scores, and adverse events were recorded. Results Intraoperative and postoperative opioid consumption and static/dynamic VAS scores were significantly lower in the early hours after VATS in the ESPB group (p

Abstract This study aimed to quantify the association between body mass index (BMI) and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) within the initial 48 h following thoracic surgery for lung cancer. We then explored whether changes in serum inflammatory factor concentrations were related to BMI during the early postoperative period. We conducted a propensity score-matched (PSM), retrospective cohort study at a specialized tertiary medical center. A total of 194 patients aged 18–80 years who underwent thoracic surgery for lung cancer at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January and June 2021 were enrolled. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV during the first 48 h after surgery. Nausea, vomiting or retching at different time periods, severe pain, and concentrations of perioperative serum inflammatory factors including CRP, IL-6, IL-12, and IFN-γ were also assessed. Patients in the high BMI group (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) had a lower incidence of PONV than those in the normal BMI group (18.5–25 kg/m2) within the first 48 h after surgery (22 vs. 50%, p = 0.004). The incidence of nausea was lower at 0–12 h (14.5 vs. 37.1%, p = 0.004) and 12–24 h (8.1 vs. 22.6%, p = 0.025) in the high BMI group after surgery, and the incidence of vomiting was lower at 0–12 h (12.9 vs. 30.6%, p = 0.017) in higher BMI after surgery. We found no significant difference in the incidence of severe pain [severe static pain (p = 0.697) and severe dynamic pain (p = 0.158)]. Moreover, higher concentrations of IL-12 (2.24 ± 2.67 pg/ml vs. 1.48 ± 1.14 pg/ml, p = 0.048) and IFN-γ [1.55 (1.00) pg/ml vs. 1.30 (0.89) pg/ml, p = 0.041] were observed in patients with normal BMI on the first day after surgery. Given this finding, patients with a normal BMI should receive more attention for the prevention of PONV than those with a high BMI following thoracic surgery for lung cancer. Trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn and ChiCTR2100052380 (24/10/2021).

Abstract Background Malnutrition is a common geriatric syndrome that is closely associated with adverse clinical outcomes and poses significant harm to older adults. Early assessment of nutritional status plays a crucial role in preventing and intervening in cases of malnutrition. However, there is currently a lack of measurable methods and biomarkers to evaluate malnutrition in older adults accurately. The aim of this study is to investigate the independent correlation between serum levels of amino acids and malnutrition in older adults, and to identify effective metabolomics biomarkers that can aid in the early detection of geriatric malnutrition. Methods A total of 254 geriatric medical examination participants from Beijing Hospital were included in the study, consisting of 182 individuals with normal nutritional status (Normal group) and 72 patients at risk of malnutrition or already malnourished (MN group). Malnutrition was assessed using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA-SF). Demographic data were collected, and muscle-related and lipid indexes were determined. Serum amino acid concentrations were measured using isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The correlation between serum amino acid levels and malnutrition was analyzed using non-parametric tests, partial correlation analysis, linear regression, and logistic regression. Results The geriatric MN group exhibited significantly lower serum aromatic amino acid levels (P

In recent years, there has been a notable increase in the frequency and intensity of floods and heavy rains, which has resulted in the frequent inundation of rice-growing areas. Flooding during the heading–flowering stages of early rice can result in significant yield losses. To elucidate the response of rice to sediment content, flooding, and drainage processes and their underlying mechanisms, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sediment contents (S1: 0, S2: 0.10 kg m−3, and S3: 0.25 kg m−3), flooding time (F1: 3 days and F2: 6 days), and drainage time (D1: 3 days and D2: 6 days) during the heading–flowering stage on the oxidation resistance and grain yield of early rice in the Poyang Lake Region. At the same time, an experimental control group (CK) was set up with no sediment, no flooding, or no drainage treatment. The results showed that the flag leaf area of S1F1D2 treatment was diminished by flooding. The relative chlorophyll content (SPAD) reached its lowest value prior to drainage. The treatment of S2F2D1 showed the greatest decrease in SPAD value of 41.57%, which was only 53.88% of that of the control treatment. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed to increase during the flooding period in comparison to the control treatment. The maximum values for these parameters were recorded at 5.68, 3.09, and 1.9 times higher than those of the control treatment, respectively. However, a decrease was observed after drainage. Furthermore, the occurrence of flooding during the early rice heading–flowering stage resulted in a notable reduction in the grain number per spike and the fruiting rate, consequently leading to a considerable decline in grain yields, with a decrease ranging from 31.81% to 69.96%. The findings indicate that flooding during the heading–flowering stage resulted in a reduction in early rice grain yield yet enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the leaves. Regression analyses indicated that a prediction model for the actual yield after flooding stress at the heading–flowering stage of early rice could be constructed using SFW as the independent variable. The findings of this study provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of a scientific and reasonable drainage scheme with the objective of reducing yield loss following rice flooding in the southern rice-growing region of China.

Glioblastoma (GBM) cells have the potential to switch from being “proliferative cells” to peritumoral “invasive cells”. Peritumoral GBM cells have highly invasive properties that allow them to survive surgery, leading to recurrence. The mechanisms underlying the manner in which the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulates the invasiveness of GBM remain unclear. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis revealed heterogeneity in GBM cells, microglia and macrophages. In this study, the Oncostatin M receptor (OSMR) and leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) expression indicated higher invasiveness in core GBM cells. Under environmental stress, the expression of OSMR and LIFR were up-regulated with the effect of hypoxic, acidic, and low-glucose conditions in vitro. Functional experiments revealed that TME stress significantly influences the proliferation, migration and invasion of GBM cells. The differences in core/peripheral TMEs in GBM affected the invasive properties, indicating the significant role of OSMR expression within the TME in tumor progression and postoperative therapy.

Exploring deep learning and its influencing factors is receiving increasing attention. This study examines influencing factors (i.e. self-efficacy, learning engagement, and teacher-student interaction) of high school students' English deep learning in blending courses. Research hypotheses are proposed, and a structural equation model (SEM) of influencing factors of deep learning is built. A sample size of 225 participants was recruited on a voluntary and anonymous basis from a high school in Southwestern China for this study. We find: (1) self-efficacy, learning engagement and teacher-student interaction all predict and have positive impacts on English deep learning; (2) self-efficacy has a positive impact on learning engagement and teacher-student interaction; (3) teacher-student interaction has a positive impact on learning engagement. The findings underscore the importance of self-efficacy, learning engagement, and teacher-student interaction for EFL high school learners to achieve deep learning in a blending context. Drawn from these findings, pedagogical implications for promoting these learners' deep learning are provided.

Background OX40 has been widely studied as a target for immunotherapy with agonist antibodies taken forward into clinical trials for cancer where they are yet to show substantial efficacy. Here, we investigated potential mechanisms of action of anti-mouse (m) OX40 and anti-human (h) OX40 antibodies, including a clinically relevant monoclonal antibody (mAb) (GSK3174998) and evaluated how isotype can alter those mechanisms with the aim to develop improved antibodies for use in rational combination treatments for cancer.Methods Anti-mOX40 and anti-hOX40 mAbs were evaluated in a number of in vivo models, including an OT-I adoptive transfer immunization model in hOX40 knock-in (KI) mice and syngeneic tumor models. The impact of FcγR engagement was evaluated in hOX40 KI mice deficient for Fc gamma receptors (FcγR). Additionally, combination studies using anti-mouse programmed cell death protein-1 (mPD-1) were assessed. In vitro experiments using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) examining possible anti-hOX40 mAb mechanisms of action were also performed.Results Isotype variants of the clinically relevant mAb GSK3174998 showed immunomodulatory effects that differed in mechanism; mIgG1 mediated direct T-cell agonism while mIgG2a acted indirectly, likely through depletion of regulatory T cells (Tregs) via activating FcγRs. In both the OT-I and EG.7-OVA models, hIgG1 was the most effective human isotype, capable of acting both directly and through Treg depletion. The anti-hOX40 hIgG1 synergized with anti-mPD-1 to improve therapeutic outcomes in the EG.7-OVA model. Finally, in vitro assays with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs), anti-hOX40 hIgG1 also showed the potential for T-cell stimulation and Treg depletion.Conclusions These findings underline the importance of understanding the role of isotype in the mechanism of action of therapeutic mAbs. As an hIgG1, the anti-hOX40 mAb can elicit multiple mechanisms of action that could aid or hinder therapeutic outcomes, dependent on the microenvironment. This should be considered when designing potential combinatorial partners and their FcγR requirements to achieve maximal benefit and improvement of patient outcomes.

AIM: To investigate the underlying mechanism of dry environment (autumn dryness) affecting the lacrimal glands in rats. METHODS: Twenty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. The rats were fed in specific pathogen free environment as the control group (n=10), and the rats fed in dry environment as the dryness group (n=10). After 24d, lacrimal glands were collected from the rats. The tissues morphology was observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Tandem mass tags (TMT) quantitative proteomics analysis technology was used to screen the differential expressed proteins of lacrimal glands between the two groups, then bioinformatics analysis was performed. Further, the immunohistochemical (IHC) method was used to verify the target proteins. RESULTS: In dryness group, the lacrimal glands lobule atrophied, the glandular cavities enlarged, the sparse nuclear distribution and scattered inflammatory infiltration between the acinus were observed. The proteomics exhibited that a total of 195 up-regulated and 236 down-regulated differential expressed proteins screened from the lacrimal glands of rats. It was indicated that the biological processes (BP) of differential expressed proteins mainly included cell processes and single BP. The cellular compositions of differential expressed proteins mainly located in cells, organelles. The molecular functions of differential expressed proteins mainly included binding, catalytic activity. Moreover, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that the differential expressed proteins mainly involved lysosome, complement and coagulation cascade, and ribosome pathway. The IHC result verified that the up-regulated expression proteins of Protein S100A9 (S100A9), Annexin A1 (Anxa1), and Clusterin (Clu) in lacrimal glands of rats in dryness group were higher than control group. CONCLUSION: The up-regulated expression proteins of S100A9, Anxa1, and Clu may be the potential mechanisms of dry eye symptoms caused by dry environment. This study provides clues of dry environments causing eye-related diseases for further studies.

Objective To construct and validate a nomogram prediction model for acute kidney injury （AKI） after heart valve replacement （HVR）. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted by selecting 150 patients with heart valve disease after HVR at Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022 as a training population. The postoperative incidence of AKI within 7 days was statistically analyzed. According to the occurrence of AKI, they were assigned into two groups of AKI and non-AKI. The relevant clinical data of two groups were compared and the influencing factors of AKI after HVR examined by Logistic regression. And a Nomogram prediction model was constructed on the basis of various influencing factors. Another 150 patients with cardiac valve disease after HVR were selected as a validation population during the same period according to the 1∶1 matching principle. The value and clinical utility of this model in predicting AKI after HVR were evaluated through receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve and decision curve analysis （DCA） for external validation. Results The postoperative incidence of AKI within 7 days post-HVR was 34.67%（52/150）. In AKI group, proportion of male, age, proportion of diabetes mellitus （DM）, hypertension, renal dysfunction, history of cardiac surgery, red blood cell distribution width （RDW）, serum homocysteine （Hcy） and serum cystatin C （Cys C） were 67.31%, （61.23 ± 6.35） year, 26.92%, 48.08%, 34.62%, 38.46%, （0.71 ± 0.22）%, （16.10 ± 4.28） μmol/L and （2.03 ± 0.57） mg/L. They were higher than （41.84%）, （54.26 ± 5.19） year, 10.20%, 24.49%, 9.18%, 13.27%, （0.39 ± 0.12）%, （13.65 ± 3.71） μmol/L and （1.02 ± 0.45） mg/L in non-AKI group. Preoperative nutritional risk index （NRI） was lower than non-AKI group [（82.34 ± 9.20） vs （113.57 ± 10.58）]. Extracorporeal circulation time and aortic occlusion time were [（98.12 ± 18.69） vs （84.19 ± 15.37） min] and [（84.27 ± 16.73） vs （73.58 ± 15.11） min]. The differences were statistically significant （P＜0.05）. Gender （OR = 5.810）, age （OR = 5.380）, DM （OR = 5.113）, hypertension （OR = 5.625）, renal dysfunction （OR = 7.825）, history of cardiac surgery （OR = 6.935）, preoperative NRI （OR = 7.630）, RDW （OR = 6.495）, serum Hcy （OR = 3.244）, Cys C （OR = 6.819）, cardiopulmonary bypass time （OR = 3.604） and aortic occlusion time （OR = 3.374） were all influencing factors for AKI post-HVR （P＜0.05）. A nomogram prediction model was employed for predicting the post-HVR occurrence of AKI. External validation indicated that its area under the curve （AUC） was 0.864（95%CI: 0.815-0.901） with a predictive sensitivity and specificity of 86.01% and 85.36% respectively. And DCA showed that the model demonstrated an excellent clinical efficacy in predicting the post-HVR occurrence of AKI. Conclusion The influencing factors for AKI post-HVR include gender, age, DM, hypertension, renal dysfunction, history of cardiac surgery, preoperative NRI, RDW, serum levels of Hcy and Cys C, extracorporeal circulation time and aortic occlusion time. A nomogram prediction model based upon the above factors may assist in clinical screening of high-risk AKI patients.

Abstract Background Vitamin D deficiency and systemic inflammation share common pathological mechanisms in muscle loss, cardio-pulmonary function decline, and abnormal metabolism, which are linked to chronic conditions, senescence, and early mortality. However, their combined effect on mortality in older adults has not been well established. This study longitudinal aimed to explore the independent and combined associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with mortality risk in Chinese community-based older people. Methods 3072 older adults (86.07 ± 11.87 years, 54.52% female) from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (2012–2018) were enrolled. Baseline 25(OH)D and hs-CRP levels were collected, and survival information was recorded in the 2014 and 2018 follow-up waves. Cox proportional hazard regressions were conducted to explore the associations between 25(OH)D, hs-CRP, and mortality. Demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and chronic disease biomarkers were adjusted. Results During 10,622.3 person-years of follow-up (median: 3.51 years), 1321 older adults died, including 448 deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Increased mortality risk was associated with lower 25(OH)D and higher hs-CRP quantiles, even after adjusting for each other and multiple covariates (all P-trend 0). Conclusions Low 25(OH)D and high hs-CRP, both independently and jointly, increase mortality risk in Chinese community-dwelling older adults. Thus, priority should be given to early detection and appropriate intervention in older individuals with combined vitamin D deficiency and systemic inflammation. Molecular mechanisms of related adverse health effect are worthy of further investigation.

To attain high-performance ejector configurations, an ejection characteristic testing system was established initially to validate the reliability of the Realizable k-ε turbulent model. Subsequently, optimization investigations were conducted on lobed nozzle ejectors with various structural parameters. The effects of four key structural parameters, including lobed nozzle expansion angle α, lobed nozzle width d, number of lobes in the nozzle n, and height of the square-to-circle section h, were systematically studied. Furthermore, the CRITIC method was employed for multi-objective evaluation to identify the optimal design configuration for the casing ejector. The research findings revealed that among the structural parameters, the lobed nozzle expansion angle α exerted the greatest influence on the ejection coefficient and pressure loss coefficient. The weights of the evaluation criteria were determined by the CRITIC method as follows: ejection coefficient (49.38%) < pressure loss coefficient (50.62%). The optimal design configuration determined by the CRITIC method included α = 45°, d = 150 mm, n = 14, and h = 600 mm. The resulting enclosure design ensures smooth airflow within the system, preventing the backflow of high-temperature mainstream fluid and heating the enclosure. It also maintains a temperature distribution in the typical cross-section that meets specified requirements. Additionally, it facilitates improved mixing of mainstream and secondary fluid and reduces exhaust gas temperature.

Land use change is a key factor affecting the carbon storage of terrestrial ecosystems. Most studies focus on formulating different land development strategies to mitigate the adverse impacts of land development, while fewer discuss the effectiveness of these strategies. In the context of varying socio-economic development and limited budgets for ecological conservation, evaluating effectiveness is essential for selecting the most suitable land development strategy. This research proposed a Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation-Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs–Propensity Score Matching (PLUS-InVEST-PSM) model to evaluate the effectiveness of different land use development strategies in the Greater Bay Area of China as a case study. Specifically, this study analyzed the historical land use changes from 2000 to 2020 and mapped the multi-scenario patterns of land use and carbon storage with the PLUS and the InVEST models from 2030 to 2050. Then, this study employed the PSM model, along with a series of criteria (i.e., similar ecological backgrounds and parallel historical trends), to evaluate the effectiveness of the ecological development strategy and ecological protection redlines on carbon storage compared with the natural development strategy. The results indicate that the ecological development strategy and the ecological protection redline can prevent the decline in carbon storage. However, in the ecological development strategy, implementing the ecological redline policy may hinder the growth of carbon storage within the ecological redline area. Compared with the PLUS-InVEST-PSM model, the comparison between the subregions could underestimate the efficiencies of evaluation, partly due to underestimating the negative impact of urban development on carbon storage. These findings will help governments develop comprehensive and systematic land use policies to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Also, the approach would help to further explore the broader impacts of land use development strategies on the overall regional ecological environment, such as biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Current predictions of battery HGR (heat generation rate) mainly rely on Bernardi’s empirical equations, which suffer from limitations of adaptability for thermal use. A novel scheme based on experiments and BPNN (BP (back propagation) neural network is a multilayer feedforward neural network trained according to the error back propagation algorithm) is proposed in this paper. In the experiments, the thermal generation behavior of 18650 batteries under 108 different operating conditions was investigated, and the Ta(ambient temperature) as well as ID(discharge current) were extracted as inputs to the BPNN model. The experimental results show that the heat generation performance of the battery is strongly influenced by Taand ID. The higher Taand ID, the more obvious this effect is. The maximum error of the battery HGR obtained by using Bernardi’s empirical equations can reach 45.2 %. The predicted battery HGR using BPNN has good accuracy with error control within 5%. Accordingly, this paper provides the technical basis for proposing a promising thermal management solution.

Abstract Background Postoperative pain remains a significant concern following uniportal thoracoscopic surgery. The analgesic efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) and serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) in terms of postoperative opioid consumption in uniportal thoracoscopic surgery still needs further studies. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted, enrolling 150 patients who underwent uniportal thoracoscopic lobectomy. The patients were randomly allocated to three groups in a 1:1:1 ratio: the ESPB group (administered 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine), the SAPB group (administered 20 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine), and the standard care (control) group. The primary endpoint was the consumption of sufentanil during the first 24 h following surgery. Secondary endpoints assessed the area under the curve (AUC) of pain numerical rating scale (NRS) scores, occurrence of moderate to severe pain, time to initial sufentanil request, and postoperative adverse events. Results No significant difference was observed in the consumption of sufentanil during the first 24 h following surgery between the ESPB and SAPB groups (adjusted difference, 1.53 [95% CI, -5.15 to 2.08]). However, in comparison to the control group, both intervention groups demonstrated a significant decrease in sufentanil consumption, with adjusted differences of -9.97 [95% CI, -13.10 to -6.84] for the ESPB group and -12.55 [95% CI, -15.63 to -9.47] for the SAPB group. There were no significant differences in AUC of NRS scores during rest and movement between the ESPB and SAPB groups, with adjusted differences of -7.10 [95% CI, 1.33 to -15.55] for the rest condition and 5.61 [95% CI, -13.23 to 2.01] for the movement condition. At 6 h postoperatively, there were fewer patients with moderate to severe pain in the ESPB group compared with those in the SAPB group (adjusted difference, -1.37% [95% CI, -2.29% to -0.45%]. The time to first sufentanil request significantly differed among the three groups (ESPB vs Control P

Abstract Background Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant worldwide public health concern that necessitates attention. Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a key player in various central nervous system (CNS) diseases, has garnered interest for its potential neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke and epilepsy when deleted. Nonetheless, the specific impact of ASK1 on TBI and its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Notably, mutation of ATP-binding sites, such as lysine residues, can lead to catalytic inactivation of ASK1. To address these knowledge gaps, we generated transgenic mice harboring a site-specific mutant ASK1 Map3k5-e (K716R), enabling us to assess its effects and elucidate potential underlying mechanisms following TBI. Methods We employed the CRIPR/Cas9 system to generate a transgenic mouse model carrying the ASK1-K716R mutation, aming to investigate the functional implications of this specific mutant. The controlled cortical impact method was utilized to induce TBI. Expression and distribution of ASK1 were detected through Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. The ASK1 kinase activity after TBI was detected by a specific ASK1 kinase activity kit. Cerebral microvessels were isolated by gradient centrifugation using dextran. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to evaluate blood–brain barrier (BBB) damage. BBB ultrastructure was visualized using transmission electron microscopy, while the expression levels of endothelial tight junction proteins and ASK1 signaling pathway proteins was detected by Western blotting. To investigate TBI-induced neuroinflammation, we conducted immunofluorescence staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and flow cytometry analyses. Additionally, immunofluorescence staining and electrophysiological compound action potentials were conducted to evaluate gray and white matter injury. Finally, sensorimotor function and cognitive function were assessed by a battery of behavioral tests. Results The activity of ASK1-K716R was significantly decreased following TBI. Western blotting confirmed that ASK1-K716R effectively inhibited the phosphorylation of ASK1, JNKs, and p38 in response to TBI. Additionally, ASK1-K716R demonstrated a protective function in maintaining BBB integrity by suppressing ASK1/JNKs activity in endothelial cells, thereby reducing the degradation of tight junction proteins following TBI. Besides, ASK1-K716R effectively suppressed the infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the brain parenchyma, decreased the number of proinflammatory-like microglia/macrophages, increased the number of anti-inflammatory-like microglia/macrophages, and downregulated expression of several proinflammatory factors. Furthermore, ASK1-K716R attenuated white matter injury and improved the nerve conduction function of both myelinated and unmyelinated fibers after TBI. Finally, our findings demonstrated that ASK1-K716R exhibited favorable long-term functional and histological outcomes in the aftermath of TBI. Conclusion ASK1-K716R preserves BBB integrity by inhibiting ASK1/JNKs pathway in endothelial cells, consequently reducing the degradation of tight junction proteins. Additionally, it alleviates early neuroinflammation by inhibiting the infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the brain parenchyma and modulating the polarization of microglia/macrophages. These beneficial effects of ASK1-K716R subsequently result in a reduction in white matter injury and promote the long-term recovery of neurological function following TBI.

Abstract Background Domestication and introduction of dairy animals facilitated the permanent human occupation of the Tibetan Plateau. Yet the history of dairy pastoralism in the Tibetan Plateau remains poorly understood. Little is known how Tibetans adapted to milk and dairy products. Results We integrated archeological evidence and genetic analysis to show the picture that the dairy ruminants, together with dogs, were introduced from West Eurasia into the Tibetan Plateau since ~ 3600 years ago. The genetic admixture between the exotic and indigenous dogs enriched the candidate lactase persistence (LP) allele 10974A > G of West Eurasian origin in Tibetan dogs. In vitro experiments demonstrate that − 13838G > A functions as a LP allele in Tibetans. Unlike multiple LP alleles presenting selective signatures in West Eurasians and South Asians, the de novo origin of Tibetan-specific LP allele − 13838G > A with low frequency (~ 6–7%) and absence of selection corresponds − 13910C > T in pastoralists across eastern Eurasia steppe. Conclusions Results depict a novel scenario of genetic and cultural adaptations to diet and expand current understanding of the establishment of dairy pastoralism in the Tibetan Plateau.

In the context of global mandates for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education, rural regions face significant hurdles in delivering high-quality language instruction. Generalist teachers in these areas often lack specialized training in EFL, yet are tasked with its instruction. Referred to as L2 generalists, these educators hold a pivotal role in EFL education. However, a notable gap exists in understanding the motivation propelling generalist teachers to undertake EFL instruction, particularly within Chinese rural primary schools, where various challenges persist. Grounded in self-discrepancy theory and possible selves theory, this study examined the way L2 generalist teachers' teaching motivation linked to their various self-concepts as well as their responses to various challenges when delivering EFL teaching in rural elementary schools in China. The study uncovered that the alignment between L2 generalist teachers' ought selves (i.e., the selves that they believe they should be) and ideal selves (i.e., the selves they aspire to become) acted as motivating factors, guiding their active involvement in EFL teaching. However, challenges such as a lack of professionalization and high contextual expectations led to a discrepancy between their actual selves (i.e., the selves they perceive themselves to currently be) and their ought/ideal selves, diminishing their teaching motivation. Furthermore, the presence of ambiguous and conflicting school policies further complicated matters, confusing generalist teachers and eroding their motivation for teaching. Despite experiencing a decline in motivation for EFL teaching, their commitment to their students fostered consistency between their ideal and ought selves, inspiring them to innovate pedagogical strategies within their capabilities. The study's findings hold significance for policymakers and teacher educators, highlighting the necessity of implementing strategies to enhance the professional growth of rural L2 generalist teachers.

BackgroundThe converter stations of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines generate special total electric fields. At present, few investigations have been conducted on total electric fields in the workplace of converter stations from an perspective of occupational health. ObjectiveTo understand the current situation of total electric field strength in the workplace of converter stations. MethodsUsing purposive sampling, a calibrated HDEM-1 direct current (DC) total electric field strength measurement system was used to measure the total electric fields of 12 converter stations serving 6 DC lines in Southeast and Southwest China according to the Measurement method for total electric field strength and ion current density of the converter stations and DC transmission lines (DL/T 1089—2008). The results were evaluated according to occupational exposure limits recommended by The limits of electromagnetic environment at ±800 kV UHV DC converter station (DL/T 275—2012), the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). ResultsA total of 615 check points were planned, the total electric field strength was 0.05-37.05 kV·m−1, and the median was 10.45 kV·m−1. The total electric field strength of 39 check points (6.3%) exceeded 25 kV·m−1 (the limits of ACGIH and ICNIRP), and the total electric field strength of 12 check points (2.0%) exceeded 30 kV·m−1 (the limit of DL/T 275—2012). There were statistically significant differences in the total electric field strength values and the proportions of exceeding 25 kV·m−1 between the neutral regions and the positive regions and between the neutral regions and the negative regions (P < 0.01). The proportion of total electric field strength exceeding 30 kV·m−1 in the negative regions was higher than that in the positive regions (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the total electric field strength of converter stations at different voltage levels and different altitudes (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the proportions of total electric field exceeding 25 kV·m−1 and exceeding 30 kV·m−1 in converter stations at different voltage levels and different altitudes (P > 0.05). ConclusionThe total electric field in some workplace of converter stations exceeds selected limits. Converter station operators may be exposed to high-strength total electric field for a short time.

Exploring the growth and physiological response mechanisms of rice under continuous drought stress circumstances can provide a significant scientific foundation and technological assistance for meeting drought difficulties, improving drought resistance and rice (Oryza sativa L.) output, and ensuring food security. In this study, a rice field experiment was conducted under a rain shelter with five different treatments set up: P1 (drought stress from tillering stage), P2 (drought stress from jointing–booting stage), P3 (drought stress from heading–flowering stage), P4 (drought stress from grain filling stage), and CK (adequate water management throughout the growth stage). Continuous drought stress from different growth stages with four levels (mild, medium, moderate, and severe). The results showed that the effects of different drought stress treatments on rice growth varied significantly. Compared with the CK treatment, plant height was reduced by 12.10%, 8.14%, 3.83%, and 1.06% in the P1, P2, P3, and P4 treatments, respectively, and the number of tillers was reduced by 23.83%, 18.91%, 13.47%, and 8.68%, respectively. With the increase in drought stress levels, SPAD values and Rubisco activity of rice leaf continued to decrease; SOD activity showed a decreasing trend, but the decreasing trend of POD and CAT activities was not significant, while MDA content showed an increasing trend. For yield components, continuous drought stress significantly reduced spike length of rice by an average of 3.5%, effective number of spikes by 18.9%, thousand grain weight by 3.7%, grain number per spike by 11.6%, and fruiting rate by 1.8%, respectively, compared to CK treatments during the growth period. In general, continuous drought stress during the early growth period affected the effective spike number and the grain number per spike. Continuous drought stress after the grain filling stage had the least effect on yield (17.62% of yield reduction), and water use efficiency (1.76 kg m−3) was much higher than other treatments. These researchers’ findings provide insight into how rice physiology and growth react to continuous drought stress, which is significant for agricultural operations.

BackgroundSocial media platforms have gained popularity as communication tools for organizations to engage with clients and the public, disseminate information, and raise awareness about social issues. From a social capital perspective, relationship building is seen as an investment, involving a complex interplay of tangible and intangible resources. Social media–based social capital signifies the diverse social networks that organizations can foster through their engagement on social media platforms. Literature underscores the great significance of further investigation into the scope and nature of social media use, particularly within sectors dedicated to service delivery, such as sexual assault organizations. ObjectiveThis study aims to fill a research gap by investigating the use of Twitter by sexual assault support agencies in Canada. It seeks to understand the demographics, user activities, and social network structure within these organizations on Twitter, focusing on building social capital. The research questions explore the demographic profile, geographic distribution, and Twitter activity of these organizations as well as the social network dynamics of bridging and bonding social capital. MethodsThis study used purposive sampling to investigate sexual assault centers in Canada with active Twitter accounts, resulting in the identification of 124 centers. The Twitter handles were collected, yielding 113 unique handles, and their corresponding Twitter IDs were obtained and validated. A total of 294,350 tweets were collected from these centers, covering >93.54% of their Twitter activity. Preprocessing was conducted to prepare the data, and descriptive analysis was used to determine the center demographics and age. Furthermore, geolocation mapping was performed to visualize the center locations. Social network analysis was used to explore the intricate relationships within the network of sexual assault center Twitter accounts, using various metrics to assess the network structure and connectivity dynamics. ResultsThe results highlight the substantial presence of sexual assault organizations on Twitter, particularly in provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Quebec, underscoring the importance of tailored engagement strategies considering regional disparities. The analysis of Twitter account creation years shows a peak in 2012, followed by a decline in new account creations in subsequent years. The monthly tweet activity shows November as the most active month, whereas July had the lowest activity. The study also reveals variations in Twitter activity, account creation patterns, and social network dynamics, identifying influential social queens and marginalized entities within the network. ConclusionsThis study presents a comprehensive landscape of the demographics and activities of sexual assault centers in Canada on Twitter. This study suggests that future research should explore the long-term consequences of social media use and examine stakeholder perceptions, providing valuable insights to improve communication practices within the nonprofit human services sector and further the missions of these organizations.

Introduction The subtransverse process interligamentary (STIL) plane block is an emerging interfascial plane block that has garnered attention for its potential to provide effective postoperative analgesia for breast and thoracic surgeries. However, a direct comparative assessment between the STIL plane block and the paravertebral block is currently lacking. Consequently, our study aims to assess the analgesic efficacy of the STIL block in comparison to paravertebral block for patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).Methods and analysis This study is a randomised, parallel-controlled, double-blind, non-inferiority trial, with the goal of enrolling 114 participants scheduled for uniportal VATS at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio through block randomisation to receive either the STIL plane block (n=57) or the paravertebral block (n=57). The primary outcome of the study is the area under the curve of Numerical Rating Scale(NRS) scores recorded over a 48-hour period following the surgical procedure. Secondary outcomes encompass the evaluation of Quality of Recovery-40, cumulative sufentanil consumption, serum inflammatory factors, rescue medication usage, the incidence of adverse events and the patient satisfaction scores.Ethics and dissemination This study has received approval from the Medical Ethics Committee of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (approval no. L22-329). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number ChiCTR2200066909.

Background. Diabetic keratopathy (DK) poses a significant challenge in diabetes mellitus, yet its molecular pathways and effective treatments remain elusive. The aim of our research was to explore the pyroptosis-related genes in the corneal epithelium of the streptozocin-induced diabetic rats. Methods. After sixteen weeks of streptozocin intraperitoneal injection, corneal epithelium from three diabetic rats and three normal groups underwent whole-transcriptome sequencing. An integrated bioinformatics pipeline, including differentially expressed gene (DEG) identification, enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, coexpression, drug prediction, and immune deconvolution analyses, identified hub genes and key drivers in DK pathogenesis. These hub genes were subsequently validated in vivo through RT-qPCR. Results. A total of 459 DEGs were screened out from the diabetic group and nondiabetic controls. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis highlighted significant enrichment of the NOD-like receptor, Toll-like receptor, and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Intersection of DEGs and pyroptosis-related datasets showed 33 differentially expressed pyroptosis-related genes (DEPRGs) associated with pathways such as IL-17, NOD-like receptor, TNF, and Toll-like receptor signaling. A competing endogenous RNA network comprising 16 DEPRGs, 22 lncRNAs, 13 miRNAs, and 3 circRNAs was constructed. After PPI network, five hub genes (Nfkb1, Casp8, Traf6, Ptgs2, and Il18) were identified as upregulated in the diabetic group, and their expression was validated by RT-qPCR in streptozocin-induced rats. Immune infiltration characterization showed that diabetic corneas owned a higher proportion of resting mast cells, activated NK cells, and memory-resting CD4 T cells. Finally, several small compounds including all-trans-retinoic acid, Chaihu Shugan San, dexamethasone, and resveratrol were suggested as potential therapies targeting these hub genes for DK. Conclusions. The identified and validated hub genes, Nfkb1, Casp8, Traf6, Ptgs2, and Il18, may play crucial roles in DK pathogenesis and serve as therapeutic targets.

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed healthy aging framework, supposing that intrinsic capacity (IC), environment and their interaction may have influence on functional ability (FA). It was still unclear how the IC level and age-friendly living environment impact on FA. This study aims to confirm the relationship between the IC level and age-friendly living environment with FA, especially in older adults with low IC. Methods Four hundred eighty-five community-dwelling residents aged ≥ 60 years were enrolled. IC constructed by locomotion, cognition, psychological, vitality, and sensory domains was assessed using full assessment tools recommended by WHO. Age-friendly living environment was measured with 12 questions adapted from the spatial indicators framework of age-friendly cities. FA was assessed using activities of daily living (ADL) and one question about mobile payment ability. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the association between IC, environment and FA. The influence of the environment on electronic payment and ADL under the IC layer was assessed. Results Of 485 respondents, 89 (18.4%) had ADL impairment, and 166 (34.2%) had mobile payment function impairment. Limited IC (odds ratio [OR] = 0.783, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.621–0.988) and poor environment (OR = 0.839, 95% CI = 0.733–0.960) were associated with mobile payment ability impairment. Our results suggested that a supportive age-friendly living environment influenced FA was more prominent in older adults with poor IC (OR = 0.650, 95% CI = 0.491–0.861). Conclusions Our results confirmed IC and the environment had an impact on mobile payment ability. The relationship between environment and FA showed differences according to IC level. These findings suggest that an age-friendly living environment is important to maintain and enhance elders’ FA, especially in those with poor IC.

Abstract Background Kinetic estimation provides fitted parameters related to blood flow perfusion and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) transport and intracellular metabolism to characterize hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but usually requires 60 min or more for dynamic PET, which is time-consuming and impractical in a busy clinical setting and has poor patient tolerance. Methods This study preliminarily evaluated the equivalence of liver kinetic estimation between short-term (5-min dynamic data supplemented with 1-min static data at 60 min postinjection) and fully 60-min dynamic protocols and whether short-term 18F-FDG PET-derived kinetic parameters using a three-compartment model can be used to discriminate HCC from the background liver tissue. Then, we proposed a combined model, a combination of the maximum-slope method and a three-compartment model, to improve kinetic estimation. Results There is a strong correlation between the kinetic parameters K 1 ~ k 3, HPI and $${{\varvec{V}}}_{{\varvec{b}}}$$ V b in the short-term and fully dynamic protocols. With the three-compartment model, HCCs were found to have higher k 2, HPI and k 3 values than background liver tissues, while K 1, k 4 and $${{\varvec{V}}}_{{\varvec{b}}}$$ V b values were not significantly different between HCCs and background liver tissues. With the combined model, HCCs were found to have higher HPI, K 1 and k 2, k 3 and $${{\varvec{V}}}_{{\varvec{b}}}$$ V b values than background liver tissues; however, the k 4 value was not significantly different between HCCs and the background liver tissues. Conclusions Short-term PET is closely equivalent to fully dynamic PET for liver kinetic estimation. Short-term PET-derived kinetic parameters can be used to distinguish HCC from background liver tissue, and the combined model improves the kinetic estimation. Clinical relevance statement Short-term PET could be used for hepatic kinetic parameter estimation. The combined model could improve the estimation of liver kinetic parameters. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Background Lamellibrachia luymesi dominates cold sulfide-hydrocarbon seeps and is known for its ability to consume bacteria for energy. The symbiotic relationship between tubeworms and bacteria with particular adaptations to chemosynthetic environments has received attention. However, metabolic studies have primarily focused on the mechanisms and pathways of the bacterial symbionts, while studies on the animal hosts are limited. Results Here, we sequenced the transcriptome of L. luymesi and generated a transcriptomic database containing 79,464 transcript sequences. Based on GO and KEGG annotations, we identified transcripts related to sulfur metabolism, sterol biosynthesis, trehalose synthesis, and hydrolysis. Our in-depth analysis identified sulfation pathways in L. luymesi, and sulfate activation might be an important detoxification pathway for promoting sulfur cycling, reducing byproducts of sulfide metabolism, and converting sulfur compounds to sulfur-containing organics, which are essential for symbiotic survival. Moreover, sulfide can serve directly as a sulfur source for cysteine synthesis in L. luymesi. The existence of two pathways for cysteine synthesis might ensure its participation in the formation of proteins, heavy metal detoxification, and the sulfide-binding function of haemoglobin. Furthermore, our data suggested that cold-seep tubeworm is capable of de novo sterol biosynthesis, as well as incorporation and transformation of cycloartenol and lanosterol into unconventional sterols, and the critical enzyme involved in this process might have properties similar to those in the enzymes from plants or fungi. Finally, trehalose synthesis in L. luymesi occurs via the trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (TPS) and trehalose-6-phosphate phosphatase (TPP) pathways. The TPP gene has not been identified, whereas the TPS gene encodes a protein harbouring conserved TPS/OtsA and TPP/OtsB domains. The presence of multiple trehalases that catalyse trehalose hydrolysis could indicate the different roles of trehalase in cold-seep tubeworms. Conclusions We elucidated several molecular pathways of sulfate activation, cysteine and cholesterol synthesis, and trehalose metabolism. Contrary to the previous analysis, two pathways for cysteine synthesis and the cycloartenol-C-24-methyltransferase gene were identified in animals for the first time. The present study provides new insights into particular adaptations to chemosynthetic environments in L. luymesi and can serve as the basis for future molecular studies on host-symbiont interactions and biological evolution.

Abstract Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a crucial role in cancer metastasis, accompanied with vast epigenetic changes. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular energy sensor, plays regulatory roles in multiple biological processes. Although a few studies have shed light on AMPK regulating cancer metastasis, the inside epigenetic mechanisms remain unknown. Herein we show that AMPK activation by metformin relieves the repressive H3K9me2-mediated silencing of epithelial genes (e.g., CDH1) during EMT processes and inhibits lung cancer metastasis. PHF2, a H3K9me2 demethylase, was identified to interact with AMPKα2. Genetic deletion of PHF2 aggravates lung cancer metastasis and abolishes the H3K9me2 downregulation and anti-metastasis effect of metformin. Mechanistically, AMPK phosphorylates PHF2 at S655 site, enhancing PHF2 demethylation activity and triggering the transcription of CDH1. Furthermore, the PHF2-S655E mutant that mimics AMPK-mediated phosphorylation status further reduces H3K9me2 and suppresses lung cancer metastasis, while PHF2-S655A mutant presents opposite phenotype and reverses the anti-metastasis effect of metformin. PHF2-S655 phosphorylation strikingly reduces in lung cancer patients and the higher phosphorylation level predicts better survival. Altogether, we reveal the mechanism of AMPK inhibiting lung cancer metastasis via PHF2 mediated H3K9me2 demethylation, thereby promoting the clinical application of metformin and highlighting PHF2 as the potential epigenetic target in cancer metastasis.

Abstract Background Vestimentifera (Polychaeta, Siboglinidae) is a taxon of deep-sea worm-like animals living in deep-sea hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, and organic falls. The morphology and lifespan of Ridgeia piscesae, which is the only vestimentiferan tubeworm species found in the hydrothermal vents on the Juan de Fuca Ridge, vary greatly according to endemic environment. Recent analyses have revealed the genomic basis of adaptation in three vent- and seep-dwelling vestimentiferan tubeworms. However, the evolutionary history and mechanism of adaptation in R. piscesae, a unique species in the family Siboglinidae, remain to be investigated. Result We assembled a draft genome of R. piscesae collected at the Cathedral vent of the Juan de Fuca Ridge. Comparative genomic analysis showed that vent-dwelling tubeworms with a higher growth rate had smaller genome sizes than seep-dwelling tubeworms that grew much slower. A strong positive correlation between repeat content and genome size but not intron size and the number of protein-coding genes was identified in these deep-sea tubeworm species. Evolutionary analysis revealed that Ridgeia pachyptila and R. piscesae, the two tubeworm species that are endemic to hydrothermal vents of the eastern Pacific, started to diverge between 28.5 and 35 million years ago. Four genes involved in cell proliferation were found to be subject to positive selection in the genome of R. piscesae. Conclusion Ridgeia pachyptila and R. piscesae started to diverge after the formation of the Gorda/Juan de Fuca/Explorer ridge systems and the East Pacific Rise. The high growth rates of vent-dwelling tubeworms might be derived from their small genome sizes. Cell proliferation is important for regulating the growth rate in R. piscesae.

The high-temperature exhaust gases and the hot surfaces of the ejector device in marine gas turbines generate significant levels of infrared radiation. An appropriate nozzle structure can effectively lower the exhaust gas temperature and reduce the high-temperature radiation surface area, thereby minimizing external infrared radiation. In this study, a numerical simulation of the nozzle structure in the ejector device was conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. By investigating the orthogonal combinations of nozzle inclination angles and the number of nozzles, the temperature distribution and flow characteristics under different operating conditions were analysed. The results showed that as the nozzle inclination angle increased, the entrainment coefficient (Ce) and the temperature ratio at the inlet and outlet (Rt) initially improved but then worsened. Simultaneously, the pressure loss coefficient (Cpl) increased with the inclination angle. The CRITIC weight method was employed to objectively allocate weights to Rt, Ce, and Cpl, determining the optimal solution. The results indicated that Rt and Cpl had significant and similar weights. The optimal solution was found in Case 10 (α = 5°, x = 4), with corresponding evaluation indices of Ce=2.38, Cpl=11.45, and =0.68. This study's findings are of great importance for enhancing the performance of marine gas turbines and reducing external infrared radiation.

IntroductionThe application of U-shaped convolutional neural network (CNN) methods in medical image segmentation tasks has yielded impressive results. However, this structure’s single-level context information extraction capability can lead to problems such as boundary blurring, so it needs to be improved. Additionally, the convolution operation’s inherent locality restricts its ability to capture global and long-distance semantic information interactions effectively. Conversely, the transformer model excels at capturing global information.MethodsGiven these considerations, this paper presents a transformer fusion context pyramid medical image segmentation network (CPFTransformer). The CPFTransformer utilizes the Swin Transformer to integrate edge perception for segmentation edges. To effectively fuse global and multi-scale context information, we introduce an Edge-Aware module based on a context pyramid, which specifically emphasizes local features like edges and corners. Our approach employs a layered Swin Transformer with a shifted window mechanism as an encoder to extract contextual features. A decoder based on a symmetric Swin Transformer is employed for upsampling operations, thereby restoring the resolution of feature maps. The encoder and decoder are connected by an Edge-Aware module for the extraction of local features such as edges and corners.ResultsExperimental evaluations on the Synapse multi-organ segmentation task and the ACDC dataset demonstrate the effectiveness of our method, yielding a segmentation accuracy of 79.87% (DSC) and 20.83% (HD) in the Synapse multi-organ segmentation task.DiscussionThe method proposed in this paper, which combines the context pyramid mechanism and Transformer, enables fast and accurate automatic segmentation of medical images, thereby significantly enhancing the precision and reliability of medical diagnosis. Furthermore, the approach presented in this study can potentially be extended to image segmentation of other organs in the future.

Introduction Postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction (PND), including postoperative delirium (POD), is a common complication in elderly patients after major surgeries, often leading to poor postoperative recovery. Although the pathological mechanism underlying PND is still unclear, postoperative pain is strongly associated with the development of PND. The ultrasound-guided serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) has been reported to relieve postoperative pain in thoracic surgery. Therefore, this prospective trial hypothesises that SAPB may reduce the incidence of PND in the elderly undergoing thoracoscopic lobectomy.Methods and analysis This study is designed as a single-centre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial. A total of 256 elderly patients scheduled to undergo thoracoscopic lobectomy at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital will be randomly assigned to general anaesthesia group or SAPB group. The primary outcome is the incidence of PND 7 days postoperatively or before discharge from hospital. The secondary outcomes include the occurrence of POD, the postoperative pain scores, Quality of Recovery at 1–2 days postoperatively and incidence of PND at 3 months postoperatively. The levels of fasting blood glucose in peripheral blood will be examined before and 1–2 days postoperatively.Ethics and dissemination The trial has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital (identifier: K20-290). All participants will be required to provide written informed consent before any protocol-specific procedures. Findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and in national and/or international meetings to guide future practice.Trial registration number ChiCTR2100052633.

In response to the problems of high-temperature gas intrusion and ablation in the expansion slit between ceramic tiles under complex flow conditions in the floating-wall combustion chamber, as well as the issue of hooks exceeding their service temperature, numerical simulations and analysis were conducted for this paper. The study revealed the mechanisms of gas intrusion and sealing and proposed two evaluation metrics for evaluating the cooling effect: the maximum temperature of the hook and the proportion of high-temperature area on the sidewall of the tile. Furthermore, the CRITIC weighting method was used to analyze the weight of these metrics. Based on this, the spacing, radius, and length effects on sealing and cooling effectiveness were studied, and multi-parameter calculations and optimization were performed. The results showed that the degree of gas intrusion in the transverse slit was significantly higher than that in the longitudinal slit. In addition, the sealing method of the jet impingement could effectively cool the downstream of both the transverse and longitudinal slit. The spacing of the jet impingement holes had the greatest impact on the cooling effect, followed by the radius and length. Finally, when the spacing of the holes is 10 mm, the length is 18.125 mm, and the radius is 1.6 mm, the cooling effect is optimal, with the proportion of high-temperature area on the side wall of the tile being 20.86% and the highest temperature of the hook reaching 836.02 K.

Dendrobium mixture (DM) is a patented Chinese herbal medicine which has been shown to ameliorate type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in vivo and in vitro. We aimed to investigate the underlying mechanism of DM as a therapeutic agent in attenuating liver steatosis in relation to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).DM (16.2 g/kg/d) was administered to db/db mice for 4 weeks. The db/m mice and db/db mice in the control and model groups were given normal saline. Additionally, DM (11.25 g/kg/d) was administered to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, and the serum was collected and used in an experiment involving palmitic acid (PA)-induced human liver HepG2 cells with abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism.In db/db mice, the administration of DM significantly alleviated liver steatosis, including histological damage and cell apoptosis. DM was found to prevent the upregulation of the RAGE and AKT1 proteins in liver tissues. The underlying mechanism of DM was further studied in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Post-DM administration serum from SD rats reduced lipid accumulation and regulated glucose metabolism in HepG2 cells. Consequently, it inhibited RAGE/AKT signaling and restored autophagy activity. The upregulated autophagy was associated with the mTOR-AMPK signaling pathway. Furthermore, post-DM administration serum reduced apoptosis of hepatocytes in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Our study supports the potential use of DM as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of NAFLD in T2DM. The mechanism underlying this therapeutic potential is associated with the downregulation of the AGE/RAGE/Akt signaling pathway.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) 9 is a negative regulator of adipogenic differentiation, which is required for maintenance of healthy adipose tissues. We reported that HDAC9 expression is upregulated in adipose tissues during obesity, in conjunction with impaired adipogenic differentiation, adipocyte hypertrophy, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis, all of which were alleviated by global genetic deletion of Hdac9. Here, we developed a novel transgenic (TG) mouse model to test whether overexpression of Hdac9 is sufficient to induce adipocyte hypertrophy, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis in the absence of obesity. HDAC9 TG mice gained less body weight than wild-type (WT) mice when fed a standard laboratory diet for up to 40 weeks, which was attributed to reduced fat mass (primarily inguinal adipose tissue). There was no difference in insulin sensitivity or glucose tolerance in 18-week-old WT and HDAC9 TG mice; however, at 40 weeks of age, HDAC9 TG mice exhibited impaired insulin sensitivity and glucose intolerance. Tissue histology demonstrated adipocyte hypertrophy, along with reduced numbers of mature adipocytes and stromovascular cells, in the HDAC9 TG mouse adipose tissue. Moreover, increased lipids were detected in the livers of aging HDAC9 TG mice, as evaluated by oil red O staining. In conclusion, the experimental aging HDAC9 TG mice developed adipocyte hypertrophy, insulin resistance, and hepatic steatosis, independent of obesity. This novel mouse model may be useful in the investigation of the impact of Hdac9 overexpression associated with metabolic and aging-related diseases.

Contest Isopsoralen, one of the main active and quality-control compounds in Psoralea corylifolia L. (Fabaceae), has antitumor and oestrogen-like effects. Previous studies demonstrated that isopsoralen induced hepatotoxicity and its long-term exposure led to cholestatic liver injury.Objective This study investigates the effect of three- or seven-day exposure of low dose isopsoralen (80 mg/kg) on bile acid homeostasis in C57BL/6J mice.Materials and methods Forty-two C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control, three- and seven-day groups (n = 14 per group, half female and half male). Isopsoralen suspension was administrated intragastrically at 80 mg/kg once a day. Blood and liver samples were collected to measure biochemical indices and transport of BAs. The histopathology of the liver was also observed. HPLC–MS/MS was also used to measure the BAs profiles and transport activity.Results In the study, isopsoralen increased the levels of serum AST, ALT in three- and seven-day groups, and caused vacuolar degeneration and swelling in the liver. Canalicular efflux transporters BSEP, OSTα, MRP2, MRP3, and basolateral uptake transporters NTCP, OATP4 were inhibited after seven-day-administration. Moreover, amino acid binding enzymes (BAAT and BACS) were also inhibited after seven-day-administration. The composition of BAs changed greatly and the concentration of some unconjugated-BAs which have stronger hydrophobicity, such as CA, CDCA, was significantly increased.Conclusions Isopsoralen (80 mg/kg) caused hepatotoxicity after short-term exposure by inhibiting the expression of efflux transporters, amino acid binding enzymes, and disrupting BAs spectrum.

Abstract Identifying lncRNA-disease associations is conducive to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. Due to the expensive and time-consuming methods verified by biological experiments, prediction methods based on computational models have gradually become an important means of lncRNA-disease associations discovery. However, existing methods still have challenges to make full use of network topology information to identify potential associations between lncRNA and disease in multi-source data. In this study, we propose a novel method called HGNNLDA for lncRNA-disease association prediction. First, HGNNLDA constructs a heterogeneous network composed of lncRNA similarity network, lncRNA-disease association network and lncRNA-miRNA association network; Then, on this heterogeneous network, various types of strong correlation neighbors with fixed size are sampled for each node by restart random walk; Next, the embedding information of lncRNA and disease in each lncRNA-disease association pair is obtained by the method of type-based neighbor aggregation and all types combination though heterogeneous graph neural network, in which attention mechanism is introduced considering that different types of neighbors will make different contributions to the prediction of lncRNA-disease association. As a result, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPR) under fivefold cross-validation (5FCV) are 0.9786 and 0.8891, respectively. Compared with five state-of-art prediction models, HGNNLDA has better prediction performance. In addition, in two types of case studies, it is further verified that our method can effectively predict the potential lncRNA-disease associations, and have ability to predict new diseases without any known lncRNAs.

Background Since few studies have incorporated factors like stressors, coping styles, and academic burnout into the same model to analyze their impacts on depressive symptoms, this research attempts to establish an optimal structural model to explore the direct and indirect effects of these factors on depressive symptoms. Methods A total of 266 postgraduates completed questionnaires regarding coping styles, academic burnout, stressors, and depressive symptoms. The path analysis was applied for investigating the roles of coping styles and academic burnout in mediating the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms. Results The total and direct effects of stressors on depressive symptoms were 0.53 and 0.31, respectively. The proportion of the direct effect of stressors on depressive symptoms to its total effect amounted to 58.50%. The indirect effects of academic burnout, positive coping style, and negative coping style on the association between stressors and depressive symptoms were 0.11, 0.04, and 0.03, taking up 20.75%, 7.55%, and 5.66% of the total effect, respectively. The serial indirect effect of positive coping style and academic burnout was 0.02, accounting for 3.77% of the total effect, while that of negative coping style and academic burnout was 0.02, taking up 3.77% of the total effect. Conclusions Coping styles and academic burnout chain jointly mediate the relationship between stressors and depressive symptoms among postgraduates. Thus, encouraging postgraduates to tackle stress positively may reduce the likelihood of the development of academic burnout and further reduce depressive symptoms.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most economically important infectious diseases of pigs worldwide. Vaccination and various management measures have been implemented to control PRRS. However, due to high genetic diversity and insufficient understanding of the pathogenesis and immunological mechanisms, PRRS is still a challenge to the pig industry. Therefore, it is important to develop novel strategies to combat PRRS virus (PRRSV) infection. In this study, our data show that tylvalosin, a third-generation animal-specific macrolide, could inhibit PRRSV replication in MARC-145 cells, and suppress the PRRSV-induced NF-κB activation and cytokines expression. The pig infection experiment further demonstrated that tylvalosin could significantly reduce the virus loads in serum and tissues, and alleviate lung lesions of pigs infected with highly pathogenic PRRSV strains. The fever and loss of daily gain (LoDG) of the pigs were decreased as well. Considering the feature of immune suppression of PRRSV, a combination of tylvalosin with the immunopotentiator Poria cocos polysaccharides (PCP) was developed. Pig experiment showed this combination had a better therapeutic efficacy against PRRSV infection than tylvalosin and PCP alone in attenuating lung lesions, alleviating fever, and suppressing cytokines production. This study suggests that tylvalosin has significant antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects against PRRSV infection, and the combination of tylvalosin and PCP provides a promising strategy for PRRS treatment.

Autophagy is a promising target for promoting neural regeneration, which is essential for sensorimotor recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Whether neuronal heat shock protein B2 (HSPB2), a small molecular heat shock protein, reduces injury and promotes recovery following TBI remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that HSPB2 was significantly increased in the neurons of a TBI mouse model, patients, and primary neuron cultures subjected to oxygen/glucose deprivation and reperfusion treatment. Upon creating a tamoxifen-induced neuron-specific HSPB2 overexpression transgenic mouse model, we found that elevated HSPB2 levels promoted long-term sensorimotor recovery and alleviated tissue loss after TBI. We also demonstrated that HSPB2 enhanced white matter structural and functional integrity, promoted central nervous system (CNS) plasticity, and accelerated long-term neural remodeling. Moreover, we found that autophagy occurred around injured brain tissues in patients, and the pro-regenerative effects of HSPB2 relied on its autophagy-promoting function. Mechanistically, HSPB2 may regulate autophagy possibly by forming the HSPB2/BCL2-associated athanogene 3/sequestosome-1 complex to facilitate the clearance of erroneously accumulated proteins in the axons. Treatment with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine during the acute stage or delayed induction of HSPB2 remarkably impeded HSPB2’s long-term reparative function, indicating the importance of acute-stage autophagy in long-term neuro-regeneration. Our findings highlight the beneficial role of HSPB2 in neuro-regeneration and functional recovery following acute CNS injury, thereby emphasizing the therapeutic potential of autophagy regulation for enhancing neuro-regeneration.

This study presents an innovative physical isolation measure for commercial scenarios, namely, hanging curtains, to prevent the spread of respiratory infections. Using computational fluid dynamics simulation techniques, the closed spaces within cruise cabins were modeled and numerically analyzed, focusing on the dispersion characteristics of droplets. Additionally, orthogonal methods were employed to investigate various arrangements of hanging curtains and their effects on droplet dispersion based on spatial positioning. The research findings indicated that hanging curtains can effectively alter the airflow within a space, realizing the innovative concept of localized pollutant containment. It was found that the spatial partitioning method based on the location of individuals contributes more to reducing droplet dispersion than other methods. Moreover, the sag height of curtains emerges as the most influential factor on individual infection risk, while the scheme for hanging curtain positions has the least impact. Finally, the optimal configuration recommendation is provided: a curtain bottom coordinate of Z = 2.3 m and a top coordinate of Z = 2.8 m when the infection source was positioned at the center of the space. This configuration has also been validated by varying the location of the infection source. The research findings provide valuable insights for formulating preventive measures for passengers on cruise ships and for pandemic control in similar scenarios.