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Abstract Elderly individuals display metabolite alterations that may contribute to development of cognitive impairment following surgery and anesthesia. However, these relationships remain largely unexplored. The study aims to assess the S-methyl-5-thioadenosine (MTA) is associated with postoperative delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR). We assess altered metabolites following anesthesia/surgery in both mice and patients to identify blood biomarkers of dNCR. Preoperative and postoperative plasma metabolites are determined by widely targeted metabolomics. The brains of mice with anesthesia/surgery show decreased MTA and activated MTA phosphorylase. Mice also show that preoperative administration of MTA can prevent inflammation and cognitive decline. In clinical patients, we detect lower preoperative serum MTA levels in those who developed dNCR. Both low preoperative and postoperative blood MTA levels are associated with increased risk of postoperative dNCR. These results suggest that anesthesia/surgery induces cognitive decline through methionine synthesis pathways and that MTA could be a perioperative predictor of dNCR.

As a reactor which can reusing low-abundance 235U resources, fast reactor construction is an important part of China’s three-step nuclear energy process. Due to high burnup and strong irradiation of the spent fuel oxides of fast reactor, the dry reprocessing method based on molten salt electrolytic refining has unique advantages such as the ability to handle the widest range of fuel types and higher stability of the reaction system. Before the electrolytic refining step, the oxide spent fuel needs to be reduced to metal through electrical or thermal reduction. Thermal reduction requires the use of calcium, lithium, and magnesium as reducing agents. Compared with other alkali metal reduction process, lithium reduction process at high temperature has the advantages of simple recovery process, moderate temperature and lower equipment requirements, it may become the future tendency of thermal reduction. In this paper, the research progress of lithium high-temperature chemical reduction of spent fuel in dry reprocessing and compared the characteristics of lithium thermal reduction processes in various countries was investigated. The mechanism of high-temperature reduction with lithium was deduced based on thermodynamic calculation, and the influencing factors of reaction were discussed from the perspective of kinetics. Finally, the relevant research on the electrolytic recovery of residual salt from thermal reduction was described. The different reaction routes and technological process of lithium thermal reduction were summarized. The shortcomings of existing research were summarized, and the trend of lithium thermal reduction in the future was prospected. It gave a reference for the research of the process flow in China’s dry reprocessing.

ObjectiveIschemic stroke-associated pneumonia (iSAP) affects about 10% of acute ischemic stroke patients during hospitalization. Current prediction scales for iSAP are insufficient. Identifying early biomarkers for stroke-associated pneumonia is crucial for improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of euthyroid sick syndrome (ESS) for iSAP in acute-stage of ischemic stroke patients.MethodsWe studied 1767 acute ischemic stroke patients within one week of symptom onset, categorizing them into an infection group (iSAP, n=376) and control group (control, n=1391). COX regression analysis was used to identify the potential risk and protected factors. Kaplan-Meier time-event curves and Log-Rank tests were performed to differentiate infection time in patients with ESS or normal T3 group.ResultsThe iSAP group had higher rates of risk factors like older age, atrial fibrillation, COPD, and ESS, along with elevated levels of WBC, CRP,and FT4 levels (all P < 0.001). Conversely, iSAP patients had lower GCS scores, eGFR, TSH, T3, FT3 (all P < 0.001) and T4 levels (P = 0.005) upon admission. No significant differences were observed in sex, smoking history, hypertension, diabetes, or LDL-C levels (P > 0.05). COX regression analysis identified age, KWST scores, leukocyte count, CRP, and ESS (all P < 0.001) as significantly correlated with iSAP. ROC analysis revealed ESS as a predictor with sensitivity of 35.64% and specificity of 87.92% for SAP prediction, like atrial fibrillation and higher than COPD and eGFR.ConclusionESS at admission predicts a higher risk of stroke-associated pneumonia in acute-stage of ischemic stroke.

Background: X chromosome parent of origin (POX) has been proposed as a source of phenotypic variation within sex chromosome aneuploidies such as Klinefelter syndrome (XXY/KS) and between XX and XY individuals. However, previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the presence and nature of POX effects, which we sought to clarify in an expanded sample with deeper neurobehavioral phenotyping. Methods: A cohort of 58 individuals with XXY/KS underwent duo or trio genome sequencing with parents (n = 151), measurement of 66 neurobehavioral phenotypes by standardized research assessments, and measurement of over 1000 anatomical phenotypes by structural magnetic resonance imaging. We developed a novel algorithm, the uniparental disomy visualization for variant call format files, to determine proband POX and then systematically tested for POX associations with all neurobehavioral and neuroanatomical outcomes. Results: The uniparental disomy visualization for variant call format files algorithm showed maternal POX in 35 of 58 cases (60.3%). There were no statistically significant POX effects on any of the 66 subscale measures of cognition, psychopathology, or behavior. Neuroimaging analysis identified 2 regions in the right hemisphere with significantly higher surface area (mean effect size = 1.20) among individuals with paternal versus maternal POX (q = .021). Conclusions: Using deeper phenotyping in an expanded sample, we did not find evidence for substantial POX effects on neurobehavioral variability, except for localized unilateral modulations of surface area in the absence of co-occurring behavioral associations. These findings help to clarify previous inconsistencies in POX research and direct attention toward other sources of clinical variability in sex chromosome aneuploidies.

Background: Melanoma is an aggressive cancer with poor response to traditional therapies. A combination of photothermal therapy and topical immunotherapy may enhance elimination of melanoma.. Materials and methods: C57BL/6 mice with early stage and metastatic melanoma were treated with laser immunotherapy (LIT), combining near-infrared laser-based photothermal therapy (PTT) and topical imiquimod (IMQ)-based immunotherapy. The volume of primary and abscopal melanoma, animal survival, tissue temperature, transcriptome, and immune cell response were investigated to evaluate the effect of LIT. Results: LIT could eliminate primary tumors, inhibite abscopal tumors, and prolong animal survival. The tumor tissues were selectively destroyed under a photothermal gradient between 38.2 ± 3.7 °C and 73.0 ± 2.3 °C. Gene expression analysis showed a significant increase in the expression of damage associated molecular patterns. Additionally, the population of mature dendritic cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells were increased, while myeloid-derived suppressor cells were downregulated after LIT. Conclusion: The study showed that LIT inhibited the growth of both primary and abscopal melanoma by activating systemic antitumor immune responses and reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, making LIT a potential method for advanced melanoma treatment.

The demand for advanced camouflage technology is increasing in modern military warfare. Multispectral compatibility and adaptive capabilities are increasingly desired features in camouflage materials. However, due to the strong wavelength dependence and limited tunability of electromagnetic wave responses, achieving simultaneous multispectral compatibility and adaptive capability in a single structure or device remains a challenge. By integrating coding metamaterials with infrared (IR) electrochromic devices, we demonstrate a highly integrated multispectral metal-based electro-optical metadevice. The fabricated metadevices enable the reversible tunability of IR emissivity (0.58 at 3–5 µm, 0.50 at 7.5–13 µm) and wideband microwave scattering reduction (>10 dB at 10–20 GHz). The excellent integration performance is attributed to the remarkable electromagnetic control capabilities of the coding metamaterials in a chessboard-like configuration and the IR electrochromic devices based on metal reversible electrodeposition. Furthermore, the monolithic integrated design with shared barium fluoride substrate and electrodes allows the metadevices to have a simple architecture, and the careful design avoids coupling between functions. Our approach is general enough for the design of various electrochromic devices and metamaterials for multispectral camouflage, offering valuable insights for the development of advanced adaptive multispectral camouflage systems.

This study investigates the effects of varying needle block degree (blockage area ratio of the primary nozzle throat) and dryness fraction (the ratio of gas mass to mass of two-phase mixture) within the primary and secondary flow on the performance of a two-phase ejector, employing CFD numerical simulations under both fixed and varied conditions. The findings reveal the following: (1) Dryness fraction has a significant impact on the performance of the ejector. ER decreases with the decrease of X1 and increases with the decrease of X2, when X1 = 1 and X2 = 0.4, the ejector performance can be improved by 253.3 % under the optimal area ratio; (2) A higher primary flow dryness fraction and a lower secondary flow dryness fraction are more favorable for enhancing the ejector's performance; (3) When P1 changes, the ejector is most sensitive to changes in P1, slightly less sensitive to changes in An, and least sensitive to changes in dryness fraction; When P2 changes, the ejector is most sensitive to changes in dryness fraction, slightly less sensitive to changes in P2, and least sensitive to changes in An; (4) When varying P1 and P2, the ejector performance is optimal at X1 = 1 and X2 = 0.8 (An); (5) Regardless of changes in AR or operating conditions, the adjustable ejector with the needle can effectively enhance the ejector's performance under certain conditions.

Gonadal and gonosomal mosaicism describe phenomena in which a seemingly healthy individual carries a genetic variant in a subset of their gonadal tissue or gonadal and somatic tissue(s), respectively, with risk of transmitting the variant to their offspring. In families with one or more affected offspring, occurrence of the same apparently de novo variants can be an indicator of mosaicism in either parent. Panel-based deep sequencing has the capacity to detect low-level mosaic variants with coverage exceeding the typical limit of detection provided by current, readily available sequencing techniques. In this study, we report three families with more than one affected offspring with either confirmed or apparent parental gonosomal or gonadal mosaicism for PIK3CD pathogenic variants. Data from targeted deep sequencing was suggestive of low-level maternal gonosomal mosaicism in Family 1. Through this approach we did not detect pathogenic variants in PIK3CD from parental samples in Family 2 and Family 3. We conclude that mosaicism was likely confined to the maternal gonads in Family 2. Subsequent long-read genome sequencing in Family 3 showed that the paternal chromosome harbored the pathogenic variant in PIK3CD in both affected children, consistent with paternal gonadal mosaicism. Detection of parental mosaic variants enables accurate risk assessment, informs reproductive decision-making, and provides helpful context to inform clinical management in families with PIK3CD pathogenic variants.

Existing semi-empirical formulas for predicting punching shear capacity in FRP bar reinforced concrete flat slabs without shear reinforcement often prove inaccurate and unstable. This is primarily due to limited modeling data, inadequate consideration of key variables and neglect of complex nonlinear relationships. To address these challenges, this study delves into the utilization of advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms to offer precise and dependable estimates of punching shear capacity in such structural components. The study initially compiled a comprehensive database comprising 165 sets of test data, integrating eight crucial variables for model development. Subsequently, four data-driven models including back propagation artificial neural network (BPANN), support vector regression (SVR), random forest (RF) and gradient boosting regression tree (GBRT) were formulated to estimate the shear capacity. The efficacy of these models was assessed in comparison to existing prediction formulas. To interpret the models, this study also introduced shapley additive explanation (SHAP) and partial dependence plot (PDP) to quantitatively evaluate the influence of variables on predicted results. Research findings suggest that: (a) Among 25 existing formulas, Ju et al.’s approach performs notably well, with R2, Pre/Exp, MAPE and RMSE values at 0.76, 1.02, 22.2 % and 142.8 kN, respectively. (b) ML models surpass traditional formulas in predictive accuracy, with R2, Pre/Exp, MAPE and RMSE values ranging from 0.89 to 0.93, 1.03–1.09, 4.8–9.5 % and 55.4–69.0 kN, respectively. The GBRT model demonstrates the highest precision. (c) SHAP analysis of the GBRT model reveals that effective slab height and column section aspect ratio are pivotal variables influencing punching shear capacity. (d) PDP analysis quantitatively illustrates how punching shear capacity varies with each key variable.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has been identified as a significant driver of tumorigenesis. However, its clinical significance in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains largely unclear. In this study, RNA-Seq data from AML patients (bone marrow samples from 173 newly diagnosed AML patients) obtained from the TCGA database, and normal human RNA-Seq data (bone marrow samples from 70 healthy individuals) obtained from the GTEX database are downloaded for external validation and complementarity. The data analysis reveals that the AHR signaling pathway is activated in AML patients. Furthermore, there is a correlation between the expressions of AHR and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation genes. In vitro experiments show that enhancing AHR expression in AML cells increases mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and induces resistance to cytarabine. Conversely, reducing AHR expression in AML cells decreases cytarabine resistance. These findings deepen our understanding of the AHR signaling pathway’s involvement in AML.

Abstract Background Ovarian cancer treatment is challenged by resistance and off-target effects. Melittin shows promise against cancer but is limited by its instability and harmful cellular interactions. Our study introduces SiO2–alginate–melittin nano-conjugates (SAMNs), incorporating alginate lyase to enhance melittin's release and mitigate alginate drawbacks. Methods We combined melittin with alginate and mesoporous silica, using alginate lyase to control melittin release. Effects on SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were evaluated via viability, invasion, migration assays, ROS levels, apoptosis-related proteins, and mitochondrial function tests. Results SAMNs extended melittin’s cell control, reducing proliferation, invasion, and migration compared to free melittin. Alginate lyase facilitated controlled melittin release, decreasing off-target cytotoxicity. The only melittin group showed severe mitochondrial impairment, while the SAMNs and lyase groups had moderated impacts, indicating a dose-dependent effect on mitochondrial health and cell uptake. Conclusions SAMNs, especially with alginate lyase, offer an effective strategy for ovarian cancer treatment, optimizing melittin delivery while minimizing adverse effects of alginate. This approach enhances the therapeutic potential of melittin in combating ovarian cancer.

Background: Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are pervasive synthetic compounds, prompting investigations into their intricate interactions with lifestyle factors and health indicators because of their enduring environmental presence and bioaccumulation. This study aimed to explore the effects of the oxidative balance score (OBS) and PFAS on liver-related indices. Methods: Twenty dietary and lifestyle factors were used to calculate the OBS. The serum concentrations of PFASs were measured, and their sum was calculated for analysis. The levels of liver markers were also evaluated. Linear regression models and interaction analyses were used to assess the associations between OBS, PFAS concentrations, and liver indices. Results: The results revealed an inverse association between high OBS and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid concentration, as well as the sum of PFAS concentrations. OBS was positively associated with liver markers. The PFAS concentrations were positively associated with total bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels. Interaction analyses revealed significant interactions between OBS and specific PFASs for alkaline phosphatase (interaction P < 0.05). Possible interactions were also found between OBS and specific PFASs for ALT, and AST levels (interaction P < 0.10). Conclusions: This study clarified the association between total PFAS and OBS. This association was significant mainly for diet-related OBS. PFAS and OBS are associated with liver-related indicators in the blood.

Connectivity has become an important indicator of the sediment transfer potential through sediment sources to catchment sinks. Connectivity plays a vital role in investigating the rate of soil erosion caused by runoff and sediment output across the watershed landscape. However, there have been few quantitative studies on the spatial variations in sediment connectivity in the black soil region of Northeast China. Seven classic watersheds in the northeast black soil region were selected to discover spatial variations in sediment connectivity and their influencing factors. The connectivity index (IC) was used to study the spatial variation of sediment connectivity, and the weight of IC was calculated using the vegetation cover management factor (C), which reflected the influence of human activities on the soil erosion process caused by cultivated land expansion and encroachment of forest grassland. The redundancy analysis method (RDA) was used to determine the main factors affecting the spatial variation of IC. The results showed that IC decreased from north (0.45) to south (0.12). The spatial variations of watersheds in sediment connectivity showed significant spatial heterogeneity. IC was correlated with topographic, climatic, and artificial management characteristics at 0.01 or 0.05 levels except soil structural index; RDA results showed that topography and human activities were the main factors affecting sediment connectivity. Topographic and climatic factors explained more sediment connectivity changes in the southern watersheds than in the northern watersheds, while the human activities factor explanation was the opposite of topographic factors. Human activities refer to changes in vegetation cover and soil structure and properties resulting from human logging and farming that affect sediment connectivity.

Abstract Background High salt intake has been proposed as a risk factor for dementia. However, causal relationship between salt intake and dementia remains uncertain. Purpose The aim of this study was to employ a mendelian randomization (MR) design to investigate the causal impact of salt intake on the risk of dementia. Methods Genome‐wide association study (GWAS) data of exposures and outcomes (any dementia, cognitive performance, different types of dementia, Alzheimer's disease [AD], and Parkinson's disease) were obtained from the IEU database. MR estimates were generated though inverse‐variance weighted model. MR‐Egger, weighted median, and MR‐Pleiotropy Residual Sum and Outlier (MR‐PRESSO) method also used in our study. Sensitivity analyses included Cochran's Q test, MR‐Egger intercept, MR‐PRESSO global test and outlier test, leave‐one‐out analysis, and funnel plot assessment. Results Our MR analysis provided evidence of a causal association between high salt added to food and dementia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21–2.49, and p = .003), dementia in AD (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.15–3.83, and p = .015), and undefined dementia (OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.26–5.39, and p = .009). Higher salt added was also associated with increased risk of AD (OR = 1.80, 95% CI: 1.12–2.87, and p = .014) and lower cognitive performance (β = −.133, 95% CI: −.229 to −.038, and p = .006). Conclusion This study provides evidence suggesting that high salt intake is causally associated with an increased risk of developing dementia, including AD and undefined dementia, highlighting the potential importance of reducing salt consumption as a preventive measure.

Summary: Background: Schizophrenia, a debilitating psychiatric disorder, displays considerable interindividual variation in clinical presentations. The ongoing debate revolves around whether this heterogeneity signifies a continuum of severity linked to a singular causative factor or a collection of distinct subtypes with unique origins. Within the realm of schizophrenia, the functional impairment of GluN2A, a subtype of the NMDA receptor, has been associated with an elevated risk. Despite GluN2A’s expression across various neuronal types throughout the brain, its specific contributions to schizophrenia and its involvement in particular cell types or brain regions remain unexplored. Methods: We generated age-specific, cell type-specific or brain region-specific conditional knockout mice targeting GluN2A and conducted a comprehensive analysis using tests measuring phenotypes relevant to schizophrenia. Findings: Through the induction of germline ablation of GluN2A, we observed the emergence of numerous schizophrenia-associated abnormalities in adult mice. Intriguingly, GluN2A knockout performed at different ages, in specific cell types and within distinct brain regions, we observed overlapping yet distinct schizophrenia-related phenotypes in mice. Interpretation: Our interpretation suggests that the dysfunction of GluN2A is sufficient to evoke heterogeneous manifestations associated with schizophrenia, indicating that GluN2A stands as a prominent risk factor and a potential therapeutic target for schizophrenia. Funding: This project received support from the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. 2019SHZDZX02) awarded to Y.C. and the Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai (Grant No. 19ZR1468600 and 201409003800) awarded to G.Y.

Abstract Background Cantharidin (CTD) is the active ingredient of Chinese medicine, which has been traditionally used in multiple cancers treatment, especially in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, a comprehensive analysis of the CTD-related molecular mechanism is still necessary to understand its functions in HCC treatment. This study aimed to reveal the novel molecular targets and regulatory networks of CTD in HCC. Methods A model of H22 tumour-bearing mice was constructed, and the function of CTD in tumour growth was evaluated. An integrated approach of CTD associated transcriptional profiling and biological systems analysis was used to identify key regulators involved in antitumour pathways. The identified differential expression patterns were supported by the results of Gene Ontology (GO) term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyse, and by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. The relationships between gene expression and tumour immunity were evaluated using Tumour Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Prognostic value was analyzed with Kaplan-Meier plotter. Results In the present study, the therapeutic effect of CTD on HCC was evaluated in vivo. We obtained the CTD-related transcriptional profiles, systematically and intuitively illustrated its possible pharmacological mechanisms in HCC through multiple targets and signalling pathways. These results revealed that the CTD-related differentially expressed genes were involved in autophagy, transcription factors (TFs) related transcriptional regulation, fatty acid metabolism and immune response in HCC. We found that MAPT, TOP2A, CENPF and MEFV were hub genes of CTD targets involved in autophagy regulation. Totally, 14 TFs have been confirmed to be critical for transcriptional regulation, and 33 TF targets were identified as the hub genes in transcriptional mis-regulation pathway in cancer. These TFs were associated with the immune response and immune cell infiltration. In addition, the downregulated genes were significantly enriched in metabolic regulation pathways, especially fatty acid metabolism after CTD treatment. Furthermore, the network of CTD associated miRNAs with these fatty acid metabolism-related targets was constructed in HCC. Conclusions Taken together, our results comprehensively elucidated that CTD could act on multiple targets in HCC therapy, affecting autophagy, transcriptional regulation, the immune response and fatty acid metabolism. Our results provide a foundation for the study of the molecular mechanistic of CTD and its clinical application in the treatment of HCC.

With the rapid development of the civil engineering industry, performance requirements for building materials are also increasing rapidly. It is particularly critical to improve the performance of cement-based materials using admixtures. In this study, the synergistic effect of PTB (COMPAKTUNA.PRO) emulsion, calcium carbonate whisker (CaCO3 whisker) and nano-silica (nano-SiO2) on material properties was analyzed. Macroscopic properties such as rheology, compressive strength, flexural strength, durability, bond strength, and permeable pressure were tested. Microstructures were analyzed using the porosity, hydration heat, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy methods. The results revealed that the PTB emulsion, CaCO3 whiskers, and nano-SiO2 increased the plastic viscosity and yield stress of the cement. When the nano-SiO2 content was high, the fluidity of the slurry decreased significantly. Overall, PTB emulsion, CaCO3 whisker and nano-SiO2 can improve the strength, durability, bond strength, and permeability of composite materials. PTB emulsions can prolong the hydration process, resulting in low early strength and reduced compressive strength. However, they play a key role in terms of improving durability, bond strength, and permeability pressure. CaCO3 whiskers yield slight improvements in various properties. Nano-SiO2 can promote the hydration rate and hydration effect, thereby improving the strength, compactness, and properties of composite materials. Performance can be optimized by leveraging these synergistic effects and each material has its own unique advantages and limitations. In engineering applications, critical properties should be considered when selecting appropriate admixture contents. This study aimed to improve various properties and to develop materials that are suitable for the complex environment of underground engineering.

In recent years, the paid withdrawal of rural homesteads has become a widely discussed topic within the academic community. However, from the perspective of protecting farmers’ rights and interests, literature exploring the impact of this policy’s implementation remains scarce. As the reform of the separation of the three rights of the homestead deepens, disputes related to paid withdrawal of homesteads have escalated rapidly. This study aims to highlight the importance of protecting farmers’ rights and interests, seeking to enhance their property rights and revitalize unused rural resources. Employing a case study methodology, this study systematically examines the issue of farmers’ rights and interests protection during homestead withdrawal. This analysis is based on the survey, collection, and evaluation of 324 judicial cases. The findings reveal the following: (1) Disputes involving paid withdrawal of homesteads encompass the entire withdrawal process, with the majority of conflicts arising during the withdrawal stage. (2) Prior to withdrawal, farmers express heightened concern regarding their political rights, particularly the right to be informed and to participate in withdrawal decisions. (3) During the withdrawal process, farmers prioritize resettlement and compensation rights. Additionally, novel issues such as the allocation of withdrawal compensation surface after farmers receive resettlement and compensation benefits. (4) After withdrawal, farmers anticipate more suitable “alternative” social rights and remedies. Based on these findings, this study presents policy recommendations for realizing farmers’ rights and interests in the context of paid withdrawal of rural homesteads. These suggestions include consistently respecting farmers’ autonomy and preserving their political rights throughout the withdrawal procedure. During the withdrawal stage, emphasis should be placed on the comprehensive value of resettlement compensation, encompassing both the residential and social security aspects of rural homesteads. Post-withdrawal, farmers’ social rights and the development rights of their homesteads ought to be fully guaranteed, ensuring a harmonious balance between farmers’ immediate and long-term interests. Furthermore, optimizing the dispute resolution mechanism stands as a pivotal aspect of safeguarding farmers’ rights and interests through legal recourse.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) nanocrystals with different shapes and sizes were synthesized by one-pot method, and ITO nanocrystal films were prepared by spin-coating process. The near-infrared spectrum regulation properties of the films prepared by ITO nanocrystals with different morphologies and sizes were studied. The results show that the visible light transmittance of ITO nanocrystal film is 89.2%, and the resistivity is 54 Ω·cm after 5 spin coatings. The films prepared by uniform spherical ITO nanocrystals with an average diameter of (6.88±1.53) nm exhibit the best near-infrared spectrum regulation ability. After applying a voltage of ±2.5 V, the spectrum regulation at 2000 nm is 39.3%, and the optical density change is 0.43. The ITO nanocrystal film maintains high visible light transmittance before and after electrochromism. The electrochromism of ITO nanocrystals is caused by change of frequency and intensity of localized surface plasmon resonance(LSPR) caused by electron injection/extraction, and its electrochromic process is realized by capacitor charging and discharging.

BackgroundThe persistence of symptoms or the development of new symptoms following a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 has given rise to a multifaceted clinical condition referred to as “long COVID” (LC). The understanding of LC among China’s non-hospitalized population continues to be insufficient. This investigation was designed to evaluate the protracted consequences amongst this demographic, as well as to identify the associated risk factors.MethodsThis research constitutes a prospective cohort study focusing on non-hospitalized individuals, aged between 18 and 59, who have been positively diagnosed with COVID-19. Each participant was subjected to a sequence of questionnaire-based surveys, designed to evaluate symptoms as well as the status of depression and anxiety. A logistic regression model, adjusted for multiple variables, was employed to scrutinize the correlation between demographic elements, lifestyle attributes, and health-related risk factors in relation to conditions and symptoms post COVID-19 infection.ResultsA total of 706 individuals participated in the 3 months follow-up, with 620 continuing on to the 6 months follow-up. The median age was 35 (28, 43) years, and 597 (85%) are female. Upon follow-up, Compared with patients without LC, patients with LC have a higher proportion of females (420 (87%) vs. 177 (79%); p = 0.010), were older (35 (29, 44) years vs. 33 (27, 41) years; p = 0.010) and have more comorbidities. Out of all participants, 483 (68.4%) reported experiencing at least one symptom at the 3 months mark, while 49.7% reported symptoms persisting at the 6 months mark. At the 3 months follow-up, the most prevalent persistent symptoms were cough (46%), fatigue (38%), and shortness of breath (34%). By the 6 months follow-up, fatigue (25%), shortness of breath (22%), and sleep disorders (16%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. Anxiety and depression were consistently reported as prevalent symptoms throughout the follow-up period. Most patient symptoms fade over time, with the quickest decreases observed in cough (from 46 to 9%), expectoration (from 26 to 6.3%), smell disorder (from 16 to 3.9%), and taste disorder (from 18 to 3.5%). Male and those possessing advanced educational qualifications exhibit a decreased susceptibility to the sustained incidence of coughing. Conversely, older age and the presence of comorbidities were identified as risk factors for persistent fatigue and shortness of breath.ConclusionIn the after of COVID-19, it has been observed that the majority of patient symptoms tend to decrease over time. The primary residual symptoms noticed after a 6 month follow-up were fatigue, dyspnea, and sleep disturbances. However, it’s noteworthy that the risk factors associated with these symptoms exhibit subtle variations. Furthermore, psychological sequelae, namely depression and anxiety, are frequently reported among COVID-19 survivors.

Summary: Ovarian endometriosis is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue within the ovary, causing infertility and chronic pain. However, its pathophysiology remains unclear. Utilizing high-precision single-cell RNA sequencing, we profile the normal, eutopic, and ectopic endometrium from 34 individuals across proliferative and secretory phases. We observe an increased proportion of ciliated cells in both eutopic and ectopic endometrium, characterized by a diminished expression of estrogen sulfotransferase, which likely confers apoptosis resistance. After translocating to ectopic lesions, endometrial epithelium upregulates nicotinamide N-methyltransferase expression that inhibits apoptosis by promoting deacetylation and subsequent nuclear exclusion of transcription factor forkhead box protein O1, thereby leading to the downregulation of the apoptotic gene BIM. Moreover, epithelial cells in ectopic lesions elevate HLA class II complex expression, which stimulates CD4+ T cells and consequently contributes to chronic inflammation. Altogether, our study provides a comprehensive atlas of ovarian endometriosis and highlights potential therapeutic targets for modulating apoptosis and inflammation.

Abstract Introduction Tumor‐associated macrophages, a major component of the tumor microenvironment, undergo polarization into M2 macrophages (M2), and thereby exert an immunosuppressive effect to induce cancer metastasis. This study strives to uncover a molecular mechanism underlying this event in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Proteasome subunit alpha 5 (PSMA5) expression in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) tissues and its association with LIHC patients were predicted using StarBase. PSMA5 level in human HCC cells was manipulated via transfection. Exosomes were isolated from HCC cells, and internalized into macrophages which were cocultured with HCC cells. Exosome internalization was observed after fluorescence labeling. HCC cell migration and invasion were evaluated by wound healing and Transwell assays. Xenograft assay was performed to investigate the role of PSMA5 in in vitro tumorigenesis. M2 polarization was assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. PSMA5 expression in exosomes and Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation in macrophages and tumors were detected by Western blot analysis. Results High PSMA5 expression was observed in LIHC tissues and associated with compromised survival of LIHC patients. PSMA5 knockdown inhibited HCC cell migration and invasion. PSMA5 knockdown in HCC cells downregulated PSMA5 level in exosomes from these HCC cells. HCC cell‐isolated exosomes were successfully internalized into macrophages, and facilitated M2 polarization and JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation. HCC cell‐secreted exosomal PSMA5 knockdown inhibited the exosome‐induced effect on macrophages, and attenuated the promotion induced by exosome‐treated macrophages on HCC cell migration/invasion and tumorigenesis along with in vivo M2 polarization and JAK2/STAT3 pathway activation. Conclusion HCC cell‐secreted exosomal PSMA5 knockdown hinders M2 polarization to suppress cancer progression by restraining JAK2/STAT3 signaling.

Introduction: Genetic factors impact alcohol consumption and use disorder (AUD), with large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identifying numerous associated variants. Aggregate genetic methods in combination with important environmental factors (e.g., interpersonal trauma [IPT]) can be applied to expand our understanding of the ways by which genetic and environmental variables work together to influence alcohol consumption and disordered use. The present study aimed to detail the relationships between genome-wide polygenic scores (PGS) for alcohol phenotypes (i.e., alcohol consumption and AUD status) and IPT exposure as well as the interaction between them across ancestry.Methods: Data were drawn from the Spit for Science (S4S) study, a US college student population, where participants reported on IPT exposure prior to college and alcohol consumption and problems during college (N = 9,006; ancestry: 21.3% African [AFR], 12.5% Admixed Americas [AMR], 9.6% East Asian [EAS], 48.1% European [EUR], 8.6% South Asian [SAS]). Two trans-ancestry PGS were constructed, one for alcohol consumption and another for AUD, using large-scale GWAS summary statistics from multiple ancestries weighted using PRS-CSx. Regression models were applied to test for the presence of associations between alcohol-PGS and IPT main and interaction effects.Results: In the meta-analysis across ancestry groups, IPT exposure and PGS were significantly associated with alcohol consumption (βIPT = 0.31, PIPT = 0.0002; βPGS = 0.09, PPGS = 0.004) and AUD (ORIPT = 1.12, PIPT = 3.5 × 10−8; ORPGS = 1.02, PPGS = 0.002). No statistically significant interactions were detected between IPT and sex nor between IPT and PGS. When inspecting ancestry specific results, the alcohol consumption-PGS and AUD-PGS were only statistically significant in the EUR ancestry group (βPGS = 0.09, PPGS = 0.04; ORPGS = 1.02, PPGS = 0.022, respectively).Discussion: IPT exposure prior to college was strongly associated with alcohol outcomes in this college-age sample, which could be used as a preventative measure to identify students at high risk for problematic alcohol use. Additionally, results add to developing evidence of polygenic score association in meta-analyzed samples, highlighting the importance of continued efforts to increase ancestral representation in genetic studies and inclusive analytic approaches to increase the generalizability of results from genetic association studies.

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of dynamic monitoring of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) score, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in predicting 28-day prognosis and drug resistance in patients with bloodstream infection with Acinetobacter baumannii–calcoaceticus complex (Abc complex).Patients and methodsIn this research, individuals admitted to Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from January 2017 to March 2023 with bloodstream infections and a minimum of one Abc complex positive blood culture were chosen. The risk factors for the 28-day prognosis and drug resistance were analyzed using logistic regression. The NLR, APACHE II score, and SOFA score were evaluated for predicting 28-day prognosis and drug resistance using an ROC curve analysis. The data were analyzed using R Studio to find correlations and conduct survival analysis with the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsThe final statistical analysis included a total of 129 patients with bloodstream infections caused by Abc complex. Independent risk factors predicting mortality within 28 days were identified as follows: the SOFA score and APACHE II scores at 24 h, and APACHE II scores at 72 h after the onset of blood infection (p

Abstract Microbial community function depends on both taxonomic composition and spatial organization. While composition of the human gut microbiome has been deeply characterized, less is known about the organization of microbes between regions such as lumen and mucosa and the microbial genes regulating this organization. Using a defined 117 strain community for which we generate high-quality genome assemblies, we model mucosa/lumen organization with in vitro cultures incorporating mucin hydrogel carriers as surfaces for bacterial attachment. Metagenomic tracking of carrier cultures reveals increased diversity and strain-specific spatial organization, with distinct strains enriched on carriers versus liquid supernatant, mirroring mucosa/lumen enrichment in vivo. A comprehensive search for microbial genes associated with this spatial organization identifies candidates with known adhesion-related functions, as well as novel links. These findings demonstrate that carrier cultures of defined communities effectively recapitulate fundamental aspects of gut spatial organization, enabling identification of key microbial strains and genes.

Abstract Background Cantharidin (CTD) is a major ingredient of cantharis (Mylabris phalerata Pallas) and has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicines. It has been shown to exhibit anticancer activity in multiple types of cancer, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, there is no systematic study on the relationships among the regulatory networks of its targets in HCC therapy. We focused on histone epigenetic regulation and the influence of CTD on the immune response in HCC. Methods We performed a comprehensive analysis of novel CTD targets in HCC based on network pharmacology and RNA-seq approaches. The mRNA levels of target genes were analyzed by qRT-PCR, and the corresponding protein levels were confirmed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). ChIP-seq data were visualized by IGV software. The associations of gene transcript levels with the cancer immune score and infiltration level were investigated using TIMER. In vivo, the H22 mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma was established by treatment with CTD and 5-Fu. The immune cell proportions in the blood were elevated in model mice, as shown by flow cytometry. Results We identified 58 targets of CTD, which were involved in various pathways in cancer, including apoptosis, the cell cycle, EMT and immune pathways. Moreover, we found that 100 EMT-related genes were differentially expressed after CTD treatment in HCC cells. Interestingly, our results confirmed that the EZH2/H3K27me3 -related cell cycle pathway is a therapeutic target of CTD in antitumour. In addition, we evaluated the influence of CTD on the immune response. Our data showed that the significantly enriched gene sets were positively correlated with the chemokine biosynthetic and chemokine metabolic modules. The proportions of CD4+/CD8 + T cells and B cells were increased, but the proportion of Tregs was decreased after treatment with CTD in vivo. Moreover, we found that the expression of the inflammatory factor and immune checkpoint genes PD­1/PD-L1 was significantly reduced in the mouse model. Conclusion We performed a novel integrated analysis of the potential role of CTD in HCC treatment. Our results provide innovative insight into the mechanism by which cantharidin exerts antitumour effects by regulating target genes expression to mediate apoptosis, EMT, cell cycle progression and the immune response in HCC. Based on the effect of CTD on the immune response, it can be used as a potential effective drug to activate antitumour immunity for the treatment of liver cancer.

In recent years, fluoride pollution in water is a problem that has attracted much attention from researchers. The removal of fluoride-containing wastewater by adsorption with metal oxide as an adsorbent is the most common treatment method. Based on this, the effect of the doping ratio of La2O3, Fe2O3, and Al2O3 on the fluoride-removal performance was discussed by constructing a phase diagram. In this study, the adsorption mechanism of nanocrystalline lanthanum oxide terpolymer was investigated by density functional theory calculation and experiment. The optimal pH condition selected in the experiment was three, and the adsorption kinetics of fluoride ions were more consistent with the quasi-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption thermodynamics was more consistent with the Langmuir model. When the La-Fe-Al ternary composite oxides achieved the optimal adsorption efficiency for fluoride ions, the mass synthesis ratio was Al2O3:(Fe2O3:La2O3 = 1:2) = 1:100, resulting in a fluoride ion removal rate of up to 99.78%. Density functional calculations revealed that the La-Fe-Al ternary composite oxides had three important adsorption sites for La, Fe, and Al. Among them, the adsorption capacity for HF was Fe2O3 > La2O3 > Al2O3, and for F− was La2O3 > Al2O3 > Fe2O3. This provided good guidance for designing adsorbents to remove fluoride.

PurposeTo investigate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and vision-threatening DR (VTDR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) stratified by the duration of diabetes and to identify the clinical variations and risk factors for VTDR occurring at different stages of T2DM.MethodsThis was a retrospective comparative study. Patients were divided into short- (≤3 years), intermediate- (3–7 years), and long-duration (>7 years) groups. All patients were followed-up for DR and VTDR development. Risk factors were explored using logistic regression analysis.ResultsA total of,2961 patients were included; among them, 1,036 (35.0%) patients developed DR, and 293 (9.9%) had VTDR. The frequency of VTDR in patients who developed DR in the short-duration group was significantly higher than that in the intermediate-duration group (25.7% vs. 15.0%; p = 0.019), but comparable with that of the long-duration group (25.7% vs. 31.8%; p = 0.138). Patients who developed VTDR within the first 3 years of T2DM were more likely to have a family history of diabetes (p = 0.024), had higher glycated hemoglobin (p = 0.025), were males (p = 0.042), and were notably older at the onset of diabetes (p

Bisphenol A (BPA) and its substitutes are widely used in daily life. Animal and cell line experiments have confirmed the effects of bisphenols on oxidative stress and inflammation. However, current population evidence for the effects of BPA alternatives, such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), on oxidative stress and inflammation is still sparse. Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2016 data, our study used linear regression, weighted quantile sum model, and Bayesian kernel machine regression model to evaluate the effects of BPA, BPS, and BPF alone and in combination on oxidative stress (serum total bilirubin, and iron) and inflammation (alkaline phosphatase, C-reactive protein, γ-glutamyl transferase ferritin, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio) markers. On this basis, the possible roles of oxidative stress and inflammation in obesity, which is associated with exposure to bisphenols (BPs), were initially explored. Based on the different covariates selected, a total of 3039 and 2258 participants were included in our study for models 1 and 2, respectively; the median age of participants was 48 years, and 48.7 % were male. Based on all models, our results showed that exposure to BPs alone or in combination was associated with downregulation of serum total bilirubin. Urinary BPF concentration was specifically associated with the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. Serum total bilirubin may play a role in the association between obesity and BP mixture exposure. Upregulation of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio was not associated with obesity. In conclusion, our study found that single or combined exposure to BPs, as measured in urine, may be associated with changes in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and a decrease in serum total bilirubin may play a mediating role in BP-induced obesity.

In this study, for the two-stage ejector under three inlet conditions of air-conditioning, refrigerating and freezing, a three-dimensional simulation is used to study the impact of the mixing chamber radius of the first and second stage on the minimum pressure in the ejector without auxiliary entraining first, and then, the impact of real auxiliary entraining effects on ejector performance for two-stage ejector with varied equal-area mixing chamber radius is evaluated accordingly. Results show that: (1) as the second stage equal-area mixing chamber radius (Ram2) increases, the minimum first stage ejector pressure (Pmin1) decreases and the minimum second stage ejector pressure (Pmin2) increases; (2) with the increase of radius of the first-stage equal-area mixing chamber (Ram1) , the decreasing effect of Pmin1 and the increasing effect of Pmin2 are both weakened as Ram2 increases from 3.0 mm to 4.6 mm; (3) the minimum pressures of the two-stage have a great influence on the auxiliary entraining effect.

IntroductionSevoflurane, one of the most commonly used anesthetic agents in children, may induce neuronal dysfunction and cognitive impairment. Exposure to sevoflurane might induce an imbalance between neural excitation and inhibition which could be a mechanism behind anesthesia-induced cognitive and affective dysfunctions. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.MethodsIn this study, we used two rhesus macaques in the control group, and one rhesus macaques in the anesthesia group. We employed single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) technology to explore alterations in distinct types of inhibitory neurons involved in the long-term cognitive impairment caused by sevoflurane in young macaques.ResultsFollowing sevoflurane treatment, an upregulation was observed in the SST+ inhibitory neuron in the LHX6+ neighborhood in the hippocampus of rhesus macaques. This alteration might impact brain development by influencing interneuron migration and maturation. Additionally, we proposed a novel classification of inhibitory neurons, defined by CNR1 and LHX6 applicable to both humans and macaques.DiscussionOur study proposed a novel classification of inhibitory neurons defined by LHX6 and CNR1, relevant in macaques and humans. We also provide evidence that sevoflurane upregulated the SST+ inhibitory neuron in the LHX6+ neighborhood in the hippocampus of rhesus macaques, which may underlie the potential neurotoxic effects induced by general anesthetics. Our results also offer a more reliable approach for studying the structure and function of the human brain.

The industrial wastewater treatment industry is an integral part of China's modernization process and plays an important role in the course of industrialization. However, the traditional wastewater treatment process consumes a large number of resources and energy, and produces greenhouse gases, which pose a serious threat to human beings and the ecosystem. In the context of carbon neutrality, it is urgent to seek a low-carbon and green industrial wastewater treatment theory and technology in China. Microalgae carbon sequestration is considered to be a green and sustainable low-carbon industrial wastewater treatment technology. Pollutants such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in wastewater and flue gas can be efficiently removed through Microalgae carbon sequestration. Meanwhile, the valuable biomass resources can be also obtained with significant environmental and economic benefits. In this work, we systematically discussed the treatment mechanism of industrial wastewater, the emission reduction mechanism of coal flue gas, and strengthening methods of carbon sequestration by microalgae. We believe the review will contribute to promote the innovation and low carbonization development of industrial wastewater treatment.

Abstract The spermatogenesis associated serine rich 2 (SPATS2) is a member of RNA-binding protein in which the abnormal expression is linked with carcinogenesis in serval types of cancer. However, there is no systematic study on the differential expression, prognostic significance, epigenetic regulation, immune infiltration of SPATS2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we investigated the expression, prognosis, epigenetic regulation, and immune cell infiltration of SPATS2 in HCC. We found that the elevated expression of SPATS2 was unfavorably associated with the clinical pathological stage and prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that SPATS2 is associated with cell cycle, apoptosis and cancer cell metastasis processes in HCC. Our results confirmed that knockdown of SPATS2 will affect cell cycle, apoptosis and invasion of HCC cell lines. Moreover, the expression of SPATS2 is upregulated by epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation, m6A and histone modification in HCC. In addition, SPATS2 expression was positively correlated with immune cell infiltration or expression of immune related gene markers in HCC. Taken together, our data demonstrated that SPATS2 is associated with progression and immune infiltration, and could serve as a prognostic biomarker for HCC. In conclusion, these results highlight the potential of SPATS2 to be used as a therapeutic target for HCC.

IntroductionThis study aimed to identify preoperative blood biomarkers related to development of delayed neurocognitive recovery (dNCR) following surgery.MethodsA total of 67 patients (≥65 years old) who underwent head and neck tumor resection under general anesthesia were assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Preoperative serum metabolomics were determined using widely targeted metabolomics technology.ResultsOf the 67 patients, 25 developed dNCR and were matched to 25 randomly selected patients from the remaining 42 without dNCR. Differential metabolites were selected using the criteria of variable importance in projection > 1.0 in orthogonal partial least squares discrimination analysis, false discovery rate 1.2 or