Search

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) ceramics with initial β-Si3N4 content from3% to 88% were prepared by spark plasma sintering from 1450 to 1700°C. The effect of initial β-Si3N4 content on the phase transition, microstructure evolution, andmechanical properties of the Si3N4 ceramics was studied. The existence of initial β-Si3N4 accelerated the α-β phase transition. When the initial β-Si3N4 content was 12% and 46%, the aspect ratio of the grains was increased. When the initial β-Si3N4 content was 88%, the grains were mainly composed of short rod-like grains. As the initial β-Si3N4 content increased, the densification process was slowed down. The hardness and fracture toughness of samples reached about 18 GPa and 6 MPa•m1/2. It is proposed that the mechanical properties of samples are connected with the densification process and β-Si3N4 content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meloidogyne incognita is one of the most destructive agricultural pathogens around the world, resulting in severe damage to yield and quality in agricultural production. Biological control promises to be a great potential alternative to chemical agents against M. incognita. Paenibacillus polymyxa J2-4, isolated from ginger plants injured by M. incognita, has shown excellent biocontrol efficacy against M. incognita in cucumber. In vitro experiments with the strain J2-4 resulted in a correct mortality rate of 88.79% (24 h) and 98.57% (48 h) for second-stage juveniles (J2s) of M. incognita. Strain J2-4 significantly suppressed nematode infection on potted plants, with a 65.94% reduction in galls and a 51.64% reduction in eggs compared with the control. The split-root assay demonstrated that strain J2-4 not only reduced J2s' invasion but also inhibited nematode development through the dependence on salicylic acid and jasmonic acid signaling of strain J2-4 induction of plant resistance in local and systemic roots of cucumbers. Genomic analysis of strain J2-4 indicated biosynthetic gene clusters encoding polymyxin, fusaricidin B, paenilan, and tridecaptin. In addition, genetic analysis showed that none of the genes encoding virulence factors were detected in the genome of J2-4 compared with the pathogenic Bacillus species. Taking all the data together, we conclude that P. polymyxa J2-4 has potential as a biological control agent against M. incognita on cucumbers and can be considered biologically safe when used in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of combining Bifidobacterium live bacteria preparation with entecavir in the treatment of hepatitis B cirrhosis and its effect on cytokines and liver function. Methods: 88 patients with HBV-induced cirrhosis admitted to Qinzhou People's Hospital, Qinzhou, China between January 2021 and January 2023 were divided into control and study groups with 44 patients each. Control group received entecavir, while study group received Bifidobacterium live bacteria preparation in addition to entecavir. Clinical treatment outcomes, liver function, liver fibrosis, immune function, and inflammatory cytokine indices were compared between the two groups. Results: There was a significant increase in total effective rate of treatment in study group (95.45 %) compared to control group (79.55 %; p < 0.05). After treatment, the study group showed significantly lower levels of alanine aminotransaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransaminase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), hyaluronic acid (HA), laminin (LN), N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (PIIINP), and type IV collagen (IV-C), and higher levels of CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ compared to control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, study group exhibited significantly lower levels of IL-6, TNF-a, and HS-CRP after treatment compared to control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The combined use of Bifidobacterium live bacteria preparation and entecavir in treating HBV-induced cirrhosis demonstrates significant clinical improvement. This combined approach effectively enhances liver function, improves immune response reduces inflammation and liver fibrosis. Hence, in future studies, efforts will be directed towards improving absorption and reducing the metabolism/excretion of the drug to validate these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a comprehensive study that focuses on the techno-economic analysis of co-located wind and hydrogen energy integration within an integrated energy system (IES). The research investigates four distinct cases, each exploring various configurations of wind farms, electrolyzers, batteries, hydrogen storage tanks, and fuel cells. To obtain optimal results, the study employs a sophisticated mathematical optimization model formulated as a mixed-integer linear program. This model helps determine the most suitable component sizes and hourly energy scheduling patterns. The research utilizes historical meteorological data and wholesale market prices from diverse regions as inputs, enhancing the study's applicability and relevance across different geographical locations. Moreover, sensitivity analyses are conducted to assess the impact of hydrogen prices, regional wind profiles, and potential future fluctuations in component prices. These analyses provide valuable insights into the robustness and flexibility of the proposed IES configurations under varying market conditions and uncertainties. The findings reveal cost-effective system configurations, strategic component selections, and implications of future energy scenarios. Specifically comparing to configurations that only have wind and battery combinations, we find that incorporating an electrolyzer results in a 7% reduction in the total cost of the IES, and utilizing hydrogen as the storage medium for fuel cells leads to a 26% cost reduction. Additionally, the IES with hybrid hydrogen and battery energy storage achieves even higher and stable power output. This research facilitates decision-making, risk mitigation, and optimized investment strategies, fostering sustainable planning for a resilient and environmentally friendly energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When making contact with an undercooled target, a drop freezes. The colder the target is, the more rapid the freezing is supposed to be. In this research, we explore the impact of droplets on cold granular material. As the undercooling degree increases, the bulk freezing of the droplet is delayed by at least an order of magnitude. The postponement of the overall solidification is accompanied by substantial changes in dynamics, including the spreading-retraction process, satellite drop generation, and cratering in the target. The solidification of the wetted pores in the granular target primarily causes these effects. The freezing process over the pore dimension occurs rapidly enough to match the characteristic timescales of impact dynamics at moderate undercooling degrees. As a result, the hydrophilic impact appears “hydrophobic,” and the dimension of the solidified droplet shrinks. A monolayer of cold grains on a surface can reproduce these consequences. Our research presents a potential approach to regulate solidified morphology for subfreezing drop impacts. It additionally sheds light on the impact scenario of strong coupling between the dynamics and solidification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While information and communication technology has permeated education, institutions and faculty are seeking innovative pedagogical approaches to meet the demands of online teaching and learning. The aim of this study is to design a mobile pedagogical framework to enhance online teaching in higher education system. Based on the literature review and extant framework analysis, we developed a conceptual framework for mobile pedagogy. Then we conducted interviews with 25 lecturers and 4 policy makers to investigate reflections and assessments of mobile pedagogy. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. Based on the results, the mobile pedagogical framework was expanded. The revised framework provides a roadmap for faculty and institutions to enhance mobile pedagogy and online learning in the higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of multimodal 3D face recognition, this paper proposes a multimodal 3D face recognition method based on deep learning. Firstly, a 3D facial dataset is selected; secondly, noise is removed from the original multimodal 3D facial image by filling in holes, denoising, and removing sharp points. The denoised results in each pixel have a value between 0 and 1. Then, the multimodal 3D facial image dataset is trained using the multimodal fusion network of convolutional autoencoder in deep learning methods to achieve multimodal 3D facial image fusion; finally, mathematical relationships are used to divide facial regions, and DSC descriptors are used to extract contextual features of the 3D model shape. Based on this, facial similarity is calculated to achieve multimodal 3D face recognition based on deep learning. The results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper outperforms the other two algorithms in all cases, regardless of the threshold value. The error recognition rate is low, and the face recognition time is less than 9.6 seconds. This indicates that the method proposed in this paper can effectively improve multimodal 3D face recognition in efficiency and accuracy, with strong application performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A good non-viral vector is the key to the success of gene delivery and therapy; hence, modified exosomes may overcome the physiological barrier in the delivery in vivo. This study aims to design a novel non-viral vector and verify its gene delivery function in vitro and in vivo for dapper homolog 2 (DACT2) genes. In this study, amphipathicity cationic exosomes with receptor targeted function and DACT2 gene loading function were constructed by exosomes, PEG, glycidyl hexadecyl dimethylammonium chloride, and recombinant VAR2CSA malaria protein (RVP) antibody. Characterizations of RVP antibody and PEG modified cationic lipid exosome (RVP-CL) nanocomplexes were evaluated by dynamic light scattering, atomic force microscopy, FTIR, and so on. The DNA condensation ability and stability were assessed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Cellular uptake efficiency and cytotoxicity in glioma cells were investigated. Furthermore, the tumor suppressive effect was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that RVP-CL had a uniform size of 100–200 nm and positive zeta potential. With high uptake efficiency, RVP-CL can rapidly target, recognize, and enter the glioma cell (KNS-42 and U118 mg) and release the gene. Moreover, RVP-CL/DACT2 can effectively inhibit the growth of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. The modified cationic exosomes may offer a promising strategy for gene delivery in the treatment of RVP-positive gliomas or other tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The yield of energy crops has been widely questioned by the public, but few researchers have analyzed the yield prediction of these crops, which has greatly limited their distribution and use. Based on this, in this study, a machine learning algorithm was used to design an energy crop yield simulation and prediction system, and this system was used to analyze the yields of four common energy crops. First the factors that affect the yield of energy crops are discussed, and then, the analysis of the machine learning algorithm and its application in the yield prediction of energy crops is presented, followed by an introduction to the framework of the energy crop yield simulation and prediction system. At the end of this paper, the effect of the energy crop yield simulation and prediction system was analyzed, and the feasibility conclusion was finally reached. The energy crop yield simulation and prediction system designed in this paper can greatly improve the accuracy of yield prediction when forecasting and analyzing energy crop yields. The sugarcane yield measured by the back propagation (BP) neural network model was 8694 kg/hm2, with a relative deviation of 0.86% from the actual. The BP neural network algorithm is widely used in energy crop yield prediction, and can greatly improve the accuracy. In the future, with the maturity and development of a BP neural network algorithm, it would promote the development of crop yield prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cerebellum is involved in regulating motor, affective, and cognitive processes. It is a promising target for transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) intervention in stroke. Objectives: To review the current evidence for cerebellar tDCS (ctDCS) in stroke, its problems, and its future directions. Methods: We searched the Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. Eligible studies were identified after a systematic literature review of the effects of ctDCS in stroke patients. The changes in assessment scale scores and objective indicators after stimulation were reviewed. Results: Eleven studies were included in the systematic review, comprising 169 stroke patients. Current evidence suggests that anode tDCS on the right cerebellar hemisphere does not appear to enhance language processing in stroke patients. Compared with the sham group, stroke patients showed a significant improvement in the verb generation task after cathodal ctDCS stimulation. However, with regard to naming, two studies came to the opposite conclusion. The contralesional anodal ctDCS is expected to improve standing balance but not motor learning in stroke patients. The bipolar bilateral ctDCS protocol to target dentate nuclei (PO10h and PO9h) had a positive effect on standing balance, goal-directed weight shifting, and postural control in stroke patients. Conclusions: ctDCS appears to improve poststroke language and motor dysfunction (particularly gait). However, the evidence for these results was insufficient, and the quality of the relevant studies was low. ctDCS stimulation parameters and individual factors of participants may affect the therapeutic effect of ctDCS. Researchers need to take a more regulated approach in the future to conduct studies with large sample sizes. Overall, ctDCS remains a promising stroke intervention technique that could be used in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To explore the practice and effect evaluation of the early restrictive fluid resuscitation strategy in the nursing care of patients with sepsis in the emergency department. Methods: A total of 239 sepsis patients, who were treated in the emergency department of our hospital from January to September 2020, were selected as the participants of this study, and a retrospective analysis was performed. According to different methods of fluid resuscitation, they were divided into an improved group and a control group. One hundred and twelve patients who received restrictive fluid resuscitation were in the improved group; another 127 patients who received adequate fluid resuscitation were in the control group. The ICU stay time, ventilator use time, and 28-day mortality rate of the two groups were observed. The hemodynamic indices, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and complications of the two groups before and after treatment were compared. Results: After treatment, in the improved group, the APACHE II and SOFA scores were lower than in the control group, fluid replacement decreased, lactate clearance increased, ICU admission time shortened and the proportion of ventilator time to ICU admission time decreased. The incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), cTn I and brain natriuretic peptic in the improved group were significantly lower than those in the control group. From the dimension within the group, the APACHE II score, SOFA score, heart rate and shock index were lower after treatment than before treatment in both the improved and control groups. Conclusion: Restricted fluid resuscitation can effectively alleviate the condition of emergency sepsis patients, improve hemodynamics, reduce the incidence of ARDS, and prevent patient deaths. It is worthy of clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent advancements in the treatment of melanoma are encouraging, but there remains a need to identify additional therapeutic targets. We identify a role for microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) in biosynthetic pathways for melanin and as a determinant of tumor progression. Knockdown (KD) of MGST1 depleted midline-localized, pigmented melanocytes in zebrafish embryos, while in both mouse and human melanoma cells, loss of MGST1 resulted in a catalytically dependent, quantitative, and linear depigmentation, associated with diminished conversion of L-dopa to dopachrome (eumelanin precursor). Melanin, especially eumelanin, has antioxidant properties, and MGST1 KD melanoma cells are under higher oxidative stress, with increased reactive oxygen species, decreased antioxidant capacities, reduced energy metabolism and ATP production, and lower proliferation rates in 3D culture. In mice, when compared to nontarget control, Mgst1 KD B16 cells had less melanin, more active CD8+ T cell infiltration, slower growing tumors, and enhanced animal survival. Thus, MGST1 is an integral enzyme in melanin synthesis and its inhibition adversely influences tumor growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital education with mobile technology is becoming a global trend. This study considers language teachers' challenges related to open distance teaching in higher education. Twenty-eight university lecturers participated in the semi-structured interviews and expressed their opinions on how mobile technologies impacted the nature of teaching and learning in tertiary education. In particular, four themes associated with teaching English in the context of mobile technologies were discussed: (1) technology mediation, (2) disruptive pedagogy, (3) English teaching, and (4) learning flexibility. The results show that mobile technology and pedagogical innovation are not challenging for teachers. Instead, psychological anxiety, extended pedagogical roles, and learning flexibility are the challenging issues. Based on the results, a theoretical framework for digital education and a learning model for digital native students are proposed. This study suggests further work to promote pedagogy that connects students with higher-level thinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a promiscuous xenobiotic sensor, pregnane X receptor (PXR) plays a crucial role in drug metabolism. Since dietary phytochemicals exhibit the potential to modulate human PXR, this review aims to summarize the plant-derived PXR modulators, including agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists. The crystal structures of the apo and ligand-bound forms of PXR especially that of PXR complexed with binary mixtures are summarized, in order to provide the structural basis for PXR binding promiscuity and synergistic activation of PXR by composite ligands. Furthermore, this review summarizes the characterized agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists of human PXR from botanical source. Contrary to PXR agonists, there are only a few antagonists obtained from botanical source due to the promiscuity of PXR. it is worth noting that trans-resveratrol and a series of methylindoles have been identified as partial agonists of PXR, both in activating PXR function, but also inhibiting the effect of other PXR agonists. Since antagonizing PXR function plays a crucial role in the prevention of drug-drug interactions and improvement of therapeutic efficacy, further research is necessary to screen more plant-derived PXR antagonists in the future. in summary, this review may contribute to understanding the roles of phytochemicals in food-drug and herb-drug interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) is one of the most effective approaches for delivering poorly soluble drugs. In ASDs, polymeric materials serve as the carriers in which the drugs are dispersed at the molecular level. To prepare the solid dispersions, there are many polymers with various physicochemical and thermochemical characteristics available for use in ASD formulations. Polymer selection is of great importance because it influences the stability, solubility and dissolution rates, manufacturing process, and bioavailability of the ASD. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of ASDs from the perspectives of physicochemical characteristics of polymers, formulation designs and preparation methods. Furthermore, considerations of safety and regulatory requirements along with the studies recommended for characterizing and evaluating polymeric carriers are briefly discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To observe the anesthesia and clinical efficacy of inhalation anesthesia and intravenous anesthesia in patients with trigeminal neuralgia undergoing surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Eighty patients with trigeminal neuralgia admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Beihua University from July 2018 to July 2021 were selected and divided into two groups according to different anesthesia methods: inhalation group and intravenous group, with 40 cases in each group. Patients in the inhalation group were given inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane, while those in the intravenous group were given intravenous anesthesia. Hemodynamics, intubation and extubation time, postoperative consciousness recovery, adverse reactions and clinical effects of surgery were compared between the two groups during anesthesia. Results: During the induction of anesthesia, after induction and after surgery, the levels of hemodynamic parameters in the two groups increased compared with those before induction of anesthesia, and the increase in the inhalation group was smaller (P<0.05). Patients in the inhalation group had a long time from anesthesia to endotracheal intubation but had a short time from completion of surgery to intubation, which was statistically significant compared with the intravenous group (P<0.05). Compared with the intravenous group, the postoperative consciousness recovery time of the inhalation group was significantly shorter and the incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower (P<0.05). Conclusion: Inhalation anesthesia with sevoflurane is more effective than intravenous anesthesia in trigeminal neuralgia patients treated with trigeminal nerve balloon avulsion, boasting satisfactory safety, less impact on hemodynamics, and shorter recovery time of consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional image super-resolution (SR) reconstruction methods do not carry out sparse coding when performing SR reconstruction, resulting in poor structural similarity of image SR reconstruction. Therefore, this paper proposes a a super-resolution reconstruction method for polymorphic sparsity regularized images based on machine learning algorithms and builds a sparse representation model of polymorphic regularized images. For sparse representation models with different norm constraints, the orthogonal matching tracking in the greedy algorithm is used perform sparse coding to solve the sparse representation coefficient. The least square method in machine learning algorithm is used to solve the inverse operation of dictionary matrix update, construct the image super-resolution reconstruction minimization objective function, and solve the loss function between the super-resolution reconstruction image and the actual image, so as to complete the super-resolution reconstruction of polymorphic sparsity regularized image. The experimental results show that the edge recovery of the image under the proposed method is clearer, and the edge with more distinct edges and corners can be reconstructed. The Peak-Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR) of the super-resolution reconstruction image is 60.5dB, and the Structural Similarity (SSIM) of the super-resolution reconstruction image is as high as 0.99, which effectively improves the image reconstruction effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the reaction pathways at the solid–water interface and in bulk water solution is of great significance for the design of heterogeneous catalysts for selective oxidation of organic pollutants. However, achieving this goal is daunting because of the intricate interfacial reactions at the catalyst surface. Herein, we unravel the origin of the organic oxidation reactions with metal oxide catalysts, revealing that the radical-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) prevail in bulk water but not on the solid catalyst surfaces. We show that such differing reaction pathways widely exist in various chemical oxidation (e.g., high-valent Mn3+ and MnOX) and Fenton and Fenton-like catalytic oxidation (e.g., Fe2+ and FeOCl catalyzing H2O2, Co2+ and Co3O4 catalyzing persulfate) systems. Compared with the radical-based degradation and polymerization pathways of one-electron indirect AOP in homogeneous reactions, the heterogeneous catalysts provide unique surface properties to trigger surface-dependent coupling and polymerization pathways of a two-electron direct oxidative transfer process. These findings provide a fundamental understanding of catalytic organic oxidation processes at the solid–water interface, which could guide the design of heterogeneous nanocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temperature has an important impact on the corrosion resistance of mold with cooling channels prepared by casting method. The effect of preheating temperature of the mold and the carbon fiber core on the roughness and corrosion resistance of U-shaped cooling channels made of Al-12Si alloy was examined in depth. The experimental results suggest that as the preheating temperature increased from 273 K to 573 K, the roughness of the inner wall of the cooling channel reduced from 96.6 µm to 77.0 µm. When the preheating temperature continued to increase to 723 K, the roughness increased to 85.3 µm. The wetting between the Al melt and the carbon fiber will reduce micro bubbles and waves on the channel wall as the preheating temperature rises, thereby reducing the roughness. However, with the further increase of preheating temperature, it will increase the solidification time of the Al melt. At this time, the carbon fiber and Al melt will take more time to react, which increases the roughness of the channel wall to a certain extent. The results of exfoliation corrosion show that the larger roughness will aggravate exfoliation corrosion. The prolongation of high temperature reaction time between the carbon fiber and the Al melt will lead to the segregation of Si, which is easy to cause intergranular corrosion. Therefore, reasonable preheating temperature has an important impact on the roughness and corrosion resistance of U-shaped cooling channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is one of the main causes of death in patients with paraquat (PQ) poisoning. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between mitochondrial fission and oxidative stress in PQ-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and PF. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice and MLE-12 cells were exposed to PQ to construct a PF model in vivo and in vitro. Histological changes in the lungs were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Mitochondrial morphology was detected by MitoTracker® Deep Red FM or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Western blotting and immunofluorescence were used to determine the expression of protein. The migration ability of the cells was detected by the cell scratch test. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels were assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to detect cytokine levels. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and the levels of glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were detected by chemichromatometry. RESULTS: PQ exposure caused EMT and PF in vivo and in vitro. PQ destroyed mitochondrial structure and enhanced the expression of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1), which were accompanied by oxidative stress. Inhibiting mitochondrial fission using mitochondrial division inhibitor-1 (Mdivi-1), a selective inhibitor of Drp1, attenuated PQ-induced EMT and oxidative damage. Treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, reduced Drp1 expression, attenuated mitochondrial structure damage and inhibited PQ-induced EMT and PF. Both Mdivi-1 and NAC treatment markedly suppressed mtDNA release, the expression of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and phosphorylation (P)-NF-κB p65 as well as cytokines (interleukin 6 [IL-6], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], and tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α]) production. CONCLUSION: Mutual promotion of mitochondrial fission and oxidative stress contributes to EMT in PQ-induced PF, which is associated with the mtDNA/TLR9/NF-κB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) production was threatened by the inefficiency of fertilizers, contributing to the deterioration of the soil environment under greenhouse conditions in southern China. Biochar application could ameliorate the physical properties of soil and enhance the growth and productivity of tomatoes. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted with four biochar addition rates of 0% (BA0), 1% (BA1), 3% (BA3), and 5% (BA5). Results showed that the soil physical properties, morph-physiological indicators, yield, and water use efficiency (WUE) of tomatoes with biochar addition were significantly higher than those of tomatoes without biochar addition. Among the different treatments, BA5 provided the highest total porosity (53.09%), field capacity (40.73%), plant height (72.5 cm), net photosynthetic rate (16.04 mmol/m²⋅s), total dry matter (184.65 g/plant), yield (54.9 t/hm²), and WUE (38.5 kg/m³). The yield and WUE increased from 44.5 t/hm² and 31.2 kg/m³ under BA0, respectively, to 54.9 t/hm² and 38.5 kg/m³ under BA5, respectively. The results suggest that BA5 can maximize improvements in soil physical properties to augment plant growth, thereby increasing the yield and WUE of tomatoes. However, the effects of BA3 and BA5 on WUE were not significantly different. Thus, from the perspective of economic investment, BA3 is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baling cellulosic biomass into round bales is an effective way to reduce the cost of storage and transportation. To improve the quality of bales and reduce the baling energy consumption, this paper introduces the steel roller layout parameters of the round baler into the biomass baling process. Alfalfa was used as an experimental material for five levels pitch value of roller circumferential layout baling experiments. The results showed that the introduction of chamber non-roundness (pitch value of roller circumferential layout) destroyed the formation of the entanglement high density ring cylindrical shell lamination of the outer layer of bales, which was beneficial to the compression of bales core material. When the pitch value was 30 mm, the maximum baling pressure, radial pressure transfer loss, and the baling energy consumption of baler were reduced by 30.4%, 33.4%, and 13.7%, respectively. When the pitch value was 60 mm, the relaxation ratio and radial density difference were reduced by 6.3% and 35.8%, respectively, and the radial density uniformity of alfalfa bale was increased by 32.0%. The experimental results provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the chamber structural optimization design of the round baler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how parents and teachers view and do parental involvement in elementary schools. It uses surveys and interviews with parents and teachers from two schools. It finds that both groups value parental involvement and its positive effects on students' learning and happiness. But it also identifies some problems that prevent good parental involvement, like time, communication, resources, and training. It suggests some ways to improve parental involvement and cooperation between parents and teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Leukoencephalopathy with vanishing white matter (VWM) is a rare autosomal recessive leukoencephalopathy resulting from mutations in EIF2B1-5, which encode subunits of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B). Studies have found that eIF2B mutation has a certain influence on embryonic brain development. So far, the effect of the eIF2B mutations on the dynamic process of brain development is not fully understood yet. Aims: Three-dimensional brain organoid technology has promoted the study of human nervous system developmental diseases in recent years, providing a potential platform for elucidating the pathological mechanism of neurodevelopmental diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of eIF2B mutation on the differentiation and development of different nerve cells during dynamic brain development process using 3D brain organoids. Results: We constructed eIF2B mutant and wild-type brain organoid model with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC). Compared with the wild type, the mutant brain organoids were significantly smaller, accompanied by increase in apoptosis, which might be resulted from overactivation of unfolded protein response (UPR). Neuronal development was delayed in early stage, but with normal superficial neuronal differentiation in later stage. eIF2B mutations resulted in immature astrocytes with increased expression of GFAPδ, nestin, and αB-crystallin, and there were increased oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, decreased mature oligodendrocytes, and sparse myelin in mutant cerebral organoids in the later stage. Conclusion: we constructed the first eIF2B mutant cerebral organoids to explore the dynamic brain development process, which provides a platform for further research on the specific pathogenesis of VWM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the design of shield tunnels, it is expected that a design can be more economical as more site investigation data are available. Nevertheless, the cost of site investigation will also increase as more site investigation data are required. It is thus important to assess the potential benefit of a site investigation program before it is conducted considering the uncertainty in the soil properties and the site investigation outcomes. In this paper, a probabilistic framework is suggested to assess the effectiveness of a site investigation program for the design of shield tunnels through the random field theory. An efficient method based on the generalized extreme value distribution is used to calculate the failure probability of the tunnel, through which the expected benefit from a site investigation program can be estimated conveniently. The result shows that a site investigation program is more valuable when a greater target design reliability index is needed. The expected benefit from a site investigation program increases as the borehole intensity increases, and it also increases as the scale of fluctuation of the soil properties increases. The method suggested in this paper provides a useful tool for planning borehole layout for the design of shield tunnels, which is promising for the optimization of site investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of the current research was to investigate the biological roles of LINC00467 in inducing melanoma deterioration. Methods: Differential level of LINC00467 in melanoma tissues and its prognostic value were analyzed in GEPIA, which were further confirmed in clinical samples we collected. Regulatory effects of LINC00467 on proliferation, migration and invasion capacities of A375 and SKMEL1 cell lines were examined by a series of functional experiments. Potential downstream targets of LINC00467 were identified through dual-luciferase reporter assay, and their synergistic role in melanoma process was finally explored by rescue experiments. Results: LINC00467 was up-regulated in melanoma samples, but it did not have a prognostic potential in melanoma. LINC00467 has the capacities to stimulate proliferation, migration and invasion of A375 and SKMEL1 cell lines. The feedback loop LINC00467/miR-485-5p/PAK1 was identified, which was responsible for inducing melanoma deterioration. Conclusions: LINC00467 stimulates proliferation, migration and invasion capacities of melanoma via targeting miR-485-5p to upregulate PAK1, which provides potential targets for treatment of melanoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blowout preventer reliability is important for safe drilling operation. In order to study the sealing mechanism and failure mechanism of conical blowout preventer, a numerical model of conical blowout preventer was established based on the theory of large deformation of rubber, and the deformation law, stress distribution and sealing performance of rubber core in well shut-in operation were studied. The results show that there are stress concentrations in the contact area between the rubber core and the piston, the grooves in the middle of the adjacent support ribs, and the chamfered corner of the inner wall of the rubber core, the main form of failure at these locations is rubber cracking. Higher stress is present in the neck region of the upper plate and the back region of the lower plate of the support ribs. The inner wall surface of the rubber core gradually produces stripes of wrinkles, and the smaller the size of the sealed drill pipe, the more obvious the wrinkles are. When the drill pipe joint is sealed by the rubber core, there is a sealing buffer zone at the shoulder, and the contact pressure change abruptly. The lower portion of the rubber core's inner wall serves as the primary sealing area. Increasing the piston displacement appropriately can enhance the sealing performance of the rubber core. The results can provide a theoretical basis for the optimization design of the conical blowout preventer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context • In the process of combating the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic, medical personnel were at the forefront of the fight. As the future medical workforce, medical students often experienced firsthand how their seniors and teachers had to commit to working hard in combating the epidemic. Many were directly involved in the front line of the fight and that experience could easily have affected their intention to seek employment in a medically related career. Objective • The study intended to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Chinese medical students’ employment intentions and the factors associated with them to put forward relevant suggestions to provide a basis for medical education in the future. Design • The research team conducted a cross-sectional study, using an anonymous online questionnaire. Setting • The study took place in many provinces and cities in China and was conducted in an online questionnaire. Participants • Participants were 1114 college students studying clinical medicine, college students studying nursing, and students interning during standardized resident training, medical interns. Outcome Measures • The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire, which investigated their psychological statuses related to anxiety and depression as well as COVID-19’s impact on their intentions related to job searches, regarding their willingness to engage in clinical or basic research in epidemic-related specialties and epidemic-related work. Results • Compared to college students studying clinical medicine, the employment intentions of nursing students and medical interns were more vulnerable to the epidemic. Females and nursing students were more reluctant to choose clinical work, and the choice was associated with depression. Nursing college students and medical interns were significantly less willing to engage in infection medicine, respiratory medicine, and intensive care medicine (all P < .001). Medical students with a bachelor’s degree and postgraduate degrees were significantly less willing to engage in infection medicine and respiratory medicine (all P < .001), but medical students from regions with stable epidemics were more willing to engage in intensive care medicine. Medical students with a bachelor’s degree were significantly less likely to be involved in epidemiology-related work than undergraduate students, and students from severe epidemic regions were significantly less willing to work in isolation wards or to go to Wuhan as volunteers. Conclusions • Participants’ psychological statuses related to anxiety and depression, genders, degrees, current educational statuses, and regions affected employment intentions during the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vaginal infections continue to be a serious public health issue, and developing new approaches to address antibiotic-resistant pathogens is an urgent task. The dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species and their active metabolites (e.g., bacteriocins) have the potential to defeat pathogens and help individuals recover from disorders. Here, we describe for the first time a novel lanthipeptide, inecin L, a bacteriocin from Lactobacillus iners with posttranslational modifications. The biosynthetic genes of inecin L were actively transcribed in the vaginal environment. Inecin L was active against the prevailing vaginal pathogens, such as Gardnerella vaginalis and Streptococcus agalactiae, at nanomolar concentrations. We demonstrated that the antibacterial activity of inecin L was closely related to the N terminus and the positively charged His13 residue. In addition, inecin L was a bactericidal lanthipeptide that showed little effect on the cytoplasmic membrane but inhibited the cell wall biosynthesis. Thus, the present work characterizes a new antimicrobial lanthipeptide from a predominant species of the human vaginal microbiota. IMPORTANCE The human vaginal microbiota plays essential roles in preventing pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses from invading. The dominant vaginal Lactobacillus species show great potential to be developed as probiotics. However, the molecular mechanisms (such as bioactive molecules and their modes of action) involved in the probiotic properties remain to be determined. Our work describes the first lanthipeptide molecule from the dominant Lactobacillus iners. Additionally, inecin L is the only lanthipeptide found among the vaginal lactobacilli thus far. Inecin L shows strong antimicrobial activity toward the prevalent vaginal pathogens and antibiotic-resistant strains, suggesting that inecin L is a potent antibacterial molecule for drug development. In addition, our results show that inecin L exhibits specific antibacterial activity related to the residues in the N-terminal region and ring A, which will contribute to structure-activity relationship studies in lacticin 481-like lanthipeptides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Evidence for a potential link between air pollution and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is inconsistent, and the modified effect of genetic susceptibility on the relationship between air pollution and RA has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: Using a general population cohort from the UK Biobank, this study aimed to investigate the associations between various air pollutants and the risk of incident RA and to further estimate the impact of combined exposure to ambient air pollutants on the risk of developing RA under the modification effect of genetic predisposition. METHODS: A total of 342,973 participants with completed genotyping data and who were free of RA at baseline were included in the study. An air pollution score was constructed by summing the concentrations of each pollutant weighted by the regression coefficients with RA from single-pollutant models to assess the combined effect of air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM) with diameters ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), between 2.5 and 10 µm (PM2.5–10), and ≤ 10 µm (PM10), as well as nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). In addition, the polygenic risk score (PRS) of RA was calculated to characterize individual genetic risk. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of associations of single air pollutant, air pollution score, or PRS with incident RA. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 8.1 y, 2,034 incident events of RA were recorded. The HRs (95% CIs) of incident RA per interquartile range increment in PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10, NO2, and NOx were 1.07 (1.01, 1.13), 1.00 (0.96, 1.04), 1.01 (0.96, 1.07), 1.03 (0.98, 1.09), and 1.07 (1.02, 1.12), respectively. We also found a positive exposure-response relationship between air pollution score and RA risk (푝Trend = 0.000053). The HR(95% CI) of incident RA was 1.14 (1.00, 1.29) in the highest quartile group compared with the lowest quartile group of the air pollution score. Furthermore, the results of the combined effect of air pollution score and PRS on the RA risk showed that the risk of RA incidence in the highest genetic risk and air pollution score group was almost twice that of the lowest genetic risk and air pollution score group [incidence rate (IR) per 100,000 person-years: 98.46 vs. 51.19, and HR= 1.73 (95% CI: 1.39, 2.17) vs. 1 (reference)], although no statistically significant interaction between the air pollution and genetic risk for incident RA was found (푝Interaction >0.05). DISCUSSION: The results revealed that long-term combined exposure to ambient air pollutants might increase the risk of RA, particularly in those with high genetic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To extend the contemporary understanding into the grain yield heterosis of wheat, the current study investigated the contribution of deleterious alleles in shaping mid-parent heterosis (MPH). These alleles occur at low frequency in the genome and are often missed by automated genotyping platforms like SNP arrays. The deleterious alleles herein were detected using a quantitative measurement of evolutionary conservation based on the phylogeny of wheat and investigations were made to: (1) assess the benefit of including deleterious alleles into MPH prediction models and (2) understand the genetic underpinnings of deleterious SNPs for grain yield MPH using contrasting crosses viz. elite - elite (Exp. 1) and elite - plant genetic resources (PGR; Exp. 2). In our study, we found a lower allele frequency of moderately deleterious alleles in elites compared to PGRs. This highlights the role of purifying selection for the development of elite wheat cultivars. It was shown that deleterious alleles are informative for MPH prediction models: modelling their additive-by-additive effects in Exp. 1 and dominance as well as associated digenic epistatic effects in Exp. 2 significantly boosts prediction accuracies of MPH. Furthermore, heterotic-quantitative trait loci's underlying MPH was investigated and their properties were contrasted in the two crosses. Conclusively, it was proposed that incomplete dominance of deleterious alleles contributes to grain yield heterosis in elite crosses (Exp. 1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new way of designing integrate-and-fire (IF) neuronal integrated circuits is presented. In contrast to other studies, a newly designed linear voltage-controlled current source is used to linearly convert the voltage signal representing the synaptic weights into a current signal and charge the membrane capacitor through the current mirror. The voltage of the membrane capacitor is then processed by another newly designed hysteresis comparator, which finally generates the output pulse signal and implements the IF neuron function. The mixed analog–digital structure makes the output of the circuit less susceptible to transistor mismatches. The design process draws on the best of current modern electronic design, such as band gap references, current mirrors and comparators, and is based on the 0.18 μ m process. Finally, the simulation program with integrated circuit emphasis verifies that the design is valid and feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In each semester, the English course in France was offered in person with an average of 50 students, the Intercultural Communication course in Ukraine was offered online with 15-20 students, and the Assessment for Special Education course in the United States was offered online with an average of 25 students and ranged from 23 to 30 students. OUTTAKES Jie Zhang State University of New York Brockport Mariana Sokol Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, Ukraine Cynthia Boyer Institut National Universitaire Champollion, France As the world becomes more interconnected, it is paramount that college graduates are prepared to become global citizens. In the recent three semesters from fall 2021 to fall 2022, students enrolled in an English course in France, students in the Parallels of Intercultural Communication course in Ukraine, and students in the Assessment for Special Education course in the United States participated in this three-way IVE project. [Extracted from the article]

With the need to increase plant productivity, one of the challenges plant scientists are facing is to identify genes that play a role in beneficial plant traits. Moreover, even when such genes are found, it is generally not trivial to transfer this knowledge about gene function across species to identify functional orthologs. Here, we focused on the leaf to study plant growth. First, we built leaf growth transcriptional networks in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), maize (Zea mays), and aspen (Populus tremula). Next, known growth regulators, here defined as genes that when mutated or ectopically expressed alter plant growth, together with cross-species conserved networks, were used as guides to predict novel Arabidopsis growth regulators. Using an in-depth literature screening, 34 out of 100 top predicted growth regulators were confirmed to affect leaf phenotype when mutated or overexpressed and thus represent novel potential growth regulators. Globally, these growth regulators were involved in cell cycle, plant defense responses, gibberellin, auxin, and brassinosteroid signaling. Phenotypic characterization of loss-of-function lines confirmed two predicted growth regulators to be involved in leaf growth (NPF6.4 and LATE MERISTEM IDENTITY2). In conclusion, the presented network approach offers an integrative cross-species strategy to identify genes involved in plant growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the future multi-functional detection sensing and communication integrated systems, as well as 5G/6G systems, simultaneous transmit and receive technology, as an important key technology, is an important supporting measure to achieve the simultaneous work of different functions. Looking at the problem of strong self-interference in the simultaneous multifunction application of a phased array transceiver, this paper presents the integrated cancellation architecture and corresponding method of integrated transmission domain, RF domain and digital domain, and completes principle experiment verification of interference suppression and elimination by constructing the principle experiment system. Experimental results show that in the actual hardware system 0.5 db amplitude quantification and 6- bit phase quantization control conditions, through joint using passive and active beam transfer of the domain space optimization form, at the same time in the digital domain application of the adaptive system identification interference cancellation method for further interference cancellation, above 150 dB for interference suppression can be achieved. This research will provide a certain reference for the application of simultaneous transceiver technology in future 5G/6G phased array antenna systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rail corrugation is usually generated in modern railway transportations, such as high-speed railway, urban railway, and heavy-haul railway. It is one of the major excitations to the wheel--rail dynamic interaction, which will cause extra vibration and noise, failures, or even risk of derailment to the vehicle and its components. A dynamics model of a heavy-haul locomotive considering the traction power from the electric motor to the wheelset through gear transmission is employed to investigate the nonlinear dynamic responses of the locomotive. This dynamics model couples the motions of the vehicle, the track, and the gear transmission together. In this dynamics model, excitations from the rail corrugation, the nonlinear wheel--rail contact, the time-varying mesh stiffness, and the nonlinear gear backlash are considered. Then, numerical simulations are performed to reveal the dynamic responses of the locomotive. The calculated results indicate that different nonlinear phenomenon can be observed under the excitation of the rail corrugation with different amplitude and wavelength. The high frequency vibrations excited by the time-varying mesh stiffness are usually modulated by the low frequency vibrations caused by the rail corrugation. However, this is likely to vanish under the chaotic conditions with some corrugation wavelength. The vibration level of the vehicle and the gear transmission increases generally with the corrugation amplitude. However, some corrugation lengths have been found to be more responsible for the vibration of the dynamics system, which should be concerned greatly during the locomotive operation. Meanwhile, involvement of gear transmission systems will cause different dynamic responses between the wheelsets under rail corrugation and gear mesh excitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a letter to the editor regarding a research article titled "Feasibility of C2 Pedicle Screw Fixation with the 'in-out-in' Technique for Patients with Basilar Invagination." The authors of the letter express their interest in the topic and acknowledge the effort put into the research. However, they point out some shortcomings in the study, including the lack of description of vascular and osseous anomalies in patients with basilar invagination and the absence of subgroup analysis based on these anomalies and Goel classification. They also criticize the inappropriate statistical analysis methods used in the study. The authors conclude by complimenting the original authors and expressing hope that readers will benefit from the research. [Extracted from the article]

The development of TiO 2 –rGO nanocomposite-based photoanode is an efficient way to enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). TiO 2 –rGO nanocomposite has been synthesized for the modified photoanode of DSSCs. GO has been synthesized by modified Hummer's method, and rGO was achieved by two more steps. TiO 2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by the sol–gel approach followed by composition with rGO. The TiO 2 –rGO nanocomposites were analyzed by Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), UV–Vis Spectroscopy, and IV measurements. The as synthesized TiO 2 –rGO nanocomposite-based photoanode showed a higher PCE than pure TiO 2 nanoparticles-based photoanode. Moreover, TiO 2 –rGO nanocomposite-based photoanode presented enhanced efficiency of 4.09% in DSSCs because rGO has better charge collection ability, which is more convenient to reduce the electron recombination rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Machine Learning (ML) has demonstrated great promise in various fields, e.g., self-driving, smart city, which are fundamentally altering the way individuals and organizations live, work, and interact. Traditional centralized learning frameworks require uploading all training data from different sources to a remote data server, which incurs significant communication overhead, service latency, and privacy issues. To further extend the frontiers of the learning paradigm, a new learning concept, namely, Edge Learning (EL) is emerging. It is complementary to the cloud-based methods for big data analytics by enabling distributed edge nodes to cooperatively training models and conduct inferences with their locally cached data. To explore the new characteristics and potential prospects of EL, we conduct a comprehensive survey of the recent research efforts on EL. Specifically, we first introduce the background and motivation. We then discuss the challenging issues in EL from the aspects of data, computation, and communication. Furthermore, we provide an overview of the enabling technologies for EL, including model training, inference, security guarantee, privacy protection, and incentive mechanism. Finally, we discuss future research opportunities on EL. We believe that this survey will provide a comprehensive overview of EL and stimulate fruitful future research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the experiences of adaptation in heart failure (HF) patients according to the Roy adaptation model. A qualitative study was conducted between December 2020 and March 202 I in China. A total of 21 patients with HF were recruited at of two general hospitals. Semi structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with each participant. NVivo I I was used to encode the transcription and thematic analysis was preformed to analyze the transcripts. Eleven minor themes emerged from the data, namely unbalanced nutrition, inappropriate activities, unrestricted liquid intake, excessive sodium intake, worrying about the future, negative emotions, poor spiritual aspect, unable to fulfill social roles, forced to stop work, interpersonal alienation, and less communication with friends or family. Most participants with HF experienced poor disease adaptation. The themes that emerged offer a new perspective on the experiences of disease adaptation in patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypoxia inducible factor (Hif) pathway is functionally conserved across metazoans in modulating cellular adaptations to hypoxia. However, the functions of this pathway under aerobic physiological conditions are rarely investigated. Here, we show that Hif-1α2, a locust Hif-1α isoform, does not induce canonical hypoxic responses but functions as a specific regulator of locust flight, which is a completely aerobic physiological process. Two Hif-1α splice variants were identified in locusts, a ubiquitously expressed Hif-1α1 and a muscle-predominantly expressed Hif-1α2. Hif-1α1 that induces typical hypoxic responses upon hypoxia exposure remains inactive during flight. By contrast, the expression of Hif-1α2, which lacks C-terminal transactivation domain, is less sensitive to oxygen tension but induced extensively by flying. Hif-1α2 regulates physiological processes involved in glucose metabolism and antioxidation during flight and sustains flight endurance by maintaining redox homeostasis through upregulating the production of a reactive oxygen species (ROS) quencher, DJ-1. Overall, this study reveals a novel Hif-mediated mechanism underlying prolonged aerobic physiological activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subunits of the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) trimer are synthesized as singlechain precursors (HA0s) that are proteolytically cleaved into the disulfide-linked polypeptides HA1 and HA2. Cleavage is required for activation of membrane fusion at low pH, which occurs at the beginning of infection following transfer of cell-surface-bound viruses into endosomes. Activation results in extensive changes in the conformation of cleaved HA. To establish the overall contribution of cleavage to the mechanism of HA-mediated membrane fusion, we used cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to directly image HA0 at neutral and low pH. We found extensive pH-induced structural changes, some of which were similar to those described for intermediates in the refolding of cleaved HA at low pH. They involve a partial extension of the long central coiled coil formed by melting of the preexisting secondary structure, threading it between the membrane-distal domains, and subsequent refolding as extended helices. The fusion peptide, covalently linked at its N terminus, adopts an amphipathic helical conformation over part of its length and is repositioned and packed against a complementary surface groove of conserved residues. Furthermore, and in contrast to cleaved HA, the changes in HA0 structure at low pH are reversible on reincubation at neutral pH. We discuss the implications of covalently restricted HA0 refolding for the cleaved HA conformational changes that mediate membrane fusion and for the action of antiviral drug candidates and cross-reactive anti-HA antibodies that can block influenza infectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] The paper was to understand the detection effect of commercial enzyme inhibition colorimetric kit. [Methods] Six brands of kits were used to detect pesticide residues in vegetables. The detection results were compared with those of 50 kinds of organophosphorus pesticides and 10 kinds of carbamate pesticides detected by chromatography and mass spectrometry. According to different thresholds, the test results of different kits were evaluated, and the false positive rate, false negative rate and coincidence rate of each kit were obtained. The test results of commercial enzyme inhibition colorimetric kits were compared and analyzed. [Results] The detection effect of kit D was the best among the 6 brands of kits, and the coincidence rate was the highest under the 7 thresholds. There was a certain relationship between the detection effect of commercial enzyme inhibition colorimetric kit and the determination threshold of positive samples. The false positive rate decreased with the increase of determination threshold, and the false negative rate increased with the increase of determination threshold, but the coincidence rate with chromatography and mass spectrometry can not reach 100%. When the threshold was set to 20%, the effect was the best. The coincidence rate of 3 brands of kits with the results of chromatography and mass spectrometry was the highest, and none of the 6 kits involved in the comparison had the low'est coincidence rate under this threshold. [Conclusions] It is suggested to modify the threshold values in national standard and trade standard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we investigated the interactions between CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) and Cd2+ and Ag+ in HepG2 cells. Two typical QDs, 3-mercaptopropionic acid-CdSe/ZnS QDs (QD-MPA) and glutathione-CdSe/ZnS QDs (QD-GSH) were applied and proved to be stable, as no fluorescence changes and Cd2+ releasing were detected during 24-h incubation. Both QDs tended to accumulate in HepG2 cells, and significantly reduced the harmful effects of Cd2+ and Ag+. Correspondingly, the intracellular and extracellular concentrations of free metal ions decreased by 2–5 folds due to their adsorption on QDs. On the other hand, both QDs exhibited no significant adsorption on cell fragments, suggesting that they accumulated inside cells but not on the membrane. Therefore, they did not hinder the uptake of free Cd2+ or Ag+. After all, the results revealed that highly stable QDs could extensively reduce the toxicity of heavy metals by absorption of heavy metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 32-year-old man diagnosed with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH), a rare systemic form of non-Langerhans-cell histiocytosis characterized by skin nodules, erosive arthritis, and synovitis. It is reported that the patient exhibited smooth nodules on the chest wall, auricles, and distal fingertips, along with synovitis in multiple joints. It is further noted that treatment involved a regimen of prednisone, hydroxychloroquine, and methotrexate.

Affected by global climate change and human activities, biological invasion has become a serious global problem that not only occurs in cities and wastelands but also in forests, severely endangering biodiversity. Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Pruski, 1996, is a common invasive plant in South China that can adapt to high light and high temperature environments, but its photosynthetic physiological response to shaded environments, such as forest margins, remains unclear. This study investigates the photosynthetic physiology and oxidative damage of S. trilobata and the native species Sphagneticola calendulacea (L.) Pruski, 1996, in a low-irradiance environment. The results show that, compared with the full-light group, photosynthetic gas exchange parameters (including net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate) and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (maximal quantum yield and actual quantum yield of PSII) of plants in the low-light group significantly decreased after shading, while intercellular CO2 and nonphotochemical quenching increased; of note, S. trilobata experienced smaller changes. The malonaldehyde content of S. calendulacea increased, while phenols and the total antioxidant capacity of S. trilobata declined more significantly than those of the native species tested. These results further indicate that, compared with S. calendulacea, S. trilobata exhibited a lower loss in photosynthesis and less oxidative damage under shading. This may explain why S. trilobata tends to spread to forests in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To investigate the effects and influencing factors of the COVID-19 epidemic on the employment intention of resident physicians in China. Methodology: 409 questionnaires were statistically analyzed after removing the missing values. We used the Chi-Square test for single-factor analysis and logistic regression analysis for multivariate analysis. The questions include the residents' employment intention and their willingness to engage in epidemic-related subspecialties and participate in epidemic-related work. Results: Residents of severe and high-risk epidemic regions had much lower employment intentions than those of stable epidemic regions (OR = 1.917, 95% CI: 1.024, 3.591, p = 0.042). The higher the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) score, the more susceptible was the resident's employement intention (OR = 1.085, 95% CI: 1.044, 1.128, p < 0.001). Residents from severe and high-risk epidemic regions were more willing to participate in clinical work (OR = 4.263, 95% CI: 1.892, 9.604, p < 0.001), and the higher the CES-D score, the lower was the proportion of residents willing to choose clinical work (OR = 0.941, 95% CI: 0.893, 0.992, p = 0.023). Residents from severe epidemics and high-risk provinces were less willing to participate in respiratory medicine (X2 = 5.070, p = 0.027) and critical care medicine (X2 = 7.046, p = 0.011). Compared to residents with bachelor's degrees, residents with master's and doctoral degrees were less willing to participate in isolation wards (OR = 1.831, 95% CI: 1.122, 2.990, p = 0.016). Residents in epidemic-related current rotation departments were less willing to go to Wuhan as volunteers (OR = 2.197, 95% CI: 1.110, 4.347, p = 0.024). Conclusions: The COVID-19 outbreak had a negative impact on the job intentions of Chinese residents in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]