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Abstract This study aimed to explore the relationship between female age and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing their first elective single embryo transfer (eSET) of in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. The retrospective cohort study encompassed 7089 IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) patients of the Reproductive Medicine Center, Henan Provincial Peoples’ Hospital of China, from September 1, 2016, to May 31, 2022. Patients all received the first eSET in their IVF/ICSI cycles. A generalized additive model (GAM) was employed to examine the the dose–response correlation between age and pregnancy outcomes, namely the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and ongoing pregnancy rate (OPR). Logistic regression model was employed to ascertain the correlation between the CPR/OPR and age. The study cohort has an average age of 30.74; 3843 patients got clinical pregnancy rate of 61.40% and ongoing pregnancy rate of 54.21%. The multiple pregnancy rate of is 1.24%. For patients aged 34 and above, the CPR decreased by 10% for every 1-year increase in age (adjusted OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.84–0.96, p

Abstract Background Existing evidence suggests that children and adolescents who had experienced childhood maltreatment (CM) are at higher suicidal risk. However, the mediation role of resilience in this association remains unclear. We aim to investigate the mediation via resilience in the associations between CM and three suicidal risk indicators (suicidal ideation, SI; suicidal plan, SP; suicidal attempt, SA) among a large sample of Chinese children and adolescents. Methods A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in southwestern China Yunnan province. A total of 9723 children and adolescents were included and analyzed by using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to explore the associations between CM, resilience, and the three suicidal risk indicators, dose-response trends further elucidated by using the restricted cubic splines. Path models were adopted to estimate the mediation of resilience. Results The estimated prevalence rates for one-year SI, SP and SA were 32.86% (95% CI: 31.93–33.80%), 19.36% (95% CI: 18.57–20.16%) and 9.07% (95% CI: 8.51–9.66%). After adjustment, CM significantly associated with all 3 suicidal risk indicators, and the odds ratios (ORs) were 2.13 (95% CI: 1.91–2.37), 2.45 (95% CI: 2.13–2.81), and 3.61 (95% CI: 2.90–4.52) for one-year SI, SP, and SA, respectively. Path models revealed that resilience significantly mediated the associations between CM and the three suicidal risk indicators, and among all dimensions of resilience, family support presented the strongest mediation consistently. Conclusions Our study results suggest that intervention measures which focusing on improving psychological resilience might be effective in reducing suicidal risk for children and adolescents who had experienced maltreatment. Prospective studies should be done to corroborate our findings.

Abstract Background This study aims to analyze the efficacy of metformin on carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) for patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods A literature search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception to December 2023 was conducted. Then, after studies selection and data extraction, the mean difference (MD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to evaluate metformin efficacy in CIMT and FMD for PCOS patients. Heterogeneity was investigated through subgroup and sensitivity analysis. The protocol of our study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024497239). Results A total of 12 studies with 248 patients were included. CIMT was lower in the endpoint group (after metformin) compared with the baseline group (before metformin) (MD = -0.11, 95% CI = -0.21 to -0.01, p = 0.04). FMD was higher in the endpoint group compared with the baseline group (MD = 3.25, 95% CI = 1.85 to 4.66, p

The microRNA(miRNA)is a widely present small non-coding RNA(ncRNA), with a length of 20-25 nucleotides. The miRNA in eye tissue plays crucial roles in normal eyes by participating in processes such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Cataracts are the main cause of blindness worldwide. Research has shown that miRNA is related to the occurrence and development of cataracts, and it has new application prospects as a potential target for the treatment and prevention of cataracts. This article reviews the relationship between miRNA and the occurrence and development of cataracts through several different pathogenesis mechanisms, including oxidative damage, apoptosis, autophagy, and epithelial mesenchymal transition(EMT).

Abstract Background To analyze the economic benefits of paliperidone palmitate in the treatment of schizophrenia. Methods We collected 546 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia according to the 《International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems,10th》(ICD-10). We gathered general population data such as gender, age, marital status, and education level, then initiated treatment with paliperidone palmitate. Then Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of treatment to assess clinical efficacy, adverse reactions, and injection doses. We also collected information on the economic burden before and after 12 months of treatment, as well as the number of outpatient visits and hospitalizations in the past year to analyze economic benefits. Results The baseline patients totaled 546, with 239 still receiving treatment with paliperidone palmitate 12 months later. After 12 months of treatment, the number of outpatient visits per year increased compared to before (4 (2,10) vs. 12 (4,12), Z=-5.949, P 0.05); the indirect costs of patients after 12 months of treatment (lost productivity costs for patients and families, economic costs due to destructive behavior, costs of seeking non-medical assistance) decreased compared to before (300(150,600) vs. 150(100,200), P

Abstract Cimicifugae Rhizoma, generally known as “Sheng Ma” in China, has great medicinal and dietary values. Cimicifugae Rhizoma is the dried rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida L., Cimicifuga dahurica (Turcz.) Maxim. and Cimicifuga heracleifolia Kom., which has been used to treat wind-heat headache, tooth pain, aphtha, sore throat, prolapse of anus and uterine prolapse in traditional Chinese medicine. This review systematically presents the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical studies, quality control and toxicity of Cimicifugae Rhizoma in order to propose scientific evidence for its rational utilization and product development. Herein, 348 compounds isolated or identified from the herb are summarized in this review, mainly including triterpenoid saponins, phenylpropanoids, chromones, alkaloids, terpenoids and flavonoids. The crude extracts and its constituents had various pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-osteoporosis and relieving menopausal symptoms. The recent research progress of Cimicifugae Rhizoma in ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and pharmacological effects demonstrates the effectiveness of its utilization and supplies valuable guidance for further research. This review will provide a basis for the future development and utilization of Cimicifugae Rhizoma.

Abstract Background Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common haematological cancer worldwide. Along with related diseases including monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS), plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) and plasmacytoma, MM incidence is rising, yet it remains incurable and represents a significant disease burden. Clinical registries can provide important information on management and outcomes, and are vital platforms for clinical trials and other research. The Asia–Pacific Myeloma and Related Diseases Registry (APAC MRDR) was developed to monitor and explore variation in epidemiology, treatment regimens and their impact on clinical outcomes across this region. Here we describe the registry’s design and development, initial data, progress and future plans. Methods The APAC MRDR was established in 2018 as a multicentre collaboration across the Asia–Pacific, collecting prospective data on patients newly diagnosed with MM, MGUS, PCL and plasmacytoma in Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan, with China recently joining. Development of the registry required a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, researchers, legal and information technology support, and financial resources, as well as local clinical context from key opinion leaders in the APAC region. Written informed consent is obtained and data are routinely collected throughout treatment by hospital staff. Data are stored securely, meeting all local privacy and ethics requirements. Data were collected from October 2018 to March 2024. Results Over 1700 patients from 24 hospitals have been enrolled onto the APAC MRDR to date, with the majority (86%) being newly diagnosed with MM. Bortezomib with an immunomodulatory drug was most frequently used in first-line MM therapy, and lenalidomide-based therapy was most common in second-line. Establishment and implementation challenges include regulatory and a range of operational issues. Conclusion The APAC MRDR is providing ‘real-world’ data to participating sites, clinicians and policy-makers to explore factors influencing outcomes and survival, and to support high quality studies. It is already a valuable resource that will continue to grow and support research and clinical collaboration in MM and related diseases across the APAC region.

“Synthetic” allopolyploids recreated by interspecific hybridization play an important role in providing novel genomic variation for crop improvement. Such synthetic allopolyploids often undergo rapid genomic structural variation (SV). However, how such SV arises, is inherited and fixed, and how it affects important traits, has rarely been comprehensively and quantitively studied in advanced generation synthetic lines. A better understanding of these processes will aid breeders in knowing how to best utilize synthetic allopolyploids in breeding programs. Here, we analyzed three genetic mapping populations (735 DH lines) derived from crosses between advanced synthetic and conventional Brassica napus (rapeseed) lines, using whole-genome sequencing to determine genome composition. We observed high tolerance of large structural variants, particularly toward the telomeres, and preferential selection for balanced homoeologous exchanges (duplication/deletion events between the A and C genomes resulting in retention of gene/chromosome dosage between homoeologous chromosome pairs), including stable events involving whole chromosomes (“pseudoeuploidy”). Given the experimental design (all three populations shared a common parent), we were able to observe that parental SV was regularly inherited, showed genetic hitchhiking effects on segregation, and was one of the major factors inducing adjacent novel and larger SV. Surprisingly, novel SV occurred at low frequencies with no significant impacts on observed fertility and yield-related traits in the advanced generation synthetic lines. However, incorporating genome-wide SV in linkage mapping explained significantly more genetic variance for traits. Our results provide a framework for detecting and understanding the occurrence and inheritance of genomic SV in breeding programs, and support the use of synthetic parents as an important source of novel trait variation.

Abstract Background Lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV) is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that can lead to a range of gastrointestinal issues, such as intestinal bleeding, necrosis, and perforation. The optimal surgical approach for cases of intestinal necrosis in LMV remains a topic of debate. Case presentation We present the first documented instance of jejunal necrosis in a 56-year-old woman undergoing SLE treatment. The patient presented with symptoms including abdominal distension, pain, nausea, and vomiting. Physical examination revealed abdominal tenderness, rebound pain, and muscle tension. Following surgery and steroid therapy, the patient experienced successful recovery and was discharged from the hospital. Conclusions Patients with jejunal necrosis due to SEL, during intraoperative exploration, surgical decisions should be made based on careful observation. In cases of extensive jejunal necrosis that cannot be preserved, it is advisable to resect the necrotic tissue as much as possible, with a recommended extended resection margin of 2–3 cm.

BackgroundThromboelastography (TEG) can objectively reflect the formation, development and rupture process of thrombosis in patients, but there are limited data on whether TEG can be used as a predictive tool for recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ObjectiveTo explore the TEG risk of recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke predictive value.MethodsA total of 441 patients with acute ischemic stroke who met the research criteria in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2020 to December 2021 were selected as the research objects. TEG was measured in all patients, and the main parameters of TEG (R value, indicating coagulation reaction time; K value and Angle, the rate of blood clot formation; MA value, indicating the maximum amplitude). The primary outcome of this study was ischemic stroke recurrence. Recurrent events included cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, TIA, and were determined by combining imaging events and clinical events. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke.ResultsFifty-six patients (12.7%) had recurrence. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that: Age [OR = 1.078, 95%CI(1.024, 1.135)], triglyceride [OR = 1.541, 95%CI(1.033, 2.298)], glycosylated hemoglobin [OR = 1.401, 95%CI(1.097, 1.790)], history of hypertension [OR = 16.046, p

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by meta-analysis, in order to provide evidence-based evidence for the application of acupuncture therapy in the clinical process of AD.MethodsFrom the establishment of the database to December 31, 2022, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China National Knowledge Network (CNKI), VIP database, WanFang Database, Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library Database were systematically searched. To collect published randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTS) of acupuncture in the treatment of cognitive impairment in AD. The subjects in the intervention group were given acupuncture alone or combined with other treatments the same as the control group; the control group received conventional Western medicine treatment. The main outcome indicators of the study were cognitive function assessment of subjects, including: Simple Mental State Examination Scale (MMSE), Assessment of daily Living Ability Scale (ADL), Alzheimer's Disease Cognitive Function Assessment Scale (ADAS-Cog), TCM syndrome score (SDSD), Montreal Cognitive Test (MoCA), Secondary outcome indicators were the occurrence of adverse reactions. Literature screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation of the included literature were performed independently by two researchers, according to bias risk assessment tools recommended in the Cochrane manual. Data were analyzed by RevMan5.3 software. Dichotomous variables were represented by risk ratio (OR) and 95% CI, and continuity variables were represented by mean difference (MD) and 95% CI. For heterogeneity analysis, when P > 0.1 and I2 ≤ 50%, fixed effect model was applied. When P ≤ 0.1 and I2 > 50%, the random effects model is applied.ResultsA total of 1,172 eligible subjects were included in 18 RCTS, including 595 in the intervention group and 577 in the control group. The results of meta-analysis are as follows: acupuncture intervention group improved MMSE [MD = 1.67, 95% CI (0.94, 2.41), P < 0.00001], ADL [MD = −1.18, 95% CI (−3.09, 0.72), P = 0.22], ADAS-Cog [MD = 3.31, 95% CI (5.84, 0.78), P = 0.01], SDSD [MD = 2.40, 95% CI (3.53, 1.26), P < 0.0001], MoCA [MD = 4.80, 95% CI (3.74, 5.86), P = 0.04] were better than the control group. No serious adverse reactions related to acupuncture were observed in the intervention group, and the incidence and severity of adverse reactions were lower than those in the control group, with statistical significance [OR = 0.17, 95% CI (0.04, 0.67), P = 0.01].ConclusionExisting data show that acupuncture therapy has certain advantages in improving cognitive dysfunction and improving self-care ability of patients with Alzheimer's disease. However, due to the small number of RCTS and cases evaluating the efficacy of acupuncture, and the possibility of measurement bias and selectivity bias in included studies, it is still unable to conduct high-intensity demonstration on its effectiveness. Further large-scale, high-quality randomized, double-blind controlled trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy.Systematic Review Registrationhttps://inplasy.com/inplasy-2021-12-0125/, identifier: INPLASY2021120125.

Background: Chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT) increases the risk of bleeding, necessitates chemotherapy dose reductions and delays, and negatively impacts prognosis. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hetrombopag for the management of CIT in patients with advanced solid tumors. Design: A multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II study. Methods: Patients with advanced solid tumors who experienced a chemotherapy delay of ⩾7 days due to thrombocytopenia (platelet count

Alzheimer's disease (AD) stands as the most prevalent neurodegenerative condition worldwide, and its correlation with microglial function is notably significant. Dl-3-n-butylphthalide (NBP), derived from the seeds of Apium graveolens L. (Chinese celery), has demonstrated the capacity to diminish Aβ levels in the brain tissue of Alzheimer’s transgenic mice. Despite this, its connection to neuroinflammation and microglial phagocytosis, along with the specific molecular mechanism involved, remains undefined. In this study, NBP treatment exhibited a substantial improvement in learning deficits observed in AD transgenic mice (APP/PS1 transgenic mice). Furthermore, NBP treatment significantly mitigated the total cerebral Aβ plaque deposition. This effect was attributed to the heightened presence of activated microglia surrounding Aβ plaques and an increase in microglial phagocytosis of Aβ plaques. Transcriptome sequencing analysis unveiled the potential involvement of the AGE (advanced glycation end products) -RAGE (receptor for AGE) signaling pathway in NBP’s impact on APP/PS1 mice. Subsequent investigation disclosed a reduction in the secretion of AGEs, RAGE, and proinflammatory factors within the hippocampus and cortex of NBP-treated APP/PS1 mice. In summary, NBP alleviates cognitive impairment by augmenting the number of activated microglia around Aβ plaques and ameliorating AGE-RAGE-mediated neuroinflammation. These findings underscore the related mechanism of the crucial neuroprotective roles of microglial phagocytosis and anti-inflammation in NBP treatment for AD, offering a potential therapeutic target for the disease.

Abstract Object Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at higher risk of developing atherosclerosis. Previous studies have analyzed the factors associated with diabetic macrovascular disease, although whether these factors are applicable to T2DM patients with carotid atherosclerosis remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for the formation of carotid atherosclerotic plaque in hospitalized T2DM patients and to provide a theoretical basis for early prevention and treatment of carotid atherosclerosis in these patients. Methods A total of 949 patients with T2DM were included in the study. Carotid ultrasound identified 531 patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque. The waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), blood glucose, liver and kidney function, blood lipid profile, islet function, and other indicators were measured at the same time to identify the risk factors and predictive significance of T2DM carotid plaque. Results The proportions of men, diabetes nephropathy (DN) and hypertension in T2DM patients with carotid plaque are higher than those without carotid plaque(P

Abstract Accurate target detection in complex orchard environments is the basis for automatic picking and pollination. The characteristics of small, clustered and complex interference greatly increase the difficulty of detection. Toward this end, we explore a detector in the orchard and improve the detection ability of complex targets. Our model includes two core designs to make it suitable for reducing the risk of error detection due to small and camouflaged object features. Multi-scale texture enhancement design focuses on extracting and enhancing more distinguishable features for each level with multiple parallel branches. Our adaptive region-aware feature fusion module extracts the dependencies between locations and channels, potential cross-relations among different levels and multi-types information to build distinctive representations. By combining enhancement and fusion, experiments on various real-world datasets show that the proposed network can outperform previous state-of-the-art methods, especially for detection in complex conditions.

The in-vivo non-human primate animal and in-vitro cell disease models play a crucial part in the study of the mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of pancreatic diseases, but with increasingly prominent limitations with in-depth research. Organoids derived from human pluripotent and adult stem cells resemble human in-vivo organs in their cellular composition, spatial tissue structure and physiological function, making them as an advantageous research tool. Up until now, numerous human organoids, including pancreas, have been effectively developed, demonstrating significant potential for research in organ development, disease modeling, drug screening, and regenerative medicine. However, different from intestine, liver and other organs, the pancreas is the only special organ in the human body, consisting of an exocrine gland and an endocrine gland. Thus, the development of pancreatic organoid technology faces greater challenges, and how to construct a composite pancreatic organoid with exocrine and endocrine gland is still difficult in current research. By reviewing the fundamental architecture and physiological role of the human pancreas, along with the swiftly developing domain of pancreatic organoids, we summarize the method and characteristics of human pancreatic organoids, and its application in modeling pancreatic diseases, as a platform for individualized drug screening and in regenerative medicine study. As the first comprehensive review that focus on the pharmacological study of human pancreatic organoid, the review hopes to help scholars to have a deeper understanding in the study of pancreatic organoid.

BackgroundImpact of B-cell depletion following treatment with Bruton tyrosine kinase-inhibitors (BTKi) on the outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients remain controversial. We investigated the impact of BTKi on susceptibility and the severity of COVID-19 in Chinese patients with CLL during the first wave of COVID-19 (Omicron variant).MethodsCLL patients (n=171) visiting the Institute of Hematology, Peoples’ Hospital, China (November 15, 2022- January 20, 2023) were included in the study. Seventeen patients receiving BTKi and venetoclax with or without obinutuzumab were excluded. Data from 117 patients receiving treatment with BTKi were collected using a standardized questionnaire through telephone interviews. Thirty-four patients without CLL-specific treatment served as controls. The data was analysed using IBM SPSS Software version 21 and a P value of

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. The identification of novel biomarkers associated with mortality in patients with metabolic syndrome could facilitate early risk stratification and targeted interventions.MethodsWe conducted a large prospective cohort study using data from five cycles (2009-2016) of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database, including a total of 40,439 participants. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between serum klotho protein levels and metabolic syndrome, while Cox regression analysis was employed to examine the correlation between serum klotho levels and all-cause mortality. Mortality data were updated until December 31, 2019.ResultsAfter adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic confounders, the logistic regression model demonstrated that higher serum klotho levels were significantly associated with a decreased prevalence of metabolic syndrome (OR [95% CI] Highest vs. lowest quartile: 0.84 [0.70-0.99], P=0.038). In the Cox regression model, elevated klotho levels were found to significantly reduce the risk of all-cause mortality among individuals with metabolic syndrome (HR [95% CI] Highest vs. lowest quartile: 0.68 [0.51-0.90], P=0.006).ConclusionSerum klotho levels were found to be inversely associated with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, independent of potential confounding factors such as demographics, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors. Furthermore, higher klotho levels strongly indicated a lower risk of all-cause mortality in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

The multiple species characteristics of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are crucial for expanding TCMs sources, meeting the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and ensuring clinical requirements. It’s also one of the significant factors affecting the quality control of TCMs. Systematic differential analysis of original species in TCMs is an important link in achieving comprehensive quality control, ensuring the effectiveness and safety of clinical medication. The study aims to establish a reliable and efficient approach to screen combinatorial discriminatory quality markers for rapid differentiation of original species by metabolomics coupled with DNA barcoding as a case of Cimicifugae Rhizoma. DNA barcoding is used to identify the origin of Cimicifugae Rhizoma. The data-dependent acquisition mode integrated with the computerized intelligent filtering system was established for in-depth characterization of metabolites from Cimicifugae Rhizoma using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS). The untargeted metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis was performed to screen and identify the potential combinatorial discriminatory quality markers. Finally, quantitative analysis and predictive model of these markers were employed to validate the feasibility of this strategy to distinguish the original species. Based on the scores of variable importance in projection greater than 1.0 and t-test (p

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer most frequently detected at an advanced stage that limits treatment options to systemic chemotherapy, which has provided only marginal positive clinical outcomes. Currently, the first-line chemotherapeutic agent for PDAC is gemcitabine (GEM). However, the chemotherapy resistance to GEM is often overlooked in the clinical treatment of PDAC due to the lack of effective biological markers. Therefore, it is crucial to find new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets for patients with PDAC. In this study, we identified a novel regulatory mechanism in the development of resistance to GEM in PDAC. Here, we report that LINC01134 was significantly upregulated in primary tumors from PDAC patients. In vitro and in vivo functional studies revealed that LINC01134 promotes PDAC resistance to GEM through facilitating stem cell features and modulating the cell cycle. Mechanistically, LINC01134 interactes with tumor suppressor miR-497-5p in PDAC cells. Increased LINC01134 downregulates miR-140-3p to promotes the oncogenic WNT5A expression. Moreover, m6A demethylase FTO participated in the upregulation of LINC01134 by maintaining LINC01134 mRNA stability through YTHDF2. Taken together, the present study suggested FTO-mediated LINC01134 stabilization to promote chemotherapy resistance to GEM through miR-140-3p/WNT5A/WNT pathway in PDAC. Our study identified new prognostic markers and new therapeutic targets for patients with PDAC.

Novel research and development (R&D) institutions in life sciences and medicine are the products of the latest round of technological revolution and industrial transformation. Under these new historical circumstances, accelerating the transformation of achievements from these novel R&D institutions is of strategic significance for cultivating national technological strength in the field of biomedicine, strengthening China’s biopharmaceutical industry, and achieving self-reliance in biomedical science and technology.This study presents the new dynamic of achievement transformation in novel R&D institutions in life sciences and medicine, conducts an in-depth analysis of related experience from both China and abroad through a literature review and field investigation, and summarizes four operational transformation modes of these institutions. Focusing on the “core-catalyst” system of achievement transformation in these novel R&D institutions, we research the achievement transformation mechanism system that adheres to the principles of innovation and market rules, and propose a micro-ecological model for achievement transformation mechanisms in these novel R&D institutions, including three core systems (i.e., technology R&D, technology implementation, and investment systems) and a government macro-support catalytic system. Policy recommendations are offered with an emphasis on top-level design, creating an innovative ecosystem, activating transformation dynamics, and strengthening system support, to provide theoretical and practical references for accelerating the transformation of achievements from Chinese novel R&D institutions in life sciences and medicine.

Abstract Background Nonsecretory multiple myeloma (NSMM) is a rare type of multiple myeloma (MM). Few studies have described the clinical features and outcomes of NSMM in novel agents. Additionally, the prognostic characteristics have remained controversial in recent years. Purpose To investigate the clinical and prognostic features of NSMM and explore the prognostic value of involved free light chain (FLC) levels in NSMM patients in the Chinese population. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 176 newly diagnosed NSMM cases between January 2005 and December 2021 from 19 clinical centers in China. The control group was selected using a 1:4 propensity score matching technique of newly diagnosed secretory MM, with age, sex and diagnosis time as the matching variables. Results The median age of NSMM patients was 60 years, and 22.6% of patients were classified as ISS stage 3. The ORR of the NSMM patients was 87.4%, and the CR was 65.8%. Compared to the matched secretory MM patients, more NSMM patients achieved CR after first-line treatment (65.8% vs. 36%, p = 0.000). The ORR of first-line treatment was not significantly different between NSMM and secretory MM (89.45% vs. 84.7%, p = 0.196). The first-line PFS was 27.5 m and 23 m (p = 0.063), and the median OS was 81 m and 70 months (p = 0.401). However, for CR-achieved NSMM and CR-not-achieved NSMM patients, the median PFS was 37 m vs. 16 m (p = 0.021), while the median OS showed no difference (107 m vs. 87 m, p = 0.290). In multivariate analysis, the significant factors for PFS were age ≥ 65 and ISS-3. ISS-3 was the only independent prognostic factor of OS. The iFLC ≥ 50 mg/L group had a high ORR of 97.3%, and the median PFS and OS were 48 m and NR, respectively. Compared to the matched secretory MM, the iFLC ≥ 50 mg/L group also showed more CR and longer OS (NR vs. 70 m, p = 0.006) and PFS (48 m vs. 23 m, p = 0.003). Conclusions Our results revealed that Chinese NSMM patients are younger and have a higher CR but not superior survival. The subgroup of NSMM patients with iFLC ≥ 50 mg/L had better outcomes than secretory MM.

Propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are the most common solvents used in electronic cigarette liquids. No long-term inhalation toxicity assessments have been performed combining conventional and multi-omics approaches on the potential respiratory effects of the solvents in vivo. In this study, the systemic toxicity of aerosol generated from a ceramic heating coil-based e-cigarette was evaluated. First, the aerosol properties were characterized, including carbonyl emissions, the particle size distribution, and aerosol temperatures. To determine toxicological effects, rats were exposed, through their nose only, to filtered air or a propylene glycol (PG)/ glycerin (VG) (50:50, %W/W) aerosol mixture at the target concentration of 3 mg/L for six hours daily over a continuous 28-day period. Compared with the air group, female rats in the PG/VG group exhibited significantly lower body weights during both the exposure period and recovery period, and this was linked to a reduced food intake. Male rats in the PG/VG group also experienced a significant decline in body weight during the exposure period. Importantly, rats exposed to the PG/VG aerosol showed only minimal biological effects compared to those with only air exposure, with no signs of toxicity. Moreover, the transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses of the rat lung tissues following aerosol exposure revealed a series of candidate pathways linking aerosol inhalation to altered lung functions, especially the inflammatory response and disease. Dysregulated pathways of arachidonic acids, the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and the hematopoietic cell lineage were revealed through integrated multi-omics analysis. Therefore, our integrated multi-omics approach offers novel systemic insights and early evidence of environmental-related health hazards associated with an e-cigarette aerosol using two carrier solvents in a rat model.

BackgroundThe occurrence of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) is driven by multiple factors including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. However, epidemiological research investigating the association between metal exposure and MASLD occurrence remains limited.MethodsWe conducted a large cross-sectional study with 6,520 participants who were involved in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 2011 and 2018. Using generalized linear regression, we examined the relationship between five heavy metals (mercury, manganese, lead, selenium, cadmium) and MASLD. Furthermore, restricted cubic spline models and weighted quantile sum (WQS) analysis were employed to characterize the exposure-response relationship between the five metals and MASLD.ResultsHigher blood selenium levels were associated with an increased likelihood of MASLD among US adults. Blood lead exposure was also positively correlated with MASLD risk. However, there was no significant association observed between blood cadmium, mercury, manganese levels, and MASLD risk. Among the five metals, blood cadmium exposure accounted for the highest proportion of MASLD risk.ConclusionOur study indicated the significant association between blood cadmium and lead exposure levels and the occurrence of MASLD in a representative sample of US adults.

AbstractVirtual reality (VR) surgery using the High Technology Computer Corporation Very Immersive Virtual Experience professional 2(HTC VIVE Pro2) suite is a multi-sensory, holistic surgical training experience. A multimedia combination including videos and three-dimensional interaction in VR has been developed to enable trainees to experience a realistic battlefield environment. The innovation allows trainees to interact with the individual components of the cranialmaxillofacial(CMF) anatomy and apply surgical instruments while watching close-up stereoscopic three-dimensional videos of the surgery. In this study, a novel training tool for the pre-hospital treatment of CMF trauma based on immersive virtual reality (iVR) was developed and validated. Twenty-five CMF surgeons evaluated the application for face and content validity. Using a structured assessment process, the surgeons commented on the content of the developed training tool, its realism and usability and the applicability of VR surgery for CMF trauma rescue simulation training. The results confirmed the applicability of VR for delivering training in the pre-hospital treatment of CMF trauma. Modifications were suggested to improve the user experience and interactions with the surgical instruments. This training tool is ready for testing with surgical trainees.

Dimethyl sulfides are ubiquitous odorous substances in eutrophic freshwater bodies. In this study, a simple headspace solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-flame photometric detection method was developed to detect three representative algal-derived dimethyl sulfides in freshwater lake water samples: dimethyl monosulfide (DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), and dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS). The effects of extraction fiber, temperature, pH, ionic strength, and sample volume were investigated orthogonally, and the optimized method was applied to analyze surface water samples from Lake Ulansuhai in Inner Mongolia, China. Optimal extraction was obtained with a 50/30 µm DVB/CAR/PDMS extraction fiber, 20% ion concentration, 87 min extraction time, and 50 °C extraction temperature. The correlation coefficients of the standardized working curves for DMS, DMDS, and DMTS were 0.9967, 0.9907, and 0.9994, respectively, indicating good linear relationships. Limits of detection were in the nanogram range, and the recoveries of the spiked standards for DMS, DMDS, and DMTS were 97.22~99.07%, 93.39~99.34%, and 91.17~99.25%, with relative standard deviations of 5.18~5.94%, 3.08~6.25%, and 2.56~5.47%, respectively. This method is stable and reliable, and can be used for the determination of volatile sulfides in freshwater lake water.

This paper investigates the effect of hardware impairments (HIs) and imperfect channel state information (ICSI) on a SWIPT-assisted adaptive nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA)/orthogonal multiple access (OMA) system over independent and nonidentical Rayleigh fading channels. In the NOMA mode, the energy-constrained near users act as a relay to improve the performance for the far users. The OMA transmission mode is adopted to avoid a complete outage when NOMA is infeasible. The best user selection scheme is considered to maximize the energy harvested and avoid error propagation. To characterize the performance of the proposed systems, closed-form and asymptotic expressions of the outage probability for both near and far users are studied. Moreover, exact and approximate expressions of the ergodic rate for near and far users are investigated. Simulation results are provided to verify our theoretical analysis and confirm the superiority of the proposed NOMA/OMA scheme in comparison with the conventional NOMA and OMA protocol with/without HIs and ICSI.

Abstract The persistence of tumor load in multiple myeloma (MM) lead to relapse in patients achieving complete remission (CR). Appropriate and effective methods of myeloma tumor load monitoring are important for guiding clinical management. This study aimed to clarify the value of microvesicles in monitoring MM tumor load. Microvesicles in bone marrow and peripheral blood were isolated by differential ultracentrifugation and detected by flow cytometry. Western blotting was applied to assess myosin light chain phosphorylation levels. Flow cytometry to detect Ps+CD41a−, Ps+CD41a−CD138+, Ps+CD41a−BCMA+ microvesicles from bone marrow can be used to predict myeloma burden, furthermore, Ps+CD41a− microvesicles may as a potential index to MRD test. Mechanistically, the releasing of microvesicles from MM cell was regulated by Pim-2 Kinase via Phosphorylation of MLC-2 protein.

BackgroundSystemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis is a rare and multisystem disease associated with increased morbidity and a poor prognosis. Delayed diagnoses are common due to the heterogeneity of the symptoms. However, real-world insights from Chinese patients with AL amyloidosis have not been investigated. ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe the journey to an AL amyloidosis diagnosis and to build an in-depth understanding of the diagnostic process from the perspective of both clinicians and patients to obtain a correct and timely diagnosis. MethodsPublicly available disease-related content from social media platforms between January 2008 and April 2021 was searched. After performing data collection steps with a machine model, a series of disease-related posts were extracted. Natural language processing was used to identify the relevance of variables, followed by further manual evaluation and analysis. ResultsA total of 2204 valid posts related to AL amyloidosis were included in this study, of which 1968 were posted on haodf.com. Of these posts, 1284 were posted by men (median age 57, IQR 46-67 years); 1459 posts mentioned renal-related symptoms, followed by heart (n=833), liver (n=491), and stomach (n=368) symptoms. Furthermore, 1502 posts mentioned symptoms related to 2 or more organs. Symptoms for AL amyloidosis most frequently mentioned by suspected patients were nonspecific weakness (n=252), edema (n=196), hypertrophy (n=168), and swelling (n=140). Multiple physician visits were common, and nephrologists (n=265) and hematologists (n=214) were the most frequently visited specialists by suspected patients for initial consultation. Additionally, interhospital referrals were also commonly seen, centralizing in tertiary hospitals. ConclusionsChinese patients with AL amyloidosis experienced referrals during their journey toward accurate diagnosis. Increasing awareness of the disease and early referral to a specialized center with expertise may reduce delayed diagnosis and improve patient management.

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous respiratory disease that causes serious social and economic burdens. Current drugs such as β2-agonists cannot fully control asthma. Our previous study found that Transgelin-2 is a potential target for treating asthmatic pulmonary resistance. Herein, we discovered a zolinium compound, TSG1180, that showed a strong interaction with Transgelin-2. The equilibrium dissociation constants (KD) of TSG1180 to Transgelin-2 were determined to be 5.363 × 10−6 and 9.81 × 10−6 M by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) results showed that the thermal stability of Transgelin-2 increased after coincubation of TSG1180 with lysates of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). Molecular docking showed that Arg39 may be the key residue for the binding. Then, the SPR result showed that the binding affinity of TSG1180 to Transgelin-2 mutant (R39E) was decreased by 1.69-fold. Real time cell analysis (RTCA) showed that TSG1180 treatment could relax ASMCs by 19 % (P

We report a case of a 59-year-old male diagnosed with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). He received first-line platinum doublet chemotherapy and second-line topotecan-based regimen, but experienced disease progression after each line of therapy. He was then treated with Sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in combination with nab-paclitaxel in the third-line setting, which resulted in significant tumor shrinkage. Restaging scans showed a partial response per RECIST criteria with 62% reduction in tumor burden. This case highlights the application and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in extensive-stage SCLC.

Abstract Aims Acute viral myocarditis (AVMC) is the aetiology of heart failure (HF) with few specific treatments. The improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is a critical predictor for the prognosis of AVMC. LCZ696 is a drug used in HF to improve LVEF, with a few research on AVMC. In this research, we evaluated the effects and mechanism of LCZ696 in improving LVEF in AVMC. Methods Eighty 4‐week‐old male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups of 20: Sham; Sham + LCZ696 (60 mg/kg/d); AVMC; AVMC + LCZ696. The above experiments were repeated by CVB3‐infected HL‐1 and Mdivi‐1 to down‐regulated dynamin‐related protein 1(Drp1). Adeno‐associated virus 9 (AAV9) with enhanced green fluorescent proteins (GFP) was injected to produce Drp1‐overexpression mice and set up four groups: AVMC group, AVMC + AAV group, AVMC + LCZ696 group, and AVMC + LCZ696 + AAV group (n = 20 in each group). LVEF was evaluated by echocardiography at a similar heart rate (HR) at d7, Drp1 (p‐Drp1), inflammation and apoptosis by histology and Western blot (WB), and mitochondrial by electron microscopy. Results Cardiac function were injured in AVMC that LCZ696 reversed (LVEF, %: Sham: 68.99 ± 9.67; Sham + LCZ696: 71.96 ± 6.20; AVMC: 30.95 ± 6.40*; AVMC + LCZ696: 68.99 ± 9.67*#, *P

Detecting weak target is an important and challenging problem in many applications such as radar, sonar etc. However, conventional detection methods are often ineffective in this case because of low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This paper presents a track-before-detect (TBD) algorithm based on an improved particle filter, i.e. cost-reference particle filter bank (CRPFB), which turns the problem of target detection to the problem of two-layer hypothesis testing. The first layer is implemented by CRPFB for state estimation of possible target. CRPFB has entirely parallel structure, consisting amounts of cost-reference particle filters with different hypothesized prior information. The second layer is to compare a test metric with a given threshold, which is constructed from the output of the first layer and fits GEV distribution. The performance of our proposed TBD algorithm and the existed TBD algorithms are compared according to the experiments on nonlinear frequency modulated (NLFM) signal detection and tracking. Simulation results show that the proposed TBD algorithm has better performance than the state-of-the-arts in detection, tracking, and time efficiency.

Article Highlights 1. In this paper, we describe a way to make a new face expression dataset by putting together open source and self-collected datasets. 2. This allows us to create the largest face expression dataset in the industry, which is better in quality and has more data. 3. When we use this new dataset to train a face expression recognition model, it performs the best in the current industry.

Abstract Background Existing evidence has shown that negative parenting style elevates the risk of school bullying victimization in children and adolescents. Resilience may play as a mediating factor in this association. However, this hypothesis has not been investigated. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a total of 4582 Chinese children and adolescents had been surveyed by self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese version of Egna Minnen av. Barndoms Uppfostra (s-EMBU-C), the Olweus Bully/Victim Questionnaire (OBVQ) and the Resilience Scale for Chinese Adolescents (RSCA) were used to collect relevant information. Univariate and multiple logistic regression models were used to estimate the crude and adjusted associations between parenting style, resilience, and bullying victimization. Path analysis was used to estimate the mediation via resilience in the association between parenting style and bullying victimization. Results After adjustment for possible covariates, the results of multivariate binary logistic regression model suggested that among all dimensions of parenting style, mother’s and father’s rejection were significantly associated with school bullying victimization. Path analysis revealed a statistically significant mediation of resilience in the association between parental rejection and bullying victimization, and among the five dimensions of resilience, emotion regulation, family support and interpersonal assistance accounted for the highest proportions of mediation. Conclusions For children and adolescents who suffered from parental rejection, building up resilience, especially those measures aiming at improving emotion regulation ability and consolidating family and peer support, might be effective in reducing risk of school bullying victimization.

Objectives The characteristic of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is red blood cell (RBC) destruction in response to oxidative stress. Patients requiring RBC transfusions may simultaneously receive oxidative medications or have concurrent infections, both of which can induce hemolysis in G6PD-deficient RBCs. We intend to investigate the incidence of G6PD deficiency in voluntary blood donors and to evaluate the transfusion risk associated with G6PD deficiency in Guangdong province.Methods G6PD enzyme was analyzed in 3042 donors and gene mutations were genotyped in G6PD-deficient samples.Results The G6PD-deficient prevalence of voluntary blood donors was 6.97% (212/3042), 55.19% blood donors with G6PD deficiency donated blood more than twice. Eighty-five cases of G6PD deficiency were genotyped, and the common types of G6PD mutations were c.1376 G > T, c.1388 G > A, c.95 A > G, c.1024 C > T, and c.871 G > A.Conclusions Due to the high prevalence of G6PD deficiency in Foshan area, we recommended that the screening of G6PD deficiency should be carried out for the regular blood donors to ensure the safety of blood users.

Spinetoram is an important semi-synthetic insecticide extensively applied in agriculture. It is neurotoxic to insects, primarily by acting on acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). However, few studies have examined the neurotoxicity of spinetoram in human beings. In this study, various concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20 μM) of spinetoram were employed to expose SH-SY5Y cells in order to study the neurotoxic effects of spinetoram. The results showed that spinetoram exposure markedly inhibited cell viability and induced oxidative stress. It also induced mitochondrial membrane potential collapse (ΔΨm), and then caused a massive opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP), a decrease in ATP synthesis, and Ca2+ overloading. Furthermore, spinetoram exposure induced cellular autophagy, as evidenced by the formation of autophagosomes, the conversion of LC3-I into LC3-II, down-regulation of p62, and up-regulation of beclin-1. In addition, we observed that p-mTOR expression decreased, while p-AMPK expression increased when exposed to spinetoram, indicating spinetoram triggered AMPK/mTOR-mediated autophagy. Complementarily, the effect of spinetoram on neurobehavior was studied using the zebrafish model. After being exposed to different concentrations (5, 10, and 20 μg/mL) of spinetoram, zebrafish showed neurobehavioral irregularities, such as reduced frequency of tail swings and spontaneous movements. Similarly, autophagy was also observed in zebrafish. In conclusion, spinetoram exposure produced potential neurotoxicity through autophagy mediated by mitochondrial damage. The experimental data and results of the neurotoxicity study of spinetoram provided above are intended to serve as reference for its safety assessment.

Although there are currently many types of lattice shell joints with different characteristics, assessing the flexural capacity of lattice shell joints is always a great challenge. In this paper, a fan-shaped assembled joint and a welded joint for comparison were subjected to bending tests to investigate the flexural behavior and rotational stiffness of the assembled joint. The strain distribution, load–displacement curve, moment–rotation curve, and damage modes of key parts were analyzed to determine the vulnerable parts of the joints. Our test results show that, with an initial rotational stiffness of about one third of that of the welded joint, the assembled joint specimen exhibits the obvious characteristics of a semi-rigid joint. The finite element analysis results were in good agreement with the experimental results. The results of our parametric analysis show that the rotational stiffness and ultimate moment of the assembled joint increase with increases in the spacing of the bolts and the number of bolts. The performance of the high-strength bolts had a significant influence on the flexural stiffness of the assembled joints. The spacing of the bolts and the number of bolts for the assembled joint are suggested to be greater than the height of the member section and more than three, respectively. The proposed theoretical formula can approximately simulate the initial rotational stiffness of the joint. More in-depth investigations are required in the future for assessing the mechanical behavior of FSA joints subjected to combined bending–compression loads.

Aimed at addressing the problems of the existing straw choppers on combine harvesters, such as a large cutting resistance and poor cutting effect, combined with bionic engineering technology and biological characteristics, a bionic model was used to extract the characteristics of the cutting blades of locusta migratoria manilensis’s upper jaw. A 3D point cloud reconstruction and machine vision methods were used to fit the polynomial curve of the blade edge using Matlab 2016. A straw-cutting process was simulated using the discrete element method, and the cutting effect of the bionic blade was verified. Cutting experiments with rice straws were conducted using a physical property tester, and the cutting resistance of straw to bionic blades and general blades was compared. On the whole, the average cutting force of the bionic blades was lower than that of the general blades. The average cutting force of the bionic blade was 18.74~38.23% lower than that of a smooth blade and 1.63~25.23% lower than that of a serrated blade. Similarly, the maximum instantaneous cutting force of the bionic blade was reduced by 2.30~2.89% compared with the general blade, which had a significant drag reduction effect. By comparing the time–force curves of different blades’ cutting processes, it was determined that the drag-reducing effect of the bionic blade lies in shortening the straw rupture time. The larger the contact area between the blade and the straw, the more uniform the cutting morphology of the straw after cutting. Field experiment results indicate that the average power consumption of a straw chopper partially installed with bionic blades was 5.48% lower than one with smooth blades, measured using a wireless torque analysis module. In this research study, the structure of the straw chopper of an existing combine harvester was improved based on the bionic principle, which reduced resistance when cutting crop straw, thus reducing the power consumption required by the straw chopper and improving the effectiveness and stability of the blades.

(1) Background: To evaluate the predictive value of Holter monitoring for overall survival (OS) of patients with light chain amyloidosis (AL amyloidosis). (2) Methods: 137 patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis who underwent Holter monitoring within 6 months of diagnosis were included. The primary outcome was OS. Landmark analysis was conducted at one-year follow-up. Independent predictors were determined using the log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis. (3) Results: 131 (95.6%) patients received non-transplant therapy, and 32 (23.4%) underwent daratumumab-based chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 20.3 months, 47 deaths occurred. Atrial tachycardia (AT), conduction delay, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) were associated with poor OS one year beyond diagnosis in univariate analyses (patients with vs. without AT: 57.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 47.2–67.4] vs. 81.0% (95% CI: 74.8–87.2), p = 0.039; patients with vs. without NSVT: 33.3% (95% CI: 8.5–58.1) vs. 75.3% (95% CI: 69.8–80.8), p = 0.024; patients with vs. without conduction delay: 41.7% (95% CI: 24.4–59.0) vs. 75.4% (95% CI: 69.7–81.1), p = 0.003]. AT [hazard ratio (HR): 2.6; 95% CI: 1.0–6.5; p = 0.049) and conduction delay (HR: 4.3; 95% CI: 1.3–14.3; p = 0.016) were independent predictors of OS after accounting for age and 2012 Mayo stage. (4) Conclusion: AT and conduction delay in Holter monitoring are independent predictors of poor OS one year beyond diagnosis in AL amyloidosis.

IntroductionLong-term delayed complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) is a serious complication of ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure treatment. Thus, cardiac surgeons have made significant efforts to explore its causes and reduce its incidence. In recent years, minimally invasive transthoracic closure (MITC) of VSD has been used widely and successfully in China as it is easy to repeat, ensures individualized closure, and can be debugged repeatedly. Theoretically, the possibility of the recurrence of CAVB is lower than that with transcatheter closure. Although the incidence of CAVB after MITC of VSD is inevitable, long-term delayed CAVB has rarely been reported.Case descriptionHerein, we report a case of delayed CAVB that occurred 2 years and 5 months after performing MITC of a perimembranous VSD. The cardiac rhythm recovered after the occluder was removed surgically.ConclusionThe findings of our case report emphasize that since delayed CAVB may occur in the long term after MITC of VSD, the safety of MITC of VSD should be reassessed, the indications for MITC should be strictly followed, and long-term follow-up, including lifelong follow-up, is recommended for patients postoperatively. In addition, the occluder should be removed surgically in patients with CAVB as it may restore normal heart rhythm.

Abstract Learning discriminative visual patterns from image local salient regions is widely used for fine-grained visual classification (FGVC) tasks such as plant or animal species classification. A large number of complex networks have been designed for learning discriminative feature representations. In this paper, we propose a novel local structure information (LSI) learning method for FGVC. Firstly, we indicate that the existing FGVC methods have not properly considered how to extract LSI from an input image for FGVC. Then an LSI extraction technique is introduced which has the ability to properly depict the properties of different local structure features in images. Secondly, a novel LSI learning module is proposed to be added into a given backbone network for enhancing the ability of the network to find salient regions. Thirdly, extensive experiments show that our proposed method achieves better performance on six image datasets. Particularly, the proposed method performs far better on datasets with a limited number of images.

Abstract Background Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been associated with suicidal ideation (SI) in children and adolescents, yet the mediating role of mindfulness in this association remains unclear. This study aims to test the mediation of mindfulness in CM-SI association among a large sample of Chinese children and adolescents. Methods A population-based cross-sectional study of 3455 children and adolescents aged 10–17 years from southwest China Yunnan province was conducted. Information from the participants was collected by using a comprehensive self-administered questionnaire. The Chinese version of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) were used to measure CM, mindfulness and SI. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression models were used to estimate the crude and adjusted associations between CM, mindfulness and SI (one-week, one-year, lifetime). Pathway analysis was subsequently performed to test the mediation of mindfulness in CM-SI association. Results The findings showed that mindfulness, CM and SI were significantly correlated with each other (p