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Abstract In the area of “returning farmland to forest” on the Loess Plateau in China, it is difficult to cultivate artificially planted trees into forests. In the current study, abandoned cultivated land after 10 years of natural restoration served as controls (CK), while the treatments included afforestation periods of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 years. Soil samples were collected from various depths: 0–20, 20–40, 40–60, 60–80, to 80–100 cm. The findings revealed that with increasing years of artificial afforestation, soil pH gradually increased, and soil moisture content rose in the 0–20 cm layer while declining in deeper layers (20–100 cm) in the Maxian Mountain region of the Loess Plateau. Moreover, the total carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium content initially increased and then decreased with the duration of artificial afforestation, reaching peak values after 8 years. Contents of organic matter, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium in the same soil layer increased with each year of afforestation. However, upon reaching 10 years of artificial afforestation, the effective nutrient content in the 60–80 and 80–100 cm soil layers exhibited a decrease. The values of Integrated Fertility Index (IFI) in different afforestation years were ranked as follows: 8 years > 6 years > 10 years > 4 years > 2 year, but all of them were significantly smaller than those of natural restoration plot CK (P

A ternary system of PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 is constructed by incorporating PTFE-based reactive material and thermite for enhancing the energy release of the PTFE-based reactive material. The effects of Bi2O3 in the PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 on both mechanical properties and the energy release were investigated through various tests such as thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry, adiabatic oxygen bomb test and split Hopkinson pressure bar test. The microstructure observed through scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction results are used to analyze the ignition and reaction mechanism of PTFE/Al/Bi2O3. The results indicate that the PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 are capable of triggering the exothermic reaction of molten PTFE/Bi2O3 and Al/Bi2O3 over the PTFE/Al reactive materials, thereby promoting reactions. The excessive aluminum in the ternary system is beneficial for increasing energy release. The ignition of shock-induced chemical reactions in PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 is closely related to the material fracture. The dominant mechanism for hot-spot generation under Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar test is the frictional temperature rise at the microcrack after failure.

Abstract Background The occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is still relatively high. The aim of this retrospective study is to evaluate the efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam as perioperative prophylactic antibiotic on organ/space SSI for patients underwent PD. Methods Four hundred seven consecutive patients who underwent PD between January 2018 and December 2022 were enrolled and analyzed retrospectively. The univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify independent risk factors of organ/space SSI. Postoperative complications were compared between the two groups according to the use of prophylactic antibiotics by a ratio of 1:1 propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis. Results Based on perioperative prophylactic antibiotic use, all 407 patients were divided into the ceftriaxone group (n = 192, 47.2%) and piperacillin–tazobactam group (n = 215, 52.8%). The rate of organ/space SSI was 31.2% with the choice of perioperative antibiotics (OR = 2.837, 95%CI = 1.802–4.465, P

Abstract As urban density increases, it becomes increasingly common for multiple functions to coexist within the same space, intensifying the complexity of human activity dynamics. However, traditional urban zoning, which relies on the spatial distribution of urban functions and human activities, focuses on the spatial heterogeneity of urban space and fails to capture the temporal dynamics of urban space usage. This paper aims to investigate the daily rhythm of urban space usage and illustrate how the distribution and combination of urban functions affect the daily usage rhythm. Taking Beijing in China as a case, we first identified the daily rhythm of urban space usage with the k-means algorithm and zoned urban space accordingly. Subsequently, multinomial logistic (MNL) models were employed to elucidate how the distribution and combination of urban functions influenced these daily usage patterns. Furthermore, a validation study in typical zones was conducted. The results revealed the existence of a distinct daily rhythm in urban space usage, resulting in the classification of urban space into seven distinct zones: high equilibrium, low equilibrium, diurnal, nocturnal, morning, evening, and noon-type zones. Also, we found that this daily usage rhythm is closely intertwined with the distribution and coexistence of urban functions. Our findings could provide valuable insights for the enhancement of various intricate aspects within urban decision-making processes, including urban planning, transportation management, and more, at a fine-grained scale.

Purpose: It is vital to develop noninvasive approaches with high accuracy to discriminate the preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) group from the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) groups. Radiomics has emerged as an image analysis technique. This study aims to develop and confirm the new radiomics-based noninvasive approach to discriminate these two groups. Methods: Totally 1066 subjects from 4 centers were included in this retrospective research, and classified into training, internal validation or external validation sets. The chest computed tomography (CT) images were segmented by the fully automated deep learning segmentation algorithm (Unet231) for radiomics feature extraction. We established the radiomics signature (Rad-score) using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm, then conducted ten-fold cross-validation using the training set. Last, we constructed a radiomics signature by incorporating independent risk factors using the multivariate logistic regression model. Model performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analyses (DCA). Results: The Rad-score, including 15 radiomic features in whole-lung region, which was suitable for diffuse lung diseases, was demonstrated to be effective for discriminating between PRISm and COPD. Its diagnostic accuracy was improved through integrating Rad-score with a clinical model, and the area under the ROC (AUC) were 0.82(95 %CI 0.79–0.86), 0.77(95 %CI 0.72–0.83) and 0.841(95 %CI 0.78–0.91) for training, internal validation and external validation sets, respectively. As revealed by analysis, radiomics nomogram showed good fit and superior clinical utility. Conclusions: The present work constructed the new radiomics-based nomogram and verified its reliability for discriminating between PRISm and COPD.

Abstract Bacterial infection is a major threat to public health. Nanotechnology offers a solution by combining nanomaterials with antibacterial agents. The development of an effective nanocomposite against drug‐resistant bacteria such as methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is highly important yet challenging. Here, an anti‐MRSA core–shell structure is designed, containing antibacterial zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) as the core and bactericidal benzalkonium chloride (BAC) templated rough‐surface mesostructured silica nanocomposite (RMSN) as the shell. The resultant ZIF‐8@RMSN nanocomposite exhibits sustained release of BAC and zinc ions, effective disruption of the bacterial membrane, generation of oxidative damage of bacterial DNA, leakage of intracellular components, and finally bacterial death. Furthermore, the synergistic antibacterial mechanisms lead to enhanced biofilm elimination performance. In addition, the ZIF‐8@RMSN‐modified band‐aid effectively combats MRSA infection in vivo. This work has provided a promising nanocomposite against MRSA‐related infections.

Abstract Background Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination therapies have shown promise in the first‐line treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). However, the best partner remains to be validated. Moreover, progress on biomarkers predicting the efficacy of ICI in BTC is slow. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and investigate reliable predictive biomarkers of programmed cell death protein‐1 (PD‐1) antibody combination therapy in the first‐line treatment of advanced BTC. Methods Clinical data from patients with advanced BTC who received chemotherapy or anti‐PD‐1 combination therapy as first‐line were collected. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS). Biomarkers, including peripheral blood inflammation scores, genetic alterations, and tumor microenvironment were investigated. Findings Sixty‐four patients were recruited and divided into four treatment groups: chemotherapy, anti‐PD‐1 plus chemotherapy, anti‐PD‐1 plus targeted therapy, and triple group (anti‐PD‐1 plus chemotherapy and targeted therapy). The median OS was 7.9, 11.3, 12.8, and 28.7 months, respectively. Compared to chemotherapy, mOS significantly prolonged in the triple group (p = 0.031). It showed that patients with five different peripheral blood inflammation scores had significantly prolonged mOS (p 2) group showed significantly superior OS (p = 0.003). Interpretation First‐line anti‐PD‐1 combination therapy was superior to chemotherapy, and triple therapy significantly improved survival. Peripheral blood immune‐inflammation score, FOXP3/CD8 ratio, and PLUS have potential as biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of first‐line anti‐PD‐1 therapy in advanced BTC.

Abstract Exosomes of human cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) are very promising for treating cardiovascular disorders. However, the current challenge is inconvenient delivery methods of exosomes for clinical application. The present study aims to explore the potential to enhance the therapeutic effect of exosome (EXO) from human CDCs to myocardial hypertrophy. A heart homing peptide (HHP) was displayed on the surface of exosomes derived from CDCs that were forced to express the HHP fused on the N-terminus of the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2b (LAMP2b). The cardiomyocyte-targeting capability of exosomes were analyzed and their therapeutic effects were evaluated in a mouse model of myocardial hypertrophy induced by transverse aorta constriction (TAC). The molecular mechanisms of the therapeutic effects were dissected in angiotensin II-induced neonatal rat cardiomyocyte (NRCMs) hypertrophy model using a combination of biochemistry, immunohistochemistry and molecular biology techniques. We found that HHP-exosomes (HHP-EXO) accumulated more in mouse hearts after intravenous delivery and in cultured NRCMs than control exosomes (CON-EXO). Cardiac function of TAC mice was significantly improved with intravenous HHP-EXO administration. Left ventricular hypertrophy was reduced more by HHP-EXO than CON-EXO via inhibition of β-MHC, BNP, GP130, p-STAT3, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT. Similar results were obtained in angiotensin II-induced hypertrophy of NRCMs, in which the beneficial effects of HHP-EXO were abolished by miRNA-148a inhibition. Our results indicate that HHP-EXO preferentially target the heart and improve the therapeutic effect of CDCs-exosomes on cardiac hypertrophy. The beneficial therapeutic effect is most likely attributed to miRNA-148a-mediated suppression of GP130, which in turn inhibits STAT3/ERK1/2/AKT signaling pathway, leading to improved cardiac function and remodeling.

Abstract The toxicokinetic (TK) model‐derived kinetic bioconcentration factor (BCFk) provides a quantitatively comparable index to estimate the bioaccumulation potential of nanoparticles (NPs) that barely reach thermodynamic equilibrium in aquatic organisms, but experimental data are limited for various NPs. In the present study, a machine learning model was applied to offer reliable in silico predictions for the dynamic body burden of diverse NPs to derive corresponding parameters for the TK model. The developed eXtreme Gradient Boosting‐derived TK (XGB‐TK) model was applied to predict BCFk results for a broad range of metallic or carbonaceous NPs, with an appreciable prediction R2 of 0.96. The BCFk values were predicted based on a random combination of selected variable features, revealing that their bioaccumulation potential showed an overall negative correlation with NP density or organism size. By applying importance analysis and partial dependence plots, NP density and organism size were revealed to be the top essential features that impact the bioaccumulation potential. The conjunctively used XGB‐TK model enabled a prior comparison for diverse NPs and straightforward derivation on the dependency of features, which could also guide the bioaccumulation mechanism exploration and experimental condition formulation.

Biological rhythm refers to the internal regulation of various life activities of an organism, which are determined by the specific time structure sequences of each individual. Behavior rhythm is the most intuitive embodiment of biological rhythm. To study the effect of low dose radiation on behavioral rhythm, zebrafish (Danio rerio) was used as a model organism in this study. The early embryos of zebrafish were irradiated at doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 Gy to observe the changes in zebrafish development, circadian rhythm, key clock genes, related RNA and protein expression, and melatonin. The results revealed that 0.1 and 1 Gy radiation could lead to different degrees of telencephalic nerve cell apoptosis and the formation of vacuolar structures. 0.1 and 1 Gy radiation could reduce the hatching rate of zebrafish embryos at 72 hpf and delay embryo hatching. The analysis of circadian behavior at 120 hpf demonstrated that 1 Gy dose of radiation altered the circadian rhythm of zebrafish, as well as decreased the distance, amplitude, and phase of movement. RT-PCR analysis of the key clock genes (bmal1b, clock1a, per1b, per2, cry2, and nr1d1) involved in regulating circadian rhythm was performed. The results showed that 1 Gy radiation could interfere with the expression of clock genes in zebrafish embryos and upregulate bmal1b, clock1a, and per1b. Western blot experiments further verified the protein expression of key clock genes, bmal1b and clock. Detection of melatonin secretion at different time points over 24 h showed that radiation doses of 0.1 and 1 Gy could increase melatonin secretion. Based on these findings, it is speculated that a certain dose of radiation may affect melatonin secretion, which impacts the telencephalon structure and ontogeny of zebrafish, delays hatching, and changes the circadian rhythm. This effect is thought to be achieved through upregulating the expression of circadian rhythm genes, clock1a and per1b and related proteins, which may be responsible for the abnormal circadian rhythm caused by radiation.

Plant communities in the Loess Plateau’s artificial afforestation forests play an important role in fragile ecosystem restoration. Therefore, the composition, coverage, biomass, diversity, and similarity of grassland plant communities in different years of artificial afforestation in cultivated land were investigated. The effects of years of artificial afforestation on grassland plant community succession in the Loess Plateau were also investigated. The results showed that as the number of years of artificial afforestation increased, grassland plant communities grew from scratch, constantly optimizing community components, improving community coverage, and increasing aboveground biomass. The community diversity index and similarity coefficient gradually approached those of a 10-year abandoned community that had recovered naturally. After 6 years of artificial afforestation, the dominant species of the grassland plant community changed from Agropyron cristatum to Kobresia myosuroides, and the main associated species changed from Compositae and Gramineae to Compositae, Gramineae, Rosaceae, and Leguminosae. The α-diversity index accelerated restoration, the richness index and diversity index increased, and the dominant index decreased. The evenness index had no significant difference from CK. The β-diversity index decreased as the number of years of afforestation increased. The similarity coefficient between CK and grassland plant communities in various lands changed from medium dissimilarity to medium similarity at 6 years of afforestation. According to the analysis of various indicators of the grassland plant community, the grassland plant community had a positive succession within 10 years of artificial afforestation on the cultivated land of the Loess Plateau, and the threshold of the years from slow to fast was 6 years.

An alternative approach to defect-trapped Pt single-sites on a semiconductor is reported. Here, protruding Pt sites inhibit charge recombination and cause a tip effect which enhances H2 evolution yield rates with minimal co-catalyst loading.

Abstract Background Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a frequent complication after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). This study aimed to investigate the impact of Vater’s ampullary carcinoma (VAC) on clinically relevant POPF (CR-POPF) in patients undergoing PD. Methods Clinical data were gathered retrospectively from January 2018 to December 2020 for all patients undergoing PD. The univariate and multivariate analysis were used to identify independent risk factors of CR-POPF. A propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis at a ratio of 1:1 was performed to minimize bias from baseline characteristics between VAC and non-VAC groups. Main postoperative complications were compared between the two groups after PSM. Results In 263 patients, 94 (35.7%) patients were diagnosed as VAC. CR-POPF occurred in 99 (37.6%) patients and VAC was identified as an independent risk factor of CR-POPF in multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR = 0.548, 95% CI = 0.327–0.920, P = 0.023). After PSM, there were similar baseline characteristics between the VAC and non-VAC group. Moreover, VAC group had a higher rate of CR-POPF (P = 0.025) and intra-abdominal infection (P = 0.015) compared to the non-VAC group. Conclusions In patients undergoing PD, VAC increases the risk of CR-POPF and several other postoperative complications.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prognostic impact of folate receptor (FR)-positive circulating tumor cells (FR+ CTCs) for patients with pancreatic cancer (PC).BackgroundRisk stratification before surgery for PC patients remains challenging as there are no reliable prognostic markers currently. FR+ CTCs, detected by ligand-targeted polymerase chain reaction (LT-PCR), have shown excellent diagnostic value for PC in our previous study and prognostic value in a variety of cancer types.MethodsPeripheral blood samples from 44 consecutive patients diagnosed with PC were analyzed for FR+ CTCs. 25 patients underwent tumor resection and were assigned to the surgical group. 19 patients failed to undergo radical resection because of local advance or distant metastasis and were assigned to the non-surgical group. The impact of CTCs on relapse and survival were explored.ResultsFor the prognostic stratification, the optimal cut-off value of CTCs analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 14.49 folate units (FU)/3 ml. High CTC levels (> 14.49 FU/3 ml) were detected in 52.0% (13/25) of the patients in the surgical group and 63.2% (12/19) in the non-surgical group. In the surgical group, median disease-free survival (DFS) for patients with high CTC levels versus low CTC levels (< 14.49 FU/3 ml) was 8.0 versus 26.0 months (P = 0.008). In multivariable analysis, CTCs were an independent risk factor for DFS (HR: 4.589, P = 0.012). Concerning the recurrence patterns, patients with high CTC levels showed a significantly frequent rate of distant and early recurrence (P = 0.017 and P = 0.011). CTC levels remained an independent predictor for both distant (OR: 8.375, P = 0.014) and early recurrence (OR: 8.412, P = 0.013) confirmed by multivariable logistic regression. However, CTCs did not predict survival in the non-surgical group (P = 0.220).ConclusionFR+ CTCs in resected PC patients could predict impaired survival and recurrence patterns after surgery. Preoperative CTC levels detected by LT-PCR may help guide treatment strategies and further studies in a larger cohort are warranted.

The outbreak of COVID-19 stimulated a new round of discussion on how to deal with respiratory infectious diseases. Influenza viruses have led to several pandemics worldwide. The spatiotemporal characteristics of influenza transmission in modern cities, especially megacities, are not well-known, which increases the difficulty of influenza prevention and control for populous urban areas. For a long time, influenza prevention and control measures have focused on vaccination of the elderly and children, and school closure. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the public's awareness of measures such as vaccinations, mask-wearing, and home-quarantine has generally increased in some regions of the world. To control the influenza epidemic and reduce the proportion of infected people with high mortality, the combination of these three measures needs quantitative evaluation based on the spatiotemporal transmission characteristics of influenza in megacities. Given that the agent-based model with both demographic attributes and fine-grained mobility is a key planning tool in deploying intervention strategies, this study proposes a spatially explicit agent-based influenza model for assessing and recommending the combinations of influenza control measures. This study considers Shenzhen city, China as the research area. First, a spatially explicit agent-based influenza transmission model was developed by integrating large-scale individual trajectory data and human response behavior. Then, the model was evaluated across multiple intra-urban spatial scales based on confirmed influenza cases. Finally, the model was used to evaluate the combined effects of the three interventions (V: vaccinations, M: mask-wearing, and Q: home-quarantining) under different compliance rates, and their optimal combinations for given control objectives were recommended. This study reveals that adults were a high-risk population with a low reporting rate, and children formed the lowest infected proportion and had the highest reporting rate in Shenzhen. In addition, this study systematically recommended different combinations of vaccinations, mask-wearing, and home-quarantine with different compliance rates for different control objectives to deal with the influenza epidemic. For example, the “V45%-M60%-Q20%” strategy can maintain the infection percentage below 5%, while the “V20%-M60%-Q20%” strategy can maintain the infection percentage below 15%. The model and policy recommendations from this study provide a tool and intervention reference for influenza epidemic management in the post-COVID-19 era.

Botanical pesticide is highly recommended for integrated pest management (IPM), due to its merits such as environmental friendliness, safe to non-target organisms, operators, animals, and food consumers. The experiment was conducted to determine the lethal and sub-lethal effects of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on eggs, third instar larvae, pupae, and females and males of Bradysia impatiens Johannsen (B. impatiens). Different concentrations of AITC under ambient CO2 by the conical flask sealed fumigation method were used for the experiment. The results showed that there was a significant linear relationship between different concentrations of AITC and the toxicity regression equation of B. impatiens. The sub-lethal concentrations of AITC had significant effects on the larval stage, pupal stage, pupation rate, pupal weight, adult emergence rate, and oviposition. The pupation rate, pupal weight, and adult emergency rate were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by AITC fumigation. The pupation rate was the lowest after fumigation treatment of AITC at LC50 (36.67%), followed by LC25 (41.94%), compared with the CK (81.39%). Female longevity was significantly (p < 0.05) shortened by fumigation at LC25 (1.75 d) and LC50 (1.64 d), compared with that of CK (2.94 d). Male longevity was shorter at LC25 (1.56 d) than at LC50 (1.25 d) and had no significant difference between these two treatments. The fumigation efficiency of AITC was significantly increased under high CO2 condition. Furthermore, detoxification enzyme activities and antioxidant enzyme activities were accumulated under high CO2 condition. The fumigation method in the application of AITC can be useful in areas where B. impatiens is a major concern.

Tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) is the most common oral malignancy. The proliferation status of tumor cells as indicated with the Ki-67 index has great impact on tumor microenvironment, therapeutic strategy making, and patients’ prognosis. However, the most commonly used method to obtain the proliferation status is through biopsy or surgical immunohistochemical staining. Noninvasive method before operation remains a challenge. Hence, in this study, we aimed to validate a novel method to predict the proliferation status of TSCC using contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) based on artificial intelligence (AI). CECT images of the lesion area from 179 TSCC patients were analyzed using a convolutional neural network (CNN). Patients were divided into a high proliferation status group and a low proliferation status group according to the Ki-67 index of patients with the median 20% as cutoff. The model was trained and then the test set was automatically classified. Results of the test set showed an accuracy of 65.38% and an AUC of 0.7172, suggesting that the majority of samples were classified correctly and the model was stable. Our study provided a possibility of predicting the proliferation status of TSCC using AI in CECT noninvasively before operation.

The ternary metal sulfide CdIn2S4 (CIS) has great application potential in solar-to-hydrogen conversion due to its suitable band gap, good stability and low cost. However, the photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) evolution performance of CIS is severely limited by the rapid electron–hole recombination originating from the slow photogenerated hole transfer kinetics. Herein, by simply depositing cobalt phosphate (CoHxPOy, noted as Co-Pi), a non-precious co-catalyst, an efficient pathway for accelerating the hole transfer process and subsequently promoting the H2 evolution reaction (HER) activity of CIS nanosheets is developed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveals that the Co atoms of Co-Pi preferentially combine with the unsaturated S atoms of CIS to form Co-S bonds, which act as channels for fast hole extraction from CIS to Co-Pi. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) showed that the introduction of Co-Pi on ultrathin CIS surface not only increases the probability of photogenerated holes arriving the catalyst surface, but also prolongs the charge carrier’s lifetime by reducing the recombination of electrons and holes. Therefore, Co-Pi/CIS exhibits a satisfactory photocatalytic H2 evolution rate of 7.28 mmol g−1 h−1 under visible light, which is superior to the pristine CIS (2.62 mmol g−1 h−1) and Pt modified CIS (3.73 mmol g−1 h−1).

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to utilize a convolutional neural network (CNN) to make preoperative differential diagnoses between ameloblastoma (AME) and odontogenic keratocyst (OKC) on cone-beam CT (CBCT).MethodsThe CBCT images of 178 AMEs and 172 OKCs were retrospectively retrieved from the Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University. The datasets were randomly split into a training dataset of 272 cases and a testing dataset of 78 cases. Slices comprising lesions were retained and then cropped to suitable patches for training. The Inception v3 deep learning algorithm was utilized, and its diagnostic performance was compared with that of oral and maxillofacial surgeons.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and F1 score were 87.2%, 82.1%, 84.6%, and 85.0%, respectively. Furthermore, the average scores of the same indexes for 7 senior oral and maxillofacial surgeons were 60.0%, 71.4%, 65.7%, and 63.6%, respectively, and those of 30 junior oral and maxillofacial surgeons were 63.9%, 53.2%, 58.5%, and 60.7%, respectively.ConclusionThe deep learning model was able to differentiate these two lesions with better diagnostic accuracy than clinical surgeons. The results indicate that the CNN may provide assistance for clinical diagnosis, especially for inexperienced surgeons.

Abstract Background Vector-borne disease places a high health and economic burden in the American tropics. Comprehensive vector control programs remain the primary method of containing local outbreaks. With limited resources, many vector control operations struggle to serve all affected communities within their districts. In the coastal city of Machala, Ecuador, vector control services, such as application of larvicides and truck-mounted fogging, are delivered through two deployment facilities managed by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health. Public health professionals in Machala face several logistical issues when delivering mosquito abatement services, namely applying limited resources in ways that will most effectively suppress vectors of malaria, dengue, and encephalitis viruses. Methods Using a transportation network analysis framework, we built models of service areas and optimized delivery routes based on distance costs associated with accessing neighborhoods throughout the city. Optimized routes were used to estimate the relative cost of accessing neighborhoods for mosquito control services in Machala, creating a visual tool to guide decision makers and maximize mosquito control program efficiency. Location-allocation analyses were performed to evaluate efficiency gains of moving service deployment to other available locations with respect to distance to service hub, neighborhood population, dengue incidence, and housing condition. Results Using this framework, we identified different locations for targeting mosquito control efforts, dependent upon management goals and specified risk factors of interest, including human population, housing condition, and reported dengue incidence. Our models indicate that neighborhoods on the periphery of Machala with the poorest housing conditions are the most costly to access. Optimal locations of facilities for deployment of control services change depending on pre-determined management priorities, increasing the population served via inexpensive routes up to 34.9%, and reducing overall cost of accessing neighborhoods up to 12.7%. Conclusions Our transportation network models indicate that current locations of mosquito control facilities in Machala are not ideal for minimizing driving distances or maximizing populations served. Services may be optimized by moving vector control operations to other existing public health facilities in Machala. This work represents a first step in creating a spatial tool for planning and critically evaluating the systematic delivery of mosquito control services in Machala and elsewhere.

To investigate the risk factors and clinical impacts of the occurrence of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from drainage fluid in patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). Clinicopathological data of all patients who underwent PD from January 2018 to March 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for the occurrence of K. pneumoniae in drainage fluid and its clinical impacts on postoperative complications. Of the included 284 patients, 49 (17.2%) patients isolated K. pneumoniae in drain samples after PD. Preoperative biliary drainage (OR = 1.962, p = 0.037) independently predicted the contamination of K. pneumoniae in drain samples after PD. The rate of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), major complications (Clavien–Dindo Grade ≥ III), post-pancreatectomy hemorrhage (PPH), organ/space surgical site infection (SSI), and biliary leakage (BL) were significantly higher in K. pneumoniae positive group both in the univariate and multivariate analyses. Preventive measures and treatments for combating K. pneumoniae contamination may be beneficial to the perioperative outcomes of patients after PD.

Summary: Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) are a new type of crystalline porous polymers known for chemical stability, excellent structural regularity, robust framework, and inherent porosity, making them promising materials for capturing various types of pollutants from aqueous solutions. This review thoroughly presents the recent progress and advances of COFs and COF-based materials as superior adsorbents for the efficient removal of toxic heavy metal ions, radionuclides, and organic pollutants. Information about the interaction mechanisms between various pollutants and COF-based materials are summarized from the macroscopic and microscopic standpoints, including batch experiments, theoretical calculations, and advanced spectroscopy analysis. The adsorption properties of various COF-based materials are assessed and compared with other widely used adsorbents. Several commonly used strategies to enhance COF-based materials’ adsorption performance and the relationship between structural property and sorption ability are also discussed. Finally, a summary and perspective on the opportunities and challenges of COFs and COF-based materials are proposed to provide some inspiring information on designing and fabricating COFs and COF-based materials for environmental pollution management.

To obtain the influence of the Bi2O3 particle content of a PTFE/Al/Bi2O3 reactive material (later referred to as PAB) on its shock-induced chemical reaction (SICR) characteristics, five kinds of PAB with different Bi2O3 contents were prepared; the reaction process in a drop-hammer test, recorded using a high-speed camera, was analyzed. The ignition and reaction mechanisms of PAB under mechanical impact were analyzed based on the thermochemical reaction characteristics and the microstructure. The results show that with an increase in Bi2O3 content, the shock-induced chemical reaction duration and the sensitivity of PAB increase, and then decrease. When the Bi2O3 content is 9%, the impact sensitivity is the highest and the reaction duration is the longest. The heating at the crack tip is responsible for PAB ignition under long-pulse low-velocity impact. During ignition, PAB undergoes several physicochemical changes such as the melting of PTFE, a PTFE/Bi2O3 reaction, an Al/Bi2O3 reaction, pyrolysis of the melted PTFE, and a C2F4/Al reaction; moreover, the presence of Bi2O3 decreases the excitation threshold of the reactive material, which facilitates the propagation of the reaction and improves the degree of the reaction and overall energy release of the reactive material.

Abstract Background T-cell immunoglobulin mucin 3 (TIM3) is a negative immune checkpoint and plays a crucial part in tumor-induced immune suppression. However, the mechanism of TIM3 in regulating immunosuppression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) was still not quite clear. Methods We carried out the immunohistochemistry staining of HNSCC tissue microarrays. Through quantification of the histoscore, we performed the correlation analysis among the TIM3, Galectin-9, Foxp3, CD68 and CD163. The effects of TIM3 on regulatory T cells (Tregs) and macrophages were detected by utilizing the Tgfbr1/Pten 2cKO HNSCC mouse model. Flow cytometry were used to analysis the percent of Tregs, macrophages and IFN-γ. Results We demonstrated the close association among TIM3/Galectin-9 pathway, regulatory T cell marker (Foxp3) and macrophage marker (CD68, CD163) in human HNSCC. In the transgenic HNSCC mouse model, blockade of TIM3 by the anti-TIM3 monoclonal antibody induced a reduction of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ Tregs. Meanwhile, the population of TIM3+ Tregs was also decreased. However, the population of CD206+ macrophages was not significantly declined. The increased IFN-γ production on CD8+ T cells in anti-TIM3 treatment mice showed that the antitumor immune response was enhanced through suppression of these negative immune factors. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that TIM3 was associated with the immunosuppression in HNSCC. And targeting TIM3 can enhance anti-tumor immune response by decreasing Tregs in HNSCC.

Fig tree cultivation land resources are not fully utilized and introducing them into sustainable medicinal agroforestry systems can effectively achieve resource protection and reuse. Laboratory and pot experiments were applied to study the allelopathic effects of fig tree (Ficus carica L.) leaf aqueous extract at five mass concentrations of 8.3, 10.0, 12.5, 16.7, and 25.0 g/L on the morphological and physiological indexes of mint (Mentha haplocalyx Briq.), dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz.), and woad (Isatis indigotica Fort.). The results showed that mint had the best seed germination rate. The leaf aqueous extract at lower concentrations had a strong promoting effect on the biomass and photosynthetic parameters of mint, dandelion, and woad. With the increase in leaf aqueous extract concentration, the superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase activity of mint, dandelion, and woad increased initially and then decreased, but the malondialdehyde content increased. The synthetic allelopathic indexes of the three medicinal plants were in the following order: mint > woad > dandelion. Both the low and medium concentration extracts (8.3 g/L–12.5 g/L) showed an obvious promoting effect, while high concentrations exhibited distinct inhibiting effects. In conclusion, mint is the most suitable medicinal plant to be interplanted with fig trees for introduction into medicinal agroforestry systems.

In this paper we point out that the Lindblad spectrum of a quantum many-body system displays a segment structure and exhibits two different energy scales in the strong dissipation regime. One energy scale proportional to the dissipation strength determines the separation between different segments, and the other energy scale inversely proportional to the dissipation strength determines the broadening of each segment. Utilizing an approximate relation between the dynamics of the second Rényi entropy and the Lindblad spectrum, we show that these two energy scales respectively determine the short-time and long-time dynamics of the second Rényi entropy starting from a generic initial state. This gives rise to opposite behaviors between the short-time and long-time dynamics. That is, as the dissipation strength increases, the short-time dynamics become fast, and the long-time dynamics become slow. We also interpret the quantum Zeno effect as the specific initial states that only occupy the Lindblad spectrum around zero. Therefore, only the broadening energy scale of the Lindblad spectrum matters in the entropy dynamics. For this reason, the entropy dynamics are suppressed as the dissipation increases. To concretely illustrate these results, two models that can be verified experimentally have been studied numerically.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)/Al reactive material with different aluminum particle sizes were prepared by molding and sintering, and the effect of aluminum particle size on the impact behavior of PTFE/Al reactive material with a mass ratio of 50:50 was investigated. The results show that aluminum particle size has significant effects on the shock-reduced reaction diffusion, reaction speed, and degree of reaction of the PTFE/Al reactive material. At a moderate strain rate, the reaction delay of PTFE/Al increased, and the reaction duration and degree decreased, with the increase of aluminum particle size. Under the strong impact of explosive loading, aluminum particle size has little effect on the reaction delay, which maintains at about 1.5 μs–2.5 μs, but the reaction durability and degree of reaction of PTFE/Al decrease with increasing aluminum particle size. There is also a strain rate threshold for the shock-induced reaction of PTFE/Al reactive material, which is closely related to aluminum particle size. The shock-induced reaction occurs when the strain rate threshold is exceeded.

Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown a strong correlation between tumor and AF. However, the molecular link between tumor and AF remains unknown. ECRG4, a tumor suppressor gene that is expressed in the A-V node and in sporadic ventricular myocytes, inhibits tumorigenesis and monitors tissue homeostasis by functioning as a ‘sentinel’ molecule gauging inflammatory and cell proliferative responses. To explore the potential physiological function of Ecrg4 in heart, we evaluated its distribution in heart, analyzed its expression in patients with persistent AF and in a canine AF model, and dissected the molecular events downstream of Ecrg4. The results showed that the level of Ecrg4 expression is homogenously high in atria and the conduction systems and in sporadic ventricular myocytes. Importantly, the expression of Ecrg4 was significantly decreased in atrial appendages of AF patients than patients with SR. Moreover, in rapid pacing canine AF models, the expression of ECRG4 in atria was significantly decreased compared to that of the controls. Mechanistically, knockdown ECRG4 in atrial myocytes significantly shortened the APDs, inhibited the expression of Gja1, and activated pro-inflammatory cascades and genes involved in cardiac remodeling. These results suggest that Ecrg4 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of AF.

Abstract Background Cancer immunotherapy offers a promising approach in cancer treatment. The adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) could protect cancerous tissues from immune clearance via inhibiting T cells response. To date, the role of A2AR in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been investigated. Here, we sought to explore the expression and immunotherapeutic value of A2AR blockade in HNSCC. Methods The expression of A2AR was evaluated by immunostaining in 43 normal mucosae, 48 dysplasia and 165 primary HNSCC tissues. The immunotherapeutic value of A2AR blockade was assessed in vivo in genetically defined immunocompetent HNSCC mouse model. Results Immunostaining of HNSCC tissue samples revealed that increased expression of A2AR on tumor infiltrating immune cells correlated with advanced pathological grade, larger tumor size and positive lymph node status. Elevated A2AR expression was also detected in recurrent HNSCC and HNSCC tissues with induction chemotherapy. The expression of A2AR was found to be significantly correlated with HIF-1α, CD73, CD8 and Foxp3. Furthermore, the increased population of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs), which partially expressed A2AR, was observed in an immunocompetent mouse model that spontaneously develops HNSCC. Pharmacological blockade of A2AR by SCH58261 delayed the tumor growth in the HNSCC mouse model. Meanwhile, A2AR blockade significantly reduced the population of CD4+ Foxp3+ Tregs and enhanced the anti-tumor response of CD8+ T cells. Conclusions These results offer a preclinical proof for the administration of A2AR inhibitor on prophylactic experimental therapy of HNSCC and suggest that A2AR blockade can be a potential novel strategy for HNSCC immunotherapy.

While zinc promotes motor function recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI), the precise mechanisms involved are not fully understood. The present study aimed to elucidate the effects of zinc and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) on neuronal recovery after SCI. The SCI model was established by Allen’s method. Injured animals were given glucose and zinc gluconate (ZnG; 30 mg/kg) for the first time at 2 h after injury, the same dose was given for 3 days. A cytokine antibody array was used to screen changes in inflammation at the site of SCI lesion. Immunofluorescence was used to detect the distribution of cytokines. Magnetic beads were also used to isolate cells from the site of SCI lesion. We then investigated the effect of Zinc on apoptosis after SCI by Transferase UTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) staining and Western Blotting. Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) scores and immunofluorescence were employed to investigate neuronal apoptosis and functional recovery. We found that the administration of zinc significantly increased the expression of 19 cytokines in the SCI lesion. Of these, G-CSF was shown to be the most elevated cytokine and was secreted by microglia/macrophages (M/Ms) via the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway after SCI. Increased levels of G-CSF at the SCI lesion reduced the level of neuronal apoptosis after SCI, thus promoting functional recovery. Collectively, our results indicate that the administration of zinc increases the expression of G-CSF secreted by M/Ms, which then leads to reduced levels of neuronal apoptosis after SCI.

In order to obtain the effect of porosity on the dynamic mechanical properties and impact response characteristics of high aluminum content PTFE/Al energetic materials, PTFE/Al specimens with porosities of 1.2%, 10%, 20%, and 30% were prepared by adding additives. The dynamic compression properties and impact response characteristics of high aluminum content PTFE/Al energetic materials with porosity were studied by using a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) impact loading experimental system. Based on the one-dimensional viscoplastic hole collapse model, an impact temperature rise analysis model including melting effects was used, and corresponding calculation analysis was performed. The results show that with the increase of porosity, the yield strength and compressive strength of the material will decrease. Under dynamic loading, the reaction duration of PTFE/Al energetic materials with different porosities generally shows a tendency to become shorter as the porosity increases, while the ignition delay time is basically unchanged. In this experiment, the material response has the optimal porosity with the lowest critical strain rate, the optimal porosity for PTFE/Al energetic materials with different porosity and high aluminum content (50/50 mass ratio, size of specimens Φ8 × 5 mm) is 10%. The research results can provide an important reference for the engineering application of PTFE/Al energetic materials.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe neurological trauma that involves complex pathological processes. Inflammatory response and oxidative stress are prevalent during the second injury and can influence the functional recovery of SCI. Specially, Apolipoprotein E (APOE) induces neuronal repair and nerve regeneration, and the deficiency of Apoe impairs spinal cord-blood-barrier and reduces functional recovery after SCI. However, the mechanism by which Apoe mediates signaling pathways of inflammatory response and oxidative stress in SCI remains largely elusive. This study was designed to investigate the signaling pathways that regulate Apoe deficiency-dependent inflammatory response and oxidative stress in the acute stage of SCI. In the present study, Apoe−/− mice retarded functional recovery and had a larger lesion size when compared to wild-type mice after SCI. Moreover, deficiency of Apoe induced an exaggerated inflammatory response by increasing expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and increased oxidative stress by reducing expression of Nrf2 and HO-1. Furthermore, lack of Apoe promoted neuronal apoptosis and decreased neuronal numbers in the anterior horn of the spinal cord after SCI. Mechanistically, we found that the absence of Apoe increased inflammation and oxidative stress through activation of NF-κB after SCI. In contrast, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB; Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate) alleviates these changes. Collectively, these results indicate that a critical role for activation of NF-κB in regulating Apoe-deficiency dependent inflammation and oxidative stress is detrimental to recovery after SCI.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is considered as an immunosuppressive disease, with impaired tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes and increased suppressive immune cells. The efficacy of CD47 antibodies in immune checkpoint therapy is not clearly understood in HNSCC. In this study, human tissue microarrays and immunocompetent transgenic mouse models were used to explore the expression of CD47 and the use of CD47 antibodies in HNSCC. We identified overexpression of CD47 in HNSCC as compared with the control normal human tissue and also in HNSCC mouse models. The expression of CD47 also correlated with clinicopathological parameters as well as outcome. Furthermore, inhibition of CD47 delayed tumor growth and improved tumor microenvironment by stimulating effector T cells and decreasing suppressive immune cells and regulating the function of CD11b+ Ly6G+ MDSC. Our data suggest that CD47 blockade may be a potential immunotherapeutic target in human HNSCC.

Quantitative models describing environmentally-mediated disease transmission rarely focus on the independent contribution of recruitment and the environment on the force of infection driving outbreaks. In this study we attempt to investigate the interaction between external factors and host's population dynamics in determining the outbreaks of some indirectly transmitted diseases. We first built deterministic and stochastic compartmental models based on anthrax which were parameterized using information from literature and complemented with field observations. Our force of infection function was derived modeling the number of successful transmission encounters as a pure birth process that depends on the pathogen's dispersion effort. After accounting for individual heterogeneity in pathogen's dispersion effort, we allowed the force of infection to vary seasonally according to external factors recreating a scenario in which disease transmission increases in response to an environmental variable. Using simulations we demonstrate that anthrax disease dynamics in mid-latitude grasslands is decoupled from hosts population dynamics. When seasonal forcing was ignored, outbreaks matched hosts reproductive events, a scenario that is not realistic in nature. Instead, when allowing the force of infection to vary seasonally, outbreaks were only present in years were environmental variables were appropriate for the outbreaks to develop. We used the stochastic formulation of the force of infection to derive R0 under scenarios with different assumptions. The derivation of R0 allowed us to conclude that during epizootic years, pathogen contribution to disease persistence is nearly independent of dispersion. In endemic years, only pathogens with high dispersion significantly prevent disease extinction. Finally, we used our model in a maximum likelihood framework to estimate the parameters that determined a significant anthrax outbreak in Montana in 2008. Our study highlights the importance of the environment in determining anthrax outbreak intensity and could be useful to predict future events that could result in significant wildlife and domestic livestock losses.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an important neglected disease caused by a protozoan parasite, and represents a serious public health problem in many parts of the world. It is zoonotic in Europe and Latin America, where infected dogs constitute the main domestic reservoir for the parasite and play a key role in VL transmission to humans. In Brazil this disease is caused by the protozoan Leishmania infantum chagasi, and is transmitted by the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Despite programs aimed at eliminating infection sources, the disease continues to spread throughout the Country. VL in São Paulo State, Brazil, first appeared in the northwestern region, spreading in a southeasterly direction over time. We integrate data on the VL vector, infected dogs and infected human dispersion from 1999 to 2013 through an innovative spatial temporal Bayesian model in conjunction with geographic information system. This model is used to infer the drivers of the invasion process and predict the future progression of VL through the State. We found that vector dispersion was influenced by vector presence in nearby municipalities at the previous time step, proximity to the Bolívia-Brazil gas pipeline, and high temperatures (i.e., annual average between 20 and 23°C). Key factors affecting infected dog dispersion included proximity to the Marechal Rondon Highway, high temperatures, and presence of the competent vector within the same municipality. Finally, vector presence, presence of infected dogs, and rainfall (approx. 270 to 540mm/year) drove the dispersion of human VL cases. Surprisingly, economic factors exhibited no noticeable influence on disease dispersion. Based on these drivers and stochastic simulations, we identified which municipalities are most likely to be invaded by vectors and infected hosts in the future. Prioritizing prevention and control strategies within the identified municipalities may help halt the spread of VL while reducing monitoring costs. Our results contribute important knowledge to public and animal health policy planning, and suggest that prevention and control strategies should focus on vector control and on blocking contact between vectors and hosts in the priority areas identified to be at risk.

The concept of “peak event” has been used extensively to characterize influenza epidemics. Current definitions, however, could not maximize the amount of pertinent information about the probabilities of peak events that could be extracted from the generally limited available records. This study proposes a new method of defining peak events and statistically characterizing their properties, including: annual event density, their timing, the magnitude over prescribed thresholds and duration. These properties of peak events are analyzed in five counties of Florida using records from the Influenza-Like Illness Surveillance Network (ILINet). Further, the identified properties of peak events are compared between counties to reveal the geographic variability of influenza peak activity. The results of this study illustrate the proposed methodology’s capacity to aid public health professionals in supporting influenza surveillance and implementing timely effective intervention strategies.

Although the topography of tidal flats is important for understanding their evolution, the spatial and temporal sampling frequency of such data remains limited. The waterline method has the potential to retrieve past tidal flat topography by utilizing large archives of satellite images. This study performs a quantitative analysis of the relationship between the accuracy of tidal flat digital elevation models (DEMs) that are based on the waterline method and the factors that influence the DEMs. The three major conclusions of the study are as follows: (1) the coverage rate of the waterline points and the number of satellite images used to create the DEM are highly linearly correlated with the error of the resultant DEMs, and the former is more significant in indicating the accuracy of the resultant DEMs than the latter; (2) both the area and the slope of the tidal flats are linearly correlated with the error of the resultant DEMs; and (3) the availability analysis of the archived satellite images indicates that the waterline method can retrieve tidal flat terrains from the past forty years. The upper limit of the temporal resolution of the tidal flat DEM can be refined to within one year since 1993, to half a year since 2004 and to three months since 2009.

Background Large‐conductance calcium‐ and voltage‐activated potassium channels (BKCa channels) play important roles in the maintenance of vascular tone, and their dysregulation is associated with abnormal vascular relaxation and contraction. We tested the changes in BKCa channel properties in patients at different ages to assess the effects of hypertension and aging on the functional changes of BKCa channels. Methods and Results Patch clamp was performed to detect the activities of BKCa channels in freshly isolated human mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells from younger patients (aged ≤45 years) without hypertension, older patients (aged ≥65 years) without hypertension, and older patients with hypertension. The expression of mRNA and protein from BKCa channels was evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis, respectively. Results showed that the whole‐cell current density, spontaneous transient outward current, and Ca2+ sensitivity of the artery smooth muscle cells were significantly decreased in the older patients with hypertension; the decreases were insignificant in the older patients without hypertension, although a clear tendency to have spontaneous transient outward current was detected in these patients. The expression of both mRNA and protein of BKCa subunits α and β1 was significantly decreased in the older patients with hypertension but not in the older patients without hypertension compared with the younger patients without hypertension. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate for the first time that hypertension is an important factor for the pathological alteration of the properties of BKCa channels in human mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells, and aging itself may also be a factor in these changes in the cells.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of rigid gas permeable contact lens(RGPCL)for high myopia with corneal astigmatism.METHODS: Totally 72 patients(118 eyes)with high myopia with corneal astigmatism were fitted with RGPCL, and the corrected visual acuity were recorded after one month. The MPMVA(maximum plus to maximum visual acuity)were recorded by comprehensive refraction. The corrected visual acuity of RGPCL was compared with the MPMVA.RESULTS: There were 17 eyes of 4.7(14.4%), 52 eyes of 4.8(44.1%)and 49 eyes of 4.9-5.0(41.5%)in comprehensive refraction. There were 6 eyes of 4.7(5.1%), 21 eyes of 4.8(17.8%)and 91 eyes of 4.9-5.0(77.1%)in RGPCL corrected visual acuity. RGPCL corrected visual acuity of(4.9-5.0)improved in 42 eyes(35.6%), and the difference was statistically significant.CONCLUSION: The application of RGPCL can correct high myopia with corneal astigmatism, and has an excellent clinical result.

There have been mixed findings on whether residential (spatial) age segregation causes better or worse health in older adults. These inconsistencies can possibly be attributed to two limitations in the previous studies. First, many studies have used statistical age composition to indicate the residential age segregation in a community, but this statistic does not consider the spatial arrangement of the residents. Second, many national scale studies have focused on averaged (or global) associations between age segregation and senior health and have assumed that these associations represent the situation in every part of a country. Little attention has been paid to local patterns of such association in different places. To address these previously identified limitations, we calculated a spatially explicit age segregation index for each United States (US) city to replace the conventional age composition index. We derived data regarding 92,560 respondents aged 65 and above in 185 US urban areas from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). We then examined global and local associations between spatial age segregation and the self-rated health of older adults across US cities. Our multilevel global analysis suggested that older adults living in age-segregated metropolitan areas experienced more mentally unhealthy days. On the other hand, the local regression analysis identified local clusters of positive associations between the age segregation and the elderly’s overall health status in western and southern metropolitan areas, but no significant associations in midwestern and northeastern cities. In short, we advocated for the use of a spatially explicit approach to deepen the understanding of the association between age segregation and senior health. The new age segregation metric and new analytic approach can offer new insights into the ongoing debate regarding aging in place.

Representations of the changing global carbon cycle under climatic and environmental perturbations require highly detailed accounting of all atmosphere and biosphere exchange. These fluxes remain unsatisfactory, as a consequence of only having data with limited spatiotemporal coverage and precision, which restrict accurate assessments. Through the nature of intimate coupling of global carbon and oxygen cycles via O2 and CO2 and their unique triple oxygen isotope compositions in the biosphere and atmosphere, greater insight is available. We report analysis of their isotopic compositions with the widest geographical and temporal coverage (123 new measurements for CO2) and constrain, on an annual basis, the global CO2 recycling time (1.5 ± 0.2 year) and gross primary productivities of terrestrial (~ 170-200 PgC/year) and oceanic (~ 90-120 PgC/year) biospheres. Observed inter-annual variations in CO2 triple oxygen isotopic compositions were observed at a magnitude close to the largest contrast set by the terrestrial and oceanic biospheres. The seasonal cycles between the east and west Pacific Ocean were found to be drastically different. This intra-annual variability implies that the entire atmospheric CO2 turnover time is not much longer than the tropospheric mixing time (less than ~ 5 months), verifying the derived recycling time. The new measurements, analyses, and incorporation of other global data sets allow development of an independent approach, providing a strong constraint to biogeochemical models.

Control strategies enforced by health agencies are a major type of practice to contain influenza outbreaks. Another type of practice is the voluntary preventive behavior of individuals, such as receiving vaccination, taking antiviral drugs, and wearing face masks. These two types of practices take effects concurrently in influenza containment, but little attention has been paid to their combined effectiveness. This article estimates this combined effectiveness using established simulation models in the urbanized area of Buffalo, NY, USA. Three control strategies are investigated, including: Targeted Antiviral Prophylaxis (TAP), workplace/school closure, community travel restriction, as well as the combination of the three. All control strategies are simulated with and without regard to individual preventive behavior, and the resulting effectiveness are compared. The simulation outcomes suggest that weaker control strategies could suffice to contain influenza epidemics, because individuals voluntarily adopt preventive behavior, rendering these weaker strategies more effective than would otherwise have been expected. The preventive behavior of individuals could save medical resources for control strategies and avoid unnecessary socio-economic interruptions. This research adds a human behavioral dimension into the simulation of control strategies and offers new insights into disease containment. Health policy makers are recommended to review current control strategies and comprehend preventive behavior patterns of local populations before making decisions on influenza containment.