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PurposeGynecologic oncology laparotomy leads to severe postoperative pain. We aimed to evaluate the effects of preemptive multimodal analgesic regimen on postoperative opioid consumption for patients undergoing gynecologic oncology laparotomy.MethodsIn this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 80 female patients scheduled for gynecologic oncology laparotomy were randomized to receive preemptive multimodal analgesia consisted of transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block, cyclooxygenase−2 inhibitors, acetaminophen and intravenous morphine patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) (Study group) or conventional analgesia with cyclooxygenase−2 inhibitors and morphine PCA (Control group). The primary outcome was morphine consumption in the first 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes were pain scores, nausea, vomiting, time to ambulation and flatus, length of hospital stay, satisfaction score, the 40-item Quality of Recovery score (QoR-40) and the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) scale.ResultsMorphine consumption in the first 24 h was 6 (3–9.8) mg in the Study group and 7 (3.5–12.5) mg in the Control group (p = 0.222). The Study group showed lower morphine consumption up to 6 h, lower pain scores up to 48 h, and earlier time to ambulation and flatus. The global QoR-40 score at 48 h [182 (173–195) vs. 173.5 (154–185.5), p = 0.024], subdimension scores of physical dependence at 24 h, physical comfort and pain at 48 h were significantly improved in the Study group.ConclusionPreemptive multimodal analgesia was not superior to conventional analgesia in reducing 24 h morphine consumption; however, it showed a significantly improved pain control and early quality of recovery thus can be recommended for gynecologic oncology patients undergoing laparotomy.

ObjectivePiperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ) is used for the treatment of lower respiratory tract bacterial infections in children. This study was performed to evaluate if the current dosing regimen results in therapeutic drug concentrations.Patients and methodsPatients suspected or proven to have lower respiratory tract bacterial infection and administrated PIP/TAZ intravenously for a duration of no less than 0.5 h, q6h–q12h daily, were enrolled. Blood samples were collected, and PIP concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The individual predicted concentration of PIP was evaluated using the individual empirical Bayesian estimate method. The evaluated PK/PD targets included (1) 70% time when the predicted free drug concentration exceeds the minimum inhibitory concentration (fT > MIC) and (2) 50% fT > 4× MIC. Probability of target attainment (PTA) was assessed by the proportion of patients who reached the PK/PD targets. The PIP concentrations between different groups of patients were compared.ResultsA total of 57 samples were collected from 57 patients with a median age of 2.26 years (0.17–12.58). For the PK/PD targets of 70% fT > MIC and 50% fT > 4× MIC for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the PTA was all 0. The median Cmin of PIP was significantly higher in infants than in children, and the median Cmin after administration in q8h was significantly higher than that after administration in q12h.ConclusionThe current dose regimen of PIP/TAZ leads to extremely low plasma concentrations in most children with lower respiratory tract bacterial infections. More optimized dosing regimens or better alternative therapies need to be further explored.

BackgroundAlthough prognostic models based on pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) have been constructed in bladder cancer (BLCA), the comprehensive impact of these genes on tumor microenvironment (TME) and immunotherapeutic response has yet to be investigated.MethodsBased on expression profiles of 52 PRGs, we utilized the unsupervised clustering algorithm to identify PRGs subtypes and ssGSEA to quantify immune cells and hallmark pathways. Moreover, we screened feature genes of distinct PRGs subtypes and validated the associations with immune infiltrations in tissue using the multiplex immunofluorescence. Univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were employed to construct the scoring scheme.ResultsFour PRGs clusters were identified, samples in cluster C1 were infiltrated with more immune cells than those in others, implying a favorable response to immunotherapy. While the cluster C2, which shows an extremely low level of most immune cells, do not respond to immunotherapy. CXCL9/CXCL10 and SPINK1/DHSR2 were identified as feature genes of cluster C1 and C2, and the specimen with high CXCL9/CXCL10 was characterized by more CD8 + T cells, macrophages and less Tregs. Based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among PRGs subtypes, a predictive model (termed as PRGs score) including five genes (CACNA1D, PTK2B, APOL6, CDK6, ANXA2) was built. Survival probability of patients with low-PRGs score was significantly higher than those with high-PRGs score. Moreover, patients with low-PRGs score were more likely to benefit from anti-PD1/PD-L1 regimens.ConclusionPRGs are closely associated with TME and oncogenic pathways. PRGs score is a promising indicator for predicting clinical outcome and immunotherapy response.

Dust removal coatings for polyimide (PI)-based photovoltaic modules used in lunar rovers were fabricated successfully through the blade-coating method using silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles and γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (KH550). The dust removal performance, morphology, transparency, and adhesive force of the coating can be optimized by adjusting the pH and the mass ratios of SiO2 and KH550. The designed coating demonstrates excellent dust removal performance, achieving an percentage of over 85 %. Moreover, the coating has minimal impact on the transparency of the PI substrate and exhibits strong adhesion to it. Additionally, the coating shows remarkable resistance to both high and low temperatures. Even after undergoing five cycles of thermal treatment ranging from −196 to 160 °C, there were no significant changes in the morphology or dust removal performance of the coating. Therefore, this coating exhibits tremendous potential for application in the dust removal of photovoltaic modules in lunar rovers.

Abstract Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae, is one of the most devastating diseases for rice crops, significantly affecting crop yield and quality. During the infection process, M. oryzae secretes effector proteins that help in hijacking the host's immune responses to establish infection. However, little is known about the interaction between the effector protein AvrPik-D and the host protein Pikh, and how AvrPik-D increases disease severity to promote infection. In this study, we show that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D interacts with the zinc finger-type transcription factor WG7 in the nucleus and promotes its transcriptional activity. Genetic removal (knockout) of the gene WG7 in transgenic rice enhances resistance to M. oryzae and also results in an increased burst of reactive oxygen species after treatments with chitin. In addition, the hormone level of SA and JA, is increased and decreased respectively in WG7 KO plants, indicating that WG7 may negatively mediate resistance through salicylic acid pathway. Conversely, WG7 overexpression lines reduce resistance to M. oryzae. However, WG7 is not required for the Pikh-mediated resistance against rice blast. In conclusion, our results revealed that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D targets and promotes transcriptional activity of WG7 to suppress rice innate immunity to facilitate infection.

With the formation and development of Microbiology, a wealth of inspirational cases which closely related to scientific and social progress, civil and healthy lifestyle were emerged. In them, all-around ideological and political elements such as seeking the truth, serving the public, pursuing excellence, serving the country through scientific and technological innovations, social responsibility, ect. could be effectively applied in college ideological and political education (CIPE). As a subject foundation requisite, Microbiology plays an important role in forming the thought and cognition of bioengineering college students. Therefore, digging deeper into the core spiritual elements and fusing them into teaching practice of Microbiology would be an important way to strengthen CIPE for the goal of 'Building Morality and cultivating people'. According to the ideological and political objectives of the Microbiology, an abundant of ideological and political cases are collected by point to point in all chapters of Microbiology. Then, they were applied to teaching practice so that to bring amounts of helpful concepts into college students by setting up the proper study scene, inducting students to collect dispose data, encouraging students to discuss, advancing students to exhibit and communicate, teaching them think themselve, etc. Finally, the teaching effectiveness of before and after implementing CIPE in the aspects of students and teachers were compared. The results showed that after CIPE, in the aspact students, the indexes of clarity of course teaching objectives, participation rate in teachers' research, activity of network learning platform, course satisfaction were increased in a rang of 8%~50%. Similar, in the aspact teachers, the indexes of student raise-head rate, students' participation in classroom teaching, classroom activity and reaching degree of course objectives were increased in a rang of 5%~20%. All the teaching practice indicated that the effective implementation of CIPE could be an important way to realizate CIPE objectives of Microbiology.

Rice blast, caused by the fungal pathogen Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae), is a highly destructive disease that significantly impacts rice yield and quality. During the infection, M. oryzae secretes effector proteins to subvert the host immune response. However, the interaction between the effector protein AvrPik-D and its target proteins in rice, and the mechanism by which AvrPik-D exacerbates disease severity to facilitate infection, remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D interacts with the Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) small subunit OsRBCS4. The overexpression of the OsRBCS4 gene in transgenic rice not only enhances resistance to M. oryzae but also induces more reactive oxygen species following chitin treatment. OsRBCS4 localizes to chloroplasts and co-localizes with AvrPik-D within these organelles. AvrPik-D suppresses the transcriptional expression of OsRBCS4 and inhibits Rubisco activity in rice. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that the M. oryzae effector AvrPik-D targets the Rubisco small subunit OsRBCS4 and inhibits its carboxylase and oxygenase activity, thereby suppressing rice innate immunity to facilitate infection. This provides a novel mechanism for the M. oryzae effector to subvert the host immunity to promote infection.

Agricultural water rights trading has become an effective means to solve the shortage of agricultural water. However, in the context of uncertainty, the key elements of the water rights trading system and their interactions remain unclear. Therefore, this study constructs a multi-dimensional collaborative optimization model for agricultural water rights based on water price reform under a changing environment. The model quantitatively characterizes the synergistic effects of resource, economic, social, environmental, and ecological objectives on initial water rights allocation and trading. At the same time, the model uses a system dynamics model and intuitionistic fuzzy number to reflect the impact of a changing environment and uncertainty of the management system on water rights allocation and trading. The results show that through water rights trading, the overall coordinated development of farms has been improved, and the economic benefits and water resources utilization efficiency have been improved.

Background:. No convincing modalities have been shown to completely prevent postdural puncture headache (PDPH) after accidental dural puncture (ADP) during obstetric epidural procedures. We aimed to evaluate the role of epidural administration of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) in preventing PDPH following ADP, regarding the prophylactic efficacy and side effects. Methods:. Between January 2019 and February 2021, patients with a recognized ADP during epidural procedures for labor or cesarean delivery were retrospectively reviewed to evaluate the prophylactic strategies for the development of PDPH at a single tertiary hospital. The development of PDPH, severity and duration of headache, adverse events associated with prophylactic strategies, and hospital length of stay postpartum were reported. Results:. A total of 105 patients experiencing ADP received a re-sited epidural catheter. For PDPH prophylaxis, 46 patients solely received epidural analgesia, 25 patients were administered epidural HES on epidural analgesia, and 34 patients received two doses of epidural HES on and after epidural analgesia, respectively. A significant difference was observed in the incidence of PDPH across the groups (epidural analgesia alone, 31 [67.4%]; HES-Epidural analgesia, ten [40.0%]; HES-Epidural analgesia-HES, five [14.7%]; P

Cu and Zn are common and potentially harmful heavy metals to plants, animals and humans. Herein, we investigated the effects of Cu and Zn stress on the photosynthesis and tolerance mechanism of alfalfa plants to ROS using fluorescence and biochemical methods. The results showed that Cu stress significantly reduced the chlorophyll content of the leaves, while Zn stress only reduced the Chl a content. The Fv/Fm decreased significantly under Cu stress but was not affected by Zn treatment. However, the PIABS of the leaves were sensitive to Cu and Zn stress. Both Cu and Zn stress resulted in the weakening of the ability of PQ library to accept electrons, the damage of OEC and the inhibition of the electron transfer from QA- to QB. Moreover, Cu stress also dissociated the thylakoids of leaves, but Zn stress did not significantly damage it. In Cu and Zn stressed leaves, the reduction of RC/CSm significantly increased the ABS/RC and TRo/RC values. When the stress intensified, the value of DIo/RC increased indicated a plant self-protection mechanism that eliminates excess energy in the PSII reaction center and increases the energy for heat dissipation per unit reaction center. Cu stress significantly increased the O2- production rate, H2O2 content, and MDA accumulation in the leaves. However, Zn stress exhibited a minimal effect on the ROS production and oxidative damage in the alfalfa leaves but increased the O2- production rate at the concentration of 800 μmol·L−1. Cu stress increased the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, APX, and GPX in the leaves; however, leaves adapts to Zn stress by enhancing the activities of SOD and GPX. Thus under Cu stress, the degree of photoinhibition and oxidative damage in alfalfa leaves were significantly higher than under Zn stress.

The Chinese flowering cherry (Cerasus serrulata), an ornamental tree with established medicinal values, is observed to suffer from leaf blight within Xi’an’s greenbelts. This disease threatens both the plant’s growth and its ornamental appeal. In this study, 26 isolates were obtained from plants with typical leaf blight, and only 3 isolates (XA-10, XA-15, and XA-18) were found to be pathogenic, causing similar symptoms on the leaves of the host plant. Based on sequence alignment, the ITS and LSU sequences of the three selected isolates were consistent, respectively. Following morphological and molecular analyses, the three selected isolates were further identified as Mortierella alpina. The three selected isolates exhibited similar morphological characteristics, including wavy colonies with dense, milky-white aerial mycelia on PDA medium. Therefore, isolate XA-10 was used as a representative strain for subsequent experiments. The representative strain XA-10 was found to exhibit optimal growth at a temperature of 30 °C and a pH of 7.0. Host range infection tests further revealed that the representative strain XA-10 could also inflict comparable disease symptoms on both the leaves and fruits of three different Rosaceae species (Prunus persica, Pyrus bretschneideri, and Prunus salicina). This study reveals, for the first time, the causative agent of leaf blight disease affecting the Chinese flowering cherry. This provides a deeper understanding of the biology and etiology of M. alpina. This study lays a solid foundation for the sustainable control and management of leaf blight disease in the Chinese flowering cherry.

BackgroundPrevious research showed the use of supraglottic airways in obstetric anesthesia. The relevant evidence of laryngeal mask airway (LMA) on maternal and neonatal outcomes is still limited. We aimed to assess the maternal and neonatal outcomes when the LMA Supreme was used for cesarean section under general anesthesia.MethodsWe included all patients who underwent general anesthesia for cesarean section between January 2010 and December 2019. Propensity score matching was used to reduce potential bias from non-random selection of airway intervention. The primary outcome was adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes defined as maternal regurgitation, aspiration, hypoxemia, and low neonatal Apgar scores. Secondary outcomes included patient admission to the intensive care unit, neonate required tracheal intubation, external cardiac massage, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit.ResultsA total of 723 patients were included in the analysis; of whom, 221 received Supreme laryngeal mask airway (LMA group) and 502 were intubated with an endotracheal tube (ETT group). After propensity score matching, 189 patients remained in each group. No episode of regurgitation and aspiration occurred in both groups. There was no difference in the rates of Apgar score below 7 at 1 min (14.3% LMA group vs. 15.3% ETT group, OR 0.931, 95% CI 0.574 to 1.510, P = 0.772) and 5 min (3.7% vs. 4.2%, OR 0.875, 95% CI 0.324 to 2.365, P = 0.792). No difference was observed in the secondary outcomes between the two groups.ConclusionThe LMA Supreme was not associated with higher adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes when compared to an endotracheal tube for cesarean section under general anesthesia. It might be considered an alternative to tracheal intubation in obstetric practice.

Abstract In the study of deformation prediction and disaster warning during karst slope construction, the influencing factors and deformation law should be comprehensively considered. The layout of the deformation monitoring points of karst slope is affected by the thickness of karst overburden soil, dissolution and fragmentation degree, karst development degree, slope cracking degree, fault or weak interlayer and other factors. In this paper, the author aimed at the problem of construction deformation prediction and disaster warning of karst slope, proposed an improved model of cusp mutation by applying and optimizing the cusp mutation model, analysed the deformation trend and sudden change type of the slope, and obtained the critical control early warning value of slope deformation. Therefore, it is feasible to analyse the deformation and mutation characteristics of karstified slope by using a virtual reality-mutation model. In addition, based on the empirical formula of the slope sliding limit deformation rate and grey prediction model, the critical control warning value of slope deformation is obtained, which provides a basis to quantify the deformation index of risk evaluation. This method provides a new idea to predict karst slope construction deformation and catastrophic deformation warning and has a reference value for similar engineering examples.

The vulnerability zoning of the urban ground subsidence in Tangshan City was investigated in this study, taking into account factors such as the geological lithology, rainfall, population density, road network density, seismic acceleration, and river network density. The main research of this paper is slow land subsidence affecting large territories. A single-factor analysis was conducted using ArcGIS, followed by a grid-weighted overlay analysis. Values were assigned to each factor to generate a vulnerability zoning map. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and information value evaluation model were then employed to assess the ground subsidence risk. An evaluation index system was established, comprising the evaluation objective layer, criterion layer, and indicator layer. An evaluation judgment matrix for the ground subsidence risk was constructed, with the calculation of the weight and information value of each risk evaluation indicator, and the total information value of the study area. Four risk levels were determined: high, moderate, relatively low, and low. The findings demonstrate the scientific validity, rationality, and practical applicability of the vulnerability zoning research and risk assessment method for addressing the ground subsidence in Tangshan City. This study contributes to the understanding and management of the ground subsidence risk, providing a robust framework for urban planning and disaster mitigation.

To investigate the seismic performance and isolation effect of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, a 1/20 scale model including a reactor, a spent-fuel plant, and a nuclear auxiliary plant was fabricated. In addition, 220 mm lead-rubber bearings were designed and produced for use in the shaking table test, which included both isolated and nonisolated conditions. Two historical earthquake records and three artificial earthquake motions were used to input the ground motion in the tests. The results demonstrated that the seismic performance of the plant was better and that the structure was in an elastic state, under a safe shutdown earthquake event. Isolation bearings were found to effectively reduce the dominate frequency of the structure. The acceleration amplification factor of the superstructure was found to be less than 1. The isolation test results showed that the peak of the floor response spectrum at the pressure vessel support was less than 0.1 g. In the nonisolation test, the peak of the floor response spectrum was greater than 1 g. In the isolation test, the relative displacement of the structure was less than 1.1 mm, which was relatively small. The structure maintained a good isolation performance and exhibited improved safety under extreme ground motion.

PurposeTo explore the associations between anthropometric indicators and refraction in school-aged children in the post-COVID-19 era.MethodsData were collected from 25,644 children aged 7 to 12 years in 48 elementary schools in Tianjin. The comprehensive examination included height, weight, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), refraction, and calculation of BMI, with a follow-up visit after 6 months. Myopia was defined as spherical equivalent refraction (SER) ≤-0.50 diopter (D). Bivariate correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression models were used to explore the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between anthropometric indicators (height, weight, BMI, SBP, and DBP) and refraction.ResultsThe mean changes in height, weight, BMI, SBP, DBP, and SER of the participants were 4.03 ± 2.18 cm, 3.10 ± 2.39 kg, 0.45 ± 1.16 kg/m2, 2.26 ± 14.74 mmHg, 2.18 ± 11.79 mmHg and −0.17 ± 0.51 D, respectively. Overall, height, weight, BMI, SBP, and DBP were all correlated with SER (r = −0.324, r = −0.234, r = −0.121, r = −0.112, r = −0.066, both p < 0.001), and changes in height and weight were correlated with changes in SER (r = −0.034, −0.031, both p < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the association of BMI, SBP, and DBP with SER was significant in myopic children but not in non-myopic children. The association between changes in weight and changes in SER was only present in non-myopic children but not in myopic children.ConclusionHeight and weight were negatively correlated with SER in both cross-sectional analysis and longitudinal changes, indicating that children's height, weight and growth rate may be used as a reference indicator for myopia risk prediction and myopia progression monitoring.

Wei safflower seed oil (WSO) prepared by the cold pressing method and organic solvent extraction method was characterized in this study. The yield of cold-pressed WSO (CP-WSO) was inferior to that of n-hexane-extracted WSO (HE-WSO). The physicochemical properties (refractive index, density, iodine value, insoluble impurities) and fatty acid compositions were similar, and both were rich in linoleic acid. However, CP-WSO had better color and less solvent residue. The type and content of vitamin E in CP-WSO was also superior to that in HE-WSO, which explained the high oxidative stability of CP-WSO in the Rancimat test. Our results provide a reference for the development of Wei safflower seed oil.

5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a novel regulator that can promote plant growth, nitrogen uptake, and abiotic stress tolerance. Its underlying mechanisms, however, have not been fully investigated. In this study, the effects of ALA on morphology, photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, and secondary metabolites in two cultivars of 5-year-old Chinese yew (Taxus chinensis) seedlings, ‘Taihang’ and ‘Fujian’, were examined under shade stress (30% light for 30 days) using different doses of ALA (0, 30, and 60 mg/L). The findings from our study show that shade stress significantly reduced plant height, stem thickness, and crown width and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. However, the application of 30 mg/L ALA effectively mitigated these effects, which further induced the activity of antioxidant enzymes under shade stress, resulting in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) being increased by 10%, 16.4%, and 42.1%, and 19.8%, 20.1%, and 42% in ‘Taihang’ and ‘Fujian’, respectively. It also promoted their role in the absorption, conversion, and efficient use of light energy. Additionally, the use of 30 mg/L ALA caused a significant increase in the concentration of secondary metabolites, including polysaccharide (PC), carotenoid (CR), and flavonoids (FA), with increases of up to 46.1%, 13.4%, and 35.6% and 33.5%, 7.5%, and 57.5% in both yew cultivars, respectively, contributing to nutrient uptake. With ALA treatment, the yew seedlings showed higher chlorophyll (total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b) levels and photosynthesis rates than the seedlings that received the shade treatment alone. To conclude, the application of 30 mg/L ALA alleviated shade stress in yew seedlings by maintaining redox balance, protecting the photorespiratory system, and increasing organic metabolites, thus increasing the number of new branches and shoots and significantly promoting the growth of the seedlings. Spraying with ALA may be a sustainable strategy to improve the shade-resistant defense system of yew. As these findings increase our understanding of this shade stress response, they may have considerable implications for the domestication and cultivation of yew.

Background: The lymph nodes between the sternocleidomastoid and sternohyoid muscle (LNSS) are not explicitly mentioned in the 2015 American Thyroid Association and 2008 American Head and Neck Society (AHNS) guidelines, but they are easily overlooked in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We prospectively evaluated the clinical significance of the LNSS in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Method: In five medical centers, two hundred and thirty-four PTC patients with lateral neck metastasis who underwent 264 neck dissection were enrolled in this study. LNSS was resected and used as a specimen to investigate the relationship of LNSS with several clinicopathological parameters. Result: Of the 264 lateral neck dissections, the average lymph node metastasis rate of LNSS was 23.48%, significantly second only to that in level III (p

Investigation of extreme precipitation events in arid and semiarid regions, especially for occurrence time and the associated circulation mechanisms, is vital to support the forecasting of and the advanced response to resultant disasters. In this study, the spatiotemporal pattern of occurrence time of extreme precipitation and atmospheric circulation mechanisms in the Arid Region of Northwest China (ARNC) were analyzed using two indicators (precipitation concentration degree and period) and the climate diagnosis method. Results showed that the significant scattered pattern of extreme precipitation occurrence time (EPOT) in Northern Xinjiang and the postponed pattern of maximum extreme precipitation occurrence (MEPO) from southern to northern Xinjiang are consistent with the input pathway of the Arctic air mass. During the anomaly dispersion year of EPOT and the anomaly delay year of MEPO, the Arctic air mass carried sufficient water vapor is transported to ARNC for triggering extreme precipitation events. Meanwhile, the pattern of concentration–dispersion–concentration in eastern ARNC demonstrates interaction between the westerlies and the summer monsoon. Sufficient water vapor is transported to southwestern ARNC by the southwest monsoon during the anomaly delay year of MEPO and the anomaly concentration year of EPOT. The findings of this study suggest that invasion of the Arctic air mass and the summer monsoon could influence extreme precipitation in ARNC.

Residential electricity consumption forecasting plays a crucial role in the rational allocation of resources reducing energy waste and enhancing the grid-connected operation of power systems. Probabilistic forecasting can provide more comprehensive information for the decision-making and dispatching process by quantifying the uncertainty of electricity load. In this study, we propose a method based on stationary wavelet transform (SWT), quantile regression (QR), Bidirectional nested long short-term memory (BiNLSTM), and Depthwise separable convolution (DSC) combined with attention mechanism for electricity consumption probability prediction methods. First, the data sequence is decomposed using SWT to reduce the complexity of the sequence; then, the combined neural network model with attention is used to obtain the prediction values under different quantile conditions. Finally, the probability density curve of electricity consumption is obtained by combining kernel density estimation (KDE). The model was tested using historical demand-side data from five UK households to achieve energy consumption predictions 5 min in advance. It is demonstrated that the model can achieve both reliable probabilistic prediction and accurate deterministic prediction.

The combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion are generally recognized as one of the main causes of the degradation of the mechanical properties and seismic performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures in the northern frozen coastal regions. To investigate the degradation mechanisms of the seismic performance of RC columns subjected to the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion, the impact of freeze–thaw cycles on the chloride diffusion coefficient of concrete was studied through concrete deterioration tests and theoretical analysis. This paper proposed a time-dependent deterioration model for RC columns, which is suitable to consider the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced deterioration. The proposed deterioration model could be applied to the investigations of time-dependent seismic performance and the seismic fragility of RC columns. Based on the established deterioration model, this paper proposed a time-dependent seismic fragility analysis framework for the aging RC columns, considering the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion. In addition, a representative three-span RC continuous T-shaped girder bridge that is located in the high-latitude northern frozen coastal regions of China was taken as the case study, and the time-dependent seismic fragility analysis of RC columns was conducted considering the involved uncertainties in geometric parameters, the deterioration mechanisms of the materials, and ground motions. The time-dependent seismic fragility curves of RC columns were obtained at different service time points. The results indicated that the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced deterioration had a significant influence on the time-dependent seismic responses of the deteriorating RC columns. Under the combined action of freeze–thaw cycles and chloride-induced corrosion, when the RC bridge was in service for 75 years, the stirrup strength decreased by 3.88% and the cross-sectional area decreased by 30.03%. The peak stress of the confined concrete decreased by 52.1% and its peak strain increased by 12.2 times, respectively. Moreover, the time-dependent seismic fragilities of the aging RC columns under different damage states exhibited a nonlinear increase as the service life increased.

The relationship between atmospheric precipitation and water vapor sources is close, so it is of great significance to carry out the identification of interaction region influenced by different summer monsoons of China. Based on the wind direction data of the Global Data Assimilation System, provided by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, this study introduces the backward trajectory model of the Hybrid-Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory to track the source of rainy season precipitation in Southwest China. It not only quantifies the contribution rate of each geography direction in 16 sampling sites, but also simulates the water vapor transport path and tries to demarcate boundary between the moistures from the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea. There are three main results. Firstly, the Bay of Bengal, the South China Sea, and the Northwestern Pacific Ocean are the water vapor sources. Secondly, the Bay of Bengal is the most in Yunnan while the South China Sea in Guangxi. Thirdly, the dividing region of different vapors in the rainy season is supposed to be in the eastern of Yunnan, which is nearby three sampling sites, Gejiu, Mengzi and Yanshan. The barrier function of Ailaoshan Mountain should be the major cause.

Based on data mining, an innovative big data analysis platform was utilized to discuss the treatment of cancer in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) by dasatinib, aiming to offer help to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. An integrated gene expression analysis system (IEAS) was firstly constructed to automatically classify data in the online human Mendelian genetic database using clustering algorithms. At the same time, the gene expression profile was analyzed by principal component analysis (PCA) in the analysis system. In addition, the efficacy of dasatinib in the treatment of patients with advanced CML was then retrospectively analyzed. The results showed that the IEAS system could incorporate the gene expression analysis vectors it contained by JAVA-related technologies, and the generated clustering genes showed similar functions. The clustering algorithm could homogenize data and generate visual clustering heat maps. The analysis results of major elements were diverse under different experimental conditions. The characteristic value of the first major element was the largest. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) datasets of CML patients were selected from cancer genomic map, including 120 samples and 20,614 mRNA in total. In micro-RNA (miRNA) datasets, there were 202 samples including 1,406 miRNAs. Data were screened by miRNA–mRNA regulation template, and 20 differentially expressed mRNAs were obtained. In conclusion, the proposed IEAS system could mine and analyze the gene expression data. Dasatinib showed good efficacy in the treatment of patients with advanced CML. Besides, it could improve visual queries, and data mining had a broad application prospect in clinical application. Dasatinib was considered to be a good option for patients with advanced CML.

Critical for the seismic safety of immersed tunnels is the magnitude of deformation and force developing in the segment joints. To investigate the seismic performance of segment joint in immersed tunnel, this paper presents a series of shaking table arrays tests that were performed on a microconcrete tunnel model embedded in the soil. The tests take account of the uniform and wave passage effect in different apparent wave velocity of longitudinal seismic excitation. The result showed that the wave passage effect had a great impact on axial force, bending moment and deformation of joints. The comparison showed that structural response under nonuniform earthquake excitation is larger than that under uniform excitation. The simplified model was established in ABAQUS for numerical analysis. The soil around the tunnel was simplified as spring-damper, the tunnel was simplified as beam element, and the joint was simulated by nonlinear spring. The numerical simulation results were in good agreement with the experimental data. In addition, the model was analyzed by changing input apparent wave velocity, joint stiffness and joint number. The results showed that the deformation of joints was smaller and the deformation of flexible joints was greater under high apparent wave velocity.

Abstract Background Cervical cancer (CC) is a malignant tumor found in the lowermost part of the womb. Evolving studies on CC have reported that circRNA plays a crucial role in CC progression. In this study, we investigated the main function of a novel circRNA, circ_0084927, and its regulatory network in CC development. Methods qRT-PCR was applied to evaluate the expression of circ_0084927, miR-1179, and CDK2 mRNA in CC tissues and cells. Dual-luciferase reporting experiments and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay were conducted to validate the target relationship of miR-1179 with circ_0084927 and CDK2 mRNA. CCK-8 and BrdU assays were also used to evaluate CC cell proliferation. The adhesion and apoptosis phenotypes of CC cells were measured using cell–matrix adhesion and caspase 3 activation assay. Flow cytometry was also employed to detect the CC cell cycle. Results Our results indicated that circ_0084927 was up-regulated in CC tissues and cells. Findings also revealed that circ_0084927 silence inhibited CC cell proliferation and adhesion while facilitating apoptosis and triggering cell cycle arrest. However, miR-1179 down-regulation appeared in CC tissues. Apart from observing that circ_0084927 abolished miR-1179’s inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and adhesion, it was found that CDK2 was up-regulated in CC tissues and was instrumental in cancer promotion. Also observed was that miR-1179 directly targeted CDK2, thereby inhibiting CDK2’s promotion on the malignant phenotypes of CC cells. Lastly, results indicated that circ_0084927 revoked the inhibitory effect of miR-1179 on CDK2 by sponging miR-1179. Conclusion circ_0084927 promoted cervical carcinogenesis by sequestering miR-1179, which directly targeted CDK2. Our results also provided novel candidate targets for CC treatment in that it revealed the circ_0084927/miR-1179/CDK2 regulatory network that strengthened CC aggressiveness.

Abstract Ectopia vesicae, or bladder exstrophy, is a rare malformation, more frequently found in males. Very few cases of pregnancy with unrepaired ectopia vesicae have been reported in literature. The majority of these pregnant women with ectopia vesicae have terminated their pregnancies by cesarean section due to malpresentation, preterm labor or other indications. Clemetson concluded that cesarean section was the preferable method of term delivery to avoid postpartum prolapse. We have a different opinion on this because we had an interesting case. A woman with unrepaired ectopia vesicae had two successful vaginal deliveries, in 2009 and 2019 respectively. She recovered well and did not have any symptoms or signs of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) so far. Case presentation Let us present this woman with ectopia vesicae who had four pregnancies; two spontaneous abortions and two vaginal deliveries. In 2009, she had a successful vaginal delivery at Yantai Harbor Hospital where the first author worked at that time. She met the first author again surprisingly, during her third trimester in 2019. She had a spacious pelvis and pendulous abdomen. In this fourth pregnancy, the fetus changed its presentation frequently. Still, she had the second vaginal delivery successfully. She recovered fully after delivery and did not have any symptoms or signs of POP. As far as we know, this is the first case that a patient with ectopia vesicae who has been observed for such a long time after multiple vaginal deliveries. Conclusions Doctors must evaluate the risk of vaginal delivery or cesarean section and consider maternal-neonatal health. Prior to this, women with repaired or unrepaired ectopia vesicae usually delivered their babies by cesarean section. Our practice shows that vaginal delivery is also a safe and feasible choice for some of these patients, especially for those with unrepaired, mild types of ectopia vesicae who experience no other dangerous or uncomfortable symptoms.

Abstract Nitrogen stable isotope composition (δ15N) of nitrate (NO3−) deposition can aid in source apportionment of its precursor emissions, nitrogen oxides (NOx), with implications in mitigation policy to address serious air pollution. However, potential δ15N fractionation during atmospheric NO3− formation may hinder accurate quantification of NOx contributions. Previously, NOx photochemical reactions have been suggested to be the dominant δ15N fractionation process in NO3− formation. Here, we have quantified the potential fractionation effects associated with NOx photochemical reactions based upon δ15N‐NO3− measured in 1 year of daily‐based bulk deposition samples in Shenyang, a megacity with distinct seasonal fossil fuel combustion in northeastern China. The mean δ15N was 0.9 ± 4.0‰ and ranged from −4.9 to 8.3‰, with the lowest and highest values observed during summer and winter, respectively. Calculated NOx photochemical equilibrium fractionation may account for up to 42% of the observed seasonal δ15N change in NO3− deposition. However, the relative NOx source contribution trends, estimated based upon a δ15N Bayesian mixing model, were insensitive to NOx photochemical fractionation considerations. Overall, NOx source partitioning based upon averaged year‐long δ15N of bulk NO3− deposition estimated the following relative trend in NOx emission sources: coal combustion > biomass burning = vehicle emissions ≫ soil emissions. Seasonally, the increase of coal combustion emissions from summer to winter drives the seasonality of δ15N in NO3− deposition, indicating a necessity to control NOx emissions from coal combustion to improve wintertime air quality.

The chemical compositions and deposition characteristics of atmospheric precipitation affect the structure and function of forest ecosystems and reflect regional air quality. Although northeastern China constitutes a vital forested area, few relevant studies reveal the chemical composition and the nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) deposition characteristics within precipitation. In this study, we monitor precipitation chemistry during 2018–2020 at a rural forested site in northeastern China (the Qingyuan site) and compare it with those from background sites (Mondy in Russia and Ochiishi in Japan) and highly anthropogenically influenced areas (Beijing). The precipitation pH range was 4.7–8.0 (volume-weighted average 6.2). The average concentration of total ions in precipitation was 459 μmol L−1, representing a moderate pollution level. Nitrate (NO3−, 73 μmol L−1) and ammonium (NH4+, 133 μmol L−1) were the major anions and cations in the precipitation. Total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) deposition was 12.3–15.9 kg N ha−1 year−1 (NH4+-N deposition accounted for 54–67%), lower than the average level in China (19.4 kg N ha−1 year−1). Annual precipitation sulphate (SO42−) deposition was 4.9–6.7 kg S ha−1 year−1. Seventy-two percent of the precipitation ions at our site originated from human activities. This work has revealed that N and S deposition is an important ion deposition component in atmospheric precipitation in the study of temperate forests in northeastern China. Nitrogen deposition, as a source of vital nutrients in the forest ecosystem, may promote forest growth and, thereby, forest carbon sequestration.

BackgroundBrain metastasis is extremely rare but predicts dismal prognosis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Dynamic evaluation of stepwise metastatic lesions was barely conducted to identify the longitudinal genomic evolution of brain metastasis in PTC.MethodChronologically resected specimen was analyzed by whole exome sequencing, including four metastatic lymph nodes (lyn 1–4) and brain metastasis lesion (BM). Phylogenetic tree was reconstructed to infer the metastatic pattern and the potential functional mutations.ResultsContrasting with lyn1, ipsilateral metastatic lesions (lyn2–4 and BM) with shared biallelic mutations of TSC2 indicated different genetic originations from multifocal tumors. Lyn 3/4, particularly lyn4 exhibited high genetic similarity with BM. Besides the similar mutational compositions and signatures, shared functional mutations (CDK4R24C, TP53R342*) were observed in lyn3/4 and BM. Frequencies of these mutations gradually increase along with the metastasis progression. Consistently, TP53 knockout and CDK4R24C introduction in PTC cells significantly decreased radioiodine uptake and increased metastatic ability.ConclusionGenomic mutations in CDK4 and TP53 during the tumor evolution may contribute to the lymph node and brain metastasis of PTC.

Pickering emulsion gels have potential application as solid fat substitutes and nutraceutical carriers in foods, but a safe and easily available food-derived particle emulsifier is the bottleneck that limits their practical application. In this study, the function of sorghum flour as a particle emulsifier to stabilize the oil-in-water (O/W) Pickering emulsion gels with medium chain triglycerides (MCT) in the oil phase was introduced. Sorghum flour had suitable size distribution (median diameter, 21.47 μm) and wettability (contact angle, 38°) and could reduce the interfacial tension between MCT and water. The oil phase volume fraction (φ) and the addition amount of sorghum flour (c) had significant effects on the formation of Pickering emulsion gels. When c ≥ 5%, Pickering emulsion gels with φ = 70% could be obtained. Microstructure analysis indicated that sorghum flour not only played an emulsifying role at the O/W interface but also prevented oil droplets from coalescing through its viscous effect in the aqueous phase. With increases in c, the droplet size of the emulsion gel decreased, its mechanical properties gradually strengthened, and its protective effect on β-carotene against UV irradiation also improved.

Abstract Background This report describes one case of paravertebral haemorrhage after ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block (TPVB) that may have been attributed to the inadvertent puncture of the posterior intercostal artery (PIA). This complication has never been reported in ultrasound-guided TPVB. Strategies to prevent this potentially serious complication are discussed. Case presentation A 52-year-old male underwent a video-assisted upper lobectomy. TPVB was performed under the guidance of ultrasound using the out-of-plane parasagittal approach. The transducer was placed 2.5 cm lateral to the midline area in a sagittal orientation. A needle was inserted at the lateral side of the transducer and advanced toward the T4 paravertebral space. During the final attempt, the needle tip was visualised in the middle area of the paravertebral space. Anterior displacement of the pleura was visualised upon injection of the saline. Aspiration of red blood was unfortunately identified. The block in this T4 level was discontinued. The patient was haemodynamically stable. When the chest cavity was entered, a bulging column-shaped haematoma was noted in the left paravertebral space extending from T1 to T12 with concomitant spread into the left T4–5 intercostal space. A postoperative neurological examination revealed intact sensory function in the T4 dermatome bilaterally. The patient fully recovered with no neurological sequelae. Conclusions Ultrasound-guided TPVB still bears the potential risk of inadvertent PIA injury. We recommend colour Doppler imaging to identify PIA prior to the TPVB.

Abstract Objective The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the clinical features of patients with radioiodine refractory (RAIR) differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and establish an effective risk score for postoperative radioiodine refractoriness. Subjects and methods Data were retrospectively collected from 5163 patients admitted to our center after thyroid surgery. Radioiodine refractoriness was defined according to criteria used in the 2015 American Thyroid Association guidelines. The scoring system was established by independent risk factors identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. The optimal index points for predicting the prevalence of radioiodine refractoriness and the model discriminatory power were assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Results One hundred and twelve (2.2%) patients developed RAIR DTC. Smoking, tumor type (follicular thyroid cancer), extrathyroid extension, lymph node metastasis number (≥4), lymph node metastasis rate (≥53%), and pN stage (N1) were highly positively correlated with the prevalence of RAIR DTC. The cutoff value of seven points was found to be the best for predicting the prevalence of RAIR DTC, and the scoring system presented better discrimination than other single independent predictors. Conclusions Based on our multivariable prediction model, patients with ≥7 index points may need to undergo more active surveillance or aggressive treatment due to the high risk of RAIR DTC.

Abstract Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus(PRRSV) is an important immunosuppressive virus which can suppresses infected cells proliferation. In this work, we examined PRRSV ability to manipulate cell cycle progression of MARC-145 cells and explored the potential molecular mechanisms. The results showed that PRRSV infection imposed a growth-inhibitory effect on MARC-145 cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. This arrest was due to the significant decrease of Cdc2-cyclinB1 complex activity in PRRSV-infected cells and the activity reduction was a result of Cdc2 Tyr15 phosphorylation and the accumulation of Cdc2 and cyclinB1 in the nucleus. Not only elevated Wee1 and Myt1 expression and inactivated Cdc25C, but also increase of p21 and 14–3-3σ in a p53-dependent manner caused the inhibitory Tyr15 phosphorylation of Cdc2. PRRSV infection also activated Chk1. Our data suggest PRRSV infection induces G2/M arrest via various molecular regulatory mechanisms. These results provide a new insights for PRRSV pathogenesis.

The stable isotopes of nitrogen in nitrate archived in polar ice have been interpreted as reflecting a shift in reactive nitrogen sources or changes in atmospheric chemical reactivity. Here, we present a novel concentration and isotopic record of nitrate (δ15N-NO3−) from a central Tibetan Plateau ice core over the last ~200 years. We find that nitrate concentration increased from 6.0 ± 2.3 μeq/L (mean ± 1σ) in the preindustrial period (prior to 1900s) to 7.3 ± 2.7 μeq/L in post-1950. Over the same time period, the δ15N-NO3− decreased from 8.7 ± 3.7‰ to 4.2 ± 3.1‰, with much larger interannual variation in δ15N-NO3− during the preindustrial period. We present a useful framework for quantifying the sensitivity of the isotopic composition of atmospheric nitrate to changes in both sources and chemistry (gas and aerosol phase). After 1950, nitrogen deposition is primarily driven by fertilizer use, leading to significant increases in concentration and decreases in δ15N-NO3−. The large interannual variability of ice core δ15N-NO3− in the preindustrial reflects natural processes, namely the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and dust events. Our results highlight a new connection between the nitrogen cycle and ENSO, and the overprinting of natural climate signals by recent anthropogenic increases in reactive nitrogen release. Keywords: Ice core, Nitrogen stable isotope, Agriculture NOx emissions, Climate variability

Opa-interacting protein 5 antisense transcript 1 (OIP5-AS1) is one kind of cytoplasmic long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), which has been demonstrated to play a critical function in multiple cancers. However, the detailed mechanism of OIP5-AS1 in the regulation of cervical cancer progression is still obscure. Here, we demonstrated that lncRNA OIP5-AS1 was upregulated in cervical cancer and was correlated with poor prognosis by bioinformatics studies. OIP5-AS1 depletion inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis in cervical cancer cells. Furthermore, we clarified that ROCK1 was the downstream effector of OIP5-AS1 and OIP5-AS1 acted as a molecular sponge of miR-143-3p. Finally, we verified that OIP5-AS1 exerted its function in the regulation of cervical cancer progression via interacting with miR-143-3p to regulate ROCK1 expression. Our study revealed novel mechanisms about how lncRNA OIP5-AS1 executed its function in cervical cancer and thus provided potential therapeutic targets for the disease.

The Valsa canker, caused by Valsa mali (V. mali), is a destructive disease of apple in Eastern Asia. Effector proteins are important for fungal pathogenicity. We studied a candidate effector VmPxE1 isolated based on the genome information of V. mali. By using the yeast invertase secretion assay system, VmPxE1 was shown to contain a signal peptide with secretory functions. VmPxE1 can suppress BCL-2-associated X protein (BAX)-induced cell death with a high efficacy of 92% in Nicotiana benthamiana. The expression of VmPxE1 was upregulated during the early infection stage and deletion of VmPxE1 led to significant reductions in virulence on both apple twigs and leaves. VmPxE1 was also shown to target an apple ascorbate peroxidase (MdAPX1) by the yeast two-hybrid screening, bimolecular fluorescence complementation and in vivo co-immunoprecipitation. Sequence phylogenetic analysis suggested that MdAPX1 was an ascorbate peroxidase belonging to a subgroup of heme-dependent peroxidases of the plant superfamily. The ectopic expression of MdAPX1 in the mutant of VmPxE1 significantly enhanced resistance to H2O2, while the presence of VmPxE1 seems to disturb MdAPX1 function. The present results provide insights into the functions of VmPxE1 as a candidate effector of V. mali in causing apple canker.

Triboelectric nanogenerators are widely used because of low cost, simple manufacturing process and high output performance. In this work, a flexible one-structure arched triboelectric nanogenerator (FOAT), based on common electrode to combine the single-electrode mode and contact-separation, was designed using silicone rubber, epoxy resin and flexible electrode. The peak-to-peak short circuit current of 18μA and the peak-to-peak open circuit voltage of 570V can be obtained from the FOAT with the size of 5×7 cm2 under the frequency of 3Hz and the pressure of 300N. The peak-to-peak short circuit current of FOAT is increased by 29% and 80%, and the peak-to-peak open circuit voltage is increased by 33% and 54% compared with single-electrode mode and contact-separation mode, respectively. FOAT realizes the combination of two generation modes, which improves the output performance of triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). 62 light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) can be completely lit up and 2.2μF capacitor can be easily charged to 1.2V in 9s. When the FOAT is placed at different parts of the human body, the human motion energy can be harvested and be the sensing signal for motion monitoring sensor. Based on the above characteristics, FOAT exhibits great potential in illumination, power supplies for wearable electronic devices and self-powered motion monitoring sensor via harvesting the energy of human motion.

Based on the U.S. Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) numerical model, this study has developed the Northwest Mesoscale Numerical Prediction Service and Experimental System (NW-MNPS). Surface and sounding data assimilation has been introduced for this system. Effects of model vertical layers and land-use data replacement have been assessed. A year-long forecast validation and analysis have been performed. The following results have been obtained: (1) Data assimilation can improve the performance of regional numerical forecasting. (2) Compared to simulations with 40 vertical layers, simulations with 55 vertical layers are more accurate. The average absolute error and root-mean-square error of the 48 h surface element forecast decrease. The analysis of threat score (TS) and equitable threat score (ETS) shows that there are higher TS and ETS values for various precipitation intense levels, in particular for heavy rainfall when comparing a 55-vertical-layer test with a 40-vertical-layer test. (3) Updating the database to include vegetation coverage can more accurately reflect actual surface conditions. The updated land-use data reduce prediction errors in all domains of the NW-MNPS.