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Abstract Aim To provide an overview of the various influencing factors related to the positive aspects of caring for dementia patients by family caregivers. Design A systematic mixed studies review. Methods The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews guided this protocol as reported. Peer-reviewed studies published in English from 1997 to the present will be searched via information sources, gray literature, and the following databases: Web of Science, PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Eligible trials will also be retrieved from ClinicalTrials.gov and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. This will be a mixed studies review. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool will be used for the mixed-method studies. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale for case–control and cohort studies and the JBI quality scale for cross-sectional and interventional (i.e., randomized or quasi-experimental) studies will be consulted. The Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research will be used for the qualitative studies. All the data will be extricated with JBI data extraction tools. The convergent synthesis method will be used in the review. Discussion This systematic review will synthesize and analyze the factors that influence the positive aspects of caring for dementia patients by family caregivers. Conclusion The findings will help decision-makers to adopt more appropriate and effective interventions for caregivers of people with dementia. Patient or public contributions This review protocol will ascertain the factors affecting the mediation of and path to improved caregiving, explore the factors’ action mechanisms, and examine the controlling factors to design a more targeted intervention program to improve caregiving, thus improving dementia patients’ outcomes and care. Contributions of the findings will include evidence of strategies that address ongoing dementia caregiving issues and the identification of areas for future research.

Abstract Due to the complex maritime navigation environment, Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) are influenced by unknown nonlinear dynamics arising from external disturbances and internal uncertainties. Achieving effective formation control while maintaining obstacle avoidance performance presents significant challenges. This article proposes a Neural Networks (NNs) adaptive formation Artificial Potential Field (APF) obstacle avoidance control method for multiple USVs. By employing online updates of Radial Basis Function (RBF) NNs technology, the unknown nonlinear dynamics are approximated, thus addressing complex nonlinear dynamics problems. In scenarios involving multiple USVs navigating under high wind and wave conditions, collisions with obstacles frequently occur. To tackle this issue, a leader-follower control strategy is designed that effectively addresses risk assessment and obstacle avoidance under such challenging conditions. Additionally, to account for saturation constraints or potential faults in the controller inputs commonly encountered in engineering applications, it implements an asymmetric auxiliary control system. Furthermore, the Lyapunov stability theorem is utilized to ensure the stability of both the formation control and obstacle avoidance algorithms for multiple USVs. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is validated through simulations.

Gustilo IIIB/C injuries are common for tibia diaphysis fractures with high rates of nonunion, osteomyelitis, and amputation. However, the managements on tibial Gustilo IIIB/C injuries are still controversial and individual. The aim of this study is to introduce the tibial periosteum flap combined with autologous bone grafting to treat Gustilo-IIIB/IIIC injuries.

Abstract Background Sexual behaviors, particularly risky sexual behavior, has become a serious public health concern among adolescents worldwide, presenting a substantial obstacle to the prevention of sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, there is limited research using consistent and standardized methodology to examine associations between tobacco and alcohol use frequency and both total and risky sexual behaviors among adolescents. We aimed to examine the association between tobacco and/or alcohol use with both total and risky sexual behaviors among adolescents worldwide. Methods Data were collected from the Global School-based Student Health Survey, which comprised 211,847 adolescents aged 12–17 years from 59 countries. The frequency of tobacco or alcohol use during the past 30 days was categorized as 0, 1–2, 3–5, 6–9, or ≥ 10 days. Tobacco and alcohol use were also categorized as non-use, tobacco use alone, alcohol use alone, and combined use. Multi-variable logistic regression analysis was used to examine both the independent and combined associations of tobacco and alcohol use with total and risky sexual behaviors. Results Compared with no tobacco use, the odds ratio of engaging in sexual intercourse increased with the frequency of tobacco use from 1 to 2 days to ≥ 10 days (total: 2.03 [95% confidence interval 1.47–2.81] to 3.98[2.63–6.03]; risky: 2.43[1.75–3.38] to 4.21[3.26–5.42]), as well as with the frequency of alcohol use. Overall, combined users had greater likelihood of both total and risky sexual behaviors than tobacco users alone, alcohol users alone, and non-users. Similarly, the association between risky sexual behaviors and tobacco use alone was more pronounced among adolescent girls (vs. adolescent boys), as were those of risky sexual behaviors with alcohol use alone among younger adolescents aged 12–14 years (vs. aged 15–17 years) and with tobacco and/or alcohol use among adolescents in the Western Pacific region (vs. Regions of Africa and Americas). Conclusions Our findings suggest independent and combined associations between tobacco and/or alcohol use with sexual behaviors among adolescents, with variations across age, sex, and WHO region.

Abstract Dictyophora rubrovalvata is a valuable fungus homologous to food and medicine, and its polysaccharide have been gaining increasing attention because of its plentiful activity. However, the structure and activity of its homogeneous polysaccharide have not been studied enough. In this study, two polysaccharides DRP-I and DRP-II were purified from D. rubrovalvata. Their structures were characterized by chemical composition, monosaccharide composition analysis, methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results showed that DRP-I and DRP-II were neutral heteropolysaccharides with molecular weights of 5.79 × 103 and 1.25 × 104 Da, respectively, which were composed of mannose, galactose, glucose, xylose and fucose. The main chains were → 6)-α-D-Galp-(1 → 6)-α-D-Galp-(2,1 → 6)-α-D-Manp-(2,1 → 6)-α-D-Galp-(1, and branch chains were β-D-Xylp-(1 → 3)-α-L-Fucp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Manp-(1 → and α-D-Galp-(1 → 3)-α-D-Galp-(1 → . The in vitro immunoactivity assays on dendritic cells showed that DRP-I and DRP-II could up-regulate the expression of IL-10 and IL-6 and inhibit the expression of TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner. This research indicated that DRP-I and DRP-II possessed immunoactivity by balancing the excessive inflammation, and molecular weight is an important factor affecting immunoactivity. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to construct an organ system-centered undergraduate nursing professional training model and explore its application effect. Methods This study is divided into two steps. In the early stage, literature review and expert consultation were used to establish the training mode (curriculum and assessment standard) of nursing undergraduate specialty based on organ system reform. Secondly, a cross-sectional survey method was used to investigate the training quality of nursing students who graduated from Jinzhou Medical University from 2007 to 2017 under this model. Results A five-module curriculum system was established, including general courses, public basic courses, professional education courses, expanding elective courses and concentrated practical teaching. Under the teaching reform of organ system, the nursing graduates of Jinzhou Medical University, who are mainly employed in public hospitals, are generally not satisfied with their jobs, salaries, contents and prospects. Their overall satisfaction with their alma mater is very high; Graduates have certain independent core competence; Employers are basically satisfied with graduates. Conclusion The training mode of undergraduate nursing specialty based on organ system reform basically meets the training requirements and objectives.

Abstract Background Invertases (INVs) are key enzymes in sugar metabolism, cleaving sucrose into glucose and fructose and playing an important role in plant development and the stress response, however, the INV gene family in passion fruit has not been systematically reported. Results In this study, a total of 16 PeINV genes were identified from the passion fruit genome and named according to their subcellular location and chromosome position. These include six cell wall invertase (CWINV) genes, two vacuolar invertase (VINV) genes, and eight neutral/alkaline invertase (N/AINV) genes. The gene structures, phylogenetic tree, and cis-acting elements of PeINV gene family were predicted using bioinformatics methods. Results showed that the upstream promoter region of the PeINV genes contained various response elements; particularly, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV5, PeN/AINV6, PeN/AINV7, and PeN/AINV8 had more response elements. Additionally, the expression profiles of PeINV genes under different abiotic stresses (drought, salt, cold temperature, and high temperature) indicated that PeCWINV5, PeCWINV6, PeVINV1, PeVINV2, PeN/AINV2, PeN/AINV3, PeN/AINV6, and PeN/AINV7 responded significantly to these abiotic stresses, which was consistent with cis-acting element prediction results. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose are main soluble components in passion fruit pulp. The contents of total soluble sugar, hexoses, and sweetness index increased significantly at early stages during fruit ripening. Transcriptome data showed that with an increase in fruit development and maturity, the expression levels of PeCWINV2, PeCWINV5, and PeN/AINV3 exhibited an up-regulated trend, especially for PeCWINV5 which showed highest abundance, this correlated with the accumulation of soluble sugar and sweetness index. Transient overexpression results demonstrated that the contents of fructose, glucose and sucrose increased in the pulp of PeCWINV5 overexpressing fruit. It is speculated that this cell wall invertase gene, PeCWINV5, may play an important role in sucrose unloading and hexose accumulation. Conclusion In this study, we systematically identified INV genes in passion fruit for the first time and further investigated their physicochemical properties, evolution, and expression patterns. Furthermore, we screened out a key candidate gene involved in hexose accumulation. This study lays a foundation for further study on INV genes and will be beneficial on the genetic improvement of passion fruit breeding.

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is a biologically non-essential heavy metal, a major soil pollutant, and extremely harmful to plants. The phytohormone methyl jasmonate (MeJA) plays an important role in plant heavy-metal resistance. However, the understanding of the effects of MeJA supply level on alleviating Cd toxicity in plants is limited. Here, we investigated how MeJA regulated the development of physiological processes and cell wall modification in Cosmos bipinnatus. We found that low concentrations of MeJA increased the dry weight of seedlings under 120 µM Cd stress by reducing the transport of Cd from roots to shoots. Moreover, a threshold concentration of exogenous MeJA increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in plant roots, the concentration of Cd in the root cell wall, and the contents of pectin and hemicellulose 1 polysaccharides, through converting Cd into pectin-bound forms. These results suggested that MeJA mitigated Cd toxicity by modulating root cell wall polysaccharide and functional group composition, especially through pectin polysaccharides binding to Cd, with effects on Cd transport capacity, specific chemical forms of Cd, and homeostatic antioxidant systems in C. bipinnatus.

Abstract Frataxin (FXN) is required for iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis, and its loss causes the early-onset neurodegenerative disease Friedreich ataxia (FRDA). Loss of FXN is a susceptibility factor in the development of diabetes, a common metabolic complication after myocardial hypertrophy in patients with FRDA. The underlying mechanism of FXN deficient-induced hyperglycemia in FRDA is, however, poorly understood. In this study, we confirmed that the FXN deficiency mouse model YG8R develops insulin resistance in elder individuals by disturbing lipid metabolic homeostasis in adipose tissues. Evaluation of lipolysis, lipogenesis, and fatty acid β-oxidation showed that lipolysis is most severely affected in white adipose tissues. Consistently, FXN deficiency significantly decreased expression of lipolytic genes encoding adipose triglyceride lipase (Atgl) and hormone-sensitive lipase (Hsl) resulting in adipocyte enlargement and inflammation. Lipolysis induction by fasting or cold exposure remarkably upregulated FXN expression, though FXN deficiency lessened the competency of lipolysis compared with the control or wild type mice. Moreover, we found that the impairment of lipolysis was present at a young age, a few months earlier than hyperglycemia and insulin resistance. Forskolin, an activator of lipolysis, or pioglitazone, an agonist of PPARγ, improved insulin sensitivity in FXN-deficient adipocytes or mice. We uncovered the interplay between FXN expression and lipolysis and found that impairment of lipolysis, particularly the white adipocytes, is an early event, likely, as a primary cause for insulin resistance in FRDA patients at later age.

China has successfully launched six lunar probes so far. From Chang’E-1 to Chang’E-4, they completed the circling, landing and roving exploration, of which Chang’E-4 was the first landing on the far side of the Moon in human history. Chang’ E-5 was launched in December 2020, bringing back 1731 g of lunar soil samples. Through the detailed analysis of the samples, the scientists understand the history of late lunar volcanism, specifically extending lunar volcanism by about 800 million to 1 billion years, and proposed possible mechanisms. In addition, there are many new understandings of space weathering such as meteorite impacts and solar wind radiation on the Moon. China’s first Mars exploration mission Tianwen-1 was successfully launched in July 2021. Through the study of scientific data, a number of important scientific achievements have been made in the topography, water environment and shallow surface structure of Mars. This paper introduces the main scientific achievements of Chang’E-4, Chang’E-5 and Tianwen-1 in the past two years, excluding technical and engineering contents. Due to the large number of articles involved, this paper only introduces part of the results.

High voltage direct current （HVDC） transmission based on modular multilevel converter （MMC） is widely used in large-scale renewable energy delivery. However， the lagged inertia of MMC controllers may undermine the small-signal stability. Firstly， the mechanical inertia of synchronous generators is analyzed， and a second-order unified expression of inertia applicable to MMC controller is proposed. Secondly， based on the dynamic and inertial delay of MMC closed-loop controller， a small-signal stability criterion for MMC controller connected to weak power grid is presented. Finally， through simulation analysis of a double-side MMC grid-connected system， the correctness of the proposed stability criterion is validated.

Abstract Background Information transmission between primary tumor cells and immunocytes or stromal cells in distal organs is a critical factor in the formation of pre-metastatic niche (PMN). Understanding this mechanism is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategy against tumor metastasis. Our study aims to prove the hypothesis that circ-0034880-enriched tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TEVs) mediate the formation of PMN and colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM), and targeting circ-0034880-enriched TEVs might be an effective therapeutic strategy against PMN formation and CRLM. Methods We utilized qPCR and FISH to measure circRNAs expression levels in human CRC plasma, primary CRC tissues, and liver metastatic tissues. Additionally, we employed immunofluorescence, RNA sequencing, and in vivo experiments to assess the effect mechanism of circ-0034880-enriched TEVs on PMN formation and CRC metastasis. DARTS, CETSA and computational docking modeling were applied to explore the pharmacological effects of Ginsenoside Rb1 in impeding PMN formation. Results We found that circ-0034880 was highly enriched in plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from CRC patients and closely associated with CRLM. Functionally, circ-0034880-enriched TEVs entered the liver tissues and were absorbed by macrophages in the liver through bloodstream. Mechanically, TEVs-released circ-0034880 enhanced the activation of SPP1highCD206+ pro-tumor macrophages, reshaping the metastasis-supportive host stromal microenvironment and promoting overt metastasis. Importantly, our mechanistic findings led us to discover that the natural product Ginsenoside Rb1 impeded the activation of SPP1highCD206+ pro-tumor macrophages by reducing circ-0034880 biogenesis, thereby suppressing PMN formation and inhibiting CRLM. Conclusions Circ-0034880-enriched TEVs facilitate strong interaction between primary tumor cells and SPP1highCD206+ pro-tumor macrophages, promoting PMN formation and CRLM. These findings suggest the potential of using Ginsenoside Rb1 as an alternative therapeutic agent to reshape PMN formation and prevent CRLM.

Abstract The exploration potential within deep-water petroliferous basins holds great promise for oil and gas resources. However, the dearth of geochemical and isotopic data poses a formidable challenge in comprehending the intricate hydrocarbon charging processes, thereby impeding the comprehensive understanding of hydrocarbon accumulation mechanisms and models. Consequently, the establishment of robust source–reservoir relationships in deep-water petroliferous basins represents a pivotal challenge that significantly influences the exploration strategies and the comprehension of hydrocarbon enrichment dynamics within such basins. In this study, we introduce a novel approach, termed the “source–reservoir dynamic evaluation method,” tailored to investigate reservoir accumulation models in deep-water petroliferous basins. This method uses basin simulation technology to recover the thermal evolution history and hydrocarbon generation and expulsion history of source rocks, and on this basis delimits the hydrocarbon kitchen range. At the same time, the maturity of source rocks corresponding to crude oil and natural gas in typical reservoirs is calculated. Then, when the thermal evolution degree of source rocks adjacent to the reservoir reaches this maturity, the corresponding geological period is the main charging period of hydrocarbon. As a typical deep-water petroliferous basin, the Santos Basin in Brazil has abundant oil and gas reservoirs under the thick salt rock, but there are still some fundamental problems such as unclear oil–gas accumulation process and model. Therefore, in this paper, the main charging periods of typical hydrocarbon reservoirs are determined based on the internal relationship between the thermal evolution history of the main source rocks and the maturity of crude oil and natural gas, and then the hydrocarbon accumulation process is analyzed and the dynamic accumulation model is established. Finally, the favorable prospecting direction is pointed out. The results show that the oil and gas in the Barra Velha Formation in the Santos basin are mainly derived from the Itapema Formation lacustrine shale source rock, and the source rock is mainly developed in the Eastern Sag of the Central Depression, and its main hydrocarbon generation period is from the deposition period of Florianopolis Formation to the deposition period of Santos Formation. The main hydrocarbon expulsion period was from the deposition period of the Santos Formation to the Early deposition of the Iguape Formation. The oil and gas in the Barra Velha Formation were mainly charged from the Late deposition period of the Santos Formation to the Early deposition period of the Iguape Formation. During this period, the hydrocarbon migrated vertically along the normal fault formed in the rift period to the trap of the adjacent inheritance structural highs and accumulated in the reservoir, which was dominated by the accumulation model of the “lower generation-upper reservoir-salt cap”. Since the Barra Velha Formation has the characteristics of near-source accumulation, based on the hydrocarbon expulsion center and hydrocarbon expulsion intensity of the source rock of the Itapema Formation, the distribution ranges of 85% and 50% Pre-salt accumulation probability in the Santos basin were calculated by using the quantitative analysis model of the hydrocarbon distribution threshold. It is suggested that the next oil and gas exploration should be carried out in the paleo-structural highs and slope of Class I favorable area (the hydrocarbon accumulation probability is more than 85%) and Class II favorable area (the hydrocarbon accumulation probability is 85–50%).

The content of stannous chloride is one of the key indicators for the quality control of Technetium [99mTc] radiopharmaceutical injection Kits，which directly affects the clinical use of Technetium [99mTc] radiopharmaceuticals. Consequently，it is crucial to choose the appropriate analytical method for its accurate determination. By comparing the quality standards of radiopharmaceuticals included in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and other related literature，the characteristics，determination principles and applications of commonly used methods for the determination of stannous chloride，including potentiometric analysis，spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography，were analyzed and summarized. This work provided technical reference for the establishment of a more scientific and rational quality standard for Technetium [99mTc] radiopharmaceutical injection kits.

Aiming at the new control method of filling unbalance in the flow channel by using convection mixing， the influence of micro-scale polymer melt flow factors on the control characteristics of melt temperature distribution in the flow channel was studied by numerical simulation. Taking the "H" flow channel as the research object， the convection mixing device was arranged in the flow channel. The effects of melt temperature， convective heat transfer coefficient and flow channel size on melt filling unbalance were studied by single factor experiment. The numerical simulation results show that， the increase in melt temperature is accompanied by the decrease of melt self-viscosity under adiabatic boundary conditions. The temperature difference between symmetric points decreases， which improves the filling imbalance. Under the convective heat transfer boundary， the increase of melt temperature increases the heat loss of melt through the wall， and the increase of temperature difference between symmetric points leads to the more obvious filling imbalance. The lower the convective heat transfer coefficient， the lower the thermal conductivity efficiency between melt and wall， and the higher the average melt temperature， which increases the temperature difference between symmetric points and intensifies the filling imbalance. With the decrease in the size of the flow path， the micro-scale effect is weakened， the temperature difference between symmetric points can be reduced， and the phenomenon of filling imbalance is better improved. The convective heat transfer coefficient has the greatest influence on the filling unbalance， followed by the flow channel size， and finally the melt temperature.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum CCFM8661 on reducing lead in the human body and its effect on human health. Methods: In total, 60 volunteers suffering from foodborne heavy metal exposure were recruited and divided into two groups, with one orally receiving L. plantarum CCFM8661 powder and the other orally receiving a placebo. The protective effect of L. plantarum CCFM8661 on lead-exposed populations was evaluated comprehensively by analyzing the volunteers’ blood lead levels, blood cells, blood biochemical indexes, serum calcium and iron levels before and after interventions. Results: L. plantarum CCFM8661 intervention effectively reduced the blood lead level in the lead-exposed population, and down-regulated total bilirubin, urea and total serum protein while having no significant effect on blood cells, blood calcium or iron levels. Conclusion: L. plantarum CCFM8661 could protect lead-exposed subjects by effectively reducing lead levels and, thereby, has the potential to be further developed into a biological agent for the bioreduction of heavy metals.

Abstract Gut bacteria might play an important role in male reproductive disorders, such as male infertility and sperm abnormalities; however, their causal role is unclear. Herein, Mendelian randomization (MR)-Egger, weighted median, inverse variance weighting, Simple mode, and Weighted mode were used to test the causal relationship between gut microbes and male reproductive diseases. The MR results were validated using various metrics. The MR results were also consolidated using reverse causality speculation, conducted using two-way MR analysis and Steiger filtering. Biological function was analysed using enrichment analyses. The results suggested that eight intestinal microflorae were causally associated with male infertility. The Eubacterium oxidoreducens group was associated with an increased risk of male infertility, while the family Bacteroidaceae was negatively associated with male reproductive diseases. Eight intestinal microflorae were causally associated with abnormal spermatozoa. The family Streptococcaceae was associated with a high risk of abnormal spermatozoa, whereas the family Porphyromonadaceae was associated with a low risk of abnormal spermatozoa. No pleiotropy was observed, this study identified a high correlation between the gut flora and the likelihood of male reproductive diseases. Future research will attempt to advance microbial-focused treatments for such diseases.

C23H24O5, monoclinic, C2 (no. 4), a = 23.958(2) Å, b = 5.8145(5) Å, c = 17.839(3) Å, β = 129.974(3)°, V = 1904.3(4) Å3, Z = 4, Rgt (F) = 0.0435, wRref (F 2) = 0.1140, T = 153(2) K.

Inspired by the structure of nacre, bionic laminar composites composed of 85.6 wt% Cu, 11.9 wt% Al, and 2.5 wt% Mn were prepared using highly flexible Cu-coated graphene films as fillers. The effects of surface modification and graphene films content on the properties were investigated. Results indicated that the loss factor of composites with 0.1 wt% Cu-coated graphene films is improved by approximately 28% and reaches 0.044 compared to uncoated samples. The density and tensile strength are increased by up to 98% and 362 MPa, respectively. This enhancement is attributed to the improved bonding at the graphene films/matrix interface due to the Cu coating, which allows for efficient load transfer. Concurrently, the activation of interlayer sliding in the graphene films dissipates substantial energy. However, an excessive addition of graphene films leads to decreased density and increased internal defects in the composites, resulting in deteriorated properties. This study provides a reference for the preparation of CuAlMn matrix composites with enhanced mechanical and damping properties.

Grid-forming （GFM） converters， known for their superior inertia damping characteristics， have emerged as a center research focus in the renewable energy sector. As a result， the damping characteristics of GFM wind power converters are first examined. The analysis centers on their equivalent external characteristics from an impedance standpoint， and the Bode stability criterion is utilized to study their stability during grid connection. Subsequently， the frequency support characteristics of GFM wind power converters are examined in terms of inertia. A comparative investigation is undertaken via simulation analysis to gauge the supportive capability of GFM and grid-following （GFL） wind power converters during alterations in grid frequency and power fluctuation on the wind turbine side. The findings reveal that the external impedance characteristics of GFM wind power converters not only display inductive properties but also maintain commendable stability throughout grid integration. In response to a grid malfunction， GFM wind power converters can furnish a significant measure of power support， equating to a rise in system inertia， thereby indicating favorable grid integration characteristics.

Alpine mountain ecosystems are highly sensitive to global warming and threatened by climate change. Elevation gradients are frequently used as space-for-time surrogates for climate change in mountain ecosystems due to their correspondence with climate variables over short geographic distances. However, the distribution patterns of fungal communities in perennial woody plants along elevations in this ecosystem and how elevation and host identity affect them remain unclear. In this work, we used Illumina MiSeq DNA sequencing technology to study the rhizosphere soil fungal community and root and leaf endophytic fungal community assembly of alpine Rhododendron communities across a 3,100- to 4,100-m elevation gradient on Jiaozi Mountain, Southwest China. The abundance and diversity of fungi in different compartments varied among elevation gradients and hosts. The fungal community assembly in each compartment was mainly influenced by stochastic processes. However, the contribution of homogeneous selection, dispersal limitation, and drift varied among host identities and elevations in different compartments. The diversity and composition of rhizosphere soil, root, and leaf guilds and the overall abundance of fungal functional groups tracked the Rhododendron host identity more closely than elevation did. Most indicator taxa of fungi were putative saprotrophs. These findings will improve our understanding of the maintenance of alpine Rhododendron communities along elevation gradients. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Abstract Background Studies have shown that Chinese Clinicians and nurses have positive attitudes toward ACP, but no local tools exist to assess their need for ACP knowledge and skills training. resulting in their inability to initiate ACP conversations as well as poor end-of-life care for patients. Therefore, this study aims to assess the needs of Chinese Clinicians and nurses for ACP knowledge and skills training and assess the validity and reliability of a questionnaire on the Training Needs for Advance Care Planning (TNACP) scale. Methods From October to November 2021, 170 clinicians and nurses were pre-surveyed using a preliminary draft of the questionnaire. The responses were screened using item analysis, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to describe the internal consistency and stability of the questionnaire. The Content validity index (CVI), Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to test the validity of the questionnaire. Results After independent samples t-test analysis, Except for the entry “A2”, the critical ratio between the two groups of the remaining 23 items was statistically significant (p 0.40). The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the Training Needs for Advance Care Planning (TNACP) scale model fit well(X2/df = 2.504, RMSEA = 0.092, GFI = 0.809, AGFI = 0.745, CFI = 0.931, IFI = 0.932, TLI = 0.916); the Cronbach’s α = 0.888 for the total questionnaire, and the three dimensions of Cronbach’s α were 0.729 to 0.959; and the ICC for the overall scores between the test-retest evaluations was 0.884 (p

Abstract The genetic contribution of protein-coding variants to immune-mediated diseases (IMDs) remains underexplored. Through whole exome sequencing of 40 IMDs in 350,770 UK Biobank participants, we identified 162 unique genes in 35 IMDs, among which 124 were novel genes. Several genes, including FLG which is associated with atopic dermatitis and asthma, showed converging evidence from both rare and common variants. 91 genes exerted significant effects on longitudinal outcomes (interquartile range of Hazard Ratio: 1.12-5.89). Mendelian randomization identified five causal genes, of which four were approved drug targets (CDSN, DDR1, LTA, and IL18BP). Proteomic analysis indicated that mutations associated with specific IMDs might also affect protein expression in other IMDs. For example, DXO (celiac disease-related gene) and PSMB9 (alopecia areata-related gene) could modulate CDSN (autoimmune hypothyroidism-, psoriasis-, asthma-, and Graves’ disease-related gene) expression. Identified genes predominantly impact immune and biochemical processes, and can be clustered into pathways of immune-related, urate metabolism, and antigen processing. Our findings identified protein-coding variants which are the key to IMDs pathogenesis and provided new insights into tailored innovative therapies.

Abstract Purpose This aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic efficacy and safety of lesser occipital nerve combined with great auricular nerve block (LOGAB) for craniotomy via a suboccipital retrosigmoid approach. Methods Patients underwent vestibular schwannoma resection via a suboccipital retrosigmoid approach were randomly assigned to receive ultrasound-guided unilateral LOGAB with 5 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine (LOGAB group) or normal saline (NSB group). Numeric rating scale (NRS) scores at rest and motion were recorded within 48 h after surgery. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), opioid consumption and other variables were measured secondly. Results Among 59 patients who were randomized, 30 patients received ropivacaine, and 29 patients received saline. NRS scores at rest (1.8 ± 0.5 vs. 3.2 ± 0.8, P = 0.002) and at motion (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 3.2 ± 0.6, P = 0.013) of LOGAB group were lower than those of NSB group within 48 h after surgery. NRS scores of motion were comparable except for 6th and 12th hour (P

Abstract Background The effects of traction forces at different angles on impacted central incisors(ICI)with varying inverted angles (IA) may be different. The objective of this study was to analyze the biomechanical effects of different force directions (FD) on developmentally inverted ICI with multi-angle variations and to offer insights and guidance for the treatment of inverted ICI. Methods Three-dimensional finite element method was employed to simulate clinical scenarios of inverted ICI traction. As such, 0.2 N of force (direction: antero-superior angles of 90°, 100°, 110°, 120°, and 130° relative to the long axis of the inverted ICI crown) was applied to the inverted ICI with inverse angles (IA) of 40°, 30°, 20°, 10° and 0°. Inverted ICI apical displacement and Von Mises stress on periodontal ligament (PDL) and alveolar bone were compared. Results IA and FD showed minimal influence on the stress distribution in the PDL, as higher stresses were concentrated in the apical region. The higher stresses in the alveolar bone are focused on the cervical and apical regions of the tooth. In particular, IA exerts a more significant impact on stress distribution in the alveolar bone than FD. The influence of IA on the apical displacement of inverted ICI is larger than that of FD. Conclusions To promote the health of the root and periodontal tissues, it is recommended to use an angle of 100°-110° relative to the long axis of the ICI crown when dealing with a large IA (> 20°) developmentally inverted ICI. Conversely, an angle of 110°-120° can be used.

Abstract Background After China ended its ‘dynamic zero-COVID policy’ on 7 December 2022, a large-scale outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections emerged across the country. We conducted a hospital-wide prospective study to document the epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak among healthcare workers in a hospital of Chengdu, where no previous staff SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected. Methods All hospital staff members were invited to complete an online questionnaire on COVID-19 in January 2023, and SARS-CoV-2 infection cases were followed up by telephone in June 2023 to collect data on long COVID. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results A total of 2,899 hospital staff (93.5%) completed the online questionnaire, and 86.4% were infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron. The clinical manifestations of these patients were characterized by a high incidence of systemic symptoms. Cough (83.4%), fatigue (79.8%) and fever (74.3%) were the most frequently reported symptoms. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that females [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.88] and clinical practitioners (aOR: 10.32, 95% CI: 6.57–16.20) were associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, whereas advanced age ≥ 60 years (aOR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.19–0.49) and a three-dose COVID-19 vaccination with the most recent dose administered within 3 months before 7 December 2022 (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.23–0.87 for within 1 month; aOR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22–0.97 for within 1–3 months) were associated with reduced risk. Among the cases, 4.27% experienced long COVID of fatigue, brain fog or both, with the majority reporting minor symptoms. Conclusion Our findings provide a snapshot of the epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Chengdu after China’s deregulation of COVID-19 control. Data in the study can aid in the development and implementation of effective measures to protect healthcare workers and maintain the integrity of healthcare systems during challenging times such as a rapid and widespread Omicron outbreak.

Abstract Alcohol consumption is a heritable behavior seriously endangers human health. However, genetic studies on alcohol consumption primarily focuses on common variants, while insights from rare coding variants are lacking. Here we leverage whole exome sequencing data across 304,119 white British individuals from UK Biobank to identify protein-coding variants associated with alcohol consumption. Twenty-five variants are associated with alcohol consumption through single variant analysis and thirteen genes through gene-based analysis, ten of which have not been reported previously. Notably, the two unreported alcohol consumption-related genes GIGYF1 and ANKRD12 show enrichment in brain function-related pathways including glial cell differentiation and are strongly expressed in the cerebellum. Phenome-wide association analyses reveal that alcohol consumption-related genes are associated with brain white matter integrity and risk of digestive and neuropsychiatric diseases. In summary, this study enhances the comprehension of the genetic architecture of alcohol consumption and implies biological mechanisms underlying alcohol-related adverse outcomes.

Abstract Iron plays a fundamental role in multiple brain disorders. However, the genetic underpinnings of brain iron and its implications for these disorders are still lacking. Here, we conduct an exome-wide association analysis of brain iron, measured by quantitative susceptibility mapping technique, across 26 brain regions among 26,789 UK Biobank participants. We find 36 genes linked to brain iron, with 29 not being previously reported, and 16 of them can be replicated in an independent dataset with 3,039 subjects. Many of these genes are involved in iron transport and homeostasis, such as FTH1 and MLX. Several genes, while not previously connected to brain iron, are associated with iron-related brain disorders like Parkinson’s (STAB1, KCNA10), Alzheimer’s (SHANK1), and depression (GFAP). Mendelian randomization analysis reveals six causal relationships from regional brain iron to brain disorders, such as from the hippocampus to depression and from the substantia nigra to Parkinson’s. These insights advance our understanding of the genetic architecture of brain iron and offer potential therapeutic targets for brain disorders.

Abstract Metabolic disorders are currently threatening public health worldwide. Discovering new targets and developing promising drugs will reduce the global metabolic-related disease burden. Metabolic disorders primarily consist of lipid and glucose metabolic disorders. Specifically, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatosis liver disease (MASLD) and alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) are two representative lipid metabolism disorders, while diabetes mellitus is a typical glucose metabolism disorder. In this review, we aimed to summarize the new drug candidates with promising efficacy identified in clinical trials for these diseases. These drug candidates may provide alternatives for patients with metabolic disorders and advance the progress of drug discovery for the large disease burden.

The common squid, Todarodes pacificus, is an important commercial species that inhabits the northwest Pacific Ocean, particularly the East Japan Sea, the Pacific coast of Japan, and the East China Sea. In this study, we chose 29 individuals from three areas: one type from the Sea of Japan and two types from the East China Sea. A total of 43,529 SNPs were obtained using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Our analyses revealed low genetic diversity and genetic differentiation in each type. Heterozygote deficiency and inbreeding have caused this low level of genetic diversity. Population structure analysis indicated that the three types were genetically similar, which may be attributed to strong gene flow combined with the demographic history events during the last 2 million years. This new GBS application technique provides valuable information for the conservation of marine species genetics and could be useful for the effective management of this resource.

Large power texts contain numerous abbreviations of technical terms， alternative names， and irregular expressions. Existing word segmentation tools often fail to identify specialized vocabulary in the electrical engineering field， significantly hindering the analysis and utilization of unstructured texts. To address this challenge， this paper proposes a set of indexing rules tailored to the characteristics of unstructured texts in electrical engineering. Segmentation based on these rules can significantly enhance segmentation accuracy， laying a solid foundation for feature extraction of power texts. Furthermore， by employing effective long-text segmentation algorithms to preserve the semantic information of the original text， the paper integrates and embeds text feature information extracted by the BERT model with vocabulary feature information extracted by Word2Vec. This combined approach enables the extraction of precise features from large unstructured power texts. Finally， experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method for extracting features from large unstructured power texts.

Abstract Our research endeavors are directed towards unraveling the stem cell characteristics of lower-grade glioma patients, with the ultimate goal of formulating personalized treatment strategies. We computed enrichment stemness scores and performed consensus clustering to categorize phenotypes. Subsequently, we constructed a prognostic risk model using weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), random survival forest regression analysis as well as full subset regression analysis. To validate the expression differences of key genes, we employed experimental methods such as quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and assessed cell line proliferation, migration, and invasion. Three subtypes were assigned to patients diagnosed with LGG. Notably, Cluster 2 (C2), exhibiting the poorest survival outcomes, manifested characteristics indicative of the subtype characterized by immunosuppression. This was marked by elevated levels of M1 macrophages, activated mast cells, along with higher immune and stromal scores. Four hub genes—CDCA8, ORC1, DLGAP5, and SMC4—were identified and validated through cell experiments and qPCR. Subsequently, these validated genes were utilized to construct a stemness risk signature. Which revealed that Lower-Grade Glioma (LGG) patients with lower scores were more inclined to demonstrate favorable responses to immune therapy. Our study illuminates the stemness characteristics of gliomas, which lays the foundation for developing therapeutic approaches targeting CSCs and enhancing the efficacy of current immunotherapies. By identifying the stemness subtype and its correlation with prognosis and TME patterns in glioma patients, we aim to advance the development of personalized treatments, enhancing the ability to predict and improve overall patient prognosis.

Abstract Although the association between persistent hypertension and the compromise of both micro‐ and macro‐circulatory functions is well recognized, a significant gap in quantitative investigations exploring the interplay between microvascular and macrovascular injuries still exists. In this study, the authors looked into the relationship between brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and hypertensive retinopathy in treated hypertensive adults. The authors conducted a cross‐sectional study of treated hypertensive patients with the last follow‐up data from the China Stoke Primary Prevention Trial (CSPPT) in 2013. With the use of PWV/ABI instruments, baPWV was automatically measured. The Keith‐Wagener‐Barker classification was used to determine the diagnosis of hypertensive retinopathy. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the connection between baPWV and hypertensive retinopathy were determined using multivariable logistic regression models. The OR curves were created using a multivariable‐adjusted restricted cubic spline model to investigate any potential non‐linear dose‐response relationships between baPWV and hypertensive retinopathy. A total of 8514 (75.5%) of 11,279 participants were diagnosed with hypertensive retinopathy. The prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy increased from the bottom quartile of baPWV to the top quartile: quartile 1: 70.7%, quartile 2: 76.1%, quartile 3: 76.7%, quartile 4: 78.4%. After adjusting for potential confounders, baPWV was positively associated with hypertensive retinopathy (OR = 1.05, 95% CI, 1.03–1.07, p

Abstract Background Several core breeding and supporting lines of the Qingyuan partridge chicken, a representative local chicken breed in China, have been developed over 20 years. Consequently, its economic traits related to growth and reproduction have been significantly improved by breeding selection and commercial utilization, but some characteristic traits, such as partridge feathers, high meat quality and sufficient flavor, have always been retained. However, effective methods for genetic assessment and functional gene exploration of similar trait groups are lacking. The presence of identical haplotype fragments transmitted from parent to offspring results in runs of homozygosity (ROH), which offer an efficient solution. In this study, genomes of 134 Qingyuan partridge chickens representing two breeding populations and one preserved population were re-sequenced to evaluate the genetic diversity and explore functional genes by analyzing the diversity, distribution, and frequency of ROH. Results The results showed a low level of genomic linkage and degree of inbreeding within both the bred and preserved populations, suggesting abundant genetic diversity and an adequate genetic potential of the Qingyuan partridge chicken. Throughout the long-term selection process, 21 genes, including GLI3, ANO5, BLVRA, EFNB2, SLC5A12, and SVIP, associated with breed-specific characteristics were accumulated within three ROH islands, whereas another 21 genes associated with growth traits including IRX1, IRX2, EGFR, TPK1, NOVA1, BDNF and so on were accumulated within five ROH islands. Conclusions These findings provide new insights into the genetic assessment and identification of genes with breed-specific and selective characteristics, offering a solid genetic basis for breeding and protection of Qingyuan partridge chickens.

Abstract Introduction Although there has been abundant evidence of the association between dyslipidemia as a single factor and osteoporosis, the non-linear relationship between osteoporosis and the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP) has not yet been thoroughly investigated. This study aimed to investigate the complex relationship between AIP and bone mineral density (BMD) to elucidate their interrelationship. Methods An analysis of 2007–2018 National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES) data was conducted for this study. The study enrolled 5,019 participants. Logarithmically multiplying triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol yields the AIP (base 10). The measured variables consisted of BMD in the total femur (TF), femoral neck (FN), and lumbar spine (LS). The association between AIP and BMD was examined using a range of statistical models, such as weighted multivariable logistic regression, generalized additive model, etc. Results It was found that AIP was positively associated with BMD after adjusting for age, gender, race, socioeconomic status, degree of education, income, Consuming alcoholic beverages, osteoporosis status (Yes or No), ALT, AST, serum creatinine, and total calcium levels. Further studies supported the association link between elevated BMD and AIP. Furthermore, compared to men, females had a higher positive connection between AIP and BMD. In general, there was a curve in the reverse L-shape seen, with a point of change around 0.877, indicating a relationship between AIP and TF BMD. Moreover, a curve exhibiting an L-formed pattern, with a point of inflection at around 0.702, was seen between AIP and FN BMD. In addition, a J-shaped curve was seen, with a point of inflection at 0.092, which demonstrates the association between AIP and LS BMD. Conclusion The AIP and TF BMD curves resemble inverted L shapes, as do the AIP and FN BMD curves. The relationship between AIP and LS BMD was further demonstrated by a J-shaped curve. The results indicate a possible association between AIP and bone mineral density, which should be explored in more detail.

In light of the significant presence of liquefiable sandy silt layers in the foundation of the airfield area at the Beijing Daxing airport, this study employed a low-energy, small spacing, and low blow count dynamic compaction method to treat it.To assess the compaction effects and determin the parameters of the compaction process, two energy levels of 1 000 kN·m and 2 000 kN·m were selected, with each energy level tested at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 blow counts. Additionally, the effect of the surface frozen soil layer on compaction was investigated using 1 000 kN·m energy level with 4, 6, and 8 blow counts. The full depth standard penetration, surface wave and dry density tests were carried out in the dynamic compaction test area. The experimental results revealed that the sandy silt soil foundation exhibited increased compaction, propagation wave velocity, and enhanced liquefaction resistance after dynamic compaction. Optimal blow counts were determined as 10 and 8 for energy levels of 1 000 kN·m and 2 000 kN·m, the corresponding dynamic consolidation depth is 4.5m and 5.5m, and the eliminating liquefaction depth is 4.3m and 5.3m, respectively. Besides, the standard penetration test requires a minimum of 10 and 12 blows in the depth range of 4.5 m and 5.5 m for energy levels of 1 000 kN·m and 2 000 kN·m. At the optimal blow counts, the dry density of the surface layer of the original foundation should not be less than 1.45 g/cm3. The experimental results suggest that, for foundation treatment in the runway area, the dynamic compaction level of 2 000 kN·m is suitable, and 1 000 kN·m dynamic compaction level is used for foundation treatment in the apron and taxiway area.

Objective: To validate deep learning models’ ability to predict post-transplantation major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients undergoing liver transplantation (LT). Patients and Methods: We used data from Optum’s de-identified Clinformatics Data Mart Database to identify liver transplant recipients between January 2007 and March 2020. To predict post-transplantation MACE risk, we considered patients’ demographics characteristics, diagnoses, medications, and procedural data recorded back to 3 years before the LT procedure date (index date). MACE is predicted using the bidirectional gated recurrent units (BiGRU) deep learning model in different prediction interval lengths up to 5 years after the index date. In total, 18,304 liver transplant recipients (mean age, 57.4 years [SD, 12.76]; 7158 [39.1%] women) were used to develop and test the deep learning model’s performance against other baseline machine learning models. Models were optimized using 5-fold cross-validation on 80% of the cohort, and model performance was evaluated on the remaining 20% using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) and the area under the precision-recall curve (AUC-PR). Results: Using different prediction intervals after the index date, the top-performing model was the deep learning model, BiGRU, and achieved an AUC-ROC of 0.841 (95% CI, 0.822-0.862) and AUC-PR of 0.578 (95% CI, 0.537-0.621) for a 30-day prediction interval after LT. Conclusion: Using longitudinal claims data, deep learning models can efficiently predict MACE after LT, assisting clinicians in identifying high-risk candidates for further risk stratification or other management strategies to improve transplant outcomes based on important features identified by the model.

With the rapid development and wide application of visible (VIS) and infrared (IR) detections, it is necessary to explore visible-infrared (VIS-IR) compatible camouflage. Here, we report a VIS-IR compatible and independent camouflage device which is composed of the upper IR-transparent VIS-color-patterned layer and the lower electrochromic IR layer. The upper layer has amorphous photonic structure of polystyrene nanospheres (PSNSs). By customizing the PSNS size, various colors can be realized for VIS camouflage. The lower electrochromic IR layer takes advantage of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the electrode as well as the IR active material. Experimental results reveal that different colors (including blue, green, and purple) have been obtained, and the IR emissivity can be electrically regulated from 0.43 to 0.9. Moreover, the prototype also exhibits good electrical stability as well as hydrophobic characteristic (the water contact angle of the outmost surface exceeds 120°). These output performances demonstrate the success of our design strategy for promoting the finding applied in camouflage fields as well as energy conservation fields.

ObjectiveHigh-precision localization technology serves as the crucial foundation in enabling the autonomous navigation operations of intelligent agricultural robots. However, the traditional global navigation satellite system (GNSS) localization method faces numerous limitations, such as tree shadow, electromagnetic interference, and other factors in the agricultural environment brings challenges to the accuracy and reliability of localization technology. To address the deficiencies and achieve precise localization of agricultural robots independent of GNSS, a localization method was proposed based on the fusion of three-dimensional light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data and inertial measurement unit (IMU) information to enhance localization accuracy and reliability.MethodsLiDAR was used to obtain point cloud data in the agricultural environment and realize self-localization via point cloud matching. By integrating real-time motion parameter measurements from the IMU with LiDAR data, a high-precision localization solution for agricultural robots was achieved through a specific fusion algorithm. Firstly, the LiDAR-obtained point cloud data was preprocessed and the depth map was used to save the data. This approach could reduce the dimensionality of the original LiDAR point cloud, and eliminate the disorder of the original LiDAR point cloud arrangement, facilitating traversal and clustering through graph search. Given the presence of numerous distinct crops like trees in the agricultural environment, an angle-based clustering method was adopted. Specific angle-based clustering criteria were set to group the point cloud data, leading to the segmentation of different clusters of points, and obvious crops in the agricultural environment was effectively perceived. Furthermore, to improve the accuracy and stability of positioning, an improved three-dimensional normal distribution transform (3D-NDT) localization algorithm was proposed. This algorithm operated by matching the LiDAR-scanned point cloud data in real time with the pre-existing down sampled point cloud map to achieve real-time localization. Considering that direct down sampling of LiDAR point clouds in the agricultural environment could result in the loss of crucial environmental data, a point cloud clustering operation was used in place of down sampling operation, thereby improving matching accuracy and positioning precision. Secondly, to address potential constraints and shortcomings of using a single sensor for robot localization, a multi-sensor information fusion strategy was deployed to improve the localization accuracy. Specifically, the extended Kalman filter algorithm (EKF) was chosen to fuse the localization data from LiDAR point cloud and the IMU odometer information. The IMU provided essential motion parameters such as acceleration and angular velocity of the agricultural robot, and by combining with the LiDAR-derived localization information, the localization of the agricultural robot could be more accurately estimated. This fusion approach maximized the advantages of different sensors, compensated for their individual limitations, and improved the overall localization accuracy of the agricultural robot.Results and DiscussionsA series of experimental results in the Gazebo simulation environment of the robot operating system (ROS) and real operation scenarios showed that the fusion localization method proposed had significant advantages. In the simulation environment, the average localization errors of the proposed multi-sensor data fusion localization method were 1.7 and 1.8 cm, respectively, while in the experimental scenario, these errors were 3.3 and 3.3 cm, respectively, which were significantly better than the traditional 3D-NDT localization algorithm. These findings showed that the localization method proposed in this study could achieve high-precision localization in the complex agricultural environment, and provide reliable localization assistance for the autonomous functioning of agricultural robots.ConclusionsThe proposed localization method based on the fusion of LiDAR data and IMU information provided a novel localization solution for the autonomous operation of agricultural robots in areas with limited GNSS reception. Through the comprehensive utilization of multi-sensor information and adopting advanced data processing and fusion algorithms, the localization accuracy of agricultural robots could be significantly improved, which could provide a new reference for the intelligence and automation of agricultural production.

Abstract Background Nursing students are encountering a range of health issues. Assessing social support is a key component in most questionnaire surveys related to health status, aiming to investigate the relationships and mechanisms between health status and social support to enhance overall health. Therefore, it is essential to seek out appropriate instruments to evaluate social support for nursing students. The Oslo-3 Social Support Scale (OSSS-3) is a reliable and concise instrument for evaluating social support. To date, there have been no studies validating the OSSS-3 based on Item Response Theory (IRT) models. Also, an officially validated Chinese version has not been found. The current research intended to verify the Chinese version of the OSSS-3. Methods The OSSS-3 was translated into Chinese and culturally adapted. Subsequently, the OSSS-3 was validated by employing the Classical Test Theory (CTT) and IRT models. Results The split-half reliability was 0.622. The Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.687. The correlations between each item and total scores varied from 0.723 to 0.835. The retest coefficient was 0.907. The content validity index was 0.933. A single common factor was extracted and accounted for 61.559% of the variance. The item loading values on the single factor were between 0.743 and 0.814. The communalities were between 0.552 and 0.663. There was no variance between males and females (P = 0.055). The difference in scores between the top (30%) and bottom (30%) groups attained significance. IRT models results revealed that the discrimination parameters ranged from 1.39 to 2.33 and difficulty parameters increased monotonically. Conclusion The OSSS-3 demonstrates satisfying psychometric properties and is a proper instrument for measuring social support in Chinese nursing students.

Abstract Background Neurospecific Enolase (NSE), a multifunctional protein, is present in various tissues of the body and plays an important role in many disease processes, such as infection, inflammation, tumours, injury, and immunity. In recent years, the application of NSE in respiratory diseases has become increasingly widespread and a research hotspot. Objective This study aims to explore the relationship between NSE and childhood pneumonia, providing assistance for the diagnosis and assessment of pneumonia. Methods Using prospective research and case-control methods, We selected 129 children with pneumonia hospitalised in Weifang People’s Hospital from September 2020 to April 2022 as the case group. Among them were 67 cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP+), 62 cases of non-Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP -), and 21 cases of severe pneumonia. At the same time, 136 children who underwent outpatient health examinations were selected as the control group. The levels of NSE, ESR, CRP in cases group and NSE in control group were measured separately. Result The NSE levels in the MP + group were 17.86 (14.29–22.54) ng/mL, while those in the MP- group were 17.89 (14.10–21.66) ng/mL, both of which were higher than the control group’s NSE levels of 13.26(12.18,14.44) ng/mL (H = 46.92, P = 0.000). There was no statistically significant difference in NSE levels between the MP + and MP - groups (P > 0.05). The NSE level in the severe pneumonia group was 27.38 (13.95–34.06) ng/mL, higher than that in the mild pneumonia group, which was 17.68 (14.27–21.04) ng/mL, (P = 0.024). The AUC values for diagnosing pneumonia are NSE0.714, CRP0.539, and ESR0.535, with NSE having the highest diagnostic value. Conclusion Serum NSE can serve as an inflammatory indicator for paediatric pneumonia, which has important clinical guidance significance for the diagnosis, condition evaluation, and prognosis of paediatric pneumonia.

Abstract To investigate the screening and predicting functions of obesity- and lipid-related indices for type 2 diabetes (T2D) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese, as well as the ideal predicted cut-off value. This study's data comes from the 2011 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A cross-sectional study design was used to investigate the relationship of T2D and 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist–height ratio (WHtR), visceral adiposity index (VAI), a body shape index (ABSI), body roundness index (BRI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), conicity index (CI), Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI), triglyceride- glucose index (TyG index) and its correlation index (TyG-BMI, TyG-WC, TyG-WHtR). The unadjusted and adjusted correlations between 13 indices and T2D were assessed using binary logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) was used to determine the usefulness of anthropometric indices for screening for T2D and determining their cut‑off value, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC). The study comprised 9488 people aged 45 years or above in total, of whom 4354 (45.89%) were males and 5134 (54.11%) were females. Among them were 716 male cases of T2D (16.44%) and 870 female cases of T2D (16.95%). A total of 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices were independently associated with T2D risk after adjusted for confounding factors (P

Abstract Background Juvenile hormones (JH) play crucial role in regulating development and reproduction in insects. The most common form of JH is JH III, derived from MF through epoxidation by CYP15 enzymes. However, in the higher dipterans, such as the fruitfly, Drosophila melanogaster, a bis-epoxide form of JHB3, accounted most of the JH detected. Moreover, these higher dipterans have lost the CYP15 gene from their genomes. As a result, the identity of the P450 epoxidase in the JH biosynthesis pathway in higher dipterans remains unknown. Results In this study, we show that Cyp6g2 serves as the major JH epoxidase responsible for the biosynthesis of JHB3 and JH III in D. melanogaster. The Cyp6g2 is predominantly expressed in the corpus allatum (CA), concurring with the expression pattern of jhamt, another well-studied gene that is crucial in the last steps of JH biosynthesis. Mutation in Cyp6g2 leads to severe disruptions in larval-pupal metamorphosis and exhibits reproductive deficiencies, exceeding those seen in jhamt mutants. Notably, Cyp6g2 −/− ::jhamt 2 double mutants all died at the pupal stage but could be rescued through the topical application of JH analogs. JH titer analyses revealed that both Cyp6g2 −/− mutant and jhamt 2 mutant lacking JHB3 and JH III, while overexpression of Cyp6g2 or jhamt caused a significant increase in JHB3 and JH III titer. Conclusions These findings collectively established that Cyp6g2 as the major JH epoxidase in the higher dipterans and laid the groundwork for the further understanding of JH biosynthesis. Moreover, these findings pave the way for developing specific Cyp6g2 inhibitors as insect growth regulators or insecticides.

Abstract Background Structural variations (SVs) have significant impacts on complex phenotypes by rearranging large amounts of DNA sequence. Results We present a comprehensive SV catalog based on the whole-genome sequence of 1060 pigs (Sus scrofa) representing 101 breeds, covering 9.6% of the pig genome. This catalog includes 42,487 deletions, 37,913 mobile element insertions, 3308 duplications, 1664 inversions, and 45,184 break ends. Estimates of breed ancestry and hybridization using genotyped SVs align well with those from single nucleotide polymorphisms. Geographically stratified deletions are observed, along with known duplications of the KIT gene, responsible for white coat color in European pigs. Additionally, we identify a recent SINE element insertion in MYO5A transcripts of European pigs, potentially influencing alternative splicing patterns and coat color alterations. Furthermore, a Yorkshire-specific copy number gain within ABCG2 is found, impacting chromatin interactions and gene expression across multiple tissues over a stretch of genomic region of ~200 kb. Preliminary investigations into SV’s impact on gene expression and traits using the Pig Genotype-Tissue Expression (PigGTEx) data reveal SV associations with regulatory variants and gene-trait pairs. For instance, a 51-bp deletion is linked to the lead eQTL of the lipid metabolism regulating gene FADS3, whose expression in embryo may affect loin muscle area, as revealed by our transcriptome-wide association studies. Conclusions This SV catalog serves as a valuable resource for studying diversity, evolutionary history, and functional shaping of the pig genome by processes like domestication, trait-based breeding, and adaptive evolution.

Abstract Background Gout is caused by monosodium urate (MSU) crystals deposition to trigger immune response. A recent study suggested that inhibition of Class I Histone deacetylases (HDACs) can significantly reduce MSU crystals-induced inflammation. However, which one of HDACs members in response to MSU crystals was still unknown. Here, we investigated the roles of HDAC3 in MSU crystals-induced gouty inflammation. Methods Macrophage specific HDAC3 knockout (KO) mice were used to investigate inflammatory profiles of gout in mouse models in vivo, including ankle arthritis, foot pad arthritis and subcutaneous air pouch model. In the in vitro experiments, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from mice were treated with MSU crystals to assess cytokines, potential target gene and protein. Results Deficiency of HDAC3 in macrophage not only reduced MSU-induced foot pad and ankle joint swelling but also decreased neutrophils trafficking and IL-1β release in air pouch models. In addition, the levels of inflammatory genes related to TLR2/4/NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway were significantly decreased in BMDMs from HDAC3 KO mice after MSU treatment. Moreover, RGFP966, selective inhibitor of HDAC3, inhibited IL-6 and TNF-α production in BMDMs treated with MSU crystals. Besides, HDAC3 deficiency shifted gene expression from pro-inflammatory macrophage (M1) to anti-inflammatory macrophage (M2) in BMDMs after MSU challenge. Conclusions Deficiency of HDAC3 in macrophage alleviates MSU crystals-induced gouty inflammation through inhibition of TLR2/4 driven IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting that HDAC3 could contribute to a potential therapeutic target of gout.

Abstract Background Depressive symptoms are one of the most common psychiatric disorders, with a high lifetime prevalence rate among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Obesity may be one of the risk factors for depressive symptoms, but there is currently no consensus on this view. Therefore, we investigate the relationship and predictive ability of 13 obesity- and lipid-related indices with depressive symptoms among middle-aged and elderly Chinese. Methods The data were obtained from The China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our analysis includes individuals who did not have depressive symptoms at the baseline of the CHARLS Wave 2011 study and were successfully follow-up in 2013 and 2015. Finally, 3790 participants were included in the short-term (from 2011 to 2013), and 3660 participants were included in the long-term (from 2011 to 2015). The average age of participants in short-term and long-term was 58.47 years and 57.88 years. The anthropometric indicators used in this analysis included non-invasive [e.g. waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and a body mass index (ABSI)], and invasive anthropometric indicators [e.g. lipid accumulation product (LAP), triglyceride glucose index (TyG index), and its-related indices (e.g. TyG-BMI, and TyG-WC)]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to examine the predictive ability of various indicators for depressive symptoms. The association of depressive symptoms with various indicators was calculated using binary logistic regression. Results The overall incidence of depressive symptoms was 20.79% in the short-term and 27.43% in the long-term. In males, WC [AUC = 0.452], LAP [AUC = 0.450], and TyG-WC [AUC = 0.451] were weak predictors of depressive symptoms during the short-term (P 0.05). Conclusion The research indicates that in the middle-aged and elderly Chinese, most obesity- and lipid-related indices have statistical significance in predicting depressive symptoms, but the accuracy of these indicators in prediction is relatively low and may not be practical predictors.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to determine whether changes in body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in middle-aged and elderly Chinese are associated with metabolic syndrome. In this cohort investigation, 3697 middle-aged and elderly people aged 45 or over were recruited from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (2005) defined metabolic syndrome (MetS). With Cox regression analysis, we calculated hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for MetS based on BMI-WC change categories. To assess the prevalence of MetS, the changes in BMI and WC levels were classified into four quartiles based on their relative and absolute changes. In subjects whose BMI and WC decreased (HR = 0.338; 95% CIs 0.264, 0.433) as well as those whose BMI increased and their WC decreased (HR = 0.375; 95% CIs 0.228, 0.499), metabolic syndrome risk was significantly lower compared with those with increases in both BMI and WC. Regarding the absolute changes in BMI, the lowest percentile of BMI was significantly lower in both males (HR = 0.302; 95% CIs 0.204, 0.448) and females (HR = 0.486; 95% CIs 0.354, 0.667) for the risk of metabolic syndrome. Similar results were observed in the absolute changes in WC, with the lowest quantile of WC having a significant impact on MetS risk in males (HR = 0.170; 95% CIs 0.107, 0.270) and females (HR = 0.303; 95% CIs 0.217, 0.424). The risk of metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with changes in BMI and WC in middle-aged and elderly Chinese. A reduced BMI and WC are associated with lower metabolic syndrome risks in middle-aged and elderly people.

ABSTRACT Background Early on in the development of diabetes, skeletal muscles can exhibit microarchitectural changes that can be detected using texture analysis (TA) based on volume transfer constant (Ktrans) maps. Nevertheless, there have been few studies and thus we evaluated microvascular permeability and the TA of the bone marrow in diabetics with critical limb ischemia (CLI). Methods Eighteen male rabbits were randomly assigned equally into an operation group with hindlimb ischemia and diabetes, a sham‐operated group with diabetes only, and a control group. Dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) was performed on all rabbits at predetermined intervals (1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 days post‐surgery). The pharmacokinetic model was used to generate the permeability parameters, while the textural parameters were derived from the Ktrans map. Data analysis methods included the independent sample t‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, repeated‐measures analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation tests. Results The Ktrans values reached a minimum on day 1 after ischemia induction, then gradually recovered, but remained lower than those of the sham‐operated group. The volume fraction only showed a significant difference between the operation group and the sham‐operated group on day 5 post‐surgery, but not in the extravascular extracellular space volume fraction at all time points. A significantly reduced Ktrans on day 1, a decreased number of bone trabeculae (Tb.N), and the area of bone trabeculae (Tb.Ar), and an increased microvessel density on day 25 in the operation group compared with the sham‐operated group were observed. At each time point, there was a discernible difference between the two groups in the mean value, mean of positive pixels, and sumAverage. Conclusions The early stages of diabetic bone marrow with CLI can be evaluated by DCE‐MRI for microvascular permeability. Texture analysis based on DCE‐MRI could act as an imaging discriminator and new radiological analysis tool for critical limb ischemia in diabetes mellitus.

PurposeHashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a significant public health concern, particularly among females. While existing studies have explored the correlation between serum iron levels and HT, limited research has specifically focused on this association in reproductive-age females. Our study aims to investigate the relationship between serum iron and HT.MethodsUsing data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database (2007–2012), we employed weighted multivariate logistic regression models, an XGBoost model, and smooth curve fitting. We assessed the correlation between serum iron and HT and examined linear and non-linear relationships with thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOAb) and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb).ResultsAmong 2,356 participants, each unit increase in serum iron was associated with a 43% reduced risk of HT (Odds Ratios (OR) 0.574; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.572, 0.576). Quartile analysis confirmed these effects. The XGBoost model identified serum iron as the most significant variable correlated with HT. Smooth curves revealed a linear association between log2-transformed serum iron and HT. Additionally, log2-transformed serum iron inversely correlated with TPOAb levels (β −15.47; 95% CI -25.01, −5.92), while a non-linear relationship was observed with TgAb.ConclusionOur study reveals that in reproductive-age women, every unit increase in serum iron is associated with a 43% lower risk of HT, demonstrating an inverse relationship. Additionally, serum iron exhibits a negative correlation with TPOAb and a non-linear association with TgAb.