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Abstract Background The transition from nursing students to working as new nurses can be a challenging process. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of a pedagogical approach amalgamating the think-aloud approach and case-based learning in the instructional rounds for new nurses. Methods Utilizing convenience sampling, new nurses were selected between 2020 and 2021 in China cancer hospital. A total of 98 participants agreed to participate, with 50 enrolled in 2020 as the control group and 48 in 2021 as the observation group. Across a span of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, each clinical department conducted six teaching rounds. The observation group engaged in teaching rounds combining the think-aloud approach with case-based learning, whereas the control group solely utilized case-based learning. Disparities in case analysis scores and critical thinking ability between the two groups were scrutinized, alongside an analysis of learning strategies and the observation group feedback. Results The observation group exhibited superior case analysis scores (91.92 ± 6.33) and overall critical thinking ability scores (308.39 ± 35.88) in comparison to the control group, which scored (85.27 ± 5.39) and (275.11 ± 31.32) respectively, reflecting statistically significant variances (t = 1.868 ~ 6.361, P

Abstract In recent years, microbial inoculants have showed a great potential to replace chemical fertilizers as a new generation of soil amendment agents, however, the understanding of their effects on nutrient cycling within plants and rhizosphere microbial diversity are still limited. In this study, the rhizosphere growth-promoting bacteria MQB12 was used to inoculate Vigna radiata to evaluate the effects of external inoculants on plant transcriptomics and rhizosphere soil microbial diversity. Enrichment analysis using GO and KEGG revealed significant enrichment in DNA-binding transcription factor activity, transcriptional regulatory factor activity, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis among the differentially expressed genes. MQB12 inoculation positively responded to phosphorus starvation response, increased the expression of phosphorus starvation response genes (PHT/PAP), enhanced the synthesis of ethylene and salicylic acid to cope with external stress, and improved the expression of plant disease resistance genes to strengthen the disease resistance of plants to pathogens. At the same time, microbial diversity analysis further revealed the positive effect of MQB12 inoculum. MQB12 inoculum enriched beneficial flora, improved flora abundance, changed the structure and diversity of V. radiata rhizosphere microbial community, enhanced the interconnections between the flora, and positively promoted growth. MQB12 was found to adjust the microflora of the rhizosphere, which subsequently changed the environment for plant colonization. This change led to the enrichment of beneficial bacteria and removal of pathogenic bacteria, which positively affected the internal pathways of plants. Additionally, changes in gene expression levels of plants resulted in the formation of different phenotypes and various metabolites, further influencing the formation of rhizosphere microbial communities through close contact between roots and soil. This study provides new insights into the effects of microbial agents on plant growth and root environment construction and is conducive to the further development and application of microbial agents. Graphical Abstract

Abstract Central nervous system Infections (CNSIs) is a disease characterized by complex pathogens, rapid disease progression, high mortality rate and high disability rate. Here, we evaluated the clinical value of metagenomic next generation sequencing (mNGS) in the diagnosis of central nervous system infections and explored the factors affecting the results of mNGS. We conducted a retrospective study to compare mNGS with conventional methods including culture, smear and etc. 111 suspected CNS infectious patients were enrolled in this study, and clinical data were recorded. Chi-square test were used to evaluate independent binomial variables, taking p 300*106/L), the positive rate of CSF mNGS is higher. To sum up, conventional microbiologic testing is insufficient to detect all neuroinvasive pathogens, and mNGS exhibited satisfactory diagnostic performance in CNSIs and with an overall detection rate higher than culture (p

Abstract Ethylene regulates plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. However, the early signaling events following ethylene perception, particularly in the regulation of ethylene receptor/CTRs (CONSTITUTIVE TRIPLE RESPONSE) complex, remains less understood. Here, utilizing the rapid phospho-shift of rice OsCTR2 in response to ethylene as a sensitive readout for signal activation, we revealed that MHZ3, previously identified as a stabilizer of ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE 2 (OsEIN2), is crucial for maintaining OsCTR2 phosphorylation. Genetically, both functional MHZ3 and ethylene receptors prove essential for OsCTR2 phosphorylation. MHZ3 physically interacts with both subfamily I and II ethylene receptors, e.g., OsERS2 and OsETR2 respectively, stabilizing their association with OsCTR2 and thereby maintaining OsCTR2 activity. Ethylene treatment disrupts the interactions within the protein complex MHZ3/receptors/OsCTR2, reducing OsCTR2 phosphorylation and initiating downstream signaling. Our study unveils the dual role of MHZ3 in fine-tuning ethylene signaling activation, providing insights into the initial stages of the ethylene signaling cascade.

Abstract With the opening of the power market and the development of the energy Internet, the optimal allocation of regional energy systems has become the key to achieving energy efficiency and economic balance. The article studies how to achieve this balance by optimizing the allocation of regional energy systems under the influence of price fluctuations and load demand uncertainty in the electricity market. This study introduces a real-time electricity price adjustment mechanism to stimulate user participation in energy adjustments and improve energy utilization efficiency. By constructing an optimization model based on multiple uncertainties and comprehensive demand response, uncertainty factors such as energy market price fluctuations and climate change were considered, and user demand response was integrated. The research results indicate that electricity price fluctuations have a significant impact on system operation, while CSP power plant thermal storage fluctuations have a relatively small impact. After the introduction of demand response, the electricity load can be reduced to zero during specific periods, and the adjustment of electricity prices stimulates user participation and improves the consumption rate of renewable energy. The total revenue of the system increased by 54.147 million yuan, demonstrating the potential of optimized configuration in reducing costs and improving efficiency. This study provides important references for building more efficient and sustainable energy systems.

Abstract The risk of cholangitis after ERCP implantation in malignant obstructive jaundice patients remains unknown. To develop models based on artificial intelligence methods to predict cholangitis risk more accurately, according to patients after stent implantation in patients’ MOJ clinical data. This retrospective study included 218 patients with MOJ undergoing ERCP surgery. A total of 27 clinical variables were collected as input variables. Seven models (including univariate analysis and six machine learning models) were trained and tested for classified prediction. The model’ performance was measured by AUROC. The RFT model demonstrated excellent performances with accuracies up to 0.86 and AUROC up to 0.87. Feature selection in RF and SHAP was similar, and the choice of the best variable subset produced a high performance with an AUROC up to 0.89. We have developed a hybrid machine learning model with better predictive performance than traditional LR prediction models, as well as other machine learning models for cholangitis based on simple clinical data. The model can assist doctors in clinical diagnosis, adopt reasonable treatment plans, and improve the survival rate of patients.

Abstract Background Quality of life of osteoporosis patients had caused widespread concern, due to high incidence and difficulty to cure. Scale specifics for osteoporosis and suitable for Chinese cultural background lacked. This study aimed to develop an osteoporosis scale in Quality of Life Instruments for Chronic Diseases system, namely QLICD-OS (V2.0). Methods Procedural decision-making approach of nominal group, focus group and modular approach were adopted. Our scale was developed based on experience of establishing scales at home and abroad. In this study, Quality of life measurements were performed on 127 osteoporosis patients before and after treatment to evaluate the psychometric properties. Validity was evaluated by qualitative analysis, item-domain correlation analysis, multi-scaling analysis and factor analysis; the SF-36 scale was used as criterion to carry out correlation analysis for criterion-related validity. The reliability was evaluated by the internal consistency coefficients Cronbach’s α, test-retest reliability Pearson correlation r. Paired t-tests were performed on data of ​​the scale before and after treatment, with Standardized Response Mean (SRM) being calculated to evaluate the responsiveness. Results The QLICD-OS, composed of a general module (28 items) and an osteoporosis-specific module (14 items), had good content validity. Correlation analysis and factor analysis confirmed the construct, with the item having a strong correlation (most > 0.40) with its own domains/principle components, and a weak correlation (

The stability analysis of a deep buried tunnel subjected to dynamic disturbance is an important issue. In this study, the transient response has been obtained by establishing a water-rich tunnel model considering excavation damage zone (EDZ). Based on Biot’s two-phase dynamic theory and wave function expansion method, the analytical solution of dynamic response around the water-rich tunnel containing EDZ subjected to P wave is derived. Moreover, Fourier transform and Duhamel’s integral technique is introduced to calculate the transient response, and the equivalent blasting curve is adopted to input excitation function. The dimensionless parameters thickness N and shear modulus ratio μ∼ are defined to characterize the degree of damage in the surrounding rock, investigating the influencing factors, such as the parameters and the incident source frequencies. The results indicate that the dynamic stress concentration factor (DSCF) gradually decreases as the dimensionless parameters increase. Additionally, it is observed that the DSCF is more sensitive to changes in the thickness parameter N. Finally, the influence of the waveform parameters has been taken into account in the analysis of transient response, and the stress state and transfer process in each time stage of the EDZ are analyzed. This study establishes a theoretical foundation for comprehending the mechanical behavior and support design considerations associated with a deep-buried water-rich tunnel containing EDZ.

In situ temperature monitoring has become extremely imperative in high-temperature harsh environments and polymer-derived ceramics (PDCs) as sensing materials have attracted great attention. However, the stability and oxidation/corrosion resistance of PDCs cannot be simultaneously achieved at the moment, limiting their practical application. Herein, polymer-derived SiAlBCN ceramics were synthesized via polymer conversion method under different pyrolysis temperatures. Their microstructure evolution, high temperature sensing properties, and stability were investigated in detail. The results show that the amorphous SiAlBCN phase grows more orderly and the size of the free carbon phase enlarges with the increasing temperature. The defect concentration displays a decreasing tendency. Concurrently, the SiAlBCN ceramics as sensing materials exhibit a good temperature–resistance property from roo temperature to 1100 ℃. The fabricated SiAlBCN temperature sensor possesses excellent stability, repeatability, and accuracy. Moreover, SiAlBCN ceramics exhibit distinguished oxidation/corrosion resistance after 100 h treatment at 1200 ℃ in a water/oxygen environment, which is attributed to their low corrosive rate constant (0.57 mg/(cm2·h)) and oxidative rate constant (3.43 mg2/(cm4·h)). Therefore, polymer-derived SiAlBCN ceramics as sensing materials, which possess outstanding stability and oxidation/corrosion resistance, have great potential for in-situ monitoring of extreme environmental temperatures in the future.

Abstract Background Numerous studies highlight the genetic underpinnings of mental disorders comorbidity, particularly in anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. However, their shared genetic loci are not well understood. Our study employs Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analyses, alongside multi-omics data, to uncover potential genetic targets for these conditions, thereby informing therapeutic and drug development strategies. Methods We utilized the Consortium for Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression (LDSC) and Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to investigate genetic correlations among anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. Utilizing GTEx V8 eQTL and deCODE Genetics pQTL data, we performed a three-step summary-data-based Mendelian randomization (SMR) and protein–protein interaction analysis. This helped assess causal and comorbid loci for these disorders and determine if identified loci share coincidental variations with psychiatric diseases. Additionally, phenome-wide association studies, drug prediction, and molecular docking validated potential drug targets. Results We found genetic correlations between anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia, and under a meta-analysis of MR from multiple databases, the causal relationships among these disorders are supported. Based on this, three-step SMR and colocalization analyses identified ITIH3 and CCS as being related to the risk of developing depression, while CTSS and DNPH1 are related to the onset of schizophrenia. BTN3A1, PSMB4, and TIMP4 were identified as comorbidity loci for both disorders. Molecules that could not be determined through colocalization analysis were also presented. Drug prediction and molecular docking showed that some drugs and proteins have good binding affinity and available structural data. Conclusions Our study indicates genetic correlations and shared risk loci between anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia. These findings offer insights into the underlying mechanisms of their comorbidities and aid in drug development.

Abstract Nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) are important nitrifiers whose activity regulates the availability of nitrite and dictates the magnitude of nitrogen loss in ecosystems. In oxic marine sediments, ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and NOB together catalyze the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, but the abundance ratios of AOA to canonical NOB in some cores are significantly higher than the theoretical ratio range predicted from physiological traits of AOA and NOB characterized under realistic ocean conditions, indicating that some NOBs are yet to be discovered. Here we report a bacterial phylum Candidatus Nitrosediminicolota, members of which are more abundant than canonical NOBs and are widespread across global oligotrophic sediments. Ca. Nitrosediminicolota members have the functional potential to oxidize nitrite, in addition to other accessory functions such as urea hydrolysis and thiosulfate reduction. While one recovered species (Ca. Nitrosediminicola aerophilus) is generally confined within the oxic zone, another (Ca. Nitrosediminicola anaerotolerans) additionally appears in anoxic sediments. Counting Ca. Nitrosediminicolota as a nitrite-oxidizer helps to resolve the apparent abundance imbalance between AOA and NOB in oxic marine sediments, and thus its activity may exert controls on the nitrite budget.

Abstract Aims To assess the different imaging characteristics between corticosteroid‐sensitive (CS) and corticosteroid‐refractory (CR) immune checkpoint inhibitor‐associated myocarditis (ICIaM) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and the potential CMR parameters in the early detection of CR ICIaM. Methods and results Thirty‐five patients diagnosed with ICIaM and 30 age and gender‐matched cancer patients without a history of ICI treatment were enrolled. CMR with contrast was performed within 2 days of clinical suspicion. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) were assessed by CMR. LV sub‐endocardial (GLSendo) and sub‐epicardial (GLSepi) global longitudinal strains were quantified by offline feature tracking analysis. CS and CR ICIaM were defined based on the trend of Troponin I and clinical course during corticosteroid treatment. All 35 patients presented with non‐fulminant symptoms upon initial assessment. Twenty patients (57.14%) were sensitive, and 15 (42.86%) were refractory to corticosteroids. Compared with controls, 22 patients (62.86%) with ICIaM developed LGE. LVEF decreased in CR ICIaM compared with the CS group and controls. GLSendo (−14.61 ± 2.67 vs. −18.50 ± 2.53, P

Abstract Background Smoking remains a major risk factor for the development and progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Due to the adolescent smoking associated with worse health state, the age, at which an individual started smoking, might play a key role in shaping the trajectory of COPD development and the severity. Methods We conducted an observational study from September 2016 through January 2023 of eligible patients hospitalized with COPD. Patients who started smoking during the alveolar development stage (ADS, smoking initiation ≤ 24 years old) were defined as early smoking patients, and patients who started smoking after ADS (smoking initiation > 24 years old) were defined as late smoking patients. We collected demographic and clinical data characterizing the patients and documented their condition from hospital discharge to follow-up. The primary endpoints were short-term (within one year), 3-year, and long-term (beyond 3 years) all-cause mortality after discharge. Results Among 697 COPD patients, early smoking patients had a lower smoking cessation rate (P

Abstract The mechanisms underlying the organization and evolution of the telencephalic pallium are not yet clear.. To address this issue, we first performed comparative analysis of genes critical for the development of the pallium (Emx1/2 and Pax6) and subpallium (Dlx2 and Nkx1/2) among 500 vertebrate species. We found that these genes have no obvious variations in chromosomal duplication/loss, gene locus synteny or Darwinian selection. However, there is an additional fragment of approximately 20 amino acids in mammalian Emx1 and a poly-(Ala)6–7 in Emx2. Lentiviruses expressing mouse or chick Emx2 (m-Emx2 or c-Emx2 Lv) were injected into the ventricle of the chick telencephalon at embryonic Day 3 (E3), and the embryos were allowed to develop to E12–14 or to posthatchling. After transfection with m-Emx2 Lv, the cells expressing Reelin, Vimentin or GABA increased, and neurogenesis of calbindin cells changed towards the mammalian inside-out pattern in the dorsal pallium and mesopallium. In addition, a behavior test for posthatched chicks indicated that the passive avoidance ratio increased significantly. The study suggests that the acquisition of an additional fragment in mammalian Emx2 is associated with the organization and evolution of the mammalian pallium.

Abstract Introduction Psittacosis is a zoonosis caused by Chlamydia psittaci, the clinical manifestations of Psittacosis range from mild illness to fulminant severe pneumonia with multiple organ failure. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of Chlamydia psittaci infection diagnosed based on metagenomic next-generation sequencing(mNGS), as well as the risk factors affecting the progress of Chlamydia psittaci infection, in order to improve the effect of therapeutics. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients infected with chlamydia psittaci in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University from January 2021 to December 2021. The patient’s past medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory examinations, chest CT results, treatment status, and prognosis data were collected. we also investigated both the pathogenic profile characteristics and the lower respiratory tract microbiota of patients with Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia using mNGS. Results All cases of Chlamydia psittaci in our research have been confirmed by mNGS. Among 46 cases of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia, Poultry exposure was reported in 35 cases. In severe cases of Chlamydia psittaci pneumonia, Neutrophils, Procalcitonin (PCT), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Hydroxybutyrate Dehydrogenase (HBDH), Creatine Kinase Isoenzymes-B (CK-MB) and D-Dimer levels were remarkably higher than that of non-severe cases, except for lymphocytes (all P

Abstract Yutu-2 rover conducted an exciting expedition on the 41st lunar day to investigate a fin-shaped rock at Longji site (45.44°S, 177.56°E) by extending its locomotion margin on perilous peaks. The varied locomotion encountered, especially multi-form wheel slippage, during the journey to the target rock, established unique conditions for a fin-grained lunar regolith analysis regarding bearing, shear and lateral properties based on terramechanics. Here, we show a tri-aspect characterization of lunar regolith and infer the rock’s origin using a digital twin. We estimate internal friction angle within 21.5°−42.0° and associated cohesion of 520-3154 Pa in the Chang’E-4 operational site. These findings suggest shear characteristics similar to Apollo 12 mission samples but notably higher cohesion compared to regolith investigated on most nearside lunar missions. We estimate external friction angle in lateral properties to be within 8.3°−16.5°, which fills the gaps of the lateral property estimation of the lunar farside regolith and serves as a foundational parameter for subsequent engineering verifications. Our in-situ spectral investigations of the target rock unveil its composition of iron/magnesium-rich low-calcium pyroxene, linking it to the Zhinyu crater (45.34°S, 176.15°E) ejecta. Our results indicate that the combination of in-situ measurements with robotics technology in planetary exploration reveal the possibility of additional source regions contributing to the local materials at the Chang’E-4 site, implying a more complicated geological history in the vicinity.

African swine fever virus (ASFV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus with a complex structural architecture and encodes more than 150 proteins, where many are with unknown functions. E184L has been reported as one of the immunogenic ASFV proteins that may contribute to ASFV pathogenesis and immune evasion. However, the antigenic epitopes of E184L are not yet characterized. In this study, recombinant E184L protein was expressed in prokaryotic expression system and four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), designated as 1A10, 2D2, 3H6, and 4C10 were generated. All four mAbs reacted specifically with ASFV infected cells. To identify the epitopes of the mAbs, a series of overlapped peptides of E184L were designed and expressed as maltose binding fusion proteins. Accordingly, the expressed fusion proteins were probed with each E184L mAb separately by using Western blot. Following a fine mapping, the minimal linear epitope recognized by mAb 1A10 was identified as 119IQRQGFL125, and mAbs 2D2, 3H6, and 4C10 recognized a region located between 153DPTEFF158. Alignment of amino acids of E184L revealed that the two linear epitopes are highly conserved among different ASFV isolates. Furthermore, the potential application of the two epitopes in ASFV diagnosis was assessed through epitope-based ELISA using 24 ASFV positive and 18 negative pig serum and the method were able to distinguish positive and negative samples, indicating the two epitopes are dominant antigenic sites. To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize the B cell epitopes of the antigenic E184L protein of ASFV, offering valuable tools for future research, as well as laying a foundation for serological diagnosis and epitope-based marker vaccine development.

Background: Lung cancer is a highly prevalent malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality rates. MiR-489–3p, a microRNA, has been identified as a regulator of tumor cell proliferation and invasion. Its expression is downregulated in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying miR-489–3p′s role in NSCLC pathogenesis is crucial for identifying potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets. Methods: To investigate the molecular mechanism of miR-489–3p in NSCLC, this study utilized A549, a commonly used NSCLC cell line. MiR-489–3p mimics and inhibitors were transfected into A549 cells. Additionally, co-transfection experiments using wortmannin, an inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT pathway, were performed. Expression of miR-489–3p and related proteins was analyzed by Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Cell migration and proliferation were assessed by wound healing and colony formation assays, respectively. Results: Overexpression of miR-489–3p significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of A549 cells. This inhibitory effect was further enhanced upon co-transfected with wortmannin. Analysis of human lung specimens showed increased expression of HER2, PI3K, and AKT in lung adenocarcinoma tissues compared to adjacent non-cancerous tissues. Conclusions: These findings suggest that miR-489–3p overexpression may inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation and migration by suppressing the HER2/PI3K/AKT/Snail signaling pathway. This study elucidates miR-489–3p′s molecular mechanisms in NSCLC and provides experimental basis for identifying early diagnostic markers and novel therapeutic targets.

BackgroundMitochondrial dysfunction has been shown to play a critical role in cancer biology. However, its involvement in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) remains significantly understudied.MethodsRNA sequencing data of 30 pairs of iCCA and paracancerous tissues were collected from the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (WMU). The WMU cohort (n = 30) was integrated with public TCGA (n = 30) and GSE107943 (n = 30) datasets to establish a multi-center iCCA cohort. We merged the TCGA and GSE107943 cohorts into an exploration cohort to develop a mitochondria signature for prognosis assessment, and utilized the WMU cohort for external validation. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Hallmarker analyses were used for functional interpretation of iCCA associated mitochondria-related genes (MRGs). In addition, unsupervised clustering was performed to identify mitochondria-based iCCA subtypes with the data of three institutions. Further investigations were conducted to examine the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on drug responses, alteration of the tumor immune microenvironment, and immune responses.ResultsTwo hundred and sixty-three iCCA-related MRGs were identified to be related to fatty acid metabolism, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis. Through univariate and multivariate Cox, and LASSO analyses, a mitochondria signature with five optimal MRGs was established to evaluate the prognosis of iCCA patients with the AUC values ranged from 0.785 to 0.928 in the exploration cohort. The signature also exhibited satisfactory performance in the WMU cohort with AUC values of 0.817–0.871, and was identified as an independent risk predictor in both cohorts. Additionally, we found that patients with higher mitochondria score with poor prognosis presented lower infiltration levels of CD4+ T-cell, NK cells, and monocytes, and demonstrated higher sensitivity to targeted therapies, including sorafenib. Furthermore, two distant mitochondria-based subtypes were determined, and subtype 2 was associated with shorter survival time and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Finally, the differential protein expression of five key MRGs was verified by Immunohistochemistry.ConclusionWe found mitochondrial dysfunction modulates aberrant metabolism, oxidative stress, immune responses, apoptosis, and drug sensitivity in iCCA. A mitochondria signature and two mitochondria-based iCCA subtypes were identified for clinical risk stratification and immunophenotyping.

Although particular attention has been paid to responses of hydrocarbon storage and percolation capacity to the devitrification concerning lacustrine tuffaceous shale reservoirs in recent years, there is still a lack of systematical and comparative investigation on differential patterns and potential triggering mechanisms concerning development of the pore-microfracture systems and characteristics of surface wettability between the fresh-water and saline lacustrine settings, which is of considerable importance in fully understanding of genesis and spatial distribution of dessert reservoir intervals of tuffaceous shale reservoirs, and to provide further conceptual basis for deciphering shale-oil movability of saline lacustrine fine-grained mixed sedimentary sequences. In this study, tuffaceous shales from both the Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation in the Ordos Basin and Middle Permian Jingjingzigou Formation in the Junggar Basin are targeted to unravel the differential behavior of tuff devitrification and potential impacts on reservoir wettability and pore connectivity concerning fresh-water and saline lacustrine settings, and we present new results here from integrated analyses and combined interpretation of FE-SEM, Image Pro Plus (IPP) software image processing, contact angle and spontaneous imbibition experiments. In view of comparative analysis from representative samples, the tuffaceous shales from saline lacustrine environments are characterized by well-developed intergranular-intercrystalline and dissolution pores, and inorganic microfractures, generally yield a higher plane porosity of representative pore-fracture spaces and spontaneous imbibition slopes, a relatively lower average of n-decane contact angles and corresponding wettability parameters. The saline lacustrine tuffaceous shales are thus suspected to have undergone more intense devitrification resulting in a higher amount of devitrification and associated dissolution pores, and a relatively better connectivity between isolated micropore systems with adjacent microfractures. This would significantly facilitate the interface wettability reversal and occurrence of movable hydrocarbon fluid in microscopic reservoir spaces. Finally, a comprehensive and conceptual model is established illustrating the effects of differential devitrification on reservoir-forming patterns concerning tuffaceous shales developed in the fresh-water and saline lacustrine settings, respectively. These findings are of great theoretical and practical significance to enrich theory of high-quality reservoir formation and shale-oil accumulation in saline lacustrine tuffaceous shale reservoirs, and lay the foundation for guiding efficient exploration of continental fine-grained mixed sedimentary sequences.

Abstract Background Sarcopenia is highly prevalent among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Computed tomography (CT)‐based assessment of low skeletal muscle index (SMI) is widely used for diagnosing sarcopenia. However, there are conflicting findings on the association between low SMI and overall survival (OS) in CRC patients. The objective of this study was to investigate whether CT‐determined low SMI can serve as a valuable prognostic factor in CRC. Methods We collected data from patients with CRC who underwent radical surgery at our institution between June 2020 and November 2021. The SMI at the third lumbar vertebra was calculated using CT scans, and the cutoff values for defining low SMI were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the associations between clinical characteristics and postoperative major complications. Results A total of 464 patients were included in the study, 229 patients (46.7%) were classified as having low SMI. Patients with low SMI were older and had a lower body mass index (BMI), a higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and higher nutritional risk screening 2002 (NRS2002) scores compared to those with normal SMI. Furthermore, patients with sarcopenia had a higher rate of major complications (10.9% vs. 1.3%; p

ABSTRACT The emerging prevalence of drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies due to the declining effectiveness of traditional antibiotics in clinical settings. MgrA, a key virulence regulator in S. aureus, orchestrates the expression of numerous virulence factors. Here, we report the discovery of isorhapontigenin, a methoxylated analog of resveratrol, as a potential anti-virulence agent against S. aureus. Isorhapontigenin effectively inhibits the hemolytic activity of S. aureus in a non-bactericidal manner. Additionally, it significantly reduces the cytotoxicity of S. aureus and impairs its ability to survive in macrophages. Mechanistically, isorhapontigenin modulates the expression of virulence factors, dose-dependently downregulating hla and upregulating the MgrA-regulated gene spa. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that isorhapontigenin inhibits the binding of MgrA to the hla promoter in a dose-dependent manner. Thermal shift assays confirmed the direct interaction between isorhapontigenin and the MgrA protein. The in vivo experiments demonstrated that isorhapontigenin significantly reduced the area of skin abscesses and improved survival in a pneumonia model while decreasing bacterial burden and inflammation in the lungs. In conclusion, isorhapontigenin holds potential as a candidate drug for further development as an anti-virulence agent for treating S. aureus infections.IMPORTANCEThe emergence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains presents a formidable challenge to public health, necessitating novel approaches in combating these pathogens. Traditional antibiotics are becoming increasingly ineffective, leading to a pressing need for innovative therapeutic strategies. In this study, targeting virulence factors that play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections offers a promising alternative to circumvent resistance mechanisms. The discovery of isorhapontigenin as an inhibitor of S. aureus virulence represents a significant advance in anti-virulence therapy.

Museums are critical in safeguarding cultural heritage and cultivating community educational opportunities. This research aims to evaluate operational efficiency (OE), the impact of technological change on total factor productivity change (TFPC), and the regional heterogeneity of museum performance in three regions and 31 provinces across China. To this end, the study employed DEA-SBM and the Malmquist Productivity Index to gauge OE, TFPC, and determinants of TFPC (efficiency change or emerging technologies change) across 31 provinces for 2012–2021. Results reveal that the average OE of the Chinese Museum is 0.8394. It shows a 16.06 % growth potential in the operational efficiency of Chinese Museums. Further, the OE of Chinese Museums declined over the study period from 0.8965 in 2012 to 0.8088 in 2021. Beijing, Fujian, and Hunan are ranked top with a Museum's OE Score of 1. The average MI score of Chinese Museums is 0.9744, and technology change is the main determinant of Decline in productivity change as EC = 0.9992 is greater than TC = 0.9846. The MI of Liaoning, Shanghai, Ningxia, Jiangxi, Chongqing, Sichuan, Guangdong, and Tianjin is over 1, indicating growth in total factor productivity over the study period. The eastern region of China shows higher operational efficiency and total factor productivity scores of museums than the central and western regions. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test proved that a statistically significant difference exists among different regions of China for the OE, MI, EC, and TC of museums.

ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to introduce, translate, and verify the Patient Participation Scale (PPS) within a Chinese context.MethodsWe applied a combination of internal consistency testing, item analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis. The research involved 453 individuals, comprising both outpatients and inpatients, across three Jinzhou Medical University-affiliated hospitals in China. Additionally, a subgroup of 50 patients underwent a retest after a 2-week interval to assess reliability.ResultsThe adapted Chinese edition of the PPS included 21 items. Exploratory factor analysis identified four distinct factors, accounting for 66.199% of the total variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a suitable four-factor structure (χ/df: 2.045, RMSEA: 0.048, GFI: 0.935, AGFI: 0.914, TLI: 0.958, CFI: 0.965, and PGFI: 0.712). The factor loadings corresponded to each item exceeded 0.6, the average variance extracted (AVE) exceeded 0.5, and the composite reliability (CR) exceeded 0.7. The correlation coefficients stayed below the square root of the AVE, demonstrated relatively favourable convergent and discriminant validity.The Chinese PPS edition demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.919), with dimensional Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.732 to 0.918. Split-half as well as retest reliabilities were recorded at 0.737 and 0.864, respectively. The content validity index for the Chinese PPS edition stood at 0.974.ConclusionThe Chinese edition of the PPS emerges as a valid and reliable tool for assessing patient engagement in their own treatment as well as care, applicable in both inpatient as well as outpatient settings.

The protective effects of docosahexaenoic acid-enriched phosphatidylserine (DHA-PS, 50 or 100 mg/kg) on bisphenol A (BPA)-induced intestinal damage were assessed. The biochemical indices, pathological examination, non-targeted metabolomics integrated with gut microbiota analysis, and immunofluorescence analysis were used to investigate the protective effects of DHA-PS and its underlying regulatory mechanism. The DHA-PS treatment improved the pathology of intestinal tract and increased the expression levels of Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1. In addition, the DHA-PS treatment also notably decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and increased the antioxidant enzymes activities. Moreover, DHA-PS treatment increased the relative abundances of Akkermansia, Alistipes, Butyricicoccus, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, Enterorhabdus, and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006. DHA-PS treatment alleviated BPA-induced intestinal damage by regulating the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan, lipid, and arachidonic acid metabolisms. Overall, this study suggested that DHA-PS could alleviate BPA-induced intestinal damage by enhancing the intestinal barrier integrity, improving gut microbial composition and metabolites, and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB pathways.

To study the variation rule of workpiece temperature concerning machining parameters in the cylindrical transverse grinding process of gear steel, 18CrNiMo7-6 gear steel was selected as the workpiece material, and a CBN grinding wheel was used as the grinding tool. An infrared thermal imaging instrument was used to detect the temperature during the grinding process. A calibration scheme of thermal emissivity value, incorporating an additional air curtain device, was proposed. The high-speed airflow generated by the air curtain was used to slow down the entry of external air into the heating furnace, preventing the oxidation of samples during calibration, thus ensuring the accuracy of the emissivity value calibrated under high-temperature conditions. Based on the test results, the influence of workpiece speed \begin{document}${v_{\text{w}}}$\end{document}, workpiece grinding depth per revolution \begin{document}${f_{\text{a}}}$\end{document}, grinding wheel grain size \begin{document}${d_{\text{g}}}$\end{document}, grinding wheel diameter \begin{document}${d_{\text{s}}}$\end{document} and grinding width \begin{document}$b$\end{document} on the temperature was analyzed. The workpiece grinding depth per revolution \begin{document}${f_{\text{a}}}$\end{document} was identified as the most significant factor affecting the temperature change. The empirical formula between grinding temperature and aforementioned test parameters was obtained by fitting, with an error of 9.27%. The test measurement results of grinding temperature were compared with those derived from the theory of a moving heat source, Rayleigh distribution model and dry grinding heat distribution ratio model, resulting in a deviation of 8.51%.

The objective of EEG-based emotion recognition is to classify emotions by decoding signals, with potential applications in the fields of artificial intelligence and bioinformatics. Cross-subject emotion recognition is more difficult than intra-subject emotion recognition. The poor adaptability of classification model parameters is a significant factor of low accuracy in cross-subject emotion recognition. We propose a model of a dynamically optimized Random Forest based on the Sparrow Search Algorithm (SSA-RF). The decision trees number (DTN) and the leave minimum number (LMN) of the RF are dynamically optimized by the SSA. 12 features are used to construct feature combinations for selecting the optimal feature combination. DEAP and SEED datasets are employed for testing the performance of SSA-RF. The experimental results show that the accuracy of binary classification is 76.81% on DEAP, and the accuracy of triple classification is 75.96% on SEED based on SSA-RF, which are both higher than that of traditional RF. This study provides new insights for the development of cross-subject emotion recognition, and has significant theoretical value.

For the sake of improving the mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of biodegradable Mg alloy synergistically, various content of element V (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 wt.%) are introduced into an Mg-Zn-Y alloy with long-period stacking ordered (LPSO) structure, and the effects of V on its microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance are investigated systematically. The results indicate that the grains are effectively refined by V addition, and the primary α-Mg in Mg-Zn-Y-V0.1 alloy is most significantly refined, with grain size being decreased by 62%. The amount of 18R LPSO structure is increased owing to the V addition. The growth mode of the second phase (W-phase and 18R LPSO structure) is transformed to divorced growth pattern, which ascribes to the thermodynamic drive force of V to promote the nucleation of LPSO phase. Thus, 18R LPSO structure presents a continuous distribution. Due to grains refinement and modification of second phase, the tensile strength and strain of alloys are both enhanced effectively. Especially, the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation of V0.1 alloy are 254 MPa and 15.26%, which are 41% and 61% higher than those of V-free alloy, respectively. Owing to the continuously distributed 18R LPSO structure with refined grains and stable product film, the weight loss and hydrogen evolution corrosion rates of V0.1 alloy are 7.1 and 6.2 mmy−1, respectively, which are 42.6% and 45.4% lower than those of V-free alloy.

Abstract Background As life improves and sedentary time increases, young children's physical fitness gradually declines. Methods Multi-stage stratified whole cluster sampling was utilized to sample 5584 preschoolers. Young infants' morphology, function, and quality were revealed using cluster and factor analysis. Results The cluster analysis separated 3–6-year-olds into two genders: 1,551 men in group A "high physical fitness" 1,499 men in group B "low physical fitness"; 1,213 women in group A and 1,321 women in group B. Young children's fitness was measured by standing long jump(1.00), weight(1.00), and height(1.00). A cluster analysis of 3–4-year-olds classified them into three groups: 272 “muscular strength,” 75 “average physical fitness,” and 250 “low agility.” Young children's health depends on weight (1.00), height (0.57), and chest circumference (0.54). A cluster analysis of the 4–5-year-olds classified them into two groups: 1070 “balance” and 806 “muscular strength.” Young children’s health depends on weight (1.00), height (0.74), and chest circumference (0.71). A cluster analysis of the 5–6-year-olds divided them into three groups: 1762 “high physical fitness,” 384 “obese,” and 105 “low physical fitness.” Young children’s physical health depends on BMI (1.00), weight (1.00), and chest circumference (1.00). Factor analysis demonstrated that muscle strength, body shape, cardiovascular variables, and physical fitness composite components affected young children's health. Conclusion Women should focus on motor function and strength, while men on flexibility. Male group B “low physical fitness” should focus on strength, motor function, and balance, whereas male group A “high physical fitness” should focus on flexibility. Then, female group A “high physical fitness” should emphasize variety.2) For 3–4-year-olds, group A “muscular strength” should focus on flexibility, and group C “low agility” on motor function. 3) For 4–5-year-olds, group A “balanced” should focus on strength and motor function; 4) For 5–6-year-olds, group B “obese” should emphasize weight loss, and group C “low fitness” should emphasize strength, motor function, and flexibility; 5) Young children’s physical fitness depends on muscle strength, body shape, cardiovascular factors, and physical fitness composite.

Abstract Electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia offers an attractive solution to environmental sustainability and clean energy production but suffers from the sluggish *NO hydrogenation with the spin–state transitions. Herein, we report that the manipulation of oxygen vacancies can contrive spin−polarized Fe1−Ti pairs on monolithic titanium electrode that exhibits an attractive NH3 yield rate of 272,000 μg h−1 mgFe −1 and a high NH3 Faradic efficiency of 95.2% at −0.4 V vs. RHE, far superior to the counterpart with spin−depressed Fe1−Ti pairs (51000 μg h–1 mgFe –1) and the mostly reported electrocatalysts. The unpaired spin electrons of Fe and Ti atoms can effectively interact with the key intermediates, facilitating the *NO hydrogenation. Coupling a flow−through electrolyzer with a membrane-based NH3 recovery unit, the simultaneous nitrate reduction and NH3 recovery was realized. This work offers a pioneering strategy for manipulating spin polarization of electrocatalysts within pair sites for nitrate wastewater treatment.

To ensure the reliability of autonomous driving, the system must be capable of potential hazard identification and appropriate response to prevent accidents. This involves the prediction of possible developments in traffic situations and an evaluation of the potential danger of future scenarios. Precise Collision Risk Assessment (CRA) faces complex challenges due to uncertainties inherent in vehicle and road environmental conditions. This paper introduces a new CRA approach, the Multi-Dimensional Uncertainties-CRA (MDU-CRA), which integrates uncertainties related to driver behavior, sensor perception, motion prediction models, and road infrastructure into a comprehensive risk evaluation framework. The estimation of vehicle state is initiated using Extended Kalman Filtering (EKF) to capture uncertainties in sensor perception. Concurrently, a probabilistic motion prediction model based on Gaussian distributions has been developed, which considers the uncertainty in driver behavior. Subsequently, the uncertainty of the road structure is modeled using a truncated Gaussian distribution. Finally, collision risk is quantified as the future probability of collision through heuristic Monte Carlo (MC) sampling. This paper presents the results of two experiments Firstly, our proposed method is demonstrated to outperform the reference neural network-based method in terms of short-term motion prediction accuracy. Secondly, two driving scenarios are extracted and reconstructed from the Next Generation Simulation (NGSIM) dataset for validation and evaluation, i.e., an active lane-change scenario and an emergency braking scenario. In the domain of collision risk assessment, our approach consistently outperforms other evaluation methods. It exhibits the capability to perceive collision risks 2 to 5 seconds in advance, significantly reducing the probability of imminent collision incidents.

Abstract Introduction The case fatality rate among patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has decreased progressively, with numerous patients subjected to contemporary paradigms that minimize the use of agonizing therapeutic processes. The concept of the “Textbook Outcome” (TO), a composite outcome that highlights numerous favorable outcomes, was developed in the context of gastrointestinal tumor surgeries and expeditiously extended across diverse surgical spheres. The aim of this study was to explore the factors hindering the achievement of optimal prognoses in postinterventional aSAH patients, employ textbook outcomes, and establish predictive models. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of data from 1270 aSAH patients who received endovascular treatment between 2012 and 2018. We delineated an exemplary TO within the aSAH domain, characterized by favorable clinical results, minimal complications, and the absence of retreatments. This TO-oriented approach is explained within the manuscript. Results The findings revealed that preoperative intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), preoperative Hunt and Hess grade (H&H) ≥ 3, World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) grade ≥ 3, the presence of blebs on the aneurysm, aneurysms situated at branching sites, and non-stent-assisted endovascular intervention were the strongest risk factors for not achieving textbook outcomes (non-“Textbook Outcome” [N-TO]). Decision curve analysis and calibration analyses revealed strong concordance between the predictions of the N-TO nomogram model and the actual observations. Conclusions Treatment Outcomes hold significant practical value in clinical studies of aSAH patients receiving endovascular treatment. The likelihood of N-TOs was predicted by IVH, H&H grade ≥ 3, WFNS grade ≥ 2, presence o f bleb on the aneurysm, and aneurysms located at branching sites.

With the recent advancements in machine learning technology, the accuracy of autonomous driving object detection models has significantly improved. However, due to the complexity and variability of real-world traffic scenarios, such as extreme weather conditions, unconventional lighting, and unknown traffic participants, there is inherent uncertainty in autonomous driving object detection models, which may affect the planning and control in autonomous driving. Thus, the rapid and accurate quantification of this uncertainty is crucial. It contributes to a better understanding of the intentions of autonomous vehicles and strengthens trust in autonomous driving technology. This research pioneers in quantifying uncertainty in the YOLOv5 object detection model, thereby improving the accuracy and speed of probabilistic object detection, and addressing the real-time operational constraints of current models in autonomous driving contexts. Specifically, a novel probabilistic object detection model named M-YOLOv5 is proposed, which employs the MC-drop method to capture discrepancies between detection results and the real world. These discrepancies are then converted into Gaussian parameters for class scores and predicted bounding box coordinates to quantify uncertainty. Moreover, due to the limitations of the Mean Average Precision (MAP) evaluation metric, we introduce a new measure, Probability-based Detection Quality (PDQ), which is incorporated as a component of the loss function. This metric simultaneously assesses the quality of label uncertainty and positional uncertainty. Experiments demonstrate that compared to the original YOLOv5 algorithm, the M-YOLOv5 algorithm shows a 74.7% improvement in PDQ. When compared with the most advanced probabilistic object detection models targeting the MS COCO dataset, M-YOLOv5 achieves a 14% increase in MAP, a 17% increase in PDQ, and a 65% improvement in FPS. Furthermore, against the state-of-the-art probabilistic object detection models for the BDD100K dataset, M-YOLOv5 exhibits a 31.67% enhancement in MAP and a 125.6% increase in FPS.

In order to improve aerodynamic deceleration efficiency, deep space reentry capsules generally adopt large blunt windward shape and ablative heat protection system. However, factors such as the flat forebody shape and the sharp increase in surface roughness caused by aerothermodynamic heating and ablation easily lead to the instability of the windward flowfield of the capsule, resulting in the transition or even evolution into turbulence, which greatly changes the distribution of the surface heat flux and brings great challenges to the safety of the capsule. Formerly the studies on the instability mechanism and simulation for the transition of hypersonic boundary layer under the change of microscopic morphology of large blunt heat shield are relatively unexplored. Using the γ-Reθ transition model and k-ω-γtransition model based on hypersonic and rough element correction, the intermittent factors of rough element equivalent roughness height, incoming Reynolds number, angle of attack and chemical non-equilibrium basic flow on the windward surface of the large blunt heat shield were analyzed. The development law of hypersonic boundary layer transition and aerothermodynamic effect on ablative rough surfaces of deep space reentry capsules were studied.

Abstract Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common malignant tumour. Despite advancements in surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which have improved the prognosis of most patients, a subset of patients with poor prognoses still exist due to loss of surgical opportunities, postoperative recurrence, and metastasis, among other reasons. The tumour microenvironment (TME) is a complex organization composed of tumour, stromal, and endothelial cells. Communication and interaction between tumours and immune cells within the TME are increasingly being recognized as pivotal in inhibiting or promoting tumour development. Previous studies on T cells in the TME of HNSCC have yielded novel therapeutic possibilities. However, the function of B cells, another adaptive immune cell type, in the TME of HNSCC patients has yet to be determined. Recent studies have revealed various distinct subtypes of B cells and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in the TME of HNSCC patients, which are believed to impact the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Therefore, this paper focuses on B cells in the TME to explore potential directions for future immunotherapy for HNSCC.

Abstract Background Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, and observational studies have suggested a correlation between antioxidants and reduced stroke risk. However, it remains unclear whether causal relationships exist. Methods This study first performed a cross-sectional study of the association between the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) and stroke using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007–2018. Second, a two-sample univariable Mendelian Randomization (MR) was performed to analyze the causal effect of circulating levels of antioxidants on different subtypes of stroke. Results The cross-sectional study included a total of 24,892 participants representing more than 200 million US non-institutionalized residents, a multivariable logistic regression model revealed that the risk of stroke decreased by 3.4% for each unit increase in CDAI (P = 0.017), with a non-linear association found, indicating a reduction in stroke risk before an inflection point of 3.078. MR analysis revealed that genetically determined levels of retinol had a suggestive protective effect on subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (OR = 0.348, P = 0.025), and genetically determined levels of selenium had a suggestive protective effect against SAH (OR = 0.826, P = 0.007). However, no causal relationship was found between antioxidants and ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage risk. Conclusions Evidence suggests that diet-derived antioxidants may reduce the risk of stroke, as indicated by the protective effects of retinol and selenium against SAH. However, more research is needed to fully understand how antioxidants prevent stroke.

Accurate trajectory prediction for multiple vehicles in complex social interaction environments is essential for ensuring the safety of autonomous vehicles and improving the quality of their planning and control. The social interactions between vehicles significantly influence their future trajectories. However, traditional trajectory prediction models based on Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) or Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) often overlook or simplify these interactions. Although these models may exhibit high performance in short-term predictions, they fail to achieve high prediction accuracy in scenarios with long-term dynamic interactions. To address this limitation, we propose a Social-Attention Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model which predicts the future trajectories of neighboring vehicles and achieves increased accuracy. Our proposed model employs a Social-Pooling layer to effectively capture cooperative behaviors and mutual influences between vehicles. Additionally, we incorporate a self-attention mechanism to weight the inputs and outputs of the Social-Pooling layer, which is significant for assessing the influence between vehicles in different positions. This combination allows our model to take into consideration both the dependencies within the sequence and the social relationships between vehicles, providing a more comprehensive scene understanding. The efficacy of our model is tested on two real-world freeway trajectory datasets, namely NGSIM and HighD. Our model surpasses various baseline methods, exhibiting exceptional accuracy in both prediction and tracking.

Abstract Bone regeneration for large, critical-sized bone defects remains a clinical challenge nowadays. Guided bone regeneration (GBR) is a promising technique for the repair of multiple bone defects, which is widely used in oral and maxillofacial bone defects but is still unsatisfied in the treatment of long bone defects. Here, we successfully fabricated a bilayer mineralized collagen/collagen (MC/Col)-GBR membrane with excellent osteoinductive and barrier function by coating the MC particles prepared via in situ biomimetic mineralization process on one side of a sheet-like pure collagen layer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the physicochemical properties and biological functions of the MC/Col film, and to further evaluate its bone regeneration efficiency in large bone defect repair. Fourier-transform infrared spectra and X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the presence of both hydroxyapatite and collagen phase in the MC/Col film, as well as the chemical interaction between them. stereo microscope, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscope showed the uniform distribution of MC particles in the MC/Col film, resulting in a rougher surface compared to the pure Col film. The quantitative analysis of surface contact angle, light transmittance and tensile strength demonstrated that the MC/Col film have better hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, light-barrier properties, respectively. In vitro macrophage co-culture experiments showed that the MC/Col film can effectively inhibit macrophage proliferation and fusion, reducing fibrous capsule formation. In vivo bone repair assessment of a rabbit critical segmental radial defect proved that the MC/Col film performed better than other groups in promoting bone repair and regeneration due to their unique dual osteoinductive/barrier function. These findings provided evidence that MC/Col film has a great clinical potential for effective bone defect repair. Graphic abstract

Abstract From childhood to adolescence, the spatiotemporal development pattern of the human brain white matter connectome and its underlying transcriptomic and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. With a longitudinal diffusion MRI cohort of 604 participants, we map the developmental trajectory of the white matter connectome from global to regional levels and identify that most brain network properties followed a linear developmental trajectory. Importantly, connectome-transcriptomic analysis reveals that the spatial development pattern of white matter connectome is potentially regulated by the transcriptomic architecture, with positively correlated genes involve in ion transport- and development-related pathways expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and negatively correlated genes enriches in synapse- and development-related pathways expressed in astrocytes, inhibitory neurons and microglia. Additionally, the macroscale developmental pattern is also associated with myelin content and thicknesses of specific laminas. These findings offer insights into the underlying genetics and neural mechanisms of macroscale white matter connectome development from childhood to adolescence.

Abstract Background Whether body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for poor bowel preparation is controversial, and the optimal bowel preparation regimen for people with a high BMI is unclear. Methods We prospectively included 710 individuals with high BMIs (≥ 24 kg/m2) who were scheduled to undergo colonoscopy from January to November 2021 at 7 hospitals. Participants were randomly allocated into 3 L split-dose polyethylene glycol (PEG) group (n=353) and 2 L PEG group (n=357). The primary outcome was the rate of adequate bowel preparation, and the secondary outcomes included Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS) score, polyp detection rate, cecal intubation rate, and adverse reactions during bowel preparation. Furthermore, we did exploratory subgroup analyses for adequate bowel preparation. Results After enrollment, 15 individuals didn’t undergo colonoscopy, finally 345 participants took 3 L split-dose PEG regimen, and 350 participants took 2 L PEG regimen for colonoscopic bowel preparation. 3 L split-dose PEG regimen was superior to 2 L PEG regimen in the rate of adequate bowel preparation (81.2% vs. 74.9%, P = 0.045), BBPS score (6.71±1.15 vs. 6.37±1.31, P < 0.001), and the rate of polyp detection (62.0% vs. 52.9%, P = 0.015). The cecal intubation rate was similar in both groups (99.7%). Regarding adverse reactions, individuals were more likely to feel nausea in the 3 L PEG group (30.9% vs. 19.3%; P = 0.001); however, the degree was mild. In the subgroup analysis for adequate bowel preparation, 3 L split-dose PEG regimen performed better than 2 L PEG regimen in the overweight (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 ) (P = 0.006) and individuals with constipation (P = 0.044), while no significant differences were observed in relatively normal (BMI 24-24.9 kg/m2) (P = 0.593) and obese individuals (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) (P = 0.715). Conclusions 3 L split-dose PEG regimen is superior to 2 L PEG regimen for colonoscopic Bowel Preparation in relatively high-BMI individuals, especially overweight individuals (BMI 25-29.9 kg/m2 ). Trial Registration This trial was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2000039068). The date of first registration, 15/10/2020, http://www.chictr.org.cn

Background Survivors of sepsis may encounter cognitive impairment following their recovery from critical condition. At present, there is no standardized treatment for addressing sepsis-associated encephalopathy. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) is a prevalent bacterium found in the gut microbiota and is an active component of probiotic supplements. LGG has demonstrated to be associated with cognitive improvement. This study explored whether LGG administration prior to and following induced sepsis could ameliorate cognitive deficits, and explored potential mechanisms. Methods Female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into three groups: sham surgery, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP+LGG. Cognitive behavior was assessed longitudinally at 7-9d, 14-16d, and 21-23d after surgery using an open field test and novel object recognition test. The impact of LGG treatment on pathological changes, the expression level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and the phosphorylation level of the TrkB receptor (p-TrkB) in the hippocampus of mice at two weeks post-CLP (16d) were evaluated using histological, immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analyses. Results The CLP surgery induced and sustained cognitive impairment in mice with sepsis for a minimum of three weeks following the surgery. Compared to mice subjected to CLP alone, the administration of LGG improved the survival of mice with sepsis and notably enhanced their cognitive functioning. Moreover, LGG supplementation significantly alleviated the decrease in hippocampal BDNF expression and p-TrkB phosphorylation levels caused by sepsis, preserving neuronal survival and mitigating the pathological changes within the hippocampus of mice with sepsis. LGG supplementation mitigates sepsis-related cognitive impairment in mice and preserves BDNF expression and p-TrkB levels in the hippocampus.

IntroductionChronic diseases are becoming a serious threat to the physical and mental health of older people in China as their aging process picks up speed. Home hospice care addresses diverse needs and enhances the quality of life for older adult individuals nearing the end of life. To ensure the well-being of chronically ill older adults at the end of life, it is vital to explore and assess the multidimensional hospice needs of terminally ill older individuals in their homes. The aim of this study was to investigate the current situation of home hospice care needs of Chinese older adults with chronic diseases at the end of life, and to analyze the influencing factors (sociodemographic and disease-related factors).MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 247 older adult people with chronic diseases at the end of life were selected from the communities of 4 community health service centers in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province from June to October 2023 by random sampling method. A general information questionnaire and the home hospice care needs questionnaire developed by our research group were used to investigate. Independent samples t-test or one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in the scores of different characteristics, and the factors with significant differences were selected for multivariate linear regression analysis to determine the final influencing factors.ResultsThe total score of home hospice needs of the dying older adult was 115.70 ± 12, with the mean scores for each dimension in descending order being Information Needs (3.96 ± 0.61), Social Support Needs (3.96 ± 0.44), Spiritual Needs (3.92 ± 0.43), Physical Needs (3.60 ± 0.59), Psychological Needs (3.37 ± 0.65). Status of residence, duration of illness (year), the type of disease, and self-care ability were influential factors in the total score of home hospice needs.DiscussionThe need for hospice care for the terminally ill older adult is high, and healthcare professionals should implement services according to the influencing factors of need to meet their multidimensional needs and improve their quality of life.

At present, most methods to improve the accuracy of emotion recognition based on electroencephalogram (EEG) are achieved by means of increasing the number of channels and feature types. This is to use the big data to train the classification model but it also increases the code complexity and consumes a large amount of computer time. We propose a method of Ant Colony Optimization with Convolutional Neural Networks and Long Short-Term Memory (ACO–CNN–LSTM) which can attain the dynamic optimal channels for lightweight data. First, transform the time-domain EEG signal to the frequency domain by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and the Differential Entropy (DE) of the three frequency bands (α, β and γ) are extracted as the feature data; Then, based on the DE feature dataset, ACO is employed to plan the path where the electrodes are located in the brain map. The classification accuracy of CNN-LSTM is used as the objective function for path determination, and the electrodes on the optimal path are used as the optimal channels; Next, the initial learning rate and batchsize parameters are exactly matched the data characteristics, which can obtain the best initial learning rate and batchsize; Finally, the SJTU Emotion EEG Dataset (SEED) dataset is used for emotion recognition based on the ACO–CNN–LSTM. From the experimental results, it can be seen that: the average accuracy of three-classification (positive, neutral, negative) can achieve 96.59 %, which is based on the lightweight data by means of ACO–CNN–LSTM proposed in the paper. Meanwhile, the computer time consumed is reduced. The computational efficiency is increased by 15.85 % compared with the traditional CNN-LSTM method. The accuracy can achieve more than 90 % when the data volume is reduced to 50 %. In summary, the proposed method of ACO–CNN–LSTM in the paper can get higher efficiency and accuracy.

BackgroundWhether and how the uncertainty about a public health crisis should be communicated to the general public have been important and yet unanswered questions arising over the past few years. As the most threatening contemporary public health crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic has renewed interest in these unresolved issues by both academic scholars and public health practitioners. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of communicating uncertainty about COVID-19–related threats and solutions on individuals’ risk perceptions and misinformation vulnerability, as well as the sequential impact of these effects on health information processing and preventative behavioral intentions. MethodsA 2×2 (threat uncertainty [presence vs absence]×solution uncertainty [presence vs absence]) full-fractional between-subjects online experiment was conducted with 371 Chinese adults. Focusing on the discussion of whether the asymptomatic cases detected during the COVID-19 pandemic would further lead to an uncontrolled pandemic, news articles were manipulated in terms of whether the infectiousness of asymptomatic cases and the means to control the transmission are presented in terms of their certainty or uncertainty. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the four experimental conditions, being instructed to read one news article. After reading the news article assigned, participants were asked to respond to a series of questions to assess their cognitive and behavioral responses. ResultsIndividuals were more susceptible to believing false COVID-19–related information when a certain threat and uncertain solution were framed in the news article. Moreover, individuals’ perceptions of crisis severity increased when exposed to news information containing uncertain solutions. Both misinformation vulnerability and perceived severity were positively associated with information processing. Information seeking was positively associated with protective behavioral intention, whereas information avoidance was negatively associated with protective behavioral intention. ConclusionsOur findings imply that uncertainty, depending on its aspect, can be effectively communicated to the public during an emerging public health crisis. These results have theoretical and practical implications for health communicators and journalists. Given its limited influence on individuals’ cognitive and behavioral responses, uncertainty related to a health threat should be disseminated to meet the public’s expectation of information transparency. However, caution is advised when communicating uncertainty related to potential solutions, as this factor exhibited a mixed impact on individual responses during a crisis.

Introduction: This paper introduces a deep learning approach based on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Networks (BiLSTM), and attention mechanism for stock market prediction and investment decision making in financial management. These methods leverage the advantages of deep learning to capture complex patterns and dependencies in financial time series data. Stock market prediction and investment decision-making have always been important issues in financial management.Methods: Traditional statistical models often struggle to handle nonlinear relationships and complex temporal dependencies, thus necessitating the use of deep learning methods to improve prediction accuracy and decision effectiveness. This paper adopts a hybrid deep learning model incorporating CNN, BiLSTM, and attention mechanism. CNN can extract meaningful features from historical price or trading volume data, while BiLSTM can capture dependencies between past and future sequences. The attention mechanism allows the model to focus on the most relevant parts of the data. These methods are integrated to create a comprehensive stock market prediction model. We validate the effectiveness of the proposed methods through experiments on real stock market data. Compared to traditional models, the deep learning model utilizing CNN, BiLSTM, and attention mechanism demonstrates superior performance in stock market prediction and investment decision-making.Results and Discussion: Through ablation experiments on the dataset, our deep learning model achieves the best performance across all metrics. For example, the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) is 15.20, the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) is 4.12%, the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is 2.13, and the Mean Squared Error (MSE) is 4.56. This indicates that these methods can predict stock market trends and price fluctuations more accurately, providing financial managers with more reliable decision guidance. This research holds significant implications for the field of financial management. It offers investors and financial institutions an innovative approach to better understand and predict stock market behavior, enabling them to make wiser investment decisions.

IntroductionWith increased life expectancy in the Chinese population coupled with chronic disease the care needs of people at the end of life are attracting much attention. Home hospice care can help the dying older adult achieve comfort and maintain their dignity at home. However, dying at home means great responsibility and challenge for family caregivers, and there are many unmet needs. The study aimed to investigate the home hospice care needs of family caregivers of older adult people with chronic diseases at the end of life in China, and to analyze the influencing factors of home hospice care needs of caregivers.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, from May to September 2023, 4 community health service centers were selected by stratified sampling from seven administrative districts in Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, where home hospice care was piloted. Then 224 family caregivers were selected from the communities of seven community service centers by simple random sampling method. A general information questionnaire and the home hospice care needs questionnaire developed by our research group were used to investigate. Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences in the scores of different characteristics, and the factors with significant differences were selected for multivariate linear regression analysis to determine the final influencing factors.ResultsThe total score of hospice care needs of family caregivers was 121.61 ± 15.24, among which the end-of-life knowledge need dimension score was 24.04 ± 2.71, the highest score index was 80.13%, while the symptom control need score was 15.58 ± 3.39, the lowest score index was 62.32%. In addition, Caregivers with caregiving experience, dying older adult with longer disease duration, and dying older adult with higher levels of education were the factors influencing the total need for home hospice care among family caregivers, with a variance explained of 22.7%.DiscussionThe needs of family caregivers of the terminally ill older adult are high, and healthcare professionals should implement services to meet their multidimensional needs and improve the quality of care according to the factors affecting their needs.

Background: Prolonged circulatory arrest time is an independent risk factor for postoperative adverse events of type A aortic dissection (TAAD) surgery. Further reduction of the circulatory arrest time is essential to improve surgical outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the novel Sutureless Integrated Stented (SIS) graft prosthesis in an animal experiment. Materials and methods: Straight type of the SIS graft prosthesis was implanted into the descending aorta of 10 adult male sheep, and the use of the device was scored on a scale of 1–10. Aortic digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed at 4, 14, and 26 weeks to investigate the prostheses. After 26 weeks, the animals were sacrificed for histological analysis. Results: The immediate success rate of the surgery was 100 %, and the overall mean score of the use of the device was 9.65 ± 0.99. Three animals died from non-device-related causes during follow-up. Aortic DSA showed filling defects in 5 animals. Histological analysis revealed that all prostheses were intact. Except for 2 early deaths, the other 8 prostheses were endothelialized with mild inflammation, foreign body reactions, and intimal fibrosis. The mean cross-sectional area of the sutureless region was reduced by 26.4 % (range, 1.3–39.1 %). Conclusions: The safety and effectiveness of the novel SIS graft prosthesis were acceptable, and the delivery system exhibited a promising performance. Using the SIS graft prosthesis in TAAD surgery was expected to simplify the procedures and shorten the circulatory arrest time. Further large-scale clinical trials are required to verify these findings.

Abstract. Introduction:. Chronic pain and depression have been shown to coexist in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC). Recent studies identified the shared brain plasticity between pain and depression; however, how such neuroplasticity contributes to AC remains unclear. Here, we employed a combination of psychophysics, structural MRI, and functional MRI techniques to examine the brain's structural and functional changes in AC. Methods:. Fifty-two patients with AC and 52 healthy controls (HCs) were included in our study. Voxelwise comparisons were performed to reveal the differences in grey matter volume (GMV) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) between AC and HCs. Furthermore, region of interest to whole brain functional connectivity (FC) was calculated and compared between the groups. Finally, Pearson correlation coefficients were computed to reveal the association between clinical data and brain alterations. Mediation analyses were performed to investigate the path association among brain alterations and clinical measures. Results:. Three main findings were observed: (1) patients with AC exhibited a higher depression subscale of hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS-D) score correlating with the GMV within the right medial prefrontal cortices (mPFC) compared with HCs; (2) relative to HCs, patients with AC exhibited lower ReHo within the right mPFC, which largely overlapped with the structural abnormalities; (3) the impact of pain duration on HADS-D score was mediated by ventral part of medial prefrontal cortices (vmPFC) GMV in patients with AC. Conclusion:. In summary, our current findings suggest that vmPFC alterations correlate with both the pain duration and the emotional comorbidities experienced by patients with AC. Our research provides an enhanced comprehension of the underlying mechanisms of AC, thereby facilitating the development of more effective treatment approaches for AC.

The CXCR4/CXCL12 chemokine axis demonstrates significant potential in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to its crucial roles in inflammatory and immune responses. Modulating the CXCR4/CXCL12 pathway can be an effective therapeutic approach to ameliorate the inflammatory state of IBD. In this study, a novel series of meta-dibenzyl amide derivatives were designed and synthesized based on the lead compound AMD3100 and its structurally modified derivatives. Both in vitro and in vivo assays conclusively established that these compounds exhibited potent CXCR4 antagonism and anti-inflammatory activity. Compound 5t demonstrated superior inhibitory rates of binding affinity and chemotaxis of CXCR4+ cells compared to AMD3100. Furthermore, compound 5t notably reduced swelling volume and tissue thickness in the carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema model. Most importantly, in the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis model, compound 5t significantly mitigated colonic inflammation on both macroscopic and microscopic levels, while suppressing the expression of inflammatory factors and myeloperoxidase (MPO). These findings unequivocally establish the immense potential of compound 5t in the treatment of IBD.