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AbstractObjective: In a previous study we have shown that, in the presence of interleukin (IL)-33, repeated, per-nasal challenge of murine airways with Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) organisms induces human asthma-like airways inflammation. It is not clear, however, whether this effect is unique or manifest in response to other common respiratory pathogens.Methods: To explore this, airways of BALB/c mice were repeatedly challenged per-nasally with formaldehyde-inactivated bacterial bodies in the presence or absence of murine recombinant IL-33. Serum concentrations of S.pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis (M.catarrhalis) and Haemophilus influenzae (H.influenzae) lysates-specific IgE were measured in patients with asthma and control subjects.Results: We showed that in the presence of IL-33, repeated, per-nasal airways exposure to the bodies of these bacteria induced airways hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in the experimental mice. This was accompanied by cellular infiltration into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), eosinophilic infiltration and mucous hypertrophy of the lung tissue, with elevated local expression of some type 2 cytokines and elevated, specific IgG and IgE in the serum. The precise characteristics of the inflammation evoked by exposure to each bacterial species were distinguishable.Conclusions: These results suggest that in the certain circumstances, inhaled or commensal bacterial body antigens of both Gram-positive (S. pneumoniae) and Gram-negative (M. catarrhalis and H. influenzae) respiratory tract bacteria may initiate type 2 inflammation typical of asthma in the airways. In addition, we demonstrated that human asthmatic patients manifest elevated serum concentrations of M.catarrhalis- and H.influenzae-specific IgE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the disparities that exist between the original English versions and the translated Chinese versions of Patrick Hurley's 'Five-Point Proposal' and argues that by studying additional primary sources, these differences can reveal insights into the political manoeuvring of both parties on the verge of the Cold War and their efforts to mould their own historical accounts. By analysing all available versions of the proposal, the article examines two primary sets of textual discrepancies and their potential implications for interpreting the motives of the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The analysis emphasises the importance of taking into account the translation process and the translators' contributions to creating these disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In this study, tofu was prepared through the addition of transglutaminase (TGase) for pre‐crosslinking at varying durations (1, 2 and 3 h), followed by the addition of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) to soymilk. The physicochemical properties and protein digestibility were analysed. Results indicated that, with the prolongation of TGase pre‐crosslinking time, the zeta‐potential absolute value and the average particle size of soymilk increased gradually. In contrast, the pH value remained unchanged (P > 0.05), suggesting that the colloidal stability of soymilk improved with TGase treatment. Both the water‐holding capacity (WHC) and gel strength of tofu gels exhibited a first increasing and then decreasing trend with prolonged pre‐crosslinking time. Notably, the highest WHC and hardness values of tofu gels prepared by adding MgCl2 after pre‐crosslinking with TGase for 1 h were 96.5 ± 0.5% and 363.9 ± 28.3 g, respectively. Subsequently, in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of tofu samples prepared under this condition was conducted to determine changes in soluble protein content, small peptide content and protein hydrolysis spectrum. Gastric and intestinal digestion phases were the primary stages of protein hydrolysis, and the bioavailability of proteins in TGase+MgCl2‐induced tofu was higher than in MgCl2‐coagulated tofu. Therefore, tofu prepared through TGase pre‐treatment was more conducive to soybean protein digestion and absorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore clinical characteristics and symptomatology of major depressive disorder (MDD) with atypical features based on DSM criteria or only reversed vegetative symptoms. A total of 3187 patients who met DSM-IV TR criteria for MDD were enrolled. Demographics and symptomatology covering multiple symptom domains were assessed and compared between three groups of cases: those who met DSM criteria for atypical specifier (the DAD group), those who had at least one reversed vegetative symptoms (hypersomnia or hyperphagia) (the SAD group) without meeting DSM atypical specifier criteria, and those without any reversed vegetative symptoms (the NAD group). The DAD and SAD group accounted for 4.4% and 14.4% of the participants, respectively. The DAD cases were characterized by a highest proportion of hospitalizations, longest duration of current episode and worst quality of life. The DAD and SAD cases were more likely to adopt unhealthy behaviors (smoking and alcohol drinking). Most depressive symptoms related to higher illness severity and treatment resistance were more frequent in the DAD cases, followed by the SAD cases, and least frequent in the NAD cases. A cross-sectional design and a non-validated questionnaire were used. The findings support the role of DSM defined atypical depression as a valid MDD subtype and provide evidence for clinical utility of the simplified approach of defining atypical features based on only reversed vegetative symptoms. This has implications for illness screening, public health, suicide prevention and better treatment planning for depressed individuals with atypical features even below syndromal level. • Over 60% of participants with MDD endorsed at least one atypical symptom. • The DSM defined AD showed the most complex clinical presentation. • The simplified approach defined AD showed more complex clinical picture than MDD without any reversed vegetative symptoms. • The findings highlight the necessary for assessing atypical features even below syndromal level in patients with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the takeover of Shanghai, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) used 'generation' as a key regulatory technique to mold the working class into a reliable leading class. From 1949 to late 1952, through a series of political movements, junior workers (qinggong), who had been professionally incompetent, were granted the identity of 'activists' and elevated to a politically superior position over senior workers (lao gongren). From late 1952, however, the CCP became reliant on skilled senior workers after the consolidation of the new order and the launch of industrialization. During the handling of the 1956–1957 Shanghai Strike, the CCP protected senior workers and blamed junior workers, thus finalizing the logic of 'junior workers learning from senior workers,' which persisted until the eve of the Cultural Revolution. This article argues that the CCP strategically divided the working class into junior and senior workers and employed generational politics as a tool for regulating the working class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Cultural Revolution, many young people in Beijing exited the revolution by engaging in alternative ways of life. Echoing the fledgling tendency of reassessing the underlying meaning of youth subcultures in the Eastern Bloc, this article discusses the diverse mentalities behind these alternative lifestyles and challenges the traditional wisdom that regards youth subcultures as an easy form of everyday resistance to the regime. It also challenges the traditional landscape of Cultural Revolution literature that mainly focuses on youth activism as a means of mass participation. Young people could make political but not subversive choices by exiting the revolution. While some people exited simply to entertain and socialize, others exited to obtain a better political position during the Cultural Revolution, and others to pursue a meaningful way of life influenced by orthodox ideology. Exiting the revolution was not an easy option as well and, on many occasions, the ability to live alternatively reflected certain young people's privileged access to resources that others could not access in the People's Republic of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a book review of "Justice after Mao: The Politics of Historical Truth in the People's Republic of China" edited by Daniel Leese and Amanda Shuman. The book explores the concept of transitional justice in the context of the Chinese reversal of verdicts from the late 1970s to mid-1980s. The editors argue that despite the constraints imposed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), significant progress was made in addressing past injustices. The book also examines the complexities of the rehabilitation process and the competition among various agencies to shape narratives of the past. The review suggests that while the book relies heavily on the transitional justice framework, a comparative study of China in the 1980s and Eastern Europe's "normalization" period may provide a more insightful approach. Overall, the book is recommended for those interested in post-Mao China and judicial processes in authoritarian states. [Extracted from the article]

[Display omitted] • A strategy integrating comparative metabolomics and network pharmacology was used. • Twenty key flavor substances and 24 functional components were screened in SSP. • The microbial communities during fermentation process of SSP were fully analyzed. • The dominant microorganisms showed strong associations with the key metabolites. • The screened core functional microorganisms could improve the quality of SSP. Sojae semen praeparatum (SSP), a fermented product known for its distinctive flavor and medicinal properties, undergoes a complex fermentation process due to the action of various microorganisms. Despite its widespread use, the effect of these microorganisms on the flavor compounds and functional components of SSP remains poorly understood. This study aimed to shed light on this aspect by identifying 20 metabolites as potential key flavor substances in SSP. Moreover, glycine and lysine were identified as crucial flavor substances. Additionally, 24 metabolites were identified as key functional components. The dominant microorganisms involved in the fermentation process were examined, revealing six genera of fungi and 12 genera of bacteria. At the species level, 16 microorganisms were identified as dominant through metagenome sequencing. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between dominant microorganisms and both flavor substances and functional components. Furthermore, the study validated the significance of four core functional microorganisms in improving the flavor and quality of SSP. This comprehensive exploration of functional microorganisms of SSP on key flavor substances/functional components during SSP fermentation. The study findings serve as a valuable reference for enhancing the overall flavor and quality of SSP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research note is a textual comparison between different versions of Deng Xiaoping's two speeches in May and June 1989 using recently accessible scanned copies of original documents distributed to local officials. It reveals numerous alterations—including both deletions and additions—in the later published texts. The research note suggests that in the context of the early 1990s, these editorial efforts were made to restore the legitimacy of the Chinese Communist Party by highlighting Deng's image as a pragmatic reformer, maintaining Jiang Zemin's position as the core of the new leadership, downplaying the party's internal struggles and corruption, and assuring people that China would continue its market-oriented reform. More broadly, findings in the research note showcase the essential role of propaganda in legitimation under the Chinese communist regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the takeover of Beijing in 1949, the Chinese Communist Party started to provide public cultural goods for youth by organizing collective leisure activities, mostly on weekends and holidays. From 1953, the authorities took a more interventionist approach when they held collective leisure activities more often on an everyday basis after the Party realized that leisure was a field for Communist education. Although the Party expected youth to live in a planned and regular way, discontent sprang up in 1956 when young people found they could not master their leisure time because there were too many mandatory activities, and many work units forced people to attend organized leisure activities collectively. The Party, as a result, decided to 'let people plan their time freely' by reducing unnecessary meetings in leisure time, allowing voluntary participation of leisure activities, and letting Party committees make overall leisure arrangements in local work units. Instead of challenging the legitimacy of political intervention in their leisure time, young people got accustomed to a new pace of life favoured by the regime: doing the right things at the right time, in the right place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mental disorders are a common finding among patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Case: The current case concerns a young man with an anterior communicating artery aneurysm who was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder due to his significant psychosis and mood episodes. Having undergone surgery on the unruptured intracranial aneurysm, the patient's psychiatric symptoms disappeared, and he maintained a stable mood during the 3‐year postoperative period. Discussion: The case is indicative of the need to consider the possibility of organic brain lesions in patients with first episodes of psychiatric presentations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kiasu-BC and Joltik-BC are internal tweakable block ciphers of authenticated encryption algorithms Kiasu and Joltik submitted to the CAESAR competition. Kiasu-BC is a 128-bit block cipher, of which tweak and key sizes are 64 and 128 bits, respectively. Joltik-BC-128 is a 64-bit lightweight block cipher supporting 128 bits tweakey. Its designers recommended the key and tweak sizes are both 64 bits. In this paper, we propose improved meet-in-the-middle attacks on 8-round Kiasu-BC, 9-round and 10-round Joltik-BC-128 by exploiting properties of their structures and using precomputation tables and the differential enumeration. For Kiasu-BC, we build a 5-round distinguisher to attack 8-round Kiasu-BC with |$2^{109}$| plaintext–tweaks, |$2^{112.8}$| encrytions and |$2^{92.91}$| blocks. Compared with previously best known cryptanalytic results on 8-round Kiasu-BC under chosen plaintext attacks, the data and time complexities are reduced by |$2^{7}$| and |$2^{3.2}$| times, respectively. For the recommended version of Joltik-BC-128, we construct a 6-round distinguisher to attack 9-round Joltik-BC-128 with |$2^{53}$| plaintext–tweaks, |$2^{56.6}$| encryptions and |$2^{52.91}$| blocks, respectively. Compared with previously best known results, the data and time complexities are reduced by |$2^7$| and |$2^{5.1}$| times, respectively. In addition, we present a 6.5-round distinguisher to attack 10-round Joltik-BC-128 with |$2^{53}$| plaintext–tweaks, |$2^{101.4}$| encryptions and |$2^{76.91}$| blocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the assembly of an updated dataset of detrital zircon geochronology and Lu–Hf isotopes for Turkey, Cyprus and Greek peninsula. This first version of the dataset documented 286 samples with detrital zircon U–Pb data and 70 samples with zircon Lu–Hf isotopes from 42 published articles. These samples are mainly distributed in seven geologic‐tectonic units in the Eastern Mediterranean Tethyan region. The compilation of dataset will be periodically accessed in the Deep‐Time Digital Earth repository, containing more updated raw data of (un)published scientific research. We believe that the construction of such a dataset is fundamental to studies of clastic strata and also to understanding of crustal evolution in the Eastern Mediterranean region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transglutaminase (TGase)-mediated crosslinking serves as a promising strategy to mitigate soy antigenicity. β-Conglycinin is recognized as a key allergen among soy proteins. Nonetheless, our understanding of the underlying relationship between immunoreactivity and protein structure remains inadequate. This study aimed to examine the impact of TGase-mediated crosslinking on the immunoreactivity of β-conglycinin in a dual-protein system consisting of soy protein isolate (SPI) and whey protein isolate (WPI) (with SPI-WPI ratios of 10:0, 7:3, 5:5, 3:7 (w/w)). Conformational changes were also examined. Results revealed that β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin in WPI were less susceptible to TGase crosslinking compared to the 7S and 11S subunits in SPI. The conformation of proteins in the dual-protein system after TGase crosslinking were altered, as demonstrated by increased ultraviolet absorption intensity, fluctuant intrinsic fluorescence intensity and surface hydrophobicity, and decreased free sulfhydryl content. As the crosslinking time of TGase increased from 1 h to 18 h, the allergenicity of β-conglycinin gradually decreased in all four SPI-WPI ratios. Notably, the SPI3-WPI7 ratio exhibited the lowest allergenicity of 77.21 ± 1.89% after 18 h of TGase catalyzation. Overall, the dual-protein system proved to be more effective in reducing the allergenicity of β-conglycinin. [Display omitted] • TGase treatment can alter the conformation of soy-cow milk allergenic proteins. • Using TGase can reduce the antigenicity of β-conglycinin, especially in dual-protein system. • SPI3-WPI7 treated by TGase for 18 h had the lowest antigenicity. • TGase crosslinking may be efficient to produce hypoallergenic dual-protein products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a glomerulonephritis with podocyte injury. The renal prognosis of FSGS is relative poor. The overall remission rate of the FSGS patients with nephrotic syndrome to immunosuppressive treatments was reported as 47–66%, highlighting its therapeutic challenge—lacking in sufficient evidence‐based interventions. In first‐line treatment of nephrotic syndrome, daily oral prednisolone is a commonly used drug, whereas optimal treatment strategies, like indications and duration, remain controversial. Calcineurin inhibitor and cyclophosphamide are recommended in steroid‐dependent/steroid‐resistant patients. However, the high unmet need in effective immunosuppressive treatments calls for the development of new therapy methods. Rituximab, a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20 B‐cells, could increase the complete or partial remission rate, and decrease the relapse rate based on several previous studies on FSGS. In addition, the using of rituximab could potentially help the FSGS patients to stop the concomitant therapy include steroid and immunosuppressive agents. Other treatment options like adalimumab or abatacept also showed potential therapeutic effect, but still required larger Randomized Controlled Trial study to determine its efficiency and safety. Besides, expanding understanding of the genetic basis of FSGS is necessary to investigate new therapeutic agents. With the unsatisfied patients' outcome under the current treatments, innovation should be encouraged on the treatment strategy based on Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guideline and international collaborations are required for the potential novel immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies. Summary at a Glance: In this systematic review of advanced FSGS therapeutics, the author summarized current evidences on the treatment FSGS and shared their experience. More prospective studies may pave the way to improve patient care in FSGS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulprostone is a potent prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) analogue and one of the first identified selective G-protein-coupled receptor 3 (EP 3 ) agonists. It has been investigated as a potential antiulcer agent and frequently used in the research of EP 3 antagonist. To assist pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, a rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was developed and qualified for the quantitation of sulprostone in monkey plasma. Using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, an ammonium adduct in positive mode was chosen for analysis which had seven times of the sensitivity of the depronated ion in negative mode. Latanoprost, a prostaglandin F 2α analogue, was used as the internal standard while good sensitivity and chromatography were obtained on a 2.6 μm core-shell column with pentafluorophenyl stationary phase. An assay dynamic range of 2 to 4000 ng/mL was achieved with a sample volume of 25 μL plasma on a Sciex API4000 instrument with simple protein precipitation. Several esterase inhibitors including sodium fluoride (NaF), phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride (PMSF), diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), paraoxon and dichlorvos as well as wet ice conditions were explored for the stabilization of sulprostone in monkey plasma. The developed method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetics of sulprostone after intravenous administration of 0.5 mg/kg to cynomolgus monkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can accelerate the phytoremediation process by increasing plant biomass and improving soil physicochemical and biological characteristics. However, a quantitative, data-based conclusion is yet to be derived on the roles of AM fungi in remediating soils polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and the impact factors are unclear. To address these issues, we performed a meta-analysis of 45 articles to estimate the effects of AM inoculation on the phytoremediation of soils polluted by PAHs and to examine the influence of experimental conditions on these effects. Our results showed that AM inoculation significantly decreased the residual soil PAHs concentration at all PAHs levels, and the largest effect of AM treatment was 48.5% compared to the non-mycorrhizal treatment. This should be attributed to increased plant growth and PAHs uptake, and soil biological activity in the rhizosphere induced by AM symbionts. Compared to the non-mycorrhizal treatment, the largest AM effects on the total plant biomass, root PAHs concentration, shoot PAHs concentration, soil bacterial biomass, soil catalase activity, and soil polyphenol oxidase activity were 51.7%, 565%, 53.1%, 141%, 100% and 51.9%, respectively. Although these effects on the above mentioned parameters varied with AM fungi (genus, species, and inoculation mode), soil PAHs (source, concentration, and type), plant type (dicots and monocots), and experimental conditions (experimental duration, soil sterilization and additional factors), few negative AM effects were observed. This study confirmed the feasibility of using AM fungi to enhance the phytoremediation of PAHs-contaminated soil. [Display omitted] • AM fungi could enhance the phytoremediation of PAHs-contaminated soil. • AM fungi decreased soil PAHs concentration by 48.5% compared to control treatment. • AM inoculation increased plant growth, PAHs uptake, and rhizosphere bioactivity. • AM effects were seldom negative even under impacts of some parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N -acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac or NANA) is the most predominant sialic acid in mammals. As a terminal component in many glycoproteins and glycolipids, sialic acid is believed to be an important biomarker related to various diseases. Its precursor, N -acetylmannosamine (ManNAc), is being investigated as a potential treatment for GNE myopathy. In this work, we developed two highly sensitive and selective liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) methods for the quantitation of ManNAc and free Neu5Ac in human plasma. A fit-for-purpose approach was adopted during method validation and sample analysis. To measure the endogenous compounds and overcome the interference from plasma samples, a surrogate matrix that contained 5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used for the preparation of calibration standards and certain levels of quality control (QC) samples. QC samples at higher concentrations were prepared in the authentic matrix (human plasma) to best mimic incurred samples. For both methods, an Ostro 96-well phospholipid removal plate was used for sample extraction, which efficiently removed the phospholipids from the plasma samples prior to LC injection, eliminated matrix effect, and improved sensitivity. Chromatographic separation was achieved using hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) and gradient elution in order to retain the two polar compounds. The lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) for ManNAc and Neu5Ac was 10.0 and 25.0 ng/mL, respectively. The overall accuracy of the two assays was within 100% ± 8.3% based on three levels of QC samples. Inter- and intra-run precision (coefficient of variation (%CV)) across three analytical runs was less than 6.7% for ManNAc and less than 10.8% for Neu5Ac. These methods have been validated to support clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Early-life airways infection with Streptococcus pneumonia aggravated airways hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and airway remodelling in the HDM-induced allergic asthma model. • This infection promoted expression of IL-25, IL-33, TSLP and expansion of Th2 and ILC2 cells in the lungs of HDM -induced allergic asthma model. • Our data suggest that early-life Streptococcus pneumonia airways infection may not only increase the risk of development of allergic asthma following HDM sensitisation later in life, but also increase the severity of the disease. Respiratory tract infection early in life plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of asthma. In the present study we examine, using a murine surrogate, the effects of early life respiratory infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae (SP) on adult asthma induced by sensitisation and exposure to house dust mite (HDM) allergen. Mice (one week old) were infected with SP, then 3 weeks later sensitised to HDM emulsified with Al (OH)3 intraperitoneally and challenged intranasally with same allergen for up to a further 5 weeks to establish the asthma surrogate. Outcome measures were quantified using the FlexiVent apparatus, histology and immunohistology, ELISA and flow cytometry. The murine surrogates of asthma infected with SP early in life exhibited significantly more severe disease compared with the controls of mice without SP infection, as shown by airways responsiveness, inflammatory cellular infiltration of the airways, expression of markers of airways remodelling, serum concentrations of HDM-specific IgE and the concentrations of Th2-type cytokines and the numbers of activated Th2 and ILC2 cells in the lung tissues. These data are compatible with the hypothesis that early-life infection of the airways with SP exacerbates, at least in some individuals, subsequent HDM-induced allergic airways inflammation and associated asthma in adulthood in this murine surrogate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess and compare the value of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) by two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) with the diagnosis of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) and pathological examination in predicting symptomatic posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Method: A total of 130 patients who underwent liver resection for HCC between August 2018 and July 2021 were enrolled. Preoperative assessments for LSM and other clinicopathological tests were performed in all patients. The performance of LSM, CSPH and fibrosis stage in predicting symptomatic PHLF was assessed and compared. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted on the risk factors for symptomatic PHLF.Results: Symptomatic PHLF occurred in 40 patients (30.8%). The best LSM cutoff value for predicting symptomatic PHLF was 9.5 kPa. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of LSM ≥ 9.5 kPa, fibrosis stage and CSPH for predicting symptomatic PHLF were 0.732 (95% CI: 0.638-0.826, p < 0.001), 0.655 (95% CI: 0.553-0.758, p = 0.005) and 0.594 (95% CI: 0.484-0.705, p = 0.086), respectively. The AUC of LSM ≥ 9.5 kPa was significantly higher than that of CSPH (p = 0.010), and was comparable to that of fibrosis stage (p = 0.073). Multivariate analysis identified LSM ≥ 9.5 kPa (p = 0.001), major hepatectomy (p = 0.007) and CSPH diagnosis (p = 0.040) as independent predictors of symptomatic PHLF.Conclusions: LSM by 2D-SWE was promising for predicting symptomatic PHLF in HCC patients. The predictive performance was higher than that of CSPH and comparable to that of pathological fibrosis stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new complexes Ru(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(Hpyz) 3 Cl][BPh 4 ], Ru(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(Hpyz) 2 (pyz) 2 , and [Ru(tmeda)(Hpyz) 2 Cl 2 ][BF 4 ] are reported (Hpyz = pyrazole). These species incorporate two to four monodentate Hpyz and/or monoanionic pyz ligands and should be capable of incorporating additional metal centers through their coordination by the formerly unbound nitrogen centers. [Display omitted] Multimetallic complexes containing disparate metals have been established to have practical utilities. We previously reported a strategy for preparing such species by using combinations of neutral pyrazole (Hpyz, C 3 N 2 H 4) and anionic pyrazolyl ligands (pyz, C 3 N 2 H 3 –), and herein are reported several new complexes that should be capable of incorporating a second metal center. Two of the complexes, [Ru(1,5-cod)(Hpyz) 3 Cl][BPh 4 ] and Ru(1,5-cod)(Hpyz) 2 (pyz) 2 (cod = cyclooctadiene), were prepared from [Ru(cod)Cl 2 ] 2 , while [Ru(tmeda)(Hpyz) 2 Cl 2 ][BF 4 ] (tmeda = tetramethylethylenediamine) was prepared from the neutral Ru(II) complex Ru(tmeda)(Hpyz) 2 Cl 2 via one electron oxidation by the ferricinium ion. The first two complexes, one cationic and the other uncharged, involve Ru(II), while the tmeda complex involves Ru(III). All three species have been structurally characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new [Co(pydz)] ion (pydz = pyridazine) has been prepared by a straightforward route in aqueous solution, and isolated as its hexafluorophosphate salt. The salt crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/ c with a = 18.4796(3) Å, b = 10.6846(2) Å, c = 16.3404(2) Å, β = 92.0518(11)º, V = 3224.30(9) Å, D = 1.709 at 150(1) K. The dication has crystallographically imposed 2 symmetry. The analogous, previously reported ruthenium complex ion could be isolated as its tetraphenylborate salt following the reaction of [RuCl(1,5-COD)] ·(COD = cyclooctadiene) with pyridazine in the presence of hydrogen gas. This salt also crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/ c, with a = 17.8441(3) Å, b = 19.8693(4) Å, c = 38.4545(7) Å, β = 95.4231(6)º, V = 13573.0(4) Å, D = 1.321 at 150(1) K. Graphical Abstract: The hexakis(pyridazine)metal dications of cobalt and ruthenium have been synthesized and structurally characterized. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A straightforward route to Ru(pyz)2(Hpyz)4 (Hpyz=pyrazole) has been developed. This has been found to react readily with a modified Co(pyrazolylborate)Cl complex in the presence of triethylamine as an HCl acceptor to yield a bimetallic cobalt–ruthenium complex, in which the two metals are each six-coordinate, and bridged by three pyrazolyl anions. Both species have been characterized structurally, as has a modified Co(pyrazolylborate)2 complex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The reactions of RuCl2[P(C6H5)3]3, RuCl2(tmeda)2, and RuCl2(1,5-COD)(tmeda) with polybasic amines such as pyrazole have been studied. From the phosphine complex, a binuclear complex has been isolated in which one pyrazole has been incorporated, while reactions of the latter two with excess pyrazole lead to the replacement of a tmeda ligand by two pyrazoles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective. To study the value of serum insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in differential diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Methods. To measure serum IGFBP-3 levels by RIA in normal children and adolescents, GHD children and short-stature children without GHD. Results. Serum level of IGFBP-3 in 129 children with untreated GHD and with no pubertal development was 1.6 ± 0.9 mg/L, which was less than that in normal group of the same age, but overlapped with the normal children in Tanner stage I. After six -month treatment with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), serum level of IGFBP-3 in 59 GHD significantly increased from 1.3 ± 0.7 mg/L to 2.7 ± 0.9 mg/L, accompanied by an increase of body heights, growth velocities and serum level of IGF-1. Serum level of IGFBP-3 in 55 shortstature children without GHD was 3.3 ± 2.2 mg/L, which was not significantly different from that in normal group. Conclusion. Serum IGFBP-3 level can reflect the status of GH secretion in children with GHD and is a useful marker for differential diagnosis of GHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing demand for food and the threat from climate change, increasing grain yields with lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is an important target. Yet, the quantitative effects of climate change and management practices on yield and global warming potential (GWP) of rice-winter wheat rotations are still uncertain. To investigate the key factors influencing the tradeoffs between yield and GHG of rice-winter wheat ecosystems in mid-eastern China over the two periods. In this study, the DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model was used to examine the spatio-temporal county-scale variations in yields of rice-winter wheat rotations and associated GHG (CH 4 , N 2 O) and GHG intensity (GHGI) over two periods (1980–1989, 2010–2019) in mid-eastern China. The DNDC model is driven by a county-scale database, consisting of meteorological data (79 stations), soil properties, management practice, and crop parameters for 213 counties. Eight scenarios were defined to isolate the individual and combined impacts of climate change, new cultivars adoption, and management practices on yields, GWP, and GHGI. Results revealed that the total yield increased by 48.7% over the two periods but stagnated in the 2010s; the average emission rate of CH 4 and N 2 O in the two periods were 250.7, 196, 0.63 and 2.83 kg ha−1, respectively, while GWP and GHGI declined by 12.8% and 38.3%. The individual contributions of climate change, new cultivars adoption, and management practices to the GHGI of the rice-winter wheat rotations were 37%, −42.5%, and 16.4%, respectively. Adoption of new cultivars was a decisive factor for improving yields and mitigating GHG, while climate change and management practices had a minor influence on yields. The negative responses of yield to improved management practices (i.e., high N fertilization, mid-season drainage) were mainly attributed to soil organic carbon (SOC) and bulk density variations and different fertilization patterns. The combination of new cultivars adoption and management practices decreased GHGI by 46.6%. These findings demonstrate the importance of high-yield crop varieties to low carbon agriculture, and that management practices should be adapted to local conditions and specific crop varieties. Given that the crop harvest index is approaching its theoretical upper limit and that promoting new varieties presents many challenges, future innovations should focus on introducing optimal strategies that balance the tradeoffs between yield and GHG emissions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change on agriculture. [Display omitted] • Rice-winter wheat yield and GHG in middle east China were simulated by DNDC. • Eight scenarios were defined to isolate contribution of factors to GHGI. • GHGI had decreased from 1980s to 2010s and attributed to new cultivars adoption. • Climate change, irrigation and fertilizer management had minor influence on yield. • Adoption of new cultivars is a decisive strategy for sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major depression disorder (MDD) forms a common psychiatric comorbidity among patients with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1), yet its impact on patients with NT1 is often overlooked by neurologists. Currently, there is a lack of effective methods for accurately predicting MDD in patients with NT1. This study utilized machine learning (ML) algorithms to identify critical variables and developed the prediction model for predicting MDD in patients with NT1. The study included 267 NT1 patients from four sleep centers. The diagnosis of comorbid MDD was based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fifth edition (DSM-5). ML models, including six full models and six compact models, were developed using a training set. The performance of these models was compared in the testing set, and the optimal model was evaluated in the testing set. Various evaluation metrics, such as Area under the receiver operating curve (AUC), precision-recall (PR) curve and calibration curve were employed to assess and compare the performance of the ML models. Model interpretability was demonstrated using SHAP. In the testing set, the logistic regression (LG) model demonstrated superior performance compared to other ML models based on evaluation metrics such as AUC, PR curve, and calibration curve. The top eight features used in the LG model, ranked by feature importance, included social impact scale (SIS) score, narcolepsy severity scale (NSS) score, total sleep time, body mass index (BMI), education years, age of onset, sleep efficiency, sleep latency. The study yielded a straightforward and practical ML model for the early identification of MDD in patients with NT1. A web-based tool for clinical applications was developed, which deserves further verification in diverse clinical settings. • The first study utilizes ML to predict comorbid MDD in patients with NT1. • LG model is the optimal model for prediction of comorbid MDD. • SIS scores, NSS scores, total sleep time and BMI play important role in the LG model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous instance-relation knowledge distillation methods transfer structural relations between instances from the heavy teacher network to the lightweight student network, effectively enhancing the accuracy of the student. However, these methods have two limitations: (1) The modeling of relation knowledge only relies on the current mini-batch instances, causing the instance relations to be incomplete. (2) The information flow hidden in the evolution of instance relations throughout the network has been neglected. To address these problems, we propose a Global Instance Relation Distillation (GIRD) for convolutional neural network compression, which improves both the instance-level and relation-level globality. Firstly, we design a feature reutilization mechanism to store previously learned features to break through the shackles of the mini-batch. Secondly, we model the pairwise similarity-relation based on stored features to reveal more complete instance relations. Furthermore, we construct the pairwise relation-evolution across different layers to reflect the information flow. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets demonstrate that our proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches in various visual tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitoxantrone (MX) is an effective treatment for breast cancer; however, high efflux of MX that is accomplished by breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) leads to acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), reducing MX's therapeutic efficacy in breast cancer. Non-muscle myosin IIA (NMIIA) and its heavy phosphorylation at S1943 have been revealed to play key roles in tumor metastasis and progression, including in breast cancer; however, their molecular function in BCRP-mediated MDR in breast cancer remains unknown. In this study, we revealed that the expression of NMIIA heavy chain phosphorylation at S1943 was downregulated in BCRP-overexpressing breast cancer MCF‐7/MX cells, and stable expression of NMIIA-S1943A mutant increased BCRP expression and promoted the resistance of MCF‐7/MX cells to MX. Meanwhile, NMIIA S1943 phosphorylation induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) was accompanied by the downregulation of BCRP in MCF-7/MX cells. Furthermore, stable expression of NMIIA-S1943A in MCF-7/MX cells resulted in upregulation of N-cadherin and the accumulation of β-catenin on the cell surface, which inhibited the nucleus translocation of β-catenin and Wnt/β-catenin-based proliferative signaling. EGF stimulation of MCF-7/MX cells showed the downregulation of N-cadherin and β-catenin. Our results suggest that decreased NMIIA heavy phosphorylation at S1943 increases BCRP expression and promotes MX resistance in breast cancer cells via upregulating N-cadherin expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A moderate supply of aluminum (Al) can promote the root growth of plant species, such as tea, that have adapted to acid soils. The formation and development of roots are regulated by phytohormones. However, the role that phytohormones play in facilitating the beneficial effects of Al on root growth is unclear. In the present study, tea plants cultured hydroponically with either 0 or 0.4 mmol/L Al were characterized and compared in terms of root growth, hormone concentrations, and the expression of related genes. The hormone content in tea roots was measured by UPLC–MS, and the expression levels of genes involved in phytohormone biosynthesis, transport, and response were analyzed by qRT-PCR. Our results showed that the indole acetic acid (IAA) concentrations in the root base were significantly higher in plants supplied with Al compared to control plants without Al during the experimental period from 6 h to 7 d. By using inhibitors of IAA synthesis and transport, we found that Al induces short-term IAA synthesis in the root tip and enhances IAA transport in other parts of the root over the longer term, thus promoting root growth in tea plants by limiting IAA accumulation. The expression levels of genes YUC8 and AMI1, involved in IAA accumulation, were consistently upregulated in the root tip, whereas expression of PIN1/2/8, involved in IAA transport, was induced in the root base under Al supply at 6 h. In addition, the expression of PIN2 and PIN5 was highly induced in root stem by Al after 7 d and probably contributed to alleviating IAA accumulation in the root tip and thereby promoted root growth in tea plants. Meanwhile, the XET and expansin activities were increased under Al supply at 6 h. Thus, we conclude that the mechanism of Al-induced root growth is mediated by auxin accumulation and transport in cooperation with cell wall loosening in tea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As leaf-harvest plants, tea trees show unique nutrient requirements, different from those of corn and other field crops. However, the effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) application on the accumulation of quality-related compounds and the mechanisms underlying how nutrients affect tea-leaf metabolism have not been well elucidated. Here, fertilizers with different N, P, K ratios were applied to tea plants in pot experiments, and metabolomics based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) combined with multivariate statistical and quantitative detections were conducted to assess the responses of quality-related compounds to NPK in tea leaves. An increased proportion of P and K was beneficial for the accumulation of carbohydrates and catechins in shoots, although the total carbon content did not increase significantly. In contrast, a high proportion of P and K input reduced the relative chlorophyll content in shoots, and the contents of free amino acids such as theanine and glutamic acid negatively correlated with P and K nutrient content. Moreover, the metabolism of malic acid in the tricarboxylic acid cycle was highly promoted by increasing the application of P and K. These results validate our suggestion that the application of high amounts of P and K in tea plantations induces the biased reallocation of photosynthates and carbohydrates to the catechin pathway by promoting malic acid metabolism in young tea shoots, which further affects tea quality. The results of this study provide theoretical ground for tea quality improvement by optimizing fertilization strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calculating the aerosol direct radiative effect (ADRE) is significance for estimating the influence of aerosols. However, calculating ADRE through the radiative transfer model at large scales and for long periods is time-consuming. In this paper, a linear relationship between surface albedo and surface shortwave ADRE (ADRE SW) was proposed together with a look-up table to simplify the calculation. The linear relationship is tested and remains reliable as atmospheric properties vary. Validation that compared the results calculated with and without simplifications shows high coefficient of determination (0.97). The time required for calculation with the simplification is only 1/2630th of the unsimplified calculation, which reveals that our method greatly simplified the calculation and maintains high accuracy. Based on the simplification, daily surface ADRE SW under clear-sky conditions over Central and East China from 2001 to 2018 is calculated and analyzed. Central and East China has a regional average aerosol optical depth (AOD) of 0.66 and surface ADRE sw of −34.33 W/m2. The North China Plain (0.83, −41.42 W/m2), The Jianghan Plain (0.79, −40.33 W/m2) and the Yangtze River Delta City Agglomeration (0.90, −46.50 W/m2) feature heavy aerosol loading and a strong cooling effect. The inter-annual AOD and cooling effect decreased by 37.60% and 33.21%, respectively, after the 2011 accord to decrease anthropogenic emissions, proving the success of efforts by the Chinese government to protect environment. A study of daily shortwave aerosol radiative effect efficiency found that sunshine duration is the primary controlling factor. • A method to get daily surface ADRE SW through RT model with SA correction and LUT. • This method greatly decreases the time cost without introducing significant error. • ADRE SW increases since 2011, showing Chinese great progress in reducing emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosol loading within the surface layer is an important aspect in studying air quality. However, a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics and effects of aerosol in the residual layer (RL) over China is yet to be achieved. In this study, the characteristics of aerosol in the RL and its effects on the surface PM 2.5 over China are investigated using ten-year Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observation (CALIPSO) data from January 2008 to December 2017. Our results show that the high aerosol optical depth in the RL (RAOD) is generally found in the north-central and southwestern parts, whereas low values are observed in the northeastern and northwestern areas. The RAOD accounts for >50% of the total columnar aerosols in most regions, and the main components of aerosols in RL are polluted continental aerosol and polluted dust. A decreasing trend of RAOD was observed in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), North China Plain (NCP), Central China (CC) and Sichuan Basin (SCB), which are related to the decreasing emission of aerosols. Moreover, the effects of meteorological parameters on the RAOD were investigated. The relative humidity and the latent heat flux has a positive correlation with the RAOD in most areas, while the wind speed and the sensible heat flux has a negative correlation with the RAOD. The relationship between the RAOD and the following daytime surface particulate matters (PM 2.5) were assessed. The correlation coefficients between RAOD and following daytime surface PM 2.5 in YRD, NCP, CC and SCB were 0.29, 0.34, 0.4 and 0.39, respectively. The results proved that a high RAOD can promote the concentration of surface PM 2.5. These findings are significant to the improvement of our understanding of the effects of aerosols in the RL on air quality. • AOD in residual layer at nighttime accounts for over 50% of the total AOD. • The main types of aerosol in residual layer are polluted dust and continental. • The meteorological parameters would affect the aerosol loading in residual layer. • AOD in residual layer has a positive effect on the following day surface PM 2.5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Deblurring methods which adopt alternating framework is time consuming. • Motion blur in manufacturing scenario can be regard as a linear motion blur which allow line-search for blur kernel. • The value of double-well potential function for binary image deblurring will increase with blur kernel size. Barcode image deblurring has been an important task in image processing domain. On production lines, the demand of using 2D barcode to identify moving products requires scanners to decode the blurred images efficiently. Therefore, a fast and robust deblurring method is needed. However, most of state-of-the-art methods are not suitable for the fast decoding of 2D barcode images due to their being time-consuming. In this paper, we propose an efficient deblurring method for 2D barcode image focusing on linear motion blur in manufacturing situations. We first deconvolute image with Wiener Filter. Then we form a metrics which is based on the binary property of 2D barcode image to evaluate the quality of each deblurred image. With the guide of this metrics, we adopt a line-search method to reduce the time spent on searching the best blur kernel. We compare our method with the existing methods for 2D barcode regarding efficiency and effectiveness. The experiment results show that our method is much faster on recovering information from motion-blurred 2D barcode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• HMTL on the combination of hetero-domain & same-domain multi-data TL is proposed. • Based on DNet, CPHC algorithm is used to hash encode, and downscale the samples. • Based on PME, RPME is proposed to make the radar MDS more distinguished. Considering that millimeter-wave radar lacks sufficient data to support Transfer Learning (TL) and Human Action Recognition (HAR), we propose a Heterogeneous Multi-source Transfer Learning (HMTL) method and a data selection algorithm based on Categorical Probability to obtain Hash Coding (CPHC). CPHC is utilized to select data from multi-source datasets in the same domain for downscaling and matching to ensure the similarity between the selected data features and the target task features to obtain better performance on the target task. The experimental results show that the CPHC can downscale data more efficiently than the traditional algorithm. HMTL can effectively improve the classification accuracy of the network to the state-of-the-art (SOAT) level. RPME addresses that the radar Micro-Doppler Signature (MDS) is flooded by noise due to the cluttered indoor environment, making the MDS more obvious and thus improving the classification accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the barrel of small-caliber automatic rifle is taken as the research object. An experiment was taken on the gun barrel and an infrared thermal imager was used to measure the change of barrel temperature field during the continuous shooting, and the finite difference model of barrel heat transfer was established. The formula of the correction coefficient of heat transfer of gunpowder gas on the inner surface of the body tube was obtained by fitting with the experimental results. The barrel transient heat transfer analysis calculation software with independent intellectual property rights was developed by C++, and the characteristics of temperature field were analyzed. The experimental results show that the temperature of the outer surface of the barrel rises and then falls along the axial direction from the bottom of the barrel to the muzzle, and the rising slope will decrease in the next 30 rounds of continuous firing. The calculation results of the small-caliber barrel with chromium layer show that the temperature of the outer surface of the chromium layer of each shot rises instantaneously and then drops rapidly, in the form of pulse, and the temperature of the steel matrix rises continuously, but it is significantly lower than the peak temperature of the chromium layer, and the presence of the chromium layer provides buffer protection for the barrel matrix material. There is still an influence region in the matrix behind the interface between the chromium layer and the barrel matrix, and the temperature of the steel matrix in this region fluctuates. The thickness of the influence region is determined by analysis. The temperature of the inner surface of the barrel reaches a maximum at the tail of the barrel along the axial axis and then slowly decreases in the direction of the muzzle, the radial temperature distribution of the barrel is steeper at the tail end and the muzzle area is relatively flat. The calculation results of the model in this paper are basically consistent with the experimental results, which provides a rapid calculation model and tool for the thermal design and analysis of the gun barrel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elevated levels of executive function and physical fitness play a pivotal role in shaping future quality of life. However, few studies have examined the collaborative influences of physical and mental health on academic achievement. This study aims to investigate the key factors that collaboratively influence primary school students' academic achievement from executive function, physical fitness, and demographic factors. Additionally, ensemble learning methods are employed to predict academic achievement, and their predictive performance is compared with individual learners. Methods: A cluster sampling method was utilized to select 353 primary school students from Huai'an, China, who underwent assessments for executive function, physical fitness, and academic achievement. The recursive feature elimination cross-validation method was employed to identify key factors that collaboratively influence academic achievement. Ensemble learning models, utilizing eXtreme Gradient Boosting and Random Forest algorithms, were constructed based on Bagging and Boosting methods. Individual learners were developed using Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, Logistic Regression, and Linear Discriminant Analysis algorithms, followed by the establishment of a Stacking ensemble learning model. Results: Our findings revealed that sex, body mass index, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory function, inhibition, working memory, and shifting were key factors influencing the academic achievement of primary school students. Moreover, ensemble learning models demonstrated superior predictive performance compared to individual learners in predicting academic achievement among primary school students. Conclusions: Our results suggest that recognizing sex differences and emphasizing the simultaneous development of cognition and physical well-being can positively impact the academic development of primary school students. Ensemble learning methods warrant further attention, as they enable the establishment of an accurate academic early warning system for primary school students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anhedonia, which is defined as the inability to feel pleasure, is considered a core symptom of major depressive disorder (MDD). It can lead to several adverse outcomes in adolescents, including heightened disease severity, resistance to antidepressants, recurrence of MDD, and even suicide. Specifically, patients who suffer from anhedonia may exhibit a limited response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Previous researches have revealed a link between anhedonia and abnormalities within the reward circuitry, making the nucleus accumbens (NAc) a potential target for treatment. However, since the NAc is deep within the brain, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has the potential to modulate this specific region. Recent advances have enabled treatment technology to precisely target the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and modify the functional connectivity (FC) between DLPFC and NAc in adolescent patients with anhedonia. Therefore, we plan to conduct a study to explore the safety and effectiveness of using resting-state functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (fcMRI)-guided rTMS to alleviate anhedonia in adolescents diagnosed with MDD. Methods: The aim of this article is to provide a study protocol for a parallel-group randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment. The study will involve 88 participants who will be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or sham rTMS. The primary object is to measure the percentage change in the severity of anhedonia, using the Snaith-Hamilton Pleasure Scale (SHAPS). The assessment will be conducted from the baseline to 8-week post-treatment period. The secondary outcome includes encompassing fMRI measurements, scores on the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17), the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), the Chinese Version of Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (CV-TEPS), and the Chinese Version of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSI-CV). The Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores will also be taken into account, and adverse events will be monitored. These evaluations will be conducted at baseline, as well as at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks. Discussion: If the hypothesis of the current study is confirmed, (fcMRI)-guided rTMS could be a powerful tool to alleviate the core symptoms of MDD and provide essential data to explore the mechanism of anhedonia. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05544071. Registered on 16 September 2022. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An important research topic in reinforcing deep soft soil slopes is the pullout distribution of a long anchor with multiple grout bulbs under various factors. The nonlinear variation between the compaction effect and grout bulb diameter was first quantitatively described using an exponential model. The pullout force of a long anchor with multiple grout bulbs was then calculated using a modified model considering the compaction effect. After verification based on the model test data, a parametric analysis was carried out on the elastic modulus of the anchor rod, grout bulb diameters, bulb numbers, and bulb sequences. The results indicated that a larger elastic modulus leads to a more obvious hardening behavior and a lower mobilized displacement of the pullout force. The grout bulb diameter significantly influences the ultimate pullout force and the mobilized displacement of the pullout force. Although the bulb number affects the ultimate pullout force and the distribution of the pullout force, the mobilized displacement of the pullout force does not change. For a long anchor with multiple grout bulbs, the sequence of the bulb diameters has a significant impact on the ultimate pullout force and the distribution and mobilized displacement of the pullout force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop and validate a nomogram based on liver stiffness (LS) for predicting symptomatic post-hepatectomy (PHLF) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: A total of 266 patients with HCC were enrolled prospectively from three tertiary referral hospitals from August 2018 to April 2021. All patients underwent preoperative laboratory examination to obtain parameters of liver function. Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) was performed to measure LS. Three-dimensional virtual resection obtained the different volumes including future liver remnant (FLR). A nomogram was developed by using logistic regression and determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and calibration curve analysis, which was validated internally and externally. Results: A nomogram was constructed with the following variables: FLR ratio (FLR of total liver volume), LS greater than 9.5 kPa, Child–Pugh grade, and the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH). This nomogram enabled differentiation of symptomatic PHLF in the derivation cohort (area under curve [AUC], 0.915), internal fivefold cross-validation (mean AUC, 0.918), internal validation cohort (AUC, 0.876) and external validation cohort (AUC, 0.845). The nomogram also showed good calibration in the derivation, internal validation, and external validation cohorts (Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, p = 0.641, p = 0.06, and p = 0.127, respectively). Accordingly, the safe limit of the FLR ratio was stratified using the nomogram. Conclusion: An elevated level of LS was associated with the occurrence of symptomatic PHLF in HCC. A preoperative nomogram integrating LS, clinical and volumetric features was useful in predicting postoperative outcomes in patients with HCC, which might help surgeons in the management of HCC resection. Clinical relevance statement: A serial of the safe limit of the future liver remnant was proposed by a preoperative nomogram for hepatocellular carcinoma, which might help surgeons in 'how much remnant is enough in liver resection'. Key Points: • An elevated liver stiffness with the best cutoff value of 9.5 kPa was associated with the occurrence of symptomatic post-hepatectomy liver failure in hepatocellular carcinoma. • A nomogram based on both quality (Child–Pugh grade, liver stiffness, and portal hypertension) and quantity of future liver remnant was developed to predict symptomatic post-hepatectomy liver failure for HCC, which enabled good discrimination and calibration in both derivation and validation cohorts. • The safe limit of future liver remnant volume was stratified using the proposed nomogram, which might help surgeons in the management of HCC resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To explore the pathologic basis and prognostic value of tumor and liver stiffness measured pre-operatively by two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who undergo hepatic resection. Methods: A total of 191 HBV-infected patients with solitary resectable HCC were prospectively enrolled. The stiffness of intratumoral tissue, peritumoral tissue, adjacent liver tissue, and distant liver tissue was evaluated by 2D-SWE. The correlations between stiffness and pathological characteristics were analyzed in 114 patients. The predictive value of stiffness for recurrence-free survival (RFS) was evaluated, and Cutoff Finder was used for determining optimal cut-off stiffness values. Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify independent predictors of RFS. Results: Pathologically, intratumoral stiffness was associated with stroma proportion and microvascular invasion (MVI) while peritumoral stiffness was associated with tumor size, capsule, and MVI. Adjacent liver stiffness was correlated with capsule and liver fibrosis stage while distant liver stiffness was correlated with liver fibrosis stage. Peritumoral stiffness, adjacent liver stiffness, and distant liver stiffness were all correlated to RFS (all p < 0.05). Higher peritumoral stiffness (> 49.4 kPa) (HR = 1.822, p = 0.023) and higher adjacent liver stiffness (> 24.1 kPa) (HR = 1.792, p = 0.048) were significant independent predictors of worse RFS, along with tumor size and MVI. The nomogram based on these variables showed a C-index of 0.77 for RFS prediction. Conclusions: Stiffness measured by 2D-SWE could be a tumor microenvironment and tumor invasiveness biomarker. Peritumoral stiffness and adjacent liver stiffness showed important values in predicting tumor recurrence after curative resection in HBV-related HCC. Clinical relevance statement: Tumor and liver stiffness measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography serve as imaging biomarkers for predicting hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence, reflecting biological behavior and tumor microenvironment. Key points: • Stiffness measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography is a useful biomarker of tumor microenvironment and invasiveness. • Higher stiffness indicated more aggressive behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma. • The study showed the prognostic value of peritumoral stiffness and adjacent liver stiffness for recurrence-free survival. • The nomogram integrating peritumoral stiffness, adjacent liver stiffness, tumor size, and microvascular invasion showed a C-index of 0.77. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an anchor support system, once the soil strength is improved by grouting with a geotextile, the pull-out force of anchors increases. To investigate the improvement of surrounding soils due to the grouting with a geotextile, a series of filtration and penetration tests under various parameters such as different initial degrees of compaction, water content and soil types were conducted via a self-developed device. In addition, microscopic tests were then carried out to obtain the soil's structure before and after grouting. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) The strength of surrounding soils is improved by grouting with a geotextile through the compaction effect and the slurry infiltration, while its strengthening effect gradually declines with the increase in the initial degree of compaction. (2) As the initial water content increases, the strengthening effect derived from the compaction effect and the cohesive substances infiltration decreases, while this improved efficiency of the soil strength declines due to the water infiltration during grouting. (3) Although the effect of grouting with a geotextile on different soils is obviously different due to the different efficiency of slurry (i.e., water and cohesive substances) infiltration, it can improve the soil strength regardless of soil type, especially for sandy soils. (4) Under the filtration of geotextile, a hardened layer is formed at the grout–soil interface due to the accumulation of cohesive substances, which is beneficial to the performance improvement in applications such as the capsule-type anchor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, and the pathophysiological progression to status epilepticus is closely associated with oxidative stress. Superoxide anions (O 2 •-), as the main, most important precursor of other reactive oxygen species (ROS), play a crucial role in seizure-induced brain damage. However, detecting the actual O 2 •- levels and understanding the physiological roles of O 2 • in epileptic brains remain challenging due to the lack of effective in vivo detection tools. Herein, a new near-infrared fluorescent probe, MB-SO, was prepared for the determination of endogenous O 2 •- in brains experiencing pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced epileptic seizures. MB-SO exhibits high sensitivity (detection limit of 14 nM), good selectivity and a fast response towards O 2 •-. MB-SO was applied in situ to monitor endogenous O 2 •- in living HT-22 cells and living mice. Using this probe, we visualized and quantitatively detected endogenous O 2 •- for the first time in the hippocampi of PTZ-induced epileptic mouse brains. MB-SO also displayed a positive correlation between high O 2 •- levels in epileptic brains and epileptogenesis. These results indicated that the probe MB-SO is an efficient tool for monitoring endogenous O 2 •- in vivo and exploring the pathogenesis of epilepsy. • A novel near-infrared fluorescent probe for highly sensitive detection of O 2 •- was reported. • This probe exhibits high sensitivity (detection limit of 14 nM) and a fast response towards O 2 •-. • MB-SO was utilized to detect endogenous O 2 •- in the hippocampus of PTZ-induced epileptic mouse brains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post-hepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) represents the major source of mortality after liver resection (LR) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Child-Pugh (CP) score 5 is always considered to indicate a normal liver function but represents a heterogeneous population with a considerable number suffering from PHLF. The present study aimed to access the ability of liver stiffness (LS) measured by two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) to predict PHLF in HCC patients with a CP score of 5. Methods: From August 2018 to May 2021, 146 HCC patients with a CP score of 5 who underwent LR were reviewed. The patients were randomly divided into training (n = 97) and validation (n = 49) groups. Logistic analyses were conducted for the risk factors and a linear model was built to predict the development of PHLF. The discrimination and calibration were assessed in the training and validation cohorts by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: Analyses revealed that the minimum of LS (Emin) higher than 8.05 (p = 0.006, OR = 4.59) and future liver remnant / estimated total liver volume (FLR/eTLV) (p < 0.001, OR < 0.01) were independent predictors of PHLF in HCC patients with CP score 5, and the AUC calculated by the model based on them for differentiation of PHLF in the training and validation group was 0.78 and 0.76, respectively. Conclusion: LS was associated with the development of PHLF. A model combining Emin and FLR/eTLV showed proper ability in predicting PHLF in HCC patients with a CP score of 5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following work describes a combined enzymatic and bioanalytical method that permits absolute quantitation of metabolites in biological samples without the requirement for reference metabolite standards. This technique was exemplified using a radio (14C) isotopologue and a stable (13C6) isotopologue of acetaminophen as substrates for in vitro biosynthesis of the corresponding radio and stable isotope labeled metabolites, namely, 14C- and 13C6-glucuronides and sulfates. By supplanting the use of authentic metabolite standards, traditionally used to calibrate 13C6-metabolites via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), 13C6-metabolites were radiocalibrated by their 14C-isotopologues via liquid chromatography coupled with radioactivity detection and mass spectrometry (LC-RAD/MS). The radiocalibrated 13C6-isotopologues were in turn used to quantitate acetaminophen and its corresponding metabolites in rat plasma samples by LC-MS/MS. Variation between this and a conventional LC-MS/MS method using authentic standards for calibration was within ±17%, permitting its use in preclinical and clinical applications. Since authentic metabolite standards are not required under the concept of radio and stable isotopologues using adapted LC-RAD/MS protocols, significantly fewer resources are required to support accurate metabolite quantitation which in turn enables efficient analysis of simple and complex metabolite profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroblastoma is the most common malignant tumor in childhood, and metastases occur in more than 30% patients. Recurrent metastasis is the main cause of poor prognosis and high mortality in neuroblastoma. In this regard, there is still a lack of sufficient biomarkers and effective therapies. Therefore, we performed a multi-omics analysis of neuroblastoma patients from Therapeutically Applicable Research To Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET). With clinical relapse site information, tumor samples derived from the primary site were divided into recurrent metastasis and primary tumor groups. The initial gene signature was obtained by comparing RNA-Seq and copy number variation differences. Survival data was used to further filter prognosis-related genes. This 18-gene signature consists of three clusters: tumor suppression, cell proliferation, and immunity. A super enhancer is involved in the enhanced expression of NCAPG in cluster2 together with IRF3. Based on the gene signature expression in primary neuroblastoma, it is possible to predict tumor metastasis before it occurs. According to the anticancer drug dataset of Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC), vinorelbine and docetaxel were predicted to have high sensitivity against recurrent metastatic neuroblastoma. In conclusion, our study offers a novel metastasis biomarker and helps understand the mechanisms of tumor recurrent metastasis. Key messages: We identified a novel eighteen-gene signature of recurrent metastasis neuroblastoma and build risk and classification models. We dissected the regulatory role of NCAPG in signatures. We found immune exhaustion and immunosuppression in recurrent metastasis neuroblastoma. Vinorelbine and docetaxel were predicted to have high sensitivity against recurrent metastatic neuroblastoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With advances in medical diagnostic technology, the healthy development of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is receiving more and more attention. In this article, the mediating effect of brain gray matter volume (GMV) between overweight/obesity and social communication (SC) was investigated through the analysis of the relationship between overweight/obesity and SC in autism spectrum disorder children. In total, 101 children with ASD aged 3–12 years were recruited from three special educational centers (Yangzhou, China). Overweight/obesity in children with ASD was indicated by their body mass index (BMI); the Social Responsiveness Scale, Second Edition (SRS-2) was used to assess their social interaction ability, and structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (sMRI) was used to measure GMV. A mediation model was constructed using the Process plug-in to analyze the mediating effect of GMV between overweight/obesity and SC in children with ASD. The results revealed that: overweight/obesity positively correlated with SRS-2 total points (p = 0.01); gray matter volume in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (Frontal_Sup_L GMV) negatively correlated with SRS-2 total points (p = 0.001); and overweight/obesity negatively correlated with Frontal_Sup_L GMV (p = 0.001). The Frontal_Sup_L GMV played a partial mediating role in the relationship between overweight/obesity and SC, accounting for 36.6% of total effect values. These findings indicate the significant positive correlation between overweight/obesity and SC; GMV in the left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus plays a mediating role in the relationship between overweight/obesity and SC. The study may provide new evidence toward comprehensively revealing the overweight/obesity and SC relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the core features of bipolar depression. A unified, reliable, and valid assessment tool is key to screening and assessing cognitive impairment. The THINC-Integrated Tool (THINC-it) is a simple and quick battery for screening cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder. However, the use of the tool has not been validated in patients with bipolar depression. Methods: The cognitive functions of 120 patients with bipolar depression and 100 healthy controls were evaluated using the THINC-it tool including Spotter, Symbol Check, Codebreaker, Trials, and the only one subjective test (PDQ-5-D) and five corresponding standard tests. A psychometric analysis of the THINC-it tool was performed. Results: The overall Cronbach's alpha coefficient of the THINC-it tool was 0.815. The intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) of retest reliability ranged from 0.571 to 0.854 (P< 0.001), while the correlation r of parallel validity ranged from 0.291 to 0.921 (P< 0.001). There were significant differences in the two groups Z-scores of THINC-it total score, Spotter, Codebreaker, Trails, and PDQ-5-D (P< 0.05). Construct validity was analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) value was 0.749. Using Bartlett's Sphericity test, the χ2 (10) value was 198.257 (P< 0.001). The factor loading coefficients of Spotter, Symbol Check, Codebreaker, and Trails on the common factor 1 were − 0.724, 0.748, 0.824, and − 0.717, respectively, and the factor loading coefficient of PDQ-5-D on the common factor 2 was 0.957. Results revealed that the correlation coefficient of the two common factors was 0.125. Conclusion: The THINC-it tool has good reliability and validity in assessing patients with bipolar depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]