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Abstract A lightweight, high‐definition vector map (HDVM) enables fully autonomous vehicles. However, the generation of HDVM remains a challenging problem, especially in complex urban scenarios. Moreover, numerous factors in the urban environment can degrade the accuracy of HDVM, necessitating a reliable error quantification. To address these challenges, this paper presents an open‐source and generic HDVM generation pipeline that integrates the global navigation satellite system (GNSS), inertial navigation system (INS), light detection and ranging (LiDAR), and camera. The pipeline begins by extracting semantic information from raw images using the Swin Transformer. The absolute 3D information of semantic objects is then retrieved using depth from the 3D LiDAR, and pose estimation from GNSS/INS integrated navigation system. Vector information (VI), such as lane lines, is extracted from the semantic information to construct the HDVM. To assess the potential error of the HDVM, this paper systematically quantifies the impacts of two key error sources, segmentation and LiDAR‐camera extrinsic parameter error. An error propagation scheme is first formed to illustrate how these errors fundamentally influence the accuracy of the HDVM. The effectiveness of the proposed pipeline is demonstrated through our codeavailable at https://github.com/ebhrz/HDMap. The performance is verified using typical datasets, including indoor garages and complex urban scenarios.

Abstract Backgrounds To our knowledge, there is no available nationwide data on omicron symptom patterns in China mainland. We aim to determine the acute and long COVID-19 symptoms in the omicron-dominant period and to evaluate its association with risk factors. Methods We designed a cross-sectional nationwide study and data about self-reported symptoms were collected by an online platform named Wenjuanxing. Eligible participants were aged 25–65 years and were symptomatic. In this study, the ratios of the number of people of different ages and genders were weighted by the data from the Seventh National Census (2020 years), and validated by a published nationwide representative study through comparing smoking rates. Descriptive indicators were calculated for demographic characteristics, diagnosis ways, and duration time, acute symptoms, hospitalization, severity and long COVID-19 symptoms. And, the associations between risk factors and acute and long COVID-19 symptoms were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression models. Results A total of 32,528 individuals diagnosed as COVID-19 infection from October 1, 2022 to February 21, 2023 were included. The first three acute symptoms of COVID-19 infection were fever (69.90%), headache (62.63%), and sore throat (54.29%), respectively. The hospitalization rate within 7 days was 3.07% and symptoms disappearance rate within 21 days was 68.84%, respectively. Among 3983 COVID-19 patients with 3 months or more time difference between first infection and participation into the study, the long COVID-19 rate was 19.68% and the primary symptoms were muscle weakness (19.39%), headache (17.98%) and smell/taste disorder (15.18%). Age groups, smoking, marriage status and vaccination were risk factors for numbers of acute phase symptoms and long COVID-19 symptoms. Lastly, female and current smokers also showed more numbers of symptoms during acute infection period. Conclusions In Chinese mainland, our respondent indicated that current smokers and women were associated with acute COVID-19 symptoms, which should be treated with caution due to the lack of representative.

Abstract Background Robotic‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) can achieve traditional clinical outcomes comparable to those of video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). However, patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) during the early period after RATS and VATS remain unclear. This study aimed to utilize longitudinal electronic PRO (ePRO) assessments to evaluate symptom burden and functional status between these approaches from patients' perspective. Methods This study comprised patients who underwent lobectomy via RATS or VATS for non‐small cell lung cancer. We collected multiple‐time‐point PROs data from the prospective longitudinal study via an ePRO system. Symptom severity and function status were assessed using the perioperative symptom assessment for patients undergoing lung surgery and were analyzed between groups using linear mixed‐effects models. Results Of the 164 patients, 42 underwent RATS and 122 underwent VATS. After propensity score matching (PSM), 42 RATS and 84 VATS exhibited similar baseline characteristics. During the 7‐day postoperative period, participants underwent RATS reported milder pain (p = 0.014), coughing (p

Abstract Background Few studies have examined the otologic symptoms of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The objective of this study was to identify the effect of COVID-19 on the characteristics and outcomes of patients who have otitis media with effusion (OME). Methods This case-control study compared the characteristics and outcomes of OME patients who did or did not have COVID-19. A total of 65 patients with previous COVID-19 and 40 patients who did not have COVID-19 (controls) were enrolled from October 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023 at a single institution in China. Demographics, medical histories, morbidities, hearing test results, treatments, and outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results The COVID-19 group had significantly better outcomes from OME than the control group, with higher rates of complete resolution (64.6% vs. 30%) and improvement (30.8% vs. 17.5%), and a lower rate of persistent OME (4.6% vs. 52.5%). Previous COVID-19 was independently associated with a more favorable OME outcome in three multivariate logistic regression models. The COVID-19 group also had a greater improvement in hearing threshold based on air-bone gap measurements. Conclusion The outcomes of OME patients who had previous COVID-19 were generally good, in that most patients responded well to treatment and achieved complete resolution or improvement within one month.

Abstract Background Solanum aculeatissimum and Solanum torvum belong to the Solanum species, and they are essential plants known for their high resistance to diseases and adverse conditions. They are frequently used as rootstocks for grafting and are often crossbred with other Solanum species to leverage their resistance traits. However, the phylogenetic relationship between S. aculeatissimum and S. torvum within the Solanum genus remains unclear. Therefore, this paper aims to sequence the complete chloroplast genomes of S. aculeatissimum and S. torvum and analyze them in comparison with 29 other previously published chloroplast genomes of Solanum species. Results We observed that the chloroplast genomes of S. aculeatissimum and S. torvum possess typical tetrameric structures, consisting of one Large Single Copy (LSC) region, two reverse-symmetric Inverted Repeats (IRs), and one Small Single Copy (SSC) region. The total length of these chloroplast genomes ranged from 154,942 to 156,004 bp, with minimal variation. The highest GC content was found in the IR region, while the lowest was in the SSC region. Regarding gene content, the total number of chloroplast genes and CDS genes remained relatively consistent, ranging from 128 to 134 and 83 to 91, respectively. Nevertheless, there was notable variability in the number of tRNA genes and rRNAs. Relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) analysis revealed that both S. aculeatissimum and S. torvum preferred codons that utilized A and U bases. Analysis of the IR boundary regions indicated that contraction and expansion primarily occurred at the junction between SSC and IR regions. Nucleotide polymorphism analysis and structural variation analysis demonstrated that chloroplast variation in Solanum species mainly occurred in the LSC and SSC regions. Repeat sequence analysis revealed that A/T was the most frequent base pair in simple repeat sequences (SSR), while Palindromic and Forward repeats were more common in long sequence repeats (LSR), with Reverse and Complement repeats being less frequent. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that S. aculeatissimum and S. torvum belonged to the same meristem and were more closely related to Cultivated Eggplant. Conclusion These findings enhance our comprehension of chloroplast genomes within the Solanum genus, offering valuable insights for plant classification, evolutionary studies, and potential molecular markers for species identification.

In agricultural ecosystems, incorporation of crop residues has been practiced as a recycling approach for sustaining soil organic matter (SOM) and soil fertility. However, how crop residue amendments in different forms (direct straw return, converted as manure and pyrolyzed as biochar) affect soil organic carbon (SOC) pools and SOM composition is not well known. In this study, a short-term (2015–2019) field experiment in paddy soil was conducted with a one-time maize residue amendment, consistently in a single doses of 10 Mg ha−1 organic carbon (OC) equivalent, in three forms: air-dried straw (CS), cattle manure (CM) and biochar (CB). No residue amendment (CK) was used as control. Topsoil organic matter changes were analysed using 13C isotopic tracing, biomarker analysis, and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with soil aggregate density/size fractionation. After four cropping cycles following amendment, SOC content was unchanged under CS and CM but increased by 24% under CB; However, the OC pool ratio of particulate organic matter (POM) to mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) significantly increased under all amendments compared to CK. The δ13C values indicated that maize-derived OC was preserved the most in the POM within the macroaggregates, particularly under CB. Regarding the molecular composition, all residue amendments increased the abundance ratio of plant- to microbe-derived lipids. Plant-derived lipids were primarily concentrated in macroaggregates, whereas microbial lipids were more prevalent in the silt–clay fractions. Lignin phenols were significantly enriched only in microaggregates under CS relative to CK. Overall, SOM changes in the paddy topsoil following crop residue amendment in different forms were depicted by OC pool redistribution and molecular composition alteration. The study highlighted that biochar amendment, instead of straw or manure, greatly enhanced SOC accumulation by promoting macro-aggregation, which in turn preserved plant-derived carbon through the direct input of the persistent char in a rice paddy.

Magnetic nanomaterials, distinguished by their unique magnetic phenomena, particularly their magnetically actuated capabilities, have found widespread application in the field of nanomedicine. Compared with alternative driving mechanisms, magnetic actuation as a remote, highly permeable, and precisely controllable driving strategy endows nanomaterials with temporal and spatia mobility, making it possible to initiate and cease multiple forms of movement in vivo at will. When coupled with cutting‐edge diagnostic and treating techniques including but not limited to magnetic resonance imaging, magnetothermal therapy, and magnetoelectric stimulation, magnetically actuated nanomaterials offer the potential for visual analysis, provision of reliable molecular information, and effective disease or tissue damage intervention. This review comprehensively outlines the synthesis methodologies, functional strategies, and biomedical applications of magnetically actuated nanomaterials within nanomedicine. Additionally, the future developments and applications of biocompatible magnetically actuated nanomaterials, especially in response to time‐varying magnetic fields, are anticipated.

BackgroundThis study presents real-world evidence on the clinical outcomes of the Alberta Complementary Health Integration Project (ABCHIP), which utilized acupuncture to address pain and mental health issues in two vulnerable populations in Alberta: youth (aged 24 and below) and elderly (aged 55 and above).MethodsOver 282 days, a total of 606 patients received 5,424 acupuncture treatments. Tailored to each patients’ specific pain and mental health concerns, an individualized treatment plan was selected, following a standard treatment protocol lasting 1 to 3 months. Patients were evaluated at least twice: initially and upon completing therapy. Primary treatment outcomes were assessed using various measures, including the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9), PROMIS Anxiety 8a and its pediatric form PROMIS Anxiety-Pediatric, PROMIS Short Form v1.0 Fatigue 8a and its pediatric counterpart PROMIS Pediatric Short Form v2.0 Fatigue 10a, PROMIS Short Form v1.1 Anger 5a and its version PROMIS SF v2.0 5a, and EQ-5D-5L. These measures gauged pain reduction, improved sleep quality, reduced depression, anxiety, fatigue, anger, and quality of life, respectively.ResultsAnalysis of data from 500 patients who received at least 6 acupuncture sessions through ABCHIP showed statistically significant improvements in clinical outcomes. Among this group, the subgroup of 235 patients who received at least 12 sessions demonstrated the most favorable treatment outcomes, including an 75.5% reduction in pain severity, a 53.1% improvement in sleep quality, a 78.4% drop in depression, a 41.1% decline in anxiety, a 43.7% decrease in fatigue, a 38.2% decrease in anger, and a 42.6% improvement in overall quality of life.ConclusionIntegrating acupuncture with usual care demonstrates promise in enhancing mental health, alleviating chronic and general pain, and improving overall quality of life. The findings suggest that integrative programs, such as ABCHIP, present an effective approach to addressing pain and mental health concerns in vulnerable populations, providing valuable insights for future healthcare interventions.

At present, multi-device collaborative navigation is popular in some projects. Most existing collaborative navigation algorithms depend on point clouds or 3D maps. However, ordinary users may encounter challenges in accessing raw data due to the security and privacy of spatial data. As a solution, this article introduces the algorithm of multi-device navigation result alignment and repairing at the trajectory level. This work faces three main challenges: (1) it is hard to ensure the availability and overall accuracy of global alignment without point clouds; (2) in a complex campus environment, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) inertial odometer (LIO) results are bound to gradually diverge due to the absence of precise absolute position data for correction, leading to error accumulation in the local trajectory; (3) in LiDAR challenging environments, such as rapid turns, LIO trajectories may exhibit outliers. In response to these three challenges, this article proposes a multi-level (global-local-detail) multi-device localization trajectory alignment and repairing idea and designs the corresponding methods. Specifically, (1) at the global-trajectory level, the reliable GNSS points are used for multi-device trajectory alignment; (2) at the local-trajectory level, a segmented forward–backward smoothing algorithm is applied to enhance local trajectory accuracy; (3) at the detailed-trajectory level, outlier detection and repairing algorithm based on motion mode is employed to ensure the reliability of detailed trajectories. The experiments were conducted in different environments, and the results validated the high accuracy and reliability of the proposed algorithm.

Abstract Background The use of handgrip strength (HGS) in clinical cancer research is surging. The association between HGS and outcomes in patients with cancer varied across studies, which might be due to the different measurement protocols for HGS. We aimed to answer three questions: (1) Did the use of various protocols for HGS, along with different numbers of repetitions, lead to significant differences in maximum HGS values? (2) If yes, were these differences clinically significant? (3) Did the differences in HGS protocols and repetitions affect the identification of HGS weakness or HGS asymmetry? Methods We continuously recruited adult patients with solid tumours. Two protocols were used to measure HGS: Method A, following the American Society of Hand Therapists guidelines, and Method B, following the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey guidelines. To analyse HGS, we used the maximal value obtained from either two or three repetitions of the dominant hand or four or six repetitions of both hands. Results We included 497 patients (326 men and 171 women, median age: 58 years). The maximal HGS values, measured with Method B, were significantly higher than those measured by Method A in both men and women, despite repetitions (all P

Glaucomatous optic neuropathy(GON)is the difficulty of glaucoma treatment. In recent years, a variety of theories have been put forward about the pathogenesis of GON, but none of them can explain the principle of optic neuropathy caused by all types of glaucoma, which makes the disease difficult to treat in clinical treatment and is not conducive to early intervention. The latest research found that the transient receptor potential channel vanillic acid subfamily 4(TRPV4)in the retina plays an important role in various pathogenesis of GON. This article will review TRPV4 and its role in the occurrence and development of GON in order to find a common “connection point” for the multiple mechanism theories of GON, which will contribute to further understanding and clinical treatment of the disease.

To solve the problems of noise coverage defect and low contrast between the defect and the background of ZrO2 ceramic bearing balls, a surface defect extraction algorithm based on shearlet transform image enhancement for ZrO2 ceramic bearing balls is proposed. According to the shape characteristics of ceramic bearing balls, the surface defect image acquisition platform is built to collect and analyze surface defect images. Gaussian filtering weakens the scatter-particle noise in the image, and the threshold corrects the coefficient generated by the shearlet transform. After shearlet transform, the relatively low-frequency and high-frequency parts appear. The low-frequency part reflects the edge information of defects, and the high-frequency part reflects the edge and texture information of defects. Thus, the integrity of the defect is ensured, and an enhanced surface defect image is obtained. The gray histogram of the enhanced image is observed. The optimal threshold is selected by the histogram threshold segmentation method, and the process of defects being completely extracted from the background is realized. Experimental results showed that the extraction rates of pits, scratches, and cracks in ZrO2 ceramic bearing balls’ surface images are 95.00%, 92.50%, and 92.50%, respectively.

The operating environment greatly influences the accuracy of power metering devices, resulting in variations and inconsistencies in measurement results across different working situations. A calibration model for power metering devices is proposed in this study, considering a range of environmental circumstances. The first step involves investigating the environmental conditions that impact the accuracy of power metering devices. The mutual information approach is utilized to identify environmental disturbances affecting device accuracy. A machine learning-driven symmetry attention Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network addresses measurement errors, capitalizing on the network’s symmetry data knowledge. Ultimately, the efficacy of the suggested approach is substantiated through the utilization of performance indicators, namely, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the errors of the power measurement device in all quarters, and the error reduction effect is over 10% in the spring, which is better than other models, demonstrating exemplary performance in correcting the calibration errors of the power measurement device.

Abstract In nature, spider web is an interwoven network with high stability and elasticity from silk threads secreted by spider. Inspired by the structure of spider webs, light‐driven liquid crystal elastomer (LCE) active yarn is designed with super‐contractile and robust weavability. Herein, a novel biomimetic gold nanorods (AuNRs) @LCE yarn soft actuator with hierarchical structure is fabricated by a facile electrospinning and subsequent photocrosslinking strategies. Meanwhile, the inherent mechanism and actuation performances of the as‐prepared yarn actuator with interleaving network are systematically analyzed. Results demonstrate that thanks to the unique “like‐spider webs” structure between fibers, high molecular orientation within the LCE microfibers and good flexibility, they can generate super actuation strain (≈81%) and stable actuation performances. Importantly, benefit from the robust covalent bonding at the organic–inorganic interface, photopolymerizable AuNRs molecules are uniformly introduced into the polymer backbone of electrospun LCE yarn to achieve tailorable shape‐morphing under different light intensity stimulation. As a proof‐of‐concept illustration, light‐driven artificial muscles, micro swimmers, and hemostatic bandages are successfully constructed. The research disclosed herein can offer new insights into continuous production and development of LCE‐derived yarn actuator that are of paramount significance for many applications from smart fabrics to flexible wearable devices.

Purpose: Verteporfin is a benzoporphyrin derivative which is Food and Drug Administration-approved for treatment of choroidal neovascularization in conjunction with photodynamic therapy. It has been shown to prevent fibrosis and scar formation in several organs and represents a promising novel antifibrotic agent for glaucoma surgery. The goal of this study is to determine the effect of verteporfin on wound healing after glaucoma filtration surgery. Design: Preclinical study using a rabbit model of glaucoma filtration surgery. Subjects: Eight New Zealand white rabbits underwent glaucoma filtration surgery in both eyes. Methods: Eyes were randomized into 4 study groups to receive a postoperative subconjunctival injection of 1 mg/mL verteporfin (n = 4), 0.4 mg/mL mitomycin C (MMC; n = 4), 0.4 mg/mL MMC + 1 mg/mL verteporfin (n = 4), or balanced salt solution (BSS) control (n = 4). Bleb survival, vascularity, and morphology were graded using a standard scale over a 30-day period, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was monitored. At 30 days postoperative or surgical failure, histology was performed to evaluate for inflammation, local toxicity, and scarring. Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measure was bleb survival. Secondary outcome measures were IOP, bleb morphology, and bleb histology. Results: Compared to BSS control blebs, verteporfin-treated blebs demonstrated a trend toward increased surgical survival (mean 9.8 vs. 7.3 days, log rank P = 0.08). Mitomycin C-treated blebs survived significantly longer than verteporfin-treated blebs (log rank P = 0.009), with all but 1 MMC-treated bleb still surviving at postoperative day 30. There were no significant differences in survival between blebs treated with combination verteporfin + MMC and MMC alone. Mitomycin C-treated blebs were less vascular than verteporfin-treated blebs (mean vascularity score 0.3 ± 0.5 for MMC vs. 1.0 ± 0.0 for verteporfin, P

ObjectivesReconstruction is always required for tracheal defects and sleeve resection with end-to-end anastomosis is the most common used. The aim of the study was to present surgical techniques and evaluate the outcomes of sleeve resection with end-to-end anastomosis in the reconstruction of tracheal defects exceeding six rings.MethodsThe study included patients with primary or secondary malignancies and tracheal stenosis from 2014 to 2019, who were treated with sleeve resection exceeding six tracheal rings, and reconstructed with end-to-end anastomosis. Airway status and patient outcomes were the principal follow-up measures.ResultsA total of 16 patients were enrolled in the study including three primary tracheal malignancies, 12 invasive thyroid carcinomas and one with tracheal stenosis. The extent of tracheal resection ranged from seven to nine rings, and the primary end-to-end anastomosis was performed in all 16 patients. Performance of tracheostomy or cricothyroidotomy was done in 6 patients with decannulation at a median of 42 days (range, 28–56). No anastomotic dehiscence, infection or bleeding occurred postoperatively, and all 16 patients maintained an unobstructed airway through the end of follow-up.ConclusionsSleeve resection reconstructed with end-to-end anastomosis can serve as an appropriate therapeutic strategy for the tracheal defects even exceeding six rings. Adequate laryngeal release is the key to surgical success.

The utility-scale deployment of photovoltaic (PV) power plants is critical for achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals and mitigating climate change. However, the impact of a PV power plant project on the microclimate is unclear for different underlying surfaces. Therefore, PV power plants in deserts and lakes were selected to assess and compare the impact of PV array deployment on the environment by the observation. The results indicate that the PV array affected the wind pattern, the wind direction makes simple (from 10 m to 2 m), and wind speed in the PV site under two types of underlying surfaces was less than the reference site. For the PV power plant in desert, the delta (PV - REF) is increased from 0.12 m s−1 at 10 m to 0.27 m s−1 at 2 m. The counterpart in the lake is increased from 0.14 m s−1 at 10 m to 0.55 m s−1 at 2 m. However, the PV arrays had no effect on the air temperature at the center of the PV array gap. The difference in air temperature for two observation sites under two type of underlying surfaces was less than the resolution of instrument MaxiMet (0.1 °C). Instead, the heat from the PV panels is transmitted down to the land surface, causing a temperature effect in the desert and lakes. For the PV power plant in land, the arrays have heating effect on air temperature (The air temperature was 33.43 °C in the PV_land site, and 28.03 °C in the REF_land site in July, respectively). But the arrays have cooling effect on air temperature for the PV power plant in lake in the same month (PV_lake site, 28.58 °C; REF_lake site, 29.97 °C). Furthermore, evaporation is lower in the PV power plant owing to the physical shielding of PV arrays (For the land, the peak of hour evaporation (PV_land – REF_land) was 0.12 mm; for the lake, the peak of hour evaporation (PV_lake – REF_lake) was 0.32 mm). This study provides new evidence of the microclimate impact of photovoltaic array deployment on different underlying surfaces.

Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) is a crucial decision in the internationalization strategy of firms and they confront diversified environmental policies and practices of host countries, when engaging in cross-border investments. However, there is a lack of research to investigate whether foreign direct investment (OFDI) is an important factor affecting the environmental commitment of firms. This study aims to empirically analyze the impact and mechanism by which firm outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) influences pro-environmental commitments, utilizing data collected from Chinese listed companies between 2010 and 2020. The results show: 1) there is a significant positive relationship between firm OFDI and pro-environmental commitments; 2) mechanistic tests show that the OFDI can promote pro-environmental commitments through two channels: public attention and technological learning capacity; 3) heterogeneity analysis reveals that the green effects of OFDI are more pronounced firms with institutional investors and state ownership, as well as in firms situated in host countries with more stringent environmental regulations; 4) further analysis reveals OFDI-induced greater green commitments generated real environmental and economic outcomes: firms invested more in environmental protection and reduced CO2 emissions. In the meantime, they experienced lower excessive debt risk and higher innovative performance. The findings have positive implications for the promotion of firms’ pro-environmental behavior and sustainable development.

Abstract Background The gut microbiome and fecal metabolites have been found to influence sarcopenia, but whether there are potential bacteria that can alleviate sarcopenia has been under‐investigated, and the molecular mechanism remains unclear. Methods To investigate the relationships between the gut microbiome, fecal metabolites and sarcopenia, subjects were selected from observational multi‐ethnic study conducted in Western China. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the criteria of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2014. The gut microbiome was profiled by shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was performed to analyse the differences in fecal metabolites. We investigated bacterium with the greatest relative abundance difference between healthy individuals and sarcopenia patients, and the differences in metabolites associated with the bacteria, to verify its effects on muscle mass and function in a mouse model. Results The study included 283 participants (68.90% females, mean age: 66.66 years old) with and without sarcopenia (141 and 142 participants, respectively) and from the Han (98 participants), Zang (88 participants) and Qiang (97 participants) ethnic groups. This showed an overall reduction (15.03% vs. 20.77%, P = 0.01) of Prevotella copri between the sarcopenia and non‐sarcopenia subjects across the three ethnic groups. Functional characterization of the differential bacteria showed enrichment (odds ratio = 15.97, P = 0.0068) in branched chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism in non‐sarcopenia group. A total of 13 BCAA and their derivatives have relatively low levels in sarcopenia. In the in vivo experiment, we found that the blood BCAA level was higher in the mice gavaged with live P. copri (LPC) (P

Objectives The association between sarcopenia severity and fall history remains under-researched at present. Accordingly, this study was developed to evaluate the relationship between sarcopenic status and prior fall events in a multiethnic group of older community-dwelling adults in Western China.Design A retrospective survey study, the data comes from the West China Health and Aging Trend study.Setting The study was based in Western China.Participants In total, this retrospective analysis incorporated data from 2719 older adults (59.2% women).Primary and secondary outcome measures Grip strength, gait speed and skeletal muscle mass index values were analysed for all participants, and the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2014 and 2019 consensus criteria were leveraged to assess sarcopenia status in these individuals. Prior fall history was defined by any incidents in which an individual unintentionally came to rest on the floor within the past year. The association between sarcopenia status and fall history was examined through a binary logistic regression approach, with p

The increasing use of machine learning and Large Language Models (LLMs) opens up opportunities to use these artificially intelligent algorithms in novel ways. This article proposes a methodology using LLMs to support traditional deductive coding in qualitative research. We began our analysis with three different sample texts taken from existing interviews. Next, we created a codebook and inputted the sample text and codebook into an LLM. We asked the LLM to determine if the codes were present in a sample text provided and requested evidence to support the coding. The sample texts were inputted 160 times to record changes between iterations of the LLM response. Each iteration was analogous to a new coder deductively analyzing the text with the codebook information. In our results, we present the outputs for these recursive analyses, along with a comparison of the LLM coding to evaluations made by human coders using traditional coding methods. We argue that LLM analysis can aid qualitative researchers by deductively coding transcripts, providing a systematic and reliable platform for code identification, and offering a means of avoiding analysis misalignment. Implications of using LLM in research praxis are discussed, along with current limitations.

Abstract Surveillance is an intricate challenge worldwide especially in those complicated environments such as nuclear plants, banks, crowded areas, barns, etc. Deploying self‐powered wireless sensor nodes can increase the system's event detection capabilities by collecting environmental changes, while the incompatibility among components (energy harvesters, sensors, and wireless modules) limits their application. Here, a broadly compatible self‐powered visualized platform (SPVP) is reported to construct a passive internet of events (IoE) network for surveillance systems. By encoding electric signals into reference and working LEDs, SPVP can visualize resistance change generated by commercial resistive sensors with a broad working range (

ABSTRACTHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most heavily immune infiltrated human tumors, having distinct immune subtypes associated with different molecular characteristics and clinical outcomes. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of HNSCC which was dominated by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) had a relatively inferior prognosis. High levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (OLR1) expression are associated with more aggressive and metastatic characteristics in multiple cancers. However, the link between the OLR1 expression and immunosuppression of TME, and the molecular mechanisms which govern intratumoral TAMs behavior are unclear. Here, we performed the transcriptional analysis based on a single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset of HNSCC, and found that the OLR1 expression was specifically enriched on the TAMs. Evaluation of protein expression within histologic sections of primary HNSCC patient samples showed a co-expression pattern of OLR1 and CD68 on macrophages. A total of 498 tumor samples of HNSCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were also analyzed. Remarkably, OLR1 expression was dramatically higher in HNSCC tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues, and the patients with high levels of OLR1 expression had significantly unfavorable overall survival (Hazard Ratio = 1.724, log-rank P-value = 0.0066) when compared to patients harboring low expression levels of OLR1. In summary, we reported that the specific expression of OLR1 on the TAMs was significantly correlated with poor survival outcomes, revealing that OLR1 could serve as a potential prognosis marker and promising target for immunotherapy in HNSCC.

ABSTRACTAntibody persistence and safety up to 12 months of heterologous orally administered adenovirus type-5 vector-based COVID-19 vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) in individuals who were primed with two-dose inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) previously, has not been reported yet. This randomized, open-label, single-centre trial included Chinese adults who have received two-dose CoronaVac randomized to low-dose or high-dose aerosolised Ad5-nCoV group, or CoronaVac group. In this report, we mainly evaluated the geometric mean titres (GMTs) of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against live wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus and omicron BA.4/5 pseudovirus at 12 months after the booster dose and the incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) till month 12. Of 419 participants, all were included in the safety analysis and 120 (28.64%) were included in the immunogenicity analysis. Serum NAb GMT against live wild-type SARS-CoV-2 was 204.36 (95% CI 152.91, 273.14) in the low-dose group and 171.38 (95% CI 121.27, 242.19) in the high-dose group at month 12, significantly higher than the GMT in the CoronaVac group (8.00 [95% CI 4.22, 15.17], p

Abstract Background Recent studies have uncovered that the microbiota in patients with head and neck cancers is significantly altered and may drive cancer development. However, there is limited data to explore the unique microbiota of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and little is known regarding whether the oral microbiota can be utilized as an early diagnostic biomarker. Methods Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we characterized the microbiome of oral rinse and tissue samples from 77 patients with LSCC and 76 control patients with vocal polyps, and then performed bioinformatic analyses to identify taxonomic groups associated with clinicopathologic features. Results Multiple bacterial genera exhibited significant differences in relative abundance when stratifying by histologic and tissue type. By exploiting the distinct microbial abundance and identifying the tumor-associated microbiota taxa between patients of LSCC and vocal polyps, we developed a predictive classifier by using rinse microbiota as key features for the diagnosis of LSCC with 85.7% accuracy. Conclusion This is the first evidence of taxonomical features based on the oral rinse microbiome that could diagnose LSCC. Our results revealed the oral rinse microbiome is an understudied source of clinical variation and represents a potential non-evasive biomarker of LSCC.

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a rare congenital genetic syndrome primarily affecting the first and second pharyngeal arches, leading to defects in the mandible, external ear, and middle ear. The pathogenic genes remain largely unidentified. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted on 12 HFM probands and their unaffected biological parents. Predictive structural analysis of the target gene was conducted using PSIPRED (v3.3) and SWISS-MODEL, while STRING facilitated protein-to-protein interaction predictions. CRISPR/Cas9 was applied for gene knockout in zebrafish. In situ hybridization (ISH) was employed to examine the spatiotemporal expression of the target gene and neural crest cell (NCC) markers. Immunofluorescence with PH3 and TUNEL assays were used to assess cell proliferation and apoptosis. RNA sequencing was performed on mutant and control embryos, with rescue experiments involving target mRNA injections and specific gene knockouts. CDC27 was identified as a novel candidate gene for HFM, with four nonsynonymous de novo variants detected in three unrelated probands. Structural predictions indicated significant alterations in the secondary and tertiary structures of CDC27. cdc27 knockout in zebrafish resulted in craniofacial malformation, spine deformity, and cardiac edema, mirroring typical HFM phenotypes. Abnormalities in somatic cell apoptosis, reduced NCC proliferation in pharyngeal arches, and chondrocyte differentiation issues were observed in cdc27−/− mutants. cdc27 mRNA injections and cdkn1a or tp53 knockout significantly rescued pharyngeal arch cartilage dysplasia, while sox9a mRNA administration partially restored the defective phenotypes. Our findings suggest a functional link between CDC27 and HFM, primarily through the inhibition of CNCC proliferation and disruption of pharyngeal chondrocyte differentiation.

This study explores the critical issue of understanding the potential impacts of climate change on the habitat suitability of the highly endangered forest-dwelling Mangshan pit viper (Protobothrops mangshanensis) in China. Through the application of the MaxEnt model, high-resolution bioclimatic datasets, and species occurrence data, the research aims to elucidate the spatial and temporal dynamics of P. mangshanensis distribution from the present to the years 2050 and 2070. Through the integration of three climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) and exploring different shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585), the study seeks to provide comprehensive insights into the potential variations in habitat suitability under diverse future climate conditions. The methodology employed involves the construction of the MaxEnt model utilizing the BioClim dataset and 83 species occurrence points. The SSP scenarios mentioned above represent future climate change scenarios, and the accuracy of the model is evaluated using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). Key findings reveal that the MaxEnt model exhibits high accuracy (AUC = 0.998), pinpointing the current suitable habitat for P. mangshanensis to be confined to the Mangshan area within the Nanling Mountains, covering an approximate area of 1023.12 km2. However, projections based on future climate scenarios suggest notable shifts in habitat suitability dynamics. While potential suitable habitats may emerge in the northwest of the current range, the existing suitable habitats are anticipated to undergo significant reduction or even complete disappearance. Notably, precipitation during the driest month emerges as a critical determinant influencing the distribution of the species. In conclusion, the study underscores the exacerbating impact of climate change on habitat deterioration and survival risks for P. mangshanensis, emphasizing the urgent need for conservation measures to safeguard the remaining suitable habitats for this endangered species. The implications of these findings are far-reaching, with the anticipated contraction of the snake’s range potentially leading to its disappearance and increased habitat fragmentation. By shedding light on the potential distributional changes of P. mangshanensis in Mangshan, the research provides valuable insights for informing targeted conservation strategies and policy interventions aimed at mitigating the adverse effects of climate change on endangered species.

Abstract As part of the central nervous system (CNS), retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons are the only neurons in the retina that transmit visual signals from the eye to the brain via the optic nerve (ON). Unfortunately, they do not regenerate upon injury in mammals. In ON trauma, retinal microglia (RMG) become activated, inducing inflammatory responses and resulting in axon degeneration and RGC loss. Since aldose reductase (AR) is an inflammatory response mediator highly expressed in RMG, we investigated if pharmacological inhibition of AR can attenuate ocular inflammation and thereby promote RGC survival and axon regeneration after ON crush (ONC). In vitro, we discovered that Sorbinil, an AR inhibitor, attenuates BV2 microglia activation and migration in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) treatments. In vivo, Sorbinil suppressed ONC-induced Iba1 + microglia/macrophage infiltration in the retina and ON and promoted RGC survival. Moreover, Sorbinil restored RGC function and delayed axon degeneration one week after ONC. RNA sequencing data revealed that Sorbinil protects the retina from ONC-induced degeneration by suppressing inflammatory signaling. In summary, we report the first study demonstrating that AR inhibition transiently protects RGC and axon from degeneration, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for optic neuropathies.

AIM: To systematically evaluate the efficacy of intense pulsed light(IPL)combined with meibomian gland expression(MGX)in the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction(MGD)-related dry eye disease(DED).METHODS: Chinese and English databases such as Chinese national knowledge infrastructure(CNKI), Wanfang, VIP, CBM, ClinicalTrials, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched, and clinical randomized controlled trials(RCTs)using IPL combined with MGX in the experimental group and MGX alone in the control group from January 2017 to September 2022 were included. Six outcome indicators including clinical efficacy, ocular surface disease index(OSDI)score, break-up time(BUT), corneal fluorescein staining(CFS)score, tear meniscus height(TMH)and meibomian gland yielding secretion score(MGYSS)were Meta analyzed by Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 14 software.RESULTS: A total of 15 RCTs were included, with 1 345 patients with MGD-related dry eye. Meta-analysis results showed that the treatment of MGD-related dry eye in the experimental group improved better clinical efficacy(OR=4.95, 95%CI: 2.76～8.90, Z=5.35, P

Abstract Objective The study aims to present a novel classification of tracheal defects and the corresponding reconstruction strategies. Methods The retrospective study was designed to analyze patients with diagnosed primary or secondary tracheal tumors from 1991 to 2020. Surgical techniques, complications and prognosis were reviewed. Airway status and patient outcomes were the principal follow‐up measures. Tracheal defects were classified into two plane sizes (vertical (V) and horizontal (H) planes). Vertical defects were further categorized into three groups based on their tracheal ring numbers (V1, ≤ 5 rings; V2, 6‐10 rings; and V3, > 10 rings). Tracheal defects with horizontal plane size H1 and H2 represent defects less and more than one‐half the circumference of trachea. Thus, suitable reconstruction strategies were planned primarily based on “V” and “H” classifications. The reconstruction strategies performed were sleeve resection followed by an end‐to‐end anastomosis, window resection with sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap reconstruction, defects conversion with rotation anastomosis, and modified tracheostomy with secondary flap reconstruction. Results A total of 106 patients diagnosed with tracheal defects were enrolled in the study, of whom 59 patients underwent sleeve resection followed by end‐to‐end anastomosis; 40 patients received window resection alongside sternocleidomastoid (SCM) myoperiosteal flap reconstruction; five patients received converting defects with rotation anastomosis and two patients underwent modified tracheostomy with secondary stage flap reconstruction. Lumen stenosis occurred in three V2H1 defect cases and were treated by a second reconstruction surgery. Iatrogenic unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis occurred in two patients with the V3H2 defect type, who were treated by temporary tracheotomy and partial vocal cord resection and extubated successfully during follow‐up. All 106 patients achieved airway patency with adequate laryngeal function at the end of follow‐up. No anastomotic dehiscence or bleeding occurred in any patient postoperatively. Conclusion Though a significant number of multicenter studies concerning the reconstruction and classification of tracheal defects are needed, the study herein provides a novel classification of tracheal defects, which is primarily developed on the defect size. Therefore, the study might serve as a potential source for identifying suitable reconstruction strategies for practitioners.

Background The current study aimed to analyse epidemiological data on eye burns in Wuxi, China, for the years 2015–2021, and to provide insight into the development of appropriate prevention strategies.Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 151 hospitalised patients with eye burns. Data collected included gender, age, the monthly distribution of incidence, cause of eye burn, the site of eye burn, the type of surgery, visual outcome, the length of hospital stay and the cost of hospital admission. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.19.0 and Graph Pad Prism V.9.0.Results In a total of 151 eye burn patients, 130 were males (86.09%) and 21 were females (13.91%). The proportion of patients classified as grade III was the greatest (46.36%). The average age of our hospitalised patients with eye burns was 43.72 years and the average length of hospital stay was 17 days. The number of injuries was highest in September (14.6%). Among eye burn patients, workers and farmers became the most common occupations (62.91%, 12.58%). The most frequent cause of burns was alkali burns (19.21%), followed by acid burns (16.56%). When admitted to the hospital, patients’ average vision was 0.06, and 49% of them had a poor vision (

Abstract BackgroundMobile phone–based cessation interventions have emerged as a promising alternative for smoking cessation, while evidence of the efficacy of mobile phone–based smoking cessation programs among young people is mixed. ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the efficacy of mobile phone–based interventions compared to usual practice or assessment-only controls on smoking cessation in young people. MethodsIn this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, and Web of Science on March 8, 2023. We included randomized controlled trials that examined the efficacy of mobile phone–based interventions on smoking cessation in young people (age ≤30 years). The risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane Risk of Bias 2. ResultsA total of 13 eligible studies, comprising 27,240 participants, were included in this analysis. The age range of the participants was between 16 and 30 years. Nine studies were SMS text messaging interventions, and 4 studies were app-based interventions. The duration of the smoking cessation intervention varied from 5 days to 6 months. The included studies were conducted in the following countries: the United States, China, Sweden, Canada, Switzerland, and Thailand. The meta-analysis revealed that SMS text messaging interventions significantly improved continuous abstinence rates compared to inactive control conditions (risk ratio [RR] 1.51, 95% CI 1.24-1.84). The subgroup analysis showed pooled RRs of 1.90 (95% CI 1.29-2.81), 1.64 (95% CI 1.23-2.18), and 1.35 (95% CI 1.04-1.76) for continuous abstinence at the 1-, 3-, and 6- month follow-up, respectively. Pooling across 7 studies, SMS text messaging interventions showed efficacy in promoting 7-day point prevalence abstinence (PPA), with an RR of 1.83 (95% CI 1.34-2.48). The subgroup analysis demonstrated a significant impact at the 1- and 3-month follow-ups, with pooled RRs of 1.72 (95% CI 1.13-2.63) and 2.54 (95% CI 2.05-3.14), respectively, compared to inactive control conditions. However, at the 6-month follow-up, the efficacy of SMS text messaging interventions in promoting 7-day PPA was not statistically significant (RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.92-2.28). In contrast, app-based interventions did not show significant efficacy in promoting continuous abstinence or 7-day PPA. However, it is important to note that the evidence for app-based interventions was limited. ConclusionsSMS text messaging–based smoking cessation interventions compared to inactive controls were associated with abstinence among young people and could be considered a viable option for smoking cessation in this population. More research is needed on smoking cessation apps, especially apps that target young people. Future research should focus on identifying the most effective mobile phone–based cessation approaches and on developing strategies to increase their uptake and intention.

Surface wear is a major hindrance in the solid/solid interface of triboelectric nanogenerators, severely affecting output performance and stability. Here, authors show metallic glass as one triboelectric interface can enhance the triboelectrification efficiency and endow the device with humidity- and wear-resistance.

Abstract Background The trajectory of frailty and intrinsic capacity (IC) often overlap in older adults. Longitudinal analyses of transitions of frailty and IC, and their associations with incident functional decline are limited. The present study aimed to identify transitions of frailty status and IC, and explore associations between transitions of frailty and IC, and future disability among community-dwelling older adults. Methods In the West China and Aging Trend Study, 808 participants aged ≥ 60 years completed baseline and three years follow-up (frailty, IC and disability assessments). Physical frailty was measured based on Fried phenotype. IC was evaluated by five domains (cognition, locomotion, sensory, psychological, and vitality). Disability was defined as a need for assistance in any items in activity of daily living (ADL) or the instrumental activity of daily living (IADL). Logistic regressions were performed to examine their relationships. Results Four transitions of IC status (kept well: 27.4%, improved: 8.4%, worsened: 35.4%, and kept poor: 28.8%), and two transitions of frailty status (kept not-frail/improved: 93.2%, kept frail/worsened: 6.8%) were identified. Impaired locomotion and vitality at baseline were significantly associated with kept frail or worsened frail. However, impaired sensory and vitality at baseline not frailty status was significantly associated with transitions of IC. Adjusted for covariates and transitions of frailty, kept poor IC was associated with ADL (OR = 2.26, 95%CI = 1.17,4.34) and IADL disability (OR = 3.74, 95%CI = 1.79, 7.82). Conclusions Transitions of IC, but not frailty were associated with higher risk of incident disability. Baseline locomotion and vitality impairment were associated with worsened or kept frail. Our findings support the WHO’s notion of monitoring and optimizing IC to delay deterioration of IC and preventing frailty and disability. Clinical trial number ChiCTR1800018895

To improve the binding properties of diamond coating on carbide tools, three micrometer crystal diamond coatings were successfully deposited on YG8 carbide substrate via hot-filament chemical vapor deposition, whose boron gradient ranged from high (HGBMCD) to low (LGBMCD) and zero (MCD). The effect of the gradient size of the decreasing concentration of boron doping method on the nucleation and growth properties of diamond coatings during deposition was investigated. The results showed that the nucleation density of diamond increased with the doping of boron and that the diamond grains became smaller and more uniform after six-hour growth. Among them, the grain size of LGBMCD was mostly in the range of 2 to 3 μm. In addition, the graphite phase in the gradient boron-doped diamond coating was inhibited throughout the growth process, and IDia/IG was up to 14.65 in HGBMCD. The concentrations of the boron and cobalt compounds (i.e., Co2B and CoB) increased as the boron doping gradient decreased. Meanwhile, the residual stress in the diamond coatings gradually changed from compressive stress to tensile stress due to the doping of gradient boron, and the calculated residual stress decreased first and then increased, with the minimum residual stress of –0.255 GPa. Rockwell indentation showed that the gradient doping of boron improved the binding properties of diamond coatings, and that the optimal binding properties were observed at the LGBMCD, which was up to HF2 level at 1 470 N. Therefore, a proper boron doping gradient was demonstrated to improve the quality and binding performance of diamond coatings.

Abstract Charge transfer mechanisms of contact electrification (CE) are essential for widening applications of the triboelectric nanogenerator, and thus are widely studied by scientists around the world. However, the quantitative modeling of CE, especially that between polymers, is still lacking. Herein, a model was proposed to describe the contributions from different mechanisms, including electron transfer and mass transfer in polymer/polymer CE through the field‐assisted thermionic emission, where three groups of charge transfer mechanisms were distinguished by the polarity of the charge transfer and the corresponding electric field. The results indicated that the total generated charge in CE is actually much larger than the measured net surface charge, confirming the bidirectional material‐dependent charge transfer mechanisms between two surfaces, which is meaningful for understanding the millennium puzzle in triboelectrification and provides a new perspective for promoting the applications to tailor surface charge generation.

Previous studies have demonstrated a dynamical linkage between the ozone and stratospheric polar vortex strength, but only a few have mentioned the persistence of the anomalous vortex. This study uses the complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise to decompose the winter stratospheric northern annular mode (NAM) variabilities into relatively low frequencies (>4 months) and high frequencies (

This post-hoc analysis compared the receptor-binding domain (RBD)-specific and pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies against the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 strain elicited by one or two doses (56-d interval) of Ad5-nCoV vaccine regimen (NCT04341389 and NCT04566770). Both trials had low-dose and high-dose groups. Propensity score matching was used to adjust the baseline between one- and two-dose regimens. To predict the decrease in antibody titers 1 y after vaccination, half-lives of RBD-binding antibodies and pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies were computed. We obtained 34 and 29 pairs of participants in the low- and high-dose groups based on the propensity score matching. The two-dose regimen of Ad5-nCoV increased the peaking level of neutralizing antibodies compared to the one-dose regimen at day 28, but the responses of the neutralizing antibodies were not consistent with those of the RBD antibodies. Half-lives of the RBD-binding antibodies in the two-dose Ad5-nCoV regimen (202–209 days) were longer than those in the one-dose regimen (136–137 d); half-lives of the pseudovirus neutralizing antibody in the one-dose Ad5-nCoV regimen (177 d) were longer than those in the two-dose regimen (116–131 d). The predicted positive rates of RBD-binding antibodies in the one-dose regimen (34.1%–38.3%) would be lower than those in the two-dose Ad5-nCoV regimen (67.0%–84.0%), while the positive rates of pseudovirus neutralizing antibodies in the one-dose regimen (65.4%–66.7%) would be higher than those in the two-dose regimen (48.3%–58.0%). The two-dose Ad5-nCoV regimen with a 56-d interval had no effect on the persistence of neutralizing antibodies but slowed decay trend of RBD-binding antibodies.

Background: Sarcopenia, defined as the loss of muscle mass and strength, has been associated with increased hospitalization and mortality. Dietary pattern analysis is a whole diet approach which in this study was used to investigate the relationship between diet and sarcopenia. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of sarcopenia and explore possible factors associated with it among a large population in Beijing, China.Methods: A cross-sectional study with 1,059 participants aged more than 50 years was performed. Sarcopenia was defined based on the guidelines of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. The total score of the MNA-SF questionnaire was used to analyse nutrition status. The baseline demographic information, diet structure and eating habits were collected by clinicians trained in questionnaire data collection and anthropometric and bioimpedance measurements.Results: The overall prevalence of sarcopenia was 8.8% and increased with age: 5%, 5.8%, 10.3% and 26.2% in the 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥80 years groups, respectively. Marital status (with or without a spouse) was not an independent factor associated with sarcopenia adjusted by age and sex. However, nutritional risk or malnutrition, vegetable diet, advanced age and spicy eating habits were risk factors for sarcopenia. Meanwhile, daily fruit, dairy and nut consumption were protective factors against sarcopenia adjusted by age, sex, income status and spouse status.Conclusion: Although further studies are required to explore the association between healthy dietary patterns and the risk of sarcopenia, the present study provides basic data for identifying correlates of sarcopenia in elderly Chinese individual.

Objective: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is linked to an unfavorable prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Here, we aimed to develop an EMT gene signature for OSCC prognosis.Methods: In TCGA dataset, prognosis-related EMT genes with p < 0.05 were screened in OSCC. An EMT gene signature was then conducted with LASSO method. The efficacy of this signature in predicting prognosis was externally verified in the GSE41613 dataset. Correlations between this signature and stromal/immune scores and immune cell infiltration were assessed by ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. GSEA was applied for exploring significant signaling pathways activated in high- and low-risk phenotypes. Expression of each gene was validated in 40 paired OSCC and normal tissues via RT-qPCR.Results: A prognostic 9-EMT gene signature was constructed in OSCC. High risk score predicted poorer clinical outcomes than low risk score. ROCs confirmed the well performance on predicting 1-, 3- and 5-year survival. Multivariate cox analysis revealed that this signature was independently predictive of OSCC prognosis. The well predictive efficacy was validated in the GSE41613 dataset. Furthermore, this signature was distinctly related to stromal/immune scores and immune cell infiltration in OSCC. Distinct pathways were activated in two subgroups. After validation, AREG, COL5A3, DKK1, GAS1, GPX7 and PLOD2 were distinctly upregulated and SFRP1 was downregulated in OSCC than normal tissues.Conclusion: Our data identified and verified a robust EMT gene signature in OSCC, which provided a novel clinical tool for predicting prognosis and several targets against OSCC therapy.

Abstract Evapotranspiration (ET) is a critical process that regulates the transfer of heat and water between land and the atmosphere. While satellite‐based ET algorithms can provide area‐wide daily ET estimates, few are independent of local meteorological measurements. The Variant of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Standard Evapotranspiration Algorithm (VISEA) can potentially run without ground‐based observations. However, the surface energy budgets used in VISEA generally overpredict daily net radiation and related ET. To improve the accuracy of net radiation and ET, we incorporated Brutsaert's atmosphere emissivity model and corrected the routine to calculate the downward long‐wave radiation on cloudy days (which we called VISEA2023 model). The VISEA2023 model predicted net radiation and ET that agreed well with measurements at seven ChinaFlux sites, with an R2 of 0.8 and an Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 30 W m−2 for net radiation, and an R2 of 0.6 and an RMSE of 1 mm day−1 for ET, respectively. Additionally, the VISEA2023 model is more robust in comparison to the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrologic model output in 10 major river basins and 80 sub‐river basins, with an R2 of 0.91 (0.78) and an RMSE of 85 (127.4) mm year−1, than MOD16, which has an R2 of 0.81 (0.82) and an RMSE of 134.8 (157.7) mm year−1, and Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer ET, which has an R2 of 0.92 (0.62) and an RMSE of 90.1 (136.1) mm year−1. The improved VISEA2023 model can offer near‐real‐time ET on a larger scale, improving our understanding of water cycles and their relation to climate change.

ObjectiveThis study was designed to establish the cut-off value and diagnostic utility of the Ishii test, which gauges the odds of severe sarcopenia based on the results of an equation based upon age, grip strength, and calf circumference among middle-aged and older adults in Western China.MethodsThis study incorporated adults ≥ 50 years of age from the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. Severe sarcopenia was defined as per the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia: 2019 Consensus (AWGS2019) recommendations, with the odds of severe sarcopenia being estimated with the Ishii test score chart. The diagnostic utility of the Ishii test in this patient cohort was assessed by analyzing its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and the area under the ROC curve (AUC).ResultsIn total, 4,177 individuals ≥ 50 years of age were included in this study including 2668 females (63.9%) and 1,509 males (36.1%). These included 568 (13.6%) participants affected by severe sarcopenia, of whom 237 were male (15.7%) and 331 were female (12.4%). Optimal Ishii test cut-off values established based on Youden’s index were ≥ 114 for males and ≥ 120 for females when using the AWGS2019 reference standard. The sensitivity/specificity/PPV/NPV of the Ishii test when screening for severe sarcopenia were 89.45%/77.15%/0.42/0.98 in males and 90.03%/77.05%/0.36/0.98 in females. The AUC values for the Ishii test in males and females were 0.899 (95% CI, 0.883–0.916) and 0.905 (95% CI, 0.892–0.917), respectively.ConclusionThese data indicate that the Ishii test offers value as a candidate diagnostic test that can be used to screen for severe sarcopenia, with recommended diagnostic cut-off values of ≥ 114 for males and ≥ 120 for females.

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) is a rare and highly malignant type of esophageal cancer with no standard treatment, facing challenges of resistance to conventional therapies. This study presents the cases of one extensive-stage and two limited-stage SCCE patients treated with chemoimmunotherapy. The two limited-stage patients underwent surgery post-treatment and experienced notable and enduring positive responses. This represents the first documented application of neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in limited-stage SCCE patients. Additionally, comprehensive immunohistochemical analysis and whole exome sequencing were performed on the case patients. The findings revealed that infiltration of CD8+ T cells and PD-L1 expression in the SCCE tumor were key factors for favorable responses in SCCE patients receiving chemoimmunotherapy.

ABSTRACTRegulatory T (Treg) cells are critical in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment to favor tumor progression and resistance to therapies. However, the heterogeneity and function of Treg cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain underexplored. We identified CD177 as a tumor-infiltrating Treg cell marker in ESCC. Interestingly, expression levels of CD177 and PD-1 were mutually exclusive in tumor Treg cells. CD177+ Treg cells expressed high levels of IL35, in association with CD8+ T cell exhaustion, whereas PD-1+ Treg cells expressed high levels of IL10. Pan-cancer analysis revealed that CD177+ Treg cells display increased clonal expansion compared to PD-1+ and double-negative (DN) Treg cells, and CD177+ and PD-1+ Treg cells develop from the same DN Treg cell origin. Importantly, we found CD177+ Treg cell infiltration to be associated with poor overall survival and poor response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy in ESCC patients. Finally, we found that lymphatic endothelial cells are associated with CD177+ Treg cell accumulation in ESCC tumors, which are also decreased after anti-PD-1 immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. Our work identifies CD177+ Treg cell as a tumor-specific Treg cell subset and highlights their potential value as a prognostic marker of survival and response to immunotherapy and a therapeutic target in ESCC.

Abstract Background The relationship between vitamin D and sarcopenia was inconsistent between men and women. Physical activity (PA) may interact with vitamin D on sarcopenia. However, the sex-specific relationships of vitamin D, PA and sarcopenia have yet elucidated. We aimed to examine the sex differences in the relation between vitamin D status, PA levels, obesity and sarcopenia in community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults, as well as whether vitamin D status is a modifier in the relationship between PA and sarcopenia. Methods The current study was a cross-sectional study based on the baseline survey of the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. A total of 3713 participants aged ≥ 50y were included in our study. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) 2019 consensus. Obesity was defined by body mass index (BMI) (≥ 28 kg/m2) and body fat mass percentage (≥ 60th percentile in each sex group). 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay and PA was evaluated by a validated China Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (CLTPAQ). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between PA, vitamin D and sarcopenia and obesity. Results Low PA was significantly associated with higher odds of sarcopenia in women only (OR = 1.70,95%CI:1.18,2.46, p

The normal growth of fishes is closely relevant to the density of mariculture. It is of great significance to accurately calculate the breeding area of specific sea area from satellite remote sensing images. However, there are no reports about cage segmentation and density detection based on remote sensing images so far. And the accurate segmentation of cages faces challenges from very large high-resolution images. Firstly, a new public mariculture cage data set is built. Secondly, the training set is augmented via sample variations to improve the robustness of the model. Then, for cage segmentation and density statistics, a new methodology based on Mask R-CNN is proposed. Using dividing and stitching technologies, the entire remote sensing test images of the cage can be accurately segmented. Finally, using the trained model, the object detection features and segmentation characteristics can be obtained at the same time. Considering only the area within the target detection frame, the proposed method can count the pixels in the segmented area, which can obtain accurate area and density while reducing time-consuming. Experimental results demonstrate that, compared with traditional contour extraction method and U-Net based scheme, the proposed scheme can significantly improve segmentation precision and model’s robustness. The relative error of the actual area is only 1.3%.

Abstract Background Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterized by a decline in physiological reserves, and multiple factors contribute to the occurrence and development of frailty. Growing evidence supports a strong link and overlap between frailty and cognitive impairment, but the mechanisms involved have not yet been fully elucidated. Aim To identify associations between 12 plasma cognition-related biomarkers and frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Methods A total of 375 participants (age 70.9 ± 5.8, 165 men and 210 women) were included in this study. Frailty was assessed using the modified Fried frailty phenotype. Participants were divided into not-frail group (n = 313) and frail group (n = 62). Twelve plasma cognitive biomarkers were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the association between different biomarkers and frailty status. Results Among the 12 biomarkers, only pTau was higher in frail individuals than in their not-frail peers (471.3 ± 58.1 pg/mL vs. 451.9 ± 61.1 pg/mL, p = 0.022). No other biomarkers had any significant association with frailty, including total-Tau (tTau), neurofilament light (NFL), amyloid-β 40 (Aβ40), amyloid-β 40 (Aβ42), S100 calcium binding protein B (S100B), visinin-like protein 1 (VLP-1), Alzheimer-associated neuronal thread protein (AD7cNTP), β-amyloid precursor protein (βAPP), chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1), soluble complement receptor 1 (sCR1) and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP). Furthermore, pTau was compared between negative and positive subject groups for each individual criterion of frailty. Significantly higher levels of pTau were observed in those who were positive for the criteria of low grip strength (451.2 ± 61.4 pg/mL vs. 469.1 ± 57.6 pg/mL, p = 0.019), exhaustion (451.2 ± 61.6 pg/mL vs. 466.4 ± 58.4 pg/mL, p = 0.035) and low physical activity (451.1 ± 60.7 pg/mL vs. 465.7 ± 60.7 pg/mL, p = 0.034) when compared to those who were negative for each corresponding criterion. Finally, in the multivariable-adjusted analysis, the association between pTau and frailty was statistically significantly associated (OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.04–1.89), even after adjusting. Conclusions The present study found a potential association between pTau and frailty. Future works should monitor the longitudinal trajectory of changes of pTau concentrations in frailty older adults. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind will contribute to biomarker research in frailty.

AIM:To investigate the correlation between severity of diabetic retinopathy(DR)and corneal sub-basal nerve plexus(SNP)changes. METHODS: There were 132 patients with 132 eyes in type 2 diabetes(T2DM)and 80 patients with 80 eyes in age-related cataract selected in our hospital from January 2018 to May 2021, among them, there were 52 non-diabetic retinopathy(NDR)patients with 52 eyes, 40 non proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)patients with 40 eyes and 40 proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)patients with 40 eyes in T2DM. The general data and corneal laser scanning confocal microscopy were analyzed. Spearman rank correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between DR clinical stage and nerve fiber length. RESULTS: There were no differences in gender and age comparisons among 4 groups(P>0.05). The diabetes duration in PDR group was significantly longer than NPDR group and NDR group(P

Abstract Background To summarize the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients with paraneoplastic syndromes (PNS). Methods The clinical data of 1958 patients with HNC admitted to our hospital from January 1996 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic and cancer‐related characteristics were extracted. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were compared by log‐rank test. Cox regression was performed to evaluate prognostic factors and hazard ratio. Results Totally 40 HNC patients with PNS were included in the final analysis, including 36 men and four women with a mean age of 60.4 years (range 40–82). PNS was dermatologic or cutaneous in 23 (57.50%) patients, endocrine in 10 (25.00%), neurologic in five (12.50%), and osteoarticular or rheumatologic in two (5.00%). Twenty‐five (62.50%) patients had Stage III/IV cancer. PNS regressed after antitumor therapy in 28 (70.00%) patients. Recurrence of PNS was observed in nine of 12 (75.00%) patients with cancer recurrence or metastasis. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rates of patients with PNS were 51.52% and 44.44%, respectively. The DFS (p = .001) and OS (p = .003) of patients presented with PNS prior to HNC diagnosis were significantly longer than those of patients with synchronous or metachronous PNS. PNS diagnosed before HNC (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11–0.85, p = .02), Stage IV disease (aHR: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.18–9.05, p = .02), and smoking history (aHR: 3.69, 95% CI: 1.04–13.05, p = .04) were significantly associated with OS and DFS. Conclusions Early recognition of PNS could provide clues about underlying tumor condition and result in early diagnosis. Prompt detection of cancer‐associated syndromes could lead to a more favorable prognosis for these patients.