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There have been mixed findings on whether social media use is positively or negatively related to well-being. Using the Midlife in the United States Refresher study (N = 782, age 25–75), multilevel structural equation modeling examined social support quantity (time giving and receiving) and quality of as mediators at both the within- (intraindividual) and between-person (interindividual) levels. Giving support significantly mediated at within- and between-person levels: more social media use was associated with more time giving support and worse well-being. Receiving support significantly mediated at the between-person level: more social media use was associated with more time receiving support and worse well-being. When examining social support quality as a mediator, findings showed that more social media use to contact family/friends was related to better social support quality and better well-being. Results added to our understanding of the relationship between social media use and well-being by considering the role of social support quantity/quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To investigate the influence of income level on fertility intention of migrant women in China, and to provide theoretical support for the formulation and implementation of supporting measures to enhance the fertility intention of migrant women. Methods Based on the survey data of health and family planning of floating population in 2018, the influence of income level on fertility intention of migrant women was analyzed by ologist regression model, and robustness test and heterogeneity test were carried out. Results The results of ologist model regression analysis showed that the income level had a significant positive effect on the fertility intention of migrant women (OR = 1.182, 95% CI: 1.096-1.274, P < 0.01). The robustness test and heterogeneity test showed that the positive effect of income level remained stable. Conclusion Migrant women with higher income levels have higher fertility intention, and income levels have a positive effect on the fertility intention of migrant women. This suggests that a variety of measures including raising the income level on all fronts could be taken to enhance the fertility intention of migrant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A brief introduction of Chinese Limnesiidae taxonomy is provided. Adults of two new species, Limnesia (Limnesia) lupingae Li & Guo sp. nov. and Limnesia (Limnesia) macrophthalma Li & Guo sp. nov., from Heilongjiang and Hubei provinces respectively, are described in detail. Subtle structures are recorded with scanning electron micrographs. In addition, deutonymphs of two new species are also described in detail and compared with the adults in discussion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of Unionicola Haldeman, 1842 (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Unionicolidae) were collected between 2018 and 2019. Notably, Unionicola (Armatax) armata Walter, 1929, previously unrecorded in China, is now documented for the first time in the country. Additionally, Unionicola newsumi Wiles, 1999 has been reclassified and assigned to the new subgenus Vespicola within the genus Unionicola Haldeman, 1842. These findings also led to the establishment of three new subgenera: Micronodusgen. nov., Vespicolagen. nov., and Lingshuiataxgen. nov. including four species: Unionicola soluplatussp. nov. U. jinisp. nov. U. caudipessp. nov. and U. armatallasp. nov. This marks the first description and documentation of these subgenera and species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China has implemented a strict isolation system in hospitals since the COVID-19 pandemic, that adversely affected the psychology of inpatients and their caregivers. Face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with 22 stroke inpatients from two municipal hospitals were conducted to explore the psychological, emotional and related support needs of stroke inpatients and their family caregivers under this environment. Results which showed that external support for stroke inpatients and their family caregivers was insufficient highlight the necessity for developing specific nursing interventions that meet the psychological and emotional needs of inpatients and the caregivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imaging modalities provide information on plaque morphology and vulnerability; however, they are operator dependent and miss a great deal of microscopic information. Recently, many radiomics models for carotid plaque that identify unstable plaques and predict cardiovascular outcomes have been proposed. This systematic review was aimed at assessing whether radiomics is a reliable and reproducible method for the clinical prediction of carotid plaque. A systematic search was conducted to identify studies published in PubMed and Cochrane library from January 1, 2001, to September 30, 2022. Both retrospective and prospective studies that developed and/or validated machine learning models based on radiomics data to classify or predict carotid plaques were included. The general characteristics of each included study were selected, and the methodological quality of radiomics reports and risk of bias were evaluated using the radiomics quality score (RQS) tool and Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2, respectively. Two investigators independently reviewed each study, and the consensus data were used for analysis. A total of 2429 patients from 16 studies were included. The mean area under the curve of radiomics models for diagnostic or predictive performance of the included studies was 0.88 ± 0.02, with a range of 0.741–0.989. The mean RQS was 9.25 (standard deviation: 6.04), representing 25.7% of the possible maximum value of 36, whereas the lowest point was –2, and the highest score was 22. Radiomics models have revealed additional information on patients with carotid plaque, but with respect to methodological quality, radiomics reports are still in their infancy, and many hurdles need to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Family caregivers often experience a high level of stress, social isolation, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor mental and physical health. An exergame intervention was developed to promote physical activity and well-being in family caregivers and to test social support as a mechanism for behavior change. Research Design and Methods The current study was a randomized pilot trial (N = 76) to compare the effectiveness of Go&Grow (social vs nonsocial exergame) to promote well-being through increased social support and physical activity for family caregivers over a 6-week intervention. Results The treatment group increased significantly more than the control group in well-being (management of distress) and social support (satisfaction with contact quality). Social support served as a mechanism (mediator and moderator): The treatment group increased more than the control group in satisfaction with social contact quality, which led to more positive affect and less loneliness. Moreover, those in the treatment group who increased more in overall social support and knowing others' experiences increased their steps more than those with less support, whereas the change in steps for the control group was not related to a support level. Those in the treatment group who used more social features of the app had a greater increase in steps compared with those who used it less. Discussion and Implications Social support in technology interventions is a promising direction to promote caregivers' well-being and physical activity. Social support served as a mechanism of behavior change that can inform more engaging, sustainable, portable, and scalable interventions in the future for sedentary and socially isolated family caregivers. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT05032872 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social interactions today expand beyond in-person interactions. Therefore, it is important to recognize that social interactions can occur with social network members across multiple communication modes (in-person, phone, and online). The current study explored the role that social support plays in the relationship between mode frequency (in-person, phone, and online), network communication mode diversity (breadth and evenness of communicating with network members via different communication modes), and well-being (positive affect, stress, and loneliness) from the 3-year UCNET (UC Berkley Social Networks Study, N = 1159) dataset. The study contained samples for two age groups (cohorts) – 21–31 year-olds and 50–70 year-olds, which also allowed for an exploration of age differences in these relationships. Longitudinal random-intercept cross-lagged panel models (RI-CLPM) showed a high degree of stability over the 3 years for all variables. Cross-sectional structural equation mediation models showed that social support mediated the relationships of mode frequency (in-person, phone, and online) and network communication mode diversity with well-being (more positive affect and less loneliness and stress). Age differences were found in the relationship between frequency of communication modes and social support, in that the frequency of communication mode was positively related to social support for younger adults, but not for middle-aged/older adults. Current findings provided future research directions geared toward further understanding of the mode frequency and network communication mode diversity constructs and how they relate to various psychosocial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT), as the main tool for monitoring idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), is characterized by subjective variability among radiologists and insensitivity to subtle changes. Recently, a few studies have aimed to decrease subjective bias by assessing the severity of IPF using computer software, i.e., Computer-Aided Lung Informatics for Pathology Evaluation and Rating (CALIPER). However, these studies had diverse research directions. In this review, we systematically assess the effect of CALIPER in the management of IPF. Methods: A systematic review was conducted through a search of published studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, Embase, Scopus, and CNKI databases from database inception through February 28, 2022. The methodological quality would be evaluated by using Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Narrative synthesis summarized findings by participant characteristics, study design, and associations with outcomes. Results: Ten studies were included. They evaluated the relationship between CALIPER-derived parameters and pulmonary function test (PFT) and mortality. CALIPER-derived parameters showed a significant correlation with PFT and mortality. Two studies reported that CALIPER could be used to stratify outcomes. Conclusion: CALIPER-derived parameters can be used to evaluate prognosis and mortality. CALIPER-derived parameters combined with composite physiologic index (CPI) or Gender-Age-Physiology (GAP) could help clinicians implement targeted management by refining prognostic stratification. However, research has been constrained by small number of retrospective investigations and sample sizes. Therefore, it is essential to design prospective controlled studies and establish the staging system by CALIPER-derived parameters and combining them with CPI, FVC, or GAP. Clinical relevance statement: It is beneficial for clinic to provide objective, sensitive, and accurate indicators of disease progression. It also helps the clinic to develop individualized treatment plans based on the stage of disease progression and provides evaluation of efficacy in drug trials. Key Points: • Computer-Aided Lung Informatics for Pathology Evaluation and Rating (CALIPER) is a quantitative CT analysis software that can be used to evaluate the progression of disease on CT. • The CALIPER-derived vessel-related structure shows great performance in the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. • CALIPER-derived parameters combined with composite physiologic index or Gender-Age-Physiology can be used to refine prognostic stratification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Gliadin is an important protein present in cereals. Owing to its solubility in alcohol, gliadin contributes significantly to the field of food industry. However, at present, it is challenging to study the structural characteristics of gliadin at the molecular level because the exact 3‐D structure cannot be obtained using experimental methods. In this study, an α‐gliadin model was constructed by combining homology modelling, ab initio modelling, and threading methods to study the structural properties of gliadin in ethanol aqueous solution. Our results indicated that glutamine is a key element of α‐gliadin. Also, α‐gliadin exhibited relatively low hydrophilicity and high lipid solubility. Molecular dynamics simulations suggested that there are hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces existed between α‐gliadin and ethanol molecules. This study has explored the structure of wheat gliadin and its conformation in different ethanol solutions and provides a deeper understanding towards the deacetylation mechanism and potential applications of α‐gliadin in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering a highly tumor microenvironment-responsive nanoplatform toward effective chemotherapy has always been a challenge in targeted cancer treatment. Metal-organic frameworks are a promising delivery system to reformulate previously approved drugs for enhanced chemotherapy, such as disulfiram (DSF). Herein, a tumor microenvironment-activated metal-organic framework--based nanoplatform DSF@MOF-199@FA has been fabricated to realize amplified oxidative stress--induced enhanced chemotherapy. Our results unveil that the copper ions and DSF released by DSF@MOF-199@FA in an acidic environment can be converted into toxic bis(N, Ndiethyl dithiocarbamate) copper and then induce cell apoptosis. Simultaneously, we determined that the apoptosis outcome is further promoted by amplified oxidative stress through effective generation of reactive oxygen species and GSH elimination. In conclusion, this work provides a promising platform for effective anticancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pueraria omeiensis (Fabaceae, Phaseoleae) is a new species described and validly published in this study. Morphologically, it resembles Pueraria bouffordii, P. montana, and P. xyzhuii, but it differs in having densely lenticellate stems and round to suborbicular terminal leaflets. The molecular phylogeny also supported it as a distinct species. This climber occurs in montane forests of Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Yunnan, and it is here evaluated as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metastasis is an important cause of cancer-related death. Previous studies in our laboratory found that pregnane alkaloids from Pachysandra terminalis had antimetastatic activity against breast cancer cells. In the current study, we demonstrated that treatment with one of the alkaloid derivatives, (Z)-3β-ethylamino-pregn-17(20)-en (1), led to the downregulation of the HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 pathway, suppressed the phosphorylation of downstream molecules Akt, mTOR, FAK, and inhibited breast cancer metastasis and angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the antimetastasis and antiangiogenesis effects of 1 treatment (40 mg/kg) were more effective than that of Sorafenib (50 mg/kg). Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) analysis was performed and the result suggested that HSP90α was a direct target of 1. Taken together, our results suggested that compound 1 might represent a candidate antitumor agent for metastatic breast cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rotation Region Proposal Networks (RRPN) are used to generate rotated proposals with the information of text angle for arbitrary oriented scene text detection (STD). However, the computational complexity of RRPN inference is relatively high compared with other methods, which makes it difficult for massive deployment. In this paper, the first full-stack FPGA-CPU heterogeneous system design of RRPN-based STD algorithm is proposed. A hardware/software partition method is presented to analyze and split the tasks to enhance the computation efficiency of hardware. The fast 2D Winograd algorithm and block floating point are utilized to reduce computation complexity while maintaining a relatively high precision. The implementation results show that the peak performance of MAC arrays in the proposed architecture reaches 655.4 GOPS and the energy efficiency achieves 64.9 GOPS/W. By fully exploiting the parallel and pipelined merits in the algorithms, the first hardware architectures for skew non-maximum suppression (S-NMS) layer and rotation region-of-interest (RRoI) polling layer are proposed. The throughput of the proposed hardware/software heterogeneous system achieves 40 times and 1.4 times improvements compared with CPU and GPU, respectively. Moreover, the comprehensive operating expense ratio of pure CPU, GPU, and the proposed system is 80.7:2.5:1, which indicates that it is suitable for massive deployment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain organoids have been used to recapitulate the processes of brain development and related diseases. However, the lack of vasculatures, which regulate neurogenesis and brain disorders, limits the utility of brain organoids. In this study, we induced vessel and brain organoids, respectively, and then fused two types of organoids together to obtain vascularized brain organoids. The fused brain organoids were engrafted with robust vascular network-like structures and exhibited increased number of neural progenitors, in line with the possibility that vessels regulate neural development. Fusion organoids also contained functional blood--brain barrier-like structures, as well as microglial cells, a specific population of immune cells in the brain. The incorporated microglia responded actively to immune stimuli to the fused brain organoids and showed ability of engulfing synapses. Thus, the fusion organoids established in this study allow modeling interactions between the neuronal and non-neuronal components in vitro, particularly the vasculature and microglia niche. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The standard procedure for obtaining accurate electron temperature ( T e ) from Langmuir probe I–V characteristics measured in Maxwellian plasmas is studied by comparing the results of T e determined via different data-processing methods. The comparison results show that the width and position of the fitting interval in the transition region of the I–V curve as well as whether the ion collection current deducted from the I–V curve can significantly influence the calculation of T e and afford uncertainties in the calculation of electron density. The reasonable width of the linear fitting interval should be 30%–50% of the transition region width, and the results of T e are the most reliable, which are determined by the linear fitting intervals optimally selected from the electron part of I–V curves. Based on the results, a rigorous data-processing method is proposed to provide a standard procedure for obtaining reliable plasma parameters, especially accurate T e from Maxwellian plasmas using a Langmuir probe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cynomorium songaricum is a traditional medicine and also a food material that is eaten raw or processed as tea or beverages. As a featured plant in semi-desert grasslands, C. songaricum is also eaten by the cattle and sheep in the area. This research study fed dairy sheep C. songaricum to determine the flavan-3-ols in sheep milk. Catechin (Cat), epicatechin (Epi), procyanidin A1 (A1), procyanidin A2 (A2), and procyanidin B1 (B1) were detected in sheep milk with the concentration being Epi > A2 > Cat > B1 > A1 at 24 h after the administration of C. songaricum. Neither A1 nor A2 were detected in the methanol extract of C. songaricum. Cysteine degradation of the plant revealed that in addition to Epi, A2 was the extending unit of the polymeric flavan-3-ols in C. songaricum , indicating that A2 is released digestively from the polymers and enters the milk. Procyanidin B-1 was converted to A1 on incubation in raw but not heated milk, indicating that the A1 in milk is the enzymatically transformed product of B1. Accelerated oxidation showed that the flavan-3-ols, B1, Cat, and Epi significantly protects the unsaturated triacyglycerols in the milk from oxidation. The flavan-3-ol could slow down the oxidation of glutathione and the latter may play an important role in preventing the milk triglycerides from oxidation. Flavan-3-ols are polyphenols with many health benefits. The present research revealed the antioxidant activities of flavan-3-ols that could be absorbed to sheep milk, adding new evidences for the values of these flavan-3-ols and for the milk. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zinc oxide (ZnO), which is toxic to aquatic organisms, is widely used as an activator in the rubber industry. The reduction of ZnO content is one of the efficient ways to tackle ecological environment impacts induced by ZnO. However, the incompatibility between Zn2+ and organic matrix inhibits the solubility and activity of Zn2+ in the organic matrix, causing the heavy use of ZnO. This work develops a phase transfer agent with Zn2+-philic structure and oleophilic structure to increase the solubility of Zn2+ in the organic matrix. The phase transfer agent and Zn2+ form coordination interactions, while the hydrophobic chains of phase transfer agent and organic matrix form hydrophobic interactions. The above two interactions improve the solubility and activity of Zn2+ in the organic matrix, contributing to the formation of crosslinking network. Through the phase transfer agent strategy, we obtain the mechanically robust elastomers, and the samples with low ZnO content still maintain the superior properties. This work provides an efficient way to reduce ZnO content without sacrificing the performance of elastomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Six coordination polymers have been prepared under solvothermal conditions with a newly designed and synthesized ligand 4′-(4-(benzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)−4,2′:6′,4′'-terpyridine (bimphtpy). • Various structures with 2D+2D→3D polycatenation (1 and 5), undulated 2D (2) or two-fold 2D→2D interpenetrated network (3) and uninterpenetrated 3D network (4 and 6) have been found. • The photoluminescence behaviors of complexes 1–6 have been investigated. • The activated complex 3 shows moderate CO 2 adsorption of 15.9 cm3 (STP)/g (0.7 mmol/g, 3.08 wt%). Six Zn(II)/Cd(II) coordination polymers (CPs), namely, {[Zn 2 (bimphtpy)(p -bdc) 1.5 (OH)]·(H 2 O) 0.5 } n (1), [Zn 2 (bimphtpy) 2 (tdc) 2 ] n (2), {[Zn(bimphtpy)(cpoa)]·4H 2 O} n (3), [Cd 2 (bimphtpy)(p -bdc) 2 (H 2 O)] n (4), {[Cd 2 (bimphtpy)(m -bdc) 2 (H 2 O) 2 ]·(H 2 O) 0.75 } n (5), and {[Cd(bimphtpy)(qda)]·H 2 O} n (6), constructed from N-heterocyclic ligand 4'-(4-(benzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-4,2':6',4''-terpyridine (bimphtpy) and five dicarboxylic acids, (p -H 2 bdc = 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H 2 tdc = 2,5-thiophenedicarboxylic acid, H 2 cpoa =4-carboxyphenoxyacetatic acid, m -H 2 bdc = 1,3-benzenedicarboxylic acid, H 2 qda = hydroquinone-o,o'-diacetic acid), have been solvothermally synthesized and structurally characterized mainly by single-crystal X-ray diffraction along with elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, PXRD and TG analysis. Complex 1 exhibits a 2D + 2D → 3D polycatenated framework with bilayers showing the uninodal 5-c (4,4)Ia topology if Zn 2 (CO 2)(OH) SBU (secondary building unit) are considered. Complex 2 reveals a 2D → 2D polycatenane of two-fold interpenetrated network with rods threading loops showing 63- hcb topology. Complex 3 presents a highly undulated 2D 44- sql sheet with thickness of about 18.5 Å. Complex 4 displays a single 3D network constructed by binuclear Cd 2 (CO 2) 4 O 2 SBU showing the uninodal 6-c pcu topology. Complex 5 features a 2D + 2D → 3D polycatenated framework showing an unidentified topology with point symbol of {42·6·72·9}{42·6}{6·72}{64·8·10}. Complex 6 shows a single 3D network constructed by binuclear Cd 2 O 4 C 2 SBU with 8-c cds topology. Moreover, the fluorescent properties of complexes 1–6 in the solid state at room temperature as well as the adsorption properties of complex 3 are also investigated, suggesting their potential applications as luminescence materials and gas adsorption selectivity materials. Six novel coordination polymers with fascinating 2D/3D architectures based on a newly designed and synthesized N-heterocyclic ligand 4′-(4-(benzimidazol-1-yl)phenyl)-4,2′:6′,4′'-terpyridine (bimphtpy), along with different dicarboxylates, and Zn(II)/Cd(II) ions have been prepared under solvothermal conditions, and the photoluminescence behaviors of complexes 1–6 and the gas adsorption property of complex 3 have been investigated. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives] To explore the antibacterial effects of essential oils from pomegranate on two kinds of postharvest pathogenic fungi, and to provide reference for the exploration of new plant-derived preservatives for pomegranate. [Methods] The inhibitory effects of 15 kinds of plant essential oils on 2 kinds of pomegranate postharvest pathogenic fungi were studied. [Results] Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil have good inhibitory effects on the mycelium growth of Coniella granati and Botrytis cinerea, and the fumigation treatment of pomegranate can inhibit the rot of fruit during storage to a certain extent. [Conclusions] Tea tree oil and eucalyptus oil can effectively inhibit the mycelium growth of two kinds of pathogenic fungi, and can better control the rot of pomegranate during storage. It is necessary to further study the fresh-keeping effect and antibacterial mechanism of plant essential oils on pomegranate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, stem cell transplantation has a significant therapeutic effect on spinal cord injury (SCI), however, it is still challenging for the seed cells selection. In this study, in order to explore cells with wide neural repair potentials, we selected the pluripotent stem cells multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) cells, inducing the in vitro differentiation of human Muse cells into neural precursor cells (Muse-NPCs) by applying neural induction medium. Here, we found induced Muse-NPCs expressed neural stem cell markers Nestin and NCAM, capable of differentiating into three types of neural cells (neuron, astrocyte and oligodendrocyte), and have certain biological functions. When Muse-NPCs were transplanted into rats suffering from T10 SCI, motor function was improved. These results provide an insight for application of Muse-NPCs in cell therapy or tissue engineering for the repair of SCI in future. • Muse cells can be induced into neural precursor cells in vitro. • Muse-NPCs different into neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes with their own functions in vitro. • Muse-NPCs promote the restoration of motor function in SCI rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of combined humid-convective drying (CHCD) on quality attributes of shiitake mushrooms regarding surface color, microstructure, texture, volatile compounds, and polysaccharides were investigated. Initially, mushrooms were subjected to various hot air drying (HAD) procedures, and the influential parameters (initial temperature, relative humidity [RH], and time) were optimized based on highest yield of polysaccharides. Among them, nonuniform drying was selected to design CHCD, with final parameters—initial temperature: 40 °C, maximum temperature: 60 °C, RH: 30%, and time: 28 h. CHCD produced shiitake mushrooms with less surface color changes (p < 0.05), softer texture, and less shrinkage (47.1 ± 1%) than conventional HAD. Scanning electron microscopy results showed a honeycomb-like pore-network in CHCD samples. The yield of polysaccharides, predominantly β-glucans as detected by MALDI-TOF and CP-MAS NMR, was 12.3 ± 0.5 g/100g in CHCD samples, significantly higher than conventional HAD (p < 0.05). A total of 51 significant volatile compounds were detected with higher concentration in CHCD compared with HAD samples using GC × GC-QTOF. Along with increasing shelf-life, CHCD process produces dry mushrooms with lower surface color changes, good preservation of internal structure, softer texture, lesser shrinkage, increased rehydration, increased content of polysaccharides, and volatile compounds compared with conventional HAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents an active cylindrical metasurface with spatial reconfigurability to achieve dynamic control of the radar cross section (RCS) reduction. The proposed metasurface is designed based on the combination of microwave transmission network and Mie scattering. In particular, by modulating the spatial coding sequence of p-i-n diodes in meta-atoms, the surface impedance of the metasurface can be dynamically changed, which enables an active metasurface to operate in an expanded frequency band via time-division multiplexing technique. Both simulated and measured results demonstrate that the proposed cylindrical metasurface with an ultrathin thickness of 0.018 λ can be continuously tuned across a wide fractional bandwidth over 32% for reducing backward scattering by 10 dB. The proposed metasurface with ultrathin thickness, tunability, conformal profile, and high performance may be applied to wideband RCS reduction, as well as advanced noninvasive detection, communication, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The available method based on statistical principles for aggregating hesitant fuzzy linguistic term set (HFLTS) possibility distribution is the N -two-stage algorithmic aggregation paradigm driven by the K -means clustering (N2S-KMC). Nonetheless, the N2S-KMC method is subject to two significant limitations. (i) The grouping technique is capable of effectively partitioning decision-making information into N groups. However, it does not determine the appropriate placement of members within each group, as the number of computations is dependent on the number of elements present in each group, rather than the elements themselves. (ii) The initial clustering centers of K -means clustering are chosen without adhering to the distribution law within the aggregated hesitant 2-tuple linguistic terms set (H2TLTS) possibility distribution. This may result in a reduction in the clustering performance. In order to address the aforementioned limitations, we suggest two enhancement techniques for the former. Firstly, we propose the utilization of the minimum average difference (MAD) method to ascertain the number of groups. This approach aims to reduce the time required for the initial stage of aggregation following grouping. Secondly, we recommend the implementation of the maximize compactness degree of inter-group grouping (MCDIGG) method. This method enables the identification of group members, resulting in a more concentrated distribution of data subsequent to grouping. The present study suggests the utilization of MAD and MCDIGG techniques as a substitute for the grouping approach in the N2S-KMC model. This leads to the development of a new algorithm, IN2S-DO-KMC, wherein the data is partitioned into K subsets in a descending order to determine the initial center for KMC. Furthermore, with respect to the issue present in the subsequent phase, we propose the utilization of the density canopy (DC) algorithm to perform pre-clustering of the data and produce the initial clustering center and the quantity of clusters for the K -means algorithm. Subsequently, a refined version of the N2S-KMC model, denoted as IN2S-DC-KMC, has been suggested. Ultimately, an empirical study is conducted to assess the validity and practicability of the proposed framework for evaluating failure modes in medical devices. The outcomes are evaluated with regards to the efficacy of the algorithm, the numerical dispersion, and the pragmatic ramifications. • We propose the MAD method that determines the number of groups for the aggregated HFLTS possibility distributions. • We propose the MCDIGG method that determines member of each group with HFLTS possibility distributions. • We apply an improved density canopy clustering algorithm to the K-means clustering algorithm for pre-clustering process. • We propose a measure to predict the degree of compactness after data aggregated in different grouping cases. • We propose two aggregation algorithms, IN2S-DO-KMC and IN2S-DC-KMC, for HFLTS possibility distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a clinically important causative agent of acute respiratory diseases in postweaning calves and feedlot cattle and causes numerous economic losses to the cattle industry. In June 2018, an outbreak of an acute respiratory disease occurred among 4- to 10-month-old calves on three intensive beef cattle farms in Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China, with a 27.42% morbidity rate (329/1200) and a > 25% mortality rate (85/329). Using next-generation sequencing, we comprehensively analyzed microbial diversity in the lung samples of the diseased cattle and found that the causative agent of this epidemic outbreak is mainly a bovine orthopneumovirus named BRSV strain DQ. We then isolated and confirmed the virus by RT-PCR and an indirect immunofluorescence assay. Phylogenetic analysis of genes G, F, N, NS1, NS2, and SH of BRSV strain DQ showed that this strain shares the highest genetic similarity with strains USII/S1, 15489, V41, and NY487834 belonging to subgroup III of BRSV. This is the first report of subgroup III strain of BRSV presence in China. Heilongjiang Province is a major cattle-breeding province in China; therefore, it is necessary to test for BRSV in the cattle trade and to conduct region-extended epidemiological surveillance for BRSV in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five species of torrenticolid mites (Acari, Hydrachnidia), collected in the Anzihe and Qingliangfeng national nature reserves, R. P. China, are identified. Three species are described as new to science: Torrenticola pseudosiamis Gu & Guo, sp. nov., T. anziensis Gu & Guo, sp. nov., and Monatractides sichuanensis Gu & Guo, sp. nov. The other two species, M. macrocorpis Gu & Guo, 2019, M. xiaoxiensis Gu & Guo, 2019, are newly reported from Zhejiang Province. Descriptions and illustrations of these species are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: KMT2B-related dystonia is a recently discovered hereditary dystonia that mostly occurs in childhood. This dystonia usually progresses to generalized dystonia with cervical, cranial, pharynx and larynx involvement. Our study summarizes genotype-phenotype features and deep brain stimulation (DBS) efficacy observed with KMT2B-related dystonia patients in China.Methods: We identified 20 patients with KMT2B variations from dystonia samples with a gene panel and whole exome sequencing. Genetic, clinical and treatment analyses of these patients with KMT2B mutations were further conducted.Results: We summarized the genotype and phenotypic characteristics of KMT2B-related patients in China, including 16 sporadic patients and 3 pedigrees (including 4 patients). Thirty-five percent (7/20) of patients had been published previously. The age of onset was between 1 month and 24 years (average 6.90 ± 5.72 years). Sixty-five percent (13/20) of patients had onset from lower limbs. Upper limbs or larynx accounted for 15% (3/20) and 20% (4/20) of patients, respectively. In the same family, male patients tended to have more severe symptoms than female patients. Carriers of KMT2B variants may present with nonmotor symptoms without dystonia. Abnormal endocrine metabolism could also be seen in our patients, including advanced bone age that had never been reported previously. Nine of our patients underwent DBS surgery. The mean follow-up time was 4.9 (range 1.3-16) months after DBS, and perceptible improvement of clinical symptoms were observed.Conclusions: The genotypic and phenotypic spectra of Chinese KMT2B-related dystonia patients were further expanded. DBS surgery might be the preferred option for severe KMT2B-related dystonia patients till now. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between flatfoot morphology and body mass and height in children aged 6–12 years. A total of 6471 Chinese children (mean age 9.0 ± 1.9 years, 41% female) were assessed for foot morphometry, body height, and body mass index. Foot morphology, including foot length, width, girth, arch height, hallux valgus angle, and rearfoot valgus angle, was measured using a 3D laser scanner. Flatfoot evaluations were conducted using the Sztriter–Godunov index (KY) from footprints. All measurements were analyzed by age and sex using the mean values of the left and right sides. Comparisons were performed between flatfoot groups, between body mass index (BMI) groups, and between body height groups. The study revealed a significant decrease in the incidence of bipedal flatfoot with age (p < 0.001), whereas the prevalence of obesity remained consistent (p > 0.05). Bipedal flatfoot was associated with distinct morphological changes, including lower arches, reduced instep height, diminished ankle heights and a greater rearfoot valgus angle (p < 0.05). When comparing the BMI groups, overweight children had larger and thicker feet (p < 0.05), but no differences were found in arch height and ankle height (p > 0.05). When comparing the body height groups, short-statured children had a shorter feet girth, shorter arches, and shorter ankle height (p < 0.05), but no differences were found in the rearfoot valgus angle (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The main characteristics of flat feet include lower arches and instep heights and ankle heights but higher rearfoot valgus angles. In general, overweight children's feet do not have the common features of flat feet. In contrast, short children had similar features of flatfoot except for rearfoot valgus. Assessment of posture, such as rearfoot valgus, can be critical in identifying children with flat feet. What is Known: • The morphology of children's feet is associated with body growth, but the relationship between flatfeet and body mass and height remains controversial. What is New: • Three-dimensional foot measurement shows that body mass is generally not associated with flatfeet, while short children have lower arches but no rearfoot valgus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrazine (HD) and mono‐methyl hydrazine (MMH), as the compositions of rocket fuels and corrosion inhibitor, have a significant impact on the atmospheric environment. The effects of them on the reaction between NO2 and H2O were investigated theoretically from mechanism and kinetics, and it is expected that they can promote the hydrolysis of NO2 due to their lower free energy barriers. For the subsequent reaction HNO3+HONO+HD/MMH, acid base complex and zwitterionic structure were produced through isomerization. When one or two water molecules were involved in the subsequent reaction, only zwitterionic structure can be found with the lower free energy barrier, and the products were more stable than those without water molecules. To study the atmospheric behavior of HD/MMH, the structures, thermodynamics, interaction forces and temperature dependence of the clusters, which were consisted with HNO3 and HONO with the base molecules including ammonia, amine and amide, were further calculated, and the results show that the hydrogen bond is the main interaction in the clusters. The global minima remained fixed when the temperature increases from 200 K to 325 K. The forming reactions of the clusters were spontaneous, suggesting that ammonia, amine and amide can promote the nucleation of HNO3 and HONO molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predator-prey interactions have long been of great interest to ecologists. Although the direct consumptive effects have received extensive research, indirect influences of odour derived from their conspecifics and prey on predators have largely been underestimated and overlooked. In this study, the indirect effects of predator-prey interactions were determined with predatory mites Neoseiulus cucumeris and its factitious prey Tyrophagus putrescentiae. The responses of immature N. cucumeris to mixed odour with their conspecifics and prey were determined in a laboratory experiment. Our results showed that the mixed odour with their conspecifics did not demonstrate any obvious influences on the survival rates, developmental periods, predation rates and activities of the predatory mites. Intriguingly, the predators prolonged their protonymphal stage and consumed more prey eggs when exposed to mixed odour with their prey. Our results indicated that the mixed odour with their conspecifics was weak and its influence was insignificant for this species, but the prey odour showed a signifcant influence on the growth and consumption rates of immature predators, which highlighted that the indirect influences of predator-prey interactions on the predator were substantial and cannot be neglected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-smooth surface of a nano or micro-scale fiber has an extremely large surface area and a tremendously high surface energy (geometric potential). This paper focuses on the formation mechanism of fabrication of a non-smooth surface by electrospinning through controlling solvent evaporation and nanoscale adhesion of nanoparticles on the surface. Poly(vinylidene fluoride), multi-wall carbon nanotubes and a binary solvent system are adopted in the experiment to elucidate how to fabricate nanoscale porous nanofibers and lotus-surface-like nanofibers. A nanoparticle's vibration near its equilibrium is also discussed, which also affects greatly the surface morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guanylate cyclases (GCs) are enzymes that catalyze the reaction to produce cyclic GMP (cGMP), a key signaling molecule in eukaryotes. Nevertheless, systemic identification and functional analysis of GCs in crop plant species have not yet been conducted. In this study, we systematically identified GC genes in the economically important crop tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and analyzed function of two putative tomato GC genes in disease resistance. Ninety-nine candidate GCs containing GC catalytic center (GC-CC) motif were identified in tomato genome. Intriguingly, all of them were putative protein kinases embedding a GC-CC motif within the protein kinase domain, which was thus tentatively named as GC-kinases here. Two homologs of Arabidopsis PEPRs, SlGC17 and SlGC18 exhibited in vitro GC activity. Co-silencing of SlGC17 and SlGC18 genes significantly reduced resistance to tobacco rattle virus, fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst) DC3000. Moreover, co-silencing of these two genes attenuated PAMP and DAMP-triggered immunity as shown by obvious decrease of flg22, chitin and AtPep1-elicited Ca2+ and H2O2 burst in SlGC-silenced plants. Additionally, silencing of these genes altered the expression of a set of Ca2+ signaling genes. Furthermore, co-silencing of these GC-kinase genes exhibited stronger effects on all above regulations in comparison with individual silencing. Collectively, our results suggest that GC-kinases might widely exist in tomato and the two SlPEPR-GC genes redundantly play a positive role in resistance to diverse pathogens and PAMP/DAMP-triggered immunity in tomato. Our results provide insights into composition and functions of GC-kinases in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiconducting thin film solar cell based on Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) materials is considered as a promising candidate for very large-scale application due to high absorption coefficient and low cost. In this study, the performances of n-ZnO/n-CdS/p-CZTS solar cells were numerically simulated using the AFORS-HET software. The influences of double-graded bandgap and thickness of CZTS layer on the performances of the solar cell were investigated. The calculated results show that double-graded bandgap structure can greatly optimize the conversion efficiency of CZTS thin film solar cell. The optimal dual gradient structure is 1.4 eV-1.3 eV-1.5 eV, the optimal thickness ratio is 11:1, and the conversion efficiency could be 26.63%. The results of this study can serve as a guide in fabricating CZTS solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypocrellins, as natural pigments from Shiraia bambusicola, have extensive applications in the agricultural, cosmetic, food, and feed industries, and play a vital role in photodynamic therapy for anticancer and antiviral treatments. However, environmental stresses are always the bottlenecks for increasing hypocrellin yield during the process of fermentation. Pre-mRNA alternative splicing (AS) is an essential mechanism in the defense of abiotic stresses in the animal and plant kingdom, but is seldom involved in fungi. In this study, AS from genome-wide sequencing and RNA-seq data for S. bambusicola was analyzed for the first time. Interestingly, the proportion of AS in S. bambusicola was 38.44% (most of them participated in metabolic processes, covering pigmentation and response to stimulus), a much higher ratio than seen in that of other fungal species (1.3–18%). Here, we identified the relationship of AS and secondary metabolic (SM) biosynthesis under a series of abiotic stresses. Suitable fungicides suppressed hypocrellin production significantly, and AS occurred in key functional genes (sbFLO, sbMFS, sbPKS) of hypocrellin biosynthesis. In contrast, H2O2 improved the yield of hypocrellins, but AS were not found in the corresponding gene cluster. A further study showed that overexpressing an isoform of sbPKS (sbPKSa) in Shiraia bambusicola could dramatically down-regulate the expression of the original gene sbPKS and nearly inhibit the production of hypocrellins. Altogether, our study strongly supported the hypothesis that AS had a vital role in the regulation of hypocrellin biosynthesis under stresses, and initially explored whether SM functional genes were relevant for fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hollow tremella-like graphene sphere/tin dioxide (HTGS/SnO 2) composite was successfully prepared by simple emulsification and impregnation followed by calcination. In this material, tin dioxide adheres to the folds on the surface of the hollow tremella-like graphene spheres. Hollow tremella-like graphene spheres as the matrix of SnO 2 not only provide a space of volumetric expansion for the tin oxide particles, relieve the internal stress of the tin dioxide, but also effectively avoid aggregation of the tin dioxide and increase the electrical conductivity. As an anode electrode material for batteries, the initial discharge/charge capacities of HTGS/SnO 2 are 1762.4 mAh g-1 and 1169.4 mAh g-1, and the Coulomb efficiency is 96.9%. After 50 cycles, capacity remains 80.4% of reversible capacity. The excellent electrochemical stability is attributed to the extraordinary structure of HTGS/SnO 2. The hollow structure of graphene sphere allows simultaneous insertion of lithium ions from the inner and outer surfaces. Meanwhile, the tin dioxide particles are uniformly dispersed by the wrinkles on the surface of the graphene, thereby enlarging the space for the volume expansion of tin dioxide in order to avoid contact with the electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon is regarded as the best choice for the new emergence of lithium-ion battery anode materials owing to its high theoretical capacity and safety, but it also faces great challenges in practical applications, namely structural instability, solid electrolyte interphase film rupture and capacity attenuation caused by volume expansion. Here we report the graphene caging Si nanoparticles anchored on graphene sheets by simple coating and calcination. The interspace between the silicon nanoparticles and the graphene cage affords volume expansion sufficient space. The graphene affords two parts in this material simultaneously, one of which is forming a flexible shell of silicon nanoparticles that can relieve internal stress and improve the adaptability to the expansion of silicon in different directions, the second is building an interlinked network matrix to increase conductivity. Nano‑silicon is under the dual protection of graphene cage and graphene sheets interlinked network, this interesting structure also significantly enhances the electrochemical performance of the silicon nanoparticles. The prepared electrode material exhibits excellent cycle performance with an excellent capacity of 1616.1 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g−1. Schematic illustration of the synthesis procedure and the electrochemical performance for SiNP@graphene cage/GNS. Unlabelled Image • Graphene caging Si nanoparticles anchored on graphene sheets were prepared by simple coating and calcination. • The graphene affords two parts in this material simultaneously. • Nano-silicon is under the dual protection of graphene cage and graphene sheets interlinked network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accelerated molecular dynamics simulations are routinely being used to recover the correct canonical probability distributions corresponding to the original potential energy landscape of biomolecular systems. However, the limits of time reweighting, based on transition state theory, in obtaining true kinetic rates from accelerated molecular dynamics for biomolecular systems are less obvious. Here, we investigate this issue by studying the kinetics of cis-trans isomerization of peptidic ω bond by accelerated molecular dynamics. We find that time reweighting is valid for obtaining true kinetics when the original potential is not altered at the transition state regions, as expected. When the original potential landscape is modified such that the applied boost potential alters the transition state regions, time reweighting fails to reproduce correct kinetics and the reweighted rate is much slower than the true rate. By adopting the overdamped limit of Kramers’ rate theory, we are successful in recovering correct kinetics irrespective of whether or not the transition state regions are modified. Furthermore, we tested the validity of the acceleration weight factor from the path integral formalism for obtaining the correct kinetics of cis-trans isomerization. It was found that this formulation of the weight factor is not suitable for long time scale processes such as cis-trans isomerization with high energy barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermocapillary motion of both cloaked and non-cloaked droplets on slippery liquid-infused porous surface were investigated experimentally. The effect of droplet radius, temperature gradient and oil viscosity on the migration velocity of droplet were considered. We found that the migration velocity of cloaked droplet was larger than that of non-cloaked droplet, which was attributed to the larger apparent radius. Through nondimensional analysis, the migration velocity of both cloaked and non-cloaked droplet followed the same linear relation with Marangoni number with slope of k = 22, which indicated that the cloaking effect actually promoted the thermocapillary motion of droplet on SLIPS with an external temperature gradient. In addition, the motion of oil layer underneath droplet was observed, which was responsible for the positive intercept of migration velocity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Oxygen vacancies of metal oxides play a critical role in photocatalytic activity. In this work, a novel method involving the adjustment of pH and use of a surfactant is used to synthesize Sr 2 FeMoO 6 having more oxygen vacancies. The synthesized photocatalyst (Sr 2 FeMoO 6) is used to study the relationship between oxygen vacancies and photodegradation of methyl blue (MB) solution. Sr 2 FeMoO 6 samples were prepared using sol-gel (S1 sample), hydrothermal (S2 sample), and thermal decomposition of a metal-organic salt using organic solvent methods (S3 sample). The photocatalytic activities of synthesized samples fell in the descending order of: S3 > S1 > S2. Similarly, the surface oxygen vacancies of synthesized photocatalysts (S1, S2 and S3) were found to be in the descending order of: S3 > S1 > S2. Based upon the comparison and analysis of S1 and S4, the effect of pH value under similar synthesis conditions was studied. Furthermore, EDTA (surfactant) was used to synthesize Sr 2 FeMoO 6 (herein, referred to as S5) having the same pH as that of S3. The comparison of S4 and S5 samples was used to probe the effect of Sr 2 FeMoO 6 photocatalyst, synthesized using a surfactant-assisted route. Excellent photocatalytic activity was found for sample S5, where the pH of 8 was the optimum for sol-gel preparation method. The MB solution can be degraded completely (100%) in 35 min for S5 sample. The results indicate that the lattice oxygen vacancies can promote the harvesting of visible light and narrow the band gap, while the surface oxygen vacancies can increase the separation efficiency of charge-carriers. Beside their critical role in the evolution of photocatalytic oxygen, the surface oxygen vacancies also proved helpful in separating electrons and holes. Highlights • In this work, a novel method involving the adjustment of pH and use of a surfactant is used to synthesize Sr 2 FeMoO 6 having more oxygen vacancies. • The MB solution can be degraded completely (100%) in 35 min for S5 sample. • The results indicate that the lattice oxygen vacancies can promote the harvesting of visible light and narrow the band gap, while the surface oxygen vacancies can increase the separation efficiency of charge-carriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal sulfides with excellent redox reversibility and high capacity are very promising electrode materials for sodium‐ion batteries. However, their practical application is still hindered by the poor rate capability and limited cycle life. Herein, a template‐based strategy is developed to synthesize nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu9S5 bullet‐like hollow particles starting from bullet‐like ZnO particles. With the structural and compositional advantages, these unique nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu9S5 bullet‐like hollow particles manifest excellent sodium storage properties with superior rate capability and ultra‐stable cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal sulfides with excellent redox reversibility and high capacity are very promising electrode materials for sodium‐ion batteries. However, their practical application is still hindered by the poor rate capability and limited cycle life. Herein, a template‐based strategy is developed to synthesize nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu9S5 bullet‐like hollow particles starting from bullet‐like ZnO particles. With the structural and compositional advantages, these unique nitrogen‐doped carbon‐coated Cu9S5 bullet‐like hollow particles manifest excellent sodium storage properties with superior rate capability and ultra‐stable cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the roadmap on the neglected tropical diseases (NTD) the World Health Organization (WHO) aims at attaining at least 75% coverage of preventive chemotherapy in pre-school and school-age children by 2020. A randomized controlled trial was used to compare the effectiveness of praziquantel in treating Schistosoma haematobium in Africa using two different sources for the drug, Merck Limited Partnership (KgaA), Germany and Nanjing Pharmaceutical Factory (NPF), China. Methods: More than 6,000 participants testing positive for S. haematobium infection were enrolled from three villages (shehias) situated in the northern, middle and southern part of Pemba Island, Zanzibar. Applying criteria of inclusion and exclusion, resulted in a study population of 152 people (84 males, 68 females). A randomized controlled trial was conducted assigning participants to either praziquantel from NPF or Merck KGaA. After one month, the cure rate of S. haematobium and adverse events were compared to evaluate effectiveness. The ratio of male to female, the ratio of light/high infection intensity, and the average value of age were calculated between the two drug manufacturers. Chi-squared test and T-test were used for consistency analysis. Results: Out of the total of 73 cases receiving praziquantel from NPF, the cure rate achieved was 97.3% (73/75), while the 74 cases receiving the drug from Merck KgaA reached a similar cure rate (96.1% or 74/77). There was no significant difference between the two outcomes (χ2 = 0.003, P = 0.956). Among the 75 patients treat, only one (a 16-years old female student), who had received the drug made in China had slight adverse reactions manifested as dizziness, headache and abdominal pain. Conclusion: The efficacy of China-made praziquantel does not differ significantly from praziquantel made by Merck KGaA in Germany. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To estimate the mortality and describe the causes of death in a large multicenter cohort of hospitalized patients with SLE in China. This was a retrospective study of a nationwide SLE cohort (10 centers, 29,510 hospitalized patients) from 2005 to 2014 in China. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for all death and were stratified by sex and age. Chi-square test was used to determine whether the major causes of death vary in age, sex, duration of SLE, disease activity, or medications. Comparison between dead patients and survival controls was used to identify the risk factors for mortality. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for mortality. A total of 360 patients died during the study period, accounting for 1.22%. The overall SMR was 2.13 (95% CI 1.96, 2.30), with a particularly high SMR seen in subgroups characterized by younger age. Infection (65.8%) was the most common cause of death, followed by lupus nephritis (48.6%), hematological abnormality (18.1%), neuropsychiatric lupus/NPSLE (15.8%), and interstitial pneumonia (13.1%). Cardiovascular disease and malignancy contributed little to the causes of death. Infection, in particular severe pulmonary infection, emerged as the foremost risk factor for mortality, followed by lupus encephalopathy. However, lupus nephritis and hematological abnormalities occurred more frequently in survival patients. SLE patients at a younger age of diagnosis have a poorer prognosis. Infection dominated the causes of death in recent China. Ethnicity and medications might account for the differences in causes of death compared with western populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ATP1A3-related dystonia is a disorder with high heterogeneous spectrum of clinical manifestations caused by mutations in ATP1A3 gene. Here, 2 atypical cases carring 2 de-novo ATP1A3 variants with RDP-CAPOS overlapping phenotype or continuous hemi-dystonia are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Antimony‐based electrode materials with high specific capacity have aroused considerable interest as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we develop a template‐engaged ion‐exchange method to synthesize Sb2Se3 microclips, and the as‐obtained Sb2Se3 microclips are further in situ coated with polypyrrole (PPy). Benefiting from the structural and compositional merits, these PPy‐coated Sb2Se3 microclips exhibit enhanced sodium‐storage properties in terms of high reversible capacity, superior rate capability, and stable cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Antimony‐based electrode materials with high specific capacity have aroused considerable interest as anode materials for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs). Herein, we develop a template‐engaged ion‐exchange method to synthesize Sb2Se3 microclips, and the as‐obtained Sb2Se3 microclips are further in situ coated with polypyrrole (PPy). Benefiting from the structural and compositional merits, these PPy‐coated Sb2Se3 microclips exhibit enhanced sodium‐storage properties in terms of high reversible capacity, superior rate capability, and stable cycling performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor due to the lack of effective therapeutic drugs. Cancer therapy targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) or programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is of revolutionary. However, the role of intrinsic PD-L1, which determines immune-therapy outcomes, remains largely unclear. Here we demonstrated an oncogenic role of PD-L1 via binding and activating Ras in GBM cells. RNA-sequencing transcriptome data revealed that PD-L1 significantly altered gene expression enriched in cell growth/migration/invasion pathways in human GBM cells. PD-L1 overexpression and knockout or knockdown demonstrated that PD-L1 promoted GBM cell proliferation and migration in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, PD-L1 prominently activated epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in a MEK/Erk- but not PI3K/Akt-dependent manner. Further, we identified intracellular interactions of PD-L1 and H-Ras, which led to Ras/Erk/EMT activation. Finally, we demonstrated that PD-L1 overexpression promoted while knockdown abolished GBM development and invasion in orthotopic GBM models of rodents. Taken together, we found that intracellular PD-L1 confers GBM cell malignancy and aggressiveness via binding Ras and activating the downstream Erk-EMT signaling. Thus, these results shed important insights in improving efficacy of immune therapy for GBM as well as other malignant tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]