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In response to the development of the concepts of “carbon neutrality” and “carbon peak”, it is critical to developing materials with high near-infrared (NIR) solar reflectivity and high emissivity in the atmospheric transparency window (ATW; 8–13 μm) to advance zero energy consumption radiative cooling technology. To regulate emission and reflection properties, a series of high-entropy rare earth stannate ceramics (HE-RE2Sn2O7: (Y0.2La0.2Nd0.2Eu0.2Gd0.2)2Sn2O7, (Y0.2La0.2Sm0.2Eu0.2Lu0.2)2Sn2O7, and (Y0.2La0.2Gd0.2Yb0.2Lu0.2)2Sn2O7) with severe lattice distortion were prepared using a solid phase reaction followed by a pressureless sintering method for the first time. Lattice distortion is accomplished by introducing rare earth elements with different cation radii and mass. The as-synthesized HE-RE2Sn2O7 ceramics possess high ATW emissivity (91.38%–95.41%), high NIR solar reflectivity (92.74%–97.62%), low thermal conductivity (1.080–1.619 W·m−1·K−1), and excellent chemical stability. On the one hand, the lattice distortion intensifies the asymmetry of the structural unit to cause a notable alteration in the electric dipole moment, ultimately enlarging the ATW emissivity. On the other hand, by selecting difficult excitation elements, HE-RE2Sn2O7, which has a wide band gap (Eg), exhibits high NIR solar reflectivity. Hence, the multi-component design can effectively enhance radiative cooling ability of HE-RE2Sn2O7 and provide a novel strategy for developing radiative cooling materials.

Abstract Background Rhizosphere microorganisms are vital in plants’ growth and development and these beneficial microbes are recruited to the root-zone soil when experiencing various environmental stresses. However, the effect of white grub (Maladera verticalis) larvae feeding on the structure and function of rhizosphere microbial communities of aerobic rice (Oryza sativa L.) is unclear. Results In this study, we compared physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and microbial communities using 18 samples under healthy and M. verticalis larvae-feeding aerobic rice rhizosphere soils at the Yunnan of China. 16 S rRNA and ITS amplicons were sequenced using Illumina high throughput sequencing. M. verticalis larvae feeding on aerobic rice can influence rhizosphere soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, which also change rhizosphere microbial communities. The healthy and M. verticalis larvae-feeding aerobic rice rhizosphere soil microorganisms had distinct genus signatures, such as possible_genus_04 and Knoellia genera in healthy aerobic rice rhizosphere soils and norank_f__SC − I−84 and norank_f__Roseiflexaceae genera in M. verticalis larvae-feeding aerobic rice rhizosphere soils. The pathway of the metabolism of terpenoids and polyketides and carbohydrate metabolism in rhizosphere bacteria were significantly decreased after M. verticalis larvae feeding. Fungal parasite–wood saprotroph and fungal parasites were significantly decreased after M. verticalis larvae feeding, and plant pathogen–wood saprotroph and animal pathogen–undefined saprotroph were increased after larvae feeding. Additionally, the relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium and Talaromyces genera gradually increased with the elevation of the larvae density. Bacterial and fungal communities significantly correlated with soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities, respectively. Conclusions Based on the results we provide new insight for understanding the adaptation of aerobic rice to M. verticalis larvae feeding via regulating the rhizosphere environment, which would allow us to facilitate translation to more effective measures.

Abstract In coal mines, the effective extraction of relief gas and the prevention of dynamic disasters depend on accurate predictions of the spatial distribution of mining stress in the overlying rock. However, at present, the prediction of stress relief and concentration zones based on operational experience or empirical modeling differs significantly from actual measurements in the field. The fundamental problem is the difficulty in modeling the transfer mechanism of the mining overburden load under the influence of key strata. In this study, a mechanical model of the spatial distribution of the mining stress field based on the structure of overburden key strata was established. The model demonstrates that the key strata are the main bearing bodies of the overlying rock, both before and after the fracture, and the overburden rock load can be transferred to the coal and rock mass around the stope through the key strata in the fracture and bending subsidence zones, thus forming a mining stress field. Equations for calculating the plane distributions of mining stress under the key strata at different horizons and abutment pressures on the stope were established, and a spatial distribution prediction method for the mining stress field based on the overburden key strata structure was proposed. The study area was the Gaojiapu Coal Mine, where it was found that the key stratum of the 400.45 m thick Luohe Formation sandstone bore most of the overlying rock load and transferred the load to the coal and rock mass around the stope. This load distribution is the root cause of a high concentration and wide influence range of mining stresses, leading to serious deformation of the main roadway and frequent dynamic disasters. The mining stress concentration was maximized at a mining length of 1458 m × 1458 m.

Background: Acne inversa (AI) is a refractory inflammatory skin disease, and TNF-α plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AI. By blocking TNF-α, infliximab (IFX) has been proven to be a promising method. Objectives: To explore the underlying mechanisms of IFX treatment in AI patients. Methods: In this research, we integrated transcriptome sequencing data from the samples of our patients with AI and the GEO database. Ex vivo skin culture of AI patients was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of IFX treatment. Animal studies and cell experiments were used to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of IFX treatment. Results: Both TNF-α and NLRP3 inflammasome-related pathways were enriched in skin lesions of AI patients and murine AI models. After IFX treatment, the NLRP3 inflammasome-related pathway was effectively blocked, and the IL-1β level was normalized in ex vivo AI skin explants and murine AI models. Mechanistically, IFX suppressed the NF-κB signaling pathway to lower the expression of NLRP3 and IL-1β in keratinocytes. Conclusions: IFX treatment alleviated skin lesions in murine AI models and downregulated NLRP3 and IL-1β expression levels by inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway, which was helpful for understanding the mechanism of IFX therapy.

IntroductionAcute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a life-threatening medical condition that is frequently encountered and associated with significant incidence and mortality rates, posing a substantial threat to patients’ well-being and quality of life. Sepsis is prominent independent risk factor for the development of APE. Despite recent investigations indicating a reduced APE risk through statin therapy, its impact on patients with sepsis and APE remains unresolved.MethodsThe Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database was utilized to identify patients diagnosed with sepsis and APE, irrespective of statin treatment status, as part of this study. The primary study aim was to assess the risk of APE, which was analyzed using multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsThe study encompassed a total of 16,633 participants, with an average age of 64.8 ± 16.2 years. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that septic patients receiving statin therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) exhibited a 33% reduction in the risk of developing APE (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52–0.86, p

Background: Previous single-center studies have demonstrated that drug-coated balloons (DCBs) may reduce restenosis rates, which is an important factor affecting the prognosis for intracranial interventional therapy. However, currently available cardiac DCBs are not always suitable for the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel DCB catheter designed for patients with severely symptomatic ICAS. Methods: This prospective, multicenter, single-arm, target-value clinical trial was conducted in 9 Chinese stroke centers to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel DCB catheter for treating symptomatic severe ICAS. Primary metrics and other indicators were collected and analyzed using SAS version 9.4 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Results: A total of 155 patients were enrolled in this study. The preliminary collection of follow-up data has been completed, while data quality control is ongoing. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrated the patency rate, safety, and effectiveness of a novel on-label paclitaxel DCB designed for the treatment of ICAS. Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR2100047223. Registered June 11, 2021-Prospective registration, https://www.chictr.org.cn/ChiCTR2100047223.

Abstract Backgroud The influencing factors of osteoporosis are complex, the incidence of osteoporosis is higher in middle-aged and elderly women, and osteoporotic fractures (OF) can seriously affect quality of life. Currently, the correlation analysis between gastrointestinal diseases and OF focuses more on diseases such as gastric cancer and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study analyzed the risk factors for osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures in 1567 postmenopausal women in Fuzhou, China. The purpose is to explore the potential influence of gastrointestinal diseases on the occurrence of OF. Methods According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 1567 subjects were included in the analysis of OP risk factors, including 647 in the OP group and 920 in the NOP group. A total of 616 subjects were included in the analysis of correlation between OF and gastrointestinal diseases, including 132 in OF group and 484 in NF group. Statistical analysis shows that age (OR = 1.062, 95% CI = 1.045–1.080), height (OR = 0.089, 95% CI = 0.009–0.857), weight (OR = 0.981,95% CI = 0.967–0.995) and nature of work (P = 0.010) are the main risk factors for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women in southeast China, and gastrointestinal diseases (OR = 1.583, 95% CI = 1.070–2.343) and height (OR = 0.003, 95% CI = 0.000-0.104) are the main risk factors of OF. Conclusions The main factors affecting the occurrence of OP in postmenopausal women in southeast China are individual characteristic. Gastrointestinal diseases that do not directly affect BMD increase the risk of OF in osteoporotic patients.

Magnesium (Mg) alloys have great potential as biodegradable materials for medical device. However, their susceptibility to corrosion poses a significant challenge for practical applications. In this study, the poly(trimethylene carbonate)-dimethacrylate (PTMC-dMA) was employed as a coating material for ZE21B magnesium alloys. Upon UV irradiation, the PTMC-dMA macromer undergoes cross-linking to form a uniform PTMC coating with a thickness of approximately 5 μm, effectively protecting the magnesium alloy. The corrosion resistance in simulated body fluid (SBF) was evaluated through immersion testing, which showed minimal hydrogen generation (0.16 mL/cm2) during the initial 24-h period and slight corrosion observed on the PTMC-coated magnesium alloy surface after continuous immersion for 21 days. The silane coupling agent significantly enhanced the adhesive performance between the polymer and alloy. Micro-scratch tests revealed adhesion forces of 3.79 N and 5.75 N for coatings without and with the silane agent, respectively. Electrochemical tests also demonstrated the efficacy of silane treatment, showing corrosion currents of 2.100 × 108 A/cm2 for silane-treated samples compared 6.263 × 107 A/cm2 for untreated ones. Given its exceptional tensile and protective properties, this coated material is ideal for intricate bioresorbable applications, like endovascular bioresorbable stents.

Introduction The classic way of diagnosing prostate cancer (PCa) is by conducting the 12-core systematic biopsy (SB). However, it has a low detection rate for clinically significant PCa (csPCa) and can lead to the detection of clinically insignificant PCa (cisPCa). Although MRI-transrectal ultrasound (MRI-TRUS) fusion targeted biopsy (TB) can effectively improve the detection rate of csPCa, it may still miss some cases. Therefore, we propose using a combination of TB and SB methods to enhance the detection rate of csPCa while minimising the detection rate of cisPCa.Methods and analysis This study is a prospective, single-centre investigation that aims to assess and compare the detection rate of csPCa using MRI-TRUS fusion TB combined with SB versus TRUS 12-core SB alone. Biopsy-naïve men with suspected PCa will be subjected to multiparametric MRI. Patients with Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (V.2.1) score ≥3 will be enrolled in the TB-SB combination group. The sample size is established as 660 participants, considering a 10% drop-out rate. The primary outcome is the detection rate of csPCa in men without prior biopsy using MRI-TRUS fusion TB combined with the standard TRUS-guided 12-core SB method. CsPCa will be defined as International Society of Urological Pathology Grade ≥2.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Ethics Committee at the Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, an affiliated hospital of Tongji University School of Medicine. The research results will be published in a peer-reviewed international journal.Trial registration number ChiCTR2000036089.

Summary: Magnesium alloy is an excellent material for biodegradable cerebrovascular stents. However, the rapid degradation rate of magnesium alloy will make stent unstable. To improve the biocompatibility of magnesium alloy, in this study, biodegradable sodium alginate and carboxymethyl chitosan (SA/CMCS) was used to coat onto hydrothermally treated the surface of magnesium alloy by a dipping coating method. The results show that the SA/CMCS coating facilitates the growth, proliferation, and migration of endothelial cells and promotes neovascularization. Moreover, the SA/CMCS coating suppresses macrophage activation while promoting their transformation into M2 type macrophages. Overall, the SA/CMCS coating demonstrates positive effects on the safety and biocompatibility of magnesium alloy after implantation, and provide a promising therapy for the treatment of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in the future.

Exopolysaccharides (EPSs), which are produced by lactic acid bacteria, have been found to improve the texture and functionality of fermented dairy products. In a previous study, four nitrogen sources were identified as affecting the yield, molecular weight and structure of EPSs produced by Streptococcus thermophilus IMAU20561 in M17 medium. In this genomic and transcriptomics study, a novel eps gene cluster responsible for assembly of repeating units of EPS is reported. This eps cluster (22.3 kb), consisting of 24 open reading frames, is located in the chromosomal DNA. To explore the biosynthetic mechanisms in EPS, we completed RNA-seq analysis of S. thermophilus IMAU20561 grown in four different nitrogen sources for 5 h (log phase) or 10 h (stationary phase). GO functional annotation showed that there was a significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in: amino acid biosynthesis and metabolism; ribonucleotide biosynthesis and metabolism; IMP biosynthesis and metabolism; and phosphorus metabolism. KEGG functional annotation also indicated enrichment of DEGs involved in amino acid biosynthesis, glycolysis, phosphotransferase system, fructose, and mannose metabolism. Our findings provide a better understanding the genetic traits of S. thermophilus, the biosynthetic pathways needed for the production of EPS, and a theoretical basis for screening dairy starter cultures.

Abstract Background Autophagy plays an important role in the progression of carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). This study aimed to identify hub autophagy-related genes (ATGs) associated with CAS. Methods GSE43292 and GSE28829 datasets of early and advanced CAS plaques were enrolled from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. A comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed ATGs (DE-ATGs) was conducted. Functional enrichment assay was used to explore biological functions of DE-ATGs. The hub ATGs were identified by protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Real-time reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) were used to validate hub ATGs at the protein level and mRNA level. Correlation analysis of hub ATGs with immune cells was also conducted. In addition, a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was constructed, and diagnostic value of hub ATGs was evaluated. Results A total of 19 DE-ATGs were identified in early and advanced CAS plaques. Functional enrichment analysis of DE-ATGs suggested that they were closely correlated to autophagy, apoptosis, and lipid regulation. Moreover, 5 hub ATGs, including TNFSF10, ITGA6, CTSD, CCL2, and CASP1, were identified and further verified by IHC. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the 5 hub ATGs were 0.818, 0.732, 0.792, 0.814, and 0.812, respectively. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks targeting the hub ATGs were also constructed. In addition, the 5 hub ATGs were found to be closely associated with immune cell infiltration in CAS. Conclusion In this study, we identified 5 hub ATGs including CASP1, CCL2, CTSD, ITGA6 and TNFSF10, which could serve as candidate diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Background and purpose: Stent retriever thrombectomy is the standard therapeutic approach for ischemic stroke with acute large-vessel occlusion. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a new thrombectomy device (Skyflow) in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: After an arterial occlusion model was established, stent-retriever thrombectomy was performed. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and autopsy were carried out immediately after thrombectomy in six animals in the acute experimental group. Simulated stent-retriever thrombectomy was performed for three animals in the subacute experimental group, and follow-up angiography and vascular pathological examination were assessed 90 days after the operation. In the clinical trial, 192 patients with intracranial anterior circulation large vessel occlusion, within 8 ​h of symptom onset, were included to undergo thrombectomy with either Skyflow or Solitaire FR stent retriever. Efficacy and safety endpoints were recorded (including successful reperfusion, favorable clinical outcomes, time from puncture to reperfusion, instrument operation success rates and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores at 7 days for efficacy endpoints, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and all-cause mortality rates for safety endpoints). Results: All blood vessels achieved successful recanalization in the animal models. In the clinical trial, successful recanalization was attained in 88.4% of patients of the Skyflow group, which was comparable to that of the Solitaire FR group (82.5%) in the full analysis set of the clinical trial. There were no severe complications on DSA, an animal autopsy, or vessel pathological examination in animal experiments. Additionally, no statistically significant difference was observed between the Skyflow and Solitaire FR groups in the clinical trial regarding the safety endpoints. Conclusion: This study showed that the new Skyflow stent retriever is safe and effective for the treatment of acute large vessel occlusion, as demonstrated in our animal study and human trial.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the SeparGate™ balloon-guiding catheter (BGC) for blocking flow and delivering devices in neurointerventional surgery. Method: This prospective multicenter single-arm trial enrolled patients who received BGC adjuvant therapy to provide temporary blood flow arrest of the supra-aortic arch arteries and their branch vessels in interventional therapy. The primary endpoint was immediate procedural success rate in flow arrest, device delivery, and withdrawal. The efficacy endpoints were intraoperative product performance, including rigidity, smoothness, fracture resistance of the catheter wall, catheter push performance, compatibility and radiopaque display, integrity, adhesion thrombus after withdrawal and balloon rupture. The safety endpoints were adverse and serious adverse events associated with the test device and serious adverse events resulting in death or serious health deterioration. Result: A total of 129 patients were included; of them, 128 were analyzed in the full analysis set (FAS) and per protocol set (PPS). Immediate procedural success was achieved in 97.7% of patients with FAS and PPS. The lower bound of the 95% confidence interval was 94.6%, higher than the preset efficacy margin of 94%. Device-related adverse events occurred in 2 (1.6%) cases. One was mild adverse event of vasospasm, which resolved spontaneously. The other was serious adverse event of dissection aggravation, which was treated with stenting angioplasty. No device defects were observed. Conclusion: In neurointerventional surgery, the SeparGate™ BGC can be used to temporarily block the flow of the supra-aortic arch arteries and their branch vessels and guide the interventional device to the target vascular position.

Abstract Background Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) represents the majority of bladder neoplasms. It is unusual for NMIBC metastasizing distantly without regional progression, namely metastatic NMIBC (mNMIBC), which is still poorly understood and easily omitted based on current management policies. So far, description of mNMIBC is limited to a few case reports. Methods We reported a 70-year-old man with NMIBC who suffered from cervical metastasis without pelvic recurrence at 41 months after initial diagnosis. Then we performed a collective analysis of this case together with published mNMIBC cases searched from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, aiming to illustrate baseline clinicopathologic parameters, metastatic patterns, and treatment outcomes of these patients and analyze associated influencing factors. Results After scrupulous review, 45 cases previous reported and the one from our center were incorporated into the aggregated cohort of mNMIBC, including 34 males and 12 females. Primary tumors from 46.7% of patients were high-grade (HG) or grade 3 (G3) and 65.1% had T1 lesions. Aberrant biomarker expression was found in tumors of some cases. Most (40/46) metastases of mNMIBC occurred at a single site, mainly in lung, bone and lymph nodes. Apart from three cases of de novo mNMIBC, the mean metastasis-free survival (MFS) interval of metachronous mNMIBC was 42.5 months, which was obviously longer than conventional metastatic bladder cancer. Shortened MFS interval was associated with old age, T1 or HG/G3 primary tumors, and non-lung metastases. Systemic chemotherapy and metastasectomy or radiotherapy for oligometastatic lesion were main therapeutic approaches of mNMIBC, and immunotherapy was adopted for the case from our center. Lung and bone metastases correlated with relatively favorable and unfavorable survival outcomes, respectively. Compared with monotherapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy combined with local cytoreduction got more favorable outcomes. Conclusion Although rare, mNMIBC occurs more in tumors with high-risk features. Usually, mNMIBC metastasizes later than conventional metastatic bladder cancer and manifests as solitary lesion. Outcomes of mNMIBC would be influenced by metastatic site and post-metastatic treatment. Systemic treatment combined with local cytoreduction may render survival benefit in selected patients.

BackgroundUpper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is a rare malignancy. The management of metastatic or unresectable UTUC is mainly based on evidence extrapolated from histologically homologous bladder cancer, including platinum-based chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitor alone, whereas UTUC exhibits more invasiveness, worse prognosis, and comparatively inferior response to treatments. First-line immunochemotherapy regimens have been attempted in clinical trials for unselected naïve-treated cases, but their efficacies relative to standard chemo- or immuno-monotherapy still remain controversial. Here, we present a case of highly aggressive UTUC for whom comprehensive genetic and phenotypic signatures predicted sustained complete response to first-line immunochemotherapy.Case presentationA 50-year-old man received retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy and regional lymphadenectomy for high-risk locally advanced UTUC. Postoperatively, he developed rapid progression of residual unresectable metastatic lymph nodes. Pathologic analysis and next-generation sequencing classified the tumor as highly aggressive TP53/MDM2-mutated subtype with features more than expression of programmed death ligand-1, including ERBB2 mutations, luminal immune-infiltrated contexture, and non-mesenchymal state. Immunochemotherapy combining gemcitabine, carboplatin, and off-label programmed death-1 inhibitor sintilimab was initiated, and sintilimab monotherapy was maintained up to 1 year. Retroperitoneal lymphatic metastases gradually regressed to complete response. Blood-based analyses were performed longitudinally for serum tumor markers, inflammatory parameters, peripheral immune cells, and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) profiling. The ctDNA kinetics of tumor mutation burden and mean variant allele frequency accurately predicted postoperative progression and sustained response to the following immunochemotherapy, which were mirrored by dynamic changes in abundances of ctDNA mutations from UTUC-typical variant genes. The patient remained free of recurrence or metastasis as of this publishing, over 2 years after the initial surgical treatment.ConclusionImmunochemotherapy may be a promising first-line option for advanced or metastatic UTUC selected with specific genomic or phenotypic signatures, and blood-based analyses incorporating ctDNA profiling provide precise longitudinal monitoring.

Abstract Nitinol (NiTi) alloy is an ideal material for preparing neurointerventional stents due to its excellent mechanical properties and biocompatibility. However, NiTi stents without surface‐specific functionalization cause a high rate of stent thrombosis and in‐stent restenosis after implantation. In ischemic stroke, exosomes have a role in regulating nervous system development, regeneration, vascular remodeling, and neuroinflammation. In this work, the effect of exosome coating on the biocompatibility of NiTi alloy is evaluated. NiTi alloy is successively immersed in relevant solution (sodium alginate, 3‐aminophenylboronic acid, distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine, and exosomes) to form ROS‐responsive exosome coated surfaces. In vitro experiments (platelets, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages) and in vivo subcutaneous implantation experiments are performed to test coatings for biocompatibility. The results show that the modified NiTi alloy surface has high hydrophilicity, which has the functions of inhibiting platelet aggregation, promoting endothelialization, inhibiting smooth muscle cell migration, anti‐inflammatory, and good tissue biocompatibility. This study develops exosome neurointerventional stent coating as a bioactive drug via reactive oxygen species accumulation in lesions, thus targeting drug release, inhibiting intimal hyperplasia, and reducing inflammation and thrombosis.

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was first found in 2019 in Yunnan, China, and it was characterized as a corn strain; it was also found on rice strains there, and it damages rice in China, but little is known about the effect of host plant transfer on the intestinal microbiota and the activities of detoxification enzymes in the C-strain (corn strain) S. frugiperda. The intestinal microbiota and the protective enzyme activity of S. frugiperda that were transferred from rice plants were assessed, and the fourth generation of insects transferred from corn were studied; the gene types of S. frugiperda that were transferred from rice plants were tested using mitochondrial Tpi gene sequences. The results showed that the intestinal microbiota in the C-strain S. frugiperda were changed after the host transference, and the diversity and richness of the intestinal bacterial communities of the S. frugiperda feeding on rice were significantly reduced after the transfer of the host from corn. The predominant species of intestinal bacteria of the S. frugiperda on rice transferred from corn were Enterococcus and Enterobacter, with relative abundances of 28.7% and 66.68%; the predominant species of intestinal bacteria of the S. frugiperda that were transferred from rice and feeding on corn were Enterococcus (22.35%) and Erysipelatoclostridium (73.92%); and the predominant species of intestinal bacteria of S. frugiperda feeding on corn was Enterococcus, with a relative abundance of 61.26%. The CAT (catalase) activity of the S. frugiperda transferred from corn onto rice from corn was reduced, the POD (peroxidase) activity was significantly increased after the transfer from corn, and no significant variations were found for the SOD (superoxide dismutase), CarE (carboxylesterase), and GST (glutathione S-transferase) activities of S. frugiperda after the host plant transfer. The results showed that after feeding on rice, the activities of CAT and POD in the in S. frugiperda body changed in order to resist plant secondary metabolites from corn or rice, but there was no significant change in the detoxification enzymes in the body. In summary, switching the host plant between corn and rice induced variations in the intestinal microbiota in C-strain S. frugiperda owing to the strain difference between the C-strain and the R-strain (rice strain), and this was consistent with the results of the activities of detoxification enzymes. The results indicat that changes in intestinal microbiota and physiological enzymes may be important reasons for the adaptive capacity of C-strain S. frugiperda to rice.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with medication on clinical efficacy, pain scores (Visual Analogue Scale, [VAS]), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and adverse events in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and VIP until December 12, 2021 was used to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the EA treatment of RA. Study selection and data extraction were performed critically and independently by two reviewers. Cochrane criteria for risk of bias was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the trials. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation Methodology (GRADE) was applied to assess the quality of evidence from quantitative analysis. Results: Seventeen RCTs, including 1317 patients, satisfied the inclusion criteria. Compared with the control group, EA combined with medication had a superior effect on clinical efficacy (RR = 1.25 [95% CI = 1.18 to 1.33], P

BackgroundIntracranial aneurysm (IA) is an uncommon but severe subtype of cerebrovascular disease, with high mortality after aneurysm rupture. Current risk assessments are mainly based on clinical and imaging data. This study aimed to develop a molecular assay tool for optimizing the IA risk monitoring system.MethodsPeripheral blood gene expression datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus were integrated into a discovery cohort. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and machine learning integrative approaches were utilized to construct a risk signature. QRT-PCR assay was performed to validate the model in an in-house cohort. Immunopathological features were estimated using bioinformatics methods.ResultsA four-gene machine learning-derived gene signature (MLDGS) was constructed for identifying patients with IA rupture. The AUC of MLDGS was 1.00 and 0.88 in discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration curve and decision curve analysis also confirmed the good performance of the MLDGS model. MLDGS was remarkably correlated with the circulating immunopathologic landscape. Higher MLDGS scores may represent higher abundance of innate immune cells, lower abundance of adaptive immune cells, and worse vascular stability.ConclusionsThe MLDGS provides a promising molecular assay panel for identifying patients with adverse immunopathological features and high risk of aneurysm rupture, contributing to advances in IA precision medicine.

Abstract Purpose The Ki67 expression is associated with the advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in bladder cancer (BCa). We aimed to develop and validate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics signatures to preoperatively predict the Ki67 expression status in BCa. Methods and materials We retrospectively collected 179 BCa patients with Ki67 expression and preoperative MRI. Radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted (T2WI) and dynamic contrast-enhancement (DCE) images. The synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) was used to balance the minority group (low Ki67 expression group) in the training set. Minimum redundancy maximum relevance was used to identify the best features associated with Ki67 expression. Support vector machine and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator algorithms (LASSO) were used to construct radiomics signatures in training and SMOTE-training sets, and diagnostic performance was assessed by the area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy. The decision curve analyses (DCA) and calibration curve and were used to investigate the clinical usefulness and calibration of radiomics signatures, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier test was performed to investigate the prognostic value of radiomics-predicted Ki67 expression status. Results 1218 radiomics features were extracted from T2WI and DCE images, respectively. The SMOTE-LASSO model based on nine features achieved the best predictive performance in the SMOTE-training (AUC, 0.859; accuracy, 80.3%) and validation sets (AUC, 0.819; accuracy, 81.5%) with a good calibration performance and clinical usefulness. Immunohistochemistry-based high Ki67 expression and radiomics-predicted high Ki67 expression based on the SMOTE-LASSO model were significantly associated with poor disease-free survival in training and validation sets (all P

In order to reveal the process and mechanism of gas flow in a low-permeability coal seam, a new multiple-relaxation-time lattice Boltzmann method (MRT-LBM) model of gas migration in coal micro/nanopores based on Langmuir monolayer adsorption theory, the slip boundary scheme and Bosanquet effective viscosity was established. The software MATLAB was used to carry out the simulation study of uniform pore gas flow based on the MRT-LBM model, and the results were compared and verified with the porous anodic alumina membrane gas flow experimental results. On this basis, the gas flow in coal pores with different micro/nanopore sizes considering adsorption was simulated. The results show that the dimensionless permeability coefficient increases with decreasing pore size under the same pressure, which reflects the subsequent enhancement of the microboundary constraint effect and reveals that the pore system becomes the main controlling factor of coal seam permeability within the coal matrix in the middle and late stages of coal seam gas extraction, while the role of the microboundary constraint effect needs to be considered. The gas adsorption layer weakens the pore gas flow capacity, but for pores with a radius greater than 16 nm, the apparent change in permeability caused by the adsorption layer is less than 5%, and the adsorption effect can be ignored. N2, CH4, and CO2 enter the transition flow regime under different pressure conditions; with gas extraction, the gas pressure decreases, and the difference in the gas flow characteristics of the three gases increases.

In order to explore the effect of protein intake on the nutritional status of patients with severe pneumonia (SP) based on a dietary nutrition information system, 108 cases of SP patients of The First people's Hospital of Fuyang were selected as the research objects. Nutrition score of these patients was made by using dietary nutrition information system and then the patients were randomly divided into experimental group and control group. Both groups were treated with basic treatment combined nutrition treatment. At the same time, the experimental group was added with donkey milk, Badanmu, Chamagu compound containing a variety of protein nutritional preparations 20 g/d. The changes of intestinal mucosal barrier function in two groups were observed before treatment and 7–14 days after treatment. The results showed that the enteral nutrition (EN) of the experimental group rich in multiple proteins could reduce the levels of blood diamine oxidase (DAO), D-Lactic ac (D-LC) and bacterial endotoxin (BT), protect the intestinal mucosal barrier function of SP patients, improve the gastrointestinal function of SP patients and reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal motility disorder. That is to say, SP patients need not only high protein nutrition supplement but also a variety of protein supply. The nutritional status of protein intake in patients with SP was studied based on dietary nutrition information system. The results provided experimental data for nutritional treatment of patients with SP.

Immune inflammation plays an essential role in the formation and rupture of intracranial aneurysm (IA). However, the current limited knowledge of alterations in the immune microenvironment of IA has hampered the mastery of pathological mechanisms and technological advances, such as molecular diagnostic and coated stent-based molecular therapy. In this study, seven IA datasets were enrolled from the GEO database to decode the immune microenvironment and relevant biometric alterations. The ssGSEA algorithm was employed for immune infiltration assessment. IAs displayed abundant immune cell infiltration, activated immune-related pathways, and high expression of immune-related genes. Several immunosuppression cells and genes were also coordinately upregulated in IAs. Five immune-related hub genes, including CXCL10, IL6, IL10, STAT1, and VEGFA, were identified from the protein-protein interaction network and further detected at the protein level. CeRNA networks and latent drugs targeting the hub genes were predicted for targeted therapy reference. Two gene modules recognized via WCGNA were functionally associated with contractile smooth muscle loss and extracellular matrix metabolism, respectively. In blood datasets, a pathological feature-derived gene signature (PFDGS) for IA diagnosis and rupture risk prediction was established using machine learning. Patients with high PFDGS scores may possess adverse biological alterations and present with a high risk of morbidity or IA rupture, requiring more vigilance or prompt intervention. Overall, we systematically unveiled an “immuno-thermal” microenvironment characterized by co-enhanced immune activation and immunosuppression in IA, which provides a novel insight into molecular pathology. The PFDGS is a promising signature for optimizing risk surveillance and clinical decision-making in IA patients.

PurposeTo investigate the perioperative complications of transvenous embolization of ruptured intracranial arteriovenous malformations.Materials and MethodsA total of 27 patients with ruptured intracranial arteriovenous malformations underwent transvenous embolization were enrolled from November 2016 to May 2020 in our prospective database. Perioperative complications and angiographic characteristics were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsComplete disappearance of the nidus occured in 22 (88%) of 25 patients with technically feasible AVMs immediately after embolization. Two cases were partially treated by transarterial embolization due to the failure of microcatheter placement into the draining vein. Seven (25.9%, 7/27) patients had perioperative complications, including three cases of intraoperative hemorrhage, three cases of postoperative hemorrhage and one case of ischemic infarction. No significant differences in complication rates between patients with nidus ≥3 cm and

Background: Bladder cancer (BLCA) is highly heterogeneous with distinct molecular subtypes. This research aimed to investigate the heterogeneity of different molecular subtypes from a tumor microenvironment perspective and develop a molecular-subtype-associated immune prognostic signature that can be recognized by MRI radiomics features. Methods: Individuals with BLCA in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and IMvigor210 were classified into luminal and basal subtypes according to the UNC classification. The proportions of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) were examined using The Cell Type Identification by Estimating Relative Subsets of RNA Transcripts algorithm. Immune-linked genes that were expressed differentially between luminal and basal subtypes and associated with prognosis were selected to develop the immune prognostic signature (IPS) and utilized for the classification of the selected individuals into low- and high-risk groups. Functional enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed on the IPS. The data from RNA-sequencing and MRI images of 111 BLCA samples in our center were utilized to construct a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) model for the prediction of patients’ IPSs. Results: Half of the TIICs showed differential distributions between the luminal and basal subtypes. IPS was highly associated with molecular subtypes, critical immune checkpoint gene expression, prognoses, and immunotherapy response. The prognostic value of the IPS was further verified through several validation data sets (GSE32894, GSE31684, GSE13507, and GSE48277) and meta-analysis. GSEA revealed that some oncogenic pathways were co-enriched in the group at high risk. A novel performance of a LASSO model developed as per ten radiomics features was achieved in terms of IPS prediction in both the validation (area under the curve (AUC): 0.810) and the training (AUC: 0.839) sets. Conclusions: Dysregulation of TIICs contributed to the heterogeneity between the luminal and basal subtypes. The IPS can facilitate molecular subtyping, prognostic evaluation, and personalized immunotherapy. A LASSO model developed as per the MRI radiomics features can predict the IPSs of affected individuals.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are industrially important bacteria that are widely used in the fermented food industry, especially in the manufacture of yogurt. The fermentation characteristics of LAB are an important factor affecting the physicochemical properties of yogurts. Here, different ratios of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus IMAU20312 and S. thermophilus IMAU80809 were compared with a commercial starter JD (control) for their effects on viable cell counts, pH values, titratable acidity (TA), viscosity and water holding capacity (WHC) of milk during fermentation. Sensory evaluation and flavour profiles were also determined at the end of fermentation. All samples had a viable cell count above 5.59 × 107 CFU/mL at the end of fermentation, and a significant increase in TA and decrease in pH were observed. Viscosity, WHC and the sensory evaluation results of one treatment ratio (A3) were closer to the commercial starter control than the others. A total of 63 volatile flavour compounds and 10 odour-active (OAVs) compounds were detected in all treatment ratios and the control according to the results from solid-phase micro-extraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS). Principal components analysis (PCA) also indicated that the flavour characteristics of the A3 treatment ratio were closer to the control. These results help us understand how the fermentation characteristics of yogurts are affected by the ratio of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus to S. thermophilus in starter cultures; this is useful for the development of value-added fermented dairy products.

Blood vessels in the brain tissue form a compact vessel structure and play an essential role in maintaining the homeostasis of the neurovascular system. The low dosage of photodynamic intervention (PDT) significantly affects the expression of cellular biomarkers. To understand the impact of photodynamic interventions on cerebrovascular endothelial cells, we evaluated the dosage-dependent impact of porfimer sodium-mediated PDT on B.END3 cells using flow cytometer, comet assay, RNA sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. To examine whether PDT can induce disorder of intracellular organelles, we did not observe any significance damage of DNA and cellular skeleton. Moreover, expression levels of cellular transporters-related genes were significantly altered, implying the drawbacks of PDT on cerebrovascular functions. To address the potential molecular mechanisms of these phenotypes, RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were employed to identify critical genes and pathways among these processes. The gene ontology (GO) analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) identified 15 hub genes, highly associated with cellular mitosis process (CDK1, CDC20, MCM5, MCM7, MCM4, CCNA2, AURKB, KIF2C, ESPL1, BUB1B) and DNA replication (POLE2, PLOE, CDC45, CDC6). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) reveals that TNF-α/NF-κB and KRAS pathways may play a critical role in regulating expression levels of transporter-related genes. To further perform qRT-PCR assays, we find that TNF-α/NF-κB and KRAS pathways were substantially up-regulated, consistent with GSEA analysis. The current findings suggested that a low dosage of PDT intervention may be detrimental to the homeostasis of blood-brain barrier (BBB) by inducing the inflammatory response and affecting the expression of surface biomarkers.

Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a major pest of maize worldwide. This pest colonized maize in Shizong, Qujing, Yunnan, China in 2019. To explore the temporal and spatial distribution of S. frugiperda in local fields, “W” type 5-point sampling was performed from 2020 to 2021. The spatial distribution was analyzed using the aggregation index, Iwao’s regression, and Taylor’s power law. The temporal distribution showed two peaks for both 2020 and 2021 when the density of eggs, larvae, and adults was high throughout the maize growth period. Additionally, 1st and 3rd instar larvae were higher in number during the maize seedling, jointing, and spinning stages. Fourth to 6th instar larvae were higher in number after the tasseling stage. Additionally, the spatial distribution results showed that 1st to 3rd instar larvae were aggregated, while 4th to 6th instar larvae were uniformly distributed in mountain maize fields. This study provides monitoring data for S. frugiperda and clarifies the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics for larvae in mountain maize fields. Further, it also provides guidance for investigation into population dynamics and the development of predictive models for integrated S. frugiperda management.

Background: Tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) plays an important role in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) is involved in the regulation of metabolism and cell apoptosis, but its function in renal TIF induced by DKD is less well understood. Methods: Human kidney biopsies with DKD and normal controls were used to detect apoptosis and TIF induced by diabetes. A mouse model with kidney-specific overexpression of Pax2-3aFoxO1 was established to further investigate the functions of FoxO1 in vivo. The in vitro roles of FoxO1 were analyzed in HK-2 cells with 3aFoxO1-knockin (3aFoxO1-KI) or FoxO1-knockdown (FoxO1-KD) via CRISPR/Cas9. Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to explore the underlying mechanisms. Findings: In this study, DKD patients had increased renal TIF and apoptosis. In vivo study showed that kidney-specific overexpression of Pax2-3aFoxO1 significantly reduced the expression of p-STAT1 with resultant renal functional impairment, retarding renal TIF and apoptosis in diabetic mice. Meanwhile, We observed that FoxO1-KD in HK-2 cells aggravated the expression of p-STAT1, leading to activation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Conversely, EMT and apoptosis were significantly attenuated in HK-2 cells with 3aFoxO1-KI under hyperglycemic conditions. Interpretation: Taken together, these data suggest that the protection role of FoxO1 against renal TIF and apoptosis in DKD is likely in part to target STAT1 signaling, which may be a promising strategy for long-term treatment of DKD. Fund: This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers: 81570746 and 81770812). Keywords: FoxO1, STAT1, Apoptosis, Diabetic kidney disease, Tubulointerstitial fibrosis

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of transvenous endovascular embolization (TVE) for superficial intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Methods: After collecting clinical and imaging data, a prospective series of 11 patients presenting with superficial AVMs were treated by endovascular embolization using a transvenous approach between November 2016 and October 2018. Results: Ten patients (90.9%) had ruptured AVMs before TVE. The mean nidus size was 3.27 ± 1.47 cm, and the median Spetzler-Martin grade was II. The rate of immediate angiographic occlusion of the AVMs was 90.9% (10/11). One patient was treated with transarterial embolization since TVE was not achieved due to an unsuccessful positioning of the microcatheter. Two patients (cases 8 and 11) suffered a intracranial hemorrhage and a cerebral infarction with encephaledema, respectively, but no procedure-related mortalities were observed. Eight patients (72.7%) were independent with a modified Rankin Score (mRS) ≤ 2 at discharge and the mRSs of all patients, which were collected 30 days postintervention, were not more than 2. The mean follow-up period was 17 months. There were no nidus recurrences during the follow-up period. Conclusions: The curative transvenous embolization of superficial AVMs seems feasible and effective while carefully monitoring for embolization-related complications.

Abstract Aims/Introduction Vitamin D3 deficiency can lead to male hypogonadism in diabetes mellitus, but the target organs and the mechanism driving the disorder are unclear. This experiment was designed to study the relationship between vitamin D3 deficiency and hypogonadism in diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods Rats with streptozotocin‐induced diabetes were randomly divided into four groups and treated with different doses of vitamin D3: blank (no vitamin D3), low (0.025 μg/kg/day), high (0.1 μg/kg/day), high (0.1 μg/kg/day) and with bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma inhibitor 30 mg/kg/day). They were compared with wild‐type rats. Results After 12 weeks, the vitamin D3 supplements had partially restored testicular pathological changes, as shown by reduced testicular fibrosis related to downregulation transforming growth factor beta 1 and apoptosis related to downregulation of nuclear factor kappa B, but not the pituitary gland. The expression of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma, which can inhibit transforming growth factor beta 1 and nuclear factor kappa B, was significantly increased after treatment with vitamin D3. Conclusions These results suggest that treatment with vitamin D3 can improve testicular function in diabetic rats through the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma/transforming growth factor beta 1/nuclear factor kappa B signaling pathway.

Background: Stent retriever thrombectomy is the standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large vessel occlusion (LVO) in anterior circulation. The aim of the trial is to evaluate whether the new thrombectomy device-Skyflow can achieve the same safety and efficacy as Solitaire FR in the treatment.Method: This study is a prospective, multicenter, stratified randomized, single blind, paralleled, positive controlled, non-inferiority clinical trial. The safety and efficacy of vascular recanalization in AIS patients who are treated with either a new thrombectomy device-Skyflow or with Solitaire FR and within 8 h of symptom onset will be compared. A total of 192 patients will be enrolled, each group with 96 patients. The primary endpoint is successful recanalization rate after the operation. The secondary efficacy endpoints are the time from artery puncture to successful recanalization (mTICI 2b-3), NIHSS scores of 24 h (18–36 h), and 7 ± 2 days after the operation, mRS scores, and the rate of patients with mRS 0–2 scores 90 ± 14 days after the operation, and the success rate of instrument operation. The safety endpoints are the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage at 24 h (18–36 h) post-operation, incidence of adverse events (AE) and serious adverse events (SAE), all-cause mortality, and incidence of device defects.Discussion: This trial will provide information on the safety and efficacy of Sky-flow stent retriever in the treatment of AIS patients with anterior circulation LVO. The success of this trial will be the basis for the product to be finally officially listed and applied in China.Trial registration: Registered on 11 March 2018 with Chinese clinical trial registry. Registration number is ChiCTR1800015166.

Chemical control plays a crucial role in pest management but has to face challenges due to insect resistance. It is important to discover alternatives to traditional pesticides. The spider mite Tetranychus pueraricola (Ehara & Gotoh) (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a major agricultural pest that causes severe damage to many crops. GC16 is a new agent that consists of a mixture of Calcium chloride (CaCl2) and lecithin. To explore the acaricidal effects and mode of action of GC16 against T. pueraricola, bioassays, cryogenic scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were performed. GC16 had lethal effects on the eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults of T. pueraricola, caused the mites to dehydrate and inactivate, and inhibited the development of eggs. GC16 displayed contact toxicity rather than stomach toxicity through the synergistic effects of CaCl2 with lecithin. Cryo-SEM analysis revealed that GC16 damaged T. pueraricola by disordering the array of the cuticle layer crest. Mitochondrial abnormalities were detected by TEM in mites treated by GC16. Overall, GC16 had the controlling efficacy on T. pueraricola by cuticle penetration and mitochondria dysfunction and had no effects on Picromerus lewisi and Harmonia axyridis, indicating that GC16 is likely a new eco-friendly acaricide.

In this paper, a fractional model for the transmission dynamics of cholera was developed. In invariant regions of the model, solutions were generated. Disease-free and endemic equilibrium points were obtained. The basic reproduction number was evaluated, and the sensitivity analysis was performed. Under the support of Pontryagin’s maximum principle, the fractional order optimal control was obtained. Furthermore, an optimal strategy was discussed, which minimized the total number of infected individuals and the costs associated with control. Treatment, vaccination, and awareness programs were regarded as three means to reduce the number of infected. Finally, numerical simulations and cost-effectiveness analysis were presented to show the result that the best strategy was the combination of treatment and awareness programs.

The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled “Sandwich-like Ni2P Nanoarray/Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Nanoarchitecture as a High-Performance Anode for Sodium and Lithium Ion Batteries (Dong et al., 2018)”. This work shows the morphology and structural of Ni2P/NG/Ni2P and the electrochemial performance of Ni2P/NG/Ni2P.

This study examined the longitudinal relationships among self-concept clarity (SCC), hope, and subjective well-being (i.e., emotional well-being and cognitive well-being). Specifically, we tested both the between-person and within-person associations of SCC with subjective well-being among 2,001 Chinese adolescents (age range 11-24 years, 42.9% males) during the first year. In addition, we examined the longitudinal mediating role of hope. Results showed that SCC had positive correlations with hope and subjective well-being both at one time point and over time. Multilevel mediation analysis indicated that hope could serve as a mediator in the association between SCC and subjective well-being, at both the between-person and within-person levels. Moreover, the model of longitudinal multilevel mediation was found to be moderated by gender and age. Our results indicated that hope could be an underlying mechanism for the longitudinal relationship between SCC and subjective well-being among Chinese adolescents, which provides a potential intervention target for improving adolescents' well-being.

Abstract Drought stress is a serious problem worldwide that reduces crop productivity. The laser has been shown to play a positive physiological role in enhancing plant seedlings tolerance to various abiotic stresses. However, little information is available about the molecular mechanism of He-Ne laser irradiation induced physiological changes for wheat adapting to drought conditions. Here, we performed a large-scale transcriptome sequencing to determine the molecular roles of He-Ne laser pretreated wheat seedlings under drought stress. There were 98.822 transcripts identified, and, among them, 820 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed in He-Ne laser pretreated wheat seedlings under drought stress compared with drought stress alone. Furthermore, most representative transcripts related to photosynthesis, nutrient uptake and transport, homeostasis control of reactive oxygen species and transcriptional regulation were expressed predominantly in He-Ne laser pretreated wheat seedlings. Thus, the up-regulated physiological processes of photosynthesis, antioxidation and osmotic accumulation because of the modified expressions of the related genes could contribute to the enhanced drought tolerance induced by He-Ne laser pretreatment. These findings will expand our understanding of the complex molecular events associated with drought tolerance conferred by laser irradiation in wheat and provide abundant genetic resources for future studies on plant adaptability to environmental stresses.

Objective To investigate whether immersive virtual reality (VR) distraction could decrease pain during postoperative dressing changes. Methods This was a prospective, open-label randomized clinical trial that enrolled patients that had undergone haemorrhoidectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a control group that received the standard pharmacological analgesic intervention during dressing change and a VR group that received VR distraction during dressing change plus standard pharmacological analgesic intervention. Pain scores and physiological measurements were collected before, during and after the first postoperative dressing change. Results A total of 182 patients were randomly assigned to the control and VR groups. The baseline characteristics of the VR and control groups were comparable. There was no significant difference in mean pain scores prior to and after the dressing change procedure between the two groups. The mean pain scores at the 5-, 10-, 15- and 20-min time-points during the first dressing change were significantly lower in the VR group compared with the control group. Heart rates and oxygen saturation were not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion Immersive VR was effective as a pain distraction tool in combination with standard pharmacological analgesia during dressing change in patients that had undergone haemorrhoidectomy.

Objective. In diabetes mellitus, vitamin D3 deficiency affects sex hormone levels and male fertility; however, the mechanism leading to the disorder is unclear. This research was designed to investigate the mechanism of vitamin D3 deficiency and hypogonadism in diabetic rats. Our aim was to assess serum vitamin D3 levels and the relationship among vitamin D3, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and testicular function. Materials and Methods. Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were randomly divided into four groups and treated with different doses of vitamin D3: no vitamin D3, low (0.025 μg/kg/day), high (0.1 μg/kg/day), and high (0.1 μg/kg/day) with JB-1 (the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibitor group, 100 μg/kg/day). The groups were compared with wild-type rats, which function as the control group. Various parameters such as vitamin D3 and IGF-1 were compared between the experimental and wild-type groups, and their correlations were determined. Results. Twelve weeks of vitamin D3 supplementation improved the testosterone levels, as shown by the increase in the level of serum IGF-1 in diabetic rats. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), which was a downstream of the signaling pathway of IGF-1, was significantly increased after vitamin D3 treatment. Conclusions. The study shows that vitamin D3 may promote the expression of testosterone and improve testicular function in diabetic rats by activating PI3K/AKT via IGF-1.

We establish a master-slave oligopoly game model with an upstream monopoly whose output is considered and two downstream oligopolies whose prices are considered. The existence and the local stable region of the Nash equilibrium point are investigated. The complex dynamic properties, such as bifurcation and chaos, are analyzed using bifurcation diagrams, the largest Lyapunov exponent diagrams, and the strange attractor graph. We further analyze the long-run average profit of the three firms and find that they are all optimal in the stable region. In addition, delay feedback control method and limiter control method are used in nondelayed model to control chaos. Furthermore, a delayed master-slave oligopoly game model is considered, and the three firms’ profit in various conditions is analyzed. We find that suitable delayed parameters are important for eliminating chaos and maximizing the profit of the players.