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Abstract Water electro-oxidation to form H2O2 is an important way to produce H2O2 which is widely applied in industry. However, its mechanism is under debate and HO(ads), hydroxyl group adsorbed onto the surface of the electrode, is regarded as an important intermediate. Herein, we study the mechanism of water oxidation to H2O2 at Pt electrode using in-situ Raman spectroscopy and differential electrochemical mass spectroscopy and find peroxide bond mainly originated from the coupling of two CO3 2- via a C2O6 2- intermediate. By quantifying the 18O isotope in the product, we find that 93% of H2O2 was formed via the CO3 2- coupling route and 7% of H2O2 is from OH(ads)-CO3 •− route. The OH(ads)-OH(ads) coupling route has a negligible contribution. The comparison of various electrodes shows that the strong adsorption of CO3(ads) at the electrode surface is essential. Combining with a commercial cathode catalyst to produce H2O2 during oxygen reduction, we assemble a flow cell in which the cathode and anode simultaneously produce H2O2. It shows a Faradaic efficiency of 150% of H2O2 at 1 A cm−2 with a cell voltage of 2.3 V.

Abstract Background Numerous studies have validated the clinical effectiveness of electromagnetic pairing-associated stimulation. Building upon this foundation, we have developed a novel approach involving high-frequency magnetic paired-associated stimulation, aiming to enhance clinical applicability and potentially improve efficacy. However, the clinical effectiveness of this approach remains unclear. Our objective is to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of this novel approach by employing high-frequency pairing to intervene in patients experiencing motor dysfunction following a stroke. Methods This is a single-center, single-blind, sham stimulation controlled clinical trial involving patients with upper limb motor dysfunction post-stroke. The intervention utilizes paired magnetic stimulation, combining peripheral and central magnetic stimulation, in patients with Brunnstrom stage III–V stroke lasting from 3 months to 1 year. Evaluation of patients’ upper limb motor function occurred before the intervention and after 3 weeks of intervention. Follow-up visits will be conducted after 5 weeks and 3 months of intervention. The primary outcome measure is the Action Research Arm Test, with secondary measures including the Fugl-Meyer Assessment-upper, Modified Barthel Index, modified Tardieu scale, functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and neuroelectrophysiology. Discussion The high-frequency magnetic paired associative stimulation used in this study combined high-frequency magnetic stimulation with paired stimulation, potentially facilitating both cortical excitation through high-frequency stimulation and specific circuit enhancement through paired stimulation. As dual-coil magnetic stimulation equipment becomes increasingly popular, magnetic-magnetic paired associated stimulation may offer patients improved clinical outcomes at reduced costs. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry,ChiCTR2400083363. Registered on 23 April 2024.

TRIB3, a pseudokinase, was previously studied within only some specific cancer types, leaving its comprehensive functions in pan-cancer contexts largely unexplored. Here, we performed an integrated analysis of TRIB3 expression, prognosis, genetic alterations, functional enrichment and tumor immune-related characteristics in 33 cancer types. Our results showed that TRIB3 exhibits high expression levels across 24 different cancer types and correlates closely with unfavorable prognoses. Meanwhile, TRIB3 shows mutations in a wide spectrum of 22 distinct cancer types, with the predominant mutation types being missense mutations and gene amplifications, and significant changes in DNA methylation levels in 14 types of cancer. We further discovered that TRIB3 expression is significantly associated with cancer immune-related genome mutations, such as tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR), and infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, such as CD4+ Th2 cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), into the tumor microenvironment. These results indicated that the expression of TRIB3 might reshape the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and lead to immunosuppressive ''cold'' tumors. In addition, our results confirmed that the loss of function of TRIB3 inhibits cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis, and leads to significant enrichment of ''hot'' tumor-related immune pathways, at least in breast cancer cells, which further supports the important role of TRIB3 in cancer prognosis and TIME regulation. Together, this pan-cancer investigation provided a comprehensive understanding of the critical role of TRIB3 in human cancers, and suggested that TRIB3 might be a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

Abstract Background Lumbar–iliac fixation (LIF) is a common treatment for Tile C1.3 pelvic fractures, but different techniques, including L4–L5/L5 unilateral LIF (L4–L5/L5 ULIF), bilateral LIF (BLIF), and L4–L5/L5 triangular osteosynthesis (L4–L5/L5 TOS), still lack biomechanical evaluation. The sacral slope (SS) is key to the vertical shear of the sacrum but has not been investigated for its biomechanical role in lumbar–iliac fixation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the biomechanical effects of different LIF and SS on Tile C1.3 pelvic fracture under two-legged standing load in human cadavers. Methods Eight male fresh-frozen human lumbar–pelvic specimens were used in this study. Compressive force of 500 N was applied to the L4 vertebrae in the two-legged standing position of the pelvis. The Tile C1.3 pelvic fracture was prepared, and the posterior pelvic ring was fixed with L5 ULIF, L4–L5 ULIF, L5 TOS, L4–L5 TOS, and L4–L5 BLIF, respectively. Displacement and rotation of the anterior S1 foramen at 30° and 40° sacral slope (SS) were analyzed. Results The displacement of L4–L5/L5 TOS in the left–right and vertical direction, total displacement, and rotation in lateral bending decreased significantly, which is more pronounced at 40° SS. The difference in stability between L4–L5 and L5 ULIF was not significant. BLIF significantly limited left–right displacement. The ULIF vertical displacement at 40° SS was significantly higher than that at 30° SS. Conclusions This study developed an in vitro two-legged standing pelvic model and demonstrated that TOS enhanced pelvic stability in the coronal plane and cephalad–caudal direction, and BLIF enhanced stability in the left–right direction. L4–L5 ULIF did not further improve the immediate stability, whereas TOS is required to increase the vertical stability at greater SS.

BackgroundmicroRNAs (miRNAs) were recognized as a promising source of diagnostic biomarker. Herein, we aim to evaluate the performance of an ultrasensitive method for detecting serum miRNAs using single molecule arrays (Simoa).MethodsIn this study, candidate miRNAs were trained and tested by RT-qPCR in a cohort of PTB patients. Besides that, ultrasensitive serum miRNA detection were developed using the Single Molecule Array (Simoa) platform. In this ultra-sensitive sandwich assay, two target-specific LNA-modified oligonucleotide probes can be simply designed to be complementary to the half-sequence of the target miRNA respectively. We characterized its analytical performance and measured miRNAs in the serum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and healthy individuals.ResultsWe identified a five signature including three upregulated (miR-101, miR-196b, miR-29a) and two downregulated (miR-320b, miR-99b) miRNAs for distinguishing PTB patients from HCs, and validated in our 104 PTB patients. On the basis of Simoa technology, we developed a novel, fully automated digital analyser, which can be used to directly detect miRNAs in serum samples without pre-amplification. We successfully detected miRNAs at femtomolar concentrations (with limits of detection [LODs] ranging from 0.449 to 1.889 fM). Simoa-determined serum miR-29a and miR-99b concentrations in patients with PTB ((median 6.06 fM [range 0.00–75.22]), (median 2.53 fM [range 0.00–24.95]), respectively) were significantly higher than those in HCs ((median 2.42 fM [range 0.00–28.64]) (P < 0.05), (median 0.54 fM [range 0.00–9.12] (P < 0.0001), respectively). Serum levels of miR-320b were significantly reduced in patients with PTB (median 2.11 fM [range 0.00–39.30]) compared with those in the HCs (median 4.76 fM [range 0.00–25.10]) (P < 0.001). A combination of three miRNAs (miR-29a, miR-99b, and miR-320b) exhibited a good capacity to distinguish PTB from HCs, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.818 (sensitivity: 83.9%; specificity: 79.7%).ConclusionsThis study benchmarks the role of Simoa as a promising tool for monitoring miRNAs in serum and offers considerable potential as a non-invasive platform for the early diagnosis of PTB.

Highlights An innovative class of versatile form-stable composite phase change materials (CPCMs) was fruitfully exploited, featuring MXene/phytic acid hybrid depositing on non-carbonized wood as a robust support. The wood-based CPCMs showcase enhanced thermal conductivity of 0.82 W m−1 K−1 (4.6 times than polyethylene glycol) as well as high latent heat of 135.5 kJ kg−1 (91.5% encapsulation) with thermal durability and stability throughout at least 200 heating and cooling cycles. The wood-based CPCMs have good solar-thermal-electricity conversion, flame-retardant, and electromagnetic shielding properties.

Abstract Objectives This meta-analysis focused on systematically assessing the clinical value of mNGS for infection in hematology patients. Methods We searched for studies that assessed the clinical value of mNGS for infection in hematology patients published in Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and CNKI from inception to August 30, 2023. We compared the detection positive rate of pathogen for mNGS and conventional microbiological tests (CMTs). The diagnostic metrics, antibiotic adjustment rate and treatment effective rate were combined. Results Twenty-two studies with 2325 patients were included. The positive rate of mNGS was higher than that of CMT (blood: 71.64% vs. 24.82%, P

Objective: Epigenetic abnormalities have a critical role in breast cancer by regulating gene expression; however, the intricate interrelationships and key roles of approximately 400 epigenetic regulators in breast cancer remain elusive. It is important to decipher the comprehensive epigenetic regulatory network in breast cancer cells to identify master epigenetic regulators and potential therapeutic targets. Methods: We employed high-throughput sequencing-based high-throughput screening (HTS 2) to effectively detect changes in the expression of 2,986 genes following the knockdown of 400 epigenetic regulators. Then, bioinformatics analysis tools were used for the resulting gene expression signatures to investigate the epigenetic regulations in breast cancer. Results: Utilizing these gene expression signatures, we classified the epigenetic regulators into five distinct clusters, each characterized by specific functions. We discovered functional similarities between BAZ2B and SETMAR, as well as CLOCK and CBX3. Moreover, we observed that CLOCK functions in a manner opposite to that of HDAC8 in downstream gene regulation. Notably, we constructed an epigenetic regulatory network based on the gene expression signatures, which revealed 8 distinct modules and identified 10 master epigenetic regulators in breast cancer. Conclusions: Our work deciphered the extensive regulation among hundreds of epigenetic regulators. The identification of 10 master epigenetic regulators offers promising therapeutic targets for breast cancer treatment.

The APETALA 2/ethylene response factors (AP2/ERFs) are considered essential in plant disease resistance responses. In this study, a novel eggplant AP2/ERF transcription factor gene, StPti5, was identified and functionally described from wild eggplant (Solanum torvum Sw.). The results of bioinformatics analysis show that StPti5 protein contains a DNA-binding AP2/ERF domain and shares high degree of amino acid similarity with the other known AP2/ERF domain. Subcellular localization assay shows that StPti5 protein was localized in the nucleus. Expression of StPti5 was induced by infection with Verticillium dahliae, ethylene, and methyl jasmonate. Analysis of expression patterns suggests that the function of StPti5 in resistance to Verticillium wilt was most closely linked to ethylene signaling. Overexpression of StPti5 in Arabidopsis thaliana could improve disease resistance to V. dahliae and activate genes linked to the ethylene signaling pathway. Studies on the A. thaliana defence response revealed that the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased considerably following overexpression of StPti5. In summary, our analysis suggest that StPti5 gene is a functional gene that could improve eggplant's resistance to V. dahliae.

Abstract Background Whole-cell biocatalysis has been exploited to convert a variety of substrates into high-value bulk or chiral fine chemicals. However, the traditional whole-cell biocatalysis typically utilizes the heterotrophic microbes as the biocatalyst, which requires carbohydrates to power the cofactor (ATP, NAD (P)H) regeneration. Results In this study, we sought to harness purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium (PNSB) as the biocatalyst to achieve light-driven cofactor regeneration for cascade biocatalysis. We substantially improved the performance of Rhodopseudomonas palustris-based biocatalysis using a highly active and conditional expression system, blocking the side-reactions, controlling the feeding strategy, and attenuating the light shading effect. Under light-anaerobic conditions, we found that 50 mM ferulic acid could be completely converted to vanillyl alcohol using the recombinant strain with 100% efficiency, and > 99.9% conversion of 50 mM p-coumaric acid to p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was similarly achieved. Moreover, we examined the isoprenol utilization pathway for pinene synthesis and 92% conversion of 30 mM isoprenol to pinene was obtained. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggested that R. palustris could be a promising host for light-powered biotransformation, which offers an efficient approach for synthesizing value-added chemicals in a green and sustainable manner. Graphical Abstract

Non-technical losses (NTL) refer to unrecorded power consumption generated by dishonest customers, which is a substantial issue affecting the power system stability and economic efficiency of the power grid. The detection of dishonest customers is hindered by the complexity of NTL such as data feature selection, retention time feature, and power consumption pattern judgment. This work addresses these issues using meter recording data, proposing an NTL detection approach with Gram’s angle field (GAF) and deep residual network (ResNet). Principal component analysis (PCA) method is applied to compress multiple electricity detection indexes, which aims to obtain multi-dimensional power consumption data characteristics without changing its timing characteristics. The GAF method is used to convert the time-series power features of individual users into a two-dimensional image, achieving the purpose of maintaining the user’s time-series features and user-based units. The images generated by the GAF method, which contain information about the electricity consumption characteristics of many customers, are classified by ResNet to highlight customers with NTL. The claimed algorithm was tested on a dataset consisting of both fraudulent and non-fraudulent subscriber data. The results demonstrated that the NTL detection method based on GAF and ResNet is superior to the traditional NTL detection method and has high accuracy.

110 kV oil immersed transformer is a key part of the power transmission and transformation system, which determines the power quality and transmission efficiency. Its fault diagnosis can greatly reduce the maintenance cost and improve the economy. At present, the methods of transformer fault diagnosis have a strong dependence on the original data, and the size of the original data directly affects the effect of fault diagnosis. In order to change this situation and achieve higher accuracy of transformer fault diagnosis, this paper firstly uses the Conditional Variational Automatic Encoder (CVAE) composed of full connection layers to expand the original samples under each fault category. After data augmentation, the convolutional neural network (CNN) with strong feature extraction ability is selected as the classifier. Finally, the CVAE-CNN model is validated using public dataset and the result is compared to other machine learning algorithms.

Linear induction motor (LIM) has the advantages of low noise, strong climbing ability and small turning radius. It is widely used in middle-low speed maglev traffic. However, in actual operation, the linear motor will weaken the thrust output due to the existence of the end effect which will lead to the reduction of the traction efficiency. At the same time, the fluctuation of normal force will disturb the suspension system and affect its suspension stability. To solve the above problems, this paper first establishes a LIM dynamic model considering the end effect, and proposes constant slip frequency vector control. According to the different requirements of normal force and thrust of the train in constant power and force area, the sectional constant slip control is carried out. Then an improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) is introduced to optimize slip frequency at two stages to reduce the theoretically solved error of optimal slip frequency. Finally, the proposed algorithm is simulated and hardware-in-the-loop tests are carried out; The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm and improvements can meet the requirements of full speed thrust output and normal force of the train. It provides a certain reference value for traction control of the linear motor in middle-low speed maglev train.

Objective Anterior dislocation of the sacroiliac joint (ADSIJ) is caused by strong violence, and because of its low morbidity, there are no standardized diagnostic and therapeutical guidelines at this moment. This study aims to explore the surgical techniques and preliminary outcomes of the lateral‐rectus approach (LRA) for treating ADSIJ. Methods A retrospective study was conducted of 15 patients with ADSIJ from January 2016 to January 2021. The patients' age ranged from 1.8 years old to 57 years old (37 ± 18 years old). All patients underwent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) through the LRA. Eight patients were combined with lumbosacral plexus injury and underwent neurolysis during operation. Patients' fracture type, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, operation time and intraoperative bleeding volume were accessed by reviewing medical history. Quality of fracture reduction was evaluated with the Matta score. At 1‐year follow‐up, the functional rehabilitation was evaluated by the Majeed rehabilitation criteria. For those with lumbosacral plexus injury, the neuromotor function was evaluated using muscle strength grading proposed by the British Medical Research Council (BMRC) and recovery was recorded. Results All 15 patients underwent the operation successfully. The surgical time ranged from 70 to 220 min (126 ± 42 min), and the intraoperative blood loss ranged from 180 to 2000 mL (816 ± 560 mL). Eighty percent of the cohort (12/15) were rated as excellent and good in the Matta score for fracture reduction quality after operation without surgical incision‐related complications. At 1‐year follow‐up, the overall excellent and good rate was 73.3% (11/15) according to the Majeed criteria, the neuromotor function recovered completely in six cases and partially in two cases according to the BMRC muscle strength grading, and the recovery of sensory function was evaluated as excellent in six cases, good in one case and poor in one case, with an overall excellent and good rate of 87.5%. Conclusion The LRA can well expose the surrounding structures of the sacroiliac joint from the front, which helps surgeons reduce and fix the anterior dislocation of the sacroiliac joint under direct vision and effectively decompress the entrapment of the lumbosacral plexus to achieve better clinical efficacy.

Abstract Aims To investigate the association between professionalism and social media competence among Chinese mainland nursing undergraduates. Design This study employed a cross‐sectional descriptive correlation design. Participants From June to July 2021, 797 nursing students from four nursing colleges in Jiangsu Province, China, were chosen using stratified cluster sampling. Methods The questionnaire included the Chinese version of the Nursing Professionalism Scale and the Social Media Competency Scale. The association between professionalism and social media competency was examined using Pearson's correlation analysis. Results The professionalism of nursing undergraduates (average scores:70.44 ± 8.82) was at a medium level. Social media self‐efficacy, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and social influence (3.76 ± 0.75, 3.87 ± 0.60, 3.53 ± 0.69, 3.41 ± 0.76) were at a medium–high level, while social media experience and effort expectancy (3.03 ± 0.72, 2.60 ± 0.59) were at medium and low levels. Among nursing undergraduates, professionalism was related to social media competence, among which, professionalism was positively correlated with social media self‐efficacy (r = 0.40, p

Abstract During legume-rhizobia symbiosis, differentiation of the symbiosome (engulfed intracellular rhizobia) is necessary for successful nitrogen fixation. To control symbiosome differentiation, host cell subcellular components, e.g., ER (endoplasmic reticulum), must adapt robustly to ensure large-scale host protein secretion to the new organelle. However, the key components controlling the adaption of ER in nodule cells remain elusive. We report that Medicago BID1, a nodule-specific signal peptide peptidase (SPP), is central to ER structural dynamics and host protein secretion. In bid1, symbiosome differentiation is blocked. BID1 localizes specifically to the ER membrane and expresses exclusively in nodule cells with symbiosomes. In the wild type ER forms proximal association structures with symbiosomes, but not in bid1. Consequently, in bid1 excessive ER stress responses are induced and ER-to-symbiosome protein secretion is impaired. In summary, a nodule-specific SPP is necessary for ER-symbiosome proximal association, host protein secretion, and symbiosome differentiation.

IntroductionMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) is a novel technique for detecting pathogens. This retrospective study evaluated the diagnostic value of mNGS using plasma for infections in hematology patients and its impact on clinical treatment and prognosis in different subgroups of hematology patients.MethodsA total of 153 hematology patients with suspected infection who underwent mNGS using plasma were enrolled in the study. Their clinical histories, conventional microbiological test (CMT) results, mNGS results, treatment and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsIn 153 plasma samples, mNGS yielded a higher positivity rate than CMT (total: 88.24% vs. 40.52%, P 0.05; mortality rate: 29.17% vs. 29.63%, P > 0.05) with more aggressive antibiotic adjustments (45.83% vs. 22.22%, P < 0.01).ConclusionmNGS can detect more microorganisms with higher positive rates, especially in patients with neutropenia. mNGS had better clinical value in patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or neutropenia, which had a positive effect on treatment and prognosis.

The increasing demand of energy consumption reduction makes evaluating multi-load a growing and notable challenge. However, if the accuracy of energy evaluation in integrated energy systems is not high enough, the subsequent index evaluation, economic analysis and scheduling cannot be carried out effectively. In this paper, a Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit model adapted for multi-load consumption evaluation is proposed, and combines the inputs of evaluation model with Temporal Convolutional Network, allowing the model to obtain a larger receptive field. The resulting evaluation is shown to be applicable to longer series, and more accurate than those generated with other neural networks. In a system multi-energy evaluation exercise combined with local meteorological data, the proposed model is shown to estimate the energy consumption of the system relatively accurately, which can assist in further analysis.

Abstract Upgrading of atmospheric CO2 into high‐value‐added acetate using renewable electricity via electrocatalysis solely remains a great challenge. Here, inspired by microbial synthesis via biocatalysts, we present a coupled system to produce acetate from CO2 by bridging inorganic electrocatalysis with microbial synthesis through formate intermediates. A 3D Bi2O3@CF integrated electrode with an ice‐sugar gourd shape was fabricated via a straightforward hydrothermal synthesis strategy, wherein Bi2O3 microspheres were decorated on carbon fibers. This ice‐sugar gourd‐shaped architecture endows electrodes with multiple structural advantages, including synergistic contribution, high mass transport capability, high structural stability, and large surface area. Consequently, the resultant Bi2O3@CF exhibited a maximum Faradic efficiency of 92.4% at −1.23 V versus Ag/AgCl for formate generation in 0.5 M KHCO3, exceeding that of Bi2O3/CF prepared using a conventional electrode preparation strategy. Benefiting from the high formate selectivity, unique architecture, and good biocompatibility, the Bi2O3@CF electrode attached with enriched CO2‐fixing electroautotrophs served as a biocathode. As a result, a considerable acetate yield rate of 0.269 ± 0.009 g L−1 day−1 (a total acetate yield of 3.77 ± 0.12 g L−1 during 14‐day operation) was achieved in the electrochemical–microbial system equipped with Bi2O3@CF.

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to investigate the symmetry of the Chinese pelvis. Methods Computed tomography scan images of each of 50 Chinese pelvises were converted to 3D models and the left sides of the pelvises were reflected on Mimics software. Then, the reflected left side model was aligned with the right side using the closest point algorithm function of Geomagic software to perform symmetry analysis. The volume and surface area of either side of the pelvises were also calculated. The mean standard deviation (SD), the mean percentage of permissible deviations within the ±2 mm range, the percentage differences in volume and surface area were measured to compare pelvic symmetry. In addition, the distribution of pelvic bilateral symmetry associated with both age and sex were compared. Results The mean SD was 1.15 ± 0.16 mm and the mean percentage of permissible deviations was 90.82% ± 4.67%. The deviation color maps showed that the specific areas of asymmetry were primarily localized to major muscle or ligament attachment sites and the sacroiliac joint surfaces. There was no significant difference between the bilateral sides of the pelvis in either volume or surface area. Additionally, no difference in any indexes was exhibited in relation to sex and age distribution. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that the pelvis has high bilateral symmetry, which confirmed the potential of using contralateral pelvic models to create fully patient‐specific and custom‐made pelvic implants applicable for the treatment of fracture and bony destruction.

Background:. Acute pancreatitis (AP) was a potentially fatal disease with a variation in severity. Infected pancreatic necrosis was a common complication in AP which needed surgical intervention. The present study was to study the correlative factors of death in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention. Methods:. From January 2016 to October 2019, a total of 186 patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention in the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Of the 186 patients, 22 who died in the hospital were defined as a mortality group and the others as a survival group. The clinical characteristic of the 2 groups was compared and the relative risk of mortality in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after the surgical intervention was studied. Results:. Acute fluid collection, acute kidney injury, acute lung injury, acute liver injury, multiple organ dysfunction syndromes, abdominal bleeding, abdominal Acinetobacter baumannii infection, pulmonary infection, pulmonary A baumannii infection, positive blood culture, A baumannii of blood culture, severe acute pancreatitis according to Atlanta 2012, the use of continuous renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation and minimally invasive retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy was associated with death in hospital. Older age, longer acute kidney injury lasting time, longer acute lung injury lasting time, longer acute liver injury lasting time, and longer multiple organ dysfunction syndromes lasting time in predicting mortality in patients with infected pancreatic necrosis after surgical intervention were (0.635 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.512–0.758], P = .040), (0.877 [95% CI: 0.788–0.965], P = .000], (0.932 [95% CI: 0.897–0.968], P = .000), (0.822 [95% CI: 0.708–0.935], P = .000), and (0.943 [95% CI: 0.887–0.998], P = .000). Due to the small number of death cases, the results of the multivariate analyses were not available. Conclusion:. In this single-center retrospective study of 186 cases of infected pancreas necrosis, the correlative factors of death are identified. The results warranted further strategies are needed especially focusing on elder patients to prevent blood infection and to protect the functions of vital organs.

Background:. Persistent external pancreatic fistula (EPF) in patients with pancreatic duct disruption or disconnection can result from minimal access to retroperitoneal pancreatic necrosectomy (MARPN) in severe acute pancreatitis patients, which is a difficult problem for clinicians and requires a long treatment duration. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and safety of trans-sinus gastric stent placement and drainage using interventional technology in the management of persistent EPF after MARPN in severe acute pancreatitis. Methods:. From August 2018 to December 2020, the data of 9 patients with persistent EPF treated with trans-sinus gastric stent placement and drainage in our hospital were retrospectively collected. The main outcome measures were technical success rate, recurrence rate, new pancreatic fluid collection, morbidity, and mortality. All patients were followed up after the procedure through clinic visits and imaging modalities. Results:. The median age of the patients was 46 years (30–61 years). The median persistent EPF duration was 5 months (2–12 months). The median follow-up time was 41 months (range, 20–47 months). The median operation time was 48 minutes (range, 40–54 minutes), and the technical success rate was 100%. Seven days after treatment, the percutaneous drainage tubes of all patients were removed. Six months after the procedure, 2 patients lost the stents, and one of those patients suffered from a pseudocyst, which gradually increased to a maximum diameter of 7 cm over 9 months. Therefore, a double pigtail drainage tube was placed under the guidance of an endoscope. The second of these 2 patients had no recurrence or pseudocyst. Twelve months after the procedure, another 3 patients lost the stents; 18 months after the procedure, another 2 patients lost the stents. These patients had no recurrence as well. No other adverse events or deaths occurred during the study period. Conclusion:. Trans-sinus tract gastric stent placement and drainage are safe and effective in the treatment of persistent EPF after MARPN in severe acute pancreatitis patients. However, this study had a small sample size and did not include a comparative group.

Objective There has been a controversy in the surgical approach for delayed acetabular fracture. The objective of the present study is to investigate the feasibility, surgical techniques, safety, and efficacy of periacetabular osteotomy using the single lateral‐rectus approach (LRA) for the surgical treatment of delayed acetabular fracture. Methods The retrospective study included 22 patients (16 males and six females, with an average age of 45 years) with delayed acetabular fractures from June 2012 to June 2019. For all cases, periacetabular osteotomy was performed through the single LRA. Fracture classification, mechanism of injury, associated injury, time to surgery, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, and complications were recorded and analyzed. The quality of the reduction was assessed based on Matta radiographic criteria. Potential impact factors affecting the quality of reduction were analyzed. Functional outcome was evaluated at the final follow‐up according to a modified Mere D'Aubigne‐Postel scoring system for each patient. Results All patients were followed up for at least 12 months. The duration of surgery was 140 min on average (110–205 min) and the mean intraoperative blood loss was 1250 ml (500–2100 ml). According to Matta radiographic criteria, the accuracy of reduction was “anatomical” in seven patients, “imperfect” in 11 patients, and “poor” in four patients, with an excellent and good rate of 81.8%. The time to surgery in poor reduction group was significantly longer than anatomical or imperfect reduction group (p

Background Chronic stress promotes the development of atherosclerosis, causing disruptions in the body’s hormone levels and changes in the structural function of organs. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathological changes in the adrenal gland in a model of atherosclerosis under chronic stress and to verify the expression levels of Sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT) 1 and SGLT2 in the adrenal gland and their significance in the changes of adrenal gland. Methods The model mice were constructed by chronic unpredictable stress, high-fat diet, and Apoe-/- knockout, and they were tested behaviorally at 0, 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The state of the abdominal artery was examined by ultrasound, and the pathological changes of the aorta and adrenal glands were observed by histological methods, and the expression levels and distribution of SGLT1 and SGLT2 in the adrenal gland were observed and analyzed by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry. The predictive value of SGLT1 and SGLT2 expression levels on intima-media thickness, internal diameter and adrenal abnormalities were verified by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, support vector machine (SVM) and back-propagation (BP) neural network. Results The results showed that chronic stress mice had elevated expression levels of SGLT1 and SGLT2. The model mice developed thickening intima-media and smaller internal diameter in the aorta, and edema, reticular fiber rupture, increased adrenal glycogen content in the adrenal glands. More importantly, analysis of ROC, SVM and BP showed that SGLT1 and SGLT2 expression levels in the adrenal glands could predict the above changes in the aorta and were also sensitive and specific predictors of adrenal abnormalities. Conclusion SGLT1 and SGLT2 could be potential biomarkers of adrenal injury in atherosclerosis under chronic stress.

Abstract The market demand for energy pushes researchers to pay a lot of attention to Li‐S batteries. However, the ‘shuttle effect’, the corrosion of lithium anodes, and the formation of lithium dendrites make the poor cycling performances (especially under high current densities and high sulfur loading) of Li‐S batteries, which limit their commercial applications. Here, a separator is prepared and modified with Super P and LTO (abbreviation SPLTOPD) through a simple coating method. The LTO can improve the transport ability of Li+ cations, and the Super P can reduce the charge transfer resistance. The prepared SPLTOPD can effectively barrier the pass‐through of polysulfides, catalyze the reactions of polysulfides into S2−, and increase the ionic conductivity of the Li‐S batteries. The SPLTOPD can also prevent the aggregation of insulating sulfur species on the surface of the cathode. The assembled Li‐S batteries with the SPLTOPD can cycle 870 cycles at 5 C with the capacity attenuation of 0.066% per cycle. When the sulfur loading is up to 7.6 mg cm−2, the specific discharge capacity at 0.2 C can reach 839 mAh g−1, and the surface of lithium anode after 100 cycles does not show the existence lithium dendrites or a corrosion layer. This work provides an effective way for the preparation of commercial separators for Li‐S batteries.

IntroductionStaphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) osteomyelitis causes a variety of metabolism disorders in microenvironment and cells. Defining the changes in cholesterol metabolism and identifying key factors involved in cholesterol metabolism disorders during S. aureus osteomyelitis is crucial to understanding the mechanisms of S. aureus osteomyelitis and is important in designing host-directed therapeutic strategies.MethodsIn this study, we conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to define the effects of S. aureus osteomyelitis on cholesterol metabolism, as well as the role of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) in regulating cholesterol metabolism by macrophages during S. aureus osteomyelitis.ResultsThe data from GSE166522 showed that cholesterol metabolism disorder was induced by S. aureus osteomyelitis. Loss of cholesterol from macrophage obtained from mice with S. aureus osteomyelitis was detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(LC-MS/MS), which is consistent with Filipin III staining results. Changes in intracellular cholesterol content influenced bactericidal capacity of macrophage. Subsequently, it was proven by gene set enrichment analysis and qPCR, that ApoE played a key role in developing cholesterol metabolism disorder in S. aureus osteomyelitis. ApoE deficiency in macrophages resulted in increased resistance to S. aureus. ApoE-deficient mice manifested abated bone destruction and decreased bacteria load. Moreover, the combination of transcriptional analysis, qPCR, and killing assay showed that ApoE deficiency led to enhanced cholesterol biosynthesis in macrophage, ameliorating anti-infection ability.ConclusionWe identified a previously unrecognized role of ApoE in S. aureus osteomyelitis from the perspective of metabolic reprogramming. Hence, during treating S. aureus osteomyelitis, considering cholesterol metabolism as a potential therapeutic target presents a new research direction.

Background The microbial community structure in saliva differs at different altitudes. However, the impact of acute high-altitude exposure on the oral microbiota is unclear. This study explored the impact of acute high-altitude exposure on the salivary microbiome to establish a foundation for the future prevention of oral diseases. Methods. Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 12 male subjects at the following three time points: one day before entering high altitude (an altitude of 350 m, pre-altitude group), seven days after arrival at high altitude (an altitude of 4,500 m, altitude group) and seven days after returning to low altitude (an altitude of 350 m, post-altitude group). Thus, a total of 36 saliva samples were obtained. 16S rRNA V3-V4 region amplicon sequencing was used to analyze the diversity and structure of the salivary microbial communities, and a network analysis was employed to investigate the relationships among salivary microorganisms. The function of these microorganisms was predicted with a Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) analysis. Results In total, there were 756 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) identified, with 541, 613, and 615 OTUs identified in the pre-altitude, altitude, and post-altitude groups, respectively. Acute high-altitude exposure decreased the diversity of the salivary microbiome. Prior to acute high-altitude exposure, the microbiome mainly consisted of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Fusobacteria, and Actinobacteria. After altitude exposure, the relative abundance of Streptococcus and Veillonella increased, and the relative abundance of Prevotella, Porphyromonas, and Alloprevotella decreased. The relationship among the salivary microorganisms was also affected by acute high-altitude exposure. The relative abundance of carbohydrate metabolism gene functions was upregulated, while the relative abundance of coenzyme and vitamin metabolism gene functions was downregulated. Conclusion Rapid high-altitude exposure decreased the biodiversity of the salivary microbiome, changing the community structure, symbiotic relationships among species, and abundance of functional genes. This suggests that the stress of acute high-altitude exposure influenced the stability of the salivary microbiome.

Medicago truncatula has been selected as one of the model legume species for gene functional studies. To elucidate the functions of the very large number of genes present in plant genomes, genetic mutant resources are very useful and necessary tools. Fast Neutron (FN) mutagenesis is effective in inducing deletion mutations in genomes of diverse species. Through this method, we have generated a large mutant resource in M. truncatula. This mutant resources have been used to screen for different mutant using a forward genetics methods. We have isolated and identified a large amount of symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) deficiency mutants. Here, we describe the detail procedures that are being used to characterize symbiotic mutants in M. truncatula. In recent years, whole genome sequencing has been used to speed up and scale up the deletion identification in the mutant. Using this method, we have successfully isolated a SNF defective mutant FN007 and identified that it has a large segment deletion on chromosome 3. The causal deletion in the mutant was confirmed by tail PCR amplication and sequencing. Our results illustrate the utility of whole genome sequencing analysis in the characterization of FN induced deletion mutants for gene discovery and functional studies in the M. truncatula. It is expected to improve our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legume plants to a great extent.

The leakage of the electronic current of a laser diode (LD) has some significant influences on the performance of the LD. In this study, commercial simulation software LASTIP is used to numerically evaluate the performances of LDs by using different wavelengths and Al contents of the electron blocking layer (EBL). These LDs a adopt multilayer structure, which contains cladding layers, waveguide layers, multiple quantum well layers, contact layers and an AlxGa1−xN EBL. The influence mechanism of EBL is theoretically examined by analyzing the simulated performances. It is found that for short-wavelength violet LDs, the electrical and optical properties of the LD will reach the optimum state when the Al content (x) in the EBL is nearly 0.25. For long-wavelength green LDs, it will achieve optimum electrical and optical properties when the Al content in the EBL is as low as possible. We also compare the simulation results of LDs with emission wavelengths in the range of violet and green, including blue cyan, for a more general evaluation. According to the simulated results, it is verified that the influence of the EBL’s Al content on LD performance enhances as the wavelength increases.

Lithium carbonate is ubiquitous in lithium battery chemistries and leads to overpotentials, however its oxidative decomposition is unclear. Here, the authors study its decomposition in ether electrolyte, clarify the role of the carbon substrate, and propose a route to limit released singlet oxygen.

Objective To examine the surgical techniques and preliminary outcomes of the lateral rectus approach (LRA) for treating vertical shear (VS) pelvic fracture associated with lumbosacral plexus (LSP) injury. Methods This study was a retrospective trial. From August 2010 to October 2017, 29 patients with VS pelvic fractures involving LSP injury who were treated with the LRA were included in this study. The patients were 18–61 years old, with a mean age of 36.2 years. All patients underwent neurolysis, open reduction, and internal fixation (ORIF) through the LRA. The fracture reduction was evaluated using the Matta criteria, and the neural recovery was evaluated by muscle strength grading proposed by the British Medical Research Council (BMRC). Results All 29 patients underwent the surgery successfully. The mean operating time was 155.2 ± 32.1 min (range: 105–220 min). The mean operative blood loss was 1021.4 ± 363.4 mL (range: 400–2000 mL). All patients were followed‐up for at least 24 months (mean, 32.8 ± 13.5 months; range: 24–96 months). According to the Matta criteria, there were 17 excellent cases, nine good cases, and three fair cases in 29 patients. The ratio of excellent‐to‐good cases was 89.66%. According to the criteria of the Nerve Injuries Committee of the British Medical Research Council (BMRC), the recovery of nerve and muscle strength achieved to M5 (full recovery of neurological symptoms) was 14 cases, M4 (fine recovery of neurological symptoms), seven cases; M1, M2, and M3 (partial recovery of neurological symptoms), five cases, and M0 (no recovery of neurological symptoms), three cases. Conclusions LRA is a safe and feasible surgical approach for treating VS pelvic fractures with LSP injury, which can be used to perform nerve exploration and release from the front, reduce the fracture, and fix it with the anterior iliac plates and/or sacroiliac screws.

Abstract Background The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the fatty acid desaturases and elongases might associate with the endogenous synthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). However, the related epidemiological evidence is still conflicting. So we aimed to clearly evaluate the interactions between maternal DHA-rich n-3 PUFAs supplementation and the known 26 SNPs on the profiles of PUFAs in the colostrum using a Chinese birth cohort. Methods Totally, 1050 healthy mother-infant pairs were enrolled in this study at gestational 6–8 weeks when they established their pregnancy files at Fuxing Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University in Beijing from January to December 2018. Meanwhile, their venous blood samples were obtained for DNA extraction to detect the genotypes of SNPs in the Fads1, Fads2, Fads3, Elovl2 and Elovl5 using the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry. Then the colostrum samples were collected to determine the profiles of PUFAs by gas chromatography. Results Maternal DHA-rich n-3 PUFAs supplementation from the early and middle pregnancy could reduce the infant BMI at birth, and impact the profiles of PUFAs in the colostrum, as higher n-3 PUFAs (EPA, DHA, DHA/ALA and DHA/EPA), lower n-6 PUFAs (AA and AA/LA) and ∑-6/n-3ΣPUFAs. Moreover, there were significant correlations between multiple SNPs and the profiles of n-6 PUFAs (rs76996928 for LA, rs174550, rs174553 and rs174609 for AA, rs174550 and rs76996928 for AA/LA) and n-3 PUFAs in the colostrum (rs174448, rs174537, rs174550, rs174553, rs174598, rs3168072, rs174455 and rs174464 for ALA, rs174550, rs174553 and rs174598 for EPA, rs174455 and rs174464 for DHA, rs174448 and rs3168072 for DHA/EPA) using the multiple linear regressions by adjusting the maternal age, gestational week, mode of delivery, infant sex and BMI at birth, and all these above significant SNPs had the cumulative effects on the profiles of PUFAs. Furthermore, the pairwise comparisons also showed the meaningful interactions between maternal DHA-rich n-3 PUFAs supplementation and related genotypes of SNPs (rs76996928 for LA, rs174598 for EPA, rs174448 for DHA and DHA/EPA) on the contents of PUFAs in the colostrum. Conclusions Results from this birth cohort study proved that the pregnant women with the following SNPs such as Fads3 rs174455 T, Fads3 rs174464 A and Fads1 rs174448 G alleles should pay more attention on their exogenous DHA supplementation from the early and middle pregnancy for the blocked endogenous synthesis. Trial registration: This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Beijing Pediatric Research Institution, Beijing Children’s Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University (2016–08), which was also registered at the website of http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=4673 (No: ChiCTR-OCH-14004900).

Abstract Direct photoelectrochemical 2‐electron water oxidation to renewable H2O2 production on an anode increases the value of solar water splitting. BiVO4 has a theoretical thermodynamic activity trend toward highly selective water oxidation H2O2 formation, but the challenges of competing 4‐electron O2 evolution and H2O2 decomposition reaction need to overcome. The influence of surface microenvironment has never been considered as a possible activity loss factor in the BiVO4‐based system. Herein, it is theoretically and experimentally demonstrated that the situ confined O2, where coating BiVO4 with hydrophobic polymers, can regulate the thermodynamic activity aiming for water oxidation H2O2. Also, the hydrophobicity is responsible for the H2O2 production and decomposition process kinetically. Therefore, after the addition of hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene on BiVO4 surface, it achieves an average Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 81.6% in a wide applied bias region (0.6–2.1 V vs RHE) with the best FE of 85%, which is 4‐time higher than BiVO4 photoanode. The accumulated H2O2 concentration can reach 150 µm at 1.23 V versus RHE under AM 1.5 illumination in 2 h. This concept of modifying the catalyst surface microenvironment via stable polymers provides a new approach to tune the multiple‐electrons competitive reactions in aqueous solution.

Background and objectiveRetreatment pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) still accounts for a large proportion of tuberculosis, and the treatment outcome is unfavorable. The recurrence of retreatment PTB based on long-term follow-up has not been well demonstrated. This study aimed to evaluate effect of a modified regimen on drug-sensitive retreated pulmonary tuberculosis.MethodsThis multicenter cohort study was conducted in 29 hospitals from 23 regions of China from July 1, 2009, to December 31, 2020. Patients were divided into two treatment regimen groups including experimental group [modified regimen (4H-Rt2-E-Z-S(Lfx)/4H-Rt2-E)]and control group [standard regimen (2H-R-E-Z-S/6H-R-E or 3H-R-E-Z/6H-R-E)]. The patients enrolled were followed up of 56 months after successful treatment. We compared the treatment success rate, treatment failure rate, adverse reaction rate, and recurrence rate between two regimens. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to identify the potential risk factors for recurrence after successful treatment with proportional hazards assumptions tested for all variables.ResultsA total of 381 patients with retreatment PTB were enrolled, including 244 (64.0%) in the experimental group and 137 (36.0%) in the control group. Overall, the treatment success rate was significant higher in the experimental group than control group (84.0 vs. 74.5%, P = 0.024); no difference was observed in adverse reactions between the two groups (25.8 vs. 21.2%, P > 0.05). A total of 307 patients completed the 56 months of follow-up, including 205 with the modified regimen and 102 with the standard regimen. Among these, 10 cases (3.3%) relapsed, including 3 in the experimental group and 7 in the control group (1.5% vs 6.9%, P = 0.035). Reduced risks of recurrence were observed in patients treated with the modified regimen compared with the standard regimen, and the adjusted hazard ratio was 0.19 (0.04–0.77).ConclusionThe modified retreatment regimen had more favorable treatment effects, including higher treatment success rate and lower recurrence rate in patients with retreated drug-sensitive PTB.

Abstract Background How to perform minimally invasive surgery for Tile C pelvic fracture is a major problem in clinical practice. We performed minimally invasive surgery for Tile C pelvic fracture using anterior ring internal fixator systems combined with sacroiliac screw fixation. Objective To investigate the advantages and efficacy of anterior ring internal fixator systems combined with sacroiliac screw fixation in the treatment of Tile C pelvic fracture. Methods From May 2017 to May 2020, 27 patients with Tile C pelvic fracture who underwent anterior ring internal fixator system combined with sacroiliac screw fixation (group A) and 21 patients with Tile C pelvic fracture who underwent plate-screw system combined with sacroiliac screw fixation (group B) were retrospectively analyzed. Results All 48 patients were followed up for more than 12 months, all fractures healed within 3–6 months. The operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume, blood transfusion volume, incision length, hospital stay, complication rate and Majeed score were 63.5 ± 10.7 min, 48.3 ± 27.9 ml, 0 ml, 4.5 ± 0.8 cm, 10.2 ± 2.7 d, 3.7% and 89.7 ± 4.6 points, respectively, in group A and 114.8 ± 19.1 min, 375 ± 315.8 ml, 266.7 ± 326.6 ml, 9.2 ± 3.9 cm, 20.9 ± 5.7 d, 23.8% and 88.7 ± 4.9 points, respectively, in group B. Combined excellent and good rates of the Matta evaluation and Majeed score were 100% in both groups. There were no significant differences in the Matta evaluation or Majeed score between the two groups (both P > 0.05), whereas the operative time, intraoperative bleeding volume, blood transfusion volume, incision length and hospital stay were significantly less in group A (all P

PurposeInsomnia is one of the most common diseases in elderly patients, which seriously affect the quality of life and psychological state of patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the functional network pattern of the prefrontal cortex in patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID) after taking drugs, using non-invasive and low-cost functional neuroimaging with multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).MethodsAll subjects were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and fNIRS. The fNIRS assessment consists of two parts: the verbal fluency test (VFT) task state and the resting state, which assessed the differences in prefrontal activation and functional connectivity, respectively.ResultsA total of 30 patients with chronic insomnia disorder (CID) and 15 healthy peers completed the study. During the VFT task, a significantly lower PFC activation was observed in patients with insomnia compared to the control group (P < 0.05). However, the PFC activation in patients taking medication was higher than in patients who did not receive medication. Functional connectivity analysis showed a weaker mean PFC channel connectivity strength in patients with CID who did not receive drug treatment. Drug treatment resulted in enhanced functional connectivity of the prefrontal lobe, especially the DLPFC and frontal poles.ConclusionA weak prefrontal cortex response was detected in patients with CID when performing the VFT task, which could be enhanced by taking hypnotics. The weakened right prefrontal lobe network may play a role in the development of CID. fNIRS may serve as a potential tool to assess sleep status and guide drug therapy.

Background: Maternal exogenous docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-rich n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) intake during the pregnancy, especially DHA, has inconsistent effects on reducing the fat storage of the infants in different clinical studies. Objectives: We sought to determine the effects of maternal exogenous DHA-rich n-3 PUFAs capsule intake from the different pregnancy periods on the weight gain of their infants through modifying the DNA methylation status of obesity-associated genes in the umbilical cord blood. Design: A prospective 3-year follow-up study after the pregnancy was enrolled in this cohort from May to October 2016. They were divided into different groups according to the initial time of exogenous DHA capsule intake through the questionnaires (S1 – early trimester, S2 – mid-trimester, S3 – late trimester, and control – without). The concentrations and compositions of DHA were determined by gas chromatography. We applied quantitative DNA methylation states of the obesity-associated genes in the umbilical cord blood. The growth outcomes and relevant Z-scores were recorded at birth and 1 and 2 years. The correlations between DNA methylation status of the obesity-associated genes with the consents of DNA and body mass index (BMI) values were investigated as the measures. Results: In total, 205 pregnant women and their infants were eligible for this follow-up study. The concentrations and compositions of DHA in the colostrum and umbilical cord blood were higher in the S1 and S2 groups than those in the control and S3 groups as well as the decreased weight, BMI, weight for age Z-score (WAZ) and BMI for age Z-score (BMI Z) at birth and 1 and/or 2 years, and higher levels of global DNA methylation and many CpG sites in the obesity-associated genes, such as CpG2, CpG9, CpG11, and CpG16 of PPAR-γ; CpG2,3, CpG4-6, CpG8, CpG9,10, CpG11, CpG15,16, and average of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBP-α); CpG1 and average of adiponectin; CpG1, CpG2, CpG3, CpG5, CpG6, CpG7, and average of insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2); CpG6, CpG7, CpG9, CpG16, CpG23, and CpG24 of leptin, which were more obvious in the S1 group when compared with those in the S2 group. These above hypermethylation levels of CpG sites were negatively correlated with the BMI and positively related with the changes of DHA in the colostrum and umbilical cord blood. Conclusions: Maternal exogenous DHA-rich n-3 PUFAs intake from early- and mid- trimesters of the pregnancy may avoid the development of obesity among Chinese Han infants until 2 years by modulating DNA methylation states of obesity-associated genes, which could provide attractive targets for prenatal prevention of the metabolic disorders.

It remains challenging to manage critical-sized bone defects owing to insufficient vascularization. Tissue engineering scaffolds with favorable mechanical strength and excellent bone regenerative ability/angiogenic properties are recognized as promising platforms for bone defects. Various osteoinductive/angiogenic growth factors have been incorporated into scaffolds to enhance bone formation with the required vascularization. However, the instability and ease of inactivation of growth factors under certain physiological conditions limits their effectiveness. In the present study, a bifunctional laponite (LAP) with potent ability to induce both osteogenesis and angiogenesis was incorporated into poly(lactide-coglycolide)/β-tricalcium phosphate (PLGA/β-TCP) composite to form a porous scaffold through micro extrusion-based cryogenic three-dimensional printing. The hierarchically porous PLGA/β-TCP/LAP composite scaffold exhibited favorable initial mechanical strength and displayed a promoted effect towards cell adhesion of rat bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial progenitor cells. Enhanced in vitro angiogenesis and osteogenesis were simultaneously achieved due to the proangiogenic and osteoinductive ions released from LAP. Furthermore, the PLGA/β-TCP/LAP scaffold promoted the generation of type H vessel and bony regeneration in vivo. Overall, the impartment of inorganic LAP into 3D printed PLGA/β-TCP scaffold provides a simple and efficient way to realize the treatment of critical-sized bone defects via improved angiogenesis and osteogenesis.

BackgroundWith the popularization of the Internet, it has become possible to widely disseminate health information via social media. Medical staff's health communication through social media can improve the public's health literacy, and improving the intention of health communication among nursing undergraduates is of great significance for them to actively carry out health communication after entering clinical practice.ObjectiveTo explore the relationship among eHealth literacy, social media self-efficacy, and health communication intention and to determine the mediating role of social media self-efficacy in the relationship between eHealth literacy and health communication intention.DesignA cross-sectional descriptive correlation design was used in this study.ParticipantsStratified cluster sampling was used to select 958 nursing students from four nursing colleges in Jiangsu Province, China, from June to July 2021.MethodsData were collected using the eHealth Literacy Scale, the Social Media Self-efficacy Scale, and the Health Communication Intention Questionnaire. Sociodemographic data were also collected. Correlation analysis and regression analysis were used to determine the relationship between eHealth literacy, social media self-efficacy, and health communication intention.ResultsHealth communication intention is positively correlated with eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy. There is a significant positive correlation between eHealth literacy and health communication intention (β = 0.57, p < 0.001), and social media self-efficacy played a mediating role in the influence of eHealth literacy on health communication intention (the mediating effect accounted for 37.2% of the total effect).ConclusionThe study found that eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy had an impact on health communication intention. Because there is a correlation between eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy and health communication intention, in order to promote health communication intention of nursing students, it is also important to cultivate eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy of nursing students. In view of these results, targeted educational programs must be developed to improve eHealth literacy and social media self-efficacy among nursing undergraduates, thereby promoting their health information transmission.

RALFs (RAPID ALKALINIZATION FACTORs) are small peptides required for plant growth, development and immunity. RALF has recently been discovered to regulate plant resistance to fungal infection. However, little is known in crops, particularly in soybean. Here, 27 RALFs were identified in the genome of Glycine max. All Glycine max RALFs (GmRALFs) and 34 Arabidopsis RALFs were classified into 12 clades via the phylogenetic analyses. Gene structures, conserved motifs, chromosome distribution and cis-elements were analyzed in this study. Furthermore, 18 GmRALFs were found in response to Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum) infection in soybean and to have distinct expression patterns. Among them, secretory function of two GmRALFs were identified, and three GmRALFs were detected to interact with FERONIA in Glycine max (GmFERONIA, GmFER). Our current study systematically identified and characterized GmRALFs in the soybean genome, laying a groundwork for further functional analyses and soybean breeding.

Abstract Lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) with extremely‐high theoretical energy density (2600 Wh kg−1) are deemed to be the most likely energy storage system to be commercialized. However, the polysulfides shuttling and lithium (Li) metal anode failure in LSBs limit its further commercialization. Herein, a versatile asymmetric separator and a Li‐rich lithium–magnesium (Li–Mg) alloy anode are applied in LSBs. The asymmetric separator is consisted of lithiated‐sulfonated porous organic polymer (SPOP‐Li) and Li6.75La3Zr1.75Nb0.25O12 (LLZNO) layers toward the cathode and anode, respectively. SPOP‐Li serves as a polysulfides barrier and Li‐ion conductor, while the LLZNO functions as an “ion redistributor”. Combining with a stable Li–Mg alloy anode, the symmetric cell achieves 5300 h of Li stripping/plating and the modified LSBs exhibit a long lifespan with an ultralow fading rate of 0.03% per cycle for over 1000 cycles at 5 C. Impressively, even under a high‐sulfur‐loading (6.1 mg cm−2), an area capacity of 4.34 mAh cm−2 after 100 cycles can still be maintained, demonstrating high potential for practical application.

With the mature development of artificial intelligence technology, the application of intelligent control algorithms in control systems has become a trend to meet the high-performance requirements of modern society. This paper proposes a deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) controller design method based on deep reinforcement learning to improve system control performance. Firstly, the optimal control policy of the DDPG algorithm is derived from the Markov decision process and the Actor–Critic algorithm. Secondly, in order to avoid local optima in traditional control systems, the capacity and the settlement method of the DDPG experience pool are adjusted to absorb positive experience to accelerate convergence and to complete efficient training. In response, and to solve the overestimation of the Q value in DDPG, the overall structure of the Critic network is changed to shorten the convergence period of DDPG at low learning rates. Finally, a first-order inverted pendulum control system was constructed in a simulation environment to verify the control effectiveness of PID, DDPG, and improved DDPG. The simulation results reveal that the improved DDPG controller has a faster response to disturbances, smaller displacement, and angular displacement of the first-order inverted pendulum. The simulation further proves that the improved DDPG algorithm has better stability and convergence and stronger anti-interference ability and stability recovery. This control method provides a certain reference for the application of reinforcement learning in traditional control systems.

Abstract Background Medicago ruthenica, a wild and perennial legume forage widely distributed in semi-arid grasslands, is distinguished by its outstanding tolerance to environmental stress. It is a close relative of commonly cultivated forage of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). The high tolerance of M. ruthenica to environmental stress makes this species a valuable genetic resource for understanding and improving traits associated with tolerance to harsh environments. Results We sequenced and assembled genome of M. ruthenica using an integrated approach, including PacBio, Illumina, 10×Genomics, and Hi-C. The assembled genome was 904.13 Mb with scaffold N50 of 99.39 Mb, and 50,162 protein-coding genes were annotated. Comparative genomics and transcriptomic analyses were used to elucidate mechanisms underlying its tolerance to environmental stress. The expanded FHY3/FAR1 family was identified to be involved in tolerance of M. ruthenica to drought stress. Many genes involved in tolerance to abiotic stress were retained in M. ruthenica compared to other cultivated Medicago species. Hundreds of candidate genes associated with drought tolerance were identified by analyzing variations in single nucleotide polymorphism using accessions of M. ruthenica with varying tolerance to drought. Transcriptomic data demonstrated the involvements of genes related to transcriptional regulation, stress response, and metabolic regulation in tolerance of M. ruthenica. Conclusions We present a high-quality genome assembly and identification of drought-related genes in the wild species of M. ruthenica, providing a valuable resource for genomic studies on perennial legume forages.

Abstract As treatment of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) osteomyelitis is often hindered by the development of antibiotic tolerance, novel antibacterial therapeutics are required. Here we found that the cell-free supernatant of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis CFS) killed planktonic and biofilm S. aureus, and increased S. aureus susceptibility to penicillin and gentamicin as well. Further study showed that B. subtilis CFS suppressed the expression of the genes involved in adhesive molecules (Cna and ClfA), virulence factor Hla, quorum sensing (argA, argB and RNAIII) and biofilm formation (Ica and sarA) in S. aureus. Additionally, our data showed that B. subtilis CFS changed the membrane components and increased membrane permeabilization of S. aureus. Finally, we demonstrated that B. subtilis CFS increased considerably the susceptibility of S. aureus to penicillin and effectively reduced S. aureus burdens in a mouse model of implant-associated osteomyelitis. These findings support that B. subtilis CFS may be a potential resistance-modifying agent for β-lactam antibiotics against S. aureus.

Abstract The interest for solid‐state lithium metal (Li°) batteries (SSLMBs) has been growing exponentially in recent years in view of their higher energy density and eliminated safety concerns. Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are soft ionic conductors which can be easily processed into thin films at industrial level; these unique features confer solid‐state Li° polymer batteries (SSLMPBs, i.e., SSLMBs utilizing SPEs as electrolytes) distinct advantages compared to SSLMBs containing other electrolytes. In this article, we briefly review recent progresses and achievements in SSLMPBs including the improvement of ionic conductivity of SPEs and their interfacial stability with Li° anode. Moreover, we outline several advanced in‐situ and ex‐situ characterizing techniques which could assist in‐depth understanding of the anode‐electrolyte interphases in SSLMPBs. This article is hoped not only to update the state‐of‐the‐art in the research on SSLMPBs but also to bring intriguing insights that could improve the fundamental properties (e.g., transport, dendrite formation, and growth, etc.) and electrochemical performance of SSLMPBs.

Abstract Aims/Introduction Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a specific risk factor for intracranial atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially uncontrolled glycemia, and intracranial plaque characteristics using high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Materials and Methods A total of 263 patients (182 men; mean age 62.6 ± 11.5 years) with intracranial atherosclerotic plaques detected on high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging from December 2017 to March 2019 were included in this study. Patients were divided into different groups: (i) patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus; (ii) diabetes patients with uncontrolled glycemia (glycated hemoglobin level ≥7.0%) and controlled glycemia; and (iii), diabetes patients with diabetes duration of 10 years. Comparisons of plaque features between groups were made, respectively. Results Type 2 diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 118 patients (44.9%). Diabetes patients had a significantly greater prevalence of enhanced plaque, greater maximum plaque length, maximum wall thickness and more severe luminal stenosis than non‐diabetes patients. Compared with diabetes patients with controlled glycemia, those with uncontrolled glycemia had a significantly greater prevalence of enhanced plaque and greater maximum plaque length (all P

Abstract Background Complicated acetabular fractures comprise the most challenging field for orthopedists. The purpose of this study was to develop three-dimensional printed patient-specific (3DPPS) Ti-6Al-4 V plates to treat complicated acetabular fractures involving quadrilateral plate (QLP) disruption and to evaluate their efficacy. Methods Fifty patients with acetabular fractures involving QLP disruption were selected between January 2016 and June 2017. Patients were divided into a control group (Group A, 35 patients) and an experimental group (Group B, 15 patients), and were treated by the conventional method of shaping reconstruction plates or with 3DPPS Ti-6AL-4 V plates, respectively. The efficacy of Ti-6AL-4 V plates was evaluated by blood loss, operative time, reduction quality, postoperative residual displacement, and complications. Results The operative time and blood loss in Group B were reduced compared to Group A, and the difference was statistically significant (P 0.05). Reduction quality in Group B was anatomic in 10 (66.7%), satisfactory in four (26.7%), and poor in one (6.7%). In Group A, they were anatomic in 18 (51.4%), satisfactory in 13 (37.1%), and poor in four (11.4%). Residual displacement in Group B was less than that in Group A, and the difference was statistically significant (P

Abstract Background Pelvic fractures are rare in toddlers but are often associated with other injuries that make treatment difficult. Conservative treatment has been used with moderate success, but it is unclear if surgical correction could confer additional benefits and improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to report authors’ experience using the lateral-rectus approach (LRA) for surgical correction of unstable pelvic fractures in two toddlers. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the cases of two toddlers with unstable pelvic fractures who underwent surgery through the LRA between April 2016 and October 2018. Patients’ characteristics, fracture type, mechanism of injury, Injury Severity Score (ISS), operative time, intra-operative blood loss, and post-operative complications were assessed. Pelvic asymmetry, degree of deformity, Cole scoring criteria and modified Barthel Index (MBI) were used to evaluate radiographic and functional outcomes. Results Successful surgical treatment was performed using the LRA, external fixation, and sacroiliac screw fixation. Surgery duration was 180 min on average, with an average intra-operative bleeding of 250 ml. There were no iatrogenic nerve injuries or infections. Pelvic asymmetry a week after surgery was 0.5 cm on average and dropped to 0.3 cm on average at the end of the follow-up period. The deformity index of the pelvis dropped from an average of 0.035 a week after surgery to 0.02 at the end of the follow-up period. The mean MBI was 100 in the last follow-up, and Cole scoring criteria categorized both patients as being in excellent condition. All patients achieved radiological bone union without discrepancy in length of the lower limbs. Neither patient had loss of reduction nor evidence of low back pain during the mean follow-up period of 22 months. Conclusions Pelvic fracture in toddlers is rare, and surgical treatment requires careful consideration. The lateral-rectus approach was proven as a viable alternative for managing unstable pelvic fractures in toddlers, with minimal blood loss and risk of nerve injury. Furthermore, anterior external fixation and posterior sacroiliac screw fixation would be adequate for this population, with excellent final outcome.