Search

Abstract Background Recent studies indicate that patients with first-episode drug-naïve (FEDN) and recurrent major depressive disorder (R-MDD) exhibit distinct atrophy patterns in the hippocampal subregions along the proximal-distal axis. However, it remains unclear whether such differences occur along the long axis and how they may relate to specific genes. Methods In the present study, we analyzed T1-weighted images from 421 patients (FEDN: n = 232; R-MDD: n = 189) and 544 normal controls (NC) as part of the REST-meta-MDD consortium. Additionally, transcriptome maps and structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data of six donated brains were obtained from the Allen Human Brain Atlas (AHBA). We first identified changes in gray matter volume (GMV) within the hippocampus of both FEDN and R-MDD patients and then integrated these findings with AHBA transcriptome data to investigate the genes associated with hippocampal GMV changes. Results Compared to NC, FEDN patients displayed reduced GMV in the left hippocampal tail, whereas R-MDD patients exhibited decreased GMV in the bilateral hippocampal body and increased GMV in the bilateral hippocampal tail. Further analysis revealed that expression levels of SYTL2 positively correlated with GMV changes in the hippocampus of FEDN patients, while SORCS3 and SLIT2 positively correlated with those in R-MDD. Conclusions Our results suggest that GMV alterations in hippocampal subfields along the long axis differ between FEDN and R-MDD, reflecting progressive hippocampal deterioration with prolonged depression, potentially supported by the expression of specific genes. These findings offer valuable insights into the distinct neural and genetic mechanisms underlying FEDN and R-MDD, which may aid in the development of more targeted and effective treatment strategies for MDD subtypes.

In order to investigate the effect of ozone regulation on the color and quality changes of nectarine treated with 1-methylcyclopropylene (1-MCP) during cold storage, nectarine test materials were fumigated with 1 μL/L 1-MCP for 24 h after postharvest, combined with ozone water atomization and ozone gas fumigation for 30 min, then packaged and stored at 0±0.5 ℃. The relevant physicochemical indexes were determined regularly. Results showed that 1-MCP combined with ozone treatment could effectively inhibit respiration rate and ethylene release, 1-MCP alone inhibited anthocyanin accumulation in pulp, hindering its red coloring, and 1-MCP combined with ozone treatment promoted red coloring in pulp at the later stage of storage. Compared with 1-MCP group alone, 1-MCP group combined with ozone treatment had higher anthocyanin content, centaurin-3-O-glucoside content, centaurin-3-O-rutin content and enzyme activity related to anthocyanin metabolism at the later stage of storage. Meanwhile, ozone gas fumigation was more conducive to anthocyanin accumulation at the later stage of storage, and the flesh red degree was higher. This study provides a new idea for improving the control of postharvest color and optimizing the application of 1-MCP in postharvest preservation.

Objective Skeletal muscle growth is an important economic trait for meat production, with notable differences between Tibetan pigs (TIBPs, a slow-growing breed) and Large White pigs (LWPs, a fast-growing breed). However, the genetic underpinnings of this disparity remain unclear. Methods In the current study, we integrated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and proteins (DEPs) from 60-day-old embryonic muscle tissue, along with whole-genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) displaying absolute allele frequency differences (ΔAF) of 0.5 or more between the TIBP and LWP breeds, to unravel the genetic factors influencing skeletal muscle growth. Results Our analysis revealed 3,499 DEGs and 628 DEPs with SNPs having a ΔAF equal to or greater than 0.5. Further functional analysis identified 145 DEGs and 23 DEPs involved in biological processes related to skeletal muscle development, and 22 DEGs and 3 DEPs implicated in the mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase signaling pathway, which is known for positively regulating protein synthesis. Among these genes, several DEGs and DEPs, enriched with TIPB-specific SNPs in regulatory or/and coding regions, showed marked ΔAF between the TIBP and LWP breeds, including MYF5, MYOF, ASB2, PDE9A, SDC1, PDGFRA, MYOM2, ACVR1, ZIC3, COL11A1, TGFBR1, EDNRA, TGFB2, PDE4D, PGAM2, GRK2, SCN4B, CACNA1S, MYL4, IGF1, and FOXO1. Additionally, genes such as CAPN3, MYOM2, and PGAM2, identified as both DEPs and DEGs related to skeletal muscle development, contained multiple TIBP-specific and LWP-predominant SNPs in regulatory and/or coding regions, underscoring significant ΔAF differences between the two breeds. Conclusion This comprehensive investigation of SNPs in DEGs and DEPs identified a significant number of SNPs and genes related to skeletal muscle development during the prenatal stage. These findings not only shed light on potential causal genes for muscle divergence between the TIBP and LWP breeds but also offer valuable insights for pig breeding strategies aimed at enhancing meat production.

Abstract Since the birth of cognitive science, researchers have used reaction time and accuracy to measure cognitive ability. Although recognition of these two measures is often based on empirical observations, the underlying consensus is that most cognitive behaviors may be along two fundamental dimensions: cognitive processing speed (CPS) and cognitive processing accuracy (CPA). In this study, we used genomic-wide association studies (GWAS) data from 14 cognitive traits to show the presence of those two factors and revealed the specific neurobiological basis underlying them. We identified that CPS and CPA had distinct brain phenotypes (e.g. white matter microstructure), neurobiological bases (e.g. postsynaptic membrane), and developmental periods (i.e. late infancy). Moreover, those two factors showed differential associations with other health-related traits such as screen exposure and sleep status, and a significant causal relationship with psychiatric disorders such as major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. Utilizing an independent cohort from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, we also uncovered the distinct contributions of those two factors on the cognitive development of young adolescents. These findings reveal two fundamental factors underlying various cognitive abilities, elucidate the distinct brain structural fingerprint and genetic architecture of CPS and CPA, and hint at the complex interrelationship between cognitive ability, lifestyle, and mental health.

BackgroundDyslipidemia is closely related to diabetic neuropathy. This study examined the potential causal relationship involving 179 lipid species and the disease.MethodsThe pooled data on 179 lipid species and diabetic neuropathy were obtained from previous genome-wide association studies (GWAS). A Mendelian Randomization (MR) method was employed to investigate the potential causal link, and the robustness of the findings was confirmed through comprehensive sensitivity analyses.ResultsGenetically, phosphatidylcholine might be associated with the risk of diabetic neuropathy. Upon adjusting for multiple comparisons, higher levels of phosphatidylcholine (16:0_20:2) (OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.73-0.91; P < 0.001, FDR = 0.033) and phosphatidylcholine (16:1_18:1) (OR = 0.77, 95%CI: 0.67-0.88; P < 0.001, FDR = 0.019) are associated with a decreased risk of diabetic neuropathy. Further multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis demonstrated the effect of genetically predicted phosphatidylcholine (16:1_18:1) remained after adjusting for body mass index (BMI) and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Sensitivity assessments have confirmed the robustness of these findings, revealing no evidence of heterogeneity or pleiotropy.ConclusionOur research linked certain lipid species with diabetic neuropathy risk, suggesting that targeting lipids could be a therapeutic strategy in clinical trials addressing this condition.

Although recent studies have consistently reported the emergence of resting-state networks in early infancy, the changes in inter-network functional connectivity with age are controversial and the alterations in its dynamics remain unclear at this stage. This study aimed to investigate dynamic functional network connectivity (dFNC) using resting-state functional MRI in 244 full-term (age: 37–44 weeks) and 36 preterm infants (age: 37–43 weeks) from the dHCP dataset. We evaluated whether early dFNC exhibits age-dependent changes and is influenced by preterm birth. Gestational age (GA) and postnatal age (PNA) showed different effects on variance of FNC change over time during fMRI scan in resting-state networks, especially among high-order association networks. These variances were significantly reduced by preterm birth. Moreover, two states of weakly-connected (State Ⅰ) and strongly-connected (State Ⅱ) FNC were identified. The fraction window and dwell time in State Ⅰ, and the transition from State Ⅱ to State Ⅰ, all showed significantly negative correlations with both GA and PNA. Preterm-born infants spent a longer time in the weakly-connected state compared to term-born infants. These findings suggest a state-dependent development of dynamic FNC across brain networks in the early stages, gradually reconfiguring towards a more flexible and dynamic system with stronger connections.

The aim of this study was to explore the effect of periodical negative air ions (NAI) on the quality of ‘Fuji’ apple fruit after treatment at 0, 30, 60, and 90 min every 4 weeks. NAI for 60 min decreased weight loss, mitigated decay, and maintained hardness of the apple fruit during the 40 weeks of storage. Treatment of fruits with NAI for 60 min enhanced the apple defense ability against pathogens by maintaining the cell wall integrity and improving the related-enzyme activities as well as accumulation of total phenols and flavonoids. Reverse-phase HPLC and solid-phase microextraction GC–MS analysis showed that NAI treatment for 60 min increased the levels of fructose, sucrose, sorbitol, malic acid and volatiles, such as 2-hexenal, 2-methylbutyl acetate, hexyl acetate, and ethyl butanoate. Taken together, NAI is promising for improving the quality ‘Fuji’ apples during the cold storage.

The structure and function of microbial communities in aquaculture water bodies are important in the aquaculture ecosystem. To comprehensively and systematically evaluate the structure and functional composition of the microbial community in the water during Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) cultivation, the water quality indicators in the crab pond in Chongming District, Shanghai were monitored monthly from June to October 2022. The microbial species and functional structural characteristics in the water environment during the breeding period were analyzed based on metagenomics technology, and their relationships with environmental factors were discussed. The results showed that the major water quality indicators that exceeded the standard in the breeding pond were pH, permanganate index, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen. During the breeding period, the diversity of the microbial community in the water body from June to August and the richness of the microbial community from July to August were high, and the dominant microbial phyla in the water body were mainly Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobia, Cyanobacteria, and Uroviricota. At the genus level, the top 10 dominant genera regarding abundance were significantly different among multiple groups. For example, the abundances of Microcystis bacteria in July and unclassified_o_Caudovirales viruses in August–October were significantly higher than those in other months. The primary function of microorganisms is metabolism, including energy metabolism, global and overview maps, and amino acid metabolism. Notable differences are present in the functional composition of different months; particularly, the abundance of metabolic pathways in June–July was significantly higher than that in August–October, and the dominant bacteria (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes) were major contributors to the aforementioned functions. The influence trends of environmental factors on the structure and functional composition of microbial communities were consistent. Chlorophyll a and pH had the most significant impact on the structure and functional composition of microbial communities, whereas dissolved oxygen and total phosphorus had a slightly weaker impact. The pathogenic bacteria with a relatively large abundance in aquaculture water bodies are Salmonella enterica, Edwardsiella ictaluri, and Staphylococcus aureus. The research results provide basic data for the study of microbial community structure and functional composition in water bodies of Chinese mitten crab breeding ponds and can provide a theoretical basis for aquaculture water quality control and ecosystem construction.

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the association between central sensitivity to thyroid hormones and all-cause mortality in euthyroid patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods ​Data on thyroid function indicators and all-cause mortality for CKD patients were extracted from the NHANES database (2007–2012). Central sensitivities to thyroid hormones were mainly evaluated by Thyroid Feedback Quantile-based Index (TFQI). The Kaplan–Meier method, Cox proportional hazards regression model and subgroup analysis were performed to explore the potential associations between thyroid hormone sensitivity and all-cause mortality. Results A total of 1303 euthyroid CKD patients were enrolled in this study. After a median follow-up of 115 months, 503 participants died. The Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated significant variations in survival rates among different levels of TFQI (P = 0.0015). Cox regression analysis showed that increased levels of TFQI were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality after adjusting for multiple confounding factors (HR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.10–1.79, P = 0.007). Subgroup analysis did not reveal any significant variation in the association between TFQI and all-cause mortality between the subgroups assessed (P for interaction > 0.05). Conclusion Our study suggests that impaired thyroid hormone sensitivity might be linked to increased mortality in euthyroid CKD patients. Further research is needed to confirm and explore this association.

Abstract Background The skeletal muscle growth rate and body size of Tibetan pigs (TIB) are lower than Large white pigs (LW). However, the underlying genetic basis attributing to these differences remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, the present study employed whole-genome sequencing of TIB (slow growth) and LW (fast growth) individuals, and integrated with existing NCBI sequencing datasets of TIB and LW individuals, enabling the identification of a comprehensive set of genetic variations for each breed. The specific and predominant SNPs in the TIB and LW populations were detected by using a cutoff value of 0.50 for SNP allele frequency and absolute allele frequency differences (△AF) between the TIB and LW populations. Results A total of 21,767,938 SNPs were retrieved from 44 TIB and 29 LW genomes. The analysis detected 2,893,106 (13.29%) and 813,310 (3.74%) specific and predominant SNPs in the TIB and LW populations, and annotated to 24,560 genes. Further GO analysis revealed 291 genes involved in biological processes related to striated and/or skeletal muscle differentiation, proliferation, hypertrophy, regulation of striated muscle cell differentiation and proliferation, and myoblast differentiation and fusion. These 291 genes included crucial regulators of muscle cell determination, proliferation, differentiation, and hypertrophy, such as members of the Myogenic regulatory factors (MRF) (MYOD, MYF5, MYOG, MYF6) and Myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) (MEF2A, MEF2C, MEF2D) families, as well as muscle growth inhibitors (MSTN, ACVR1, and SMAD1); KEGG pathway analysis revealed 106 and 20 genes were found in muscle growth related positive and negative regulatory signaling pathways. Notably, genes critical for protein synthesis, such as MTOR, IGF1, IGF1R, IRS1, INSR, and RPS6KA6, were implicated in these pathways. Conclusion This study employed an effective methodology to rigorously identify the potential genes associated with skeletal muscle development. A substantial number of SNPs and genes that potentially play roles in the divergence observed in skeletal muscle growth between the TIB and LW breeds were identified. These findings offer valuable insights into the genetic underpinnings of skeletal muscle development and present opportunities for enhancing meat production through pig breeding.

Abstract Background Analyzing distance-dependent functional connectivity density (FCD) yields valuable insights into patterns of brain activity. Nevertheless, whether alterations of FCD in non-acute stroke patients are associated with the anatomical distance between brain regions remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the distance-related functional reorganization in non-acute stroke patients following left and right hemisphere subcortical lesions, and its relationship with clinical assessments. Methods In this study, we used resting-state fMRI to calculate distance-dependent (i.e., short- and long-range) FCD in 25 left subcortical stroke (LSS) patients, 22 right subcortical stroke (RSS) patients, and 39 well-matched healthy controls (HCs). Then, we compared FCD differences among the three groups and assessed the correlation between FCD alterations and paralyzed motor function using linear regression analysis. Results Our findings demonstrated that the left inferior frontal gyrus displayed distance-independent FCD changes, while the bilateral supplementary motor area, cerebellum, and left middle occipital gyrus exhibited distance-dependent FCD alterations in two patient subgroups compared with HCs. Furthermore, we observed a positive correlation between increased FCD in the bilateral supplementary motor area and the motor function of lower limbs, and a negative correlation between increased FCD in the left inferior frontal gyrus and the motor function of both upper and lower limbs across all stroke patients. These associations were validated by using a longitudinal dataset. Conclusions The FCD in the cerebral and cerebellar cortices shows distance-related changes in non-acute stroke patients with motor dysfunction, which may serve as potential biomarkers for predicting motor outcomes after stroke. These findings enhance our comprehension of the neurobiological mechanisms driving non-acute stroke. Trial registration All data used in the present study were obtained from a research trial registered with the ClinicalTrials.gov database (NCT05648552, registered 05 December 2022, starting from 01 January 2022).

Summary: Background: Accurate staging of liver fibrosis (LF) is essential for clinical management in chronic liver disease. While non-contrast MRI (NC-MRI) yields valuable information for liver assessment, its effectiveness in predicting LF remains underexplored. This study aimed to develop and validate artificial intelligence (AI)-powered models utilizing NC-MRI for staging LF. Methods: A total of 1726 patients from Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, registered between October 2003 and October 2022, were retrospectively collected, and divided into development (n = 1208) and internal test (n = 518) cohorts. An external test cohort consisting of 337 individuals from six centers, registered between June 2015 and November 2022, were also included. All participants underwent NC-MRI (T1-weighted imaging, T1WI; and T2-fat-suppressed imaging, T2FS) and liver biopsies. Two classification models (CMs), named T1 and T2FS, were trained on respective image types using 3D contextual transformer networks and evaluated on both test cohorts. Additionally, three CMs—Clinic, Image, and Fusion—were developed using clinical features, T1 and T2FS scores, and their integration via logistic regression. Classification effectiveness of CMs was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). A comparison was conducted between the optimal models (OMs) with highest AUC and other methods (transient elastography, five serum biomarkers, and six radiologists). Findings: Fusion models (i.e., OM) yielded the highest AUC among the CMs, achieving AUCs of 0.810 for significant fibrosis, 0.881 for advanced fibrosis, and 0.918 for cirrhosis in the internal test cohort, and 0.808, 0.868, and 0.925, respectively, in the external test cohort. The OMs demonstrated superior performance in AUC, significantly surpassing transient elastography (only for staging ≥ F2 and ≥ F3 grades), serum biomarkers, and three junior radiologists for staging LF. Radiologists, with the aid of the OMs, can achieve a higher AUC in LF assessment. Interpretation: AI-powered models utilizing NC-MRI, including T1WI and T2FS, accurately stage LF. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82071885); General Program of the Liaoning Provincial Department of Education (LJKMZ20221160); Liaoning Province Science and Technology Joint Plan (2023JH2/101700127); the Leading Young Talent Program of Xingliao Yingcai in Liaoning Province (XLYC2203037).

Advanced multifunctional composite phase change materials (PCMs) for integrating energy storage, photothermal conversion and microwave absorption can promote the development of next-generation miniaturized electronic devices. Here, we report paraffin wax (PW)-based multifunctional composite PCMs with a hierarchical network structure assembled by two‐dimensional (2D) nickel-based metal-organic frameworks (Ni-MOFs) decorated carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The PW/CNTs@Ni-MOF composite PCMs yield an excellent photothermal energy conversion efficiency of 93.2%, as well as a good phase change enthalpy of 126.5 J/g and prominent thermal stability. Preferably, the composite PCMs also present great microwave absorption with –25.32 dB minimum reflection loss (RLmin) at 9.85 GHz. The remarkable features of the composite PCMs lie in their hierarchical network architecture and the synergistic enhancement of CNTs and MOFs, giving rise to the increased surface area, accelerated photon capture and transmission, and enhanced dielectric loss caused by polarization effects and multiple reflections, thus further boosting the latent energy storage capacity, photothermal kinetics, and microwave reflection loss. This work provides a facile and scalable approach to regulating the multifunction of composite PCMs.

Abstract Rammed earth is a kind of cleaning material, widely used in all kinds of buildings in the world. The Great Wall of ancient China is a typical world cultural site built from rammed earth. The rammed earth Great Wall of Shanhaiguan is close to Bohai Bay, which has suffered from long-term erosion by rain, causing a series of problems such as soil loss, collapse and gully flushing. The protection materials of the rammed earth site have always puzzled scholars. However, during the rainy season, it was found that some of the walls at Xiaowan Gouge and Nantuzhuang Gouge in the Shanhaiguan Great Wall had unwashed traces, the soil surface of the walls was intact, and the anti-erosion ability of the walls was significantly higher than that of other places. In order to explore the reasons for its strong anti-erosion ability in the natural state of rammed earth wall, guide the protection of rammed earth Great Wall, and carry out different experimental tests to explore its anti-erosion reasons and internal mechanisms. Firstly, the characteristics of rammed soil were understood through the composition test of rammed soil, and the indoor and outdoor erosion test was carried out to determine that the anti-erosion reason was the protection of gray-green soil crust. The property and composition of soil crust were determined through the immersion test and genome sequencing. Finally, the protection mechanism of soil crust was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy.

The relationship between brain entropy (BEN) and early brain development has been established through animal studies. However, it remains unclear whether the BEN can be used to identify age-dependent functional changes in human neonatal brains and the genetic underpinning of the new neuroimaging marker remains to be elucidated. In this study, we analyzed resting-state fMRI data from the Developing Human Connectome Project, including 280 infants who were scanned at 37.5–43.5 weeks postmenstrual age. The BEN maps were calculated for each subject, and a voxel-wise analysis was conducted using a general linear model to examine the effects of age, sex, and preterm birth on BEN. Additionally, we evaluated the correlation between regional BEN and gene expression levels. Our results demonstrated that the BEN in the sensorimotor-auditory and association cortices, along the ‘S-A’ axis, was significantly positively correlated with postnatal age (PNA), and negatively correlated with gestational age (GA), respectively. Meanwhile, the BEN in the right rolandic operculum correlated significantly with both GA and PNA. Preterm-born infants exhibited increased BEN values in widespread cortical areas, particularly in the visual-motor cortex, when compared to term-born infants. Moreover, we identified five BEN-related genes (DNAJC12, FIG4, STX12, CETN2, and IRF2BP2), which were involved in protein folding, synaptic vesicle transportation and cell division. These findings suggest that the fMRI-based BEN can serve as an indicator of age-dependent brain functional development in human neonates, which may be influenced by specific genes.

The use of MRI analysis for BTD and tumor type detection has considerable importance within the domain of machine vision. Numerous methodologies have been proposed to address this issue, and significant progress has been achieved in this domain via the use of deep learning (DL) approaches. While the majority of offered approaches using artificial neural networks (ANNs) and deep neural networks (DNNs) demonstrate satisfactory performance in Bayesian Tree Descent (BTD), none of these research studies can ensure the optimality of the employed learning model structure. Put simply, there is room for improvement in the efficiency of these learning models in BTD. This research introduces a novel approach for optimizing the configuration of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to address the BTD issue. The suggested approach employs Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) for the purpose of segmenting brain MRIs. The model's configurable hyper-parameters are tuned using a genetic algorithm (GA). The Multi-Linear Principal Component Analysis (MPCA) is used to decrease the dimensionality of the segmented features in the pictures after they have been segmented. Ultimately, the segmentation procedure is executed using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). In this artificial neural network (ANN), the genetic algorithm (GA) sets the ideal number of neurons in the hidden layer and the appropriate weight vector. The effectiveness of the suggested approach was assessed by utilizing the BRATS2014 and BTD20 databases. The results indicate that the proposed method can classify samples from these two databases with an average accuracy of 98.6 % and 99.1 %, respectively, which represents an accuracy improvement of at least 1.1 % over the preceding methods.

Background Few large‐scale studies have evaluated the effectiveness of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) technological advances in the treatment of patients with unprotected left main coronary artery disease (LM‐CAD). We aim to identify independent factors that affect the prognosis of PCI in patients with unprotected LM‐CAD and to assess the impact of PCI technological advances on long‐term clinical outcomes. Methods and Results A total of 4512 consecutive patients who underwent unprotected LM‐CAD PCI at Fuwai Hospital from 2004 to 2016 were enrolled. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify which techniques can independently affect the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs; a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, or target vessel revascularization). The incidence of 3‐year MACEs was 9.0% (406/4512). Four new PCI techniques were identified as the independent protective factors of MACEs, including second‐generation drug‐eluting stents (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61 [95% CI, 0.37–0.99]), postdilatation (HR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.59–0.94]), final kissing balloon inflation (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.62–0.99]), and using intravascular ultrasound (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.63–0.97]). The relative hazard of 3‐year MACEs was reduced by ≈50% with use of all 4 techniques compared with no technique use (HR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.32–0.87]). Conclusions PCI technological advances including postdilatation, second‐generation drug‐eluting stent, final kissing balloon inflation, and intravascular ultrasound guidance were associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients who underwent unprotected LM‐CAD PCI.

Abstract Coagulation factor 2 thrombin receptor (F2R), a member of the G protein-coupled receptor family, plays an important role in regulating blood clotting through protein hydrolytic cleavage mediated receptor activation. However, the underlying biological mechanisms by which F2R affects the development of gastric adenocarcinoma are not fully understood. This study aimed to systematically analyze the role of F2R in gastric adenocarcinoma. Stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD)-related gene microarray data and corresponding clinicopathological information were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Differential expression genes (DEGs) associated with F2R were analyzed using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks. F2R mRNA expression data were utilized to estimate stromal cell and immune cell scores in gastric cancer tissue samples, including stromal score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score, derived from single-sample enrichment studies. Analysis of TCGA and GEO databases revealed significantly higher F2R expression in STAD tissues compared to normal tissues. Patients with high F2R expression had shorter survival times than those with low F2R expression. F2R expression was significantly correlated with tumor (T) stage, node (N) stage, histological grade and pathological stage. Enrichment analysis of F2R-related genes showed that GO terms were mainly related to circulation-mediated human immune response, immunoglobulin, cell recognition and phagocytosis. KEGG analysis indicated associations to extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor interactions, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, the phosphoinositide-3-kinase-protein kinase B/Akt (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathway, the Wnt signaling pathway and the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway. GSEA revealed connections to DNA replication, the Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling pathway, the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and oxidative phosphorylation. Drug sensitivity analysis demonstrated positive correlations between F2R and several drugs, including BEZ235, CGP-60474, Dasatinib, HG-6-64-1, Aazopanib, Rapamycin, Sunitinib and TGX221, while negative correlation with CP724714, FH535, GSK1904529A, JNK-9L, LY317615, pyrimidine, rTRAIL and Vinorelbine. Knocking down F2R in GC cell lines resulted in slowed proliferation, migration, and invasion. All statistical analyses were performed using R software (version 4.2.1) and GraphPad Prism 9.0. p

We propose and fabricate an unconventional photonic lantern that is not only able to achieve mode multiplexing and demultiplexing, but also has the functionality of mode-dependent loss equalization. In the process of fusion splicing between the tail fiber of photonic lantern and the few-mode fiber, by controlling the fusion splicing parameters, a refractive index (RI) modified waveguide is formed at the fusion splicing region, through which the fundamental mode will have higher attenuation than the higher-order modes, which enables us to control the attenuation of different modes, so that we can customize the unconventional photonic lantern with different differential mode attenuation (DMA). Simulation has been carried out to investigate the dependence of DMA on the structure of the RI modified waveguide, and experiments have been implemented to investigate the dependence of DMA on discharge parameters, which matches well with the simulated tendency. In addition, CCD measurements of all three output ports have been performed on the fabricated devices, well-defined mode field patterns and high mode purity at the C-band can be observed. The proposed novel unconventional photonic lanterns open a new way to obtain simultaneous mode multiplexing / demultiplexing and mode-dependent loss equalization function, which will be greatly beneficial in the few-mode fiber transmission system.

The Co-Cr-Fe-Ni high-entropy alloy (HEA) is particularly suitable for preparing coatings due to its excellent comprehensive properties. In this study, we use the laser cladding method to prepare Co-Cr-Fe-Ni HEA coatings with Co-Cr-Fe-Ni cable-type welding wire (CTWW) as the filling material and investigated the dilution rates of the coatings by experimental studies and first-principles calculations. The dilution rate is reduced to about 50% by changing the wire feeding speed, and a Co-Cr-Fe-Ni HEA coating with near nominal composition was prepared by multi-layer cladding. The HEA coating with near nominal composition is successfully prepared in the fourth layer of cladding. The coating is dense and uniform, with good metallurgical bonding. The mechanical properties of the coating were explored using first-principles calculations. All four coatings exhibit a single face-centered cubic (FCC) phase with good mechanical stability in the ground state. The bulk modulus B, shear modulus G, and Young’s modulus E of the four layers of coatings are gradually decreasing from B = 202 GPa, G = 136 GPa, and E = 334 GPa to B = 239 GPa, G = 154 GPa, and E = 380 GPa. The brittleness of the coating shows a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, and the coating closest to the nominal composition has the highest brittleness.

Many parameters and complex boundaries are involved in the spatial arrangement of an underground powerhouse in a hydropower station, necessitating referencing many relevant cases and specifications. However, in practical applications, retrieving such cases or specifications is difficult, and there is a lack of knowledge regarding cascading logic among design parameters. To address this issue, this study proposes a novel methodology for constructing a targeted knowledge graph, in this case, a knowledge graph for building information modeling (BIM) for underground powerhouses in hydropower plants. Subsequently, based on this knowledge graph, this study develops a question-and-answer (Q&A) system to facilitate subsequent applications. First, the ontology skeleton of the spatial arrangement design of an underground powerhouse in a hydropower station, that represents the knowledge organization structure of the knowledge graph, is constructed by carefully analyzing the requirements for intelligent modeling of underground powerhouses. A large volume of unstructured data is identified based on the optical character recognition (OCR) technology; the collected data are divided into words to extract correlation knowledge using THU Lexical Analyzer for Chinese (THULAC). Subsequently, the knowledge triad of the spatial arrangement of the underground powerhouse is extracted based on ChatGPT and stored in Neo4j, a knowledge base, to build a knowledge graph. Finally, the knowledge graph is employed to realize the query of knowledge and parameter recommendation to assist the digital intelligent design of the spatial arrangement of an underground powerhouse in a pumped storage hydropower station.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) film has attracted extensive attention in the field of electronics, sensors, and other potential applications due to their excellent electrical conductivity. The conductivity of CNTs film is one of the most important aspects of engineering applications. This study investigates the conductivity of CNTs film with varying areal density, prepared using the floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD) method and densified by rolling. The square resistance of pre- and post-rolling films was measured to characterize the electrical properties. Experimental results indicate that square resistance decreases with increasing areal density and stabilizes eventually. A mathematical formula was derived to explain the relationship between areal density and square resistance, incorporating volume and areal density formulas. Experimental data curves of pre- and post-rolling films were fitted, yielding mathematical relations consistent with the derived formulas. The electrical conductivity of post-rolling CNTs film was superior to pre-rolling in experiment and calculation. The charge carrier transport mechanism in CNTs film was studied by analyzing its internal structure and electrical properties. Surface conductivity was over 1000 times higher than volume conductivity, attributed to the distribution of CNTs bundles in collection and thickness directions. Charge carrier transport capacity decreased with increasing layers in thickness direction due to contact resistance and large resistance at tube–tube junctions. Layers of CNTs near the current application surface significantly contribute to charge carrier transport at high areal density levels.

Abstract Background The reversible maneuver that mimics the fluid challenge is a widely used test for evaluating volume responsiveness. However, passive leg raising (PLR) does have certain limitations. The aim of the study is to determine whether the supine transfer test could predict fluid responsiveness in adult patients with acute circulatory failure who do not have intra-abdominal hypertension, by measuring changes in cardiac index (CI). Methods Single-center, prospective clinical study in a 25-bed surgery intensive care unit at the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Thirty-four patients who presented with acute circulatory failure and were scheduled for fluid therapy. Every patient underwent supine transfer test and fluid challenge with 500 mL saline for 15–30 min. There were four sequential steps in the protocol: (1) baseline-1: a semi-recumbent position with the head of the bed raised to 45°; (2) supine transfer test: patients were transferred from the 45° semi-recumbent position to the strict supine position; (3) baseline-2: return to baseline-1 position; and (4) fluid challenge: administration of 500 mL saline for 15–30 min. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at each step with arterial pulse contour analysis (ProAQT/Pulsioflex). A fluid responder was defined as an increase in CI ≥ 15% after fluid challenge. The receiver operating characteristic curve and gray zone were defined for CI. Results Seventeen patients were fluid challenge. The r value of the linear correlations was 0.73 between the supine transfer test- and fluid challenge-induced relative CI changes. The relative changes in CI induced by supine transfer in predicting fluid responsiveness had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.88 (95% confidence interval 0.72–0.97) and predicted a fluid responder with 76.5% (95% confidence interval 50.1–93.2) sensitivity and 88.2% (95% confidence interval 63.6–98.5) specificity, at a best threshold of 5.5%. Nineteen (55%) patients were in the gray zone (CI ranging from -3 and 8 L/min/m2). Conclusion The supine transfer test can potentially assist in detecting fluid responsiveness in patients with acute circulatory failure without intra-abdominal hypertension. Nevertheless, the small threshold and the 55% gray zone were noteworthy limitation. Trial registration Predicting fluid responsiveness with supine transition test (ChiCTR2200058264). Registered 2022–04-04 and last refreshed on 2023–03-26, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=166175 .

Abstract The rise of new media has greatly changed the lifestyles, leading to increased time on these platforms and less time spent reading. This shift has particularly profound impacts on early adolescents, who are in a critical stage of brain development. Previous studies have found associations between screen use and mental health, but it remains unclear whether screen use is the direct cause of the outcomes. Here, the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset is utlized to examine the causal relationships between screen use and brain development. The results revealed adverse causal effects of screen use on language ability and specific behaviors in early adolescents, while reading has positive causal effects on their language ability and brain volume in the frontal and temporal regions. Interestingly, increased screen use is identified as a result, rather than a cause, of certain behaviors such as rule‐breaking and aggressive behaviors. Furthermore, the analysis uncovered an indirect influence of screen use, mediated by changes in reading habits, on brain development. These findings provide new evidence for the causal influences of screen use on brain development and highlight the importance of monitoring media use and related habit change in children.

In this work, highly regular TiO2 nanorod array films were synthesized in situ on FTO by a facile hydrothermal method, and then ZnO shell layers were grown on the surface of the nanorods to form a core-shell structure via an ion-layer adsorption-reaction way. Compared to the TiO2 nanorods, the prepared TiO2/ZnO nanocomposites exhibited enhanced ethanol sensing performances, including a low working temperature, higher sensitivity, and faster response capability. The optimum sensor based on 2c-TiO2/ZnO exhibited the maximum response value of 30.85 toward 50 × 10−6 C2H5OH at 340 °C, which was almost 4.15 times higher than that of the TiO2 sensor. The improved ethanol sensing mechanism was discussed in relation to the unique nanorod array structure and the heterojunctions between TiO2 and ZnO.

In order to screen the appropriate concentration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) fumigation, and provide the theoretical and scientific basis for the preservation of small white apricot during production, Kuqa fresh apricot was used as the test material, and the apricot was fumigated with 1%, 3%, 5% and 7% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for 5 min, and distilled water was used as the control (CK). The apricot was stored at 0 ℃. The storage period quality and physiological indexes were measured every 7 days. The results showed that the storage quality of small white apricot was maintained by different concentrations of H2O2 fumigation. Compared with control (CK) and other treatments, the 3% H2O2 fumigation group delayed the browning of small white apricot fruit, and the incidence was reduced by 8% compared with CK group on the 42 day of storage. The respiratory peak was delayed for 7 days, which inhibited the decline rate of fruit hardness and reduced the permeability of fruit cell membrane. The contents of soluble solids and titratable acids in fruits were 25% and 38% higher than those in CK group at the end of storage. 3% H2O2 fumigation treatment group, compared with other treatment groups and control group,the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) were effectively inhibited, and the activity of peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) were increased. The surface of some fruits was browning after 5% and 7% H2O2 fumigation, which affected the quality of small white apricot. 3% H2O2 atomized fumigation group is more helpful to maintain the quality and flavor of small white apricot during storage, which has a good application prospect in preservative preservation of small white apricot.

The development of the cerebral cortex during the fetal period is a complex yet well-coordinated process. MRI-based morphological brain network provides a powerful tool for describing this process at a network level. Due to the challenges of in-utero MRI acquisition and image processing, the fetal morphological brain network has not been established. In this study, utilizing high-resolution in-utero MRI data, we constructed an individual morphometric similarity network for each fetus based on multiple cortical features. The spatiotemporal development of morphological connections was described at the level of edge, node, and lobe, respectively. Based on graph theoretical method, the topology structure of fetal morphological network was characterized. Edge analysis demonstrated an increase of morphological dissimilarity between hemispheres with gestational age, especially for the parietal cortex. The limbic and parieto-occipital regions exhibited the most drastic changes of morphological connections at both the edge and node levels. Between- and within-lobe analysis illustrated that the limbic lobe became more similar to other lobes, while the parietal and occipital lobes became more dissimilar to other lobes. Graph theoretical analysis indicated that the small-world structure of the fetal morphological network appeared as early as 22 weeks and that the network topology exhibited an enhanced integration and reduced segregation during prenatal development. The findings obtained from the preterm-born neonates agreed well with those of the fetuses. In summary, this study fills a gap in prenatal morphological brain network research and provides a piece of important evidence for understanding the normal development of fetal brain connectome during the second-third trimester.

Morchella sextelata and Morchella importuna are the main cultivars of morel. However, the key compounds affecting their flavors (taste and odor) are currently unknown. Here, an ultra performance tandem mass spectrometry combined with two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight mass spectrometry method was used to detect and relatively quantify the metabolites in both morel cultivars. A total of 631 non-volatile compounds and 242 volatile compounds were identified. The odor activity value was calculated to assess the contribution of key odor volatile. The results indicated that M. importuna had a sweeter flavor than M. sextelata. The former posed more prominent mushroom flavor than the latter based on the correlation analysis of the metabolites. The flavor differences of the two morel cultivars are highly relevant with the content of lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids and derivatives, alcohols and ketones. This study provides new insights into the theoretical basis for the flavor differences in both morel cultivars.

The effective detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in different environments and, above all, in biological media, is an important practical issue. To this end, we designed a novel electrochemical sensor for H2O2 detection by introducing gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) into the porous poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) matrix formed by the thermally activated crosslinking of amino- and epoxy-decorated STAR-PEG precursors. The respective composite PEG-AuNP films could be readily prepared on oxidized Si substrates, separated from them as free-standing nanosheets, and transferred as H2O2 sensing elements onto the working electrode of the electrochemical cell, with the performance of the sensing element relied on the established catalytic activity of AuNPs with respect to H2O2 decomposition. The sensitivity, detection limit, and the operation range of the composite PEG-AuNP sensors were estimated at ~3.4 × 102 μA mM−1 cm−2, 0.17 μM of H2O2, and 20 μM–3.5 mM of H2O2, respectively, which are well comparable with the best values for other types of H2O2 sensors reported recently in literature. The particular advantages of the composite PEG-AuNP sensors are commercial source materials, a simple fabrication procedure, the bioinert character of the PEG matrix, the 3D character of the AuNP assembly, and the possibility of transferring the nanosheet sensing element to any secondary substrate, including the glassy carbon electrode of the electrochemical cell. In particular, the bioinert character of the PEG matrix can be of importance for potential biological and biomedical applications of the designed sensing platform.

In order to screen out the best concentration of salicylic acid for inhibiting the pathogen of korla fragrant pear blackhead and its storage effect, the pear fruit was inoculated with different concentration of salicylic acid, and the sterile water was used as control, the pear fruits were stored at room temperature (25 °C) and cold storage temperature (2 °C) , and the korla fragrant pear was damaged and inoculated with the pathogen of blackhead disease and different concentrations of salicylic acid in vivo, store at room temperature (25 ℃) for 28 d, cold storage 49 d. Every 7 days observed and measured the incidence of fruit, disease spot diameter, respiratory intensity, hardness, soluble solids, titratable acid, VC, malondialdehyde. The results showed that 0.7 g/L salicylic acid was better than 0.5 and 0.9 g/L in inhibiting the growth of blackhead disease and keeping the quality fresh, the diameter of disease spot of fragrant pear was decreased, the respiration intensity of pear was restrained, the hardness, titratable acid, VC and MDA contents of fragrant pear were kept well, and the soluble solid content was not significantly different from other treatments. 0.9 g/L salicylic acid also damaged the peel of pear fruit. The cold stoage environment combined with 0.7 g/L salicylic acid had the best antibacterial effect on pear blackhead disease and storage quality. It could be used as a further whole fruit experiment for pear storage and preservation and inhibiting korla fragrant pear blackhead diseae.

The neonatal period is a critical window for the development of the human brain and may hold implications for the long-term development of cognition and disorders. Multi-modal connectome studies have revealed many important findings underlying the adult brain but related studies were rare in the early human brain. One potential challenge is the lack of an appropriate and unbiased parcellation that combines structural and functional information in this population. Using 348 multi-modal MRI datasets from the developing human connectome project, we found that the information fused from the structural, diffusion, and functional MRI was relatively stable across MRI features and showed high reproducibility at the group level. Therefore, we generated automated multi-resolution parcellations (300 - 500 parcels) based on the similarity across multi-modal features using a gradient-based parcellation algorithm. In addition, to acquire a parcellation with high interpretability, we provided a manually delineated parcellation (210 parcels), which was approximately symmetric, and the adjacent areas around each boundary were statistically different in terms of the integrated similarity metric and at least one kind of original features. Overall, the present study provided multi-resolution and neonate-specific parcellations of the cerebral cortex based on multi-modal MRI properties, which may facilitate future studies of the human connectome in the early development period.

Nowadays, forward Brillouin scattering in optical fibers has attracted massive research interests worldwide, owing to its great potential for applications in sensing, filtering, lasing, and all‐optical signal processing, etc. The manipulation of spectrum properties of forward stimulated Brillouin scattering (FSBS) turns out to be particularly important for various application scenarios. However, the manipulation approaches are still very limited by now. Herein, for the first time to the best of one's knowledge, a thorough investigation on the fiber geometry dependence of FSBS effect in optical fibers is presented, where the dependencies of FSBS on fiber core diameter and cladding diameter are investigated, revealing the characteristics of FSBS in terms of linewidth, frequency interval, and nonlinear coefficient, etc. It is indicated in the result that changing the size of the fiber core/cladding might give rise to considerable modification of the FSBS spectrum. The investigation paves the way to engineer FSBS in optical fibers, where acousto‐optic interaction can be manipulated and the FSBS spectrum can be tailored by adjusting the geometric size of the fiber for various applications.

Abstract The pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD) remains obscure. Recently, the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis’s role in MDD has an increasing attention. However, the specific mechanism of the multi-level effects of gut microbiota on host metabolism, immunity, and brain structure is unclear. Multi-omics approaches based on the analysis of different body fluids and tissues using a variety of analytical platforms have the potential to provide a deeper understanding of MGB axis disorders. Therefore, the data of metagenomics, metabolomic, inflammatory factors, and MRI scanning are collected from the two groups including 24 drug-naïve MDD patients and 26 healthy controls (HCs). Then, the correlation analysis is performed in all omics. The results confirmed that there are many markedly altered differences, such as elevated Actinobacteria abundance, plasma IL-1β concentration, lipid, vitamin, and carbohydrate metabolism disorder, and diminished grey matter volume (GMV) of inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in the MDD patients. Notably, three kinds of discriminative bacteria, Ruminococcus bromii, Lactococcus chungangensis, and Streptococcus gallolyticus have an extensive correlation with metabolome, immunology, GMV, and clinical symptoms. All three microbiota are closely related to IL-1β and lipids (as an example, phosphoethanolamine (PEA)). Besides, Lactococcus chungangensis is negatively related to the GMV of left IFG. Overall, this study demonstrate that the effects of gut microbiome exert in MDD is multifactorial.

We experimentally investigated the fabrication and characterization of long-period fiber grating in few-mode fiber (FMF-LPFGs) by using the femtosecond laser direct writing technique. Thanks to the high flexibility and repeatability of this technique, stable FMF-LPFGs fabrication technology has been developed. In addition, the properties of FMF-LPFGs have also been characterized. The coupling of LP01- LP11 and LP01- cladding mode LP13 were investigated by both the transmission spectrum and the mode patterns. The temperature, strain and twist sensitivities of the resonance dips were calibrated by experiments, and the sensitivity difference between the dips was explained. By using their disparate responses to external temperature and strain, a cross coefficient matrix was established and dual-parameter discrimination determination is realized. This work provides a thoroughly theoretical and experimental investigation on the fabrication and characterization of FMF-LPFGs based on femtosecond laser direct writing technique. It is believed that the flexible and efficient LPFGs fabrication technique will benefit a lot in the future for developing various functional specialty optical fiber devices and sensors.

A performance prediction model is built utilizing Slipcevie method and the experimental verification results show that the average errors of Q, ΔPt, ΔPs are 4.4%, 5.3%, 6.0%, respectively. Through parametric study of Ddo_i, Ddb, Nb by Sobol’ method based on the model, it could be found that the parameters’ effects are unlinear and conflicted in most cases, and whether the interaction between factors is considered or not, the influences of Ddb, Ddo_i, and Nb on Q/ΔPt, Q/ΔPs, and G are the strongest, respectively. One configuration optimization method by NSGA II-MOPSO is proposed to increase Q/ΔPt, Q/ΔPs and decrease G, simultaneously, and the comparison results between four chosen optimal solutions and the original indicate that Q/ΔPt increases by 1.50% on average, and Q/ΔPs increases by 32.35% on average, while G averagely decreases by 29.18%. Besides, optimization comparison among NSGA II-MOPSO, NSGA II, and MOPSO is conducted and it could be concluded that NSGA II-MOPSO is the best, followed by MOPSO and then NSGA II, which illustrates that this method is feasible and valid, and could provide significant guidance for design.

PbS quantum dots (QDs) are appropriate for use in tunable optoelectronic devices such as optical amplifiers because of their large Bohr exciton radii (18 nm). Laser-assisted local heating around Ag NPs can provide an effective method for site selective precipitation and for controlling the size of QDs. Continuous wave (CW) laser irradiation has been applied on a Ag+-ion exchanged glass which lead to the precipitation of QDs PbS QDs of 5-nm diameter were precipitated after 3 min of CW laser illumination at 1.5 W. The PbS QDs showed a PL peak at λ ∼ 1490 nm, which shifted toward longer wavelength side as duration of Ag+ ion exchange and of laser illumination increased. This method was further applied to prepare a rod containing three sections with different diameters of PbS QDs to propose the possibility of developing broadband amplifiers to cover the 1.3–1.7 μm communication window using one glass fiber. Co2+ also absorbs 532 nm laser light and converts it to thermal energy that results in the precipitation of PbS QDs in the glass matrix. The emission peak of the QDs covers 1020 nm

Background: Drug-coated balloons (DCB) have been evaluated to be safe and practical in treating coronary small vessel disease (SVD). However, evidence about the practicality and safety of DCB in treating coronary lesions with diameters greater than 3.0 mm is limited. Methods: 1166 patients who received DCB angioplasty were enrolled and divided into groups of SVD or large vessel disease (LVD) according to the target vessel diameters (

Flat peach, a predominant fruit consumed in China, is highly susceptible to softening and perishable. The impact of 1-methylcycloproene (1-MCP) fumigation combined with ε-poly-L-lysine (ε-PL) on softening and postharvest reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phenylpropanoid pathway metabolisms in peaches and its relationship to disease resistance were investigated. Findings revealed that a combination of 1 µL L−1 1-MCP and 300 mg L−1 ε-PL effectively suppressed the activity of cell-wall-degrading enzymes and the disassembly of cell wall structure, thus maintaining higher firmness and lower decay incidence. Compared to the control group, the synergistic approach bolstered enzymatic responses linked to disease resistance and ROS-scavenge system, consistently preserving total phenolics, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and glutathione levels. Concurrently, the accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde was significantly diminished post-treatment. These results show that there is good synergistic effect between 1-MCP and ε-PL, which could effectively maintain the quality of flat peach fruit by modulating cell wall metabolism and enhancing the resistance.

Studies have demonstrated that many regions in the human brain include multidirectional fiber tracts, in which the diffusion of water molecules within image voxels does not follow a Gaussian distribution. Therefore, the conventional diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) that hypothesizes a single fiber orientation within a voxel is intrinsically incapable of revealing the complex microstructures of brain tissues. Diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) employs a pulse sequence with different b-values along multiple gradient directions to sample the diffusion information of water molecules in the entire q-space and then quantitatively estimates the diffusion profile using a probability density function with a high angular resolution. Studies have suggested that DSI can reliably observe the multidirectional fibers within each voxel and allow fiber tracking along different directions, which can improve fiber reconstruction reflecting the true but complicated brain structures that were not observed in the previous DTI studies. Moreover, with increasing angular resolution, DSI is able to reveal new neuroimaging biomarkers used for disease diagnosis and the prediction of disorder progression. However, so far, this method has not been used widely in clinical studies, due to its overly long scanning time and difficult post-processing. Within this context, the current paper aims to conduct a comprehensive review of DSI research, including the fundamental principles, methodology, and application progress of DSI tractography. By summarizing the DSI studies in recent years, we propose potential solutions towards the existing problem in the methodology and applications of DSI technology as follows: (1) using compressed sensing to undersample data and to reconstruct the diffusion signal may be an efficient and promising method for reducing scanning time; (2) the probability density function includes more information than the orientation distribution function, and it should be extended in application studies; and (3) large-sample study is encouraged to confirm the reliability and reproducibility of findings in clinical diseases. These findings may help deepen the understanding of the DSI method and promote its development in clinical applications.

Aim:Twin studies allow for the investigation of genetic and environmental influences on human brain development. The generalizability of their findings depends on the developmental similarity between twins and singletons. This study aimed to evaluate the structural and functional differences in a cohort of preterm-born twins and singletons at term-equivalent age.Materials and Methods:Eighteen twins and forty-seven singletons were included and scanned at the term-equivalent age. Brain volumes from 3D T1-weighted images, quantitative metrics and structural connectivity from diffusion tensor imaging, and low-frequency brain activity and functional connectivity from resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) were obtained from these neonates.Results:We found no significant volumetric differences after multiple comparison correction. The diffusivity values in the cingulum cingular part, cingulate gyrus, lateral fronto-orbital gyrus, gyrus rectus, as well as medial fronto-orbital gyrus were significantly higher in the twin group than in the singleton group. Structural connectivity analysis showed higher transitivity in the twin group compared to the singletons, indicating increased local connectivity. For rs-fMRI, the twin group showed greater fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF) values in the salience network and several fronto-temporal regions compared with the singleton group. It is worth noting that we found differences both in structural and functional measurements (MD and fALFF) in the prefrontal and cingulate cortex.Conclusion:The structural and functional differences collectively indicated that preterm-born twins may have delayed brain development compared with gestational age-matched singletons at term-equivalent age, which may be related to perinatal-neonatal problems.

Association fibers connect the cortical regions and experience rapid development involving myelination and axonal growth during infancy. Yet, the spatiotemporal patterns of microstructural changes along these tracts, as well as the developmental interaction between the white matter (WM) tracts and the cortical gray matter (cGM) connected to them, are mostly unknown during infancy. In this study, we performed a diffusion MRI-based tractography and microstructure study in a cohort of 89 healthy preterm-born infants with gestational age at birth between 28.1∼36.4 weeks and postmenstrual age at scan between 39.9∼59.9 weeks. Results revealed that several C-shaped fibers, such as the arcuate fasciculus, cingulum, and uncinate fasciculus, demonstrated symmetrical along-tract profiles; and the horizontally oriented running fibers, including the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, demonstrated an anterior-posterior developmental gradient. This study characterized the along-tract profiles using fixel-based analysis and revealed that the fiber cross-section (FC) of all five association fibers demonstrated a fluctuating increase with age, while the fiber density (FD) monotonically increase with age. NODDI was utilized to analyze the microstructural development of cGM and indicated cGM connected to the anterior end of the association fibers developed faster than that of the posterior end during 0–5 months. Notably, a mediation analysis was used to explore the relation between the development of WM and associated cGM, and demonstrated a partial mediation effect of FD in WM on the development of intracellular volume (ICV) in cGM and a full mediation effect of ICV on the growth of FD in most fibers, suggesting a predominant mediation of cGM on the WM development. Furthermore, for assessing whether those results were biased by prematurity, we compared preterm- and term-born neonates with matched scan age, gender, and multiple births from the developing human connectome project (dHCP) dataset to assess the effect of preterm-birth, and the results indicated a similar developmental pattern of the association fibers and their attached cGM. These findings presented a comprehensive picture of the major association fibers during early infancy and deciphered the developmental interaction between WM and cGM in this period.

Dictyophora rubrovolvata is a highly valuable and economically important edible fungus whose nutrition and flavor components may vary based on drying methods. Herein, an untargeted ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS) metabolomics method combined with multivariate analysis was first performed to characterize the metabolomics profiles of D. rubrovolvata upon different drying treatments, viz., coal burning drying (CD), electrothermal hot air drying (ED), and freeze drying (FD). The results indicated that 69 differential metabolites were identified, vastly involving lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, organic acids, carbohydrates, and their derivatives, of which 13 compounds were confirmed as biomarkers in response to diverse drying treatments. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis illustrated that differential metabolites were significantly assigned to 59, 55, and 60 pathways of CD vs. ED, CD vs. FD, and FD vs. ED groups, respectively, with 9 of the top 20 KEGG pathways shared. Specifically, most of lipids, such as fatty acyls, glycerophospholipids and sphingolipids, achieved the highest levels in D. rubrovolvata after the CD treatment. ED method substantially enhanced the contents of sterol lipids, nucleotides, organic acids and carbohydrates, while the levels of amino acids, prenol lipids and glycerolipids were elevated dramatically against the FD treatment. Collectively, this study shed light on metabolomic profiles and proposed biomarkers of D. rubrovolvata subjected to multiple drying techniques, which may contribute to quality control and drying efficiency in edible fungi production.

Experience-dependent cortical plasticity is a pivotal process of human brain development and essential for the formation of most cognitive functions. Although studies found that early visual experience could influence the endogenous development of visual cortex in animals, little is known about such impact on human infants. Using the multimodal MRI data from the developing human connectome project, we characterized the early structural and functional maps in the ventral visual cortex and their development during neonatal period. Particularly, we found that postnatal time selectively modulated the cortical thickness in the ventral visual cortex and the functional circuit between bilateral primary visual cortices. But the cortical myelination and functional connections of the high-order visual cortex developed without significant influence of postnatal time in such an early period. The structure–function analysis further revealed that the postnatal time had a direct influence on the development of homotopic connection in area V1, while gestational time had an indirect effect on it through cortical myelination. These findings were further validated in preterm-born infants who had longer postnatal time but shorter gestational time at birth. In short, these data suggested in human newborns that early postnatal time shaped the structural and functional development of the visual cortex in selective and organized patterns.

IntroductionImmune therapy has ushered in a new era of tumor treatment, at the expense of immune-related adverse events, including rare but fatal adverse cardiovascular events, such as myocarditis. Steroids remain the cornerstone of therapy for immune-related myocarditis, with no clear consensus on additional immunosuppressive treatment for steroid-refractory cases yet.Case reportHere, we report a patient with stage IV nasopharyngeal carcinoma who developed immune-related myocarditis in the fourth course of therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The patient presented with precordial discomfort with elevation of cardiac enzymes and interleukin-6, atypical electrocardiographic abnormalities, and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Coronary computed tomography angiography excluded the possibility of acute coronary syndrome. The therapy with tofacitinib targeting the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signal pathway was successfully conducted, since there was no significant improvement in troponin under high-dose steroid and intravenous immunoglobulin treatment. The patient recovered without major adverse cardiac events during hospitalization.DiscussionThe safety and efficacy of tofacitinib in a patient with steroid-refractory immune-related myocarditis were investigated, hoping to provide a basis for prospective therapeutic strategies. Tofacitinib led to remarkable remissions in primary autoimmune disease by blocking the inflammatory cascade, indicating its potential therapeutic use in immune-related adverse events.

Improving the design efficiency of hydropower hub buildings and promoting the application of intelligence in engineering construction and operation management have been critical issues in hydropower engineering construction. The major challenges are mainly reflected in the difficulties of multidisciplinary collaboration and the inefficient coordination of work involving multiple parties. This paper proposes a building information modeling (BIM)-based technology system architecture for digital design, intelligent construction, and intelligent operation, which combines BIM technology with geographic information system (GIS), computer aided engineering (CAE), internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and other technologies. The proposed system includes a BIM-based multi-professional forward collaborative design method, a BIM-based engineering construction management model, and a real-time safety analysis and evaluation technology system based on actual measured safety information and construction. The hydroelectrical engineering BIM (HydroBIM) comprehensive control platform is developed. In the planning and design stage, the platform enables the whole process and full-professional collaborative digital design. In the engineering construction management stage, it supports the whole process and all-round information management and control of contract, schedule, quality, safety, and investment. In the operation management stage, the platform facilitates the integrated management of engineering safety evaluation, early warning, and emergency plan based on monitoring data and the consistency criterion of positive and negative evaluation. The application of this technology in more than 20 engineering, has proven to improve the efficiency of design and analysis of hydropower hub buildings and the intelligence level of engineering construction and operation management, and overcome the difficulties of multi-professional collaboration in the design stage and low efficiency of multi-participant coordination in the construction stage.

BackgroundIndividuals who use methamphetamine (MA) for a long period of time may experience decreased inhibition and increased impulsivity. In order to reduce impulsivity or improve inhibitory control ability, high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) has attracted much attention of researchers. Recent studies on addiction have shown that rTMS can stimulate different brain regions to produce different therapeutic effects. Recent work also suggests that HF-rTMS over right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) does not affect the impulsivity of patients with alcohol use disorder; while HF-rTMS over left DLPFC could improve the impulsivity of patients with alcohol use disorder and cigarette smokers. However, it should be noted that empirical studies applying HF-rTMS over left DLPFC of patients with MA use disorders (MAUD) (to evaluate its effect on impulsivity) are still lacking.MethodsTwenty-nine patients with MAUD underwent five sessions of HF-rTMS on the left DLPFC per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The cue-induced craving and stop-signal and NoGo task were assessed pre-rTMS and post-rTMS (at the end of the 4-week rTMS treatment). In addition, 29 healthy controls were recruited. There was no rTMS intervention for the controls, the performance of the stop-signal and NoGo task was evaluated on them.ResultsIn total, HF-rTMS of the left DLPFC significantly decreased MA-dependent patients’ cue-induced craving and stop-signal reaction time (SSRT). For SSRT, the pre-test of experimental group was significantly higher than the score of control group. In the experimental group, the pre-test score was significantly higher than the post-test score. For Go and stop-signal delay (SSD), the pre-test scores of the experimental group was significantly lower than the scores of the control group. No significant difference was found between the pre-test and the post-test scores of the experimental group.ConclusionAdd-on HF-rTMS of left DLPFC may be an effective intervention for reducing impulsivity and cue-induced craving of patients with MAUD. Future research with a control group of MAUD that does not undergo the treatment is needed to confirm the effectiveness.

BackgroundRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is an effective way to stimulate changes in structural and functional plasticity, which is a part of learning and memory. However, to our knowledge, rTMS-induced specific activity and neural plasticity in different brain regions that affect cognition are not fully understood; nor are its mechanisms. Therefore, we aimed to investigate rTMS-induced cognition-related neural plasticity changes and their mechanisms in different brain regions.MethodsA total of 30 healthy adult rats were randomly divided into the control group and the rTMS group (n = 15 rats per group). The rats in the control and the rTMS group received either 4 weeks of sham or high-frequency rTMS (HF-rTMS) over the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Cognitive function was detected by Morris water maze. Functional imaging was acquired by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) before and after rTMS. The protein expressions of BDNF, TrkB, p-Akt, Akt, NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the PFC, hippocampus, and primary motor cortex (M1) were detected by Western blot following rTMS.ResultsAfter 4 weeks of rTMS, the cognitive ability of healthy rats who underwent rTMS showed a small but significant behavioral improvement in spatial episodic learning and memory performance. Compared with the pre-rTMS or the control group, rats in the rTMS group showed increased regional homogeneity (ReHo) in multiple brain regions in the interoceptive/default mode network (DMN) and cortico-striatal-thalamic network, specifically the bilateral PFC, bilateral hippocampus, and the left M1. Western blot analyses showed that rTMS led to a significant increase in the expressions of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptors, including NR1, NR2A, and NR2B in the PFC, hippocampus, and M1, as well as an upregulation of BDNF, TrkB, and p-Akt in these three brain regions. In addition, the expression of NR1 in these three brain regions correlated with rTMS-induced cognitive improvement.ConclusionOverall, these data suggested that HF-rTMS can enhance cognitive performance through modulation of NMDA receptor-dependent brain plasticity.