Effects of climate and environmental factors on childhood and adolescent asthma: A systematic review based on spatial and temporal analysis evidence

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a prevalent chronic respiratory disease among children, influenced by various climate and environmental factors. Despite its prevalence, the specific effects of these factors on asthma remain unclear. This study aims to systematically assess the epidemiological evidence using spatial and temporal methods on the impact of climate and environmental factors on childhood asthma.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted to analyse the impact of climate and environmental factors on childhood asthma and wheezing, focusing on spatial and temporal trends. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Embase, and CINAHL databases for studies published from January 2000 to April 2024, using key search terms 'asthma/wheezing', 'extreme weather, 'green space', 'air pollution' and 'spatial or temporal analyses".

RESULTS

The systematic review analysed 28 studies, with six employing spatial and 22 using temporal analysis methods; however, none incorporated spatio-temporal analysis in their models. The findings reveal that extreme weather events, including heatwaves and heavy rainfall, elevate childhood asthma risks across various climates, with significant effects observed during summer and winter months. Dust storms in arid and subtropical regions are linked to immediate spikes in hospital admissions due to asthma exacerbations. The effects of green spaces on childhood asthma are mixed, with some studies indicating protective effects while others suggest increased risks, influenced by local environmental factors. Air pollutants such as PM2.5, NO2, and ozone can exacerbate asthma symptoms and along with other environmental factors, contribute to seasonal effects. High temperatures generally correlate with increased asthma risks, though the effects vary by age, sex, and climate.

CONCLUSION

Future research should integrate spatial and temporal methods to better understand the effects of environmental and climate changes on childhood asthma.

Specificity of Episodic Future Thinking in Adolescents: Comparing Childhood Maltreatment, Autism Spectrum, and Typical Development

Maltreatment and autism can be associated with overlapping difficulties across functional domains (e.g., social, emotional, and sensory) and high rates of mental health problems. A cognitive approach focussing on affect-laden cognition, here on episodic future thinking (FT), could help inform cognitive assessments and adapt psychological interventions. Three groups of adolescents (N = 85), (i) maltreatment (n = 28), (ii) autism (n = 29), and (iii) typical development without maltreatment/autism (TD; n = 28), matched in age (10-16 years old), sex (assigned at birth), and socioeconomic status, completed a newly adapted online Autobiographical Future Thinking Test. As predicted, the maltreatment group generated significantly fewer specific future events relative to the TD group, however, the number of specific future events did not significantly differ between the autism and the other groups. Exploratory analyses showed that lower FT specificity was significantly associated with more depressive (but not anxiety) symptoms across the three groups. These findings shed light on the cognitive profiles of both maltreatment and autism during adolescence and signal FT as a potential therapeutic target for adolescents with these developmental differences. Our study lays the foundation for additional comparisons of maltreatment-related presentations versus autism with improved designs and a broader set of cognitive and clinical domains.

Higher baseline subcortical net water uptake in computed tomography predicts malignant middle cerebral artery infarction in patients with acute ischemic stroke

AIM

The objective of this study was to assess the predictive performance of net water uptake (NWU) based on the Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS) from different ASPECT regions in relation to the development of malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) of the MCA territory were retrospectively enrolled between January 2019 and July 2022. Patients were divided into two groups according to the follow-up CT after 24-48 hours: malignant and nonmalignant infarction. NWUs were measured on diverse ASPECT regions on admission non-contrast CT, namely affected ASPECTS-NWU (af-ASPECTS-NWU), subcortical ASPECTS-NWU (sc-ASPECTS-NWU), and cortical ASPECTS-NWU (c-ASPECTS-NWU). Baseline characteristics were collected for univariate analyses and multivariate regression analyses to explore the independent risk factors for malignant infarction. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted and compared.

RESULTS

patients were included in the final analysis. Malignant MCA infarction was achieved in 42 (27.45%) patients and nonmalignant was 111 (72.55%). Compared with the nonmalignant infarction group, higher baseline National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS) score, af-ASPECTS-NWU, c-ASPECTS-NWU, sc-ASPECTS-NWU, and lower ASPECTS were noted in the malignant infarction group (all P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression showed that only baseline sc-ASPECTS-NWU (>3.6%) was a positive factor for malignant MCA infarction. The ROC analysis indicated the highest predictive value of sc-ASPECTS-NWU for indicating malignant infarction with the area under ROC curve (AUC) 0.91.

CONCLUSION

Higher baseline sc-ASPECTS-NWU was a quantitative predictor for malignant MCA infarction in patients with AIS, which could be helpful for treatment decisions.

A novel method to detect carotid artery in-stent restenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Carotid artery stenosis is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke. Despite carotid artery stenting, in-stent restenosis (ISR) remains challenging. Pigs serve as an ideal ISR model. This study aims to establish a novel porcine model of carotid ISR using open-loop and closed-loop stents and to assess ISR with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and histopathology, comparing incidence and vascular response between stent types.

METHODS

Twelve adult male Bama miniature pigs underwent carotid stenting with either open-loop or closed-loop stents. The animals received antiplatelet therapy pre- and postimplantation. Postimplantation evaluations at 90 days included carotid digital subtraction angiography (DSA), OCT, histopathological examination, and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

Both stent types showed ISR as detected by OCT and DSA. OCT revealed comparable neointimal proliferation within stent struts for both types, with no significant differences in stent, lumen, and neointimal dimensions. Histopathological analysis and electron microscopy provided insights into tissue responses and healing processes following stent implantation. No significant difference in ISR incidence was found between the stent types based on a χ2 test (p = .110). OCT and hematoxylin-eosin staining exhibit the highest consistency in evaluating neointimal area.

CONCLUSIONS

The novel porcine ISR model demonstrated similar ISR outcomes for open-loop and closed-loop stents. OCT proved to be a highly consistent and valuable tool for evaluating stent and arterial conditions, comparable to histopathological findings. However, due to a small sample size, the validity of these preliminary findings requires further investigation to be confirmed.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics for prognosis prediction in glioma patients

AIM

The purpose of this study was to identify robust radiological features from intratumoral and peritumoral regions, evaluate MRI protocols, and machine learning methods for overall survival stratification of glioma patients, and explore the relationship between radiological features and the tumour microenvironment.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 163 glioma patients, divided into a training set (n=113) and a testing set (n=50). For each patient, 2135 features were extracted from clinical MRI. Feature selection was performed using the Minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance method and the Random Forest (RF) algorithm. Prognostic factors were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards model. Four machine learning models (RF, Logistic Regression, Support Vector Machine, and XGBoost) were trained on clinical and radiological features from tumour and peritumoral regions. Model evaluations on the testing set used receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

Among the 163 patients, 96 had an overall survival (OS) of less than three years postsurgery, while 67 had an OS of more than three years. Univariate Cox regression in the validation set indicated that age (p=0.003) and tumour grade (p<0.001) were positively associated with the risk of death within three years postsurgery. The final predictive model incorporated 13 radiological and 7 clinical features. The RF model, combining intratumor and peritumor radiomics, achieved the best predictive performance (AUC = 0.91; ACC = 0.86), outperforming single-region models.

CONCLUSION

Combined intratumoral and peritumoral radiomics can improve survival prediction and have potential as a practical imaging biomarker to guide clinical decision-making.

Kraeva A, Kravtsov P, Kumar L, Labonte MC, Lacey R, Landgraf JM, Lebedev A, Lednicky R, Lee JH, Leung YH, Li C, Li D, Li HS, Li H, Li W, Li X, Li Y, Li Y, Li Z, Liang X, Liang Y, Lin T, Lin Y, Liu C, Liu G, Liu H, Liu L, Liu T, Liu X, Liu Y, Liu Z, Ljubicic T, Lomicky O, Longacre RS, Loyd EM, Lu T, Luo J, Luo XF, Luong VB, Ma L, Ma R, Ma YG, Magdy N, Manikandhan R, Margetis S, Matonoha O, McNamara G, Mezhanska O, Mi K, Minaev NG, Mohanty B, Mondal B, Mondal MM, Mooney I, Morozov DA, Mudrokh A, Nagy MI, Nain AS, Nam JD, Nasim M, Nedorezov E, Neff D, Nelson JM, Nie M, Nigmatkulov G, Niida T, Nogach LV, Nonaka T, Odyniec G, Ogawa A, Oh S, Okorokov VA, Okubo K, Page BS, Pal S, Pandav A, Panday A, Panebratsev Y, Pani T, Parfenov P, Paul A, Perkins C, Pokhrel BR, Posik M, Povarov A, Protzman T, Pruthi NK, Putschke J, Qin Z, Qiu H, Racz C, Radhakrishnan SK, Rana A, Ray RL, Robertson CW, Rogachevsky OV, Rosales Aguilar MA, Roy D, Ruan L, Sahoo AK, Sahoo NR, Sako H, Salur S, Samigullin E, Sato S, Schaefer BC, Schmidke WB, Schmitz N, Seger J, Seto R, Seyboth P, Shah N, Shahaliev E, Shanmuganathan PV, Shao T, Sharma M, Sharma N, Sharma R, Sharma SR, Sheikh AI, Shen D, Shen DY, Shen K, Shi SS, Shi Y, Shou QY, Si F, Singh J, Singha S, Sinha P, Skoby MJ, Söhngen Y, Song Y, Srivastava B, Stanislaus TDS, Stewart DJ, Strikhanov M, Su Y, Sun C, Sun X, Sun Y, Sun Y, Surrow B, Svirida DN, Sweger ZW, Tamis AC, Tang AH, Tang Z, Taranenko A, Tarnowsky T, Thomas JH, Tlusty D, Todoroki T, Tokarev MV, Trentalange S, Tribedy P, Tsai OD, Tsang CY, Tu Z, Tyler J, Ullrich T, Underwood DG, Upsal I, Van Buren G, Vasiliev AN, Verkest V, Videbæk F, Vokal S, Voloshin SA, Wang G, Wang JS, Wang J, Wang K, Wang X, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wang Y, Wang Z, Webb JC, Weidenkaff PC, Westfall GD, Wieman H, Wilks G, Wissink SW, Wu J, Wu J, Wu X, Wu X, Xi B, Xiao ZG, Xie G, Xie W, Xu H, Xu N, Xu QH, Xu Y, Xu Y, Xu Z, Xu Z, Yan G, Yan Z, Yang C, Yang Q, Yang S, Yang Y, Ye Z, Ye Z, Yi L, Yu Y, Zha W, Zhang C, Zhang D, Zhang J, Zhang S, Zhang W, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang ZJ, Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Zhao F, Zhao J, Zhao M, Zhou S, Zhou Y, Zhu X, Zurek M, Zyzak M. Imaging shapes of atomic nuclei in high-energy nuclear collisions

Atomic nuclei are self-organized, many-body quantum systems bound by strong nuclear forces within femtometre-scale space. These complex systems manifest a variety of shapes1-3, traditionally explored using non-invasive spectroscopic techniques at low energies4,5. However, at these energies, their instantaneous shapes are obscured by long-timescale quantum fluctuations, making direct observation challenging. Here we introduce the collective-flow-assisted nuclear shape-imaging method, which images the nuclear global shape by colliding them at ultrarelativistic speeds and analysing the collective response of outgoing debris. This technique captures a collision-specific snapshot of the spatial matter distribution within the nuclei, which, through the hydrodynamic expansion, imprints patterns on the particle momentum distribution observed in detectors6,7. We benchmark this method in collisions of ground-state uranium-238 nuclei, known for their elongated, axial-symmetric shape. Our findings show a large deformation with a slight deviation from axial symmetry in the nuclear ground state, aligning broadly with previous low-energy experiments. This approach offers a new method for imaging nuclear shapes, enhances our understanding of the initial conditions in high-energy collisions and addresses the important issue of nuclear structure evolution across energy scales.

β-catenin Orchestrates Gli1+ Cell Fate in Condylar Development and TMJOA

The fibrocartilage stem cells (FCSCs) on the surface of the condyle play an essential role in cartilage homeostasis and regeneration. However, few well-defined stem cell markers have been identified for the analysis of FCSCs' cell fate and regulation mechanism. In this study, we first mapped the transcriptional landscape of the condylar cartilage and identified a Gli1+ subset. Label-retaining cells and our lineage-tracing study showed that Gli1 labeled a group of FCSCs. Conditional knockout β-catenin inhibited Gli1+ cells differentiating into hypertrophic chondrocytes. In discectomy-induced temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA), Gli1+ cells were further activated, and their differentiation into hypertrophic chondrocytes was accelerated, which induced stem cell pool depletion. The deletion of β-catenin in Gli1+ cells preserved the FCSC pool and alleviated TMJOA cartilage degeneration. Collectively, we uncovered that a Gli1+ FCSC subpopulation and Wnt/β-catenin signaling orchestrate the Gli1+ cell fate in condyle postnatal development and TMJOA.

Evaluating the therapeutic potential of different sources of mesenchymal stem cells in acute respiratory distress syndrome

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have attracted interest as a potential therapy given their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. However, clinical trials using MSCs for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) have produced mixed and inconclusive data. In previous work, we performed a "head-to-head" comparison between different sources of MSCs and showed that each source had a unique genomic and proteomic "signature".

METHOD

This study investigated which sources of MSC: bone marrow derived-MSCs (BM-MSCs), adipose tissue derived-MSCs (AD-MSCs) and umbilical cord derived-MSCs (UC-MSCs)  would be the optimal candidate to be used as a therapy in an LPS-induced mouse model of ARDS. Immune cells assessment, tissue transcriptomics, animal survival, and endothelial-epithelial barrier assessment were used to evaluate their effects.

RESULTS

When comparing the three most commonly used MSC sources, we found that UC-MSCs exhibited greater efficacy compared to other MSCs in improving animal survival, mitigating epithelial/endothelial damage, decreasing lung inflammation via reducing neutrophil infiltration, T cell proliferation, and M1 polarization. Bulk RNA sequencing of lung tissue also showed that UC-MSCs have the capability to downregulate extracellular trap formation, by the downregulation of key genes like Elane and Padi4. Notably, treatment with UC-MSCs demonstrated a significant reduction in Fc-γ R mediated phagocytosis, which has been associated with monocyte pyroptosis and intense inflammation in the context of COVID-19.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that UC-MSCs are an optimal source of MSC to treat acute inflammatory conditions in the lungs, such as ARDS.

[Trends and age-period-cohort analysis of leukemia incidence in Qidong from 1972 to 2021]

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics and trends of leukemia incidence in Qidong between 1972 and 2021, and provide guidelines for prevention and control measures and strategies. Methods: The cancer registry data was collected and analyzed on leukemia incidence during 1972-2021 in Qidong by sex, age and time. Crude incidence rate (CR), China age-standardized rate (ASRC), world age-standardized rate (ASRW), and average annual change percentage (AAPC) was calculated by Joinpoint software. Age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to analyze the influence of age, period and birth cohort on the changes in the incidence trend of leukemia patients. Results: From 1972 to 2021, there were 2 948 patients with leukemia in Qidong, accounting for 2.00% of all cancer new cases, CR of leukemia was 5.26/105, ASRC was 4.34/105, ASRW was 4.35/105. The truncated incidence of 35-64 years old was 5.29/105, the cumulative incidence rate between the ages of 0 and 74 years old was 0.40%, the cumulative risk was 0.40%. There were 1 608 male patients, the CR, ASRC, and the ASRW were 5.81/105, 4.88/105 and 4.85/105. The number of female patients were 1 340, and the CR, ASRC, and the ASRW were 4.71/105, 3.86/105 and 3.91/105, respectively. Temporal trends indicated significant upward trends in ASRC among both gender, males and females with AAPC values of 1.41% (P＜0.001), 1.15% (P＜0.001), and 1.73% (P＜0.001), respectively. The results of the APC model showed that the average net drift value of leukemia incidence in all age groups was 1.57% (95% CI, 1.24%-1.89%), and the highest value of local drift was 3.20% (95% CI, 1.63%-4.78%) in the 80~ years old group. The incidence of leukemia increased with age. With the passage of time, the risk of leukemia incidence increased gradually compared with the rate ratio of leukemia incidence (risk ratio [RR], 1.00) in 1992-1996, the RR of leukemia incidence increased from 0.70 during 1972-1976 to 1.57 during 2017-2021. The later the cohort was born, the greater the risk of leukemia incidence compared with the relative risk of leukemia incidence (RR, 1.00) in 1952-1956 cohort, the RR of leukemia incidence increased from 0.24 in the 1892-1896 cohort to 2.73 in the 2017-2021 cohort. Conclusions: The incidence of the leukemia has presented a rising trend in the past fifty years. Leukemia incidence increased with age, and the period and cohort effects on the risk of incidence increase. Further research is needed to investigate the risk factors related to leukemia.

Factors influencing labial bone resorption after implant insertion with simultaneous guided bone regeneration: retrospective cone beam computed tomography study

This retrospective study examined factors influencing labial bone resorption in the anterior maxilla 6 months after implant insertion with simultaneous guided bone regeneration. Involving 79 patients (118 implants), the study measured labial horizontal bone width and vertical dimensions using cone beam computed tomography scans taken immediately after surgery and at 6 months. A generalized linear mixed model analyzed potential influencing factors: age, sex, implant site, timing of placement, buccal bone width at the implant platform level post-surgery, implant connection, and bone defect morphology. Significant bone resorption was noted at 6 months. The statistical analysis revealed that buccal bone width at the implant platform, implant connection, and bone defect morphology significantly impacted labial bone resorption, while patient age, sex, timing of placement, and implant site did not. Implants with a buccal bone width ≥2 mm showed significantly less labial horizontal and vertical bone resorption (horizontal P < 0.001, vertical P = 0.001), and healing abutments reduced resorption compared to cover screws (horizontal P = 0.002, vertical P = 0.034). More significant vertical resorption occurred in non-contained bone defects after guided bone regeneration (P = 0.040).

Search for the Z Boson Decay to ττμμ in Proton-Proton Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

The first search for the Z boson decay to ττμμ at the CERN LHC is presented, based on data collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1}. The data are compatible with the predicted background. For the first time, an upper limit at the 95% confidence level of 6.9 times the standard model expectation is placed on the ratio of the Z→ττμμ to Z→4μ branching fractions. Limits are also placed on the six flavor-conserving four-lepton effective-field-theory operators involving two muons and two tau leptons, for the first time testing all such operators.

Global trends in adolescent and young adult female cancer burden, 1990-2021: insights from the Global Burden of Disease study

BACKGROUND

The impact of breast carcinoma and genital tract malignancy on the physical and mental health, especially reproductive function, of women aged 15-39 years in the adolescent and young adult (AYA) group is significant. This research aims to analyze the burden of AYA female cancer in various regions and countries globally from 1990 to 2021.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Epidemiological data were sourced from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021. The study analyzed data on female cancers (breast, ovarian, uterine, and cervical) to assess disease burden across different ages, years, and locations, encompassing 21 GBD regions, 195 countries, and five sociodemographic index (SDI) regions.

RESULTS

In 2021, AYA female cancer saw 383 241 new cases and 81 679 deaths globally, with 2 975 183 prevalent cases and 4 855 780 disability-adjusted life years. In 2021, Central Latin America recorded the highest age-standardized incidence (ASIR) and prevalence rates (ASPR), whereas South sub-Saharan Africa had the highest age-standardized mortality (ASMR) and disability rates (ASDR). Nations with high SDI typically exhibited elevated ASIR and ASPR, whereas ASMR and ASDR demonstrated inverse patterns. Over the past three decades, ASIR and ASPR of female cancers among AYA women have increased globally. In contrast, the ASMR and ASDR have demonstrated a declining trend. Notably, breast cancer emerged as the most prevalent malignancy among AYA women.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past three decades, the ASIR and ASPR of AYA female cancers have consistently increased, significantly burdening this demographic. Additionally, pronounced disparities are evident across different regions and countries, with AYA women in low SDI environments experiencing poorer prognoses compared to their counterparts in high SDI environments. Consequently, it is imperative to enhance interregional collaboration and communication to optimize the overall prognosis of AYA female cancers.

Search for Light Long-Lived Particles in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV Using Displaced Vertices in the ATLAS Inner Detector

A search for long-lived particles (LLPs) using 140  fb^{-1} of pp collision data with sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC is presented. The search targets LLPs with masses between 5 and 55 GeV that decay hadronically in the ATLAS inner detector. Benchmark models with LLP pair production from exotic decays of the Higgs boson and models featuring long-lived axionlike particles (ALPs) are considered. No significant excess above the expected background is observed. Upper limits are placed on the branching ratio of the Higgs boson to pairs of LLPs, the cross section for ALPs produced in association with a vector boson, and, for the first time, on the branching ratio of the top quark to an ALP and a u/c quark.

Search for the Exclusive W Boson Hadronic Decays W^{±}→π^{±}γ, W^{±}→K^{±}γ and W^{±}→ρ^{±}γ with the ATLAS Detector

A search for the exclusive hadronic decays W^{±}→π^{±}γ, W^{±}→K^{±}γ, and W^{±}→ρ^{±}γ is performed using up to 140  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions recorded with the ATLAS detector at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV. If observed, these rare processes would provide a unique test bench for the quantum chromodynamics factorization formalism used to calculate cross sections at colliders. Additionally, at future colliders, these decays could offer a new way to measure the W boson mass through fully reconstructed decay products. The search results in the most stringent upper limits to date on the branching fractions B(W^{±}→π^{±}γ)<1.9×10^{-6}, B(W^{±}→K^{±}γ)<1.7×10^{-6}, B(W^{±}→ρ^{±}γ)<5.2×10^{-6} at 95% confidence level.

Observation of the Λ b 0 → J / ψ Ξ - K + decay

Using proton-proton collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb - 1 collected by the CMS experiment ats = 13 Te V , theΛ b 0 → J / ψ Ξ - K + decay is observed for the first time, with a statistical significance exceeding 5 standard deviations. The relative branching fraction, with respect to theΛ b 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) Λ decay, is measured to be B ( Λ b 0 → J / ψ Ξ - K + ) / B ( Λ b 0 → ψ ( 2 S ) Λ ) = [ 3.38 ± 1.02 ± 0.61 ± 0.03 ] % , where the first uncertainty is statistical, the second is systematic, and the third is related to the uncertainties in B ( ψ ( 2 S ) → J / ψ π + π - ) and B ( Ξ - → Λ π - ) .

Combination and summary of ATLAS dark matter searches interpreted in a 2HDM with a pseudo-scalar mediator using 139 fb-1 of s=13 TeV pp collision data

Results from a wide range of searches targeting different experimental signatures with and without missing transverse momentum (ETmiss) are used to constrain a Two-Higgs-Doublet Model (2HDM) with an additional pseudo-scalar mediating the interaction between ordinary and dark matter (2HDM+a). The analyses use up to 139 fb-1 of proton-proton collision data at a centre-of-mass energy s=13 TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider during 2015-2018. The results from three of the most sensitive searches are combined statistically. These searches target signatures with large ETmiss and a leptonically decaying Z boson; large ETmiss and a Higgs boson decaying to bottom quarks; and production of charged Higgs bosons in final states with top and bottom quarks, respectively. Constraints are derived for several common and new benchmark scenarios in the 2HDM+a.

[An epidemiological survey of visual impairment in rural populations aged 30 and above: the Handan Eye Study]

Objective: To investigate the changes in prevalence and causes of blindness and visual impairment over six years among rural populations aged 30 and above in Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, a pilot area in northern China for blindness prevention and treatment, and to study the incidence of common blinding eye diseases. Methods: This population-based prospective cohort study included a baseline survey conducted from 2006 to 2007 using stratified cluster sampling, targeting 6 830 Han Chinese individuals aged 30 and above, with a response rate of 90.4%, and a follow-up survey conducted from 2012 to 2013 with 5 394 participants, maintaining a response rate of 85.3%. Visual impairment was defined according to World Health Organization standards as visual acuity<20/60 but ≥20/400, and blindness as visual acuity<20/400. Age-and gender-standardized prevalence rates of blindness and visual impairment, along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI), were estimated. The six-year incidence rates of primary glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and myopic maculopathy, along with their 95%CI, were reported. Results: At baseline, the standardized prevalence of bilateral blindness in individuals aged 30 and above was 0.6% (41/6 799) for presenting visual acuity and 0.5% (31/6 799) for best-corrected visual acuity. These rates were higher than those found in the follow-up survey, 0.5% (27/5 293) and 0.3% (17/5 276). Conversely, the standardized prevalence of bilateral visual impairment increased from 4.7% (361/6 799) and 1.0% (85/6 799) at baseline to 6.5% (355/5 293) and 1.4% (74/5 276) at follow-up, respectively. The leading cause of bilateral blindness was cataract in both baseline (13/31, 41.9%) and follow-up (7/17) surveys. Other major causes included myopic retinal degeneration (5/31, 16.1% at baseline; 2/17 at follow-up), glaucoma (3/31, 9.7% at baseline; 2/17 at follow-up), and corneal opacity (3/31, 9.7% at baseline; 2/17 at follow-up). Over six years, the incidence rates for primary glaucoma, early and late age-related macular degeneration, and myopic maculopathy in individuals aged 35 and above were 1.6% (95%CI: 1.2%-1.9%), 4.2% (95%CI: 3.8%-4.7%), 0.2% (95%CI: 0.2%-0.3%), and 0.1% (95%CI: 0.0%-0.2%), respectively. Conclusions: The prevalence of bilateral blindness in the rural population of Yongnian County, Handan City, Hebei Province, decreased over six years due to blindness prevention and treatment efforts but remained higher than in urban areas. Meanwhile, the prevalence of bilateral visual impairment increased since the baseline survey. Cataracts continued to be the primary cause of blindness, followed by myopic retinal degeneration, glaucoma, and corneal opacity.

Measurement of Electron Antineutrino Oscillation Amplitude and Frequency via Neutron Capture on Hydrogen at Daya Bay

This Letter reports the first measurement of the oscillation amplitude and frequency of reactor antineutrinos at Daya Bay via neutron capture on hydrogen using 1958 days of data. With over 3.6 million signal candidates, an optimized candidate selection, improved treatment of backgrounds and efficiencies, refined energy calibration, and an energy response model for the capture-on-hydrogen sensitive region, the relative ν[over ¯]_{e} rates and energy spectra variation among the near and far detectors gives sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.0759_{-0.0049}^{+0.0050} and Δm_{32}^{2}=(2.72_{-0.15}^{+0.14})×10^{-3}  eV^{2} assuming the normal neutrino mass ordering, and Δm_{32}^{2}=(-2.83_{-0.14}^{+0.15})×10^{-3}  eV^{2} for the inverted neutrino mass ordering. This estimate of sin^{2}2θ_{13} is consistent with and essentially independent from the one obtained using the capture-on-gadolinium sample at Daya Bay. The combination of these two results yields sin^{2}2θ_{13}=0.0833±0.0022, which represents an 8% relative improvement in precision regarding the Daya Bay full 3158-day capture-on-gadolinium result.

Controlled Vapor-Liquid-Solid Growth of Long and Remarkably Thin Pb1-xSnxTe Nanowires with Strain-Tunable Ferroelectric Phase Transition

The Pb1-xSnxTe family of compounds possess a wide range of intriguing and useful physical properties, including topologically protected surface states, robust ferroelectricity, remarkable thermoelectric properties, and potential topological superconductivity. Compared to bulk crystals, one-dimensional (1D) nanowires (NWs) offer a unique platform to enhance the functional properties and enable new capabilities, e.g., to realize 1D Majorana zero modes for quantum computations. However, it has been challenging to achieve controlled synthesis of ultrathin Pb1-xSnxTe (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) nanowires in the truly 1D region. In this work, we report on a Au-catalyzed vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of remarkably thin (20-30 nm) and sufficiently long (several to tens of micrometers) Pb1-xSnxTe nanowires of high single-crystalline quality in a controlled fashion. This controlled growth was achieved by enhancing the incorporation of Te into the Au catalyst particle to facilitate the precipitation of the Sn/Pb species and suppress the enlargement of the particle, which we identified as a major challenge for the growth of ultrathin nanowires. Our growth strategy can be easily extended to other compound and alloy nanowires, where the constituent elements have different incorporation rates into the catalyst particle. Furthermore, the growth of thin Pb1-xSnxTe nanowires enabled strain-dependent electrical transport measurements, which shows an enhancement of electrical resistance and ferroelectric transition temperature induced by uniaxial tensile strain along the nanowire axial direction, consistent with density functional theory calculations of the structural phase stability.

[Research progress on Pb-induced neurotoxicity through glial cells]

Lead is one of the most important occupational hazards in China, and occupational exposure is the leading cause of lead poisoning. Lead can be absorbed by the body through air, food, drinking water and skin, and accumulate in multiple organs in the body, posing health risks to humans, especially to lead workers. Many previous studies have shown that lead can affect the function of glial cells such as microglia, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, resulting in irreversible neurological damage. This article provides an overview of the neurotoxic mechanism induced by lead through glial cells, elucidates that lead can induce neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and reviews the relationship between lead and glial cells, in order to provide reference for further research on the neurotoxic mechanism of lead on glial cells.

Comparison of predictive ability of single-trait and multitrait genomic selection models for body growth traits in Maiwa yaks

Yaks are grazed extensively on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has a long history of semi-domestication. The predicted weight of yaks over consecutive years helps make strategic decisions when selecting yak calves for breeding. To achieve more accurate predictions of genomic estimated breeding values, we used a dataset comprising the genotype and weight records of 396 Maiwa yaks collected from 2015 to 2020. We compared the predictive accuracy of the genome best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) model with that of six other models. Based on the GBLUP model, we applied two prediction strategies. In the first strategy, the year was treated as a fixed effect in the GBLUP model, and the kinship from all individuals and the markers were treated as random effects. In the second strategy, all individuals were divided into six age groups, with GBLUP performed for each group, and the phenotypes of the closest age groups were treated as fixed effects. Although the GBLUP model provided better prediction accuracy than other single-trait models, most of the predictive capacity was derived from the best linear unbiased estimation. Additionally, incorporating the phenotype of the closest age group as a factor in multitrait prediction enhanced the accuracy of the model. Our findings provide a robust and credible strategy for predicting continuous economic traits in the presence of strong correlations.

Observation of Enhanced Long-Range Elliptic Anisotropies Inside High-Multiplicity Jets in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search for collective effects inside jets produced in proton-proton collisions is performed via correlation measurements of charged particles using the CMS detector at the CERN LHC. The analysis uses data collected at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 138  fb^{-1}. Jets are reconstructed with the anti-k_{T} algorithm with a distance parameter of 0.8 and are required to have transverse momentum greater than 550 GeV and pseudorapidity |η^{jet}|<1.6. Two-particle correlations among the charged particles within the jets are studied as functions of the particles' azimuthal angle and pseudorapidity separations (Δϕ^{*} and Δη^{*}) in a jet coordinate basis, where particles' η^{*}, ϕ^{*} are defined relative to the direction of the jet. The correlation functions are studied in classes of in-jet charged-particle multiplicity up to N_{ch}^{j}≈100. Fourier harmonics are extracted from long-range azimuthal correlation functions to characterize azimuthal anisotropy for |Δη^{*}|>2. For low-N_{ch}^{j} jets, the long-range elliptic anisotropic harmonic, v_{2}^{*}, is observed to decrease with N_{ch}^{j}. This trend is well described by Monte Carlo event generators. However, a rising trend for v_{2}^{*} emerges at N_{ch}^{j}≳80, hinting at a possible onset of collective behavior, which is not reproduced by the models tested. This observation yields new insights into the dynamics of jet evolution in the vacuum.