Epimedin C protects dexamethasone-induced osteoblasts through NRF1/RhoA pathway

Osteoporosis (OP) is a metabolic bone disease that leads to decrease of bone strength and increase bone brittle and fracture. Dexamethasone (DXMS) usage is a common risk factor of OP. In present study, we found that the Epimedin C protect the DXMS-induced OP, Ras Homolog Family Member A transforming protein (RhoA) was increased in osteoblasts (OBs) and OP models. We further revealed that Nrf1 is a transcription factor that responds to Epimedin C and DXMS in modulating RhoA promoter. The results collectively demonstrate that Epimedin C functions as a positive modifier of RhoA via alteration of Nrf1 transcriptional activity on RhoA promoter, thereby, protecting OBs against OP. Our work is the first study identifying the Epimedin C function in balancing the OBs in OP model via Nrf1-RhoA.

Search for Dark-Matter-Nucleon Interactions via Migdal Effect with DarkSide-50

Dark matter elastic scattering off nuclei can result in the excitation and ionization of the recoiling atom through the so-called Migdal effect. The energy deposition from the ionization electron adds to the energy deposited by the recoiling nuclear system and allows for the detection of interactions of sub-GeV/c^{2} mass dark matter. We present new constraints for sub-GeV/c^{2} dark matter using the dual-phase liquid argon time projection chamber of the DarkSide-50 experiment with an exposure of (12 306±184)  kg d. The analysis is based on the ionization signal alone and significantly enhances the sensitivity of DarkSide-50, enabling sensitivity to dark matter with masses down to 40  MeV/c^{2}. Furthermore, it sets the most stringent upper limit on the spin independent dark matter nucleon cross section for masses below 3.6  GeV/c^{2}.

Search for Dark Matter Particle Interactions with Electron Final States with DarkSide-50

We present a search for dark matter particles with sub-GeV/c^{2} masses whose interactions have final state electrons using the DarkSide-50 experiment's (12 306±184)  kg d low-radioactivity liquid argon exposure. By analyzing the ionization signals, we exclude new parameter space for the dark matter-electron cross section σ[over ¯]_{e}, the axioelectric coupling constant g_{Ae}, and the dark photon kinetic mixing parameter κ. We also set the first dark matter direct-detection constraints on the mixing angle |U_{e4}|^{2} for keV/c^{2} sterile neutrinos.

Association of pectoralis muscle area on computed tomography with airflow limitation severity and respiratory outcomes in COPD: A population-based prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have shown that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) of severe or very severe airflow limitation have a reduced pectoralis muscle area (PMA), which is associated with mortality. However, whether patients with COPD of mild or moderate airflow limitation also have a reduced PMA remains unclear. Additionally, limited evidence is available regarding the associations between PMA and respiratory symptoms, lung function, computed tomography (CT) imaging, lung function decline, and exacerbations. Therefore, we conducted this study to evaluate the presence of PMA reduction in COPD and to clarify its associations with the referred variables.

METHODS

This study was based on the subjects enrolled from July 2019 to December 2020 in the Early Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (ECOPD) study. Data including questionnaire, lung function, and CT imaging were collected. The PMA was quantified on full-inspiratory CT at the aortic arch level using predefined -50 and 90 Hounsfield unit attenuation ranges. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between the PMA and airflow limitation severity, respiratory symptoms, lung function, emphysema, air trapping, and the annual decline in lung function. Cox proportional hazards analysis and Poisson regression analysis were used to evaluate the PMA and exacerbations after adjustment.

RESULTS

We included 1352 subjects at baseline (667 with normal spirometry, 685 with spirometry-defined COPD). The PMA was monotonically lower with progressive airflow limitation severity of COPD after adjusting for confounders (vs. normal spirometry; Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease [GOLD] 1: β=-1.27, P=0.028; GOLD 2: β=-2.29, P<0.001; GOLD 3: β=-4.88, P<0.001; GOLD 4: β=-6.47, P=0.014). The PMA was negatively associated with the modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (β=-0.005, P=0.026), COPD Assessment Test score (β=-0.06, P=0.001), emphysema (β=-0.07, P<0.001), and air trapping (β=-0.24, P<0.001) after adjustment. The PMA was positively associated with lung function (all P<0.05). Similar associations were discovered for the pectoralis major muscle area and pectoralis minor muscle area. After the 1-year follow-up, the PMA was associated with the annual decline in the post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s percent of predicted value (β=0.022, P=0.002) but not with the annual rate of exacerbations or the time to first exacerbation.

CONCLUSION

Patients with mild or moderate airflow limitation exhibit a reduced PMA. The PMA is associated with airflow limitation severity, respiratory symptoms, lung function, emphysema, and air trapping, suggesting that PMA measurement can assist with COPD assessment.

A227 CTLA-4 DEFICIENCY PRESENTING AS CROHN DISEASE IN A TEENAGE BOY WITH MULTI-SYSTEM INVOLVEMENT : A CASE REPORT

Background

Cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte-antigen-4 is a negative immune regulator. CTLA-4 deficiency can cause a complex immune dysregulation syndrome that may present as inflammatory bowel disease.

Purpose

Case Description:

A 14-year-old male presented with several years of abdominal pain, diarrhea, short stature and poor weight gain. Endocolonoscopy diagnosed Crohn disease, with patchy chronic colitis, an ileal granuloma and active duodenitis with intraepithelial lymphocytosis and villous blunting. MRE showed multiple abnormal small bowel loops. Past history included appendicitis, immune thrombocytopenic purpura and an episode each of Aeromonas, Y enterocolitica and C difficile colitis. Family history was negative for consanguinity, autoimmune conditions or immune defects.

The patient received sulfasalazine, exclusive enteral nutrition and then budesonide MMX with limited response. His pre-biologic workup identified bilateral pulmonary nodules, which were negative for infection or malignancy on further investigation. He began Adalimumab, and after 2 months had nearly normalized his fecal calprotectin to 90 ug/g. His history, together with chronic neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG 3.3 g/L, IgA 0.29g/L) led to a comprehensive immune and cytopenia panel, which revealed heterozygous pathogenic variants in the CTLA4 gene c.424G>C, p.(Gly142Arg), associated with CTLA-4 deficiency related immunodeficiency. Parental testing was negative, indicating a de novo mutation.

The patient was subsequently admitted to hospital with severe headache and transient aphasia. Brain MRI found hyperintense foci concerning for CTLA-4 deficiency-associated CNS inflammation. He had papilledema and lumbar puncture found increased ICP. During this admission he developed Salmonella sepsis. Repeat chest CT found extensive worsening multifocal parenchymal lesions. Extensive investigations to exclude malignancy or infection were negative, and the lung findings were felt to be Granulomatous and Lymphocytic Interstitial Lung Disease. He had elevated soluble IL-2 receptor level (2884 U/ml) and elevated CD4+PD1+ T cells in peripheral blood. Adalimumab was stopped, and he received IVIg, then Diamox with resolution of headache, followed by pulse methylprednisolone. He has since been maintained on Abatacept (a soluble CTLA-4 analog that inhibits T-cell activation). Follow up soluble IL2 receptor level was normal. PJP prophylaxis was started, as well as prophylactic dosing of IVIg and regular screening for EBV and CMV.

Method

-

Result(s)

-

Conclusion(s)

Discussion:

Our patient had CTLA-4 deficiency and immune dysregulation affecting multiple organs (CNS, lung, and intestinal inflammation, autoimmune neutropenia and previous ITP). Abatacept is the preferred steroid-sparing treatment of enteropathy in CTLA-4 deficiency. Soluble IL2 receptor level is an indicator of T cell activation used for treatment monitoring. This case illustrates the importance of considering immune defects even in older children presenting with apparent IBD.

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Disclosure of Interest

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INTESTINAL DISORDERS

[Genomic epidemiology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from acute diarrheal patients in Shenzhen City from 2013 to 2021]

Objective: To characterize the prevalence and genomic epidemiology of Vibrio parahaemolyticus from acute diarrheal patients in Shenzhen City from 2013 to 2021. Methods: Based on the Shenzhen Infectious Diarrhea Surveillance System, acute diarrheal patients were actively monitored in sentinel hospitals from 2013 to 2021. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates was performed, and the genomic population structure, serotypes, virulence genes and multilocus sequence typing were analyzed. Outbreak clusters from 2019 to 2021 were explored based on single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis. Results: A total of 48 623 acute diarrhea cases were monitored in 15 sentinel hospitals from 2013 to 2021, and 1 135 Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains were isolated, with a positive isolation rate of 2.3%. Qualified whole-genome sequencing data of 852 isolates were obtained. Eighty-nine serotypes, 21 known ST types and 5 new ST types were identified by sequence analysis, and 93.2% of strains were detected with toxin profile of tdh+trh-. 8 clonal groups (CGs) were captured, with CG3 as the absolute predominance, followed by CG189. The CG3 group was dominated by O3:K6 serotype and ST3 sequence type, while CG189 group was mainly O4:KUT, O4:K8 serotypes and ST189a and ST189 type. A total of 13 clusters were identified, containing 154 cases. About 30 outbreak clusters with 29 outbreak clusters caused by CG3 strains from 2019 to 2021. Conclusion: Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a major pathogen of acute infectious diarrhea in Shenzhen City, with diverse population structures. CG3 and CG189 have been prevalent and predominant in Shenzhen City for a long time. Scattered outbreaks and persistent sources of contamination ignored by traditional methods could be captured by WGS analysis. Tracing the source of epidemic clone groups and taking precise prevention and control measures are expected to significantly reduce the burden of diarrhea diseases caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection in Shenzhen City.

A sex- and site-specific relationship between body mass index and osteoarthritis: evidence from observational and genetic analyses

OBJECTIVE

We primarily aimed to investigate whether there are phenotypic and genetic links underlying body mass index (BMI) and overall osteoarthritis (OA). We then intended to explore whether the relationships differ across sexes and sites.

METHOD

We first evaluated the phenotypic association between BMI and overall OA using data from the UK Biobank. We then investigated the genetic relationship leveraging summary statistics of the hitherto largest genome-wide association studies performed for BMI and overall OA. Finally, we repeated all analyses in a sex- (female, male) and site- (knee, hip, spine) specific manner.

RESULTS

Observational analysis suggested an increased hazard of diagnosed OA per 5 kg/m² increment in BMI (hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.37-1.39). A positive overall genetic correlation was observed for BMI and OA (r_g = 0.43, P = 4.72 × 10^-133), corroborated by 11 significant local signals. Cross-trait meta-analysis identified 34 pleiotropic loci shared between BMI and OA, of which seven were novel. Transcriptome-wide association study revealed 29 shared gene-tissue pairs, targeting nervous, digestive, and exo/endocrine systems. Mendelian randomization demonstrated a robust BMI-OA causal relationship (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.42-1.52). A similar pattern of effects was observed in sex- and site-specific analyses, with BMI affecting OA comparably in both sexes and most strongly in the knee.

CONCLUSION

Our work demonstrates an intrinsic relationship underlying BMI and overall OA, reflected by a pronounced phenotypic association, significant biological pleiotropy, and a putative causal link. Stratified analysis further reveals that the effects are distinct across sites and comparable across sexes.

Modular characteristics and mechanism of action of herbs for vascular calcification treatment in Chinese medicine: a data mining and network pharmacology-based identification

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to investigate the modular characteristics and mechanism of action of Chinese herbs for vascular calcification (VC) treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Network pharmacology coupled with literature data mining was utilized to assess the Chinese herbal clinical performance as well as its similarity, characteristics, ingredient, target, and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, and network construction.

RESULTS

The top 15 medications from the literature, according to the usage, and 190 active chemicals, 183 common targets between medication and VC-related targets were weeded out. Analysis of the relationships between the active ingredients, pharmacological targets, and signaling pathways helped to clearly define the therapeutic effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Importantly, we discovered seven most hub proteins (AKT1, CTNNB1, TNF, EGFR, TP53, JUN and IL-6) and two of the herbs' most fundamental ingredients (Formononetin and Luteolin) in TCM-mediated VC suppression. Mechanistically, the metabolic pathways [AGE-RAGE pathway, interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway, and p53 pathway] as well as smooth muscle adaptation (functional remodeling) and oxidoreductase activity (redox homeostasis modulating) are also crucially implicated.

CONCLUSIONS

Our work, accomplished by network pharmacology and data mining, increases our understanding of TCM in VC therapy and may offer insightful information for future drug discovery investigations.

Beam Energy Dependence of Fifth- and Sixth-Order Net-Proton Number Fluctuations in Au+Au Collisions at RHIC

We report the beam energy and collision centrality dependence of fifth and sixth order cumulants (C_{5}, C_{6}) and factorial cumulants (κ_{5}, κ_{6}) of net-proton and proton number distributions, from center-of-mass energy (sqrt[s_{NN}]) 3 GeV to 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. Cumulant ratios of net-proton (taken as proxy for net-baryon) distributions generally follow the hierarchy expected from QCD thermodynamics, except for the case of collisions at 3 GeV. The measured values of C_{6}/C_{2} for 0%-40% centrality collisions show progressively negative trend with decreasing energy, while it is positive for the lowest energy studied. These observed negative signs are consistent with QCD calculations (for baryon chemical potential, μ_{B}≤110  MeV) which contains the crossover transition range. In addition, for energies above 7.7 GeV, the measured proton κ_{n}, within uncertainties, does not support the two-component (Poisson+binomial) shape of proton number distributions that would be expected from a first-order phase transition. Taken in combination, the hyperorder proton number fluctuations suggest that the structure of QCD matter at high baryon density, μ_{B}∼750  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=3  GeV is starkly different from those at vanishing μ_{B}∼24  MeV at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and higher collision energies.

[Changes in percentage of GATA3+ regulatory T cells and their pathogenic roles in allergic rhinitis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the changes in percentage of GATA3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and mouse models.

METHODS

The nasal mucosa specimens were obtained from 6 AR patients and 6 control patients for detection of nasal mucosal inflammation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were collected from 12 AP patients and 12 control patients to determine the percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells. In a C57BL/6 mouse model of AR, the AR symptom score, peripheral blood OVA-sIgE level, and nasal mucosal inflammation were assessed, and the spleen of mice was collected for detecting the percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells and the expressions of Th2 cytokines.

RESULTS

Compared with the control patients, AR patients showed significantly increased eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell proliferation in the nasal mucosa (P < 0.01) and decreased percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells (P < 0.05). The mouse models of AR also had more obvious allergic symptoms, significantly increased OVA-sIgE level in peripheral blood, eosinophil infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia (P < 0.01), markedly lowered percentages of Treg cells and GATA3⁺ Treg cells in the spleen (P < 0.01), and increased expressions of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The percentage of GATA3⁺ Treg cells is decreased in AR patients and mouse models. GATA3⁺ Treg cells possibly participate in Th2 cell immune response, both of which are involved in the occurrence and progression of AR, suggesting the potential of GATA3⁺ Treg cells as a new therapeutic target for AR.

[Intermittent heat exposure induces thoracic aorta injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats by activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of different manners of heat exposure on thoracic aorta injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and explore the underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Normal 6 to 7-week-old male SHRs were randomized into control group (cage at room temperature), intermittent heat exposure group (SHR-8 group, exposed to 32 ℃ for 8 h daily for 7 days) and SHR-24 group (with continuous exposure to 32 ℃ for 7 days). After the treatments, the pathologies of the thoracic aorta of the rats were observed with HE staining, and the expressions of Beclin1, LC3B and p62 were detected with Western blotting and immunofluorescence assay; TUNEL staining was used to observe cell apoptosis in the thoracic aorta, and the expressions of caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blotting. The effects of intraperitoneal injections of 3-MA (an autophagy agonist), rapamycin (an autophagy inhibitor) or compound C 30 min before intermittent heat exposure on the expressions of proteins associated with autophagy, apoptosis and the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway in the aorta were examined with immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In SHR-8 group, the rats showed incomplete aortic intima with disordered cell distribution and significantly increased expressions of Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I and Bax, lowered expressions of p62 and Bcl-2, and increased apoptotic cells in the thoracic aorta (P < 0.05). Pretreatment with 3-MA obviously inhibited the expressions of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins, whereas rapamycin promoted their expressions. Compared with the control group, the rats in SHR-8 group had significantly down-regulated p-mTOR and up-regulated p-AMPK and p-ULK1 expression of in the aorta; Treatment with compound C obviously lowered the expressions of p-AMPK and p-ULK1 and those of LC3B and Beclin1 as well.

CONCLUSION

In SHRs, intermittent heat exposure causes significant pathologies and promotes autophagy and apoptosis in the thoracic aorta possibly by activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway.

[The influencing factors of renal response in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients with renal impairment]

Objective: To investigate the causative factors of renal function in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) patients with renal inadequacy. Methods: 181 MM patients with renal impairment from August 2007 to October 2021 at Peking Union Medical College Hospital were recruited, whose baseline chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage was 3-5. Statistical analysis was performed based on laboratory tests, treatment regimens, hematological responses, and survival among various renal function efficacy groups. A logistic regression model was employed in multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 181 patients were recruited, and 277 patients with CKD stages 1-2 were chosen as controls. The majority choose the BCD and VRD regimens. The progression-free survival (PFS) (14.0 months vs 24.8 months, P<0.001) and overall survival (OS) (49.2 months vs 79.7 months, P<0.001) of patients with renal impairment was considerably shorter. Hypercalcemia (P=0.013, OR=5.654) , 1q21 amplification (P=0.018, OR=2.876) , and hematological response over a partial response (P=0.001, OR=4.999) were independent predictive factors for renal function response. After treatment, those with improvement in renal function had a longer PFS than those without (15.6 months vs 10.2 months, P=0.074) , but there was no disparity in OS (56.5 months vs 47.3 months, P=0.665) . Conclusion: Hypercalcemia, 1q21 amplification, and hematologic response were independent predictors of the response of renal function in NDMM patients with renal impairment. MM patients with CKD 3-5 at baseline still have worse survival. Improvement in renal function after treatment is attributed to the improvement in PFS.

CARD9 deficiency improves the recovery of limb ischemia in mice with ambient fine particulate matter exposure

Background

Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) is a significant risk for cardiovascular diseases largely due to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and inflammation. Caspase recruitment domain (CARD)9 is critically involved in innate immunity and inflammation. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that CARD9 signaling is critically involved in PM exposure-induced oxidative stress and impaired recovery of limb ischemia.

Methods and results

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) was created in male wildtype C57BL/6 and age matched CARD9 deficient mice with or without PM (average diameter 2.8 μm) exposure. Mice received intranasal PM exposure for 1 month prior to creation of CLI and continued for the duration of the experiment. Blood flow and mechanical function were evaluated in vivo at baseline and days 3, 7, 14, and 21 post CLI. PM exposure significantly increased ROS production, macrophage infiltration, and CARD9 protein expression in ischemic limbs of C57BL/6 mice in association with decreased recovery of blood flow and mechanical function. CARD9 deficiency effectively prevented PM exposure-induced ROS production and macrophage infiltration and preserved the recovery of ischemic limb with increased capillary density. CARD9 deficiency also significantly attenuated PM exposure-induced increase of circulating CD11b⁺/F4/80⁺ macrophages.

Conclusion

The data indicate that CARD9 signaling plays an important role in PM exposure-induced ROS production and impaired limb recovery following ischemia in mice.

Overexpression of miR-181a regulates the Warburg effect in triple-negative breast cancer

OBJECTIVE

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly aggressive and leads to a poor prognosis. microRNA-181a (miR-181a) exhibits strong antineoplastic effects in many types of cancer. In this study, we examine the responses of human miR-181a-transfected TNBC cells and explore the mechanisms underlying the observed effects.

METHODS

A series of cellular assays were conducted using cells from the MDA-MB-231 TNBC line to assess the impact of miR-181a overexpression. The extracellular acidification rate, lactate production and glucose uptake were evaluated as a measure of aerobic glycolysis (i.e. the Warburg effect). The expressions of glycolysis-related gene were analyzed.

RESULTS

Viability, migration and survival of miR-181a-transfected MDA-MB-231 cells were all significantly reduced. miR-181a inhibited glycolysis in TNBC cells by reducing the rates of glucose uptake and lactate production and a substantial downregulation of factors known to contribute to the Warburg effect, including the serine/threonine kinase, AKT3, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and progesterone receptor membrane component 1 (PGRMC1).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that miR-181a may regulate glycolysis in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells, potentially via interference with components of the AKT3-HIF-1α and PGRMC1 pathways. These results suggest that miR-181a might be developed as a therapeutic agent for use in antineoplastic regimens directed at TNBC and PGRMC1-overexpressing breast cancers.

Influence mechanisms and spatial spillover effects of industrial agglomeration on carbon productivity in China's Yellow River Basin

The ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin have become major national strategies in China. Therefore, reducing carbon emissions in the Yellow River Basin through efficient industrial agglomeration is necessary for achieving the goals of carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. The Yellow River Basin is an important base for energy, chemicals, raw materials, and industry in China, making it important to study the effects of different industrial agglomeration types on carbon productivity from the perspective of agglomeration externalities. Therefore, taking 2009-2019 panel data for prefecture-level cities in the Yellow River Basin, this study uses a spatial Durbin model to investigate the spatial spillover effects of industrial agglomeration (i.e., specialized, diversified, and competitive agglomeration) on carbon productivity. Furthermore, the moderating effects of urbanization level and environmental regulation are analyzed. The results reveal, first, the existence of spatial correlation in carbon productivity across different cities in the Yellow River Basin. Second, diversified and competitive agglomeration significantly increase carbon productivity, although competitive agglomeration has beggar-thy-neighbor spillover effects. Meanwhile, the effect of specialized agglomeration is not significant. Third, the effects of different types of industrial agglomeration differ significantly between cities in different locations and with different resource endowments. Fourth, urbanization level and environmental regulation have different moderating effects in the relationship between different types of industrial agglomeration and carbon productivity. These findings provide evidence for further developing rational industrial agglomeration patterns to enhance carbon productivity in the Yellow River Basin.

A critical review of silicon nanowire electrodes and their energy storage capacities in Li-ion cells

The electrochemical performances of silicon nanowire (SiNW) electrodes with various nanowire forms, intended as potential negative electrodes for Li-ion batteries, are critically reviewed. The lithium storage capacities, cycling performance, and how the volume expansion is possibly accommodated in these structures are discussed. The SiNW morphology can have a greater impact on the energy storage capacity and cycling performance if the parameters affecting the performance are clearly identified, which is the objective of this review. It is shown that the specific capacity measure is not adequate to truly assess the potential of an electrode and the necessity of the areal capacity measure is highlighted. It is shown that both measures are essential for the assessment of the true potential of a SiNW electrode relative to competing electrodes. Si mass loading in SiNWs has been found to be important for areal and specific capacities. An increase of mass loading of SiNWs is shown to increase the areal capacity significantly, but the specific capacity is found to decrease in thicker Si electrodes. Further, modifications of SiNW electrodes, with coating and doping, have shown significant increases in the performance of these electrodes in Li-ion batteries. The SiNW electrodes, to date, are far below the areal capacity of 3 mA h cm^-2, which may be the minimum threshold capacity for a promising SiNW electrode with respect to Li-ion batteries.

Colletotrichum fructicola Causal agent of Shot-Hole Symptoms on Leaves of Prunus sibirica in China

Prunus sibirica L. (Siberian apricot) is a member of the Rosaceae family and an ecologically important tree species in China (Buer et al., 2022). Shot hole symptoms on the leaves were observed in five Siberian apricot groves in Chengdu (103.81 E, 30.97 N), Sichuan province in July 2020. The symptoms first appeared as small purplish-brown spots with yellow rings around them. As the disease progressed, the damaged area (diameter 1.5-3.0 cm) became necrotic and fell off. The disease incidence was about 60% and the disease index was 28.6 of leaves in the grove. in most severe cases. Fifteen symptomatic leaves were collected from 5 different trees in an orchard. Pathogen isolation was performed from symptomatic leaf tissue (5 × 5 mm) though surface disinfection (in 70% ethanol and 2% NaClO) and incubation on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) at 28℃ for 3 days. Overall 10 isolates with similar colony morphology were obtained from the 15 infected tissue pieces, and three representative isolates (XCK 2-4) were selected for further study. Colonies of the isolates on PDA were initially cottony, pale white to grayish-green with abundant aerial hyphae and produced conidial masses after 7 days. Conidiogenous cells were clavate and aggregated in acervuli. Conidia were smooth-walled, single-celled, straight, and slightly obtusely rounded at both ends, 12.8 to 18.7 × 4.3 to 5.7 μm in size (Fig. 1). The morphological characteristics of the three isolates were consistent with the description of species in the Colletotrichum gloeosporioides complex. DNA was amplified using the following primers pairs for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA and partial sequences of beta-tubulin (TUB2), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), chitin synthase (CHS-1), and translation elongation factor (TEF-1), respectively: ITS1/ITS4, T1/Bt2b, GDF/GDR, CHS-F/CHS-R, and EF-F/EF-R (Vieira et al., 2014). Accession numbers (MW228049, MW284974, MW284976, MW284975 and MW284977, respectively) were obtained afterepositing all the resulting sequences in GenBank. Nucleotide blast showed 99 to 100% identities with Colletotrichum fructicola (GenBank accessions nos. MZ961683, MW284974, MN525881, MN525860, MF627961). Phylogenetic analysis of combined ITS-TUB-GAPDH genes using the Mrbayes inference method showed that the three isolates clustered with three reference isolates of C. fructicola as a distinct clade (Fig. 2). To verify Koch's postulates, ten 3-year-old healthy potted plants of P. sibirica were inoculated by spraying a conidial suspension (6 × 105 conidia/mL) of isolate XCK2 on both sides of leaves, and the control leaves were sprayed with sterile water. Then, all treatments were placed in a moist environment (25±2°C, 80% relative humidity, natural light). The inoculated plants showed typical symptoms of plants with natural infections, while the controls remained asymptomatic after 14 days. The pathogen C. fructicola was re-isolated from all inoculated plants, and the culture and fungus characteristics were the same as those of the original isolate. Colletotrichum fructicola was not isolated from the control plants. The results indicated that C. fructicola is the causal agent of the disease. Colletotrichum fructicola was reported as a leaf pathogen on Camellia chrysantha in China (Zhao et al., 2021). This is the first report of C. fructicola causing P. sibirica leaf shot-hole in the world. The identification of C. fructicola could provide relevant information for applying management strategies and research on the Siberian apricot disease.

Effects of Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate Supplementation on Older Adults with Sarcopenia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

OBJECTIVES

Sarcopenia is recognized as a major public health concern because of its association with several adverse health events. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation reportedly delays the loss of muscle mass and function; however, the effect of HMB on sarcopenia remains inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate the impact of HMB intervention on muscle strength, physical performance, body compositions, and inflammatory factors in older adults with sarcopenia.

DESIGN

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This study included subjects aged ≥60 years with sarcopenia which were assigned to the HMB group (HMBG, n=18) and the placebo group (PG, n=16).

INTERVENTION

The HMBG and PG were supplied with HMB and placebo products twice daily for 12 weeks, and both received resistance exercise training twice a week in 12 weeks.

MEASUREMENTS

Hand grip strength was selected as the primary outcome; gait speed, five-time chair stand test, body composition and inflammatory indicators were selected as the secondary outcomes. The differences in changes from baseline between the two groups were analyzed using the analysis of covariance(ANCOVA).

RESULTS

After the 12-week intervention, the HMBG demonstrated significantly greater improvements in handgrip strength (4.61(95%CI:2.93,6.28) kg, P<0.001), gait speed (0.11(95%CI:0.02,0.20)m/s, P=0.014), five-time chair stand test (-3.65 (95%CI:-5.72, -1.58)s, P=0.001), muscle quality (2.47(95%CI:1.15,3.80),kg.kg-1 P=0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (-15.23(95%CI:-29.80,-0.66)pmol/mL, P=0.041) compared with the PG; no significant differences in skeletal muscle mass, skeletal muscle index, and other body composition parameters were found between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In older adults with sarcopenia, HMB significantly enhance the effect of resistance exercise training on muscle strength, physical performance, muscle quality, and reduced inflammatory factors. Therefore, HMB supplementation could be an effective treatment for sarcorpenia. The trial protocol was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=47571 as ChiCTR2000028778.

Association between Sarcopenia and Cognitive Trajectories among Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: A Nationally Representative Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

The relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive function has been extensively studied, but is usually explored at a single time point. We used repeatedly measured cognitive data to examine the relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive trajectories over time among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

DESIGN

A nationally representative cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Data were from three waves (2011, 2013 and 2015) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). A total of 8963 participants with complete baseline data (wave 1) and at least two cognitive function tests (waves 1-3) were enrolled in this study.

MEASUREMENTS

Sarcopenia was diagnosed at baseline (wave 1). The wave 1-3 data were used to analyze cognitive trajectories over time by constructing a latent class trajectory model (LCTM). Logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between sarcopenia and cognitive trajectories.

RESULTS

Among 8693 participants, we identified two trajectories of cognitive function development, including a persistent low trajectory (n= 4856, 55.86%) and a persistent high trajectory (n= 3837, 44.14%). Sarcopenia was associated with persistently low cognitive trajectory of global cognitive (OR: 1.248, 95%CI: 1.046-1.490) after adjustment for other covariates. This association was still observed when stratified by age, gender, educational level, marital status, social activity, smoking status and drinking status. Mediation analysis showed that body mass index (BMI) mediated efficacy accounting for 42.32% of the relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed two trajectory groups of global cognitive function. Sarcopenia was associated with a persistent low trajectory over time and BMI mediated the relationship between sarcopenia and cognitive trajectories among middle-aged and older Chinese adults.

Collision-System and Beam-Energy Dependence of Anisotropic Flow Fluctuations

Elliptic flow measurements from two-, four-, and six-particle correlations are used to investigate flow fluctuations in collisions of U+U at sqrt[s_{NN}]=193  GeV, Cu+Au at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV and Au+Au spanning the range sqrt[s_{NN}]=11.5-200  GeV. The measurements show a strong dependence of the flow fluctuations on collision centrality, a modest dependence on system size, and very little if any, dependence on particle species and beam energy. The results, when compared to similar LHC measurements, viscous hydrodynamic calculations, and trento model eccentricities, indicate that initial-state-driven fluctuations predominate the flow fluctuations generated in the collisions studied.

Critical body fat percentage required for puberty onset: the Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study

PURPOSE

Prepubescent body fat percentage (BFP) is associated with puberty onset; however, the association between the timing of puberty onset and BFP remains unclear. This study aimed to determine whether and how the timing of puberty onset is associated with various anthropometric measures, and to investigate the critical time period of the BFP transition before and after puberty.

METHODS

The Taiwan Pubertal Longitudinal Study (TPLS) has a multicenter, population-based prospective cohort and was established in July 2018 at 4 pediatric departments. We included girls aged 6-14 years and boys aged 9-17 years evaluated as having puberty onset and excluded those with precocious puberty diagnosis. The anthropometric measures were collected every 3 months. The main outcome was age at puberty onset. Data were analyzed between July 2018 and September 2020.

RESULTS

For 153 girls and 83 boys, BFP was significantly related to puberty onset for girls. Longitudinal analysis revealed that BFP in the girls was reduced to less than 18% 6 months before puberty and rapidly increased by 2.85% over 3 months, then exceeding 20% before puberty onset. After puberty onset, BFP was no longer lower than 22%.

CONCLUSIONS

BFP is an essential predictor of age at puberty onset. BFP first decreases and then begins to increase 3-6 months before puberty in girls. Parents and schools could monitor the BFP of prepubescent girls every 6 months to predict puberty onset.

Effect of metal/dielectric substrates on photopolymerization of BITh thin films

We have studied effects of metal–dielectric substrates on photopolymerization of [2,2ʹ-Bi-1H-indene]-1,1ʹ-dione-3,3ʹ-diyl diheptanoate (BITh) monomer. We synthetized BITh and spin-coated it onto a variety of dielectric, metallic, and metal–dielectric substrates. The films were exposed to radiation of a UV–Visible Xe lamp, causing photo-polymerization of monomer molecules. The magnitude and the rate of the photo-polymerization were monitored by measuring the strength of the ~ 480 nm absorption band, which existed in the monomer but not in the polymer. Expectedly, the rate of photo-polymerization changed nearly linearly with the change of the pumping intensity. In contrast with our early study of photo-degradation of semiconducting polymer P3HT, the rate of photo-polymerization of BITh is getting modestly higher if the monomer film is deposited on top of silver separated from the monomer by a thin insulating MgF₂ layer preventing a charge transfer. This effect is partly due to a constructive interference of the incident and reflected light waves, as well as known in the literature effects of metal/dielectric substrates on a variety of spectroscopic and energy transfer parameters. At the same time, the rate of photopolymerization is getting threefold larger if monomer is deposited on Ag film directly and charge transfer is allowed. Finally, Au substrates cause modest (~ 50%) enhancement of both monomer film absorption and the rate of photo-polymerization.

Prediction using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging-based radiomics of residual uterine myoma regrowth after high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation

OBJECTIVES

To develop and evaluate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based radiomics models for predicting residual myoma regrowth within 1 year after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation of uterine myomas.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of residual myoma regrowth within 1 year was performed on 428 myomas in 339 patients who were diagnosed with uterine myoma and treated with HIFU ablation in two hospital centers. In total, 851 radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted images (T2WI) obtained 1 day after HIFU ablation, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator in the training cohort (n = 243) was employed to select radiomics features. Support vector machines were adopted to develop radiomics, clinicoradiological and combined radiomics-clinical models to predict residual myoma regrowth, defined as an increase in residual myoma volume of > 10% between that at day 1 post HIFU and that at follow-up MRI within 1 year. These models were validated in both internal (n = 81) and external (n = 104) test cohorts. The predictive performance and clinical application of these models were assessed using receiver-operating-characteristics-curve analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) and decision-curve analysis.

RESULTS

The AUCs of the T2WI-based radiomics prediction model in the internal and external test cohorts were 0.834 (95% CI, 0.747-0.920) and 0.801 (95% CI, 0.712-0.889), respectively, and those of the clinicoradiological model were 0.888 (95% CI, 0.816-0.960) and 0.912 (95% CI, 0.851-0.973), respectively. The combined model had better predictive performance than either the radiomics or the clinicoradiological model, with AUC values of 0.922 (95% CI, 0.857-0.987) and 0.930 (95% CI, 0.880-0.980) in the internal and external test cohorts, respectively. Decision-curve analysis also indicated that application of the combined model has clinical value, this model achieving more net benefits than the other two models.

CONCLUSION

T2WI-based radiomics features can predict effectively the occurrence of residual myoma regrowth within 1 year after HIFU ablation of uterine myomas, which serves as an accurate and convenient reference for clinical decision-making. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Proteome Analysis of Temporomandibular Joint with Disc Displacement

Disc displacement without reduction is a common disorder of the temporomandibular joint, causing clinical symptoms and sometimes condylar degeneration. In some cases, bone regeneration is detected following disc-repositioning procedures. Until now, however, systems-wide knowledge of the protein levels for condylar outcome with disc position is still lacking. Here, we performed comprehensive expression profiling of synovial fluid from 109 patients with disc displacement without reduction using high-resolution data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry and characterized differences in 1,714 proteins. Based on magnetic resonance imaging, samples were divided into groups with versus without condylar absorption and subgroups with versus without new bone. For the proteomic analysis, 32 proteins in groups presented with statistical significance (>2-fold, P < 0.05). Pathways such as response to inorganic substances, blood coagulation, and estrogen signaling were significantly expressed in the group with bone absorption as compared with pathways such as regulation of body fluid levels, vesicle-mediated transport, and focal adhesion, which were enriched in the group without bone absorption. In subgroup analysis, 45 proteins of significant importance (>2-fold, P < 0.05) were associated with pathways including would healing, glycolysis and gluconeogenesis, and amino acid metabolism. Combined with clinical examination, molecules such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta (ACACB) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) were related to features such as visual analog scale and maximum interincisal opening (P < 0.05). In addition, 7 proteins were examined by Western blotting, including progesterone immunomodulatory binding factor 1 (PIBF1), histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), and protein kinase C and casein kinase substrate in neurons 2 (PACSIN2). In conclusion, this study provides the first proteome analysis of condylar absorption at disc displacement without reduction and postoperative new bone formation after disc reposition. Integrated with clinical data, this analysis provides an important insight into the proteomics of condylar modification at disc position.

Longitudinal Predictive Control for Vehicle-Following Collision Avoidance in Autonomous Driving Considering Distance and Acceleration Compensation

In response to the widespread adoption of vehicle-following systems in autonomous applications, the demand for collision warning to enable safer functionalities is increasing. This study provides an approach for automated vehicle guidance to follow the preceding vehicles longitudinally and puts emphasis on the performance of collision avoidance. The safety distance model is established, which contains a distance compensation algorithm to deal with the special case on curved roads. By introducing the algorithm of velocity and distance prediction, the collision risks are detected and measured in real time. The objective function is established based on optimal control theory to solve the desired following acceleration. The control system designed with the method of proportion integration differentiation combines throttle percentage and brake pressure as outputs to compensate acceleration. In the Carsim and Simulink co-simulation platform, the control system for longitudinal collision avoidance is simulated and analysed for four typical working conditions: the preceding vehicle drives at a constant speed on straight and curved roads, while the preceding vehicle drives at various speeds on straight and curved roads. The results validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, which can be used for the longitudinal control of vehicle-following active collision avoidance.

Identification of the interacting proteins of Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis in response to the transcription factor ApCtf1β in Arthrinium phaeospermum

Arthrinium phaeospermum is the main pathogen that causes Bambusa pervariabilis × Dendrocalamopsis grandis blight. It secretes the cutinase transcription factor ApCtf1β, which has been shown to play an important role in B. pervariabilis × D. grandis virulence. However, knowledge about the interaction target genes of ApCtf1β in B. pervariabilis × D. grandis remains limited. A cDNA library for the yeast two-hybrid system was constructed from B. pervariabilis × D. grandis shoots after 168 h treatment with A. phaeospermum. The library was identified as 1.20 × 10⁷ cfu, with an average insert >1,000 bp in size and a 100% positive rate, providing a database for the subsequent molecular study of the interaction between A. phaeospermum and B. pervariabilis × D. grandis. The yeast two-hybrid (Y2H), bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays were used to screen for and identify two ApCtf1β interacting target proteins, BDUbc and BDSKL1, providing a reliable theoretical basis to study the molecular mechanism underlying B. pervariabilis × D. grandis resistance in response to A. phaeospermum, which would, in turn, establish a platform to develop new strategies for the sustainable and effective control of the blight diseases of forest trees.

Leaf spot on Alocasia macrorrhizos caused by Fusarium asiaticum in Sichuan, China

Alocasia macrorrhizos (Giant elephant's ear), a perennial herb in the Araceae family, is native to South Asia and the Asia-Pacific (Takano, et al. 2012). It is cultivated as a medicinal and ornamental plant, and has a considerable economic importance in China. In September 2020, a severe infection of unknown leaf spot disease was observed on these plants at the Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan, China. The leaf spots first appeared as yellow dots. As these lesions expanded, they became circular to oval and light brown with darker brown edges. Around the lesions, the leaf tissue was chlorotic, thereby creating a yellow halo. When the infection became severe, spots merged into larger irregular lesions. Eventually, the diseased leaves senesced and dried. To identify the pathogen, five leaf samples of diseased plants were collected, and symptomatic tissues were surface-disinfected with 75% ethanol for 30 s followed by 3% NaCl solution for 30 s. Samples were rinsed three times in sterilized water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 25°C ± 1°C in the dark. The colony grown on PDA was white (3 days), the center was brown (5 days), turned pink to dark red (8 days) with fluffy aerial mycelium and pigmentation with age. Ten pure cultures were inoculated into carnation leaf agar (CLA) medium and incubated at 25°C in an incubator (12 h for one light-dark cycle). In CLA medium, pathogen produced hyaline, sickle-shaped, macroconidia with 3 to 5 septa, and an average size of 30 to 50 × 4 to 5 µm (n = 30) macroconidia but no microconidia in 10 days. Chlamydospores were spherical to subspherical (5.4 to 13.8 µm). Morphological characteristics of the all isolates were consistent with the description of the Fusarium asiaticum (Leslie and Summerell 2006). To validate this identification, RNA polymerase II (RPB2) (Liu et al. 1999), translation elongation factor (EF-1) (Geiser et al. 2004), and β-tubulin (TUB2) gene region of five isolates were amplified and sequenced (O' Donnell et al. 2015; White et al. 1990). The sequence of one representative isolate (ZL10) sequence was submitted to GenBank (ON215729, ON215730, and ON215731). The NCBI BLAST identified the top hits, 100%, 100%, and 99.87% for RPB2, EF, and TUB gene sequences, respectively, all indicating to Fusarium asiaticum. Pairwise matched of RPB2 and EF genes by MycoBank Fusarium MSIL showed the top hit rate of 100% for F. asiaticum (MH582120 and MH582249). For Koch's postulate and pathogenicity test, spore suspensions (1 × 10^7 conidia/ml) collected from PDA and CLA cultures with 0.05% Tween 80 buffer were used to inoculate with a spray bottle on leaves of a one year old A. macrorrhizos plants. Two leaves of each plant (20 pots in total) were inoculated with the spore suspension (approximately 2000 µl per leaf). An equal number of control leaves were applied with water and 0.05% Tween 80 buffer. Twenty days later, the inoculated plants showed similar symptoms to those of the original diseased plants while the controls remained asymptomatic. Fusarium asiaticum was reisolated from the infected leaves and confirmed using morphological characteristics and DNA sequence analysis. The pathogenicity test was repeated three times with similar results. This first report raises awareness of a new leaf spot disease infecting a commercial A. macrorrhizos in China. It provides an insight for a need of systematic survey identifying current spread, disease origin, and ultimately developing disease management strategies. Funding: Funding was provided by Sichuan Agricultural University Subject Dual Support Program (Grant No. 2121993055). Funding was provided by Deyang Science and Technology Bureau (Sichuan Province) for key R&D projects in agriculture and rural areas (Grant No. 2021NZ048). Funding was provided by the Sichuan Provincial Department of science and technology for the Sichuan Provincial Science and technology project for connecting and Promoting Rural Revitalization (Grant No, 2022ZHXC0007) References： Geiser, D. M., et al. 2004. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 110:473. https://doi.org/10.1023/B:EJPP.0000032386.75915.a0 Crossref, ISI, Google Scholar Leslie, J. F., and Summerall, B. A., eds. 2006. Page 176 in The Fusarium Laboratory Manual. Blackwell Publishing, Ames, IA. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470278376 Liu, Y. J., et al. 1999. Mol. Biol. Evol. 16:1799. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.molbev.a026092 O'Donnell, K., and Cigelnik, E. 1997. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 7:103. https://doi.org/10.1006/mpev.1996.0376 Takano K T, et al. 2012, Plant Bio., 14(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1438-8677.2011.00541.x.

Enhanced efficiency of melatonin by stepwise-targeting strategy for acute lung injury

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the progress of acute lung injury (ALI), which is an acute, progressive respiratory failure characterized by alveolar capillary injury caused by various external and internal factors other than cardiogenic factors. Pulmonary vascular endothelial cells are the main target cells during ALI, and therefore the mitochondrial targeting antioxidant derivative triphenylphosphine-melatonin (TPP-MLT) was encapsulated in VCAM-1 antibodies-conjugated nanostructured lipid carriers (VCAM@TPP-MLT NLCs) for lung targeting delivery. VCAM@TPP-MLT NLCs could be preferentially internalized by inflammatory endothelial cells in lung tissues, and then the released TPP-MLT from NLCs effectively eliminated the excessive reactive oxide species (ROS) and ameliorated cell apoptosis. Overall, the results suggested that VCAM@TPP-MLT NLCs exhibited remarkable in vitro and in vivo therapeutic effect on ALI, and could be a promising and efficient strategy for the treatment of ALI.

Long-term exposure to air pollution increases hip fracture incidence rate and related mortality: analysis of National Hip Fracture Database

To explore the association of air pollution and hip fracture and related mortality in the UK. The average levels of PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 exhibited a positive association with hip fracture and short-term mortality while O₃ did not. Our study highlights the association of air pollution and hip fracture.

INTRODUCTION

Until now, the influence of air pollution on bone mineral density and associated fractures has drawn little attention, and the consequences are controversial. To investigate the association between air pollution and hip fracture incidence and related short-term mortality.

METHODS

We constructed a cohort of all the National Hip Fracture Database beneficiaries (513,540 patients) in the UK from 2013 to 2018. Per year averages of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, O₃, NO₂, and SO₂ were estimated according to the person's residence. The incidence rate ratio with 95% confidence interval and all-cause mortality within 30-day post-fracture (ACM30D) rate ratios were estimated using generalized additive models.

RESULTS

The average levels of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂ exhibited a positive association with the incidence rate of hip fracture (IHF) and ACM30D. Whereas, this association was negative for O₃ levels. Each increase of 5 μg per cubic meter in PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂ leads to 9.5%, 9.2%, and 4.1% higher hip fracture rate, respectively, and also 9.3%, 8.3%, and 2.9% higher ACM30D, respectively. When we restricted the analysis to low-level exposure of air pollutants, similar results were obtained.

CONCLUSION

Our study found a moderate, positive association between IHF, ACM30D, and the levels of specific air pollutants in the entire National Hip Fracture Database population. A reduction in the levels of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and NO₂ may decrease the hip fracture incidence rate and associated short-term mortality in older adults. Our study highlights the influence of air pollution on hip fracture.

Percolation transitions in interdependent networks with reinforced dependency links

Dependence can highly increase the vulnerability of interdependent networks under cascading failure. Recent studies have shown that a constant density of reinforced nodes can prevent catastrophic network collapses. However, the effect of reinforcing dependency links in interdependent networks has rarely been addressed. Here, we develop a percolation model for studying interdependent networks by introducing a fraction of reinforced dependency links. We find that there is a minimum fraction of dependency links that need to be reinforced to prevent the network from abrupt transition, and it can serve as the boundary value to distinguish between the first- and second-order phase transitions of the network. We give both analytical and numerical solutions to the minimum fraction of reinforced dependency links for random and scale-free networks. Interestingly, it is found that the upper bound of this fraction is a constant 0.088 01 for two interdependent random networks regardless of the average degree. In particular, we find that the proposed method has higher reinforcement efficiency compared to the node-reinforced method, and its superiority in scale-free networks becomes more obvious as the coupling strength increases. Moreover, the heterogeneity of the network structure profoundly affects the reinforcement efficiency. These findings may provide several useful suggestions for designing more resilient interdependent networks.

Culm blight on Phyllostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' caused by Apiospora locuta-pollinis in China

Phyllostachys aureosulcata McClure 'Spectabilis' C.D. Chu. et C.S. Chao is predominantly native to subtropical to warm temperate areas and is widely cultivated for landscaping in China (Neményi et al. 2015). In November 2020 (10 - 16 ℃), culm blight symptoms were observed on P. aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' in Wangjiang Tower Park (all kinds of plant areas are about 9.8 ha), Chengdu City (104°09'30.42″ E, 30°63'18.89″ N). Fifty plants were surveyed, and disease incidence was recorded as approximately 30%. Initially, chlorotic necrotic patches appeared on the culms, and gradually the patches became white, expanded to both ends, and encircled the whole culm with black edge and conidiomata, which eventually led to wilt and death. Five samples from different bamboos were collected and one of them were used for morphological observation. Five single conidia isolates were carried out on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25±1℃ (Chomnunti et al. 2014). Colonies were initially white and then yellowish in the center with abundant aerial mycelia. On the culm, conidiomata were dry, black, and filamentous. Conidiophores were reduced to conidiogenous cells. Conidiogenous cells were smooth, hyaline, ampulliform to doliiform. Conidia were ellipsoid to globose, dark brown, smooth and aseptate, measuring 5.2 to 9.4 × 4.4 to 7.3 μm, (=8.2 × 6.5μm, n=50). On the PDA medium, conidia were globose to subglobose, olive green to pale brown, and smooth, larger than those from the host in size, measuring 9.0 to 18 × 7.5 to 9.5 μm ( =36.6 × 18.8 μm, n=50). These asexual structures were extremely similar to Apiospora locuta-pollinis (F. Liu & L. Cai) X.G. Tian & Tibpromma (Zhao et al. 2018). DNA was extracted from the representative strain (SICAUCC 22-0036), and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), beta-tubulin (tub2), 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU) were amplified and sequenced with primers ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F (Carbone & Kohn 1999)/EF2 (O'Donnell et al. 1998), T1 (O'Donnell & Cigelnik 1997)/Bt2b (Glass & Donaldson 1995) and LR0R/LR5 (Rehner & Samuels 1994). The newly generated sequences were deposited in GenBank with accession nos. ON228609 (ITS), ON324018 (tef1-α), ON237657 (tub2), and ON228665 (LSU). Nucleotide blast showed 98.97%, 100% and 99.46% identities with A. locuta-pollinis (LC11683, ex-holotype) (accession nos. MF939595, MF939622, MF939616), and LSU data missing. Phylogenetic analyses using maximum likelihood showed a 92% bootstrap support value in a clade with A. locuta-pollinis (Fig 2). Eight healthy plants (2-year-old) were used for the pathogenicity test. Culms of four healthy bamboos were wounded via sterile double-edged blade and sprayed with conidial suspension (105 conidia/ml) prepared from 4-week-old cultures that were incubated on PDA at 25℃. The other four bamboos were sprayed with sterile distilled water as controls. Inoculated plants were placed in a growth chamber (25℃, 90% relative humidity, 12-h photoperiod). About 60 days later, necrotic patches similar to those observed in the field were found on the inoculated culms, and no symptoms were observed on the controls. The pathogen was reisolated from the diseased culms with identical morphology as previously described. To our knowledge, this is the first report of culm blight on P. aureosulcata 'Spectabilis' caused by A. locuta-pollinis. The risk of this pathogen needs further evaluation, and effective control measures should be taken.

Trunk canker of Juglans sigillata caused by Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae in China

Iron walnut (Juglans sigillata Dode) is a temperate deciduous tree indigenous to China. It is mainly distributed in southwestern China, and valued for its wood and nuts (Feng et al. 2018). In September 2020, symptoms of canker on J. sigillata were observed in an orchard measuring 2 hectares located in Chongzhou City, Sichuan Province (31°5' 25″N, 105°27'36″E, 365 m altitude). Twenty percent of plants showed canker symptoms during the 50 surveyed plants. The infected trunk showed necrotic lesions with black pycnidia, that led to necrosis of branches and death of the whole plant in severe cases (Fig. 1). Six specimens from different diseased plants were collected for pathogen isolation and morphological observation. Pure cultures were obtained from single conidium on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) media according to the method described by Chomnunti (Chomnunti et al. 2014). Colonies grew fast and reached 3 cm after 5 days. The aerial mycelium was abundant, which was initially white and then grayish. Conidiomata on the host were measured 160-280 µm × 140-190 µm (average: 220 × 165 µm, n = 20), stromatic, uniloculate, dark brown to black, immersed, and erumpent when mature. Pycnidial walls 32-58 µm wide, were composed of 5-7 layers of brown to dark brown cells. Conidia were hyaline, and ellipsoidal with rounded apex and base, widest at the middle, thick-walled, and unicellular, with a size 21.5-31 µm × 11.5-15.7 µm (average: 27 × 13.5 µm, n = 50). Morphological characteristics fit the description of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae A.J.L. Phillips, A. Alves & Crous (Aives et al. 2008). The internal transcribed spacers (ITS), 18S small subunit rRNA (SSU), 28S large subunit rDNA (LSU), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and beta-tubulin (tub2) were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced with primers ITS1/ITS4, NS1/NS4, LR0R/LR5, EF1-728F/EF1-986R and Bt2a/Bt2b, respectively (Li et al. 2018). The sequences of the representative isolate (SICAUCC 22-0079) were deposited in NCBI with accession numbers ON090365 (ITS), ON090406 (SSU), ON090418 (LSU), ON112377 (tef1-α), and ON112378 (tub2), respectively. Nucleotide blast showed 100% similarity of all the analyzed and NCBI submitted isolates with L. pseudotheobromae (CBS116459; holotype) (accession numbers EF622077, EU673199, EU673256, EF622057, EU673111). Phylogenetic analyses based on a combined dataset showed 100% bootstrap support values in a clade with L. pseudotheobromae complexes (Fig. 2). Based on morphological and molecular analyses, the fungal pathogen was identified as L. pseudotheobromae. To conduct Koch's postulates, four 2-year-old healthy plants of J. sigillata were inoculated with 10 μL spore suspension (105 conidia/mL) onto the wounded sites via sterile pin. As control, four healthy plants were treated with sterile distilled water. The inoculated and untreated plants were placed in a growth chamber at 25°C with relative humidity >90% and 12-h photoperiod. Trunk canker symptoms appeared on inoculated plants after 15-20 days, and the pathogen was re-isolated and the controls were symptomless, confirming Koch's postulates. L. pseudotheobromae is widely distributed in various plants all over the world, usually as a pathogen associated with damping-off, wilt, die-back, root rot, collar rot, witches' brooms, or fruit rots (Zhao et al. 2010). To our knowledge, this is the first report of trunk canker on J. sigillata caused by L. pseudotheobromae in China. Trunk canker caused by L. pseudotheobromae is becoming a potential threat to walnut production, and some necessary measures for integrated management should be made.

Evidence for Nonlinear Gluon Effects in QCD and Their Mass Number Dependence at STAR

The STAR Collaboration reports measurements of back-to-back azimuthal correlations of di-π^{0}s produced at forward pseudorapidities (2.6<η<4.0) in p+p, p+Al, and p+Au collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 200 GeV. We observe a clear suppression of the correlated yields of back-to-back π^{0} pairs in p+Al and p+Au collisions compared to the p+p data. The observed suppression of back-to-back pairs as a function of transverse momentum suggests nonlinear gluon dynamics arising at high parton densities. The larger suppression found in p+Au relative to p+Al collisions exhibits a dependence of the saturation scale Q_{s}^{2} on the mass number A. A linear scaling of the suppression with A^{1/3} is observed with a slope of -0.09±0.01.

Safety and tolerance of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei N1115 in caesarean-born young children: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial

The administration of probiotics may help to improve dysbiosis and related health problems in children delivered by caesarean section. However, the effects are strain specific, and safety combined tolerance are considered a priority. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and tolerance of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei N1115 in caesarean-born children aged 6-24 months via a randomised, placebo-controlled intervention study. In total, 101 children were included and randomised to receive either a sachet of L. paracasei N1115 (2×1010 cfu/g, 2 g/day) or placebo (maltodextrin, 2 g/day) per day for 12 weeks. Anthropometric parameters were measured by trained nurses, and defecation characteristics, gastrointestinal symptoms, (serious) adverse events ((s)AEs), crying patterns and lifestyle behaviours were recorded by parents or guardians. Neurocognitive development was assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaires-3 (ASQ-3) before and after the intervention. The only difference between groups regarding defecation characteristics was a significant treatment × time effect on stool frequency (P=0.007), as the number of defecations was significantly higher in the probiotic group (around 1.2-1.3 times/day) than in the placebo group (around 1.0 times/day) in the later intervention period (P=0.035 at week 9; P=0.048 at week 10; P=0.026 at week 12). The use of L. paracasei N1115 also reduced the incidence rate of constipation (Incidence rate ratio (IRR): 0.120; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.015, 0.967; P=0.046) and abdominal pain (IRR: 0.562; 95% CI: 0.358, 0.882; P=0.012). Changes in anthropometric parameters, including weight, height and head circumference, did not differ significantly between groups, nor did measures of crying, sleep, outdoor activity, temper, appetite or the ASQ-3 scores. No adverse events associated with consumption of the probiotic were reported. Thus, the administration of L. paracasei N1115 is safe and well-tolerated in caesarean-born children aged 6-24 months. Furthermore, it may ameliorate gastrointestinal function to some extent.

[Outcomes at discharge of preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation]

Objective: To investigate the incidence and trend of short-term outcomes among preterm infants born <34 weeks' gestation. Methods: A secondary analysis of data from the standardized database established by a multicenter cluster-randomized controlled study "reduction of infection in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) using the evidence-based practice for improving quality (REIN-EPIQ) study". This study was conducted in 25 tertiary NICU. A total of 27 192 infants with gestational age <34 weeks at birth and admitted to NICU within the first 7 days of life from May 2015 to April 2018 were enrolled. Infants with severe congenital malformation were excluded. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the mortality and major morbidities of preterm infants by gestational age groups and different admission year groups. Cochran-Armitage test and Jonckheere-Terpstra test were used to analyze the trend of incidences of mortality and morbidities in 3 study-years. Multiple Logistic regression model was constructed to analyze the differences of outcomes in 3 study-years adjusting for confounders. Results: A total of 27 192 preterm infants were enrolled with gestational age of (31.3±2.0) weeks at birth and weight of (1 617±415) g at birth. Overall, 9.5% (2 594/27 192) of infants were discharged against medical advice, and the overall mortality rate was 10.7% (2 907/27 192). Mortality for infants who received complete care was 4.7% (1 147/24 598), and mortality or any major morbidity was 26.2% (6 452/24 598). The incidences of moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage or periventricular leukomalacia, proven necrotizing enterocolitis, and severe retinopathy of prematurity were 16.0% (4 342/27 192), 11.9% (3 225/27 192), 6.8% (1 641/24 206), 3.6% (939/25 762) and 1.5% (214/13 868), respectively. There was a decreasing of the overall mortality (P<0.001) during the 3 years. Also, the incidences for sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity both decreased (both P<0.001). However, there were no significant differences in the major morbidity in preterm infants who received complete care during the 3-year study period (P=0.230). After adjusting for confounders, infants admitted during the third study year showed significantly lower risk of overall mortality (adjust OR=0.62, 95%CI 0.55-0.69, P<0.001), mortality or major morbidity, moderate to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, sepsis and severe retinopathy of prematurity, compared to those admitted in the first study year (all P<0.05). Conclusions: From 2015 to 2018, the mortality and major morbidities among preterm infants in Chinese NICU decreased, but there is still space for further efforts. Further targeted quality improvement is needed to improve the overall outcome of preterm infants.

Arthroscopic discopexy versus natural course of temporomandibular joint anterior disc displacement: a longitudinal study of clinical and radiological outcomes

The aim of this study was to assess the various outcomes of arthroscopic discopexy compared to the natural course of anterior disc displacement (ADD) longitudinally in the same patients. A retrospective review was performed of 108 patients (152 joints) who experienced the natural course of ADD for a period of time and then underwent arthroscopic discopexy. The outcome was evaluated clinically and by magnetic resonance imaging. The natural course of ADD showed significant deterioration in pain, diet, and quality of life, and also a significant reduction in inter-incisal opening (all P < 0.001), while significant improvements in all clinical parameters were observed at the final postoperative follow-up (all P < 0.001, compared to the last preoperative visit). During the natural course, there was a significant shortening of condylar height, mandibular height, and disc length, and an increase in disc displacement distance (all P < 0.001). Postoperative follow-up revealed the restoration of condylar height and mandibular height, and all discs were significantly repositioned with an increased disc length (unfolded) (all P < 0.001). Bearing in mind the assumption of a low evidence base due to bias resulting from the retrospective non-double-blinded study design and the variable duration of the natural disease course prior to surgery, this study found that the natural course of ADD led to degenerative changes in the joint structures and clinical symptoms, whereas arthroscopic discopexy led to a restoration of the bony structures and the alleviation of clinical symptoms.