Efficacy and safety of novel immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combinations versus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer: A network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) have an exceptionally poor prognosis and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with etoposide-platinum is recommended as standard first-line therapy. However, which combination pattern is the best still remains unknown. This network meta-analysis was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of currently available patterns including an antiangiogenic agent containing regimen and probed into the most appropriate therapy for patients.

METHODS

Hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) were generated using R software. The outcomes of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and adverse events of grade 3 or higher (grade ≥ 3 adverse events [AEs]) were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 5544 patients were included for analysis. Drug combination patterns included adebrelimab, atezolizumab, durvalumab, durvalumab plus tremelimumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, serplulimab, benmelstobart plus anlotinib, tislelizumab, tiragolumab plus atezolizumab and toripalimab in combination with chemotherapy. The novel antiangiogenic agent containing regimen benmelstobart + anlotinib + chemotherapy showed the highest possibility to present the best PFS and OS versus chemotherapy. Compared with ICI plus chemotherapy, it also achieved significantly better PFS and presented a tendency of OS benefit. As for safety and toxicity, patients treated with benmelstobart + anlotinib + chemotherapy and durvalumab + tremelimumab + chemotherapy suffered a higher likelihood of more grade ≥ 3 AEs without unexpected AEs.

CONCLUSION

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors-based combinations are associated with significant improvement in both PFS and OS for treatment-naïve ES-SCLC patients. Benmelstobart plus anlotinib with chemotherapy (CT) yielded better survival benefit versus CT alone or other ICIs + CT with caution for more adverse effects along with the addition of an antiangiogenic agent.

Skin-Inspired All-Natural Biogel for Bioadhesive Interface

Natural material-based hydrogels are considered ideal candidates for constructing robust bio-interfaces due to their environmentally sustainable nature and biocompatibility. However, these hydrogels often encounter limitations such as weak mechanical strength, low water resistance, and poor ionic conductivity. Here, inspired by the role of natural moisturizing factor (NMF) in skin, a straightforward yet versatile strategy is proposed for fabricating all-natural ionic biogels that exhibit high resilience, ionic conductivity, resistance to dehydration, and complete degradability, without necessitating any chemical modification. A well-balanced combination of gelatin and sodium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid (an NMF compound) gives rise to a significant enhancement in the mechanical strength, ionic conductivity, and water retention capacity of the biogel compared to pure gelatin hydrogel. The biogel manifests temperature-controlled reversible fluid-gel transition properties attributed to the triple-helix junctions of gelatin, which enables in situ gelation on diverse substrates, thereby ensuring conformal contact and dynamic compliance with curved surfaces. Due to its salutary properties, the biogel can serve as an effective and biocompatible interface for high-quality and long-term electrophysiological signal recording. These findings provide a general and scalable approach for designing natural material-based hydrogels with tailored functionalities to meet diverse application needs.

Digitization and carbon emissions: how does the development of China's digital economy affect carbon intensity?

The digital economy and the pursuit of carbon peak and carbon neutrality have emerged as crucial focal points for China's future development. However, the intricate relationship between the digital economy and carbon intensity remains uncertain. Based on the construction of the digital economy evaluation index system, using panel data for 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2019, this study estimates the impact of the digital economy development on carbon intensity by adopting the system-generalized method of moments (SYS-GMM) technique. The results show that the digital economy can effectively reduce the carbon intensity. This conclusion was supported by robustness tests. However, the carbon emission reduction effect of the digital economy exhibits heterogeneity with respect to the digital economy dimensions and regions. In addition to digital industrialization and industrial digitization reducing the carbon intensity, the digital economy development carrier has an inverted U-shaped nonlinear relationship with carbon intensity. Additionally, the digital economy has a more obvious inhibitory effect on carbon intensity in the eastern region. Most importantly, besides the mediating effects of technological progress and financial development, this paper finds that the digital economy can increase carbon intensity through human capital accumulation. These conclusions provide a certain scientific basis for the effective implementation of China's digital economy and carbon peak and carbon-neutral development strategy.

Study on the Effect of Cations on the Surface Energy of Nano-SiO2 Particles for Oil/Gas Exploration and Development Based on the Density Functional Theory

Although nano SiO2 exhibits excellent application potential in the field of oil and gas exploration and development, such as drilling fluid, enhanced oil/gas recovery, etc., it is prone to agglomeration and loses its effectiveness due to the action of cations in saline environments of oil and gas reservoirs. Therefore, it is crucial to study the mechanism of the change in energy between nano SiO2 and cations for its industrial application. In this paper, the effect of cations (Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) on the surface energy of nano SiO2 particles is investigated from the perspective of molecular motion and electronic change by density functional theory. The results are as follows: Due to the electrostatic interactions, cations can migrate towards the surface of nano SiO2 particles. During the migration process, monovalent cations are almost unaffected by water molecules, and they can be directly adsorbed on the surface by nano SiO2 particles. However, when divalent cations migrate from a distance to the surface of nano SiO2 particles, they can combine with water molecules to create an energy barrier, which can prevent them from moving forward. When divalent cations break through the energy barrier, the electronic kinetic energy between them and nano SiO2 particles changes more strongly, and the electrons carried by them are more likely to break through the edge of the atomic nucleus and undergo charge exchange with nano SiO2 particles. The change in interaction energy is more intense, which can further disrupt the configuration stability of nano SiO2. The interaction energy between cations and nano SiO2 particles mainly comes from electrostatic energy, followed by Van der Waals energy. From the degree of influence of four cations on nano SiO2 particles, the order from small to large is as follows: K+ < Na+ < Mg2+ < Ca2+. The research results can provide a theoretical understanding of the interaction between nano SiO2 particles and cations during the application of nano SiO2 in the field of oil and gas exploration and development.

[Progress in epidemiological characteristics and surveillance and early warning of dengue fever in China]

Dengue fever is an acute mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by dengue virus and widely spread worldwide. Many factors, such as pathogens, vector organisms, climate, and social environment, affect its transmission and prevalence. The local dengue fever epidemic caused by imported cases in China shows a trend of increasing epidemic latitude and more widespread epidemic areas. However, the traditional monitoring and early warning models of dengue fever mainly focus on researching a single factor and a single area. Establishing a multi-factor forecast and early warning system is urgent to strengthen the early warning capability for the dengue fever epidemic. This paper mainly discusses the epidemic characteristics, the influencing factors, and the surveillance and early warning models of dengue fever in China to provide a reference for the effective prevention and control of dengue fever in China.

Research and development of fully enclosed wire-shell support structure technology for deep soft rock roadway based on TRIZ theory

The TRIZ theory was used to accurately discover the problems to be solved in the design of roadway surrounding rock control technology. This paper tried to solve the complex issue of surrounding rock control in deep roadways from a new perspective. Based on the functional component analysis and causal axis analysis of the problem's primary reason, simultaneously, the surrounding rock control technology was optimized through technical contradiction analysis, physical contradiction analysis, and substance and field model analysis. As a result, a fully enclosed wire-shell support technology was proposed. Finally, taking the typical soft rock roadway engineering of Pansan Coal Mine in Huainan Mining Area, Anhui Province, China, as the engineering background, the engineering application and effect evaluation were completed. This paper provides a reference for controlling the instability of deep soft rock roadways in coal mines. A new idea of optimizing roadway support engineering based on TRIZ theory was proposed.

Multiomics and blood-based biomarkers of moyamoya disease: protocol of Moyamoya Omics Atlas (MOYAOMICS)

BACKGROUND

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a rare and complex cerebrovascular disorder characterized by the progressive narrowing of the internal carotid arteries and the formation of compensatory collateral vessels. The etiology of MMD remains enigmatic, making diagnosis and management challenging. The MOYAOMICS project was initiated to investigate the molecular underpinnings of MMD and explore potential diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

METHODS

The MOYAOMICS project employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating various omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, to comprehensively examine the molecular signatures associated with MMD pathogenesis. Additionally, we will investigate the potential influence of gut microbiota and brain-gut peptides on MMD development, assessing their suitability as targets for therapeutic strategies and dietary interventions. Radiomics, a specialized field in medical imaging, is utilized to analyze neuroimaging data for early detection and characterization of MMD-related brain changes. Deep learning algorithms are employed to differentiate MMD from other conditions, automating the diagnostic process. We also employ single-cellomics and mass cytometry to precisely study cellular heterogeneity in peripheral blood samples from MMD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The MOYAOMICS project represents a significant step toward comprehending MMD's molecular underpinnings. This multidisciplinary approach has the potential to revolutionize early diagnosis, patient stratification, and the development of targeted therapies for MMD. The identification of blood-based biomarkers and the integration of multiple omics data are critical for improving the clinical management of MMD and enhancing patient outcomes for this complex disease.

A trajectory planning method for a casting sorting robotic arm based on a nature-inspired Genghis Khan shark optimized algorithm

In order to meet the efficiency and smooth trajectory requirements of the casting sorting robotic arm, we propose a time-optimal trajectory planning method that combines a heuristic algorithm inspired by the behavior of the Genghis Khan shark (GKS) and segmented interpolation polynomials. First, the basic model of the robotic arm was constructed based on the arm parameters, and the workspace is analyzed. A matrix was formed by combining cubic and quintic polynomials using a segmented approach to solve for 14 unknown parameters and plan the trajectory. To enhance the smoothness and efficiency of the trajectory in the joint space, a dynamic nonlinear learning factor was introduced based on the traditional Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Four different biological behaviors, inspired by GKS, were simulated. Within the premise of time optimality, a target function was set to effectively optimize within the feasible space. Simulation and verification were performed after determining the working tasks of the casting sorting robotic arm. The results demonstrated that the optimized robotic arm achieved a smooth and continuous trajectory velocity, while also optimizing the overall runtime within the given constraints. A comparison was made between the traditional PSO algorithm and an improved PSO algorithm, revealing that the improved algorithm exhibited better convergence. Moreover, the planning approach based on GKS behavior showed a decreased likelihood of getting trapped in local optima, thereby confirming the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Clinical Characteristics and Prognoses of Chronic Subdural Hematoma Patients with and without Head Trauma: A Retrospective Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE

Head trauma is considered as the main cause of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH). However, many patients develop CSDH with no identified cause. Herein, we conduct a comparative study to investigate the differences in clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes of CSDH patients with and without a history of head trauma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed CSDH patients who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital between January 2013 and December 2021. Patients were categorized into a with head trauma (WHT) group and a without head trauma (WOHT) group for comparative analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients were included, 119 (54.3%) cases in the WHT group and 100 (45.7%) cases in the WOHT group. More cancer patients were found in the WOHT group than in the WHT group (P = 0.045). Both at discharge and 6-month follow-up, patients in the WOHT group achieved better clinical outcomes than the WHT group cases (P = 0.025 and 0.034, respectively). Furthermore, ordered multiclass logistic regression analyses indicated that a history of head trauma (odds ratio 2.151, 95% confidence interval 1.052-4.386; P = 0.036) was a risk factor significantly related to the unfavorable outcomes at 6-month follow-ups of CSDH. However, we did not find significant differences between the 2 groups in clinical manifestations, radiological characteristics, postoperative complications, mortality, and recurrence rates.

CONCLUSIONS

CSDH patients with a history of head trauma may be more susceptible to unfavorable outcomes; thus, they should be carefully evaluated and given more attention during hospitalization and after discharge.

Facile synthesis of multi-layer Co(OH)2/CeO2-g-C3N4 ternary synergistic heterostructure for efficient photocatalytic oxidation of NO under visible light

In this work, we report a one-step synthesis of ternary Z-scheme Co(OH)2/CeO2-g-C3N4 (CoCe-CN) heterostructure via hydrothermal method. Owing to the modification of Co(OH)2 and CeO2, the existence of Co(OH)2 as an electron acceptor-donor center between CeO2 and g-C3N4 accelerates the electron transfer and provides extra OH- reaction pathway for photocatalytic oxidation of NO. As a result, 50CoCe-CN (Co and Ce accounting for 25% mass ratio separately) achieved a 53.5% conversion efficiency of NO at 600 ppb concentration, which is 1.82 times that of g-C3N4 under visible light. The results of the DFT analysis and element distribution of cobalt and ceria provide convincing evidence supporting the existence of a novel multi-layer structure in the CoCe-CN photocatalyst. This structure involves the loading of CeO2 and Co(OH)2 on the g-C3N4 surface, and Co(OH)2 as a co-catalyst introduced between CeO2 and g-C3N4 realizes the synergy between CeO2 and Co(OH)2 which further improve the photocatalytic properties. The higher photocatalytic efficiencies observed in the CoCe-CN photocatalysts compared to those containing only cobalt (Co-CN) or ceria (Ce-CN) provide further evidence of the synergistic effect of these two elements. This work demonstrates a more efficient and effective ternary photocatalytic system, with greater practical potential for photocatalytic oxidation of NO.

[Epidemiological investigation of constipation in urban areas of Hangzhou, China]

Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of constipation in Hangzhou urban areas by analyzing data from a recent epidemiological survey. Methods: From August 2022 to June 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 43 communities on eight streets in suburbs of Hangzhou, including Wangjiang, Sijiqing, Puyan, Changhe, Ziyang, Xiaoshanchengxiang, Zhuantang, and Banshan. Written questionnaires were filled out face to face by community doctors. The prevalence of constipation was investigated using a combination of the Bristol stool typing method and the Rome IV criteria. The risk factors for constipation were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The study cohort comprised 10,479 participants, 5551 of whom were male (53.0%) and 4928 female (47.0%). The overall prevalence of constipation was 10.6% (1107/10,479). The prevalence was 11.0% (613/5551) for male and 10.0% (494/4928) for female participants; this difference is not statistically significant (P>0.05).There were no significant differences in the prevalence of constipation between different categories of body mass index (P>0.05). The prevalence of constipation was highest in individuals aged 70 years and above, accounting for 15.4% (264/1717) of all cases. There were significant differences in the prevalence of constipation between different occupations, marital statuses, and educational levels (P<0.001). Patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus had a higher prevalence of constipation than those without these conditions, those who had been taking long-term medication had a higher prevalence of constipation than those who did not, parents of children with constipation had a higher prevalence of constipation than those with children who did not have constipation, and there were other significant differences in various variables (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis of modifiable factors revealed that eating less fruit (OR=1.284, 95%CI: 1.061-1.553, P=0.010), liking spicy and salty food (OR=1.234, 95%CI: 1.039-1.466, P=0.016), sleeping for too long (OR=1.644, 95%CI: 1.260-2.144, P<0.001), irregular sleep patterns (OR=1.370, 95%CI: 1.127-1.665, P=0.002) and minimal exercise (OR=1.388, 95% CI: 1.168-1.649, P<0.001) were all risk factors for constipation; whereas mix diets (OR=0.709,95%CI:0.608-0.826, P<0.001), meat diets (OR=0.604,95%CI: 0.495-0.736, P<0.001), moderate alcohol consumption (OR=0.659, 95% CI: 0.534-0.812, P<0.001), less or no drinking (OR=0.523, 95% CI: 0.428-0.638, P<0.001), and non-smoking (OR=0.819, 95%CI:0.674-0.995, P<0.001) protected against constipation. We found no association between dietary preferences and the risk of constipation (refined grains: OR=1.147, 95%CI:0.944-1.393, P=0.167; no specific preference: OR=0.935, 95%CI:0.783-1.117, P=0.459). The rate of agreement between self-evaluation of constipation by the respondents and objective criteria was higher for negatives (95.8%) than for positives (38.0%). Conclusion: The prevalence of constipation is relatively high in the urban population of Hangzhou. A good lifestyle and diet can significantly reduce its incidence. There should be more emphasis on preventive education, promotion of prevention of constipation, and advocacy for a healthy lifestyle.

Magnetic Anomaly Detection Based on a Compound Tri-Stable Stochastic Resonance System

In the case of strong background noise, a tri-stable stochastic resonance model has higher noise utilization than a bi-stable stochastic resonance (BSR) model for weak signal detection. However, the problem of severe system parameter coupling in a conventional tri-stable stochastic resonance model leads to difficulty in potential function regulation. In this paper, a new compound tri-stable stochastic resonance (CTSR) model is proposed to address this problem by combining a Gaussian Potential model and the mixed bi-stable model. The weak magnetic anomaly signal detection system consists of the CTSR system and judgment system based on statistical analysis. The system parameters are adjusted by using a quantum genetic algorithm (QGA) to optimize the output signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The experimental results show that the CTSR system performs better than the traditional tri-stable stochastic resonance (TTSR) system and BSR system. When the input SNR is -8 dB, the detection probability of the CTSR system approaches 80%. Moreover, this detection system not only detects the magnetic anomaly signal but also retains information on the relative motion (heading) of the ferromagnetic target and the magnetic detection device.

Bioinspired soft robots for deep-sea exploration

The deep ocean, Earth's untouched expanse, presents immense challenges for exploration due to its extreme pressure, temperature, and darkness. Unlike traditional marine robots that require specialized metallic vessels for protection, deep-sea species thrive without such cumbersome pressure-resistant designs. Their pressure-adaptive forms, unique propulsion methods, and advanced senses have inspired innovation in designing lightweight, compact soft machines. This perspective addresses challenges, recent strides, and design strategies for bioinspired deep-sea soft robots. Drawing from abyssal life, it explores the actuation, sensing, power, and pressure resilience of multifunctional deep-sea soft robots, offering game-changing solutions for profound exploration and operation in harsh conditions.

[Diagnosis status and genetic characteristics analysis of Fanconi anemia in China]

Objective: To analyze the clinical and molecular diagnostic status of Fanconi anemia (FA) in China. Methods: The General situation, clinical manifestations and chromosome breakage test and genetic test results of 107 pediatric FA cases registered in the Chinese Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Group (CBMTRG) and the Chinese Children Blood and Marrow Transplantation Registry Group (CCBMTRG) from August 2009 to January 2022 were analyzed retrospectively. Children with FANCA gene variants were divided into mild and severe groups based on the type of variant, and Wilcoxon-test was used to compare the phenotypic differences between groups. Results: Of the 176 registered FA patients, 69 (39.2%) cases were excluded due to lack of definitive genetic diagnosis results, and the remaining 107 children from 15 hospitals were included in the study, including 70 males and 37 females. The age at transplantation treatment were 6 (4, 9) years. The enrolled children were involved in 10 pathogenic genes, including 89 cases of FANCA gene, 7 cases of FANCG gene, 3 cases of FANCB gene, 2 cases of FANCE gene and 1 case each of FANCC, FANCD1, FANCD2, FANCF, FANCJ, and FANCN gene. Compound heterozygous or homozygous of loss-of-function variants account for 69.2% (72/104). Loss-of-function variants account for 79.2% (141/178) in FANCA gene variants, and 20.8% (37/178) were large exon deletions. Fifty-five children (51.4%) had chromosome breakage test records, with a positive rate of 81.8% (45/55). There were 172 congenital malformations in 80 children.Café-au-Lait spots (16.3%, 28/172), thumb deformities (16.3%,28/172), polydactyly (13.9%, 24/172), and short stature (12.2%, 21/172) were the most common congenital malformations in Chinese children with FA. No significant difference was found in the number of congenital malformations between children with severe (50 cases) and mild FANCA variants (26 cases) (Z=-1.33, P=0.185). Conclusions: FANCA gene is the main pathogenic gene in children with FA, where the detection of its exon deletion should be strengthened clinically. There were no phenotypic differences among children with different types of FANCA variants. Chromosome break test is helpful to determine the pathogenicity of variants, but its accuracy needs to be improved.

Carbon-based nanomaterials mediated adsorption and photodegradation of typical organic contaminants in aqueous fulvic acid solution

In this work, the formation of carbon-based nanomaterials-fulvic acid (CNMs-FA) composites and their capacities for the adsorption and photodegradation of typical organic contaminants in aqueous solutions were investigated. The results suggested that the formation of CNMs-FA composites was dominated by adsorbing FA on CNMs via the physisorption process, which fit the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. The formed CNMs-FA composites were characterized by using the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller, scanning electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy techniques and further applied for examining their effects on the adsorption and photodegradation of selected organic contaminants in aqueous solutions. The adsorption of organic contaminants on CNMs-FA composites is mainly involved in hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions between organic contaminants and FA species adhering to CNMs. In addition, the CNMs-FA composites are able to promote the photosensitive degradation of organic contaminants due to the photogenerated reactive species including ROS and CNMs-3FA* under sunlight irradiation. This study provided a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of the environmental behavior of CNMs in real natural surface water and clarified the underlying mechanisms.

Preparation and Properties of Poly(vinyl acetate) Adhesive Modified with Vinyl Versatate

A series of vinyl versatate (VV10) modified poly(vinyl acetate) adhesive (HVPVAc) were prepared using soap-free emulsion polymerization. Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy was used to characterize the structure of the modified poly(vinyl acetate) latex. The effect of the VV10 content on particle size, viscosity, mechanical properties, and T-peel strength of the modified poly(vinyl acetate) was determined. No absorption peak at 1675-1500 cm-1 in the ATR-FTIR spectrum was observed as a result of the carbon-carbon double bond reacting completely. With the occurrence of -C-O-C and the disappearance of the carbon-carbon double bond in the FTIR spectrum, a more complex structure formed. The structure improves the mechanical properties. Increasing the VV10 content resulted in an increase in particle size from 63 nm to 221 nm, a steady increase in the viscosity of the HVPVAc latex, an increase in tensile strength from 7 MPa to 13.4 MPa, and a decrease in breaking elongation from 1310% to 1004%. As the VV10 content increased from 0 to 30% by weight, the T-peel strength of the HVPVAc adhesive increased from 8.35 N/mm to 18.97 N/mm, indicating improved adhesive performance.

Surgical treatment of chronic subdural hematoma by twist drill craniotomy: A 9-year, single-center experience of 219 cases

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to assess the safety and efficiency of twist drill craniotomy (TDC) for surgical treatment of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) based on a single-center experience of 219 cases performed over nine years.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective analysis of CSDH patients who underwent TDC treatment in our hospital between January 2013 and December 2021. Clinical and radiological characteristics, as well as surgical outcomes of the included patients, were reviewed and analyzed. Factors that may affect hematoma recurrence and outcomes were also investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients (186 males and 33 females) were included. Eighteen (8.2%) patients experienced postoperative complications. The in-hospital mortality and recurrence rates in our series were 0.5% (1/219) and 4.1% (9/217), respectively. 91.7% (199/217) of patients achieved favorable outcomes six months after the operation. Duration of drainage catheter (odds ratio [OR] 0.135, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.017-1.099; P = 0.030) was the only factor significantly related to the recurrence of CSDH. Moreover, brain infarction (OR 5.175, 95% CI 1.417-18.896; P = 0.013), Alzheimer's disease (OR 20.515, 95% CI 1.950-215.840; P = 0.012), and preoperative dysfunction of coagulation (OR 6.509, 95% CI 1.501-28.217; P = 0.012) were markedly associated with unfavorable functional outcomes.

CONCLUSION

TDC with irrigation and closed-system drainage is a minimally invasive, simple, safe, and effective surgical technique that can serve as the first-choice for the treatment of CSDH with a low recurrence rate.

Ru(III)-Periodate for High Performance and Selective Degradation of Aqueous Organic Pollutants: Important Role of Ru(V) and Ru(IV)

In this study, Ru(III) ions were utilized to activate periodate (PI) for oxidation of trace organic pollutants (TOPs, e.g., carbamazepine (CBZ)). The Ru(III)/PI system can significantly promote the oxidation of CBZ in a wide initial pH range (3.0-11.0) at 1 μM Ru(III), showing much higher performance than transition metal ions (i.e., Fe(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), and Ce(III)) and noble metal ion (i.e., Ag(I), Pd(II), Pt(II), and Ir(III)) activated PI systems. Probe experiments, UV-vis spectra, and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra confirmed high-valent Ru-oxo species (Ru(V)=O) as the dominant oxidant in the process. Because of the dominant role of Ru(V)=O, the Ru(III)/PI process exhibited a remarkable selectivity and strong anti-interference in the oxidation of TOPs in complex water matrices. The Ru(V)=O species can undertake 1-e- and 2-e- transfer reactions via the catalytic cycles of Ru(V)=O → Ru(IV) → Ru(III) and Ru(V)=O → Ru(III), respectively. The utilization efficiency of PI in the Ru(III)/PI process for the oxidation of TOPs can approach 100% under optimal conditions. PI stoichiometrically transformed into IO3- without production of undesired iodine species (e.g., HOI and I2). This study developed an efficient and environmentally benign advanced oxidation process for rapid removal of TOPs and enriched understandings on reactivity of Ru(V)=O and Ru catalytic cycles.

Comparison of revascularization and conservative treatment for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease in East Asian Countries: a single-center case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis

Objective

The optimal treatment approach for hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (HMMD) remains a topic of debate, particularly regarding the comparative efficacy of revascularization versus conservative treatment. Our study, which included a single-center case series and a systematic review with meta-analysis, aimed to determine whether surgical revascularization is associated with a significant reduction in postoperative rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality compared to conservative treatment among East Asian HMMD patients.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review by searching PubMed, Google Scholar, Wanfang Med Online (WMO), and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The outcomes of surgical revascularization and conservative treatment, including rebleeding, ischemic events and mortality, were compared. The authors' institutional series of 24 patients were also included and reviewed in the analysis.

Results

A total of 19 East Asian studies involving 1,571 patients as well as our institution's retrospective study of 24 patients were included in the study. In the adult patients-only studies, those who underwent revascularization had significantly lower rates of rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality compared to those who received conservative treatment (13.1% (46/352) vs. 32.4% (82/253), P < 0.00001; 4.0% (5/124) vs. 14.9% (18/121), P = 0.007; and 3.3% (5/153) vs. 12.6% (12/95), P = 0.01, respectively). In the adult/pediatric patients' studies, similar statistical results of rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality have been obtained (70/588 (11.9%) vs. 103/402 (25.6%), P = 0.003 or <0.0001 in a random or fixed-effects model, respectively; 14/296 (4.7%) vs. 26/183 (14.2%), P = 0.001; and 4.6% (15/328) vs. 18.7% (23/123), P = 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusion

The current single-center case series and systematic review with meta-analysis of studies demonstrated that surgical revascularization, including direct, indirect, and a combination of both, significantly reduces rebleeding, ischemic events, and mortality in HMMD patients in the East Asia region. More well-designed studies are warranted to further confirm these findings.

Gibson assembly interposition improves amplification efficiency of long DNA and multifragment overlap extension PCR

For difficult overlap extension PCR, a Gibson assembly process was inserted between the two PCR rounds to facilitate the formation of complete gene templates at a moderate temperature. That is, after amplifying each DNA fragment, they were preluded by a Gibson assembly process in equal proportion. Then, the assembled mixture was used as a template for the second PCR round. This idea was tested and verified by taking the cloning example of a single and a double site mutation of the retinoblastoma gene. This scheme associates overlap extension PCR with Gibson assembly exquisitely, significantly improving gene amplification efficiency, particularly in the fusion of long genes and multifragments using overlap extension PCR.

Local Fiscal Pressure and Public Health: Evidence from China

Under the dual challenges of global downward economic pressure and the COVID-19 pandemic, studying the impact of local government fiscal pressure on public health is a meaningful endeavor. First, this paper analyzes the impact of local government fiscal pressure on public health and clarifies its impact mechanisms. Second, by utilizing panel data of 31 Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2020, two-way fixed-effects and mediating-effects models are developed to identify the effects and impact mechanisms of local government fiscal pressure on public health. The results show that local government fiscal pressure can be detrimental to public health through three main mechanisms: reducing public health fiscal expenditures, hindering industrial structure upgrading, and exacerbating environmental pollution. Heterogeneity analysis finds that the negative effects of local government fiscal pressure on public health mainly exist in Central and Western China. Accordingly, three policy implications are proposed: optimizing the fiscal system, accelerating industrial upgrading, and improving the appraisal system of local officers.

Thermal error compensation method of truss robot beam structure based on mechanism and data drive

As the main supporting component of the truss robot, the thermal deformation of the beam often has a great influence on the overall thermal error of the truss robot due to its large span. In order to improve the thermal error prediction accuracy of long-span truss robot, a thermal error prediction method based on multiple linear regression and long short-term memory network is proposed based on mechanism and data drive. Firstly, the multiple linear regression model is used to predict the thermal error, and the prediction error data processing. Secondly, the long short-term memory network is established. In order to improve the performance of the long short-term memory network more effectively, an improved particle swarm optimization algorithm is proposed to optimize the hyper-parameters of the long short-term memory network. Finally, the improved particle swarm optimization–long short-term memory network is used to correct the prediction error of the multiple linear regression model. The experimental results show that the combined thermal error prediction model based on multiple linear regression and improved particle swarm optimization–long short-term memory algorithm has higher prediction accuracy than multiple linear regression model and long short-term memory network. The method has stable prediction accuracy and can provide a basis for thermal error compensation.

Risk identification and analysis for the green redevelopment of industrial brownfields: a social network analysis

The green redevelopment of industrial brownfields (GRIB) is an important means to solve the shortage of urban land resources and realize sustainable urban renewal and green development. The identification and analysis of risk factors in GRIB projects are of immense significance for completing construction tasks and ensuring the planned benefits. In this study, work and risk breakdown structures and expert interviews are used to construct the risk network model of a GRIB project, based on three dimensions: process, subject, and system sources. The software package UCINET is used to conduct social network analysis and determine the key risk factors and relationships. The results of this study suggest that the four risk factors with the most brokerage roles and the highest node betweenness centralities are located at the core of the network; the six risk relationships with the highest line betweenness centralities are those with the strongest transmission capacities; the key risk factors are mostly response and stress risks; the main source is the design unit; and the key risk relationships are the influence of the decision-making stage on the design stage and of the design stage on the construction stage. Surpassing the limitations of traditional linear research, this study explains the internal relationship among the risk factors of GRIB projects and identifies the risk factors that play a brokerage role and the risk relationship that plays a conductive role, providing a theoretical basis for introducing social network analysis tools into the risk assessment of such complex construction projects.

Wide & deep generative adversarial networks for recommendation system

Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) has achieved great success in computer vision like Image Inpainting, Image Super-Resolution. Many researchers apply it to improve the effectiveness of recommendation system. However, GANs-based methods obtain users’ preferences using a single Neural Network framework in generative model, which may not be fully mined. Furthermore, most GANs-based algorithms adopt cross-entropy loss to get pair-wise bias, but these methods don’t reveal global data distribution loss when data are sparse. Those problems will influence the performance of the algorithm and result in poor accuracy. To address these problems, we introduce Wide & Deep Generative Adversarial Networks for Recommendation System (a.k.a W & DGAN) in this paper. On the one hand, we employ Wide & Deep Learning as a generative model capable of extracting both explicit and implicit information of user preferences. Furthermore, we combine Cross-Entropy loss in G with Wasserstein loss in D to get data distribution, then, the joint loss will be to receive the training information feedback from data distribution. Empirical results on three public benchmarks show that W&DGAN significantly outperforms state-of-the-art methods.

An ER-targeted "reserve-release" fluorogen for topological quantification of reticulophagy

The endoplasmic reticulum's (ER) dynamic nature, essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis, can be influenced by stress-induced damage, which can be assessed by examining the morphology of ER dynamics and, more locally, ER properties such as hydrophobicity, viscosity, and polarity. Although numerous ER-specific chemical probes have been developed to monitor the ER's physical and chemical parameters, the quantitative detection and super-resolution imaging of its local hydrophobicity have yet to be explored. Here, we describe a photostable ER-targeted probe with high signal-to-noise ratio for super-resolution imaging that can specifically respond to changes in ER hydrophobicity under stress based on a "reserve-release" mechanism. The probe shows an excellent ability to target ER over commercial ER dyes and can be used to track local changes of hydrophobicity by fluorescence intensity and morphology during the selective autophagy of ER (i.e., reticulophagy). By correlating the level and location of ER damage with the distribution of fluorescence intensity, we were able to assess reticulophagy at the subcellular level. Beyond that, we developed a topological analytical tool adaptable to any ER probe for detecting structural changes in ER and thus quantitatively identifying reticulophagy. The algorithm-assisted tool can also be adapted to a wide range of molecular probes and organelles. Altogether, the new probe and analytical strategy described here show promise for the quantitative detection and analysis of subtle ER damage and stress.

Depression and anxiety symptoms among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis: a single center cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

To investigate depression and anxiety and related factors among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included patients underwent MHD in 3/2022 at Jinshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. Depression and anxiety levels of patients were assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. SF-36 was used to assess patients' quality of life. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the variables associated with the scores of BDI/BAI.

RESULTS

A total of 103 patients were included, 71 cases (68.93%) and 38 cases (36.89%) with depression and anxiety, respectively. The scores of almost all domains of the SF-36 showed a declining trend with increasing depression or anxiety among patients on MHD. Higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (β =0.066, 95%CI: 0.016-0.116, P = 0.010), lower educational status (β = - 0.139, 95%CI: - 0.243- -0.036, P = 0.009), and number of oral medications (β =0.177, 95%CI: 0.031-0.324, P = 0.018) were significantly associated with higher BDI scores. Longer dialysis duration (β =0.098, 95%CI: 0.003-0.193, P = 0.044) and number of oral medications (β =4.714, 95%CI: 1.837-7.590, P = 0.002) were significantly associated with higher BAI scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression and anxiety may be likely to occur among patients undergoing MHD and impact their quality of life. Higher CCI, lower educational status and usage of multiple oral medications may be associated with depression, whereas longer dialysis duration and multiple oral medications may be associated with anxiety in MHD patients.

Oscillatory Motion of Water Droplets Both in Oil and on Superhydrophobic Surface under Corona Discharge

Charged droplets driven by Coulomb force are an important part of a droplet-based micro reactor. In this study, we realized the rapid oscillatory motion of droplets both in oil and on superhydrophobic surface by injecting charges through corona discharge. Distinct from the oscillatory motion of water droplets under a DC electric field, charge injection can make the motion of water droplets more flexible. A droplet in the oil layer can move up and down regularly under the action of corona discharge, and the discharge voltage can control the movement period and height of the droplet. In addition, the left-right translation of droplets on a superhydrophobic surface can be achieved by injecting charges into the hydrophobic film surface through corona discharge. Two kinds of droplet motion behaviors are systematically analyzed, and the mechanism of droplet motion is explained. The present results could help establish new approaches to designing efficient machines in microfluidics and micromechanical equipment.

[Clinical characteristics of convalescent children infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Tianjin]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infected children in convalescence in Tianjin. Methods: A total of 104 pediatric patients infected by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant Tianjin First Central Hospital (designated hospital for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Tianjin) for convalescent treatment from January 22^nd, 2022 to February 24^th were included for a retrospective study.Clinical data including clinical typing, SARS-CoV-2 IgG and IgM test and 2019-nCoV nucleic acid test were collected.The cases were divided into 2-dose group and zero-dose group based on the doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The children were divided into repositive group and negative group, according to the nucleic acid test during hospitalization. Chi-square test was used for the comparison between the groups. Results: The age of these 104 children was 10.0 (0.3, 14.0) years on admission, 53 children were males and 51 were females, 92 cases (88.5%) had mild symptoms, 12 cases (11.5%) had common symptoms.The age and SARS-CoV-2 IgG level of zero-dose group was lower (2.0 (0.3, 10.2) vs. 10.0 (3.2, 14.0) years, 10 (2, 17) vs. 193 (157, 215), χ²=-5.57, Z=-48.76,both P<0.001) than that of 2-dose group. The zero-dose group had a high rate of transmission among family members and a high level of SARS-CoV-2 IgM level (13/14 vs. 62.2% (56/90), 0.4 (0.2, 0.8) vs. 0.4 (0.2, 1.1),χ²=5.09, Z=-48.95, both P<0.05) than the 2-dose group. Repositive group had a high rate of underlying diseases and SARS-CoV-2 IgM level was higher (2/13) vs. 1.1% (1/91), (0.6 (0.2, 1.0) vs. 0.3 (0.2, 0.7), χ²=8.29, Z=2.70, both P<0.05) than negative group. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG level of repositive group was lower than that of negative group (160 (78, 197) vs. 213 (186, 231), χ²=-3.20, P<0.05). Conclusions: Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in Tianjin were mainly transmitted by family members, and most of them had mild symptoms. Two-dose group had higher IgG levels and lower IgM levels than zero-dose group.The probability of SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid test repositivity increased in children with underlying diseases and lower IgG levels.

Contactless Discharge-Driven Method for Separation of Oil-Water Mixtures

Oil-water separation technology has potential applications in wastewater treatment, petroleum refining and edible oil processing. As the ultimate means in oil-water treatment, electrostatic coalescence technology has been widely used in oil fields and refineries. However, the technology has many problems, such as complex processes, electrode corrosion, and the inability to treat high-water-cut crude oil emulsions. Here, we propose a contactless method of oil-water separation by corona discharge. With corona discharge of a needle-plate electrode configuration, the oil droplet diffuses to the ITO glass surface and the water droplet oscillates at the edge of the PET film. Here, such droplet behaviors are described in detail. Based on the motion behavior of the oil and water droplet, we designed an efficient oil-water separation device. After the oil-water mixture passes through the device, the oil content in the oil region can reach 99.25% with a voltage of 8 kV. In addition, the separation speed of the oil-water mixture can also be adjusted by varying the corona discharge voltage. This paper presents a simple and innovative method for oil-water separation.

[Mendelian randomization analysis: the causal relationship between the DNA methylation levels of JAK2 and obesity]

Objective: Based on the Mendelian randomization analysis, to assess the causal relationship between DNA methylation levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and obesity. Methods: A case-control study was carried out, including 1 021 individuals [obesity (visceral fat index ≥10) vs. no obesity (visceral fat index <10) was 440 vs. 581] from the Henan Rural Cohort Study. MethylTarget^TM target region methylation sequencing technology was used for testing the DNA methylation level of JAK2. logistic regression models were used to assess the association between the DNA methylation level of JAK2 and obesity. With SNP as the instrumental variable, the association between the DNA methylation level of JAK2 and obesity was explored by using the Mendelian randomization analysis method. Results: There was a positive association between Chr9:4984943 (one DNA methylation site in the promoter of JAK2) and obesity, and the OR (95%CI) was 1.22(1.04-1.42). Methylation level of five sites in the exon of JAK2 (Chr9:4985378, Chr9:4985404, Chr9:4985407, Chr9:4985409 and Chr9:4985435) were negatively associated with obesity, the corresponding OR (95%CI) were 0.53 (0.29-0.95), 0.58(0.36-0.93), 0.69 (0.49-0.97), 0.72 (0.53-0.99) and 0.58 (0.35-0.98) , respectively. Mendelian randomization analysis showed that there was a causal relationship between the DNA methylation levels of JAK2 and obesity, and the corresponding β (95%CI) were -1.985 (-3.520 - -0.450),-3.547 (-6.301 - -0.792) and -3.900 (-6.328 - -1.472) for Mendelian randomization method of inverse variance weighted, Mendelian randomization method of median based and Maximum-likelihood method, respectively. Conclusion: This study supported there was a causal relationship between the DNA methylation level of JAK2 and obesity.

Mechanistic study on photochemical generation of I•/I2•- radicals in coastal atmospheric aqueous aerosol

The reactive iodine species may exhibit significant impacts on many global atmospheric issues and the I^•/I₂^•- radicals play key roles for inducing the formation of these reactive iodine species. However, the current understanding on the formation of I^•/I₂^•- radicals in atmospheric aqueous aerosol is still quite limited. The results reported herein suggest that I^•/I₂^•- can be produced simultaneously in aqueous aerosol by several sunlight-driven photochemical pathways including direct photo-dissociation of soluble organic iodine (SOI) at rates of 0.10-1.34 × 10^-9 M ns^-1 and 0.99-5.68 × 10^-7 M μs^-1, ^•OH-mediated oxidation of I^- at 0.03-1.41 × 10^-8 M ns^-1 and 0.05-4.10 × 10^-6 M μs^-1, and ³DOM^⁎-induced oxidation of I^- at 1.57-1.65 × 10^-9 M ns^-1 and 0.99-5.68 × 10^-7 M μs^-1 for generation of I^• and I₂^•-, respectively. Meanwhile, the pathway of e_aq^--initiated stepwise reduction of IO₃^- to I_2(aq) and further photolyzed into I^• plays negligible role in formation of I^•/I₂^•- due to the low reaction rates and severe quenching effect of e_aq^- by dissolved O₂. Our work presented the new data on mechanism and kinetics for comprehensive elucidation of I^•/I₂^•- formation in coastal atmospheric aqueous aerosol and would help to better understand the transformation mechanism of iodine species, pathways of iodine cycling and the associated environmental impacts involving atmospheric reactive iodine radicals.

Caproic Acid-Producing Bacteria in Chinese Baijiu Brewing

Caproic acid can be used as spices, preservatives, animal feed additives, and biofuels. At the same time, caproic acid plays an important role in Chinese Baijiu. It is the precursor substance for the synthesis of ethyl caproate, which directly affects the quality of Chinese Baijiu. Caproic acid-producing bacteria are the main microorganisms that synthesize caproic acid in Chinese Baijiu, and the most common strain is Clostridium kluyveri. Caproic acid-producing bacteria synthesize n-caproic acid through reverse β-oxidation to extend the carboxylic acid chain. This method mainly uses ethanol and lactic acid as substrates. Ethanol and lactic acid are converted into acetyl-CoA, and acetyl-CoA undergoes a series of condensation, dehydrogenation, dehydration, and reduction to extend the carboxylic acid chain. This review addresses the important issues of caproic acid-producing bacteria in the brewing process of Baijiu: the common caproic acid-producing bacteria that have been reported metabolic pathways, factors affecting acid production, biological competition pathways, and the effect of mixed bacteria fermentation on acid production. It is hoped that this will provide new ideas for the study of caproic acid-producing bacteria in Chinese Baijiu.

Decoupled Roles of DNA-Surfactant Interactions: Instant Charge Inversion, Enhanced Colloidal and Chemical Stabilities, and Fully Tunable DNA Conjugation of Shaped Plasmonic Nanocrystals

Surfactant-dictated syntheses of nanomaterials with well-defined shapes offer an extra dimension of control beyond nanoparticle size and chemical composition on the properties and self-assembly behaviors of colloidal materials. However, the surfactant bilayers on nanocrystals often cause great difficulty toward DNA grafting due to their unfavorable electrostatic charges and dense surface packing. Herein a revisit to this dilemma unveils a rapid charge inversion and enhanced colloidal/chemical stabilities of cationic-bilayer-covered nanocrystals upon DNA adsorption. Decoupling this hidden scenario provides a rationale to significantly improve DNA functionalization of surfactant-capped nanocrystals. Accordingly, fully tunable DNA conjugation (via Au-S bonding) on up to seven classes of surfactant-coated metal nanounits is easily and consistently achievable. The DNA-nanocrystal complexes featuring a continuously variable DNA density function well in DNA-guided nanoassembly. Our method opens the door to a wealth of material building blocks derived by surfactant-directed nanosyntheses toward DNA-programmable, extremely diversified, and highly complicated structures and functions.

Golgi apparatus-targeted aggregation-induced emission luminogens for effective cancer photodynamic therapy

Golgi apparatus (GA) oxidative stress induced by in situ reactive oxygen species (ROS) could severely damage the morphology and function of GA, which may open up an avenue for effective photodynamic therapy (PDT). However, due to the lack of effective design strategy, photosensitizers (PSs) with specific GA targeting ability are in high demand and yet quite challenging. Herein, we report an aggregation-induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) based PS (TPE-PyT-CPS) that can effectively target the GA via caveolin/raft mediated endocytosis with a Pearson correlation coefficient up to 0.98. Additionally, the introduction of pyrene into TPE-PyT-CPS can reduce the energy gap between the lowest singlet state (S₁) and the lowest triplet state (T₁) (ΔE_ST) and exhibits enhanced singlet oxygen generation capability. GA fragmentation and cleavage of GA proteins (p115/GM130) are observed upon light irradiation. Meanwhile, the apoptotic pathway is activated through a crosstalk between GA oxidative stress and mitochondria in HeLa cells. More importantly, GA targeting TPE-T-CPS show better PDT effect than its non-GA-targeting counterpart TPE-PyT-PS, even though they possess very close ROS generation rate. This work provides a strategy for the development of PSs with specific GA targeting ability, which is of great importance for precise and effective PDT.

Aggregation induced emission luminogen (AIEgen) based photosensitizers (PSs) have been developed for photodynamic cancer therapy. Here the authors report a series of AIEgen-based PSs that selectively target the Golgi apparatus, showing enhanced singlet oxygen generation and photodynamic therapy performance in cancer models.

[Clinical characteristics and risk factors of pericardial effusion after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in children with thalassemia major]

Objective: To investigate the characteristics, risk factors and outcomes of thalassemia major (TM) children with pericardial effusion (PE) after allo-geneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Methods: Clinical data of 446 TM children received allo-HSCT at Shenzhen Children's Hospital between January 2012 and December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into PE and non-PE group according to the occurrence of PE. Chi-square tests were used to investigate the risk factors that were associated with the development of PE. Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis of the 2 groups. Results: Twenty-five out of 446 patients (5.6%) developed PE at a time of 75.0 (66.5, 112.5) days after allo-HSCT. Among these patients, 22 cases (88.0%) had PE within 6 months after allo-HSCT and 19 patients (76.0%) had PE within 100 days after allo-HSCT. The diagnoses of PE were confirmed using echocardiography. Pericardial tamponade was observed in only 1 patient, who later undergone emergency pericardiocentesis. The rest of patients received conservative managements alone. PE disappeared in all patients after treatment. Risk factors that were associated with the development of PE after allo-HSCT included the gender of patients, the type of transplantation, the number of mononuclear cells (MNC) infuse, pulmonary infection after HSCT and transplantation associated thrombotic microangiopathy (TA-TMA) (χ²=3.99, 10.20, 14.18, 36.24, 15.03, all P<0.05). In 239 patients that received haploidentical HSCT, the development of PE was associated with the gender of patients, pulmonary infection after HSCT and TA-TMA (χ²=4.48, 20.89, 12.70, all P<0.05). The overall survival rates of PE and non-PE groups were 96.0% (24/25) and 98.6% (415/421). The development of PE was not associated with the overall survival of TM children after allo-HSCT (χ²=1.73, P=0.188). Conclusions: PE mainly develop within 100 days after allo-HSCT in pediatric TM recipients. Haploidentical grafts, female gender, pulmonary infection after HSCT and TA-TMA are the main risk factors associated with PE development after transplant. However, the presence of PE don't have a significant impact on the outcomes of pediatric TM patients after allo-HSCT.

Photo-generated hydroxyl radicals contribute to the formation of halogen radicals leading to ozone depletion on and within polar stratospheric clouds surface

Polar stratospheric clouds (PSCs), of which the surface is a dynamic liquid water layer and might consist of aqueous HNO₃ and H₂O₂, is a well-known key meteorological condition contributing to the ozone hole in the polar stratosphere. PSCs has been considered to provide abundant surface for the heterogeneous reactions causing the formation of the Cl₂ and HOCl, which are further photolyzed into Cl and ClO radicals leading to the ozone destruction. Here we demonstrated that the sunlight drives the massive and stable production of OH radicals in aqueous HNO₃ and its main photo-induced byproduct HNO₂. We also found that the photo-generated OH radicals in aqueous HNO₃, HNO₂ and H₂O₂ have the remarkable capability to react with the dissolved HCl, Cl^- and Br^- to form halogen radicals. In addition, we observed that the H₂O₂ can react with dissolved HCl and Br^- in darkness to form and release Cl₂ and Br₂ gases, which could further be photolyzed into reactive halogen radicals whenever sunlight is available. All these findings suggest that, except for the well-known heterogeneous reactions, photochemical reactions involving the aqueous HNO₃ and H₂O₂ on and within PSCs surface might constitute another important halogen activation pathway for ozone destruction. This study may shed deeper insights into the mechanism of halogen radicals resulting in ozone depletion in polar stratosphere.

Study of the effect of ceria on the activity and selectivity of Co and Ce co-doped birnessite manganese oxide for formaldehyde oxidation

Catalytic oxidation is a promising approach to eliminating formaldehyde (HCHO) to improve indoor air quality. Herein, CeO₂ was explored due to its remarkable properties for oxygen storage and oxygen transfer capability for co-doping δ-MnO₂ alongside cobalt for enhanced low-temperature oxidation of HCHO. Various characterization techniques were deployed to understand the morphology and physicochemical properties of the synthesized catalysts. The Co-Ce co-doped catalysts with low CeO₂ loading (0.05 and 0.1) showed higher catalytic activity for HCHO oxidation due to their higher concentration of surface-active oxygen species. Catalytic oxidation results showed that the presence of CeO₂ leads to the generation of methanol as a secondary hazardous pollutant. Methanol selectivity increases with increasing CeO₂ loading in the catalysts. The results from in-situ DRIFTS confirmed the formation of methoxy species in the presence of CeO₂, which are intermediates for methanol generation. Considering the recent interest in CeO₂ as a potential catalyst for practical abatement of HCHO from the indoor environment, this work has thus raised questions on the safety of using CeO₂ as a catalytic material for HCHO oxidation. It also provides insights into the surface reaction mechanism leading to the generation of methanol in the presence of CeO₂.

[Comprehensive treatment options and influencing factors in elderly patients with breast cancer]

Objective: To investigate the treatment options for breast cancer patients aged 65 and over, and analyze the influencing factors. Methods: The clinical data of 521 elderly patients aged 65 years or older,who underwent surgery in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to December 2015, were collected. They were all female and 65-98 years old. The patients were divided into 65-74 years old group (n=353) and ≥ 75 years old group (n=168). The differences of variables including age, functional status, treatment methods, pathological characteristics, comorbidities and survival time between the two groups were compared, and the differences of comprehensive treatment methods and their impact on clinical efficacy were analyzed. Results: The main operation methods of the two groups were modified radical mastectomy [39.1% (138/353) and 33.9% (57/168), respectively], breast conserving surgery [56.9% (201/353) and 61.3% (103/353), respectively]. Among the patients choosing adjuvant therapy, there was no significant difference between the two groups except chemotherapy (all P>0.05). Univariate analysis showed that the choice of chemotherapy was related to age, surgical methods, pathological types, tumor burden, molecular typing, functional status and comorbidities (all P<0.05). The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score and the number of comorbidities were independent factors affecting the choice of chemotherapy for breast cancer in the elderly: [ECOG score: adjusted OR=0.45 (95CI: 0.26-0.75), number of comorbidities: adjusted OR = 0.63 (95CI:0.41-0.98); all P<0.05]. The 5-year disease-free survival rate of 521 elderly patients with breast cancer was 86.3%, 5-year overall survival rate was 88.8%, and the breast cancer specific survival rate was 94.3%. Conclusions: The comprehensive treatment of breast cancer patients aged 65 and above is not affected by age, but is associated with tumor burden, pathological type, molecular typing, comorbidities and ECOG score. Among them, ECOG score and the number of comorbidities are the independent factors influencing the choice of adjuvant chemotherapy.

Tribological and thermal characteristics of epoxy-based composites by incorporating polyaryletherketone

Current research work focuses on the tribological and thermal properties of epoxy resin matrix composites, which were modified by polyaryletherketone (PAEK-C). The results of the infrared spectra and morphologies of fracture surfaces experiments corroborate the successful synthesis of the materials. From the tribological experiments, it can be known that when the mass fraction of PAEK-C was 10 phr., the corresponding composite exhibited the outstanding wear performances, which could be ascribed to the higher H/E ratio. Based on the results of tribological experiments, it could be obtained that the main wear mechanism is governed by combination of the plastic deformation, creation of vertical cracks in the sliding track, separation of debris, and material waves due to adhesions. In addition, the glass transition temperatures ( Tg) and heat-resistance index ( THRI) of the PAEK-C/epoxy resin higher than those of pure epoxy resin matrix, respectively. Furthermore, when the mass fraction of PAEK-C increased, the heat resistance index ( THRI) of the corresponding composite is 196.3°C, which is higher than that of neat epoxy resin (180.9°C). Also, according to the results of thermogravimetric analysis experiments, it could conclude that the activation energy of the curing process is situated in the range of 150–160 kJ mol−1 depending on the mass fraction of epoxy resins.

[Fibrinogen gamma-chain mutation, p.Ile171His, leads to hereditary hypofibrinogenemia]

Objective: To explore the clinical phenotype and genotype of a family with hereditary hypofibrinogenemia. Methods: Activated partial thrombin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT),thrombin time (TT) and thrombelastogram (TEG) were tested in all family members. Fibrinogen activity and antigen were detected by Clauss method and immunoturbidimetric method respectively. All exons and flanking sequences of fibrinogen FGA,FGB,FGG genes were analyzed by PCR, and the products were subjected to Sanger sequencing. Results: The proband represented prolonged PT and TT, low Fg activity and antigen, elevated K value and decreased Angle value in TEG. Other family members reported similar changes including proband's father,daughter and son, and his elder brother and his niece. Exon 5 c.510_512 of FGG gene in the proband revealed a minor deletion mutation. Conclusion: The novel heterozygous missense mutation of exon 5 c.510_512del (Gln170_Ile171 del ins His) of FGG gene is the molecular mechanism that leads to hereditary hypofibrinogenemia in this family.

Variation characteristics of stress distribution in the subchondral bone of the knee joint of judo athletes with long-term stress changes

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the distribution of bone density in the subchondral bone tissue of the knee joint due to the mechanical stress load generated by judo, the bone tissue volume of different densities and the bone remodeling characteristics of the subchondral bone of the knee joint.

METHODS

CT imaging data of the knee joint were collected from 15 healthy individuals as controls and 15 elite judo athletes. Firstly, they were processed by the CTOAM technique, and secondly, the distribution pattern of high-density areas of the knee joint was localized using nine anatomical regions. In addition, three tomographic images were selected in the sagittal, coronal, and axial 2D image windows to observe the distribution of different densities of bone tissue. Finally, the percentage of bone tissue volume (%BTV) and bone remodeling trend of bone tissues with different densities were determined.

RESULTS

In this study, high-density areas were found in the 4th, 5th, and 6th regions of the articular surface of the distal femur and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th regions of the tibial plateau in judo athletes; the distribution of high-density areas on the articular surface of the distal femur in control subjects was similar with judo athletes, and high-density areas were mainly found in the 4th and 5th regions of the tibial plateau. The %BTV of low (401-500HU in the distal femur; 301-400 HU and 401-500HU in the tibial plateau), moderate, and high bone density was higher in judo athletes than in controls in the subchondral bone of the distal femur and tibial plateau (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The history of compressive stresses, struck stresses, soft tissue tension and pull, self-gravity and intra-articular stress loading generated by the lower limb exercise technique of judo leads to specific forms of stress distribution and bone tissue remodeling in the subchondral bone tissue within the distal femur and tibia plateau.

A multifunctional electronic skin based on patterned metal films for tactile sensing with a broad linear response range

Electronic skins (e-skins) with multifunctional sensing functions have attracted a lot of attention due to their promising applications in intelligent robotics, human-machine interfaces, and wearable healthcare systems. Here, we report a multifunctional e-skin based on patterned metal films for tactile sensing of pressure and temperature with a broad linear response range by implementing the single sensing mechanism of piezoresistivity, which allows for the easy signal processing and simple device configuration. The sensing pixel features serpentine metal traces and spatially distributed microprotrusions. Experimental and numerical studies reveal the fundamental aspects of the multifunctional tactile sensing mechanism of the e-skin, which exhibits excellent flexibility and wearable conformability. The fabrication approach being compatible with the well-established microfabrication processes has enabled the scalable manufacturing of a large-scale e-skin for spatial tactile sensing in various application scenarios.

Current progress on catalytic oxidation of toluene: a review

Toluene is one of the pollutants that are dangerous to the environment and human health and has been sorted into priority pollutants; hence, the control of its emission is necessary. Due to severe problems caused by toluene, different techniques for the abatement of toluene have been developed. Catalytic oxidation is one of the promising methods and effective technologies for toluene degradation as it oxidizes it to CO₂ and does not deliver other pollutants to the environment. This paper highlights the recent progressive advancement of the catalysts for toluene oxidation. Five categories of catalysts, including noble metal catalysts, transition metal catalysts, perovskite catalysts, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-based catalysts, and spinel catalysts reported in the past half a decade (2015-2020), are reviewed. Various factors that influence their catalytic activities, such as morphology and structure, preparation methods, specific surface area, relative humidity, and coke formation, are discussed. Furthermore, the reaction mechanisms and kinetics for catalytic oxidation of toluene are also discussed.

[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of MLL-AF6 positive patients with acute myeloid leukemia]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical features and prognosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene rearrangements AF6 (MLL-AF6) positive.

METHODS

In the study, 11 patients who were newly diagnosed with MLL-AF6 positive AML were analyzed retrospectively, related literature was reviewed to clarify the clinical features and prognosis of MLL-AF6 positive patients.

RESULTS

Among the 11 patients, there were 6 males and 5 females, with a median age of 36 years. Six patients were diagnosed with AML M5 and five with M4 according to FAB classification (French-American-British classification systems). Gingival swelling and pain occurred in 6 cases and fever occurred in 5 cases. At first diagnosis, the median white blood cells were 55.5×109/L. Immunotype showed the expression of myeloid/monocyte and early stem cell series antigens. The expression level of MLL-AF6 fusion gene (real-time quantitative PCR) was 14.2%-214.5%, and 6/11 cases (54.5%) were associated with high EVI1 gene expression. Mutations of KRAS, TET2, ASXL1, TP53, DNMT3A, and FLT3-ITD were detected by next generation sequencing (NGS) in 4 patients. Chromosome G banding examination showed that 2 cases were t(6;11)(q27, q23) with complex karyotype abnormality, 4 cases with +8 abnormality and 2 cases with normal karyotype. Hematological complete remission (CR) was achieved in 8/11 patients (72.7%) after conventional induction chemotherapy, and primary drug resistance was observed in 3 patients. Two of the eight patients with CR were negative for minimal residual disease (MRD), with a median CR duration of 4.5 months. Two patients with positive MRD and three patients with refractory recurrence underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), but all died due to leukemia progression. At the end of follow-up on December 1, 2019, 2 patients were alive and 9 died, with median survival time of 9 months.

CONCLUSION

The AML patients with MLL-AF6 positive were mostly young, the majority of FAB types were M4 and M5, and most of the patients often had fever as the first symptom, with increased white blood cells, accompanied by organ infiltration, and high EVI1 gene expression. The hematological remission rate of routine chemotherapy is not low, but it is difficult to achieve molecular remission, most of which have early recurrence. Early allo-HSCT in a molecular negative state may prolong the CR duration.

A review on analysis methods, source identification, and cancer risk evaluation of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have gained attention because of their environmental persistence and effects on ecosystems, animals, and human health. They are mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic. The review provides background knowledge about their sources, metabolism, temporal variations, and size distribution in atmospheric particulate matter. The review article briefly discusses the analytical methods suitable for the extraction, characterization, and quantification of nonpolar and polar PAHs, addressing the challenges. Herein, we discussed the molecular diagnostic ratios (DRs), stable carbon isotopic analysis (SCIA), and receptor models, with much emphasis on the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model, for apportioning PAH sources. Among which, DRs and PCA identified as the most widely employed method, but their accuracy for PAH source identification has received global criticism. Therefore, the review recommends compound-specific isotopic analysis (CSIA) and PMF as the best alternative methods to provide detailed qualitative and quantitative source analysis. The compound-specific isotopic signatures are not affected by environmental degradation and are considered promising for apportioning PAH sources. However, isotopic fractions of co-eluted compounds like polar PAHs and aliphatic hydrocarbons make the PAHs isotopic fractions interpretation difficult. The interference of unresolved complex mixtures is a limitation to the application of CSIA for PAH source apportionment. Hence, for CSIA to further support PAH source apportionment, fast and cost-effective purification techniques with no isotopic fractionation effects are highly desirable. The present review explains the concept of stable carbon isotopic analysis (SCIA) relevant to PAH source analysis, identifying the techniques suitable for sample extract purification. We demonstrate how the source apportioned PAHs can be applied in assessing the health risk of PAHs using the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) model, and in doing so, we identify the key factors that could undermine the accuracy of the ILCR and research gaps that need further investigation.