PHDtools: A platform for pathogen detection and multi-dimensional genetic signatures decoding to realize pathogen genomics data analyses online

OBJECTIVES

Facing the emerging diseases, rapid identification of the pathogen and multi-dimensional characterization of the genomic features at both isolate-level and population-level through high-throughput sequencing data can provide invaluable information to guide the development of antiviral agents and strategies. However, a user-friendly program is in urgent need for clinical laboratories without bioinformatics background to decode the complex big genomics data.

METHODS

In this study, we developed an interactive online platform named PHDtools with a total of 15 functions to analyze metagenomics data to identify the potential pathogen and decode multi-dimensional genetic signatures including intra-/inter-host variations and lineage-level variations. The platform was applied to analyze the meta-genomic data of the samples collected from the 172 imported COVID-19 cases.

RESULTS

According to the analytical results of mNGS, 27 patients were found to have the co-infections of SARS-CoV-2 with either influenza virus (n = 9) or human picobirnavirus (n = 19). Enough coverages of all the assembled SARS-CoV-2 genomes provided the sub-lineages of Omicron variant, and the number of mutations in the non-structural genes and M gene was increased, as well as the intra-host variations occurred in E and M gene were under positive selection (Ka/Ks > 1). These findings of increased or changed mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 genome characterized the current adaptive evolution patterns of Omicron sub-lineages, and revealed the evolution speed of these sub-lineages might increase.

CONCLUSIONS

Consequently, the application of PHDtools has proved that this platform is accurate, user-friendly and convenient for clinical users who are deficient in bioinformatics, and the clinical monitor of SARS-CoV-2 genomes by PHDtools also highlighted the potential evolution features of current SARS-CoV-2 and indicated that the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents and new-designed vaccines should incorporate the gene variations other than S gene.

Surface Crystallization Enhancement and Defect Passivation for Efficiency and Stability Enhancement of Inverted Wide-Bandgap Perovskite Solar Cells

Wide-bandgap (WBG) inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are used as the top cell for tandem solar cells, which is an effective way to outperform the Shockley-Queisser limit. However, the low efficiency and poor phase stability still seriously restrict the application of WBG inverted PSCs. Here, the surface of the WBG perovskite film was passivated by the synthesized 1,2,4-tris(3-thienyl)benzene (THB). The THB size well matches with the halogen ion vacancy on the perovskite surface, and the S atom in THB can strongly interact with Pb2+ on the surface of the WBG perovskite film to the greatest extent, which effectively passivates surface defects and suppresses the recombination of carriers caused by these defects. At the same time, the S atom in THB occupied the migration site of the halogen ions, which inhibits the migration of halogen ions. Due to the strong conjugation effect and stability of THB, it can be locked on the surface of perovskite to increase the lattice strength and inhibit the segregation of photoinduced halide, thus improving the performance and operational stability of PSCs. The THB-modified WBG (Eg = 1.71 eV) PSC achieves a maximum power conversion efficiency of 20.75%, and its 99.0% is retained after 1512 h at a relative humidity of 10-25%. Under the irradiation of 1000 lx LED light, the indoor power conversion efficiency of the THB-modified WBG PSC reaches 34.15%.

High-Quality TiO2 Electron Transport Film Prepared via Vacuum Ultraviolet Illumination for MAPbI3 Perovskite Solar Cells

The electron transport layer (ETL) plays an important role in determining the conversion efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Here, TiO2 thin film was prepared by irradiating diisopropoxy diacetylacetone titanium precursor thin film with 172 nm vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) at a low temperature. The prepared TiO2 thin film has higher electron mobility and conductivity. As it is used as an ETL for MAPbI3 PSCs, its band structure is better matched with the perovskite, and at the same time, due to the good interface contact, more uniform perovskite crystals are formed. Most importantly, a large number of hydroxyl radicals were formed during VUV irradiation of the precursor film, which made up for the oxygen defect present on the surface of the TiO2 thin film, and were adsorbed to the film surface. These hydroxyl groups form hydrogen bonds with methylammonium (MA) components on the MAPbI3 buried surface, thus promoting the transfer of photogenerated electrons at the MAPbI3/ETL interface. The power conversion efficiency of PSCs fabricated in air with the ETL prepared by VUV irradiation is 20.46%, which is higher than that of the contrast solar cell based on the sintered ETL (17.96%).

Abnormal cell wall structure caused by boron nutrient imbalance in orchards could affect psyllid feeding behaviour, resulting in epidemic variation of Asian citrus psyllid

The control of Huanglongbing (HLB), one of the most destructive pests of citrus, relies heavily on the reduction of Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama. An in-depth understanding of ACP feeding behaviours among citrus plants is urgent for comprehensive management of orchards. An investigation was conducted in 37 citrus orchards in HLB epidemic areas, sampling shoots in the area with aggregation feeding of ACP (ACPf) and shoots in a neighbouring area without ACP feeding (CK), to study the interaction between leaf chemical composition and ACP psyllid feeding behaviours. Results of FTIR showed a strong absorption peak intensity, mainly representing functional groups originating from cell wall components in the leaf with ACP feeding. As compared with the control, cell wall components, such as alkali-soluble pectin, water-soluble pectin, total soluble pectin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, of the cell wall of ACPf increased by 134.0%, 14.0%, 18.0%, 12.5%, and 20.35%, respectively. These results suggest that cell wall mechanical properties significantly decreased in the term of decreases in pectin performance and cellulose mechanical properties. In addition, there was a remarkably lower boron (B) content in leaves and cell wall components with ACP feeding. Further analysis indicated that leaf B content significantly affected leaf cell wall components. Taken together, we provide evidence to demonstrate that the regional distribution of nutrient imbalance in orchards could affect psyllid feeding behaviour by weakening the cell wall structure, resulting in epidemic variation in ACP. This could help us to understand the management of psyllid infections in orchards with unbalanced nutrition.

Intestinal Translocation of Live Porphyromonas gingivalis Drives Insulin Resistance

Periodontitis has been emphasized as a risk factor of insulin resistance-related systemic diseases. Accumulating evidence has suggested a possible "oral-gut axis" linking oral infection and extraoral diseases, but it remains unclear whether periodontal pathogens can survive the barriers of the digestive tract and how they play their pathogenic roles. The present study established a periodontitis mouse model through oral ligature plus Porphyromonas gingivalis inoculation and demonstrated that periodontitis aggravated diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, while also causing P. gingivalis enrichment in the intestine. Metabolic labeling strategy validated that P. gingivalis could translocate to the gastrointestinal tract in a viable state. Oral administration of living P. gingivalis elicited insulin resistance, while administration of pasteurized P. gingivalis had no such effect. Combination analysis of metagenome sequencing and nontargeted metabolomics suggested that the tryptophan metabolism pathway, specifically indole and its derivatives, was involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance caused by oral administration of living P. gingivalis. Moreover, liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis confirmed that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands, mainly indole acetic acid, tryptamine, and indole-3-aldehyde, were reduced in diet-induced obese mice with periodontitis, leading to inactivation of AhR signaling. Supplementation with Ficz (6-formylindolo (3,2-b) carbazole), an AhR agonist, alleviated periodontitis-associated insulin resistance, in which the restoration of gut barrier function might play an important role. Collectively, these findings reveal that the oral-gut translocation of viable P. gingivalis works as a fuel linking periodontitis and insulin resistance, in which reduction of AhR ligands and inactivation of AhR signaling are involved. This study provides novel insight into the role of the oral-gut axis in the pathogenesis of periodontitis-associated comorbidities.

Incremental yield of whole-genome sequencing over chromosomal microarray analysis and exome sequencing for congenital anomalies in prenatal period and infancy: systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

First, to determine the incremental yield of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) over quantitative fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (QF-PCR)/chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) with and without exome sequencing (ES) in fetuses, neonates and infants with a congenital anomaly that was or could have been detected on prenatal ultrasound. Second, to evaluate the turnaround time (TAT) and quantity of DNA required for testing using these pathways.

METHODS

This review was registered prospectively in December 2022. Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, MEDLINE (Web of Science), The Cochrane Library and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched electronically (January 2010 to December 2022). Inclusion criteria were cohort studies including three or more fetuses, neonates or infants with (i) one or more congenital anomalies; (ii) an anomaly which was or would have been detectable on prenatal ultrasound; and (iii) negative QF-PCR and CMA. In instances in which the CMA result was unavailable, all cases of causative pathogenic copy number variants > 50 kb were excluded, as these would have been detectable on standard prenatal CMA. Pooled incremental yield was determined using a random-effects model and heterogeneity was assessed using Higgins' I2 test. Subanalyses were performed based on pre- or postnatal cohorts, cases with multisystem anomalies and those meeting the NHS England prenatal ES inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies incorporating 902 eligible cases were included, of which eight (44.4%) studies focused on prenatal cohorts, incorporating 755 cases, and the remaining studies focused on fetuses undergoing postmortem testing or neonates/infants with congenital structural anomalies, constituting the postnatal cohort. The incremental yield of WGS over QF-PCR/CMA was 26% (95% CI, 18-36%) (I2  = 86%), 16% (95% CI, 9-24%) (I2  = 85%) and 39% (95% CI, 27-51%) (I2  = 53%) for all, prenatal and postnatal cases, respectively. The incremental yield increased in cases in which sequencing was performed in line with the NHS England prenatal ES criteria (32% (95% CI, 22-42%); I2  = 70%) and in those with multisystem anomalies (30% (95% CI, 19-43%); I2  = 65%). The incremental yield of WGS for variants of uncertain significance (VUS) was 18% (95% CI, 7-33%) (I2  = 74%). The incremental yield of WGS over QF-PCR/CMA and ES was 1% (95% CI, 0-4%) (I2  = 47%). The pooled median TAT of WGS was 18 (range, 1-912) days, and the quantity of DNA required was 100 ± 0 ng for WGS and 350 ± 50 ng for QF-PCR/CMA and ES (P = 0.03).

CONCLUSION

While WGS in cases with congenital anomaly holds great promise, its incremental yield over ES is yet to be demonstrated. However, the laboratory pathway for WGS requires less DNA with a potentially faster TAT compared with sequential QF-PCR/CMA and ES. There was a relatively high rate of VUS using WGS. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Synthesis and Broadband Photodetection of a P-Type 1D Van der Waals Semiconductor HfSnS3

1D van der Waals (vdW) materials have attracted significant interest in recent years due to their giant anisotropic and weak interlayer-coupled characters. More 1D vdW materials are urgently to be exploited for satisfying the practice requirement. Herein, the study of 1D vdW ternary HfSnS3 high-quality single crystals grown via the chemical vapor transport technique is reported. The Raman vibration modes and band structure of HfSnS3 are analyzed via DFT calculations. Its strong in-plane anisotropic is verified by the polarized Raman spectroscopy. The field-effect transistors (FETs) based on the HfSnS3 nanowires demonstrate p-type semiconducting behavior as well as outstanding photoresponse in a broadband range from UV to near-infrared (NIR) with short response times of ≈0.355 ms, high responsivity of ≈11.5 A W-1 , detectivity of ≈8.2 × 1011 , external quantum efficiency of 2739%, excellent environmental stability, and repeatability. Furthermore, a typical photoconductivity effect of the photodetector is illustrated. These comprehensive characteristics can promote the application of the p-type 1D vdW material HfSnS3 in optoelectronics.

Performance of Adaptive Deep Learning Models for Dose Predictions on High-Quality Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Images

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Online plan generation remains a patient-specific and time-consuming process that can place a significant burden on clinics strained with staffing shortages. As previous research show that dose-volume histogram (DVH) prediction plays a crucial role in automatic treatment planning, the objective of this study is to assess the capability of adaptive deep learning models in predicting dose information in volumetric modulation radiotherapy plans using the high-quality CBCT images and contour information of organs-at-risk (OARs).

MATERIALS/METHODS

The relationship between dose-volume histograms (DVHs) in radiotherapy plans and the geometric information of organs-at-risk (OAR) and planning target volume (PTV) has been well established. To evaluate the performance of the current state-of-the-art convolutional neural network (CNN) models including VIT3D and Unet3D, and intuitive machine learning methods (i.e., SVM and MLP), we implemented those models for dose prediction and conducted a comprehensive analysis with treatment plans created from images acquired from patients who consented to participate an IRB-approved imaging study designed to evaluate the imaging performance of the system. In total, 20 plans created by certified medical dosimetrists were employed in this study, with 15 used for training the machine-learning models and the remaining 5 used for performance testing. Two evaluation metrics were used: 1) root mean square error (RMSE) of the predicted dose and true dose and 2) time spent on dose prediction.

RESULTS

The results of the analysis showed that the ViT-3D (Transformer) model had the lowest RMSE of 3.682 ±0.010, followed by the Unet-3D (CNN) model with an RMSE of. 3.973 ±0.021 The MLP model had an RMSE of 8.007 ±0.019 while the SVM model had the highest RMSE of 9.156 ±0.032. For a fair comparison, we use 4-fold cross validation (each has 15 training plans and 5 testing plans), and report the mean value with standard deviation. All models are optimized with Adam optimizer of a learning rate 0.01, and the training process is stopped after 100 epochs. These findings indicate that the ViT-3D (Transformer) model performed the best in terms of predicting the dose information in volumetric modulation radiotherapy plans based on the CBCT images and contour information of OARs. For tested plan which contains 81 CT images (512 × 512 resolution), the inference time to predict dose information with a general CPU machine (6-Core Intel Core i7) is about 1.5 minutes. With GPU resources, such as NVIDIA A100, the inference process can be finished within seconds.

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that current state-of-the-art machine-learning models can achieve promising accuracy in dose prediction using high-quality CBCT images. A well-trained machine-learning model could offer clinicians a quick and reliable prediction of the true dose to patients in the case of significant anatomical changes or provide patient-specific optimization objectives if replanning is warranted.

[Study on the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and dyslipidemia in adult residents in Beijing]

Objective: To understand the relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and dyslipidemia among adults in Beijing and to provide a scientific basis for relevant intervention. Methods: Data were from Beijing Adult Non-communicable and Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Surveillance Program in 2017. A total of 13 240 respondents were selected by multistage cluster stratified sampling method. The monitoring contents include a questionnaire survey, physical measurement, collection of fasting venous blood, and determination of related biochemical indicators. SPSS 20.0 software was used for the chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of total dyslipidemia (39.27%), hypertriglyceridemia (22.61%), and high LDL-C (6.03%) were the highest among those exposed to daily secondhand smoke. Among the male respondents, the prevalence of total dyslipidemia (44.42%) and hypertriglyceridemia (26.12%) were the highest among those exposed to secondhand smoke daily. Multivariate logistic regression analysis after adjustment for confounding factors showed that compared with no exposure to secondhand smoke, the population with an average exposure frequency of 1-3 days per week had the highest risk of total dyslipidemia (OR=1.276, 95%CI: 1.023-1.591). Among the patients with hypertriglyceridemia, those exposed to secondhand smoke daily had the highest risk (OR=1.356, 95%CI: 1.107-1.661). Among the male respondents, those exposed to secondhand smoke for 1-3 days per week had a higher risk of total dyslipidemia (OR=1.366, 95%CI: 1.019-1.831), and the highest risk of hypertriglyceridemia (OR=1.377, 95%CI: 1.058-1.793). There was no significant correlation between the frequency of secondhand smoke exposure and the risk of dyslipidemia among female respondents. Conclusions: Secondhand smoke exposure in Beijing adults, especially men, will increase the risk of total dyslipidemia, especially hyperlipidemia. Improving personal health awareness and minimizing or avoiding exposure to secondhand smoke is necessary.

[Diagnostic value of multiparametric MRI-based models in the assessment of extra-prostatic extension of prostate cancer]

Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic value of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) based models in the assessment of extra-prostatic extension (EPE) of prostate cancer. Methods: This retrospective study included 168 consecutive men with prostate cancers [aged 48 to 82 (66.6±6.8) years] who underwent radical prostatectomy and preoperative mpMRI examinations at the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital from January 2021 to February 2022. According to European Society of Urogenital Radiology (ESUR) score, EPE grade and mEPE score, all cases were independently evaluated by two radiologists, with disagreement reviewed by a senior radiologist as the final result. The diagnostic performance of each MRI-based model for pathologic EPE prediction was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), and the differences between the corresponding area under the curve (AUC) were compared using the DeLong test. The weighted Kappa test was used to evaluate the inter-reader agreement of each MRI-based model. Results: A total of 62 (36.9%) prostate cancer patients had pathologic confirmed EPE after radical prostatectomy. The AUC of ESUR score, EPE grade and mEPE score for predicting pathologic EPE were 0.836 (95%CI: 0.771-0.888), 0.834 (95%CI: 0.769-0.887) and 0.785 (95%CI: 0.715-0.844), respectively. The AUC of ESUR score and EPE grade were both superior to that of mEPE score with significant differences (all P<0.05), while there was no significant difference between the ESUR score and EPE grade models (P=0.900). EPE grading and mEPE score had good inter-reader consistency, with weighted Kappa values of 0.65 (95%CI: 0.56-0.74) and 0.74 (95%CI: 0.64-0.84), respectively. The inter-reader consistency of ESUR score was moderate, and the weighted Kappa value was 0.52 (95%CI: 0.40-0.63). Conclusion: All MRI-based models showed good preoperative diagnostic value in predicting EPE, among which the EPE grade resulted in more reliable performance with substantial inter-reader agreement.

Ternary GePdS3: 1D van der Waals Nanowires for Integration of High-Performance Flexible Photodetectors

One-dimensional (1D) van der Waals (vdW) materials are anticipated to leverage for high-performance, giant polarized, and hybrid-dimension photodetection owing to their dangling-bond free surface, intrinsic crystal structure, and weak vdW interaction. However, only a few related explorations have been conducted, especially in the field of flexible and integrated applications. Here, high-quality 1D vdW GePdS₃ nanowires were synthesized and proven to be an n-type semiconductor. The Raman vibration and band gap (1.37-1.68 eV, varying from bulk to single chain) of GePdS₃ were systemically studied by experimental and theoretical methods. The photodetector based on a single GePdS₃ nanowire possesses fast photoresponse at a broadband spectrum of 254-1550 nm. The highest responsivity and detectivity reach up to ∼219 A/W and ∼2.7 × 10¹⁰ Jones (under 254 nm light illumination), respectively. Furthermore, an image sensor with 6 × 6 pixels based on GePdS₃ nanowires is integrated on a flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate and exhibits sensitive and homogeneous detection at 808 nm light. These results indicate that the ternary noble metal chalcogenides show great potential in flexible and broadband optoelectronics applications.

Room-Temperature Intrinsic Ferromagnetic Chromium Tellurium Compounds with Thickness-Tunable Magnetic Texture

2D ferromagnetic chromium tellurides exhibit intriguing spin configurations and high-temperature intrinsic ferromagnetism, providing unprecedented opportunities to explore the fundamental spin physics and build spintronic devices. Here, a generic van der Waals epitaxial approach is developed to synthesize the 2D ternary chromium tellurium compounds with thicknesses down to mono-, bi-, tri-, and few-unit cells (UC). The Mn_0.14 Cr_0.86 Te evolves from intrinsic ferromagnetic behavior in bi-UC, tri-UC, and few-UC to temperature-induced ferrimagnetic behavior as the thickness increases, resulting in a sign reversal of the anomalous Hall resistance. Temperature- and thickness-tunable labyrinthine-domain ferromagnetic behaviors are derived from the dipolar interactions in Fe_0.26 Cr_0.74 Te and Co_0.40 Cr_0.60 Te. Furthermore, the dipolar-interaction-induced stripe domain and field-induced domain wall (DW) motion velocity are studied, and multibit data storage is realized through an abundant DW state. The magnetic storage can function in neuromorphic computing tasks, and the pattern recognition accuracy can reach up to 97.93%, which is similar to the recognition accuracy of ideal software-based training (98.28%). Room-temperature ferromagnetic chromium tellurium compounds with intriguing spin configurations can significantly promote the exploration of the processing, sensing, and storage based on 2D magnetic systems.

[A descriptive analysis of hyperlipidemia in adult twins in China]

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hyperlipidemia in adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and explore the effect of genetic and environmental factors on hyperlipidemia. Methods: Twins recruited from the CNTR in 11 project areas across China were included in the study. A total of 69 130 (34 565 pairs) of adult twins with complete information on hyperlipidemia were selected for analysis. The random effect model was used to characterize the population and regional distribution of hyperlipidemia among twins. The concordance rates of hyperlipidemia were calculated in monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ), respectively, to estimate the heritability. Results: The age of all participants was (34.2±12.4) years. This study's prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 1.3% (895/69 130). Twin pairs who were men, older, living in urban areas, married,had junior college degree or above, overweight, obese, insufficient physical activity, current smokers, ex-smokers, current drinkers, and ex-drinkers had a higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (P<0.05). In within-pair analysis, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia was 29.1% (118/405) in MZ and 18.1% (57/315) in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. Further, in within-same-sex twin pair analyses, the heritability of hyperlipidemia was 13.04% (95%CI: 2.61%-23.47%) in the northern group and 18.59% (95%CI: 4.43%-32.74%) in the female group, respectively. Conclusions: Adult twins were included in this study and were found to have a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia than in the general population study, with population and regional differences. Genetic factors influence hyperlipidemia, but the genetic effect may vary with gender and area.

[A descriptive analysis on hypertension in adult twins in China]

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hypertension among adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and to provide clues for exploring the role of genetic and environmental factors on hypertension. Methods: A total of 69 220 (34 610 pairs) of twins aged 18 and above with hypertension information were selected from CNTR registered from 2010 to 2018. Random effect models were used to describe the population and regional distribution of hypertension in twins. To estimate the heritability, the concordance rates of hypertension were calculated and compared between monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ). Results: The age of all participants was (34.1±12.4) years. The overall self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 3.8%(2 610/69 220). Twin pairs who were older, living in urban areas, married, overweight or obese, current smokers or ex-smokers, and current drinkers or abstainers had a higher self-reported prevalence of hypertension (P<0.05). Analysis within the same-sex twin pairs found that the concordance rate of hypertension was 43.2% in MZ and 27.0% in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The heritability of hypertension was 22.1% (95%CI: 16.3%- 28.0%). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hypertension in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. The heritability of hypertension was higher in female participants. Conclusions: There were differences in the distribution of hypertension among twins with different demographic and regional characteristics. It is indicated that genetic factors play a crucial role in hypertension in different genders, ages, and regions, while the magnitude of genetic effects may vary.

Growth of single-crystal black phosphorus and its alloy films through sustained feedstock release

Black phosphorus (BP), a fascinating semiconductor with high mobility and a tunable direct bandgap, has emerged as a candidate beyond traditional silicon-based devices for next-generation electronics and optoelectronics. The ability to grow large-scale, high-quality BP films is a prerequisite for scalable integrated applications but has thus far remained a challenge due to unmanageable nucleation events. Here we develop a sustained feedstock release strategy to achieve subcentimetre-size single-crystal BP films by facilitating the lateral growth mode under a low nucleation rate. The as-grown single-crystal BP films exhibit high crystal quality, which brings excellent field-effect electrical properties and observation of pronounced Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations, with high mobilities up to ~6,500 cm² V^-1 s^-1 at low temperatures. We further extend this approach to the growth of single-crystal BP alloy films, which broaden the infrared emission regime of BP from 3.7 μm to 6.9 μm at room temperature. This work will greatly facilitate the development of high-performance electronics and optoelectronics based on BP family materials.

[Study on the relationship between indexes of different abnormal weight and dyslipidemia in adults in Beijing City]

Objective: To analyze the relationship and consistency between indexes of different abnormal weight and dyslipidemia in adults in Beijing City. Methods: From August to December of 2017, 4 975 residents aged 18 to 79 years old in 5 districts of Beijing were randomly selected as subjects by using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method. Questionnaire, physical examination and laboratory tests were conducted. The prevalence of overweight/obesity, high body fat rate, central obesity, and high waist-to-height ratio was calculated. Partial correlation was used to analyze the correlation of blood lipid with body mass index (BMI), body fat rate, waist circumference and waist-height ratio. Logistic regression analysis for complex sampling was used to analyze the relationship between indexes of different abnormal weight and dyslipidemia after controlling for relevant risk factors, including age, sex, smoking status, drinking, insufficiency intake of vegetable and fruit, physical inactivity. Kappa value was computed to analyze the consistency between indexes of different abnormal weight. Results: The weighted prevalence of dyslipidemia was 30.48%, and it was higher in men than that in women (40.16% vs. 20.52%, P<0.01). The weighted rate of overweight/obesity, high body fat rate, central obesity, and high waist-to-height ratio was 56.65%, 47.52%, 42.48% and 59.45%, respectively. BMI, body fat rate, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were positively correlated with the level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Logistic regression analysis for complex sampling showed that the high body fat rate (OR=1.67, 95%CI: 1.35-2.07), overweight/obesity (OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.26-2.14) and high waist-to-height ratio (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.09-1.96) were associated with dyslipidemias. Kappa values of high body fat rate with overweight/obesity, high waist-to-height ratio and central obesity were 0.65, 0.53 and 0.58, respectively (P<0.05). Conclusion: In 2017, the prevalence of dyslipidemia in adults in Beijing City is high, especially in men. Overweight/obesity, high body fat rate and high waist-to-height ratio are associated with dyslipidemia. The high body fat rate is most associated with dyslipidemia.

Increased pathogenicity and aerosol transmission for one SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant over the wild-type strain in hamsters

During the two-year pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been evolving. SARS-CoV-2 Delta, a variant of concern, has become the dominant circulating strain worldwide within just a few months. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of a new B.1.617.2 Delta strain (Delta630) compared with the early WIV04 strain (WIV04) in vitro and in vivo, in terms of replication, infectivity, pathogenicity, and transmission in hamsters. When inoculated intranasally, Delta630 led to more pronounced weight loss and more severe disease in hamsters. Moreover, 40% mortality occurred about one week after infection with 10⁴ ​PFU of Delta630, whereas no deaths occurred even after infection with 10⁵ ​PFU of WIV04 or other strains belonging to the Delta variant. Moreover, Delta630 outgrew over WIV04 in the competitive aerosol transmission experiment. Taken together, the Delta630 strain showed increased replication ability, pathogenicity, and transmissibility over WIV04 in hamsters. To our knowledge, this is the first SARS-CoV-2 strain that causes death in a hamster model, which could be an asset for the efficacy evaluation of vaccines and antivirals against infections of SARS-CoV-2 Delta strains. The underlying molecular mechanisms of increased virulence and transmission await further analysis.

Chemical Vapor Deposition of Quaternary 2D BiCuSeO p-Type Semiconductor with Intrinsic Degeneracy

2D BiCuSeO is an intrinsic p-type degenerate semiconductor due to its self-doping effect, which possesses great potential to fabricate high-performance 2D-2D tunnel field-effect transistors (TFETs). However, the controllable synthesis of multinary 2D materials by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is still a challenge due to the restriction of thermodynamics. Here, the CVD synthesis of quaternary 2D BiCuSeO nanosheets is realized. As-grown BiCuSeO nanosheets with thickness down to ≈6.1 nm (≈7 layers) and domain size of ≈277 µm show excellent ambient stability. Intrinsic p-type degeneracy of BiCuSeO, capable of maintaining even in a few layers, is comprehensively unveiled. By varying the thicknesses and temperatures, the carrier concentration of BiCuSeO nanosheets can be adjusted in the range of 10¹⁹ to 10²¹ cm^-3 , and the Hall mobility of BiCuSeO is ≈191 cm² V^-1 s^-1 (at 2 K). Furthermore, taking advantage of the p-type degeneracy of BiCuSeO, a prototypical BiCuSeO/MoS₂ TFET is fabricated. The emergence of the negative differential resistance trend and multifunctional diodes by modulating the gate voltage and temperature reveal the great practical implementation potential of BiCuSeO nanosheets. These results pave way for the CVD synthesis of multinary 2D materials and rational design of high-performance tunnel devices.

Excitonic Insulator Enabled Ultrasensitive Terahertz Photodetection with Efficient Low-Energy Photon Harvesting

Despite the interest toward the terahertz (THz) rapidly increasing, the high-efficient detection of THz photon is not widely available due to the low photoelectric conversion efficiency at this low-energy photon regime. Excitonic insulator (EI) states in emerging materials with anomalous optical transitions and renormalized valence band dispersions render their nontrivial photoresponse, which offers the prospect of harnessing the novel EI properties for the THz detection. Here, an EI-based photodetector is developed for efficient photoelectric conversion in the THz band. High-quality EI material Ta₂ NiSe₅ is synthesized and the existence of the EI state at room temperature is confirmed. The THz scanning near-field optical microscopy experimentally reveals the strong light-matter interaction in the THz band of EI state in the Ta₂ NiSe₅ . Benefiting from the strong light-matter interaction, the Ta₂ NiSe₅ -based photodetectors exhibit superior THz detection performances with a detection sensitivity of ≈42 pW Hz^-1/2 and a response time of ≈1.1 µs at 0.1 THz at room temperature. This study provides a new avenue for realizing novel high-performance THz photodetectors by exploiting the emerging EI materials.

Wafer-Scale Synthesis of 2D Dirac Heterostructures for Self-Driven, Fast, Broadband Photodetectors

Type-II Dirac semimetal platinum ditelluride (PtTe₂) is a promising functional material for photodetectors because of its specially tilted Dirac cones, strong light absorption, and high carrier mobilities. The stack of two-dimensional (2D) Dirac heterostructures consisting of PtTe₂ and graphene could overcome the limit of detection range and response time occurring in the heterostructures of graphene and other low-mobility and large-gap transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). Here, we report an approach for achieving highly controllable, wafer-scale production of 2D Dirac heterostructures of PtTe₂/graphene with tunable thickness, variable size, and CMOS compatibility. More importantly, the optimized recipes achieve the exact stoichiometric ratio of 1:2 for Pt and Te elements without contaminating the underlayer graphene film. Because of the built-in electric field at the junction area, the photodetectors based on the PtTe₂/graphene heterostructure are self-driven with a broadband photodetection from 405 to 1850 nm. In particular, the photodetectors have a high responsivity of up to ∼0.52 AW^-1 (without bias) and a fast response time of ∼8.4 μs. Our work demonstrated an approach to synthesizing hybrid 2D Dirac heterostructures, which can be applied in the integration of on-chip, CMOS-compatible photodetectors with near-infrared detection, high sensitivity, and low energy consumption.

[Heritability and genetic correlation of body mass index and coronary heart disease in Chinese adult twins]

Objective: To examine the heritability of body mass index (BMI) and coronary heart disease (CHD), and to explore whether genetic factors can explain their correlation. Methods: Participants were from 11 provinces/municipalities reqistered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) from 2010 to 2018. Participants data were collected from face-to-face questionnaire survey. Bivariate structure equation model was used to estimate the heritability and the genetic correlation of BMI and CHD. Results: A total of 20 340 pairs of same-sex twins aged ≥25 years were included in this study. After adjusting for age and gender, the heritability of BMI and CHD was 0.52 (95%CI: 0.49-0.55) and 0.76 (95%CI: 0.69-0.81), respectively. Further, a genetic correlation was identified between BMI and CHD (r_A=0.10, 95%CI:0.02-0.17). Conclusion: In Chinese adult twin population, BMI and CHD are affected by genetic factors, and their correlation can be attributed to the common genetic basis.

P-719 Effect of frozen and thawed embryo transfer on metabolism of children in early childhood

Study question

We aimed to investigate the metabolic profile at age 1.5 – 4 years in chidren conceived from FET.

Summary answer

Plasma concentration of ApoE , fasting insulin and 11 small molecule metabolities were different beween FET group and the NC group.

What is known already

Rencently,we showed that FET-conceived male mouse offspring presented glucose metabolism dysfunction mainly manifesting insulin resistance. Observations from human studies indicate that body fat composition in IVF children is disturbed and children conceived by IVF/ICSI have a less favourable glucose and cardiovascular metabolic profile in childhood when compared with naturally conceived. But human study emphasised on metabolic profile of children concieved from FET is limited, one follow-up study have suggested that children conceived by FET often show abnormal lipid metabolism.

Study design, size, duration

284 children at early childhood (1.5-4 years) conceived from FET or naturally conceived were recruited based on the data from electronic Case Report Forms (e-CRF) in the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital (IPMCHH) from September 2018 to November 2019. A total of 147 children (with 118 born after FET and 29 conceived naturally) was included for biochemical examination and metabolomics analysis.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The peripheral venous blood of 147 children aged 1.5 - 4 years (with 118 born after FET and 29 conceived naturally) was drawn in the fasting state (&gt;8h). FBG was measured using a glucometer, plasma concentrations of TC,TG, HDL , LDL were measured by chemistry analyzer, commercial ELISA kits were used for the measurment of Apolipoprotein, insulin, leptin, CRP,FT3, FT4, and TSH. Metabolomic analysis was performed on an UPLC-MS/MS system against 210 metabolites.

Main results and the role of chance

The results of present study revealed that the chidren conceived from FET have different metabolite profile than the naturally conceived children. Except for the higher BMI of chidren from FET group, ApoE and insulin were found respectivedly higher and lower in chidren from FET group than in NC group. As for metabolomic analysis,small metabolities which reflect intestinal fermentation such as second bile acid and short chain fatty acids was significantly higher in children conceived from FET; unsaturated fatty acids which are crucial for neurodevelopment was significanty lower in FET group.

Limitations, reasons for caution

Firstly, due to the small sample size, larger sample size and a longer follow-up period will be needed to observe the long-term metabolic profile and neurobehavioral performance of offspring conceived from FET. Secondly, we did not rule out other factors that may have influence on the metabolism of children.

Wider implications of the findings

To our knowledged, we demenstrated the metabolic profile of chidren born after FET in early childhood by metabolomic analysis for the first time.The fast insulin level was significant decreased in FET group than NC group, which is opposes to previous findings.

Trial registration number

2016YFC1000203

Bilateral vertebral arteries entering the C4 foramen transversarium with the left vertebral artery originating from the aortic arch

Vertebral arteries (VAs) serve as major blood vessels to the central nervous system. VAs typically arise from the subclavian arteries and ascend separately within the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae (C6-C1) before entering the skull at the foramen magnum and joining at the base of the pons to form the basilar artery of the vertebrobasilar circulation. Therefore, variations in the origin and anatomic course of the VAs have implications for invasive medical procedures involving the superior thoracic/cervical regions or the cervical vertebrae. The current case report describes variation in the entry point of both VAs and the site of origin of the left vertebral artery. The variation was revealed during routine dissection of a 72-year-old female cadaver. It was found that the left vertebral artery originated directly from the aortic arch to abnormally enter the transverse foramen of C4 instead of the transverse foramen of C6. The right vertebral artery arose as usual from the right subclavian artery. However, the right vertebral artery also directly entered the transverse foramen of C4 instead of the transverse foramen of C6.

Effects of residual feed intake divergence on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters in small-sized meat ducks

Feed efficiency (FE) is a major economic trait of meat duck. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of residual feed intake (RFI) divergence on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters in small-sized meat ducks. A total of 500 healthy 21-day-old male ducks were housed in individual cages until slaughter at 63 d of age. The growth performance was determined for all the ducks. The carcass yield, meat quality, and blood biochemical parameters were determined for the selected 30 high-RFI (HRFI) and 30 low-RFI (LRFI) ducks. In terms of growth performance, the RFI, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and average daily feed intake (ADFI) were found to be significantly lower in the LRFI group (P < 0.01), whereas no differences were observed in the BW and body weight gain (P > 0.05). For slaughter performance, no differences were observed in the carcass traits between the LRFI and HRFI groups (P > 0.05). For meat quality, the shear force of breast muscle was significantly lower in the LRFI group (P < 0.05), while the other meat quality traits of breast and thigh muscles demonstrated no differences (P > 0.05). For blood biochemical parameters, the serum concentrations of triglycerides (TG) and glucose (GLU) were significantly lower in the LRFI group (P < 0.05), while the other parameters showed no differences (P > 0.05). The correlation analysis demonstrated a high positive correlation between RFI, FCR, and ADFI (P < 0.01). The RFI demonstrated a negative effect on the breast muscle and lean meat yields, but a positive effect on the shear force of breast muscle (P < 0.05). Further, the RFI demonstrated a positive effect on the TG and GLU levels (P < 0.05). These results indicate that the selection for low RFI could improve the FE of small-sized meat ducks without affecting the production performance. This study provides valuable insight into the biological processes underlying the variations in FE in small-sized meat ducks.

[Impact of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy for primary liver cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the impact of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on clinical outcomes of patients receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study among 215 patients with primary liver cancer receiving immunotherapy between June, 2018 and October, 2020. The patients with balanced baseline characteristics were selected based on propensity matching scores, and among them 33 patients who used NSAIDs were matched at the ratio of 1∶3 with 78 patients who did not use NSAIDs. We compared the overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control rate (DCR) between the two groups.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in OS between the patients using NSAIDs (29.7%) and those who did not use NSAIDs (70.2%). Univariate and multivariate analyses did not show an a correlation of NSAIDs use with DCR (univariate analysis: OR=0.602, 95% CI: 0.299-1.213, P=0.156; multivariate analysis: OR=0.693, 95% CI: 0.330-1.458, P=0.334), PFS (univariate analysis: HR=1.230, 95% CI: 0.789-1.916, P=0.361; multivariate analysis: HR=1.151, 95% CI: 0.732-1.810, P=9.544), or OS (univariate analysis: HR=0.552, 95% CI: 0.208-1.463, P=0.232; multivariate analysis: HR=1.085, 95% CI: 0.685-1.717, P=0.729).

CONCLUSION

Our results show no favorable effect of NSAIDs on the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with advanced primary liver cancer, but this finding still needs to be verified by future prospective studies of large cohorts.

[Gene-lifestyle interaction on coronary heart disease in adult twins of China]

Objective: To explore the gene-lifestyle interaction on coronary heart disease (CHD) in adult twins of China. Methods: Participants were selected from twin pairs registered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR). Univariate interaction model was used to estimate the interaction, via exploring the moderation effect of lifestyle on the genetic variance of CHD. Results: A total of 20 477 same-sex twin pairs aged ≥25 years were recruited, including 395 CHD cases, and 66 twin pairs both had CHD. After adjustment for age and sex, no moderation effects of lifestyles, including current smoking, current drinking, physical activity, intake of vegetable and fruit, on the genetic variance of CHD were found (P>0.05), suggesting no significant interactions. Conclusion: There was no evidence suggesting statistically significant gene-lifestyle interaction on CHD in adult twins of China.

Exploring the diagnostic utility of genome sequencing for fetal congenital heart defects

OBJECTIVE

The diagnostic yield for congenital heart defects (CHD) with routine genetic testing is around 10-20% when considering the pathogenic CNVs or aneuploidies as positive findings. This is a pilot study to investigate the utility of genome sequencing (GS) for prenatal diagnosis of CHD.

METHODS

Genome sequencing (GS, 30X) was performed on 13 trios with CHD for which karyotyping and/or chromosomal microarray results were non-diagnostic.

RESULTS

Trio GS provided a diagnosis for 4/13 (30.8%) fetuses with complex CHDs and other structural anomalies. Findings included pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants in DNAH5, COL4A1, PTPN11, and KRAS. Of nine cases without a possibly genetic etiology by GS, we had follow-up on eight. For five of them (60%), the parents chose to keep the pregnancy. A balanced translocation [46,XX,t(14;22)(q32.33;q13.31)mat] was detected in a trio with biallelic DNAH5 mutations, which together explained the recurrent fetal situs inversus and dextrocardia that was presumably due to de novo Phelan-McDermid syndrome. A secondary finding of a BRCA2 variant and carrier status of HBB, USH2A, HBA1/HBA2 were detected in the trio.

CONCLUSIONS

GS expands the diagnostic scope of mutation types over conventional testing, revealing the genetic etiology for fetal heart anomalies. Patients without a known genetic abnormality indicated by GS likely opted to keep pregnancy especially if the heart issue could be repaired. We provide evidence to support the application of GS for fetuses with CHD. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

[Characteristics of high-risk cardiovascular disease among residents aged 35-75 in 8 districts of Beijing]

Objective: To understand the characteristics and current situation of high risks related to cardiovascular disease among residents aged 35-75 in Beijing and to provide scientific reference for the formulation and improvement of cardiovascular disease prevention and control strategies and measures. Methods: According to the data of the Cardiovascular Disease Screening and Management Program in Beijing, 93 520 participants aged 35-75 in 8 districts of Beijing were selected for analysis. We used the χ² test to compare the high-risk prevalence of cardiovascular disease in different population characteristics. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationship between population characteristics and the high risks of cardiovascular disease. Results: The prevalence of high-risk cardiovascular disease was 20.82% (19 471/93 520). The prevalence of high-risk population in the 65-75 years-old was significantly higher than those of other age groups [29.05% (5 151/17 733), χ²=3 359.37, P<0.001], and the prevalence increased with age (trend χ²=3 121.75, P<0.05). The prevalence of high risk in males was significantly higher than that of women (31.19%, 10 752/34 476 vs. 14.77%, 8 719/59 044, χ²=3 559.87, P<0.05). The most common clustered risk factors appeared as hypertension and diabetes (29.80%, 5 802/19 471), hypertension with smoking (37.84%, 4 069/10 752) in males, and hypertension with diabetes mellitus in females (49.32%, 4 300/8 719), in urban areas (33.62%, 2 571/7 647) and in suburbs (27.33%, 3 231/11 824). Lower education [high school (OR=1.56,95%CI:1.46-1.66), middle school (OR=1.99,95%CI:1.88-2.12), primary school and below (OR=2.28,95%CI:2.12-2.45)], non-Han ethnicity (OR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.07-1.33), unmarried (OR=1.16, 95%CI: 1.08-1.24), drinking alcohol (OR=3.06, 95%CI: 2.94-3.19), obesity (OR=1.85, 95%CI: 1.77-1.93), overweight (OR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.36-1.47), etc., were positively correlated with the high risk of cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: We noticed that the prevalence of high-risk groups of cardiovascular disease aged 35-75 years was around 20% in Beijing, and the proportion in males was higher than females. Low education, drinking, overweight, and obesity were positively correlated with the risks of cardiovascular disease.

[Current status of regular exercise and influencing factors in 18-64 year old labor force population in Beijing]

Objective: To understand the regular exercise status and influencing factors in 18-64 year-old labor force population in Beijing, and provide evidences for behavioral intervention. Methods: Data were collected from Beijing Adult Non-communicable and Chronic Diseases and Risk Factors Surveillance Program from August to December, 2017. The stratified cluster sampling method was used to select 13 240 survey subjects throughout the city. The valid sample size included in this study were 11 604 persons aged 18 to 64 years. Questionnaire was used to collection the information about basic demographic characteristics, chronic disease history and physical activity prevalence of the study subjects. The body height and weight were measured by standard methods. Fasting venous blood samples were collected for the detection of fasting blood glucose, blood lipids and other biochemical indicators. Software SPSS 20.0 was used fort complex sampling sample weighting and data analysis. Results: The proportions of the study subjects who did regular exercise and never had leisure-time activity in 18-64 year-old labor force population in Beijing were 23.74% (95%CI: 21.51%-26.12%) and 64.34% (95%CI: 61.66%-66.94%) respectively; The average daily physical activity time was 23.44 min (95%CI: 21.16-25.71), and the total daily sedentary behavior time was 6.96 hours (95%CI: 6.80-7.13). With the increase of age, the proportions of the study subjects who did regular exercise and never had leisure-time activity increased (P=0.006, P<0.001). With the increase of educational level, the proportion of those who did regular exercise increased (P<0.001), and the proportion of those who never had leisure-time activity decreased (P<0.001); the higher the level of physical activity, the higher the regular exercise proportion (P<0.001); the proportions of employed people who did regular exercise was lower than those in unemployed people (P<0.001); the proportions of women never had leisure-time activity was higher than those in men (P=0.024). The results of multivariate analysis showed that older age and higher education level were positive factors for regular exercise (35- years old: OR=0.653, 95%CI: 0.530-0.804, P<0.001; 50-64 years old: OR=0.695, 95%CI: 0.560-0.864, P=0.001; high school/technical secondary school/technical School: OR=0.679, 95%CI: 0.593-0.777, P<0.001; college graduation: OR=0.478, 95%CI: 0.387-0.590, P<0.001; bachelor degree and above: OR=0.435, 95%CI: 0.347-0.546, P<0.001), while employment (OR=1.631, 95%CI: 1.330-2.000, P<0.001) and married/cohabitation (OR=1.340, 95%CI: 1.093-1.644, P=0.038) were negative factors for regular exercise. Conclusions: The rate of regular exercise in 18-64 year-old labor force population in Beijing needs to be improved. Older age and high educational level were positive factors for regular exercise, while being married and employed were negative factors for it.

[Investigation on knowledge, attitude and behavior of salt reduction in adults of Beijing in 2017]

Objective: To explore the knowledge, attitude and behavior of salt reduction in adults of Beijing in 2017. Methods: Based on the monitoring data of chronic diseases and corresponding risk factors in adults of Beijing in 2017, the indicators of salt reduction knowledge, attitude and behavior of 13 240 participants aged 18-79 years old were analyzed. The awareness rate, attitude support rate and behavior rate were calculated by complex weighting method, and compared among different age groups, genders, residential areas, and history of hypertension. The proportion of people taking various salt reduction measures to the total number of people was compared. Results: The awareness rate of recommended daily salt intake, the awareness of hypertension caused or aggravated by more salt intake, the attitude support rate and behavior rate of adults were 31.77%, 88.56%, 90.27% and 53.86%, respectively. After weighted adjustment, the awareness rate of recommended daily salt intake was 31.08%, which increased with age (χ²_trend=431.56, P<0.001) and education level (χ²_trend=95.44, P<0.001). The awareness rate of women was higher than that of men (χ²=118.89, P<0.001), and the awareness rate of population in urban areas was higher than that of population in suburban areas (χ²=34.09, P=0.001). The awareness rate of hypertension caused or aggravated by eating more salt was 86.73%. The support rate of salt reduction attitude was 90.45%. The rate of salt-reducing behavior was 54.05%. Among different salt reduction measures, reducing salt when cooking was the most common measure (52.41%), while the least common one (35.22%) was using low sodium salt. Logistic regression model analysis showed that the gender, age, education level, self-reported history of hypertension, awareness of salt recommendation, awareness of hypertension caused or aggravated by eating more salt, and salt reduction attitude were significantly associated with salt reduction behavior. Conclusion: In 2017, adults in Beijing have a basic understanding of the impact of high-salt diet on health and support salt reduction, but the rate of salt reduction behavior is still relatively low. There are obvious gender and age differences, and the salt reduction measure is simple. Targeted measures should be taken to promote the formation of salt reduction behavior.

[Analysis of the current status and related factors of oral nutritional supplements intake among 18-79 years old in Beijing in 2017]

Objective: To understand the current status of taking nutrient supplements for residents aged 18 to 79 years old in Beijing and its related factors. Methods: Data were gathered from the 2017 Beijing Non-communicable and Chronic Disease Surveillance Program. Multiple classified cluster sampling method was used, and participants aged 18-79 were sampled from 16 districts. The questionnaire included chronic diseases and related risk factors, health knowledge, and oral nutritional supplements within 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression models were established to analyze associated factors that affect the intake of nutrient supplements. Results: The weighted prevalence of supplements use was 13.1% among 12 696 subjects within the past 12 months. The proportions of multivitamins (4.7%), B vitamins (4.5%), and folic acid (3.2%) were higher. The prevalence of supplement use of young people (18-39 years old) and the elderly (60-79 years old) was higher than middle-aged people (40-59 years old) (χ²=54.09, P<0.001). Except for the age group of 70-79 years old, the consumption rate of women was significantly higher than that of men (P<0.05). After adjusting age and sex, among patients with hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia, the control rates of blood pressure, glucose and lipids of patients who take nutrient supplements were higher than those who do not (P<0.05). And participants who took nutrient supplements had a more heightened awareness rate of health knowledge, such as the hazards of smoking and second-hand smoke, and recommended amount of salt per day (P<0.001). The multi-factor logistic analysis found that nutrient supplement-related factors include women, old age, higher education level, living in urban, insufficient physical activity, sleeping problems, active physical examination, blood pressure control among patients, and health knowledge (P<0.05). Conclusions: The factors of nutrient supplements use were related to sex, age, education level, health status, and health literacy. We should pay attention to key populations and guide them to establish the correct concept of taking nutrient supplements.

Controllable synthesis of high-quality two-dimensional tellurium by a facile chemical vapor transport strategy

Recently, as an elementary material, tellurium (Te) has received widespread attention for its high carrier mobility, intriguing topological properties, and excellent environmental stability. However, it is difficult to obtain two-dimensional (2D) Te with high crystalline quality owing to its intrinsic helical chain structure. Herein, a facile strategy for controllable synthesis of high-quality 2D Te nanoflakes through chemical vapor transport in one step is reported. With carefully tuning the growth kinetics determined mainly by temperature, tellurium nanoflakes in lateral size of up to ∼40 μm with high crystallinity can be achieved. We also investigated the second harmonic generation of Te nanoflakes, which demonstrates that it can be used as frequency doubling crystals and has potential applications in nonlinear optical devices. In addition, field effect transistor devices based on the 2D Te nanoflakes were fabricated and exhibited excellent electrical properties with high mobility of 379 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.

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High-quality 2D Te nanoflakes were directly synthesized by CVT method

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The growth mechanisms of 2D Te nanoflakes were systematically studied

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2D Te nanoflakes have potential applications in nonlinear optical devices

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2D Te nanoflakes-based FETs exhibit high mobility of ∼379 cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹

Caloric restriction and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass promote white adipose tissue browning in mice

PURPOSE

Caloric restriction (CR) and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) are considered effective means of body weight control, but the mechanism by which CR and RYGB protect against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity remains elusive. The browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) is a potential approach to combat obesity. Here we assess whether browning of WAT is involved in CR- and RYGB-treatment.

METHODS

The average size of adipocytes was determined by histological analysis. Expression of thermogenic genes in both human subjects and mice were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

The average size of adipocytes was bigger, while the expression of thermogenic genes such as uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), nuclear factor erythroid-2 like 1 (NRF1) and PPARγ coactivator-1 α (PGC1α) were lower in the WAT of obese subjects when compared to lean controls. Both CR and RYGB promoted weight and fat loss. Increment of the average adipocytes size and down-regulation of thermogenic genes were significantly reversed by both CR and RYGB in the WAT of obese mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings showed that CR and RYGB significantly improved high-fat diet-induced lipid accumulation by promoting the browning of WAT.

Highly Efficient, Ultrabroad PdSe2 Phototransistors from Visible to Terahertz Driven by Mutiphysical Mechanism

The noble transition metal dichalcogenide palladium diselenide (PdSe₂) is an ideal candidate material for broad-spectrum photodetection owing to the large bandgap tunability, high mobility, low thermal conductivity, and large Seebeck coefficient. In this study, self-powered ultrabroadband PdSe₂ photodetectors from the visible-infrared to terahertz (THz) region driven by a mutiphysical mechanism are reported. In the visible-infrared region, the photogenerated electron-hole pairs in the PdSe₂ body are quickly separated by the built-in electric field at the metal-semiconductor interface and achieve a photoresponsivity of 28 A·W^-1 at 405 nm and 0.4 A·W^-1 at 1850 nm. In the THz region, PdSe₂ photodetectors display a room-temperature responsivity of 20 mA·W^-1 at 0.10 THz and 5 mA·W^-1 at 0.24 THz based on efficient production of hot carriers in an antenna-assisted structure. Owing to the fast response speed of ∼7.5 μs and low noise equivalent power of ∼900 pW·Hz^-1/2, high-resolution transmission THz imaging is demonstrated under an ambient environment at room temperature. Our research validates the great potential of PdSe₂ for broadband photodetection and provides a possibility for future optoelectronic applications.

A Novel Role for the Regulatory Nod-Like Receptor NLRP12 in Anti-Dengue Virus Response

Dengue Virus (DENV) infection can cause severe illness such as highly fatality dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Innate immune activation by Nod-like receptors (NLRs) is a critical part of host defense against viral infection. Here, we revealed a key mechanism of NLRP12-mediated regulation in DENV infection. Firstly, NLRP12 expression was inhibited in human macrophage following DENV or other flaviviruses (JEV, YFV, ZIKV) infection. Positive regulatory domain 1 (PRDM1) was induced by DENV or poly(I:C) and suppressed NLRP12 expression, which was dependent on TBK-1/IRF3 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Moreover, NLRP12 inhibited DENV and other flaviviruses (JEV, YFV, ZIKV) replication, which relied on the well-conserved nucleotide binding structures of its NACHT domain. Furthermore, NLRP12 could interact with heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) dependent on its Walker A and Walker B sites. In addition, NLRP12 enhanced the production of type I IFNs (IFN-α/β) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), including IFITM3, TRAIL and Viperin. Inhibition of HSP90 with 17-DMAG impaired the upregulation of type I IFNs and ISGs induced by NLRP12. Taken together, we demonstrated a novel mechanism that NLRP12 exerted anti-viral properties in DENV and other flaviviruses (JEV, YFV, ZIKV) infection, which brings up a potential target for the treatment of DENV infection.

Femtosecond ultrafast pulse generation with high-quality 2H-TaS2 nanosheets via top-down empirical approach

Tantalum disulfide (TaS₂), an emerging group VB transition metal dichalcogenide, with unique layered structure, rich phase diagrams, metallic behavior, higher carrier concentration and mobility is emerging as a prototype for revealing basic physical phenomena and developing practical applications. However, its photonics properties and even engineering-related processes are still rare. Here, the top-down experiment demonstration, including synthesis, thickness optimization and nonlinear optical application, has been reported. In addition, the ultrafast (∼373 fs) erbium-doped fiber pulse with a small time-bandwidth product (∼0.34) and long-term stability (∼25 days) was realized using the nonlinear absorption properties of the high-quality 2H-TaS₂ nanosheet. These results suggest an experimental route for further ultrafast photonics exploration based on metallic transition metal dichalcogenides.

Nontrivial Giant Linear Magnetoresistance in Nodal-Line Semimetal ZrGeSe 2D Layers

Linear magnetoresistance (LMR) is usually observed in topological quantum materials and plausibly connected with the topologically nontrivial surface state with Dirac-cone-like linear dispersion because the frequently encountered large Hall resistivity can be trivially mixed into the LMR via charge inhomogeneity. Herein, by applying an optimal gate voltage to nodal-line semimetal ZrGeSe two-dimensional (2D) layers with specific thicknesses, we observe a giant nonsaturated LMR of 8 × 10⁴% at 2 K and a magnetic field of 9 T. This giant LMR is accompanied by a very small Hall resistivity, which is inconsistent with the charge inhomogeneity mechanism. Our systematic results confirm that the giant LMR is maximized when the topological semimetal is in the "even-metal" regime and suppressed upon evolution to the normal "odd-metal" regime. The "even-to-odd" transition is universal regardless of the thicknesses of the crystals. A comparison with Abrikosov's quantum LMR theory indicates that the observed LMR cannot be trivial.

Ultrasensitive and Self-Powered Terahertz Detection Driven by Nodal-Line Dirac Fermions and Van der Waals Architecture

Terahertz detection has been highly sought to open a range of cutting-edge applications in biomedical, high-speed communications, astronomy, security screening, and military surveillance. Nonetheless, these ideal prospects are hindered by the difficulties in photodetection featuring self-powered operation at room temperature. Here, this challenge is addressed for the first time by synthesizing the high-quality ZrGeSe with extraordinary quantum properties of Dirac nodal-line semimetal. Benefiting from its high mobility and gapless nature, a metal-ZrGeSe-metal photodetector with broken mirror symmetry allows for a high-efficiency photoelectric conversion assisted by the photo-thermoelectric effect. The designed architecture features ultrahigh sensitivity, excellent ambient stability, and an efficient rectified signal even above 0.26 THz. Maximum responsivity larger than 0.11 A W-1 , response time of 8.3 µs, noise equivalent power (NEP) less than 0.15 nW Hz-1/2 , and demonstrative imaging application are all achieved. The superb performances with a lower dark current and NEP less than 15 pW Hz-1/2 are validated through integrating the van der Waals heterostructure. These results open up an appealing perspective to explore the nontrivial topology of Dirac nodal-line semimetal by devising the peculiar device geometry that allows for a novel roadmap to address targeted terahertz application requirements.

[Gene-body mass index interaction on coronary heart disease in Chinese adult twins]

Objective: To explore the gene-body mass index (BMI) interaction on coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Chinese adult twins. Methods: A total of 20 340 same-sex twin pairs registered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) were enrolled in this study. Classical twin structure equation model was used to estimate the gene-BMI interaction on CHD. Results: After adjusting for age, we found that genetic variance of CHD differed as the function of BMI in male twins, which indicated the presence of a gene-BMI interaction on CHD (P=0.008).The genetic moderating effect (β_a) was -0.14 (95%CI: -0.22--0.04), indicating that for each logarithmic transformation value of BMI increase, genetic path parameters would decrease by 0.14, which would result in the decrease of genetic variance of CHD. And the heritability of CHD was 0.77 (95%CI: 0.65-0.86) among the male twins with lower BMI (<24.0 kg/m²), but 0.56 (95%CI: 0.33-0.74) among the male twins with high BMI (≥24.0 kg/m²). However, there was no evidence suggesting that BMI could moderate genetic variants of CHD in female. Conclusion: We found a significant gene-BMI interaction on CHD in the Chinese male adult twins in China, and the heritability of CHD was higher among the twins whose BMI was <24.0 kg/m².

[Modification of physical activity on genetic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus: a twin pairs cohort study in China]

Objective: To explore the modification effect of physical activity on the genetic effects of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: The univariate moderation model was fitted to calculate the modifying effect of physical activity on the genetic effects of T2DM based on the data of 12 107 pairs of same gender twins aged 30 years and older enrolled by the Chinese National Twin Registry in 11 provinces/cities in China. Results: After adjusting for age and gender, the heritability of T2DM was 0.56 (0.31-0.84). Qualified physical activity could attenuate the genetic effects of T2DM. The heritability of T2DM in twin pairs with qualified physical activity was 0.46 (0.06-0.88), which was lower than that in twin pairs without qualified physical activity during the same model [0.68(0.36-0.94)]. Conclusion: T2DM is a moderate genetic disease, physical activity can modify the genetic effects of T2DM.

[A descriptive analysis on body mass index distribution in adult twin pairs in China]

Objective: To describe the differences in body mass index (BMI) distribution in adult twins registered in Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR), and provide evidence for the risk factor analysis and prevention and control of overweight or obesity. Methods: A total of 32 725 twin pairs aged 18 years and above who completed the questionnaire survey during 2010-2018 and had complete registered information in CNTR and normal body weight and length were included in the analysis on the population and region specific distributions of BMI of twin pairs and the difference in BMI in twin pairs. Results: The twin pairs included in the analysis were aged (34.6±12.4) years, the twin pairs of same gender accounted for 79.7%. The average BMI was 22.5 kg/m². The overall prevalence of obesity and overweight was 4.9% and 23.7%, respectively. Participants who were men, 50-59 years old, married, had lower education level, and lived in northern China had higher overweight rate and obesity rate (P<0.001). The difference in overweight or obesity prevalence between monozygotic (MZ) twin pars and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs was not significant, but firstborn twin pairs had slightly higher rates of overweight and obesity than later-born twin pairs (P<0.05). The analysis in same gender-twin pairs indicated that the difference in BMI was associated with age (trend test: P<0.001), and the difference was more obvious in DZ twin pair in MZ pair and this difference increased with age. The concordant rate of BMI was higher in MZ twin pairs than DZ twin pairs (P<0.05). Conclusion: The distribution of BMI of twin pairs varied with population and region and BMI varied with age due to its genetic nature.

Fizeau drag in graphene plasmonics

Dragging of light by moving media was predicted by Fresnel¹ and verified by Fizeau's celebrated experiments² with flowing water. This momentous discovery is among the experimental cornerstones of Einstein's special relativity theory and is well understood^3,4 in the context of relativistic kinematics. By contrast, experiments on dragging photons by an electron flow in solids are riddled with inconsistencies and have so far eluded agreement with the theory^5-7. Here we report on the electron flow dragging surface plasmon polaritons^8,9 (SPPs): hybrid quasiparticles of infrared photons and electrons in graphene. The drag is visualized directly through infrared nano-imaging of propagating plasmonic waves in the presence of a high-density current. The polaritons in graphene shorten their wavelength when propagating against the drifting carriers. Unlike the Fizeau effect for light, the SPP drag by electrical currents defies explanation by simple kinematics and is linked to the nonlinear electrodynamics of Dirac electrons in graphene. The observed plasmonic Fizeau drag enables breaking of time-reversal symmetry and reciprocity¹⁰ at infrared frequencies without resorting to magnetic fields^11,12 or chiral optical pumping^13,14. The Fizeau drag also provides a tool with which to study interactions and nonequilibrium effects in electron liquids.

Gastrodin protects against high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte toxicity via GSK-3β-mediated nuclear translocation of Nrf2

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is one of the major complications of diabetes that causes mortality and morbidity in diabetic patients. Gastrodin (GSTD) is a bioactive phenolic glucoside component of an ancient Chinese herb Tianma (Gastrodia elata Bl.), which is widely used for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases by ancient Chinese. Up to now, whether GSTD has a beneficial effect on DCM is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of GSTD on high glucose-induced injury in H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes and HL-1 mouse cardiomyocytes, and its underlying mechanisms. High glucose (33 mM) treatment caused cardiomyocyte toxicity, oxidative stress and apoptosis in both H9c2 and HL-1 cells. Under both normal (5.5 mM glucose) and high glucose conditions, GSTD showed protective effect against high glucose-induced cytotoxicity and promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in a concentration and time-dependent manner in H9c2 and HL-1 cells. Knockdown of Nrf2 expression using siRNA specifically targeting Nrf2 attenuated the protective effect of GSTD. Furthermore, GSTD promoted the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 via activating glycogen synthase kinse-3β (GSK-3β) signaling pathway. 4-benzyl, 2-methyl, 1, 2, 4-thiadiazolidine, 3, 5 dione (TDZD-8), an inhibitor of GSK-3β, inhibited the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 induced by GSTD, and attenuated the protective effect of GSTD as Nrf2 knockdown did. In summary, GSTD could protect against high glucose-induced cardiomyocyte toxicity via GSK-3β-mediated nuclear translocation of Nrf2.

[The current status and trend of disease burden of neoplasms in 1990 and 2016 for Beijing people]

Objective: To investigate the current status and trend of disease burden of neoplasms in 1990 and 2016 for Beijing people. Methods: The incidence situation, deaths status and disease burden of neoplasms in Beijing were described by using the results of the global burden of diseases study 2016 (GBD 2016). The measurement index included incidence, death, years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), and disability-adjusted years (DALY). Using the average world population from 2000 to 2025 as standard population to calculate the age-standardized incidence rate, mortality rate, DALY rate, YLL rate and YLD rate. Results: The age-standardized incidence rate of neoplasms in 2016 was 250.68 per 100 000, which increased by 30.03% than in 1990. The age-standardized mortality rate was 115.83 per 100 000, which decreased by 26.71% than in 1990. The DALY, YLL and YLD of neoplasms in 2016 were 671.2, 651.1 and 20.1 thousand person-years, respectively, which increased by 85.83%, 82.79% and 302.00% than those in 1990. The age-standardized DALY rate and YLL rate were 2 549.00 and 2 469.84 per 100 000, which decreased by 33.22% and 34.30% than those in 1990. The age-standardized YLD rate was 79.16 per 100 000, which increased by 37.17% than that in 1990. The male DALY, YLL and YLD in 2016 were 428.8, 417.8 and 11.0 thousand person-years, and female were 242.4, 233.3 and 9.1 thousand person-years, respectively.Among different neoplasms, the top three neoplasms of DALY and YLL were lung cancer, liver cancer, colon and rectum cancer, the top three of YLD were lung cancer, colon and rectum cancer, breast cancer. The topped group of disease burden of neoplasms was aged from 50 to 69 years old, the DALY of which was 323.6 thousand person-years, accounted for 48.21% of all DALY, and increased by 87.70% than that in 1990. Conclusions: The disease burden of neoplasms in Beijing is dominated by YLL, and the YLD increases rapidly. The burden is severe in the group of aged from 50 to 69 years old, and the male is severer than female. Lung cancer ranks the first of the disease burden of neoplasms. The DALY of colorectal cancer has increased. Comprehensive strategies should be promoted, including cultivating a good lifestyle and implementing prevention and control of neoplasm risk factors as early as teenage group, early screening of high-risk population, and enhancing the instruction of patients' treatment and rehabilitation.