[Clinical analysis of 11 cases multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection in children]

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data of 11 children with MIS-C, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics of Peking University First Hospital from December 2022 to January 2023. Clinical characteristics, treatment, and follow-up of MIS-C were summarized in this study. Results: The 11 cases contained 7 boys and 4 girls, with an age of 4.4 (2.0, 5.5) years on admission. All the patients had fever, with a duration of 7(5, 9) days. Other clinical manifestations included rash in 7 cases, conjunctival hyperemia in 5 cases, red lips and raspberry tongue in 3 cases, lymphadenopathy in 3 cases, and swollen fingers and toes in 2 cases. There were 8 cases of digestive symptoms, 8 cases of respiratory symptoms, and 3 cases of nervous system symptoms. Eight patients had multi-system injuries, and one of them had shock presentation. All 11 patients were infected with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BF.7 variant. The laboratory examination results showed that all cases had elevated inflammatory indicators, abnormal coagulation function and myocardial damage. Six patients had elevated white blood cell counts, 5 cases had liver function abnormalities, 3 cases had kidney function abnormalities, and 8 cases had coronary artery involvement. All 11 patients received anti-infection treatment, of which 3 cases received only 2 g/kg intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), while the remaining 8 cases received a combination of IVIG and 2 mg/(kg·d) methylprednisolone. Among the 8 cases with coronary artery disease, 6 cases received low molecular weight heparin anticoagulation therapy. All patients were followed up in 2 weeks after being discharged, and their inflammatory markers had returned to normal by that time. The 8 cases with coronary artery disease and 3 cases with pneumonia showed significant improvement or back to normal at the 4-week follow-up. All patients had no new complications or comorbidities during follow-up of more than 3 months. Conclusions: MIS-C may present with Kawasaki disease-like symptoms, with or without gastrointestinal, neurological, or respiratory symptoms. Elevated inflammatory markers, abnormal coagulation function, and cardiac injury contribute to the diagnosis of MIS-C. IVIG and methylprednisolone were the primary treatments for MIS-C, and a favorable short-term prognosis was observed during a follow-up period of more than 3 months.

Observation of Single-Top-Quark Production in Association with a Photon Using the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of single top quarks produced together with a photon, which directly probes the electroweak coupling of the top quark. The analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Requiring a photon with transverse momentum larger than 20 GeV and within the detector acceptance, the fiducial cross section is measured to be 688±23(stat) _{-71}^{+75}(syst)  fb, to be compared with the standard model prediction of 515_{-42}^{+36}  fb at next-to-leading order in QCD.

Observation of the γγ→ττ Process in Pb+Pb Collisions and Constraints on the τ-Lepton Anomalous Magnetic Moment with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of τ-lepton-pair production in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions Pb+Pb→Pb(γγ→ττ)Pb and constraints on the τ-lepton anomalous magnetic moment a_{τ}. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.44  nb^{-1} of LHC Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment in 2018. Selected events contain one muon from a τ-lepton decay, an electron or charged-particle track(s) from the other τ-lepton decay, little additional central-detector activity, and no forward neutrons. The γγ→ττ process is observed in Pb+Pb collisions with a significance exceeding 5 standard deviations and a signal strength of μ_{ττ}=1.03_{-0.05}^{+0.06} assuming the standard model value for a_{τ}. To measure a_{τ}, a template fit to the muon transverse-momentum distribution from τ-lepton candidates is performed, using a dimuon (γγ→μμ) control sample to constrain systematic uncertainties. The observed 95% confidence-level interval for a_{τ} is -0.057 Collapse

Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Experimental Validation of a Kinetic Ballooning Mode in High-Performance High-Bootstrap Current Fraction Fusion Plasmas

We report the observation of a set of coherent high frequency electromagnetic fluctuations that leads to a turbulence induced self-regulating phenomenon in the DIII-D high bootstrap current fraction plasma. The fluctuations have frequency of 130-220  kHz, the poloidal wavelength and phase velocity are 16-30  m^{-1} and ∼30  km/s, respectively, in the outboard midplane with the estimated toroidal mode number n∼5-9. The fluctuations are located in the internal transport barrier (ITB) region at large radius and are experimentally validated to be kinetic ballooning modes (KBM). Quasilinear estimation predicts the KBM to be able to drive experimental particle flux and non-negligible thermal flux, suggesting its significant role in regulating the ITB saturation.

[Analysis of the reentry status of blood donors with reactive bloodborne pathogen screening markers in Hangzhou City]

Objective: To explore the reentry rate of reactive blood donors in the bloodborne pathogen infection screening in Hangzhou City, and analyze the donation behavior of those who successfully returned. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the return data of blood donors with reactive bloodborne pathogen screening markers was conducted at Zhejiang Provincial Blood Center from June 2017 to May 2022. The reentry process for blood donors with reactive bloodborne pathogen screening markers in Hangzhou City is as follows: after the initial screening period of 6 months, donors can voluntarily apply for return to the blood center. Samples are collected and subjected to routine enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) screening for HBsAg, anti-HCV, HIV Ab/Ag, and anti-TP, as well as a single nucleic acid (HIV/HCV/HBV) test. For samples that show non-reactivity in both ELISA and nucleic acid tests, serum biomarker testing for the reasons of exclusion is performed using chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA), and those with non-reactivity are allowed to return. Results: A total of 4 583 reactive blood donors who met the criteria for re-entry applied for reentry, out of which 475 applications were received from donors in the Hangzhou area. Among these, 279 donors were successfully readmitted, resulting in a success rate of 58.74% (279/475). By the end of December 2021, out of the 174 donors who successfully returned, 114 donors chose to donate again. They collectively donated 39 530 ml of whole blood and 1 147.2 therapeutic doses of platelets. Among these, 21 donors once again showed reactivity for pathogen infection biomarkers, accounting for 18.42% (21/114). Conclusion: The reentry strategy has somewhat mitigated the attrition of blood donors. Nevertheless, there are instances where donors who were successfully readmitted show reactivity once more in the screening for pathogen infection biomarkers.

Efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of advanced melanoma in patients with concomitant chronic lymphocytic leukemia

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the management of advanced melanoma (AM). However, data on ICI effectiveness have largely been restricted to clinical trials, thereby excluding patients with co-existing malignancies. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most prevalent adult leukemia and is associated with increased risk of melanoma. CLL alters systemic immunity and can induce T-cell exhaustion, which may limit the efficacy of ICIs in patients with CLL. We, therefore, sought to examine the efficacy of ICI in patients with these co-occurring diagnoses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this international multicenter study, a retrospective review of clinical databases identified patients with concomitant diagnoses of CLL and AM treated with ICI (US-MD Anderson Cancer Center, N = 24; US-Mayo Clinic, N = 15; AUS, N = 19). Objective response rates (ORRs), assessed by RECIST v1.1, and survival outcomes [overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS)] among patients with CLL and AM were assessed. Clinical factors associated with improved ORR and survival were explored. Additionally, ORR and survival outcomes were compared between the Australian CLL/AM cohort and a control cohort of 148 Australian patients with AM alone.

RESULTS

Between 1997 and 2020, 58 patients with concomitant CLL and AM were treated with ICI. ORRs were comparable between AUS-CLL/AM and AM control cohorts (53% versus 48%, P = 0.81). PFS and OS from ICI initiation were also comparable between cohorts. Among CLL/AM patients, a majority were untreated for their CLL (64%) at the time of ICI. Patients with prior history of chemoimmunotherapy treatment for CLL (19%) had significantly reduced ORRs, PFS, and OS.

CONCLUSIONS

Our case series of patients with concomitant CLL and melanoma demonstrate frequent, durable clinical responses to ICI. However, those with prior chemoimmunotherapy treatment for CLL had significantly worse outcomes. We found that CLL disease course is largely unchanged by treatment with ICI.

Strong Constraints on Jet Quenching in Centrality-Dependent p+Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV from ATLAS

Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including pp and p+Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb+Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36  nb^{-1} of p+Pb and 3.6  pb^{-1} of pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with p_{T}^{ch}>0.5  GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with p_{T}^{jet}>30 or 60 GeV, and the ratios of these yields between p+Pb and pp collisions, I_{pPb}, are reported. The collision centrality of p+Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The I_{pPb} values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with p_{T}^{ch}>4  GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints that preclude almost any parton energy loss in central p+Pb collisions.

Search for Heavy Neutral Leptons in Decays of W Bosons Using a Dilepton Displaced Vertex in sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

A search for a long-lived, heavy neutral lepton (N) in 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV pp collision data collected by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider is reported. The N is produced via W→Nμ or W→Ne and decays into two charged leptons and a neutrino, forming a displaced vertex. The N mass is used to discriminate between signal and background. No signal is observed, and limits are set on the squared mixing parameters of the N with the left-handed neutrino states for the N mass range 3  GeV Collapse

Key Words Collapse

MESH Headings Collapse

Grants Collapse

Test of CP Invariance in Higgs Boson Vector-Boson-Fusion Production Using the H→γγ Channel with the ATLAS Detector

A test of CP invariance in Higgs boson production via vector-boson fusion has been performed in the H→γγ channel using 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The optimal observable method is used to probe the CP structure of interactions between the Higgs boson and electroweak gauge bosons, as described by an effective field theory. No sign of CP violation is observed in the data. Constraints are set on the parameters describing the strength of the CP-odd component in the coupling between the Higgs boson and the electroweak gauge bosons in two effective field theory bases: d[over ˜] in the HISZ basis and c_{HW[over ˜]} in the Warsaw basis. The results presented are the most stringent constraints on CP violation in the coupling between Higgs and weak bosons. The 95% C.L. constraint on d[over ˜] is derived for the first time and the 95% C.L. constraint on c_{HW[over ˜]} has been improved by a factor of 5 compared to the previous measurement.

Cross-Talk and Multiple Control of Target of Rapamycin (TOR) in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a necrotrophic phytopathogenic fungus that cross-talks with its hosts for control of cell-death pathways for colonization. Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a central regulator that controls cell growth, intracellular metabolism, and stress responses in a variety of eukaryotes, but little is known about TOR signaling in S. sclerotiorum. In this study, we identified a conserved TOR signaling pathway and characterized SsTOR as a critical component of this pathway. Hyphal growth of S. sclerotiorum was retarded by silencing SsTOR, moreover, sclerotia and compound appressoria formation were severely disrupted. Notably, pathogenicity assays of strains shows that the virulence of the SsTOR-silenced strains were dramatically decreased. SsTOR was determined to participate in cell wall integrity (CWI) by regulating the phosphorylation level of SsSmk3, a core MAP kinase in the CWI pathway. Importantly, the inactivation of SsTOR induced autophagy in S. sclerotiorum potentially through SsAtg1 and SsAtg13. Taken together, our results suggest that SsTOR is a global regulator controlling cell growth, stress responses, cell wall integrity, autophagy, and virulence of S. sclerotiorum. IMPORTANCE TOR is a conserved protein kinase that regulates cell growth and metabolism in response to growth factors and nutrient abundance. Here, we used gene silencing to characterize SsTOR, which is a critical component of TOR signaling pathway. SsTOR-silenced strains have limited mycelium growth, and the virulence of the SsTOR-silenced strains was decreased. Phosphorylation analysis indicated that SsTOR influenced CWI by regulating the phosphorylation level of SsSmk3. Autophagy is essential to preserve cellular homeostasis in response to cellular and environmental stresses. Inactivation of SsTOR induced autophagy in S. sclerotiorum potentially through SsAtg1 and SsAtg13. These findings further indicated that SsTOR is a global regulator of the growth, development, and pathogenicity of S. sclerotiorum in multiple ways.

Enhanced pharmaceutical recovery as postoperative standard care after radical cystectomy: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of enhanced pharmaceutical recovery as postoperative standard care after radical cystectomy.

METHODS

A systematic literature search up to April 2021 was done and 33 studies included 6596 subjects submitted to surgery for radical cystectomy at the start of the study; 3143 of them received enhanced pharmaceutical recovery after surgery and 3453 were controls. The studies reported relationships about the effects of enhanced pharmaceutical recovery as postoperative standard care after radical cystectomy. We calculated the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the effects of enhanced pharmaceutical recovery as postoperative standard care after radical cystectomy using the dichotomous and continuous methods with a random or fixed-effect model.

RESULTS

Enhanced pharmaceutical recovery after surgery had significantly lower length of hospital stay (MD, -2.78; 95% CI, -3.59 to -1.97, p < 0.001), complications (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60-0.94, p = 0.01), readmission within 30 days (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94, p = 0.007), and time to defecation (MD, -1.30; 95% CI, -2.22 to -0.37, p = 0.006) compared to control in subjects submitted to radical cystectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced pharmaceutical recovery after surgery may reduce the length of hospital stay, complications, readmission within 30 days, and time to first bowel movement compared to control in subjects with surgery for radical cystectomy. Furthers studies are required to validate these findings.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Effects on secondary metabolite accumulation of traditional Chinese medicines

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has played a pivotal role in maintaining the health of people, and the intrinsic quality of TCM is directly related to the clinical efficacy. The medicinal ingredients of TCM are derived from the secondary metabolites of plant metabolism and are also the result of the coordination of various physiological activities in plants. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are among the most ubiquitous plant mutualists that enhance the growth and yield of plants by facilitating the uptake of nutrients and water. Symbiosis of AMF with higher plants promotes growth and helps in the accumulation of secondary metabolites. However, there is still no systematic analysis and summation of their roles in the application of TCM, biosynthesis and accumulation of active substances of herbs, as well as the mechanisms. AMF directly or indirectly affect the accumulation of secondary metabolites of TCM, which is the focus of this review. First, in this review, the effects of AMF symbiosis on the content of different secondary metabolites in TCM, such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids and terpenoids, are summarized. Moreover, the mechanism of AMF regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites was also considered, in combination with the establishment of mycorrhizal symbionts, response mechanisms of plant hormones, nutritional elements and expression of key enzyme their activities. Finally, combined with the current application prospects for AMF in TCM, future in-depth research is planned, thus providing a reference for improving the quality of TCM. In this manuscript, we review the research status of AMF in promoting the accumulation of secondary metabolites in TCM to provide new ideas and methods for improving the quality of TCM.

Observation of WWW Production in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of WWW production and a measurement of its cross section using 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Events with two same-sign leptons (electrons or muons) and at least two jets, as well as events with three charged leptons, are selected. A multivariate technique is then used to discriminate between signal and background events. Events from WWW production are observed with a significance of 8.0 standard deviations, where the expectation is 5.4 standard deviations. The inclusive WWW production cross section is measured to be 820±100 (stat)±80 (syst)  fb, approximately 2.6 standard deviations from the predicted cross section of 511±18  fb calculated at next-to-leading-order QCD and leading-order electroweak accuracy.

A detailed map of Higgs boson interactions by the ATLAS experiment ten years after the discovery

The standard model of particle physics1-4 describes the known fundamental particles and forces that make up our Universe, with the exception of gravity. One of the central features of the standard model is a field that permeates all of space and interacts with fundamental particles5-9. The quantum excitation of this field, known as the Higgs field, manifests itself as the Higgs boson, the only fundamental particle with no spin. In 2012, a particle with properties consistent with the Higgs boson of the standard model was observed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN10,11. Since then, more than 30 times as many Higgs bosons have been recorded by the ATLAS experiment, enabling much more precise measurements and new tests of the theory. Here, on the basis of this larger dataset, we combine an unprecedented number of production and decay processes of the Higgs boson to scrutinize its interactions with elementary particles. Interactions with gluons, photons, and W and Z bosons-the carriers of the strong, electromagnetic and weak forces-are studied in detail. Interactions with three third-generation matter particles (bottom (b) and top (t) quarks, and tau leptons (τ)) are well measured and indications of interactions with a second-generation particle (muons, μ) are emerging. These tests reveal that the Higgs boson discovered ten years ago is remarkably consistent with the predictions of the theory and provide stringent constraints on many models of new phenomena beyond the standard model.

Mediating Effects of Malnutrition on the Relationship between Depressive Symptoms Clusters and Muscle Function Rather than Muscle Mass in Older Hemodialysis Patients

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association and mediation pathways among muscle mass, muscle function (muscle strength and physical performance), and malnutrition with depressive symptoms clusters in the older hemodialysis patients.

DESIGN

A multi-center cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 499 patients aged ≥ 60 on hemodialysis from seven facilities in Shanghai of China from 2020 to 2021.

MEASUREMENTS

Muscle mass was assessed by skeletal muscle index(SMI). Muscle strength was measured by handgrip strength, and physical performance was measured via gait speed and Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT). Nutritional status was assessed by Malnutrition Inflammation Score (MIS). Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Logistic regression and mediation analyses fully adjusted for all potential confounding factors.

RESULTS

Among 499 participants (312 men, mean age 69.2±6.6 years), 108 (21.6%) had depressive symptoms. The muscle strength, physical performance and malnutrition were associated with depressive symptoms. Furthermore, malnutrition significantly mediated the association of muscle function with total, cognitive-affective symptoms. The association of the muscle function with somatic symptoms were mediated by the nutritional status. The mediated proportions of malnutrition in the relationship between physical performance and depressive symptoms clusters were stronger in somatic symptoms than in cognitive-affective symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that muscle function rather than muscle mass may contribute substantially to the development of depressive symptoms clusters in the hemodialysis via malnutrition. The malnutrition mediated stronger in the association of muscle function with somatic symptoms. These findings may help guide clinicians to better diagnose and manage depression in the context of concomitant muscle function and malnutrition.

Search for Lepton-Flavor Violation in Z-Boson Decays with τ Leptons with the ATLAS Detector

A search for lepton-flavor-violating Z→eτ and Z→μτ decays with pp collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented. This analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of Run 2 pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and is combined with the results of a similar ATLAS search in the final state in which the τ lepton decays hadronically, using the same data set as well as Run 1 data. The addition of leptonically decaying τ leptons significantly improves the sensitivity reach for Z→ℓτ decays. The Z→ℓτ branching fractions are constrained in this analysis to B(Z→eτ)<7.0×10^{-6} and B(Z→μτ)<7.2×10^{-6} at 95% confidence level. The combination with the previously published analyses sets the strongest constraints to date: B(Z→eτ)<5.0×10^{-6} and B(Z→μτ)<6.5×10^{-6} at 95% confidence level.

Search for New Phenomena in Final States with Two Leptons and One or No b-Tagged Jets at sqrt[s]=13 TeV Using the ATLAS Detector

A search for new phenomena is presented in final states with two leptons and one or no b-tagged jets. The event selection requires the two leptons to have opposite charge, the same flavor (electrons or muons), and a large invariant mass. The analysis is based on the full run-2 proton-proton collision dataset recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1}. No significant deviation from the expected background is observed in the data. Inspired by the B-meson decay anomalies, a four-fermion contact interaction between two quarks (b, s) and two leptons (ee or μμ) is used as a benchmark signal model, which is characterized by the energy scale and coupling, Λ and g_{*}, respectively. Contact interactions with Λ/g_{*} lower than 2.0 (2.4) TeV are excluded for electrons (muons) at the 95% confidence level, still far below the value that is favored by the B-meson decay anomalies. Model-independent limits are set as a function of the minimum dilepton invariant mass, which allow the results to be reinterpreted in various signal scenarios.

[Investigation and analysis of 3021 cases of occupational hand injury in Xiaoshan District, Hangzhou]

Objective: To investigate the causes and characteristics of occupational hand trauma in Xiaoshan District of Hangzhou, and to provide basis for formulating preventive measures and treatment. Methods: In July 2020, 3021 patients with occupational hand injury treated in Xiaoshan District from January 2017 to December 2019 were selected as the research object. The data of gender, age, injury month and time period of patients with occupational hand injury were collected, and their relationship with the causes of injury was analyzed. Results: Among 3021 patients with occupational hand trauma in Xiaoshan District, most of them were men (male to female ratio 2.05∶1) , and the proportion of injuries from 18 to 30 years old was relatively high (1508 cases, 49.92%) . The proportion of patients with cutting injury was high (1208 cases, 39.99%) , most of the injuries were at the distal end of metacarpophalangeal joint (2118 cases, 70.11%) , the proportion of injuries in summer was relatively high (1225 cases, 40.55%) . Most of them were injured from 8:00 to 16:00 every day (1684 cases, 55.74%) , of which 11:00-12:00 accounted for 29.46% (890 cases) . The excellent and good rate of functional recovery in all patients was 85.10% (2571/3021) . There were significant differences in the distribution of injury causes among patients with occupational hand trauma in different gender, age and seasons (P<0.01) . Conclusion: In Xiaoshan District of Hangzhou, there are many cases of cutting injuries in patients with occupational hand injuries, with high incidence in summer and 11:00-12:00. Enterprises should strengthen the supervision and management of relevant time periods, especially to prevent the occurrence of cutting injuries.

[Analysis of spirometer data of 5272 coal dust-exposed miners]

Objective: To analyze the spirometer data of coal mine workers, explore the impact of coal dust on the lung function of coal mine workers. Methods: From June to December 2018, 5272 male coal mine dust-exposed workers who underwent occupational health examinations at the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment Hospital were selected as the research subjects. The basic information and spirometer data of the workers were collected and analyzed for different ages, years of service and the degree of lung function injury of workers exposed to dust and its influencing factors. Results: The total detection rate of lung function injury among dust-exposed workers was 33.9% (1785/5272) . The type of injury was mainly restrictive ventilatory dysfunction (66.7%, 1190/1785) , followed by mixed ventilatory dysfunction (31.4%, 561/1785) , obstructive ventilatory dysfunction (1.9%, 34/1785) . The detection rate of mild lung function impairment was 21.0% (1105/5272) , The detected rate of moderate or higher lung injury was 12.9% (680/5272) . The abnormal detection rate of chest radiography was 3.4% (179/5272) . The logistic regression analysis of the factors affecting lung function damage showed that employees aged 40-<50 were more likely to detect overall lung function injury and the moderate or higher lung injury (P<0.05) , and that they had been working for 35 to 45 years and excavators were more likely to detect overall function injury and different degree of lung injury (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The lung function injury of coal mine dust-exposed workers is related to their age, dust-exposed working years and type of work, mainly with mild injury and restrictive ventilation dysfunction.

A model of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 in the alveolar epithelium

We present a differential equation model of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 within the alveolar epithelium. Critical determinants of the viral dynamics and host response, including type I and type II alveolar epithelial cells, interferons, chemokines, toxins and innate immune cells, are included. We estimate model parameters, compute the within-host basic reproductive number, and study the impacts of therapies, prophylactics, and host/pathogen variability on the course of the infection. Model simulations indicate that the innate immune response suppresses the infection and enables the alveolar epithelium to partially recover. While very robust antiviral therapy controls the infection and enables the epithelium to heal, moderate therapy is of limited benefit. Meanwhile interferon therapy is predicted to reduce viral load but exacerbate tissue damage. The deleterious effects of interferon therapy are especially apparent late in the infection. Individual variation in ACE2 expression, epithelial cell interferon production, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein binding affinity are predicted to significantly impact prognosis.

Search for Displaced Leptons in sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

A search for charged leptons with large impact parameters using 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV pp collision data from the ATLAS detector at the LHC is presented, addressing a long-standing gap in coverage of possible new physics signatures. Results are consistent with the background prediction. This search provides unique sensitivity to long-lived scalar supersymmetric lepton partners (sleptons). For lifetimes of 0.1 ns, selectron, smuon, and stau masses up to 720, 680, and 340  GeV, respectively, are excluded at 95% confidence level, drastically improving on the previous best limits from LEP.

LncRNA HAGLR accelerates femoral neck fracture healing through negatively regulating miRNA-19a-3p

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to uncover the function of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HAGLR in the healing process of femoral neck fracture and the underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Expression levels of HAGLR, microRNA-19a-3p (miRNA-19a-3p) and TGFBR2 in fractured femoral neck tissues and adjacent normal tissues were detected by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). Regulatory effects of HAGLR on viability, apoptosis, migration, and protein levels of BALP and Osteocalcin in MC3T3-E1 cells were determined. Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay was conducted to assess the binding in HAGLR/miRNA-19a-3p/TGFBR2. In addition, relative levels of TGFBR2, p-smad2, p-smad3, and RUNX2 in MSCs influenced by HAGLR were detected.

RESULTS

HAGLR was downregulated in fractured femoral neck tissues. Knockdown of HAGLR reduced viability and migration, enhanced apoptotic rate, as well as downregulated BALP and Osteocalcin in MC3T3-E1 cells. HAGLR served as miRNA-19a-3p sponge, and miRNA-19a-3p directly targeted 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of TGFBR2. Knockdown of HAGLR downregulated expressions of TGFBR2, p-smad2, p-smad3, and RUNX2 in MC3T3-E1 cells, indicating the inhibited TGF-β pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

LncRNA HAGLR/miRNA-19a-3p/TGFBR2 regulatory loop accelerates the healing process of femoral neck fracture by inhibiting the TGF-β pathway.

Longitudinal Flow Decorrelations in Xe+Xe Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.44 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The first measurement of longitudinal decorrelations of harmonic flow amplitudes v_{n} for n=2-4 in Xe+Xe collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.44  TeV is obtained using 3  μb^{-1} of data with the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The decorrelation signal for v_{3} and v_{4} is found to be nearly independent of collision centrality and transverse momentum (p_{T}) requirements on final-state particles, but for v_{2} a strong centrality and p_{T} dependence is seen. When compared with the results from Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, the longitudinal decorrelation signal in midcentral Xe+Xe collisions is found to be larger for v_{2}, but smaller for v_{3}. Current hydrodynamic models reproduce the ratios of the v_{n} measured in Xe+Xe collisions to those in Pb+Pb collisions but fail to describe the magnitudes and trends of the ratios of longitudinal flow decorrelations between Xe+Xe and Pb+Pb. The results on the system-size dependence provide new insights and an important lever arm to separate effects of the longitudinal structure of the initial state from other early and late time effects in heavy-ion collisions.

Search for Dark Matter Produced in Association with a Dark Higgs Boson Decaying into W^{±}W^{∓} or ZZ in Fully Hadronic Final States from sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions Recorded with the ATLAS Detector

Several extensions of the Standard Model predict the production of dark matter particles at the LHC. An uncharted signature of dark matter particles produced in association with VV=W^{±}W^{∓} or ZZ pairs from a decay of a dark Higgs boson s is searched for using 139  fb^{-1} of pp collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The s→V(qq[over ¯])V(qq[over ¯]) decays are reconstructed with a novel technique aimed at resolving the dense topology from boosted VV pairs using jets in the calorimeter and tracking information. Dark Higgs scenarios with m_{s}>160  GeV are excluded.

Medium-Induced Modification of Z-Tagged Charged Particle Yields in Pb+Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The yield of charged particles opposite to a Z boson with large transverse momentum (p_{T}) is measured in 260  pb^{-1} of pp and 1.7  nb^{-1} of Pb+Pb collision data at 5.02 TeV per nucleon pair recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The Z boson tag is used to select hard-scattered partons with specific kinematics, and to observe how their showers are modified as they propagate through the quark-gluon plasma created in Pb+Pb collisions. Compared with pp collisions, charged-particle yields in Pb+Pb collisions show significant modifications as a function of charged-particle p_{T} in a way that depends on event centrality and Z boson p_{T}. The data are compared with a variety of theoretical calculations and provide new information about the medium-induced energy loss of partons in a p_{T} regime difficult to measure through other channels.

[Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma concurrent with lung squamous cell carcinoma: a case report and literature review]

Objective: To explore the clinical manifestations, imaging features, pathological features, diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT)lymphoma concurrent with lung squamous cell carcinoma, and to improve the understanding of this disease. Methods: Using "Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, squamous cell carcinoma" as the search term, from January 1, 1983 to August 31, 2020, a total of 3 cases were retrieved in the PubMed database. In the Wanfang database, using "Lung mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue, lung squamous cell carcinoma" as the search term, from January 1, 1990 to August 31, 2020, a total of 1 related document was retrieved. In the CNKI database, "(lung) mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, (lung) squamous cell carcinoma" was used as the search term, and no relevant case reports were retrieved. Results: A 64-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of chest tightness and shortness of breath for 10 days, cough and fever for one day. Enhanced CT of the chest showed a soft tissue mass shadow in the right lower hilar area, with obstruction of the adjacent bronchus, and local mild enhancement, suggesting of right lower lung cancer. In addition, the CT scan also showed consolidated shadows in the lower lobes of both lungs, scattered nodules, multiple lymphadenopathy in the mediastinum, and a small amount of pleural effusion on the right. Under bronchoscopy, a cauliflower-like neoplasm was seen at the opening of the lower right basal section, about 7 mm×8 mm, and biopsy showed that part of the mucosal structure was destroyed, with disappearance of the squamous epithelial layer, and the nuclei were large and deeply stained, and some were distributed in nests, with poor keratinization and a small amount of necrosis, and fibrous tissue reaction. Immunostaining revealed that the tumor was positive for p40, CK5/6 and EGFR and negative forTTF-1, NapsinA, PD-L1, p53, with about 30% Ki-67 positive cells. A puncture biopsy of the right lower lobe showed that the alveolar cavity was filled with nested lymphoid cells, consisting of small lymphocytes, central cell-like cells and monocyte-like cells, with occasionally large cells. Immunostaining revealed CD₂₀⁺, CD_79a⁺, scattered CD₃+, Bcl2+, SMA vascular+, Bcl6-, CK-, CD10-, CyclinD1-, with about 3% Ki-67 positive cells. The histopathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue extranodal marginal zone lymphoma(MALT lymphoma),and lung squamous cell carcinoma. Conclusions: Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma complicated with lung squamous cell carcinoma is rare and easy to be missed and misdiagnosed. Chest CT imaging shows single or multiple nodules, mass shadows or consolidation, often accompanied by air-bronchial signs in the lesion, bronchiectasis, ground glass density around the lesion, hilar and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Occasionally, pleural effusion can be seen. Lung biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosis.

Stacking of nanorings to generate nanotubes for acceleration of protein refolding

Self-assembly and photoisomerization of azobenzene-based amphiphilic molecules produced nanorings with an inner diameter of 25 nm and lengths of <40 nm. The nanorings, which consisted of a single bilayer membrane of the amphiphiles, retained their morphology in the presence of a stacking inhibitor; whereas in the absence of the inhibitor, the nanorings stacked into short nanotubes (<500 nm). When subjected to mild heat treatment, these nanotubes joined end-to-end to form nanotubes with lengths of several tens of micrometers. The nanorings and the short and long nanotubes were able to encapsulate proteins and thereby suppress aggregation induced by thermal denaturation. In addition, the nanotubes accelerated refolding of denatured proteins by encapsulating them and then releasing them into the bulk solution; refolding occurred simultaneously with release. In contrast, the nanorings did not accelerate protein refolding. Refolding efficiency increased with increasing nanotube length, indicating that the re-aggregation of the proteins was strictly inhibited by lowering the concentration of the proteins in the bulk solution as the result of the slow release from the longer nanotubes. The migration of the proteins through the long, narrow nanochannels during the release process will also contribute to refolding.

Observation and Measurement of Forward Proton Scattering in Association with Lepton Pairs Produced via the Photon Fusion Mechanism at ATLAS

The observation of forward proton scattering in association with lepton pairs (e^{+}e^{-}+p or μ^{+}μ^{-}+p) produced via photon fusion is presented. The scattered proton is detected by the ATLAS Forward Proton spectrometer, while the leptons are reconstructed by the central ATLAS detector. Proton-proton collision data recorded in 2017 at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV are analyzed, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 14.6  fb^{-1}. A total of 57 (123) candidates in the ee+p (μμ+p) final state are selected, allowing the background-only hypothesis to be rejected with a significance exceeding 5 standard deviations in each channel. Proton-tagging techniques are introduced for cross-section measurements in the fiducial detector acceptance, corresponding to σ_{ee+p}=11.0±2.6(stat)±1.2(syst)±0.3(lumi) and σ_{μμ+p}=7.2±1.6(stat)±0.9(syst)±0.2(lumi)  fb in the dielectron and dimuon channel, respectively.

Search for Heavy Resonances Decaying into a Photon and a Hadronically Decaying Higgs Boson in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents a search for the production of new heavy resonances decaying into a Higgs boson and a photon using proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1}. The analysis is performed by reconstructing hadronically decaying Higgs boson (H→bb[over ¯]) candidates as single large-radius jets. A novel algorithm using information about the jet constituents in the center-of-mass frame of the jet is implemented to identify the two b quarks in the single jet. No significant excess of events is observed above the expected background. Upper limits are set on the production cross-section times branching fraction for narrow spin-1 resonances decaying into a Higgs boson and a photon in the resonance mass range from 0.7 to 4 TeV, cross-section times branching fractions are excluded between 11.6 fb and 0.11 fb at a 95% confidence level.

Search for Higgs Boson Decays into a Z Boson and a Light Hadronically Decaying Resonance Using 13 TeV pp Collision Data from the ATLAS Detector

A search for Higgs boson decays into a Z boson and a light resonance in two-lepton plus jet events is performed, using a pp collision dataset with an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1} collected at sqrt[s]=13  TeV by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN LHC. The resonance considered is a light boson with a mass below 4 GeV from a possible extended scalar sector or a charmonium state. Multivariate discriminants are used for the event selection and for evaluating the mass of the light resonance. No excess of events above the expected background is found. Observed (expected) 95% confidence-level upper limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section times branching fraction to a Z boson and the signal resonance, with values in the range 17-340 pb (16_{-5}^{+6}-320_{-90}^{+130}  pb) for the different light spin-0 boson mass and branching fraction hypotheses, and with values of 110 and 100 pb (100_{-30}^{+40} and 100_{-30}^{+40}  pb) for the η_{c} and J/ψ hypotheses, respectively.

Dijet Resonance Search with Weak Supervision Using sqrt[s]=13 TeV pp Collisions in the ATLAS Detector

This Letter describes a search for narrowly resonant new physics using a machine-learning anomaly detection procedure that does not rely on signal simulations for developing the analysis selection. Weakly supervised learning is used to train classifiers directly on data to enhance potential signals. The targeted topology is dijet events and the features used for machine learning are the masses of the two jets. The resulting analysis is essentially a three-dimensional search A→BC, for m_{A}∼O(TeV), m_{B},m_{C}∼O(100  GeV) and B, C are reconstructed as large-radius jets, without paying a penalty associated with a large trials factor in the scan of the masses of the two jets. The full run 2 sqrt[s]=13  TeV pp collision dataset of 139  fb^{-1} recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider is used for the search. There is no significant evidence of a localized excess in the dijet invariant mass spectrum between 1.8 and 8.2 TeV. Cross-section limits for narrow-width A, B, and C particles vary with m_{A}, m_{B}, and m_{C}. For example, when m_{A}=3  TeV and m_{B}≳200  GeV, a production cross section between 1 and 5 fb is excluded at 95% confidence level, depending on m_{C}. For certain masses, these limits are up to 10 times more sensitive than those obtained by the inclusive dijet search. These results are complementary to the dedicated searches for the case that B and C are standard model bosons.

CP Properties of Higgs Boson Interactions with Top Quarks in the tt[over ¯]H and tH Processes Using H→γγ with the ATLAS Detector

A study of the charge conjugation and parity (CP) properties of the interaction between the Higgs boson and top quarks is presented. Higgs bosons are identified via the diphoton decay channel (H→γγ), and their production in association with a top quark pair (tt[over ¯]H) or single top quark (tH) is studied. The analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of sqrt[s]=13  TeV with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Assuming a CP-even coupling, the tt[over ¯]H process is observed with a significance of 5.2 standard deviations. The measured cross section times H→γγ branching ratio is 1.64_{-0.36}^{+0.38}(stat)_{-0.14}^{+0.17}(sys)  fb, and the measured rate for tt[over ¯]H is 1.43_{-0.31}^{+0.33}(stat)_{-0.15}^{+0.21}(sys) times the Standard Model expectation. The tH production process is not observed and an upper limit on its rate of 12 times the Standard Model expectation is set. A CP-mixing angle greater (less) than 43 (-43)° is excluded at 95% confidence level.

Search for Heavy Higgs Bosons Decaying into Two Tau Leptons with the ATLAS Detector Using pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV

A search for heavy neutral Higgs bosons is performed using the LHC Run 2 data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded with the ATLAS detector. The search for heavy resonances is performed over the mass range 0.2-2.5 TeV for the τ^{+}τ^{-} decay with at least one τ-lepton decaying into final states with hadrons. The data are in good agreement with the background prediction of the standard model. In the M_{h}^{125} scenario of the minimal supersymmetric standard model, values of tanβ>8 and tanβ>21 are excluded at the 95% confidence level for neutral Higgs boson masses of 1.0 and 1.5 TeV, respectively, where tanβ is the ratio of the vacuum expectation values of the two Higgs doublets.

[SWOT analysis of schistosomiasis elimination in Laos]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the advantages, disadvantages, opportunities and challenges for schistosomiasis elimination in Laos, so as to propose the corresponding healthy policies and suggestions.

METHODS

A SWOT analysis was performed to analyze the strength, weakness, opportunity and threat for the schistosomiasis elimination program in Laos, and the corresponding policy suggestions were proposed.

RESULTS

The national schistosomiasis elimination program of Laos receives governmental emphases and great supports. A strategy based on mass drug administration was proposed and a sentinel site-bases surveillance system has been built for schistosomiasis elimination in Laos; however, there are several challenges for the national schistosomiasis elimination program in Laos, including insufficient financial supports, inadequate professional capability, weak schistosomiasis control awareness in community populations and difficulty in vector control.

CONCLUSIONS

Persistent governmental leadership, increasing financial supports, strengthening professional team building and improving schistosomiasis control awareness in community populations are required to facilitate the progress towards schistosomiasis elimination in Laos.

Measurement of the Lund Jet Plane Using Charged Particles in 13 TeV Proton-Proton Collisions with the ATLAS Detector

The prevalence of hadronic jets at the LHC requires that a deep understanding of jet formation and structure is achieved in order to reach the highest levels of experimental and theoretical precision. There have been many measurements of jet substructure at the LHC and previous colliders, but the targeted observables mix physical effects from various origins. Based on a recent proposal to factorize physical effects, this Letter presents a double-differential cross-section measurement of the Lund jet plane using 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector using jets with transverse momentum above 675 GeV. The measurement uses charged particles to achieve a fine angular resolution and is corrected for acceptance and detector effects. Several parton shower Monte Carlo models are compared with the data. No single model is found to be in agreement with the measured data across the entire plane.

RNA interference-mediated knockdown of the transcription factor Krüppel homologue 1 suppresses vitellogenesis in Chilo suppressalis

Vitellogenesis in holometabolous insects involves the production and secretion of vitellogenin (Vg) and other yolk protein precursors in developing oocyte by the fat body, all of which is predominantly orchestrated by juvenile hormone (JH). Krüppel homologue 1 (Kr-h1) is a zinc finger transcription factor that has been demonstrated to be a JH-early inducible gene and to contribute to reproduction. However, the exact molecular function of Kr-h1 in insect reproduction is poorly understood. In the current study, we used the notorious pest Chilo suppressalis as a model system to investigate the role of Kr-h1 in female reproduction. Cloning and sequencing C. suppressalis Kr-h1 revealed that it shares high identity with its homologues from other lepidopteran insects. Moreover, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of CsKr-h1 substantially reduced the transcription of Vg in the fat body, dramatically decreased yolk protein deposition and also impaired oocyte maturation and ovarian development, indicating that Kr-h1 is indispensable for normal vitellogenesis in C. suppressalis. Based on these results, we conclude that Kr-h1 is crucial to reproduction in insects and that targeting this gene could potentially be a new way to suppress rice pests.

[Clinical features of 54 cases of lung adenocarcinomas with c-ROS oncogene 1 fusion]

Objective: To study the prevalence of c-ros oncogene 1 fusion in lung adenocarcinoma and to evaluate its relationship with clinical characteristics. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1) fusion in 1 482 patients with adenocarcinoma from March 2014 to January 2017 in the first affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University. Furthermore, ROS1 fusion positive patients diagnosed between February 2017 and December 2017 were also included in ROS1 positive group. The data of age, sex, smoking history, TNM stage and chest computed tomography were collected by Electronic Medical Record (EMR). The clinical data were compared by the chi-squared test or Mann-Whitney test. Results: Of these 1 482 patients,54 cases were diagnosed with ROS1 rearrangement, including 19 males and 35 females, while 73 cases were diagnosed with ALK rearrangement, including 28 males and 45 females, and 679 cases diagnosed with EGFR mutation including 293 males and 386 females. And there were 676 patients without driven genes mutation. The mean age in ROS1 fusion group (54±12) was lower than EGFR mutation group (60±11, z=-3.982, P<0.001) and WT group (62±10, z=-4.944, P<0.001). Female proportion in ROS1 fusion group (64.8%, 35/54) was higher than WT group (28.4%, 192/676, χ(2)=30.94, P<0.001). Non-smoker percentages in ROS1 fusion group (72.2%, 39/54) was significantly higher than WT group (38.0%,257/676, χ(2)=24.27, P<0.001). ROS1 fusion group was similar to ALK fusion group in sex, age and smoking history, and there were no significant difference in TNM stage among these groups. On chest CT, adenocarcinomas with ROS1 fusion were found to be more peripheral in location (71.4%, 20/28) and solid in density (75%, 21/28), usually with lobulated margins (75.0%, 21/28) and spiculated in contour (57.1%,16/28). Conclusion: In our study lung adenocarcinoma with c-ROS oncogene 1 fusion was a rare subtype lung cancer and was usually detected in young, never smoking, and female patients.

Measurement of Azimuthal Anisotropy of Muons from Charm and Bottom Hadrons in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

The elliptic flow of muons from the decay of charm and bottom hadrons is measured in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV using a data sample with an integrated luminosity of 150  pb^{-1} recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The muons from heavy-flavor decay are separated from light-hadron decay muons using momentum imbalance between the tracking and muon spectrometers. The heavy-flavor decay muons are further separated into those from charm decay and those from bottom decay using the distance-of-closest-approach to the collision vertex. The measurement is performed for muons in the transverse momentum range 4-7 GeV and pseudorapidity range |η|<2.4. A significant nonzero elliptic anisotropy coefficient v_{2} is observed for muons from charm decays, while the v_{2} value for muons from bottom decays is consistent with zero within uncertainties.