Bioinformation Analysis of Differential Expression Proteins in Different Processes of COVID-19.

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease whose progression has been associated with multiple factors. From SARS-CoV-2 infection to death, biomarkers capable of predicting different disease processes are needed to help us further understand the molecular progression of COVID-19 disease. The aim is to find differentially expressed proteins that are associated with the progression of COVID-19 disease or can be potential biomarkers, and to provide a reference for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of COVID-19 occurrence, progression, and treatment. Data-independent Acquisition (DIA) proteomics to obtain sample protein expression data, using R language screening differentially expressed proteins. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia for Genes and Genomes analysis was performed on differential proteins and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to screen key proteins. A total of 47 differentially expressed proteins were obtained from COVID-19 incubation patients and healthy population (L/H), mainly enriched in platelet-related functions, and complement and coagulation cascade reaction pathways, such as platelet degranulation and platelet aggregation. A total of 42 differential proteins were obtained in clinical and latent phase patients (C/L), also mainly enriched in platelet-related functions and in complement and coagulation cascade reactions, platelet activation pathways. A total of 10 differential proteins were screened in recovery and clinical phase patients (R/C), mostly immune-related proteins. The differentially expressed proteins in different stages of COVID-19 are mostly closely associated with coagulation, and key differential proteins, such as FGA, FGB, FGG, ACTB, PFN1, VCL, SERPZNCL, APOC3, LTF, and DEFA1, have the potential to be used as early diagnostic markers.

A Machine learning model for predicting sepsis based on an optimized assay for microbial cell-free DNA sequencing.

OBJECTIVE: To integrate an enhanced molecular diagnostic technique to develop and validate a machine-learning model for diagnosing sepsis. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients suspected of sepsis from August 2021 to August 2023. Various feature selection algorithms and machine learning models were used to develop the model. The best classifier was selected using 5-fold cross validation set and then was applied to assess the performance of the model in the testing set. Additionally, we employed the Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) method to illustrate the effects of the features. RESULTS: We established an optimized mNGS assay and proposed using the copies of microbe-specific cell-free DNA per milliliter of plasma (CPM) as the detection signal to evaluate the real burden, with strong precision and high accuracy. In total, 237 patients were eligible for participation, which were randomly assigned to either the training set (70 %, n = 165) or the testing set (30 %, n = 72). The random forest classifier achieved accuracy, AUC and F1 scores of 0.830, 0.918 and 0.856, respectively, outperforming other machine learning models in the training set. Our model demonstrated clinical interpretability and achieved good prediction performance in differentiating between bacterial sepsis and non-sepsis, with an AUC value of 0.85 and an average precision of 0.91 in the testing set. Based on the SHAP value, the top nine features of the model were PCT, CPM, CRP, ALB, SBPmin, RRmax, CREA, PLT and HRmax. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the potential of machine-learning approaches for predicting bacterial sepsis based on optimized mcfDNA sequencing assay accurately.

Synergistic cooperation between the ß-catenin and SF1 regulates progesterone synthesis in laying hen ovarian granulosa cells.

The development of ovarian follicles in poultry is a key factor affecting the performance of egg production. Ovarian follicle development is regulated via the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway, and ß-catenin, encoded by CTNNB1, is a core component of this pathway. In this study, using ovary GCs from laying hens, we investigated the regulatory role of CTNNB1 in steroid synthesis. We found that CTNNB1 significantly regulates the expression of StAR and CYP11A1 (key genes related to progesterone synthesis) and the secretion of progesterone (P4). Furthermore, simultaneous overexpression of CTNNB1 and SF1 resulted in significantly higher levels of CYP11A1 and secretion of P4 than in cells overexpressing CTNNB1 or SF1 alone. We also found that in GCs overexpressing SF1, levels of CYP11A1 and secreted P4 were significantly greater than in controls. Silencing of CYP11A1 resulted in the inhibition of P4 secretion while overexpression of SF1 in CYP11A1-silenced cells restored P4 secretion to normal levels. Together, these results indicate that synergistic cooperation between the ß-catenin and SF1 regulates progesterone synthesis in laying hen ovarian hierarchical granulosa cells to promote CYP11A1 expression.

Ecofriendly Controlled-Release Insecticide Carrier: pH-/Temperature-Responsive Rosin-Derived Hydrogels for Avermectin Delivery against Mythimna separata (Walker).

The exploration of environmentally friendly, less toxic, sustained-release insecticide is increasing with the growing demand for food to meet the requirements of the expanding population. As a sustained-release carrier, the unique, environmentally friendly intelligent responsive hydrogel system is an important factor in improving the efficiency of insecticide utilization and accurate release. In this study, we developed a facile approach for incorporating the natural compound rosin (dehydroabietic acid, DA) and zinc ions (Zn2+) into a poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel network to construct a controlled-release hydrogel carrier (DA-PNIPAM-Zn2+). Then, the model insecticide avermectin (AVM) was encapsulated in the carrier at a drug loading rate of 36.32% to form AVM@DA-PNIPAM-Zn2+. Surprisingly, the smart controlled carrier exhibited environmental responsiveness, strongly enhanced mechanical properties, self-healing ability, hydrophobicity, and photostability to ensure a balance between environmental friendliness and the precision of the drug release. The release experiments showed that the carboxyl and amide groups in the polymer chains alter the intermolecular forces within the hydrogel meshes and ingredient diffusion by changing temperatures (25 and 40 °C) and pH values (5.8, 7.4, and 8.5), leading to different release behaviors. The insecticidal activity of the AVM@DA-PNIPAM-Zn2+ against oriental armyworms was good, with an effective minimum toxicity toward aquatic animals. Therefore, AVM@DA-PNIPAM-Zn2+ is an effective drug delivery system against oriental armyworms. We anticipate that this ecofriendly, sustainable, smart-response carrier may broaden the utilization rosin and its possible applications in the agricultural sector.

Habitat selection drives diatom community assembly and network complexity in sediment-laden riverine environments.

Microbial communities assemble stochastically and deterministically, but how different assembly processes shape diatom community structure across riverine habitats is unclear, especially in sediment-laden environments. In this study, we deciphered the mechanisms of riverine diatom community assembly in the water column and riverbed substrate with varying sediment concentrations. Water and sediment samples were collected from 44 sampling sites along the Yellow River mainstream during two seasons. Diatom communities were characterized based on high-throughput sequencing of the 18S ribosomal RNA genes coupled with multivariate statistical analyses. A total of 198 diatom species were taxonomically assigned, including 182 free-living and particle-attached species and 184 surface-sediment species. Planktonic communities were structurally different from benthic communities, with Cyclotella being dominant mainly in the middle and lower reaches of the river with higher sediment concentrations. Both stochastic and deterministic processes affected diatom community assembly in different habitats. Species dispersal was more important in the water than in the substrate, and this process was strengthened by increased sediment concentration across habitats. Diatom communities exhibited lower network complexity and enhanced antagonistic or competitive interactions between species in response to higher sediment concentrations compared with lower sediment concentrations mainly in the source region of the river. Differences in the species composition and community diversity of planktonic diatoms were closely correlated with the proportion of bare land area, nitrogen nutrients, precipitation, and sediment concentration. In particular, particle-attached diatoms responded sensitively to environmental factors. These findings provide strong evidence for sediment-mediated assembly and interactions of riverine diatom communities.

Mud Cake Improver Mul-GX with Lubrication and Interface Enhancement Effect and Its Action Mechanism.

In view of the problems in which the solid content of drilling fluid increases in the middle and late stages of horizontal well drilling, the lubricity of mud cakes on the borehole wall decreases, and the friction of pipe string increases due to the gradual thickening of mud cakes, which leads to the sticking and the obvious decrease of cementing strength at the second interface, a mud cake improver Mul-GX with lubrication and interface enhancement effect was studied in this paper. Based on the hydration and filling mechanism, the lubricity of the mud cake was improved, its thickness was reduced, and its strength was improved through synergistic effects of solvated water film lubrication and buffering, hardening and crystallization of gelled substances, and filling and dispersion of elastic particles. The mud cake improver Mul-GX is composed of the metasilicate GX-ZQ, polymer copolymer GX-JB, and polymer GX-TX, and the mass ratio of each component was GX-ZQ: GX-JB: GX-TX = 15:1:0.5. The effect of Mul-GX was evaluated through the performance determination of the mud cake and interface cementing simulation experiments. In addition, the microscopic characterization by SEM and XRD were carried out to analyze the mechanism of Mul-GX. The experimental results showed that when Mul-GX was added to the water-based drilling fluid with the 1.0%-1.5% adding quantity, the mud cake lubricity improved by more than 60%, its thickness reduced by 53.9% on average, and its strength increased by 54.3% on average. At the same adding quantity, the interfacial bonding strength was 4.4 times more than the data before adding Mul-GX. All of the results showed that Mul-GX has obvious mud cake lubrication effect and interface enhancement effect.

Detection of genetic mutations underlying early-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the presence of monogenic causes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in our early-onset SLE patients. METHODS: Fifteen pediatric SLE cases who had early disease onset (≤6 years) were enrolled in this study. All patients fulfilled the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria. Genomic DNA was used for whole exome sequencing (WES). Pathogenic variants were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis of 15 early-onset SLE patients included in the study was 4 (2-6) years (F/M = 12/3). Significant gene mutations were detected in five of these patients (33.3%). Patients 1 and 2 with homozygous DNASE1L3 mutations [c.320+4_320+7del and G188 A (c.563 G>C) variants] had skin involvement and oral ulcers. One of them (patient 1) had arthritis and nephritis, and another (patient 2) had nonscarring alopecia and thrombocytopenia. They are currently clinically inactive but have positive serological findings. Patient 3 with homozygous pathogenic ACP5 mutation [G109 R (c.325 G>A) variant] had arthritis, nephritis, short stature, and skeletal dysplasia. Patient 4 with a heterozygote novel IFIH1 mutation [L809 F (c.2425 C>T) variant] had skin findings and leukopenia. Patient 5 with novel C1S variant [homozygous C147 W (c.441 C>G) variant] had marked skin findings, oral ulcers, nonscarring alopecia, pancytopenia, and low total hemolytic complement CH50 level. All patients have responded to the treatments and have low Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores, on therapy. CONCLUSION: Genetic causes should be investigated in early-onset SLE, for better management and genetic counseling. On the other hand, multicenter studies may help to further define genotype-phenotype associations.

Semi-supervised model based on implicit neural representation and mutual learning (SIMN) for multi-center nasopharyngeal carcinoma segmentation on MRI.

BACKGROUND: The issue of using deep learning to obtain accurate gross tumor volume (GTV) and metastatic lymph nodes (MLN) segmentation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) on heterogeneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images with limited labeling remains unsolved. METHOD: We collected 918 patients with MRI images from three hospitals to develop and validate models and proposed a semi-supervised framework for the fine delineation of multi-center NPC boundaries by integrating uncertainty-based implicit neural representations named SIMN. The framework utilizes the deep mutual learning approach with CNN and Transformer, incorporating dynamic thresholds. Additionally, domain adaptive algorithms are employed to enhance the performance. RESULTS: SIMN predictions have a high overlap ratio with the ground truth. Under the 20 % labeled cases, for the internal test cohorts, the average DSC in GTV and MLN are 0.7981 and 0.7804, respectively; for external test cohort Wu Zhou Red Cross Hospital, the average DSC in GTV and MLN are 0.7217 and 0.7581, respectively; for external test cohorts First People Hospital of Foshan, the average DSC in GTV and MLN are 0.7004 and 0.7692, respectively. No significant differences are found in DSC, HD95, ASD, and Recall for patients with different clinical categories. Moreover, SIMN outperformed existing classical semi-supervised methods. CONCLUSIONS: SIMN showed a highly accurate GTV and MLN segmentation for NPC on multi-center MRI images under Semi-Supervised Learning (SSL), which can easily transfer to other centers without fine-tuning. It suggests that it has the potential to act as a generalized delineation solution for heterogeneous MRI images with limited labels in clinical deployment.

Interfacial Electronic Interactions Between Ultrathin NiFe-MOF Nanosheets and Ir Nanoparticles Heterojunctions Leading to Efficient Overall Water Splitting.

Creating specific noble metal/metal-organic framework (MOF) heterojunction nanostructures represents an effective strategy to promote water electrolysis but remains rather challenging. Herein, a heterojunction electrocatalyst is developed by growing Ir nanoparticles on ultrathin NiFe-MOF nanosheets supported by nickel foam (NF) via a readily accessible solvothermal approach and subsequent redox strategy. Because of the electronic interactions between Ir nanoparticles and NiFe-MOF nanosheets, the optimized Ir@NiFe-MOF/NF catalyst exhibits exceptional bifunctional performance for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) (η10 = 15 mV, η denotes the overpotential) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (η10 = 213 mV) in 1.0 m KOH solution, superior to commercial and recently reported electrocatalysts. Density functional theory calculations are used to further investigate the electronic interactions between Ir nanoparticles and NiFe-MOF nanosheets, shedding light on the mechanisms behind the enhanced HER and OER performance. This work details a promising approach for the design and development of efficient electrocatalysts for overall water splitting.

Xinmailong injection on left ventricular remodeling and inflammatory mediators in patients with CHF: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a prevalent and highly challenging cardiovascular disease associated with high mortality rates. The occurrence and progression of CHF are closely linked to left ventricular remodeling (LVR) and inflammation. Addressing LVR and reducing inflammation can significantly slow down the progression of CHF and improve patient prognosis. Objective: To evaluate the effects of Xinmailong injection (XMLI) on LVR and inflammatory mediators in CHF patients. Method: The randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of XMLI treatment for CHF were retrieved from eight databases up until 31 December 2023. To evaluate the methodological quality of included studies, the Cochrane bias risk tool was employed. Furthermore, statistical analysis, sensitivity analysis, and publication bias assessment were conducted using Stata 17.0 software. Result: Compared with conventional treatment (CT), the combination therapy of XMLI and CT significantly improved LVR and reduced inflammatory mediators, mainly manifested by an increase in LVEF (MD = 6.40, 95% CI: 5.25 to 7.55, p = 0.000), a decrease in LVEDD (MD = -4.63, 95% CI: -5.69 to -3.57, p = 0.000) and LVESD (MD = -4.00, 95% CI: -5.50 to -2.50, p = 0.000), as well as a decrease in TNF-α (MD = -7.93, 95% CI: -9.86 to -6.00, p = 0.000), IL-6 (MD = -5.25, 95% CI: -6.59 to -3.92, p = 0.000), IL-18 (MD = -36.07, 95% CI: -46.76 to -25.38, p = 0.000), CRP (MD = -4.41, 95% CI: -6.40 to -2.42, p = 0.000), hs-CRP (MD = -4.90, 95% CI: -5.71 to -4.08, p = 0.000), and an increase in IL-10 (MD = 20.19, 95% CI: 10.42 to 29.97, p = 0.000). In addition, the combination therapy showed enhanced clinical efficacy (OR = 4.08, 95% CI: 3.10 to 5.37, p = 0.000), decreased expression levels of BNP (MD = -138.48, 95% CI: -155.48 to -121.48, p = 0.000), and NT-pro BNP (MD = -315.63, 95% CI: -359.25 to -272.00, p = 0.000), and increased the 6-MWD (MD = 71.02, 95% CI: 57.23 to 84.81, p = 0.000). It is noteworthy that the combination therapy did not lead to an increase in the incidence of adverse reactions (OR = 1.01, 95% CI: 0.68 to 1.50, p = 0.97). Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated the superiority of combining XMLI and CT therapies over CT alone in improving LVR and reducing inflammatory mediators in patients with CHF. Importantly, this combination therapy does not increase adverse reactions. However, it is crucial to exercise caution while interpreting the survey results due to the limited quality of the included studies.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=492715, Identifier CRD42023492715.

Cryogenic lithium-niobate-on-insulator optical filter.

Photonic integrated circuits have garnered significant attention and experienced rapid development in recent years. To provide fundamental building blocks for scalable optical classical and quantum information processing, one important direction is to develop cryogenic compatible photonic integrated devices. Here, we prepare one optical filter on a lithium-niobate-on-insulator (LNOI) platform based on a multimode waveguide grating and verify its availability at temperature from 295 to 7 K. We find that the integrated optical filter still shows good quality under cryogenic conditions, and the shift of the working wavelength at different temperatures is well explained by the index variation of the material. These results advance LNOI integrated optical devices in applications under cryogenic conditions.

EZH2 suppresses ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma and reduces sorafenib sensitivity through epigenetic regulation of TFR2.

Enhancing sensitivity to sorafenib can significantly extend the duration of resistance to it, offering substantial benefits for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of ferroptosis in influencing sorafenib sensitivity within HCC remains pivotal. The enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) plays a significant role in promoting malignant progression in HCC, yet the relationship between ferroptosis, sorafenib sensitivity, and EZH2 is not entirely clear. Bioinformatic analysis indicates elevated EZH2 expression in HCC, predicting an unfavorable prognosis. Overexpressing EZH2 can drive HCC cell proliferation while simultaneously reducing ferroptosis. Further analysis reveals that EZH2 amplifies the modification of H3K27 me3, thereby influencing TFR2 expression. This results in decreased RNA polymerase II binding within the TFR2 promoter region, leading to reduced TFR2 expression. Knocking down EZH2 amplifies sorafenib sensitivity in HCC cells. In sorafenib-resistant HepG2(HepG2-SR) cells, the expression of EZH2 is increased. Moreover, combining tazemetostat-an EZH2 inhibitor-with sorafenib demonstrates significant synergistic ferroptosis-promoting effects in HepG2-SR cells. In conclusion, our study illustrates how EZH2 epigenetically regulates TFR2 expression through H3K27 me3, thereby suppressing ferroptosis. The combination of the tazemetostat with sorafenib exhibits superior synergistic effects in anticancer therapy and sensitizes the HepG2-SR cells to sorafenib, shedding new light on delaying and ameliorating sorafenib resistance.

Ultra-broadband TM-pass polarizer based on anisotropic metamaterials in lithium niobate on an insulator.

An ultra-broadband TM-pass polarizer is designed, fabricated, and experimentally demonstrated based on subwavelength grating (SWG) metamaterials in a lithium niobate on an insulator (LNOI) platform. According to our simulation, the designed device is predicted to work at a 220 nm wavelength range from 1460 to 1680 nm, covering the S-, C-, L-, U-bands of optical fiber communication. By depositing and subsequently etching a silicon nitride thin film atop the LNOI chip, the SWG structures are formed successfully by using complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS)-compatible fabrication processes. The measured results show a high polarization extinction ratio larger than 20 dB and a relatively low insertion loss below 2.5 dB over a 130 nm wavelength range from 1500 to 1630 nm, mainly limited by the operation bandwidth of our laser source.

Shielding Mn3+ Disproportionation with Graphitic Carbon-Interlayered Manganese Oxide Cathodes for Enhanced Aqueous Energy Storage System.

Manganese dioxide (MnO2) materials have recently garnered attention as prospective high-capacity cathodes, owing to their theoretical two-electron redox reaction in charge storage processes. However, their practical application in aqueous energy storage systems faces a formidable challenge: the disproportionation of Mn3+ ions, leading to a significant reduction in their capacity. To address this limitation, the study presents a novel graphitic carbon interlayer-engineered manganese oxide (CI-MnOx) characterized by an open structure and abundant defects. This innovative material serves several essential functions for efficient aqueous energy storage. First, a graphitic carbon layer coats the MnOx molecular interlayer, effectively inhibiting Mn3+ disproportionation and substantially enhancing electrode conductivity. Second, the phase variation within MnOx generates numerous crystal defects, vacancies, and active sites, optimizing electron-transfer capability. Third, the flexible carbon layer acts as a buffer, mitigating the volume expansion of MnOx during extended cycling. The synergistic effects of these features result in the CI-MnOx exhibiting an impressive high capacity of 272 mAh g-1 (1224 F g-1) at 0.25 A g-1. Notably, the CI-MnOx demonstrates zero capacity loss after 90 000 cycles (≈3011 h), an uncommon longevity for manganese oxide materials. Spectral characterizations reveal reversible cation intercalation and conversion reactions with multielectron transfer in a LiCl electrolyte.

The genetic basis and process of inbreeding depression in an elite hybrid rice.

Inbreeding depression refers to the reduced performance arising from increased homozygosity, a phenomenon that is the reverse of heterosis and exists among plants and animals. As a natural self-pollinated crop with strong heterosis, the mechanism of inbreeding depression in rice is largely unknown. To understand the genetic basis of inbreeding depression, we constructed a successive inbreeding population from the F2 to F4 generation and observed inbreeding depression of all heterotic traits in the progeny along with the decay of heterozygosity in each generation. The expected depression effect was largely explained by 13 QTLs showing dominant effects for spikelets per panicle, 11 for primary branches, and 12 for secondary branches, and these loci constitute the main correlation between heterosis and inbreeding depression. However, the genetic basis of inbreeding depression is also distinct from that of heterosis, such that a biased transmission ratio of alleles for QTLs with either dominant or additive effects in four segregation distortion regions would result in minor effects in expected depression. Noticeably, two-locus interactions may change the extent and direction of the depression effects of the target loci, and overall interactions would promote inbreeding depression among generations. Using an F2:3 variation population, the actual performance of the loci showing expected depression was evaluated considering the heterozygosity decay in the background after inbreeding. We found inconsistent or various degrees of background depression from the F2 to F3 generation assuming different genotypes of the target locus, which may affect the actual depression effect of the locus due to epistasis. The results suggest that the genetic architecture of inbreeding depression and heterosis is closely linked but also differs in their intrinsic mechanisms, which expand our understanding of the whole-genome architecture of inbreeding depression.

Effects of multiple metals exposure on abnormal liver function: The mediating role of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

Equilibration of metal metabolism is critical for normal liver function. Most epidemiological studies have only concentrated on the influence of limited metals. However, the single and synergistic impact of multiple-metal exposures on abnormal liver function (ALF) are still unknown. A cross-sectional study involving 1493 Chinese adults residing in Shenzhen was conducted. Plasma concentrations of 13 metals, including essential metals (calcium, copper, cobalt, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, zinc, and selenium) and toxic metals (aluminum, cadmium, arsenic, and thallium) were detected by the inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP-MS). ALF was ascertained as any observed abnormality from albumin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and direct bilirubin. Diverse statistical methods were used to evaluate the single and mixture effect of metals, as well as the dose-response relationships with ALF risk, respectively. Mediation analysis was conducted to evaluate the role of blood lipids in the relation of metal exposure with ALF. The average age of subjects was 59.7 years, and 56.7 % were females. Logistic regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized regression model consistently suggested that increased levels of arsenic, aluminum, manganese, and cadmium were related to elevated risk of ALF; while magnesium and zinc showed protective effects on ALF (all p-trend < 0.05). The grouped weighted quantile sum (GWQS) regression revealed that the WQS index of essential metals and toxic metals showed significantly negative or positive relationship with ALF, respectively. Aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, and manganese showed linear whilst magnesium and zinc showed non-linear dose-response relationships with ALF risk. Mediation analysis showed that LDL-c mediated 4.41 % and 14.74 % of the relationship of plasma cadmium and manganese with ALF, respectively. In summary, plasma aluminum, arsenic, manganese, cadmium, magnesium, and zinc related with ALF, and LDL-c might underlie the pathogenesis of ALF associated with cadmium and manganese exposure. This study may provide critical public health significances in liver injury prevention and scientific evidence for the establishment of environmental standard.

Slow-Wave Hybrid Magnonics.

Cavity magnonics is an emerging research area focusing on the coupling between magnons and photons. Despite its great potential for coherent information processing, it has been long restricted by the narrow interaction bandwidth. In this Letter, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel approach to achieve broadband photon-magnon coupling by adopting slow waves on engineered microwave waveguides. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that slow wave is combined with hybrid magnonics. Its unique properties promise great potentials for both fundamental research and practical applications, for instance, by deepening our understanding of the light-matter interaction in the slow wave regime and providing high-efficiency spin wave transducers. The device concept can be extended to other systems such as optomagnonics and magnomechanics, opening up new directions for hybrid magnonics.

Global, Regional, and National Burdens of Stroke in Children and Adolescents From 1990 to 2019: A Population-Based Study.

BACKGROUND: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death among children, yet evidence on stroke incidence and prognosis in this population is largely neglected worldwide. The aim of this study was to estimate the latest burden of childhood stroke, as well as trends, risk factors, and inequalities from 1990 to 2019, at the global, regional, and national levels. METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease 2019 study was utilized to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, years lived with disability, years of life lost (YLLs), and average annual percentage changes in stroke among populations aged 0 to 19 years from 1990 to 2019. RESULTS: The global age-standardized incidence of stroke increased (average annual percentage change, 0.15% [95% uncertainty interval, 0.09%-0.21%]), while YLLs decreased substantially (average annual percentage change, -3.33% [95% uncertainty interval, -3.38% to -3.28%]) among children and adolescents between 1990 and 2019. Ischemic stroke accounted for 70% of incident cases, and intracerebral hemorrhage accounted for 63% of YLLs. Children under 5 years of age had the highest incidence of ischemic stroke, while adolescents aged 15 to 19 years had the highest incidence of hemorrhagic stroke. In 2019, low-income and middle-income countries were responsible for 84% of incident cases and 93% of YLLs due to childhood stroke. High-sociodemographic index countries had a reduction in YLLs due to stroke that was more than twice as fast as that of low-income and middle-income. CONCLUSIONS: Globally, the burden of childhood stroke continues to increase, especially among females, children aged <5 years, and low-sociodemographic index countries, such as sub-Saharan Africa. The burden of childhood stroke is likely undergoing a significant transition from being fatal to causing disability. Global public health policies and the deployment of health resources need to respond rapidly and actively to this shift.

Efficient Control of Rhizoctonia solani Using Environmentally Friendly pH-Responsive Tannic Acid-Rosin Nano-Microcapsules.

A nanomicrocapsule system was constructed through the polymerization of tannic acid (TA) and emulsifier OP-10 (OP-10), followed by the chelation of iron ions, to develop a safe and effective method for controlling Rhizoctonia solani in agriculture. The encapsulated active component is a rosin-based triazole derivative (RTD) previously synthesized by our research group (RTD@OP10-TA-Fe). The encapsulation efficiency of the nanomicrocapsules is 82.39%, with an effective compound loading capacity of 96.49%. Through the encapsulation of the RTD via nanomicrocapsules, we improved its water solubility, optimized its stability, and increased its adhesion to the leaf surface. Under acidic conditions (pH = 5.0), the release rate of nanomicrocapsules at 96 h is 96.31 ± 0.8%, which is 2.04 times higher than the release rate under normal conditions (pH = 7.0). Additionally, the results of in vitro and in vivo antifungal assays indicate that compared with the original compound, the nanomicrocapsules exhibit superior antifungal activity (EC50 values of RTD and RTD@OP10-TA-Fe are 1.237 and 0.860 mg/L, respectively). The results of field efficacy trials indicate that compared with RTD, RTD@OP10-TA-Fe exhibits a more prolonged period of effectiveness. Even after 3 weeks, the antifungal rate of RTD@OP10-TA-Fe remains at 40%, whereas RTD, owing to degradation, shows an antifungal rate of 11.11% during the same period. Furthermore, safety assessment results indicate that compared with the control, RTD@OP10-TA-Fe has almost no impact on the growth of rice seedlings and exhibits low toxicity to zebrafish. This study provides valuable insights into controlling R. solani and enhancing the compound performance.

Uncovering sympathetic nervous system dysfunction in disorders of consciousness via heart rate variability during head-up tilt test.

Few standardized tools are available for evaluation of disorders of consciousness (DOC). The potential of heart rate variability (HRV) during head-up tilt (HUT) test was investigated as a complementary evaluation tool. Twenty-one DOC patients and 21 healthy participants were enrolled in this study comparing clinical characteristics and HRV time- and frequency-domain outcomes and temporal changes during HUT test. During the 1st-5th min of the HUT, DOC group showed a significant increase and decrease in log low frequency (LF) (p = 0.045) and log normalized high frequency (nHF) (p = 0.02), respectively, compared to the supine position and had lower log normalized LF (nLF) (p = 0.004) and log ratio of low-to-high frequency (LF/HF) (p = 0.001) compared to healthy controls. As the HUT continued from the 6th to the 20th min, DOC group exhibited a significant increase in log LF/HF (16th-20th min) (p < 0.05), along with a decrease in log nHF (6th-10th and 16th-20th min) (p < 0.05) and maintained lower log LF, log nLF, and log LF/HF than controls (p < 0.05). 1st-10th min after returning to the supine position, DOC group demonstrated a significant decrease in log nHF (p < 0.01) and increases in log LF/HF (p < 0.01) and had lower log LF (p < 0.01) and log nLF (p < 0.05) compared to controls. In contrast, the control group exhibited a significant decrease in log nHF (p < 0.05) and increase in log LF/HF (p < 0.05) throughout the entire HUT test. Notably, no significant differences were observed when comparing time-domain outcomes reflecting parasympathetic nervous system between the two groups. HRV during HUT test indicated a delayed and attenuated autonomic response, particularly in the sympathetic nervous system, in DOC patients compared with healthy individuals.