Cellular succinate metabolism and signaling in inflammation: implications for therapeutic intervention.

Succinate, traditionally viewed as a mere intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, has emerged as a critical mediator in inflammation. Disruptions within the TCA cycle lead to an accumulation of succinate in the mitochondrial matrix. This excess succinate subsequently diffuses into the cytosol and is released into the extracellular space. Elevated cytosolic succinate levels stabilize hypoxia-inducible factor-1α by inhibiting prolyl hydroxylases, which enhances inflammatory responses. Notably, succinate also acts extracellularly as a signaling molecule by engaging succinate receptor 1 on immune cells, thus modulating their pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory activities. Alterations in succinate levels have been associated with various inflammatory disorders, including rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and atherosclerosis. These associations are primarily due to exaggerated immune cell responses. Given its central role in inflammation, targeting succinate pathways offers promising therapeutic avenues for these diseases. This paper provides an extensive review of succinate's involvement in inflammatory processes and highlights potential targets for future research and therapeutic possibilities development.

Targeted improvement of narrow micropores in porous carbon for enhancing trace benzene vapor removal: Revealing the adsorption mechanism via experimental and molecular simulation.

Porous carbon materials are highly desirable for removing benzene due to their low energy for capture and regeneration. Research has demonstrated that narrow microporous volume is crucial for effective adsorption of benzene at ultra-low concentration. Unfortunately, achieving directional increase in the narrow microporous volume in porous carbon remains a challenge. Here, nitrogen-doped hydrothermal carbon was prepared using urea-assisted hydrothermal method, and then porous carbon (PUC800) was prepared by KOH activation. The resulting material had 180 % higher pore volume and 179 % higher surface area compared to non-nitrogen activation methods. Then, using mechanochemical (mechanical compaction and KOH activation) approach to produce PUC800-3T, which had a 30 % increase in pore volume and a 33 % increase in surface area compared to PUC800. PUC800-3T showed benzene adsorption capacity of 4.2 mmol g-1 at 1 Pa and 5.8 mmol g-1 at 5 Pa. Experimental and molecular simulation indicate that the benzene adsorption at 1 and 5 Pa is determined by pore volume of less than 0.8 and 0.9 nm, respectively. Density functional theory calculations provided insight into the CH⋯X (X = N/O) interactions drive benzene adsorption on the carbon framework. This work provides valuable theoretical and experimental support for designing, preparing, and applying adsorbents for trace removal of benzene vapor.

Comparative analysis of CRASH and IMPACT in predicting the outcome of 340 patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Both the International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials (IMPACT) and the Corticosteroid randomization after significant head injury (CRASH) models are globally acknowledged prognostic algorithms for assessing traumatic brain injury (TBI) outcomes. The aim of this study is to externalize the validation process and juxtapose the prognostic accuracy of the CRASH and IMPACT models in moderate-to-severe TBI patients in the Chinese population. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study encompassing a cohort of 340 adult TBI patients (aged > 18 years), presenting with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores ranging from 3 to 12. The data were accrued over 2 years (2020-2022). The primary endpoints were 14-day mortality rates and 6-month Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores. Analytical metrics, including the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for discrimination and the Brier score for predictive precision were employed to quantitatively evaluate the model performance. Results: Mortality rates at the 14-day and 6-month intervals, as well as the 6-month unfavorable GOS outcomes, were established to be 22.06, 40.29, and 65.59%, respectively. The IMPACT models had area under the curves (AUCs) of 0.873, 0.912, and 0.927 for the 6-month unfavorable GOS outcomes, with respective Brier scores of 0.14, 0.12, and 0.11. On the other hand, the AUCs associated with the six-month mortality were 0.883, 0.909, and 0.912, and the corresponding Brier scores were 0.15, 0.14, and 0.13, respectively. The CRASH models exhibited AUCs of 0.862 and 0.878 for the 6-month adverse outcomes, with uniform Brier scores of 0.18. The 14-day mortality rates had AUCs of 0.867 and 0.87, and corresponding Brier scores of 0.21 and 0.22, respectively. Conclusion: Both the CRASH and IMPACT algorithms offer reliable prognostic estimations for patients suffering from craniocerebral injuries. However, compared to the CRASH model, the IMPACT model has superior predictive accuracy, albeit at the cost of increased computational intricacy.

Inhibition of IL-17 signaling in macrophages underlies the anti-arthritic effects of halofuginone hydrobromide: Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent autoimmune disease marked by chronic synovitis as well as cartilage and bone destruction. Halofuginone hydrobromide (HF), a bioactive compound derived from the Chinese herbal plant Dichroa febrifuga Lour., has demonstrated substantial anti-arthritic effects in RA. Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms responsible for the anti-RA effects of HF remain unclear. METHODS: This study employed a combination of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation to investigate potential targets of HF in RA. RESULTS: Network pharmacology analyses identified 109 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) resulting from HF treatment in RA. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses unveiled a robust association between these DEGs and the IL-17 signaling pathway. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis revealed 10 core DEGs, that is, EGFR, MMP9, TLR4, ESR1, MMP2, PPARG, MAPK1, JAK2, STAT1, and MAPK8. Among them, MMP9 displayed the greatest binding energy for HF. In an in vitro assay, HF significantly inhibited the activity of inflammatory macrophages, and regulated the IL-17 signaling pathway by decreasing the levels of IL-17 C, p-NF-κB, and MMP9. CONCLUSION: In summary, these findings suggest that HF has the potential to inhibit the activation of inflammatory macrophages through its regulation of the IL-17 signaling pathway, underscoring its potential in the suppression of immune-mediated inflammation in RA.

Development and validation of a nomogram for radiation-induced hepatic toxicity after intensity modulated radiotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to construct a nomogram to predict radiation-induced hepatic toxicity in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy. METHODS: This study reviewed the clinical characteristics and dose-volume parameters of 196 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Radiation-induced hepatic toxicity was defined as progression of the Child-Pugh score caused by intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Factors relevant to radiation-induced hepatic toxicity were selected using receiver operating characteristic and univariate logistic analysis. A risk assessment model was developed, and its discrimination was validated. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (44.90%) and 28 (14.29%) patients had radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥ 1 (Child-Pugh ≥ 1) and radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥ 2 (Child-Pugh ≥ 2). Pre-treatment Child-Pugh, body mass index and dose-volume parameters were correlated with radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥ 1 using univariate logistic analysis. V15 had the best predictive effectiveness among the dose-volume parameters in both the training (area under the curve: 0.763, 95% confidence interval: 0.683-0.842, P < 0.001) and validation cohorts (area under the curve: 0.759, 95% confidence interval: 0.635-0.883, P < 0.001). The area under the curve values of the model that was constructed by pre-treatment Child-Pugh, body mass index and V15 for radiation-induced hepatic toxicity ≥1 were 0.799 (95% confidence interval: 0.719-0.878, P < 0.001) and 0.775 (95% confidence interval: 0.657-0.894, P < 0.001) in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Patients with a body mass index ≤ 20.425, Barcelona clinic liver cancer = C, Hepatitis B Virus-positive, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group = 1-2 and hepatic fibrosis require lower V15 dose limits. CONCLUSIONS: Risk assessment model constructed from Pre-treatment Child-Pugh, V15 and body mass index can guide individualized patient selection of toxicity minimization strategies.

Improvement of astrocytic gap junction involves the anti-depressive effect of celecoxib through inhibition of NF-κB.

CONTEXT: Celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, has been shown to exhibit anti-depressive effects in clinical trials. However, the direct mechanism underlying its effect on neuroinflammation remains unclear. Neuroinflammatory reaction from astrocytes leads to depression, and our previous study found that gap junction disorder between astrocytes aggravated neuroinflammatory reaction in depressed mice. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the potential mechanism of celecoxib's effects on astrocytic gap junctions during the central nervous inflammation-induced depression. MATERIALS & METHODS: Stereotaxic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to establish a model of major depressive disorder (MDD). Celecoxib was administrated into PFC 15 min after LPS injection. The depressive performance was tested by tail suspension test and forced swimming test, and the levels of proinflammation cytokines were determined at mRNA and protein levels. Resting-state functional connection (rsFC) was employed to assess changes in the default mode network (DMN). Additionally, astrocytic gap junctions were also determined by lucifer yellow (LY) diffusion and transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) was measured by western blotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: LPS injection induced significant depressive performance, which was ameliorated by celecoxib treatment. Celecoxib also improved rsFC in the DMN. Furthermore, celecoxib improved astrocytic gap junctions as evidenced by increased LY diffusion, shortened gap junction width, and normalized levels of phosphorylated Cx43. Celecoxib also blocked the phosphorylation of p65, and inhibition of p65 abolished the improvement of Cx43. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSION: Anti-depressive effects of celecoxib are mediated, at least in part, by the inhibition of nuclear factor- kappa B (NF-κB) and the subsequent improvement of astrocytic gap junction function.

Enhanced ability of toluene oxidation by controlling inversion degree of spinel composed of only Co, Mn.

Exploring the single relationship between the inversion degree of spinel and its catalytic performance is a great challenge, but has important significance for further structural design and application. A series of CoMn inverse spinels were prepared and the general formula [Formula: see text] was deduced through X-ray diffraction refinement to find a decreased inversion degree x as calcination temperature rose. Catalytic oxidation of toluene showed that higher inversion degree (S-300 with x ≈ 0.95) can reach larger conversion rate (90 % at about 250 °C for 400 ppm toluene) with greater reaction stability (140 h). Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations on density of states indicated its metallic nature, and found that the strength of O-p and Transition metal-d orbitals at Fermi energy is positively correlated to the inversion degree, meaning stronger electron migration ability. Along with the adsorption calculation analysis that lattice oxygen species are proved to work dominantly (S-300 with lowest adsorption energy but highest performance), this work uncovered a theoretical insight into inverse spinel oxide, to provide the possibility of elevated oxidation ability through structural control.

An interfacial synergism effect of Pd-g-C3N4 in Pd/g-C3N4 for highly active and selective hydrogenation of 4-nitrophenol.

Herein, we report that Pd nanoparticles (NPs) anchored on graphitic nitride carbon (Pd/g-C3N4) catalysts with various Pd contents (1.55 wt%, 0.14 wt%, 0.04 wt%) are successfully prepared via a simple NaBH4 reduction method, exhibiting excellent catalytic activity and selectivity toward 4-aminophenol (4-AP) in 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) selective hydrogenation. 4-NP is completely converted to 4-AP (yield ∼ 100%) under quite moderate reaction conditions (40 °C, 2.0 MPa H2 and 5 min) over the 1.55 wt% Pd/g-C3N4 catalyst, with a high reaction rate r = 134.4 mol4-NP molPd-1 min-1. The excellent catalytic performance can be attributed to the following reasons: (1) a higher ratio of Pd(0)/Pdn+ provides much more exposed active sites for the potential adsorption and activation of the reactants, which is beneficial for increasing the reaction rate and catalytic activity; (2) Pd NPs are highly dispersed on g-C3N4 due to the strong interaction of Pd-N or Pd-C; (3) the interfacial synergism effect between Pd NPs and g-C3N4 enables the effective adsorption and activation of H2 (4-NP) at Pd (g-C3N4), promoting the catalytic hydrogenation of 4-NP and improving their catalytic properties. In addition, this catalyst has superior reusability.

Rhodamine-Anchored Polyacrylamide Hydrogel for Fluorescent Naked-Eye Sensing of Fe3.

A fluorescent and colorimetric poly (acrylamide)-based copolymer probe P(AAm-co-RBNCH) has been designed via free radical polymerization of a commercial acrylamide monomer with a rhodamine-functionalized monomer RBNCH. Metal ion selectivity of RBNCH was investigated by fluorescence and colorimetric spectrophotometry. Upon addition of Fe3+, a visual color change from colorless to red and a large fluorescence enhancement were observed for the ring-opening of the rhodamine spirolactam mechanism. The monomer gives a sensitive method for quantitatively detecting Fe3+ in the linear range of 100-200 µM, with a limit of detection as low as 27 nM and exhibiting high selectivity for Fe3+ over 12 other metal ions. The hydrogel sensor was characterized by FTIR, and the effects of RBNCH amount on gel content and swelling properties were explored. According to the recipe of 1.0 mol% RBNCH to the total monomers, the fabricated hydrogel sensor displayed a good swelling property and reversibility performance and has potential for application in the imaging of Fe3+ level in industrial wastewater.

Insights into non-crystalline structure of solid solution Ce-Mn co-oxide nanofibers for efficient low-temperature toluene oxidation.

The controllable preparation of efficient non-crystalline solid solution catalysts is a great challenge in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds. In this work, series non-crystalline solid solution structured Ce-Mn co-oxide nanofibers were creatively prepared by adjusting Ce/Mn molar ratios using electrospinning. 0.20CeMnOx (the ratio of Ce to Mn was 0.2) displayed an outstanding low-temperature toluene oxidation activity (T90 = 233 °C). The formation of the amorphous solid solution and the unique nanofiber structure both contributed to a large specific surface area (S = 173 m2 g-1) and high adsorbed oxygen content (Oads/O = 41.3%), which enhanced the number of active oxygen vacancies. The synergies between non-crystalline structure and active oxygen species markedly improved oxygen migration rate as well as redox ability of the catalysts. Additionally, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra showed that the absorbed toluene could be completely oxidized to CO2 and H2O with benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, and maleic anhydride as intermediates. In summary, this study provided an alternative route for the synthesis of non-crystalline metal co-oxide nanofibers.

Covid-related surge in global wild bird feeding: Implications for biodiversity and human-nature interaction.

The global extent of supplementary bird feeding is unknown but has consequences for bird conservation and human well-being. Using a measure of search intensity for words related to bird feeding from Google, we document a surge of interest in bird feeding that occurred around the world after Covid-19 led to lockdowns where people stayed home: 115 countries saw an increase in bird feeding search interest. We test whether the existence of interest in bird feeding is associated with greater species richness of bird species, our proxy for biodiversity, and find the relationship is highly significant. Covid-19 lockdowns may have persistent influences on global bird populations and humans' connection to nature.

The Influence of Decision-Making Logic on Employees' Innovative Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Positive Error Orientation and the Moderating Role of Environmental Dynamics.

Purpose: The derivation of employees' innovative behaviour is a complex multi-stage process influenced by decision logic. However, previous research on the relationship between the two has not been comprehensive without considering the individual level of employees, and the mechanism of action between the two is still unclear. Based on the behavioral decision theory, the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and triadic reciprocal determinism. This study investigates the mediating effects of positive error orientation between decision-making logic and employees' innovative behavior, and the moderating effects of environmental dynamics between decision-making logic and employees' innovative behavior, focusing on the individual level. Methods: The questionnaire data was obtained from 403 employees randomly selected from 100 companies in Nanchang, China, in various industries such as manufacturing, transportation, storage and postal services, trade, and wholesale and retail trade. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results: Effectual logic had a significantly positive impact on employees' innovative behavior. The direct effect of causal logic on employees' innovative behavior was not significant, but the total effect was significantly positive. Positive error orientation played a mediating role between both types of decision-making logic and employees' innovative behavior. Moreover, environmental dynamics played a negative moderating role between effectual logic and employees' innovative behavior. Originality/Value: This study expands the application of behavioral decision theory, the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions and triadic reciprocal determinism in employees' innovative behaviour, enriches the research on the mediating and moderating mechanism between employees' decision-making logic and innovative behaviour, and provides a new research perspective and empirical support for subsequent related research. Practical Implications: The results of this study provide practical suggestions for promoting employees' innovative behaviour. For example, employees need to cultivate logical thinking, train their decision-making ability, form a positive error orientation, and objectively assess the external environment.

Bioactive components and molecular mechanisms of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (SM) is an outstanding herbal medicine with various traditional effects, especially promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis. It has been widely used for centuries to treat blood stasis syndrome (BSS)-related diseases. BSS is one of the basic pathological syndromes of diseases such as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in traditional East Asian medicine, which is characterized by disturbance of blood circulation. However, the bioactive components and mechanisms of SM in the treatment of BSS have not been systematically reviewed. Therefore, this article outlines the anti-BSS effects of bioactive components of SM, concentrating on the molecular mechanisms. AIM OF THE REVIEW: To summarize the bioactive components of SM against BSS and highlight its potential targets and signaling pathways, hoping to provide a modern biomedical perspective to understand the efficacy of SM on enhancing blood circulation to remove blood stasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed to retrieve articles published in the last two decades on bioactive components of SM used for BSS treatment from the online electronic medical literature database (PubMed). RESULTS: Phenolic acids and tanshinones in SM are the main bioactive components in the treatment of BSS, including but not limited to salvianolic acid B, tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid A, cryptotanshinone, Danshensu, dihydrotanshinone, rosmarinic acid, protocatechuic aldehyde, and caffeic acid. They protect vascular endothelial cells by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory damage and regulating of NO/ET-1 levels. They also enhance anticoagulant and fibrinolytic capacity, inhibit platelet activation and aggregation, and dilate blood vessels. Moreover, lowering blood lipids and improving blood rheological properties may be the underlying mechanisms of their anti-BSS. More notably, these compounds play an anti-BSS role by mediating multiple signaling pathways such as Nrf2/HO-1, TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/eNOS, MAPKs (p38, ERK, and JNK), and Ca2+/K+ channels. CONCLUSIONS: Both phenolic acids and tanshinones in SM may act synergistically to target different signaling pathways to achieve the effect of promoting blood circulation.

Microglial Metabolic Reprogramming: Emerging Insights and Therapeutic Strategies in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, play a critical role in maintaining brain homeostasis. However, in neurodegenerative conditions, microglial cells undergo metabolic reprogramming in response to pathological stimuli, including Aß plaques, Tau tangles, and α-synuclein aggregates. This metabolic shift is characterized by a transition from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis, increased glucose uptake, enhanced production of lactate, lipids, and succinate, and upregulation of glycolytic enzymes. These metabolic adaptations result in altered microglial functions, such as amplified inflammatory responses and diminished phagocytic capacity, which exacerbate neurodegeneration. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying microglial metabolic reprogramming in neurodegenerative diseases and discusses potential therapeutic strategies targeting microglial metabolism to mitigate neuroinflammation and promote brain health. Microglial Metabolic Reprogramming in Neurodegenerative Diseases This graphical abstract illustrates the metabolic shift in microglial cells in response to pathological stimuli and highlights potential therapeutic strategies targeting microglial metabolism for improved brain health.

Experimental and theoretical calculations insight into acetone adsorption by porous carbon at different pressures: Effects of pore structure and oxygen groups.

The influence of different pore size and oxygen groups for porous carbons on acetone adsorption at different pressure was studied by using experimental data and theoretical calculation, and the results were applied to prepare carbon-based adsorbents with superior adsorption capacity. First, we successfully prepared five types of porous carbons with different gradient pore structure but similar oxygen contents (4.9 ± 0.25 at.%). We found that the acetone uptake at different pressure depends on the different pore sizes. Besides, we demonstrate how to accurately decompose the acetone adsorption isotherm into multiple sub-isotherms based on different pore sizes. Based on the isotherm decomposition method, the acetone adsorption at 18 kPa is mainly in the form of pore-filling adsorption in the pore size range of 0.6-2.0 nm. When the pore size is greater than 2 nm, the acetone uptake mainly depends on the surface area. Second, porous carbons with different oxygen content, similar surface area and pore structure were prepared to study the influence of oxygen groups on acetone adsorption. The results show that the acetone adsorption capacity is determined by the pore structure at relatively high pressure, and the oxygen groups only slightly increase the adsorption capacity. However, the oxygen groups can provide more active sites, thereby enhancing acetone adsorption at low pressure.

Tooth loss and the risk of cognitive decline and dementia: A meta-analysis of cohort studies.

Introduction: Epidemiological studies have shown that tooth loss may be associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. However, some results do not show a significant association. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate this association. Methods: Relevant cohort studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (up to May 2022), and the reference lists of retrieved articles. The pooled relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were computed using a random-effects model (CI). Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I 2 statistic. Publication bias was evaluated using the Begg's and Egger's tests. Results: Eighteen cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Original studies with 356,297 participants with an average follow-up of 8.6 years (ranging from 2 to 20 years) were included in this study. The pooled RRs of tooth loss on dementia and cognitive decline were 1.15 (95% CI: 1.10-1.20; P < 0.01, I 2 = 67.4%) and 1.20 (95% CI: 1.14-1.26; P = 0.04, I 2 = 42.3%), respectively. The results of the subgroup analysis showed an increased association between tooth loss and Alzheimer's disease (AD) (RR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02-1.23) and vascular dementia (VaD) (RR = 1.25, 95% CI: 1.06-1.47). The results of the subgroup analysis also showed that pooled RRs varied by geographic location, sex, use of dentures, number of teeth or edentulous status, dental assessment, and follow-up duration. None of the Begg's and Egger's tests or funnel plots showed evidence of publication bias. Discussion: Tooth loss is associated with a significantly increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia, suggesting that adequate natural teeth are important for cognitive function in older adults. The likely mechanisms mostly suggested include nutrition, inflammation, and neural feedback, especially deficiency of several nutrients like vitamin D.

Sexual violence against women remains problematic and highly prevalent around the world.

BACKGROUND: Sexual violence is far more prevalent in most societies than is usually suspected in daily life. However, no study has systematically summarized the global prevalence rate and the major outcomes of sexual violence against women. METHODS: We directed a wide-raging search in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science, catalogs since the beginning to December 2022 for relevant reports about the incidence of sexual fighting touching females. The occurrence frequency was assessed with a random-effects model. The heterogeneity was estimated with I 2 values. Differences by research features were assessed over subgroup evaluation and meta-regression. RESULTS: A total of 32 cross-sectional studies were included (a total of 19,125 participants). The pooled sexual violence rate was 0.29 (95% CI = 0.25-0.34). Subgroup analyses found that there was a higher rate of sexual violence against women in 2010-2019 period (0.33, 95% CI = 0.27-0.37), developing countries (0.32, 95% CI = 0.28-0.37), and interview (0.39, 95% CI = 0.29-0.49). The analysis found that more than half of women (0.56, 95% CI = 0.37-0.75) had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after experiencing sexual violence, and only a third of women considered seeking support (0.34, 95% CI = 0.13-0.55). CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one out of every three (29%) women around the world has been a victim of sexual violence in their life. This current study investigated the status and characteristics of sexual violence against women, which could provide an important reference for police and emergency health services management.

Diffusion Mechanism of China's Long-term Care Insurance System-An Empirical Analysis Based on 31 Provinces.

A long-term care insurance system provides basic living assistance, medical care cost compensation, and service assurance for people with disabilities. In China, it was first piloted in Qingdao, Shandong Province, in 2012, and has now been implemented in 27 provinces as pilot areas. The locally started policy was adopted by the central government and extended to the whole country in eight years. We focus on answering two questions: How did the diffusion of the policy occur? What were its determining factors? Based on the perspective of policy innovation and diffusion, this study empirically analyzes the main factors influencing the diffusion of the long-term care insurance system using a Cox proportional-hazards model and data from 31 Chinese provinces. The study found that the main internal factors were the local aging coefficient and degree of socioeconomic development, and the main external factors were national competition pressure and central policy pressure.

New Staging Model for Radiation-based Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treatment: A National Multicenter Study.

Background and Aims: The study aimed to create a new staging model for radiotherapy-based treatment for prognostic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) classification. Methods: The training cohort comprised 658 patients receiving stereotactic body radiotherapy and external validation cohort comprised 533 patients receiving three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy. We established a modified staging system as follows: stage I, solitary nodule without macrovascular invasion, or 2-3 nodules no more than 3.0 cm apart, and performance status (PS) 0-2 (Ia: ALBI-1 grade; Ib: ALBI-2 or 3 grade); stage II: 2-3 nodules with any one nodule more than 3.0-cm apart, or ≥4 nodules, and performance status 0-2 (IIa: ALBI-1 grade; IIb: ALBI-2 grade); stage III: macrovascular invasion, regional lymph node metastasis or distant metastasis, and performance status 0-2 (IIIa: ALBI-1 grade; IIIb: ALBI-2 grade); stage IV: performance status 3-4, or performance status 0-2 with ALBI-3 grade. We analyzed long-term overall survival based on different stages. Results: The staging model showed an excellent ability to discriminate patients according to four stages and seven substages with notably different curves in the training and validation cohort. The median survival decreased from stages I to IV with 63.0 months in stage I (not reached in Ia, and 53.0 months in Ib), 24.0 months in stage II (28.0 months in IIa, and 22.0 months in IIb), 11.0 months in stage III (18.0 months in IIIa, and 9.0 months in IIIb), and less than 9.0 months in stage IV in the training cohort. Conclusions: The modified staging model may provide an alternative for clinical radiation oncologists.

Capture-bonding Super Assembly of Nanoscale Dispersed Bimetal on Uniform CeO2 Nanorod for the Toluene Oxidation.

Elimination of VOCs by catalytic oxidation is an important technology. Here, a general synergistic capture-bonding superassembly strategy was proposed to obtain the nanoscale dispersed 5.8% PtFe3 -CeO2 catalyst, which showed a high toluene oxidation activity (T100 =226 °C), excellent catalytic stability (125 h, >99.5%) and a good water resistance ability (70 h, >99.5%). Through the detailed XPS analysis, oxygen cycle experiment, hydrogen reduction experiment, and in-situ DRIFT experiment, we could deduce that PtFe3 -CeO2 had two reaction pathways. The surface adsorbed oxygen resulting from PtFe3 nanoparticles played a dominant role, due to the fast cycling between the surface adsorbed oxygen and oxygen vacancy. In contrast, the lattice oxygen resulting from CeO2 nanorods played an important role due to the relationship between the toluene oxidation activity and the metal-oxygen bonding energy. Furthermore, DFT simulation verified Pt sites were the dominant reaction active sites during this reaction.