Experience and training needs of nurses in military hospital on emergency rescue at high altitude: a qualitative meta-synthesis.

BACKGROUND: Nurses play an important role in the treatment of war wounds on the plateau, and they face multiple challenges and a variety of needs in their caregiving process. This study aimed to systematically integrate and evaluate qualitative research data to understand the altitude emergency rescue experience and training needs of nurses in military hospitals and provide them with targeted assistance. METHODS: We critically assessed the study using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Assessment Checklist for Qualitative Research. Extraction, summarization and meta-synthesis of qualitative data. Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, FMRS, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database (CECDB), VIP Database, and China Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched for relevant studies published from the establishment of the database to May 2023. Additionally, we conducted a manual search of the references of the identified studies. Registered on the PROSPERO database (CRD42024537104). RESULTS: A total of 17 studies, including 428 participants, were included, and 139 research results were extracted, summarized into 10 new categories, and formed 3 meta-themes. Meta-theme 1: mental state of military nurses during deployment. Meta-theme 2: the experience of military nurses during deployment. Meta-theme 3: training needs for emergency care. CONCLUSIONS: Emergency rescue of high-altitude war injuries is a challenging process. Leaders should pay full attention to the feelings and needs of military nurses during the first aid process and provide them with appropriate support.

Interactions between partially gelatinized starch and nonstarch components in potato flour and their performance in emulsification.

To develop natural complex materials as starch-dominated emulsifiers, pregelatinization was conducted on potato flour. The effects of gelatinization degrees (GDs, 0 %-50 %) on the structural characteristics, physicochemical properties, and emulsifying potentials of potato flour were investigated. Increasing GD of potato flour promoted protein aggregation on starch granules surfaces and transformed starch semicrystalline structures into melted networks. The emulsion stabilized with 50 % GD potato flour exhibited excellent storage stability (7 d) and gel-like behavior. With increasing GD from 0 to 50 %, the respective apparent viscosities and elastic moduli of emulsion increased from 21.4 Pa to 1126.7 Pa, and from 0.133 Pa·s to 1176.6 Pa·s, promoting the formation of a stable network structure in the emulsion. Fourier transform infrared spectra from emulsions with a continuous phase of >20 % GD displayed a new peak around 1740 cm-1, suggesting improved covalent interactions between droplets, thereby facilitating emulsion stability. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images indicated that droplets could be anchored in the melted networks and broken starch granules, inhibiting droplets coalescence. These results suggest that pregelatinization is a viable strategy for customizing natural starch-dominated emulsions.

Real-time observation of two distinctive non-thermalized hot electron dynamics at MXene/molecule interfaces.

The photoinduced non-thermalized hot electrons at an interface play a pivotal role in determining plasmonic driven chemical events. However, understanding non-thermalized electron dynamics, which precedes electron thermalization (~125 fs), remains a grand challenge. Herein, we simultaneously captured the dynamics of both molecules and non-thermalized electrons in the MXene/molecule complexes by femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. The real-time observation allows for distinguishing non-thermalized and thermalized electron responses. Differing from the thermalized electron/heat transfer, our results reveal two non-thermalized electron dynamical pathways: (i) the non-thermalized electrons directly transfer to attached molecules at an interface within 50 fs; (ii) the non-thermalized electrons scatter at the interface within 125 fs, inducing adsorbed molecules heating. These two distinctive pathways are dependent on the irradiating wavelength and the energy difference between MXene and adsorbed molecules. This research sheds light on the fundamental mechanism and opens opportunities in photocatalysis and interfacial heat transfer theory.

Kilohertz volumetric imaging of in-vivo dynamics using squeezed light field microscopy.

Volumetric functional imaging of transient cellular signaling and motion dynamics poses a significant challenge to current microscopy techniques, primarily due to limitations in hardware bandwidth and the restricted photon budget within short exposure times. In response to this challenge, we present squeezed light field microscopy (SLIM), a computational imaging method that enables rapid detection of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) light signals using only a single, low-format camera sensor area. SLIM pushes the boundaries of 3D optical microscopy, achieving over one thousand volumes per second across a large field of view of 550 µm in diameter and 300 µm in depth. Using SLIM, we demonstrated blood cell velocimetry across the embryonic zebrafish brain and in a free-moving tail exhibiting high-frequency swinging motion. The millisecond temporal resolution also enables accurate voltage imaging of neural membrane potentials in the leech ganglion. These results collectively establish SLIM as a versatile and robust imaging tool for high-speed microscopy applications.

Effects of particle properties, intermolecular forces, and molecular structure on the shear-thickening behavior of waxy starch dispersions.

The shear-thickening phenomenon in waxy starch dispersions has been reported; however, the influence of starch properties on it remains unclear. Herein, the shear-thickening behavior of five waxy starch dispersions at different concentrations is investigated, and two shear-thickening areas are identified for the first time. Waxy potato and cassava starch dispersions present two shear-thickening areas, waxy maize and wheat starch dispersions exhibit one shear-thickening area, and waxy rice starch dispersion exhibits no shear-thickening behavior. Starches with high degree of polymerization (DP > 12 and > 37 chains), short-range order, relative crystallinity, melting enthalpy (ΔH), and low molecular weight easily form large particle fragments and strong intermolecular forces, thereby resulting in double shear-thickening areas. Starches with relatively high DP > 12 chains, short-range order, relative crystallinity, and ΔH form one shear-thickening area. Starches with no shear-thickening area have high molecular weight, degree of branching, and DP < 12 chains, and low short-range order, relative crystallinity, and ΔH. It can be speculated that the first shear-thickening area (2-5 s-1) is due to the presence of large particle fragments, whereas the second (10-15 s-1) is due to the interaction between the side chains of the starch molecule.

Rheological properties and microstructure of wheat flour dough systems with enzyme-hydrolyzed mashed potatoes.

The interest in incorporating potatoes into wheat dough is increasing. However, potatoes exhibit significant viscosity during thermal processing, affecting product processing and quality. This study aims to find an effective method to reduce the viscosity of mashed potatoes. We aimed to compare the effects of different enzymes (α-amylase, ß-amylase, and flavourzyme) and concentrations (0.01%, 0.05%, and 0.1%) on the micromorphology and rheological properties of mashed potatoes and potato-wheat dough. The impact of flavourzyme was the most significant (p<0.05). When enzyme concentration increased, viscosity decreased, and the degree of structural damage, indicated by increased porosity. Notably, the addition of flavourzyme can increase the content of sweet and umami free amino acids, improving the flavor of mashed potatoes. The scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy images of potato-wheat dough revealed that enzyme-hydrolyzed mashed potatoes had improved homogeneity, reestablished the dough continuity, and strengthened the three-dimensional structure comprising proteins and starch. Notably, flavourzyme demonstrated the most significant effect on enhancing the protein-starch network structure. This was attributed to the exposure of functional groups resulting from protein hydrolysis, facilitating interaction with starch molecules. Our findings indicate that the addition of 0.1% flavourzyme (500 LAPU/g, pH 5.5, 55 ± 2°C, 30 min treated) was the most effective in reducing viscosity and reconstructing the gluten network. Enzymatic hydrolysis plays a vital role in the production of high-quality potato products, with particular importance in the baking industry, where flavourzyme exhibits significant potential. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Enzymatic hydrolysis plays a vital role in the production of high-quality potato products, with particular importance in the baking industry, where flavourzyme exhibits significant potential.

Roles for leakiness and O2 evolution in explaining lower-than-theoretical quantum yields of photosynthesis in the PEP-CK subtype of C4 plants.

Theoretically, the PEP-CK C4 subtype has a higher quantum yield of CO2 assimilation ( Φ CO 2 ) than NADP-ME or NAD-ME subtypes because ATP required for operating the CO2-concentrating mechanism is believed to mostly come from the mitochondrial electron transport chain (mETC). However, reported Φ CO 2 is not higher in PEP-CK than in the other subtypes. We hypothesise, more photorespiration, associated with higher leakiness and O2 evolution in bundle-sheath (BS) cells, cancels out energetic advantages in PEP-CK species. Nine species (two to four species per subtype) were evaluated by gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, and two-photon microscopy to estimate the BS conductance (gbs) and leakiness using a biochemical model. Average gbs estimates were 2.9, 4.8, and 5.0 mmol m-2 s-1 bar-1, and leakiness values were 0.129, 0.179, and 0.180, in NADP-ME, NAD-ME, and PEP-CK species, respectively. The BS CO2 level was somewhat higher, O2 level was marginally lower, and thus, photorespiratory loss was slightly lower, in NADP-ME than in NAD-ME and PEP-CK species. Differences in these parameters existed among species within a subtype, and gbs was co-determined by biochemical decarboxylating sites and anatomical characteristics. Our hypothesis and results partially explain variations in observed Φ CO 2 , but suggest that PEP-CK species probably use less ATP from mETC than classically defined PEP-CK mechanisms.

The integration of multi-omics analysis and machine learning for the identification of prognostic assessment and immunotherapy efficacy through aging-associated genes in lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Recent years revealed key molecules in lung cancer research, yet their exact roles in disease onset and progression remain uncertain. Lung cancer's heterogeneity complicates prognosis prediction. This study integrates pivotal molecules to evaluate patient prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. METHODS: The WGCNA algorithm identified module genes linked to immunity. The Lasso-Cox method built a prognostic model for outcome prediction. GO and KEGG analyses explored gene pathways. ssGSEA quantified immune cell types and functions. The riskScore predicts the effectiveness of immunotherapy based on its correlation with DNA repair and immune checkpoint genes. Single-cell sequencing examined key gene expression across cell types. RESULTS: Using WGCNA, we identified the MEbrown module related to immunity. Lasso-Cox selected "BLK," "ITGB4," "PRKCH," and "SNAI1" for the prognostic model. MF analysis revealed enriched functions including antigen binding, GTPase regulator activity. In terms of BP, processes like immune signaling and mitotic division were enriched. CC enrichment included immunoglobulin complexes and chromosomal regions. Enriched pathways encompassed Cell cycle, Focal adhesion, Cellular senescence, and p53 signaling. ssGSEA evaluated immune cell abundance. RiskScore correlated with CTLA4 and PD1 through MMR and immune checkpoint analysis. Single-cell analysis indicated gene expression across cell types for BLK, ITGB4, PRKCH, and SNAI1. CONCLUSION: In summary, our developed prognostic model utilizing age-related genes effectively predicts lung cancer prognosis and the efficacy of immune therapy.

Coded aperture snapshot hyperspectral light field tomography.

Multidimensional imaging has emerged as a powerful technology capable of simultaneously acquiring spatial, spectral, and depth information about a scene. However, existing approaches often rely on mechanical scanning or multi-modal sensing configurations, leading to prolonged acquisition times and increased system complexity. Coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging (CASSI) has introduced compressed sensing to recover three-dimensional (3D) spatial-spectral datacubes from single snapshot two-dimensional (2D) measurements. Despite its advantages, the reconstruction problem remains severely underdetermined due to the high compression ratio, resulting in limited spatial and spectral reconstruction quality. To overcome this challenge, we developed a novel two-stage cascaded compressed sensing scheme called coded aperture snapshot hyperspectral light field tomography (CASH-LIFT). By appropriately distributing the computation load to each stage, this method utilizes the compressibility of natural scenes in multiple domains, reducing the ill-posed nature of datacube recovery and achieving enhanced spatial resolution, suppressed aliasing artifacts, and improved spectral fidelity. Additionally, leveraging the snapshot 3D imaging capability of LIFT, our approach efficiently records a five-dimensional (5D) plenoptic function in a single snapshot.

An optimized 3D-printed capsule scaffold utilizing artificial neural network for the targeted delivery of chlorogenic acid to the colon.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is an important bioactive polyphenol with extensive biological properties. This study aimed to fabricate an optimized three-dimensional (3D)-printed capsule scaffold and CGA capsules for targeted delivery of hydrophobic CGA to the colon. The optimized printing parameters identified using the neural network model were a temperature of 170 °C, a printing speed of 20 mm/s, and a nozzle diameter of 0.3 mm. The capsules exhibited slow releasing properties of CGA, and the releasing rates of Eudragit®FS 30D-sealed capsules (due to more cracks and voids) were faster than those of Eudragit®S100-sealed capsules. The Ritger-peppas model was the best fitting model to describe the releasing process of CGA from 8 CGA capsules (R2 ≥ 0.98). All CGA capsules exhibited shear-thinning properties with stable sol-gel viscosity at low shear rates. FTIR spectra confirmed the formation of non-covalent bonds between CGA and the sol. Overall, the obtained 3D-printed capsules provided a promising carrier for the targeted delivery of CGA in the development of personalized dietary supplements.

Assessment of freeze damage in tuber starch with electrical impedance spectroscopy and thermodynamic, rheological, spectrographic techniques.

In this study, we aimed to use electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) to assess the freeze-damage level of starches from potato tubers treated with multiple freezing-thawing (FT) cycles. The results showed that the relationship between the physicochemical properties of starches and the impedance characteristics of starch paste is temperature-dependent. As the temperature rises to 70-90 °C, the impedance modules show a significant correlation with the amylose and mineral contents, gelatinization and pasting properties, short-range ordered structure, relative crystallinity, and damage level within the range of 10-1 MHz (p < 0.01). This could be because FT leads to a reduction in amylose and ion content. Compared to a high level of freeze-damaged starch (FDS), a low level of FDS has less amylopectin and more amylose. Additionally, the ions could be typically evenly distributed throughout the unbranched linear amylose structure in starch paste. At the peak gelatinization temperature, the starch paste made from a low level of FDS exhibits a weakened network structure, allowing more unbound water for ion movement and enhancing electric conduction. In conclusion, EIS can predict the damage level and properties of FDS, which can benefit the frozen starchy food industry.

Coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging fundus camera.

Spectral imaging holds great promise for the non-invasive diagnosis of retinal diseases. However, to acquire a spectral datacube, conventional spectral cameras require extensive scanning, leading to a prolonged acquisition. Therefore, they are inapplicable to retinal imaging because of the rapid eye movement. To address this problem, we built a coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging fundus camera, which captures a large-sized spectral datacube in a single exposure. Moreover, to reconstruct a high-resolution image, we developed a robust deep unfolding algorithm using a state-of-the-art spectral transformer in the denoising network. We demonstrated the performance of the system through various experiments, including imaging standard targets, utilizing an eye phantom, and conducting in vivo imaging of the human retina.

Low glycemic index potato biscuits alleviate physio-histological damage and gut dysbiosis in rats with type-2 diabetes mellitus induced by high-sugar and high-fat diet and streptozotocin.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is the most common type of diabetes globally and poses a major concern for human health. This study aimed to investigate the effects on T2DM of low-glycemic index (GI) potato biscuits with oat bran and inulin as functional additives. T2DM was induced in rats by streptozotocin (STZ) and a high-sugar and high-fat diet. The alleviation of T2DM by low-GI potato biscuits at different doses was evaluated based on the analysis of glycolipid levels, histological observations, inflammatory markers, and gut microbiota structure. Compared to wheat biscuits, low-GI potato biscuits resulted in lower postprandial blood glucose levels. After 8 weeks of intervention, fasting blood sugar levels were 16.9% lower in T2DM rats fed high-dose low-GI potato biscuits than in untreated T2DM rats. Moreover, the intervention with low-GI potato biscuits significantly alleviated T2DM-induced pathological damage, glucose and lipid metabolic disorders, and inflammation by reversing the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, transforming growth factor-ß, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, the levels of short-chain fatty acids and gut microbiota structure in T2DM rats were significantly reversed. The abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lachnoclostridium, Roseburia) in the gut of T2DM rats was significantly increased whereas the abundance of Escherichia-Shigella and Desulfovibrio decreased. The present study revealed that low-GI potato biscuits alleviated damages caused by high-sugar and high-fat diet- and STZ-induced T2DM in rats, as well as reversed disturbances in the gut microbiota. Thus, low-GI potato biscuits are potentially beneficial to T2DM patients.

Coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging fundus camera.

Spectral imaging holds great promise for the non-invasive diagnosis of retinal diseases. However, to acquire a spectral datacube, conventional spectral cameras require extensive scanning, leading to a prolonged acquisition. Therefore, they are inapplicable to retinal imaging because of the rapid eye movement. To address this problem, we built a coded aperture snapshot spectral imaging fundus camera, which captures a large-sized spectral datacube in a single exposure. Moreover, to reconstruct a high-resolution image, we developed a robust deep unfolding algorithm using a state-of-the-art spectral transformer in the denoising network. We demonstrated the system performance on both standard targets and an eye phantom.

Effect of high intensity ultrasonic treatment on structural, rheological, and gelling properties of potato protein isolate and its co-gelation properties with egg white protein.

The study aimed to investigate the effect of high intensity ultrasonic (HIU) treatment at different times (0, 10, 20, and 30 min) on the structure and gel properties of water-soluble potato protein isolate (WPPI) and to further investigate the improvement of gel properties of ultrasonicated WPPI (UWPPI) by the addition of egg white protein (EWP). HIU reduced the particle size of WPPI, whose structure became loose and disordered, which improved gelling properties of UWPPI. Fourier transform infrared results indicated that α-helix content decreased, whereas the proportion of irregular curl increased with the increase in ultrasonication time (0-20 min), indicating that the initially ordered structure of UWPPI became disordered. After HIU treatment, the free sulfhydryl groups of UWPPI and surface hydrophobicity decreased and fluorescence intensity increased. These results demonstrated that the HIU loosened the structure of UWPPI, exposing more chromogenic groups while embedding more hydrophilic groups. After thermal induction, UWPPI gel hardness increased and exhibited excellent water holding capacity. After the addition of EWP, rheological properties stabilized, and the hardness of UWPPI-EWP gels increased significantly, forming internally structured protein gels with a tightly ordered structure and increased brightness. Thus, HIU changed the structure and gelling properties of WPPI, and the addition of EWP further enhanced the performance of hybrid protein gels. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: High intensity ultrasonic changed the structure of water-soluble potato protein isolate (WPPI) and improved the properties of WPPI gels. The addition of egg white protein significantly improved the quality of mixed protein gels which showed great potential industrial value.

Relationship among gelatinization, retrogradation behavior, and impedance characteristics of potato starch.

In this study, the physicochemical properties of potato starch from different varieties were investigated. Furthermore, the relationships among gelatinization, retrogradation behavior, and impedance characteristics of potato starch gels were evaluated by texture analysis, low-field nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and electrical impedance spectroscopy. The results indicated amylose content was positively correlated with setback viscosity, and negatively correlated with To and ΔH. In addition, impedance values of potato starch gels differed in a frequency-dependent manner. Notably, higher frequencies resulted in low diffusion of ions in prepared gels, which combined with the concentration of mobile ions in free water, led to a gradual decrease in impedance module. Compared with phase values, impedance module showed high correlation with gelatinization parameters (To, Tp, and Tc) and viscosity parameters (peak temperature and setback viscosity), more notably at frequencies below 100 Hz. In this context, the electric current flowed through mobile ions that interacted with bound water attached to the starch molecules at lower voltage frequencies, and were repressed by the formation of an ordered and compact gel network during retrogradation. Collectively, these results indicate that impedance spectroscopy can be potentially used as an efficient and reliable method to predict gelatinization and retrogradation behavior of potato starch.

A Novel Modulation and Demodulation Method Based on Binary Frequency Shift Keying for Wireless Power and Data-Parallel Transmission.

It is usually necessary but difficult to achieve reliable communication between the primary side and pick-up side in the wireless power transfer (WPT) system due to magnetic interferences. In this paper, a novel parallel transmission method for wireless power and data is proposed, which is based on the frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation and demodulation. The data are transmitted by changing the working frequency of the inverter and then demodulated based on the phase-locked loop (PLL) technology. In this way, the signal before the rectifier circuit for the data demodulation can overcome the influence of power transmission on the data transmission. Finally, a 426 W prototype has been built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed transmission method. The experimental results showed that when the output power changed from tens of watts to hundreds of watts, the data transmission was capable of achieving a stable transmission with a 10 kbps baud rate.

Design anion regulated layered double hydroxide and explore its theoretical mechanism of immobilizing uranium.

It is momentous to comprehensively understand the anion's effect during the formation of Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH), especially relating to the long-term disposal of uranium-containing (UO22+) residue. In this research, the CO32-, PO43- and SO42- anions were inserted into the LDH's interlayer driven by its reconstructive memory effect. The UO22+ removal capacity increased in order (typically SO42- < PO43- < CO32-). This was further confirmed by the bond length of U-S, U-P and U-C data acquired by theoretical calculation. The SEM-EDS showed anion-regulated LDH materials got fleecy and facilitated the insertion of anions. The increased average pore size and volume of calcined LDH provided convenient access for anions to easily enter interlayer. XRD results showed inserted interlayer anions could increase the interlayer spacing and expose more active sites, which was conducive to the removal of UO22+. The FTIR combined with theoretical calculation results certified anions could grasp UO22+. XPS results gave a compelling evidence that the amount of anion insertion was proportional to UO22+ removal capacity. In short, the anions could significantly improve LDH to the removal of UO22+ by the mechanism of surface and interlayer complexation. What was discovered can better evaluate the environmental behavior of UO22+ influenced by anion factors.

Effects of particle size distribution of potato starch granules on rheological properties of model dough underwent multiple freezing-thawing cycles.

In order to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of different-sizes potato starch on dough during freeze-thaw treatment, the rheological properties, moisture distribution, secondary structure, and relative crystallinity of dough were investigated. The results showed that the storage modulus (G'), loss modulus (G″), and complex modulus (|G*|) of dough increased as a result of the freeze-thaw treatment, and the effect was more obvious as the starch granular sizes increased. The higher ß -sheet and T22 contents reflected the higher viscoelasticity and freeze-thaw sensitivity, which may be related to the higher degree expansion of amylose. In contrast, dough with small-sized starch had higher intermolecular interactions, and denser structure, lower water migration, showing that this has better resistance and higher stability. The presented mechanisms may contribute to the better understanding of the effects of freeze-thaw process on model dough properties.

Dynamic changes of potato characteristics during traditional freeze-thaw dehydration processing.

An ancient folk technology of freeze-thaw processing had been simulated by studying the dehydration efficiency of potatoes using different freezing rates (0.02, 0.06, 0.08, 0.11, 0.20 and 0.40 °C/min). The results showed that the dehydration rate was negatively correlated to freezing rates at a range of 35.66% to 53.85%. Better dehydration efficiency (41.71%) with relatively more protein (83.66%) and mineral retention was obtained at the medium freezing rate of 0.11 °C/min. On this condition, the internal and external pressures of potato cells were balanced and the reduction of immobilized water (T22) was significantly higher compared to that at other conditions. The untargeted metabolomic results showed that some lipids, organic acids and amino acids in potatoes were affected by freezing treatment. The dynamic changes of potato characteristics during freeze-thaw processing gained in this research could be employed as a foundation for diversified applications of dehydrated potatoes.