Comprehensive analysis of ordering in CoCrNi and CrNi2 alloys.

Chemical Short-Range Order (CSRO) has attracted recent attention from many researchers, creating intense debates about its impact on material properties. The challenges lie in confirming and quantifying CSRO, as its detection proves exceptionally demanding, contributing to conflicting data in the literature regarding its true effects on mechanical properties. Our work uses high-precision calorimetric data to unambiguously prove the existence and, coupled with atomistic simulations, quantify the type of CSRO. This methodology allows us to propose a mechanism for its formation and destruction based on the heat evolution during thermal analysis and facilitates a precise identification of local ordering in CoCrNi alloys. Samples of CoCrNi (Co33Cr33Ni33) and CrNi2 (Cr33Ni66) alloys are fabricated in varying ordered states, extensively characterized via synchrotron X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Samples with considerably different ordered states are submitted to tensile tests with in-situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction. We demonstrate, despite inducing varied CSRO levels in CoCrNi, no significant alterations in overall mechanical behavior emerge. However, the CrNi2 alloy, which undergoes long-range ordering, experiences significant shifts in yield strength, ultimate tensile stress and ductility.

Optimal N management affects the fate of urea-15N and improves N uptake and utilization of wheat in different rotation systems.

Rice-wheat and maize-wheat rotations are major cropping systems in the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River in China, where high nitrogen (N) inputs and low N efficiency often exacerbate resource waste and environmental pollution. Due to the changes in factors such as soil properties and moisture content, the N fate and the N utilization characteristics of wheat in different rotations are significantly different. Efficient N management strategies are thus urgently required for promoting maximum wheat yield in different rotation systems while reducing N loss. A 2-year field experiment using isotopic (15N) tracer technique was conducted to evaluate the fate of 15N-labeled urea in wheat fields and the distribution characteristics of N derived from different sources. The wheat yield and N use efficiency under various N rates (180 and 240 kg ha-1, abbreviated as N180 and N240) and preceding crops (rice and maize, abbreviated as R-wheat and M-wheat) were also investigated. The results showed that N240 increased N uptake and grain yield by only 8.77-14.97% and 2.51-4.49% compared with N 180, but decreased N agronomic efficiency (NAE) and N physiological efficiency (NPE) by 14.78-18.79% and 14.06-31.35%. N240 also decreased N recovery in plants by 2.8% on average compared with N180, and increased N residue in soil and N loss to the environment. Compared with that of basal N, the higher proportion of topdressing N was absorbed by wheat rather than lost to the environment. In addition, the accumulation of topdressing N in grain was much higher than that of basal N. Compared with that in R-wheat treatment, plants in M-wheat treatment trended to absorb more 15N and reduce unaccounted N loss, resulting in higher yield potential. Moreover, the M-wheat treatment increased N recovery in 0-20 cm soil but decreased 80-100 cm soil compared with R-wheat treatment, indicating a lower risk of N loss in deeper soil. Collectively, reducing N application rate and increasing the topdressing ratio is an effective way to balance sustainable crop yield for a secure food supply and environmental benefit, which is more urgent in rice-wheat rotation.

EGaIn-Modified ePADs for Simultaneous Detection of Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein in Saliva toward Early Diagnosis of Cardiovascular Disease.

Homocysteine (Hcy) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are critical biomarkers for numerous chronic diseases, with cardiovascular disease (CVD) being the most prevalent. The ability to simultaneously detect both biomarkers in point-of-care settings is in high demand for CVD early diagnosis and prevention. Herein, we prepared the eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) nanoparticles decorated with p-phenylenediamine (PPD) on the surface to facilitate the subsequent attachment of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to achieve EGaIn-PPD@Au, which was modified on the screen-printed electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs). Aptamers that are specific to Hcy and CRP were then immobilized on the EGaIn-PPD@Au surface to achieve the sensing interface on ePADs. The presence of EGaIn-PPD@Au significantly enhanced the electrical conductivity, leading to amplified electrochemical signals. This aptasensor demonstrated high specificity, capable of detecting Hcy in a range of 1-50 µM with a detection limit of 0.22 µM, and the detection range for CRP was 1-100 ng/mL with a detection limit of 0.039 ng/mL. The aptasensor also effectively detected Hcy and CRP in clinical saliva samples, yielding an area under the curve (AUC) of about 0.80 when the individual biomarker was considered and 0.93 when both biomarkers were taken into account. The positive correlation observed between salivary and blood concentrations of Hcy and CRP, coupled with their association with cardiovascular disease (CVD), suggested the potential of this methodology as a noninvasive point-of-care strategy for the early diagnosis of CVD.

Quantifying chemical short-range order in metallic alloys.

Metallic alloys often form phases-known as solid solutions-in which chemical elements are spread out on the same crystal lattice in an almost random manner. The tendency of certain chemical motifs to be more common than others is known as chemical short-range order (SRO), and it has received substantial consideration in alloys with multiple chemical elements present in large concentrations due to their extreme configurational complexity (e.g., high-entropy alloys). SRO renders solid solutions "slightly less random than completely random," which is a physically intuitive picture, but not easily quantifiable due to the sheer number of possible chemical motifs and their subtle spatial distribution on the lattice. Here, we present a multiscale method to predict and quantify the SRO state of an alloy with atomic resolution, incorporating machine learning techniques to bridge the gap between electronic-structure calculations and the characteristic length scale of SRO. The result is an approach capable of predicting SRO length scale in agreement with experimental measurements while comprehensively correlating SRO with fundamental quantities such as local lattice distortions. This work advances the quantitative understanding of solid-solution phases, paving the way for the rigorous incorporation of SRO length scales into predictive mechanical and thermodynamic models.

[Study on methods measuring mechanical properties of arterial wall by macroscopic indentation].

Accurately evaluating the local biomechanics of arterial wall is crucial for diagnosing and treating arterial diseases. Indentation measurement can be used to evaluate the local mechanical properties of the artery. However, the effects of the indenter's geometric structure and the analysis theory on measurement results remain uncertain. In this paper, four kinds of indenters were used to measure the pulmonary aorta, the proximal thoracic aorta and the distal thoracic aorta in pigs, and the arterial elastic modulus was calculated by Sneddon and Sirghi theory to explore the influence of the indenter geometry and analysis theory on the measured elastic modulus. The results showed that the arterial elastic modulus measured by cylindrical indenter was lower than that measured by spherical indenter. In addition, compared with the calculated results of Sirghi theory, the Sneddon theory, which does not take adhesion forces in account, resulted in slightly larger elastic modulus values. In conclusion, this study provides parametric support for effective measurement of arterial local mechanical properties by millimeter indentation technique.

Corrigendum to "Establishment and verification of the first prognostic nomograms in locally advanced thyroid cancer based on the analysis of clinical and follow-up information on 2396 patients" [Heliyon 10(3), January 2024, e24798].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24798.].

NFTracer: Tracing NFT Impact Dynamics in Transaction-flow Substitutive Systems with Visual Analytics.

Impact dynamics are crucial for estimating the growth patterns of NFT projects by tracking the diffusion and decay of their relative appeal among stakeholders. Machine learning methods for impact dynamics analysis are incomprehensible and rigid in terms of their interpretability and transparency, whilst stakeholders require interactive tools for informed decision-making. Nevertheless, developing such a tool is challenging due to the substantial, heterogeneous NFT transaction data and the requirements for flexible, customized interactions. To this end, we integrate intuitive visualizations to unveil the impact dynamics of NFT projects. We first conduct a formative study and summarize analysis criteria, including substitution mechanisms, impact attributes, and design requirements from stakeholders. Next, we propose the Minimal Substitution Model to simulate substitutive systems of NFT projects that can be feasibly represented as node-link graphs. Particularly, we utilize attribute-aware techniques to embed the project status and stakeholder behaviors in the layout design. Accordingly, we develop a multi-view visual analytics system, namely NFTracer, allowing interactive analysis of impact dynamics in NFT transactions. We demonstrate the informativeness, effectiveness, and usability of NFTracer by performing two case studies with domain experts and one user study with stakeholders. The studies suggest that NFT projects featuring a higher degree of similarity are more likely to substitute each other. The impact of NFT projects within substitutive systems is contingent upon the degree of stakeholders' influx and projects' freshness.

Effects of Interleukin-19 overexpression in the medial prefrontal cortex on anxiety-related behaviors, BDNF expression and p38/JNK/ERK pathways.

Anxiety is a prevalent mental illness known for its high incidence, comorbidity, and tendency to recur, posing significant societal and individual burdens. Studies have highlighted Interleukin-19 (IL-19) as having potential relevance in neuropsychiatric disorders. Our previous research revealed that IL-19 overexpression in colonies exacerbated anxiety-related behaviors induced by dextran sodium sulfate/stress. However, the precise role and molecular mechanisms of IL-19 in anxiety regulation remain uncertain. In this study, we initiated an acute restraint stress (ARS)-induced anxious mouse model and identified heightened expression of IL-19 and IL-20Rα in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of ARS mice. Notably, IL-19 and IL-20Rα were predominantly present in the excitatory pyramidal neurons of the mPFC under both basal and ARS conditions. Utilizing the adeno-associated virus (AAV) strategy, we demonstrated that IL-19 overexpression in the mPFC induced anxiety-related behaviors and elevated stress susceptibility. Additionally, we observed decreased protein levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) in the mPFC of IL-19 overexpression mice, accompanied by reduced phosphorylation of in the p38, JNK, and Erk signaling pathways. These findings emphasize the role of IL-19 in modulating anxiety-related behaviors within the mPFC and suggest its potential as a pathological gene and therapeutic target for anxiety.

Inhibition of EHMT1/2 rescues synaptic damage and motor impairment in a PD mouse model.

Epigenetic dysregulation that leads to alterations in gene expression and is suggested to be one of the key pathophysiological factors of Parkinson's disease (PD). Here, we found that α-synuclein preformed fibrils (PFFs) induced histone H3 dimethylation at lysine 9 (H3K9me2) and increased the euchromatic histone methyltransferases EHMT1 and EHMT2, which were accompanied by neuronal synaptic damage, including loss of synapses and diminished expression levels of synaptic-related proteins. Furthermore, the levels of H3K9me2 at promoters in genes that encode the synaptic-related proteins SNAP25, PSD95, Synapsin 1 and vGLUT1 were increased in primary neurons after PFF treatment, which suggests a linkage between H3K9 dimethylation and synaptic dysfunction. Inhibition of EHMT1/2 with the specific inhibitor A-366 or shRNA suppressed histone methylation and alleviated synaptic damage in primary neurons that were treated with PFFs. In addition, the synaptic damage and motor impairment in mice that were injected with PFFs were repressed by treatment with the EHMT1/2 inhibitor A-366. Thus, our findings reveal the role of histone H3 modification by EHMT1/2 in synaptic damage and motor impairment in a PFF animal model, suggesting the involvement of epigenetic dysregulation in PD pathogenesis.

A large cross sectional study on diaper utilization and beneficial role in outdoor activity and emotions among incontinence elderly people.

This study was designed based on a cross-sectional investigation conducted Shanghai, China. Demographic characteristics, diaper utilization, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and emotion were collected by Unified Needs Assessment Form for Elderly Care Questionnaire. Cognition function was assessed by Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scale. Multivariate logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. The diaper utilization rate was 31.2%. Female, higher level of education, poorer ADL and cognition, more severe incontinence and financial dependence on others were facilitating factors for diaper usage (P < 0.05). The possibility of using diaper differed according to the intimacy of caregivers. Among incontinent individuals with relatively good ADL and cognition level, diaper utilization can significantly decrease the risk of going out only once a month (OR: 2.63 vs 4.05), and going out less than once a month (OR: 5.32 vs 6.53). Incontinence people who going out at least once a week had a lower risk of some negative emotion. Significantly, diaper utilization further decreased this risk. In conclusion, for incontinence elderly people with relatively independent ability, proper use of diaper may improve the frequency of outdoor activity and emotion. Nevertheless, diaper utilization should be decided based on elderly people's own will.

Glucosylceramide accumulation in microglia triggers STING-dependent neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in mice.

Mutations in the gene encoding the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase) are responsible for Gaucher disease (GD) and are considered the strongest genetic risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD). GCase deficiency leads to extensive accumulation of glucosylceramides (GCs) in cells and contributes to the neuropathology of GD, PD, and LBD by triggering chronic neuroinflammation. Here, we investigated the mechanisms by which GC accumulation induces neuroinflammation. We found that GC accumulation within microglia induced by pharmacological inhibition of GCase triggered STING-dependent inflammation, which contributed to neuronal loss both in vitro and in vivo. GC accumulation in microglia induced mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) leakage to the cytosol to trigger STING-dependent inflammation. Rapamycin, a compound that promotes lysosomal activity, improved mitochondrial function, thereby decreasing STING signaling. Furthermore, lysosomal damage caused by GC accumulation led to defects in the degradation of activated STING, further exacerbating inflammation mediated by microglia. Thus, limiting STING activity may be a strategy to suppress neuroinflammation caused by GCase deficiency.

Establishment and verification of the first prognostic nomograms in locally advanced thyroid cancer based on the analysis of clinical and follow-up information on 2396 patients.

Background and objectives: The purpose of this research was to develop and validate the first prognostic nomograms for 3-, 5-, and 10-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with locally advanced thyroid cancer (LATC) by evaluating independent predictors of prognosis in a population of LATC patients. Methods: Demographics, clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and follow-up of 2396 LATC patients in the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database from 2004 to 2015 were retrospectively analyzed and compared with patients with LATC according to staging. We randomized all LATC patients into training and validation groups in a 7:3 ratio. Cox regression analyses helped us to derive independent prognostic factors for LATC patients. According to these results, we established and validated the first prognostic nomograms and risk stratification. Results: In our research, the clinical information of LATC patients was compared and significant differences were found in the relevant variables including CSS and OS (P < 0.05), with CSS of 82.0 % and 49.0 %, and OS of 70.6 % and 40.0 %, respectively. Cox regression analyses showed that age at diagnosis, tumor diameter, presence of DM, extrathyroidal extension sites, histological type, thyroidectomy scope, radiotherapy status, and chronological sequence of radiotherapy and surgery were observably correlated with CSS in LATC patients, and in addition to the above factors, gender, marital status, and chemotherapy status were also observably correlated with OS in LATC patients. The prognostic predictive power of the above factors is visualized by the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. The concordance index of nomograms for CSS and OS were 0.933, 0.925, and 0.926 (CSS), 0.918, 0.909, and 0.906 (OS), respectively, and the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve, area under curve, calibration curve and decision curve analysis curve indicate that the nomograms have good discriminatory ability, accuracy and clinical applicability in both the training and validation groups. Conclusions: In these findings, we drawed a conclusion that there were significant differences in clinical information between patients with T4a and T4b LATC, and we established and validated the first prognostic nomograms and risk stratification of CSS and OS for LATC patients at 3, 5, and 10 years, which will help clinicians to individualize their postoperative treatment and individualized follow-up.

Blockade of V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation reprograms tumour-associated macrophages and improves efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In gastric cancer, the response rate of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor is far from satisfactory, indicating additional nonredundant pathways might hamper antitumour immunity. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T-cell activation (VISTA) has been reported in several malignancies as a novel immune-checkpoint. Nevertheless, the role of VISTA in gastric cancer still remains obscure. Our purpose is to explore the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in affecting gastric cancer patients' survival and immunotherapeutic responsiveness. METHODS: Our study recruited eight independent cohorts with a total of 1403 gastric cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence, flow cytometry or intracellular flow cytometry, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, magnetic-activated cell sorting, smart-seq2, in vitro cell co-culture and ex vivo tumour inhibition assays were applied to investigate the clinical significance and potential mechanism of VISTA in gastric cancer. RESULTS: VISTA was predominantly expressed on tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs), and indicated poor clinical outcomes and inferior immunotherapeutic responsiveness. VISTA+ TAMs showed a mixed phenotype. Co-culture of TAMs and CD8+ T cells indicated that VISTA+ TAMs attenuated effective function of CD8+ T cells. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs to a proinflammatory phenotype, reactivated CD8+ T cells and promoted apoptosis of tumour cells. Moreover, blockade of VISTA could also enhance the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, suggesting that blockade of VISTA might synergise with PD-1 inhibitor in gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that VISTA was an immune-checkpoint associated with immunotherapeutic resistance. Blockade of VISTA reprogrammed TAMs, promoted T-cell-mediated antitumour immunity, and enhanced efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor, which might have implications in the treatment of gastric cancer.

Why Change My Design: Explaining Poorly Constructed Visualization Designs with Explorable Explanations.

Although visualization tools are widely available and accessible, not everyone knows the best practices and guidelines for creating accurate and honest visual representations of data. Numerous books and articles have been written to expose the misleading potential of poorly constructed charts and teach people how to avoid being deceived by them or making their own mistakes. These readings use various rhetorical devices to explain the concepts to their readers. In our analysis of a collection of books, online materials, and a design workshop, we identified six common explanation methods. To assess the effectiveness of these methods, we conducted two crowdsourced studies (each with N=125) to evaluate their ability to teach and persuade people to make design changes. In addition to these existing methods, we brought in the idea of Explorable Explanations, which allows readers to experiment with different chart settings and observe how the changes are reflected in the visualization. While we did not find significant differences across explanation methods, the results of our experiments indicate that, following the exposure to the explanations, the participants showed improved proficiency in identifying deceptive charts and were more receptive to proposed alterations of the visualization design. We discovered that participants were willing to accept more than 60% of the proposed adjustments in the persuasiveness assessment. Nevertheless, we found no significant differences among different explanation methods in convincing participants to accept the modifications.

Intelligent identification of fragmented non-magnetic materials for end-of-life refrigerator recycling.

E-waste is a valuable secondary resource containing numerous toxic substances and high-value components. If improperly handled, it will cause severe environmental pollution. Therefore, efficient recycling of this material can reduce environmental pollution. However, after crushing, fine crushing, and magnetic separation, a substantial quantity of fragmented non-magnetic materials with high value, such as copper andg aluminum, remain. Refrigerators, as typical e-waste, have a similar composition to fragmented non-magnetic materials. Consequently, this paper focuses on the issues of low efficiency, environmental pollution, and resource waste in sorting fragmented non-magnetic materials from waste refrigerators. This paper constructs a data set of fragmented non-magnetic materials of refrigerators, augments the data set, and identifies fragmented non-magnetic materials of refrigerators using a computer vision-based deep learning method. In this study, YOLOv5s is used as the benchmark model. The CBAM module is added to the backbone to enable intelligent identification and sorting of fragmented non-magnetic materials in refrigerators. The final identification efficiency of waste refrigerators meets the requirements of industrial applications, with an accuracy rate of 98.3%, a recall rate of 96.8%, and an average accuracy of 98%. Based on the similarity of the composition of e-waste fragmented materials, this model sorting method can be applied to sorting additional e-waste fragmented materials. Furthermore, it provides the theoretical foundation for promoting e-waste resourcefulness.Implications: This paper proposes a recognition model based on YOLOv5s to solve the problems of low sorting efficiency, environmental pollution, harm to health, and resource waste of non-magnetic crushed material from refrigerators. The recognition model principally addresses the following issues: a deep learning model is developed for recognition and sorting to improve e-waste recognition and sorting efficiency. Concerning the issue of environmental benefits in an ecological environment, a vision-based automatic identification method is proposed to sort harmful waste, such as foam, to preserve the ecological environment. In response to the problem of resource waste, this project improves the purity of precious metals, resulting in a recovery rate of 99.1% for copper and 96.44% for aluminum. In other words, the cost of recovering metals has increased. The identification model of non-magnetic crushed material in refrigerators satisfies production identification and sorting requirements. In addition, the method has application and promotion value, sorting a theoretical foundation and method for identifying and classifying e-waste.

Exploring the Potential Mechanism of Prothioconazole Resistance in Fusarium graminearum in China.

The Fusarium head blight (FHB) caused by Fusarium graminearum is one of the most important diseases threatening wheat production in China. However, the triazole sterol 14α-demethylation inhibitor (DMI), prothioconazole, is known to exhibit high activity against F. graminearum. The current study indicated that three highly resistant laboratory mutants exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) altered growth and sporulation, although contrary to expectation, only one of the mutants exhibited reduced growth and sporulation, while the other two exhibited significant (p < 0.05) increases. Despite this, pathogenicity tests revealed that all of the mutants exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pathogenicity, indicating a substantial cost to fitness. Sequence analysis of the prothioconazole target protein, CYP51, of which F. graminearum has three homologues (FgCYP51A, FgCYP51B, and FgCYP51C), identified three mutations in the FgCYP51B sequence with a high likelihood of being associated with the observed resistance, as well as another three mutations in the FgCYP51B sequence, and two in the FgCYP51A sequence that are worthy of further investigation. Two of the prothioconazole-resistant mutants were also found to have several amino acid substitutions in their FgCYP51C sequences, and it was interesting to note that these two mutants exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) reduced pathogenicity compared to the other mutant. Expression analysis revealed that prothioconazole treatment (0.1 µg/mL) resulted in altered expression of all the FgCYP51 target genes, and that expression was also altered in the prothioconazole-resistant mutants compared to their wild-type parental isolates. Meanwhile, no evidence was found of any cross-resistance between prothioconazole and other commonly used fungicides, including carbendazim, pyraclostrobin, and fluazinam, as well as the triazole tebuconazole and the imidazole DMI prochloraz. Taken together, these results not only provide new insight into potential resistance mechanism in F. graminearum, and the biological characteristics associated with them, but also convincing evidence that prothioconazole can offer effective control of FHB.

Auxin-producing bacteria promote barley rhizosheath formation.

The rhizosheath, or the layer of soil closely adhering to roots, can help plants to tolerate drought under moderate soil drying conditions. Rhizosheath formation is the result of poorly understood interactions between root exudates, microbes, and soil conditions. Here, we study the roles played by the soil microbiota in rhizosheath formation in barley (a dry crop). We show that barley rhizosheath formation is greater in acid soil than in alkaline soil, and inoculation with microbiota from acid soil enhances rhizosheath formation in alkaline soil. The rhizosheath-promoting activity is associated with the presence of Flavobacteriaceae and Paenibacillaceae bacteria that express genes for biosynthesis of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA, a common auxin), as determined by metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. Two bacterial strains isolated from rhizosheath (Chryseobacterium culicis and Paenibacillus polymyxa) produce IAA and enhance barley rhizosheath formation, while their IAA-defective mutants are unable to promote rhizosheath formation. Co-inoculation with the IAA-producing strains enhances barley grain yield in field experiments through an increase in spike number. Our findings contribute to our understanding of barley rhizosheath formation, and suggest potential strategies for crop improvement.

Evaluating Short-Term and Long-Term Risks Associated with Renal Artery Stenosis Position and Severity: A Hemodynamic Study.

Background: Moderate renal artery stenosis (50-70%) may lead to uncontrolled hypertension and eventually cause irreversible damage to renal function. However, the clinical criteria for interventional treatment are still ambiguous in this condition. This study investigated the impact of the position and degree of renal artery stenosis on hemodynamics near the renal artery to assess the short-term and long-term risks associated with this disease. Methods: Calculation models with different degrees of stenosis (50%, 60%, and 70%) located at different positions in the right renal artery were established based on the computed tomography angiography (CTA) of a personalized case. And computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to analyze hemodynamic surroundings near the renal artery. Results: As the degree of stenosis increases and the stenosis position is far away from the aorta, there is a decrease in renal perfusion. An analysis of the wall shear stress (WSS)-related parameters indicated areas near the renal artery (downstream of the stenosis and the entrance of the right renal artery) with potential long-term risks of thrombosis and inflammation. Conclusion: The position and degree of stenosis play a significant role in judging short-term risks associated with renal perfusion. Moreover, clinicians should consider not only short-term risks but also independent long-term risk factors, such as certain regions of 50% stenosis with adequate renal perfusion may necessitate prompt intervention.

Hearing aids utilization, effect factors, and its benefit in the association between hearing and cognition decline: A longitudinal follow-up in Shanghai, China.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the rate and effect factors of hearing aids utilization in Chinese community elderly people, as well as the benefit role of hearing aids in the association of hearing loss and cognition decline. METHODS: This study was designed based on a longitudinal 7-years follow-up conducted in Shanghai (China). Demographic characteristics, hearing level, hearing aids utilization and Activities of Daily Living (ADL) of participants were collected by Unified Needs Assessment Form for Elderly Care Questionnaire. Cognition function was assessed by Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) scale. Multivariate logistic regression and linear regression were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Hearing aids utilization rate in Chinese community elderly people is below 10 %. Participants with older age (≥80 years old), higher education (7-12 years and >12 years), who can manage money more independently were more likely to use hearing aids (P < 0.05). Whether hearing aids are used or not, hearing level is significantly associated with cognition in elderly people, but participants with hearing aids showed a slower cognitive decline speed. CONCLUSION: Hearing aids utilization may slow down the cognition descent via assisting hearing in daily life, so strategies need to be concerned in order to protect hearing function in all elderly and improve the use of hearing aids in HL elderly.

Corneal Biomechanical Properties Demonstrate Anisotropy and Correlate With Axial Length in Myopic Eyes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ex vivo and in vivo biomechanical characteristic of cornea in myopic eyes. Methods: Fifty-one corneal stromal lenticules were obtained from myopic eyes during the SMILE procedure and were tested by a biaxial tensile system within 24 hours postoperatively. The material properties of the lenticules were described using stress-strain curves and were compared among axial length (AL) <26 mm and AL ≥ 26 mm group. Pre-operative stress-strain index (SSI) parameters were used to evaluate the biomechanical properties of the cornea in vivo. Results: Compared with AL < 26 mm, the tangent modulus significantly decreased in horizontal and vertical directions when AL ≥ 26 mm (P < 0.05); SSI also significantly decreased when AL ≥ 26 mm (P < 0.05). Anisotropic parameter is positively correlated with AL (r = 0.307, P < 0.05). Compared with AL < 26 mm, anisotropic parameter significantly increased when AL ≥ 26 mm (P < 0.05). SSI was negatively correlated with AL (r = -0.380, P < 0.05) in the AL < 26 mm group but not in the AL ≥ 26 mm group (P > 0.05). Compared with 26 mm ≤ AL < 27 mm group, the tangent modulus significantly decreased in the horizontal direction (P < 0.05) but not in the vertical direction when 27 mm ≤ AL < 28 mm (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The biomechanical properties of cornea decreased with the increase of AL. Tangent modulus significantly decreased in the horizontal direction compared with vertical direction. AL should be taken into account during calculation of corneal biomechanical parameters in order to improve validity.