Photothermal switch by gallic acid-calcium grafts synthesized by coordination chemistry for sequential treatment of bone tumor and regeneration.

The residual bone tumor and defects which is caused by surgical therapy of bone tumor is a major and important problem in clinicals. And the sequential treatment for irradiating residual tumor and repairing bone defects has wildly prospects. In this study, we developed a general modification strategy by gallic acid (GA)-assisted coordination chemistry to prepare black calcium-based materials, which combines the sequential photothermal therapy of bone tumor and bone defects. The GA modification endows the materials remarkable photothermal properties. Under the near-infrared (NIR) irradiation with different power densities, the black GA-modified bone matrix (GBM) did not merely display an excellent performance in eliminating bone tumor with high temperature, but showed a facile effect of the mild-heat stimulation to accelerate bone regeneration. GBM can efficiently regulate the microenvironments of bone regeneration in a spatial-temporal manner, including inflammation/immune response, vascularization and osteogenic differentiation. Meanwhile, the integrin/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) was revealed to be involved in the effect of osteogenesis induced by the mild-heat stimulation. The outcome of this study not only provides a serial of new multifunctional biomaterials, but also demonstrates a general strategy for designing novel blacked calcium-based biomaterials with great potential for clinical use.

Mechanism of modified danggui buxue decoction in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: A discussion based on network pharmacology and molecular docking.

Objective: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) represents a major complication arising from the long-term use of glucocorticoids, which are widely prescribed for various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. Despite its prevalence, the current therapeutic options for GIOP are limited in terms of efficacy, safety profiles, and patient compliance. The Modified Danggui Buxue Decoction (DGBXD), a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, has shown promise in preliminary studies for its potential osteoprotective effects. The present study aimed to explore the mechanistic underpinnings of DGBXD's action on GIOP using network pharmacology and molecular docking approaches, bridging traditional medicine with modern pharmacological insights. Method: Network pharmacology is applied to screen drug-active compounds and potential core target proteins for disease treatment and to explore the drugs' therapeutic mechanisms. Result: Altogether, 78 DGBXD active compounds and 223 DGBXD-related, 146 component-disease common, and 2168 GIOP-associated target genes were obtained. The PPI network had 43 nodes and 462 edges, and a total of 10 core target genes, including TP53, JUN and MAPK3, were identified. The results of the GO enrichment analysis implied that DGBXD might participate in biological activities, including responses to oxidative stress and nutrient levels. The outcomes of the KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that DGBXD may treat GIOP through TNF, IL-17, and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathways. Based on to the molecular docking results, biologically active compounds (beta-carotene, formononetin, luteolin, and isorhamnetin) exhibited good binding to AKT1 and ESR1. Conclusion: DGBXD may aid in GIOP treatment by modulating multiple therapeutic targets and signaling pathways.

Study on the role of alkali halides on the mutarotation and dehydration of d-xylose in aqueous solution.

Although the xylose mutarotation and transformation have been investigated largely separately, their relationship has been rarely systematically elaborated. The effect of several factors such as xylose concentration, temperature, and salt concentration, affecting the mutarotation of xylose are discussed. Nine alkali halides (LiCl, NaCl, KCl, LiBr, NaBr, KBr, LiI, NaI, and KI) are used to test salt effects. The relationship between xylose rotation rate constant (kM), specific optical rotation at equilibrium ([α]eqm), α/ß ratio, H chemical shift difference (ΔΔδ), Gibbs free energy difference (ΔG), hydrogen ion or hydroxide ion concentration ([H+] or [OH-]), and xylose conversion is discussed. Different salts dissolved in water result in different pH of the solutions, which affect the mutarotation of xylose, with the nature of both cation and anion. Shortly, the smaller the cation radius is and the larger the anion radius is, the greater the mutarotation rate is. In the dehydration of xylose to furfural in salty solutions, xylose conversion is positively correlated to mutarotation rate, H+ or OH- concentration, and the energy difference between α-xylopyranose and ß-xylopyranose. Although the [α]eqm of xylose is positively correlated with α/ß configuration ratio, there is no obvious correlation with xylose dehydration. The conversion to furfural in chlorides is superior to that in bromines and iodides, which is due to the fact that the pH of chloride salts is smaller than that of the corresponding bromide and iodized salts. Higher H+ concentration prefers to accelerate the formation of furfural. In basic salt solutions, the xylulose selectivity is higher than that of furfural at the initial stage of reaction. The furfural selectivity and carbon balance are better in acidic condition rather than in basic condition. In H2O-MTHF (2-Methyltetrahydrofuran) biphasic system, the optimal furfural selectivity of 81.0 % is achieved at 190 °C in 1 h with the assistance of LiI and a little HCl (0.2 mmol, 8 mmol/L in aqueous phase). A high mutarotation rate represents rapid xylose conversion, but a high furfural selectivity prefers in acidic solutions, which would be perfect if organic solvents were available to form biphasic systems.

Catalytic depolymerization of Camellia oleifera shell lignin to phenolic monomers: Insights into the effects of solvent, catalyst and atmosphere.

Camellia oleifera shell (COS) is a renewable biomass resource abundant in lignin with significant potential for producing phenolic monomers. However, the dearth of research has led to considerable resource wastage and environmental pollution. Herein, reductive catalytic fractionation (RCF) of COS was performed using noble metal catalysts in different solvents. An 11.1 wt% yield of phenolic monomers was achieved with 91% selectivity toward propylene-substituted monomers in H2O/EtOH (3:7, v/v) cosolvent under N2 atmosphere. Notably, the highest phenolic monomer yield of 17.0 wt% was obtained with impressive selectivity (86.9%) toward propanol-substituted monomers in the presence of H2. The GPC analysis and 2D HSQC NMR spectra indicated the effective depolymerization of lignin oligomers with catalysts. Phenolic monomers with ethyl, propyl, or propanol side chain could be produced from lignin-derived oligomers through hydrogenolysis, hydrogenation, and decarboxylation reactions. Overall, this study has paved the way for the valorization of COS lignin through the RCF strategy.

Natural Affinity Driven Modification by Silicene to Construct a "Thermal Switch" for Tumorous Bone Loss.

Tumorous bone defects present significant challenges for surgical bio-reconstruction due to the dual pathological conditions of residual tumor presence and extensive bone loss following excision surgery. To address this challenge, a "thermal switch" smart bone scaffold based on the silicene nanosheet-modified decalcified bone matrix (SNS@DBM) is developed by leveraging the natural affinity between collagen and silicene, which is elucidated by molecular dynamics simulations. Benefitting from its exceptional photothermal ability, biodegradability, and bioactivity, the SNS@DBM "thermal switch" provides an integrated postoperative sequential thermotherapy for tumorous bone loss by exerting three levels of photothermal stimulation (i.e., strong, moderate, and nonstimulation). During the different phases of postoperative bioconstruction, the SNS@DBM scaffold realizes simultaneous residual tumor ablation, tumor recurrence prevention, and bone tissue regeneration. These biological effects are verified in the tumor-bearing nude mice of patient-derived tissue xenografts and critical cranium defect rats. Mechanism research prompts moderate heat stimulus generated by and coordinating with SNSs can upregulate osteogenic genes, promote macrophages M2 polarization, and intensify angiogenesis of H-type vessels. This study introduces a versatile approach to the management of tumorous bone defects.

In vitro and in vivo biocompatibility assessment of chalcogenide thermoelectrics as implants.

The ability of thermoelectric materials to generate electricity in response to local temperature gradients makes them a potentially promising solution for the regulation of cellular functions and reconstruction of tissues. Biocompatibility of implants is a crucial attribute for the successful integration of thermoelectric techniques in biomedical applications. This work focuses on the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of biocompatibility for 12 typical chalcogenide thermoelectrics, which are composed of biocompatible elements. Ag2Se, SnSe, Bi2Se3, Bi2Te2.88Se0.12 and Bi2Te3, each with a released ion concentration lower than 10 ppm in extracts, exhibited favorable biocompatibility, including cell viability, adhesion, and hemocompatibility, as observed in initial in vitro assessments. Moreover, in vivo biocompatibility assessment, achieved by hematological and histopathological analyses in the rat subcutaneous model, further substantiated the biocompatibility of Ag2Se, Bi2Se3, and Bi2Te3, with each possessing superior thermoelectric performance at room temperature. This work offers robust evidence to promote Ag2Se, Bi2Se3, and Bi2Te3 as potential thermoelectric biomaterials, establishing a foundation for their future applications in biomedicine.

Combining experiments and bioinformatics to identify transforming growth factor-ß1 as a key regulator in angiotensin II-induced trophoblast senescence.

INTRODUCTION: Accelerated senescence of trophoblast may cause several diverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the cause of accelerated trophoblast senescence remains unclear. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is closely related to organ senescence. Therefore, in the present study, we hypothesized that angiotensin (Ang)II, one of the most important RAS family members, accelerates trophoblast senescence through the transforming growth factor ß-1 (TGF-ß1) pathway. METHODS: AngII and Ang1-7 were used to stimulate pregnant rats. AngII and its inhibitor olmesartan were used to stimulate trophoblast. Thereafter, senescence levels were measured. Furthermore, we used AngII to stimulate trophoblast and utilized RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) to analyze the expression of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). After identifying the overlapping genes by comparing the DEGs and senescence-related genes, we employed CytoHubba software to calculate the top five hub genes and selected TGF-ß1 as the target gene. We transfected the AngII-stimulated trophoblast with TGF-ß1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) and measured the senescence levels. RESULTS: Senescence markers were upregulated in the AngII group compared with that in the control group. Furthermore, following AngII stimulation and RNAseq measurement, we identified 607 DEGs and 13 overlapping genes. The top five hub genes were as follows: PLAU, PTGS2, PDGF-ß, TGF-ß1, and FOXO3. Upon knockdown of TGF-ß1 expression in AngII-stimulated trophoblast using TGF-ß1 siRNA, we observed a downregulation of p53 and p62 mRNA expression. DISCUSSION: AngII accelerates trophoblast senescence through the TGF-ß1 pathway.

The causal relationship between major depression disorder and thyroid diseases: A Mendelian randomization study and mediation analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies have been conducted on the relationship between depression and thyroid diseases and function, its causal relationship remains unclear. METHODS: Using summary statistics of genome-wide association studies of European and East Asian ancestry, we conducted 2-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization to estimate the association between MDD and thyroid function (European: normal range TSH, T4, T3, fT4, TPOAb levels and TPOAb-positives; East Asian: T4) and thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis), and used Mediation analysis to evaluate potential mediators (alcohol intake, antidepressant) of the association and calculate the mediated proportions. RESULTS: It was observed a significant causal association between MDD on hypothyroidism (P = 8.94 × 10-5), hyperthyroidism (P = 8.68 × 10-3), and hashimoto's thyroiditis (P = 3.97 × 10-5) among European ancestry, which was mediated by Alcohol intake (alcohol intake versus 10 years previously for hypothyroidism (P = 0.026), hashimoto's thyroiditis (P = 0.042), and alcohol intake frequency for hypothyroidism (P = 0.015)) and antidepressant (for hypothyroidism (P = 0.008), hashimoto's thyroiditis (P = 0.010)), but not among East Asian ancestry (PMDD-hypothyroidism = 0.016, but ß direction was different; PMDD-hyperthyroidism = 0.438; PMDD-hashimoto's thyroiditis = 0.496). There was no evidence for bidirectional causal association between thyroid function mentioned above and MDD among both ancestry (all P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: We importantly observed a significant causal association between MDD on risk of hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and hashimoto's thyroiditis among European ancestry, and Alcohol intake and antidepressant as mediators for prevention of hypothyroidism, hashimoto's thyroiditis attributable to MDD.

Finite-time guarantee-cost H∞ consensus control of second-order multi-agent systems based on sampled-data event-triggered mechanisms.

This study presents a solution to the challenges of tracking consensus and guarantee-cost H∞ control in a specific set of second-order multi-agent systems with external disturbances. A proposed event-triggered control method based on periodic sampling data is presented for second-order multi-agent systems that include external disturbances. In contrast to the real-time monitoring of system state information used in the previous event-triggered mechanism, this approach collects system state information through periodic sampling. This ensures that the interval between two consecutive triggering moments is at least one sampling cycle, thereby preventing the controller from triggering infinitely within a finite time frame. A finite-time controller based on the sampled-data event-triggered mechanism is designed, and sufficient conditions to ensure the finite-time stability of the closed-loop system at a specified attenuation level are established using theoretical methods such as matrix analysis. For the given sampled-data event-triggered control protocol with a finite-time controller, a quadratic guarantee-cost function is introduced, and by designing control inputs and determining the parameters such as the finite-time upper bound T∗ and the H∞ performance index γ , the exact value of the upper bound of the system's guarantee-cost function under the action of the designed controller is derived. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed control scheme is verified through numerical simulation.

Metal-Phenolic Networks-Reinforced Extracellular Matrix Scaffold for Bone Regeneration via Combining Radical-Scavenging and Photo-Responsive Regulation of Microenvironment.

The limited regulation strategies of the regeneration microenvironment significantly hinder bone defect repair effectiveness. One potential solution is using biomaterials capable of releasing bioactive ions and biomolecules. However, most existing biomaterials lack real-time control features, failing to meet high regulation requirements. Herein, a new Strontium (Sr) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) based metal-phenolic network with polydopamine (PMPNs) modification is prepared. This material reinforces a biomimetic scaffold made of extracellular matrix (ECM) and hydroxyapatite nanowires (nHAW). The PMPNs@ECM/nHAW scaffold demonstrates exceptional scavenging of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS), promoting HUVECs cell migration and angiogenesis, inducing stem cell osteogenic differentiation, and displaying high biocompatibility. Additionally, the PMPNs exhibit excellent photothermal properties, further enhancing the scaffold's bioactivities. In vivo studies confirm that PMPNs@ECM/nHAW with near-infrared (NIR) stimulation significantly promotes angiogenesis and osteogenesis, effectively regulating the microenvironment and facilitating bone tissue repair. This research not only provides a biomimetic scaffold for bone regeneration but also introduces a novel strategy for designing advanced biomaterials. The combination of real-time photothermal intervention and long-term chemical intervention, achieved through the release of bioactive molecules/ions, represents a promising direction for future biomaterial development.

Rehabilitation exercise-driven symbiotic electrical stimulation system accelerating bone regeneration.

Electrical stimulation can effectively accelerate bone healing. However, the substantial size and weight of electrical stimulation devices result in reduced patient benefits and compliance. It remains a challenge to establish a flexible and lightweight implantable microelectronic stimulator for bone regeneration. Here, we use self-powered technology to develop an electric pulse stimulator without circuits and batteries, which removes the problems of weight, volume, and necessary rigid packaging. The fully implantable bone defect electrical stimulation (BD-ES) system combines a hybrid tribo/piezoelectric nanogenerator to provide biphasic electric pulses in response to rehabilitation exercise with a conductive bioactive hydrogel. BD-ES can enhance multiple osteogenesis-related biological processes, including calcium ion import and osteogenic differentiation. In a rat model of critical-sized femoral defects, the bone defect was reversed by electrical stimulation therapy with BD-ES and subsequent bone mineralization, and the femur completely healed within 6 weeks. This work is expected to advance the development of symbiotic electrical stimulation therapy devices without batteries and circuits.

Age, growth, and energy storage of the subterranean fish Triplophysa rosa (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from Chongqing, China.

BACKGROUND: This study explores the age, growth, and energy storage of Triplophysa rosa, a troglobitic cavefish. A total of 102 wild T. rosa specimens were collected in Wulong County, Chongqing, China, between 2018 and 2022, with otoliths used for age determination. RESULTS: The earliest mature individuals were determined to be 4.8 years old, while the maximum ages for females and males were estimated at 15.8 years and 12.2 years, respectively. The length (L, cm)-weight (W, g) relationship was found to be the same for both sexes, following the eq. W = 0.0046 L3.03. Von Bertalanffy growth models were applied to the total length-at-age data, resulting in an asymptotic length of 23.4 cm and a K-parameter of 0.060 year-1. The body content of protein, ash, and glycogen did not show a significant correlation with the total length of T. rosa. However, both lipid and energy content exhibited a significant increase with total length. The lipid content ranged from 40.5 to 167.1 mg g-1, while the energy content ranged from 4.50 to 11.39 kJ g-1, indicating high storage features of T. rosa. CONCLUSIONS: The results affirm that T. rosa exhibits life traits conducive to its population dynamics in cave conditions, characterized by slow growth, small size, and high lipid energy storage.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00482 silencing sensitizes non-small cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin by downregulating CLASRP via E2F1.

Long noncoding RNA LINC00482 (LINC00482) is dysregulated in non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC). Herein, this research examined the actions and specific mechanisms of LINC00482 in cisplatin (DDP) resistance in NSCLC. LINC00482 expression was assessed using RT-qPCR in clinical NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Knockdown and ectopic expression assays were conducted in A549 and HCC44 cells, followed by determination of cell proliferation with CCK-8 and clone formation assays, apoptosis with flow cytometry, and DDP sensitivity. The association between LINC00482, E2F1, and CLASRP was evaluated with dual-luciferase reporter, ChIP, and RIP assays. The role of LINC00482 in NSCLC was confirmed in nude mice. NSCLC tissues and cells had upregulated LINC00482 expression. LINC00482 was mainly localized in the cell nucleus, and LINC00482 recruited E2F1 to enhance CLASRP expression in NSCLC cells. LINC00482 knockdown enhanced the DDP sensitivity and apoptosis of NSCLC cells while reducing cell proliferation, which was negated by overexpressing CLASRP. LINC00482 knockdown restricted tumor growth and enhanced DDP sensitivity in NSCLC in vivo. LINC00482 silencing downregulated CLASRP through E2F1 to facilitate the sensitivity to DDP in NSCLC.

Integrated bioinformatic analysis reveals NOS2 as a novel ferroptosis-related biomarker for pre-eclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a common condition in pregnancy; however, methods for early diagnosis and effective treatment options are lacking. Ferroptosis is a newly identified iron-dependent cell death pathway. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of ferroptosis-related genes in PE, the underlying mechanism, and their potential diagnostic value using a bioinformatics approach. METHODS: We downloaded the GSE48424 and GSE98224 datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PE and healthy pregnancy samples were identified in the GSE48424 dataset and subjected to weighted gene co-expression network analysis; the most relevant modules were intersected with known ferroptosis-related genes to distinctly identify the role of ferroptosis in PE. We further searched transcription factors and microRNAs that are predicted to regulate these ferroptosis-related genes, and patients in the GSE48424 dataset were divided into two groups according to high or low expression of the key ferroptosis-related genes associated with PE. To obtain robust key ferroptosis-related genes in PE, we validated their expression levels in the external dataset GSE98224. Finally, the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was utilized to access the expression of these genes in the PE and normal blood samples. RESULTS: Six ferroptosis-related genes involved in PE were obtained by overlapping 3661 genes most associated with PE, 565 DEGs between PE and normal samples, and 259 known ferroptosis-related genes. Among these genes, patients with PE displaying lower expression levels of NOS2 and higher expression levels of PTGS2 had a higher ferroptosis potential index. The expression pattern of NOS2 was consistent in the GSE48424 and GSE98224 datasets. RT-qPCR data confirmed that NOS2 expression was more significantly elevated in patients with PE than in those with a normal pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Our study explored the diagnostic value of ferroptosis-related genes in PE, and identified NOS2 as the key gene linking ferroptosis and PE, suggesting a new candidate biomarker for early PE diagnosis.

Production of artificial humic acid from corn straw acid hydrolysis residue with biogas slurry impregnation for fertilizer application.

This study investigated hydrothermal humification of corn straw acid hydrolysis residue with biogas slurry impregnation, aiming at producing water-soluble artificial humic acid fertilizer for fertilizer application and soil remediation. Hydrothermal humification parameters, including potassium hydroxide concentration (1-3 mol/L), retention time (2-6 h), and temperature (140-180 °C), were investigated using water as the liquid phase. The selected hydrothermal humification condition was 1.5 mol/L potassium hydroxide at 180 °C for 4 h. Moreover, biogas slurry impregnation (0-30 days) was evaluated to improve humic acid yield without introducing additional chemicals or energy input. Biogas slurry as the liquid phase increased the humic acid production by 73.24% with 5 days of impregnation compared to the control due to the alkalinity. The humic acid concentration was sufficient for China's national standard of water-soluble humic acid fertilizers in such conditions. The organic components in biogas slurry were involved in artificial humification as a precursor, forming C-N bonds with humic acid. The product with fortified nitrogen-containing functional groups enhanced the nutrient slow-release characteristics and water retention capabilities. The pot experiment further confirmed that artificial humic acid prepared in this study not only promoted the growth of plants but also achieved soil remediation.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of risk factors for reoperation after degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis surgery.

BACKGROUND: Considering the high reoperation rate in degenerative lumbar spondylolisthesis (DLS) patients undergoing lumbar surgeries and controversial results on the risk factors for the reoperation, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the reoperation rate and risk factors for the reoperation in DLS patients undergoing lumbar surgeries. METHODS: Literature search was conducted from inception to October 28, 2022 in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Odds ratio (OR) was used as the effect index for the categorical data, and effect size was expressed as 95% confidence interval (CI). Heterogeneity test was performed for each outcome effect size, and subgroup analysis was performed based on study design, patients, surgery types, follow-up time, and quality of studies to explore the source of heterogeneity. Results of all outcomes were examined by sensitivity analysis. Publication bias was assessed using Begg test, and adjusted using trim-and-fill analysis. RESULTS: A total of 39 cohort studies (27 retrospective cohort studies and 12 prospective cohort studies) were finally included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The overall results showed a 10% (95%CI: 8%-12%) of reoperation rate in DLS patients undergoing lumbar surgeries. In surgery types subgroup, the reoperation rate was 11% (95%CI: 9%-13%) for decompression, 10% (95%CI: 7%-12%) for fusion, and 9% (95%CI: 5%-13%) for decompression and fusion. An increased risk of reoperation was found in patients with obesity (OR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.04-3.51), diabetes (OR = 2.01, 95%CI: 1.43-2.82), and smoking (OR = 1.51, 95%CI: 1.23-1.84). CONCLUSIONS: We found a 10% of reoperation rate in DLS patients after lumbar surgeries. Obesity, diabetes, and smoking were risk factors for the reoperation.

Loss of behavioral stress response in blind cavefish reduces energy expenditure.

The stress response is essential for animal self-defense and survival. However, species may exhibit stress response variation depending on their specific environmental and selection pressures. Blind cavefish dwell in cave environments, which differ markedly in stressors and resource availability compared to surface aquatic environments. However, whether blind cavefish exhibit differences in stress response as an adaptation to their cave environments remains unclear. Here, we investigated differences in stress response in six closely related Triplophysa species, including three blind cavefish (T. longibarbata, T. jiarongensis, and T. rosa) and three normal-sighted river fish (T. nasobarbatula, T. dongsaiensis, and T. bleekeri). Results showed that blind cavefish exhibited a range of distinct behavioral responses compared to sighted river fish, including greater levels of activity, shorter duration of freezing, absence of erratic movements or thrashing behavior, and opposite behavioral trends over time. Furthermore, the cavefish species demonstrated attenuated increases in metabolic rate in response to stressors related to novel environments. Cave-dwelling T. rosa also exhibited lower basal hypothalamic-pituitary-inter-renal (HPI) axis-related gene expression levels and stress hormone concentrations compared to river-dwelling T. bleekeri. These results suggest that blind cavefish may have lost their behavioral stress response, potentially mediated by a reduction in basal activity of the HPI axis, thus enabling the conservation of energy by reducing unnecessary expenditure in energy-limited caves.

Local Synchronization of Directed Lur'e Networks With Coupling Delay via Distributed Impulsive Control Subject to Actuator Saturation.

This article studies the local exponential synchronization synthesis problem of directed Lur'e networks with coupling time-varying delay under the distributed impulsive control subject to actuator saturation. First, by utilizing proof by contradiction, impulsive comparison principle, and latest improved convex hull representation of saturation function, some delay-independent sufficient criteria for local exponential synchronization are presented in the form of bilinear matrix inequalities. Meanwhile, a novel method with less conservatism is developed to estimate the domain of attraction, which is radically different from the traditional method by means of contractive invariant set. Second, optimization problems constrained by the transformed linear matrix inequalities are established to acquire the maximum estimates of both the domain of attraction and average impulsive interval (AII), which are conveniently solved by the YALMIP toolbox in MATLAB software. Finally, a numerical simulation is rendered to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed theoretical results.

Effects of novel coronavirus Omicron variant infection on pregnancy outcomes: a retrospective cohort study from Guangzhou.

Objective: Since 2022, Omicron has been circulating in China as a major variant of the novel coronavirus, but the effects of infection with Omicron variants on pregnant women and newborns are unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of Omicron infection during pregnancy and its effect on pregnancy outcomes. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed the data of 93 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus infection and 109 non-infected patients admitted to the isolation ward of Guangdong Maternal and Child Health Hospital from December 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023, and statistically analyzed the clinical features of Omicron variant infection during pregnancy and its impact on pregnancy outcomes. Further effects of underlying diseases on Omicron infection in pregnant women were analyzed. Results: The incubation period of COVID-19 infection was 0.99±0.86 days, 94.38% of patients had fever or other respiratory symptoms, the lymphocyte count in the infected group was lower than that in the uninfected group, and the lymphocyte count was further reduced in the patients with pregnancy complications or complications. Compared with the uninfected group, APTT and PT were prolonged, platelet count and fibrinogen were decreased in the infected group, all of which had statistical significance. COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increased the rate of cesarean section compared to uninfected pregnant patients, and COVID-19 infection in gestational diabetes resulted in a 4.19-fold increase in cesarean section rate. There was no statistically significant difference in gestational age between the two groups. The incidence of intrauterine distress, turbidity of amniotic fluid and neonatal respiratory distress were higher in the infection group. No positive cases of neonatal COVID-19 infection have been found. Conclusion: The patients infected with omicron during pregnancy often have febrile respiratory symptoms with lymphocyopenia, but the incidence of severe disease is low. Both Omicron infection and gestational diabetes further increase the incidence of cesarean section, and this study found no evidence of vertical transmission of Omicron.