Superhydrophilic and Underwater Superaerophobic Dual-Function Peony-Shaped Selenide Micro-nano Array Self-Supported Electrodes for High-Efficiency Overall Water Splitting Driven by Renewable Energy.

With the intensification of global environmental pollution and resource scarcity, hydrogen has garnered significant attention as an ideal alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy density and nonpolluting nature. Consequently, the urgent development of electrocatalytic water-splitting electrodes for hydrogen production is imperative. In this study, a superwetting selenide catalytic electrode with a peony-flower-shaped micronano array (MoS2/Co0.8Fe0.2Se2/NixSey/nickel foam (NF)) was synthesized on NF via a two-step hydrothermal method. The optimal catalytic activity of cobalt-iron selenide was achieved by adjusting the Co/Fe ratio. The intrinsic catalytic activity of the electrodes was enhanced by incorporating transition metal selenides, which then served as a precursor for the subsequent loading of MoS2 nanoflowers on the surface to fully expose the active sites. Furthermore, the superwetting properties of the electrode accelerated electrolyte penetration and electron/mass transfer, while also facilitating bubble detachment from the electrode surface, thereby preventing "bubble shielding effect". This resulted in superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance, as well as overall water splitting capabilities. In a 1.0 M KOH solution, the electrode required only 166 and 195 mV overpotential to achieve a current density of 10 mA cm-2 for OER and HER, respectively. When functioning as a bifunctional catalytic electrode, only 1.60 V of voltage was necessary to drive the electrolyzer to reach a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Moreover, laboratory simulations of wind and solar energy-driven water splitting validated the feasibility of establishing a sustainable energy-to-hydrogen production chain. This work provides new insights into the preparation of low-overpotential, high-catalytic-activity superhydrophilic and underwater superaerophobic catalytic electrodes by rationally adjusting elemental ratios and exploring changes in electrode surface wettability.

Efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with prophylactic intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for patients diagnosed with clinical T4 gastric cancer who underwent laparoscopic radical gastrectomy: a retrospective cohort study based on propensity score matching.

BACKGROUND: Clinical T4 (cT4) stage gastric cancer presents with frequent postoperative recurrence and poor prognosis. This study is to evaluate the oncological efficacy of laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy combined with postoperative prophylactic hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in patients with cT4N + M0 gastric cancer who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: We reviewed the clinicopathological data of 174 patients with clinical T4 gastric cancer who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by laparoscopic radical total gastrectomy between June 2017 and December 2021. Among them, 142 were included in the non-HIPEC group, and 32 in the HIPEC group. Patients in both groups were paired based on propensity score in a 2:1 ratio to assess disparities in tumor recurrence and long-term survival. RESULTS: After matching, there were no significant differences in the clinicopathological data between the two groups. The peritoneum (16.1%) and distant organs (10.9%) were the most frequent locations for recurrence. Prior to matching, the recurrence rates were similar at all sites for both groups. Compared with those in the non-HIPEC cohort, the recurrence rates at all sites, the lung, and the peritoneum were notably lower in the HIPEC cohort. Prior to matching, the 3-year overall survival and disease-free survival rates were similar between the two groups; following matching, the HIPEC group exhibited notably greater survival rates than did the non-HIPEC group. The disparities in survival rates between the groups became even more pronounced after conducting a stratified analysis among patients with stage III disease. CONCLUSIONS: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with prophylactic HIPEC after laparoscopic radical gastrectomy can effectively reduce the rate of peritoneal metastasis in patients with cT4N + M0 advanced gastric cancer and significantly improve the prognosis of such patients, which is of great clinical value.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and 24-h urine protein quantification in patients with hypertension.

The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and proteinuria is undetermined, with few studies on hypertension, a high-risk group for renal impairment. Therefore, we aimed to explore whether OSA is an independent risk factor for proteinuria in patients with hypertension. We investigated the cross-sectional association between OSA and proteinuria. Participants were divided into groups by apnea hypopnea index (AHI) category. Multivariable Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between OSA severity, objectively measured sleep dimensions, and proteinuria which is mainly defined by 24-h urine protein quantification > 300 mg/24 h. Sensitivity analyses were performed by excluding those with comorbidities (primary aldosteronism and homocysteine ≥ 15 µmol/L). Of the 2106 participants, the mean age was 47.57 ± 10.50 years, 67.2% were men, and 75.9% were OSA patients. In total participants, compared with those without OSA, patients with mild OSA, moderate OSA, and severe OSA showed 1.09 (95% CI 0.80-1.40), 1.24 (95% CI 0.89-1.74) and 1.47 (95% CI 1.04-2.08) fold risk for proteinuria with a trend test P trend < 0.05. Each 10-unit increase in the AHI, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and time spent with oxygen saturation < 90% (T90) was found to be associated with 13%, 10%, and 2% higher likelihood of proteinuria in the crude model, significant in adjusted models. The more severe the OSA is, the higher the risk of proteinuria. AHI and T90 are independently associated with a higher risk of structural renal damage in the population with hypertension.

Effect of shape on the transport and retention of nanoplastics in saturated quartz sand.

Nanoplastics (NPs) pose great challenges to soil-groundwater systems. This study investigated the transport and retention of self-synthesized 0.5-µm polystyrene NPs with different shapes using column experiments. The regular NPs were with spherical shapes, while the irregular NPs were with toroid-like shapes. The toroid-like shapes were the irregular shapes (with low aspect ratio) which have not been studied yet. The explorations were carried out in both 5-25 mM NaNO3 and 1-10 mM Ca(NO3)2 solutions. Both breakthrough curves (BTCs) and retained profiles (RPs) were monitored. Our findings uncovered a clear disparity in the transport of irregular and regular NPs, with irregular particles exhibiting lower transport ability compared to the regular ones. For example, the average breakthrough plateaus of the regular and irregular NPs were ∼0.9 and ∼0.5, respectively, in 10 mM NaNO3. In-depth theoretical analysis indicated that the lower XDLVO interaction energy barrier between the irregular NPs and quartz sand was one factor, and the greater margination of irregular NPs on quartz sand, as verified by the numerical simulation, was another factor leading to the decreased transport and increased retention of the irregular NPs. The obtained results highlighted the significance of considering particle shape in future modelling and predicting the fate of NPs in real environmental circumstances.

Genome architecture of the allotetraploid wild grass Aegilops ventricosa reveals its evolutionary history and contributions to wheat improvement.

The allotetraploid wild grass Aegilops ventricosa (2n=4X=28, genome DvDvNvNv) has been recognized as an important germplasm resource for wheat improvement due to its ability to tolerate biotic stresses. Especially 2NvS segment from Aegilops ventricosa, as a stable and effective resistance source, has greatly contributed to wheat improvement. The 2NvS/2AS translocation is a prevalent chromosomal translocation between common wheat and wild relatives, ranking just behind the 1B/1R translocation in importance for modern wheat breeding. Here, we assembled a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome of Ae. ventricosa RM271 with a total length of 8.67 Gb. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that the progenitor of the Dv subgenome of Ae. ventricosa was Ae. tauschii ssp. tauschii (genome DD); in contrast, the progenitor of the D subgenome of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was Ae. tauschii ssp. strangulata (genome DD). The oldest polyploidization time of Ae. ventricosa occurred ∼0.7 million years ago. The Dv subgenome of Ae. ventricosa was less conserved than the D subgenome of bread wheat. Construction of a graph-based pangenome of 2AS/6NvL (originally known as 2NvS) segments from Ae. ventricosa and other genomes in the Triticeae enables us identifying candidate resistance genes sourced from Ae. ventricosa. We identified 12 nonredundant introgressed segments from the Dv and Nv subgenomes using a large winter wheat collection representing the full diversity of the wheat European genetic pool, and 29.40% of European wheat varieties inherited at least one of these segments. The high-quality RM271 reference genome will provide a basis for cloning key genes, including the Yr17-Lr37-Sr38-Cre5 resistance gene cluster in Ae. ventricosa, and facilitate the full use of elite wild genetic resources to accelerate wheat improvement.

What influences the implementation of clinical guidelines related to enteral nutrition in the intensive care unit: A mixed-methods systematic review.

AIMS: To systematically evaluate and analyse literature concerning the factors influencing the implementation of clinical practice guidelines related to enteral nutrition in the adult intensive care unit. BACKGROUND: Guidelines serve as crucial tools for guiding clinical practice. However, a significant gap persists between current clinical practice and guidelines pertaining to enteral nutrition. It is essential to identify the reasons behind this disparity to foster clinical transformation. METHODS: A mixed-methods systematic review. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane, PsycINFO and CNKI databases to identify impediments and facilitators to the implementation of ICU clinical practice guidelines related to enteral nutrition. The types of studies included quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods studies. The search spanned from January 2003 to January 2024 and was updated in May 2024. The quality assessment of the included literature was conducted using the Mixed-Methods Study Evaluation Tool (MMAT). Data analysis was performed using a data-based convergent integration approach. The protocol for this study was prospectively registered (PROSPERO2023, CRD42023483287). RESULTS: Twenty papers were finally included, and 65 findings were extracted, integrating a total of three categories, Category 1: healthcare provider factors, including three sub-themes: knowledge of guideline-related knowledge and awareness of guideline application; social/professional roles and identity domains; beliefs, attitudes and self-efficacy; collaboration, Category 2: practice environments, including two sub-themes: environmental factors and resource areas; systems and behavioural norms, Category 3: patient values and nutritional support preferences including two sub-themes: patient disease status and value orientation. CONCLUSION: Healthcare professionals should analyse obstacles and facilitators to guideline implementation from multiple perspectives, strengthen healthcare collaboration, improve education and training systems, correct misperceptions and increase awareness of evidence-based practice.

Toxicity profile of camrelizumab-based immunotherapy in older adults with advanced cancer.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become an important cornerstone of many tumour treatments. However, the toxicity profile of immune-chemotherapy combination treatment approaches among older adult cancer patients is still unclear. Patients with any cancer who received camrelizumab-based immunotherapy were eligible for inclusion. The primary endpoints were adverse events (AEs) and immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which were defined based on Naranjo's algorithm. Patients were stratified by age (≥ 70 years and < 70 years), and comparisons were made based on the type of camrelizumab-based therapy (monotherapy, combined chemotherapy, or combined anti-VEGF therapy). A total of 185 patients were administered camrelizumab-based immunotherapy, 55 (30%) of whom were ≥ 70 years old. A total of 146 (78.9%) patients received camrelizumab-based combination treatment. The incidence of all-grade AEs was 56.8% (105 patients), while that of irAEs was 36.8% (68 patients). There was no difference in the percentage of patients experiencing any grade or grade ≥ 3 AEs between age groups. However, the frequency of irAEs (both any grade and grade ≥ 3) significantly differed by age group (P = 0.001 and 0.009, respectively). The results of multivariable analysis revealed that age ≥ 70 years was the only independent risk factor for irAEs. The results of subgroup analysis revealed that the incidence of irAEs was higher in older patients treated with camrelizumab-chemotherapy, while the incidence rates were similar between age groups in the monotherapy and combination anti-VEGF treatment subgroups. Immune-related diabetes mellitus occurred more frequently among older adults. The spectrum of irAEs showed that combination immunotherapy had more widely effects on the organ system than monotherapy. In this study, older (≥ 70 years) patients had a higher risk of all-grade and high-grade irAEs when receiving camrelizumab chemotherapy combination treatment. Notably, long-term random glucose monitoring should be performed during ICI-based immunotherapy in older cancer patients.

Associations between thyroid function, thyroid diseases, and primary aldosteronism.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies focusing on primary aldosteronism (PA) and thyroid diseases were controversial. Hence, this study aimed to examine associations between thyroid function, thyroid diseases, and PA and its subtypes. DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, which enrolled 1023 patients with PA and 6138 patients with essential hypertension (EH) admitted to Hypertension Center of People's Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from August 2011 to June 2022. All patients with PA were accurately classified into aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and idiopathic hyperaldosteronism (IHA) by adrenal vein sampling (AVS). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of thyroid function, thyroid nodules, and PA and its subtypes. RESULTS: A total of 7161 patients (327 APA and 696 IHA, and 6138 EH) were included with a mean age of 48.20 ± 8.83 years. PA patients and PA subtypes showed lower FT4, FT3, TT4, TT3, and prevalence of positive TPOAb, meanwhile higher prevalence of thyroid nodules than EH patients (PA: 56.10%, IHA: 56.90%, APA: 54.80%, and EH: 48.90%, respectively). PA (adjusted OR: 1.290, 95% CI: 1.035-1.607, P = .02) and its subtype (IHA) (adjusted OR: 1.316, 95% CI: 1.005-1.724, P = .04) were significantly associated with thyroid nodules. Compared to patients with lower plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) levels (<12 ng/dL), patients with PAC levels ≥ 12 ng/dL presented a higher prevalence of thyroid nodules. CONCLUSIONS: PA patients had lower thyroid function and higher prevalence of thyroid nodules compared to EH patients. Therefore, the screening of thyroid function and thyroid nodules may be indispensable for PA patients.

Productive chemistry induced by mechanochemically generated macroradicals.

Large or repeated mechanical loads degrade polymeric materials by accelerating chain fragmentation. This mechanochemical backbone fracture usually occurs by homolysis of otherwise inert C-C, C-O and C-S bonds, generating highly reactive macroradicals. Because backbone fracture is detrimental on its own and the resulting macroradicals can initiate damaging reaction cascades, a major thrust in contemporary polymer mechanochemistry is to suppress it, usually by mechanochemical release of "hidden length" that dissipates local molecular strain. Here we summarize an emerging complementary strategy of channelling mechanochemically generated macroradicals in reaction cascades to form new load-bearing chemical bonds, which enables local self-healing or self-strengthening, and/or to generate mechanofluorescence, which could yield detailed quantitative molecular understanding of how material-failure-inducing macroscopic mechanical loads distribute across the network. We aim to identify generalizable lessons derivable from the reported implementations of this strategy and outline the key challenges in adapting it to diverse polymeric materials and loading scenarios.

The Role of Sole Lift in Treating Pediatric Idiopathic Scoliosis with Mild Thoracolumbar/Lumbar Curve.

OBJECTIVE: Lower limb discrepancy (LLD) was frequently observed in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS), potentially associated with etiopathogenesis. Although sole lifts had been proposed as a conservative treatment for IS, evidence supporting their efficacy was limited. This study aimed to assess the effects of sole lift intervention on pediatric patients with mild IS, specifically focusing on thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) curvature. METHODS: Twenty patients, with an average age of 12.3 ± 3.1 years and presenting mild TL/L curve (15.6° ± 6.2°), were selected from a pool of 267 pediatric IS patients in the outpatient of our spine center from February 2023 to August 2023. Inclusion criteria comprised a main TL/L curve ranging between 10° and 40°, the lower limb positioned at the convexity of the main curve, and LLD of less than 2 cm; individuals requiring bracing or surgical intervention were excluded. Custom sole lifts were used to address the shorter lower limb with the objective of leveling the pelvis. Radiographic evaluations were conducted both before and after intervention using standing full spine posteroanterior radiographs and full leg length radiographs. Statistical analysis was undertaken to evaluate curve correction and its associations with other influencing factors. RESULTS: The mean structural and functional LLD were 7.1 ± 4.5 mm and 7.1 ± 4.1 mm, respectively. Among the 20 patients, four exhibited structural LLD greater than 10 mm. The average follow-up duration was 6.4 ± 1.9 months (range: 3-8 months). Following sole lift intervention (7.0 ± 3.0 mm), a significant reduction was observed in the TL/L curve compared to the pre-sole lifting measurements (15.6° ± 6.2° vs. 12.1° ± 7.2°, p < 0.001), as well as a notable decrease in the thoracic curve (12.2° ± 4.0° vs. 8.6° ± 6.3°, p = 0.064). Nine patients experienced a significant curve reduction of ≥5°, while eight showed a reduction between 0° and 5°; however, two patients exhibited no change in curve magnitude. Furthermore, the correction rate of the TL/L curve correlated significantly with functional LLD (r = -0.484, p = 0.030) and pelvic obliquity (r = -0.556, p = 0.011), highlighting the active pelvic compensation in maintaining balance between the spine and lower limbs. Conversely, no significant correlation was observed between curve correction and structural LLD (p > 0.05). Additionally, even after adjusting for other influencing factors, the TL/L Cobb angle remained significantly different between pre- and post-sole lifting (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: This study confirmed the effectiveness of sole lift intervention in correcting TL/L and thoracic curves among the mild IS children with a main TL/L curve, providing a supplementary conservative treatment option for patients with the lower limb at the convexity of the main curve. Moreover, our findings underscored the active compensation of the lower limbs and the pelvis in the etiopathogenesis of IS, highlighting the importance of considering their influence in treatment strategies.

Depressive symptom mediates the association between the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment: a multi-center cross-sectional study based on community older adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between the multiple chronic conditions (MCC), mental health and cognitive function of older adults in the community, and to propose a hypothesis that depressive symptom mediate the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment in older adults. Method: Participants aged 65 years and older from 35 communities in 14 cities in Guangxi, China were recruited. The residents' depressive symptom (PHQ-9) and cognitive status (AD-8) were evaluated, Chi-square test was used to explore the effects of different socio-demographic characteristics on depressive symptom and cognitive impairment. Pearson correlation analysis and the process model 4 were used to explore the relationship between the number of chronic diseases, depressive symptom and cognitive impairment. Result: A total of 11,582 older adults were included in our analysis. The rate of MCC reaching 26.53%. Hypertension combined with diabetes accounts for the highest proportion of two chronic diseases (13.2%). Among the combination of three chronic diseases, the highest incidence of coexisting hypertension combined with cervical/lumbar spondylosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (7.1%). In this study, depression symptoms accounted for 12.9% of older adults aged 65 and above, and cognitive impairment accounted for 27.4%. Female, older age, reside in urban areas, lower educational levels, no spouse, live alone, and MCC were risk factors for depressive symptom and cognitive impairment in older adults (P<0.05). Depressive symptom had a mediating effect in the number of chronic diseases and cognitive impairment, and the mediating effect (1.109) accounted for 44.13% of the total effect (0.247). Conclusion: The mental health of the older adult needs to be taken seriously, and improving depressive symptom can reduce the occurrence of cognitive impairment in older patients with MCC to a certain extent.

Pan­cancer analysis on the role of KMT2C expression in tumor progression and immunotherapy.

Histone lysine N-methyltransferase 2C (KMT2C) is involved in transcriptional regulation and DNA damage repair. Mutations in KMT2C have been implicated in the progression, metastasis, and drug resistance of multiple cancer types. However, the roles of KMT2C in the regulation of tumor prognosis, immune cell infiltration and the immune microenvironment in these multiple cancer types remain unclear. Therefore, in the present study, data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Genotype-Tissue Expression databases were used for KMT2C expression analyses. Kaplan-Meier and univariate Cox regression analyses were also performed to investigate the prognostic role of KMT2C. In addition, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was conducted to study the KMT2C-related signaling pathways. Tumor immune estimation resource 2 and single-sample GSEA were conducted to investigate the correlation between KMT2C expression and immune cell infiltrations, and Spearman's analysis was conducted to study the correlations among KMT2C, tumor mutational burden, microsatellite instability, immune regulators, chemokines and immune receptors. Immunohistochemistry of patient kidney tumor samples was performed to verify the correlation between KMT2C and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Finally, RNA interference, wound healing and colony formation assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of KMT2C expression on cell proliferation and metastasis. The results of the present study demonstrated that KMT2C was highly expressed in multiple cancer types, was a protective factor in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, and a risk factor for lung squamous cell carcinoma and uveal melanoma. In addition, KMT2C levels were negatively correlated with immune-activated pathways and the infiltration of immune cells, and positively correlated with inhibitory immune factors and tumor angiogenesis. Patients with low KMT2C expression had higher objective response rates to immunotherapy, and drug sensitivity analysis indicated that topoisomerase, histone deacetylase, DOT1-like histone H3K79 methyltransferase and G9A nuclear histone lysine methyltransferase inhibitors could potentially be used to treat tumors with high KMT2C expression levels. Finally, the KMT2C and PD-L1 expression levels were shown to be positively correlated, and KMT2C knockdown markedly promoted the proliferation and invasion capacities of A549 cells. In conclusion, the present study revealed that low KMT2C expression may be a promising biomarker for predicting the response of patients with cancer to immunotherapy. Conversely, high KMT2C expression was shown to promote tumor angiogenesis, which may contribute to the formation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

Causal relationships between rheumatoid arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases: a two-sample univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Observational research has highlighted a potential relationship between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). However, the confirmation of a causal connection is impeded by the inherent limitations of such studies, including vulnerability to confounding factors and the possibility of reverse causality. This study employs a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to assess the causal impact of RA on three NDs, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: We aggregated data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) targeting RA or NDs within populations of European descent. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with robust associations to RA were identified as instrumental variables (IVs). To estimate the association between RA and AD, PD, and ALS, we utilized the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method in our univariable MR (UVMR) analysis. Validation of the IVW results ensued through supplementary analyses using MR-Egger and weighted median methods. The multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis was conducted, adjusting for body mass index (BMI), alcohol drinking, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Results: The UVMR analysis, based on the IVW method, revealed a significantly positive causal association between RA and late-onset (LO) AD (OR [95% CI] = 1.084 [1.020-1.153]; p = 9.980 × 10-3), while suggesting a possible inverse relationship with PD (OR [95% CI] = 0.727 [0.563-0.938]; p = 0.014). Our study did not detect any causal connections between RA and early-onset (EO) AD, atypical or mixed (AM) AD, and ALS (all p > 0.05). The MVMR analysis results indicated that after adjusting for alcohol drinking, RA remains a risk factor for LOAD (OR [95% CI] = 1.094 [1.024-1.169]; p = 0.008). However, MVMR analysis revealed no causal connections between RA and PD after adjustments for BMI, alcohol drinking, or T2DM (all p > 0.05). Sensitivity analyses showed no evidence of heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. Conclusions: This research provides genetic evidence indicating that RA potentially causes an increased risk of developing LOAD and PD. Such a revelation underscores the importance for individuals suffering from RA to be vigilant about the potential emergence of LOAD and PD. Ongoing monitoring and prompt detection are essential for successfully managing and intervening in this possible risk.

Gustatory receptor 11 is involved in detecting the oviposition water of Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus.

BACKGROUND: Aedes albopictus is a major arbovirus vector with small stagnant water containers being its oviposition sites. Mosquitoes search for these sites based on their olfactory cues (odor and moisture emanating from the water at the oviposition site), visual cues (size and color of the site), and gustatory cues (ion and nutrient concentration in that water). The gustatory mechanism through which mosquitoes search for oviposition sites remains unknown. METHODS: To investigate the role of taste receptors in Ae. albopictus oviposition site selection, we developed a laboratory model. This model assessed mosquito behavior in locating and detecting oviposition sites, using a location index to quantify site preference and detection time to measure response to water presence. We compared oviposition site-searching efficiency between mosquitoes with blocked and unblocked appendages, targeting the taste organs. Transcriptome sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes between water-exposed and unexposed mosquitoes. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was then employed to generate a mutant strain with a targeted gene knockout. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the blocked and unblocked groups in the location index. In contrast, the detection time of the unblocked group differed significantly from all other groups, including those with blocked foreleg tarsus, midleg tarsus, hindleg tarsus, all tibia, and all tarsus. Transcriptome sequencing analyses of water-exposed and unexposed mosquitoes revealed that the taste-related gene gustatory receptor 11(gr11) was differentially expressed. This gene was knocked out with CRISPR/Cas9 technology to generate a pure mutant strain with 2- and 4-bp deletions, which exhibited a significantly longer detection time than the wild-type strain. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the role of Ae. albopictus gr11 in water detection at oviposition sites, thereby providing a theoretical basis and scientific guidelines for managing the breeding sites of these mosquitoes.

Initial ribociclib plus endocrine therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer in pre- and postmenopausal Chinese women: Primary results from a phase 2 randomized study.

BACKGROUND: The MONALEESA­7 and ­2 phase 3 randomized trials demonstrated a statistically significant progression­free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) benefit with initial ribociclib + endocrine therapy (ET) versus placebo + ET in pre­ and postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor­positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2­negative (HER2−) advanced breast cancer (ABC), respectively. Similar trends were observed in Asian subgroup analyses. This phase 2 bridging study of initial ET + ribociclib enrolled pre­ and postmenopausal patients with HR+/HER2­ ABC from China and was conducted to demonstrate consistency of PFS results in a Chinese population relative to the global MONALEESA­7 and ­2 studies. METHODS: Patients were randomized (1:1) to ET (nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor + goserelin for premenopausal patients; letrozole for postmenopausal patients) + either ribociclib or placebo. The primary endpoint was investigator­assessed PFS. RESULTS: As of April 25, 2022, the median follow­up was 34.7 months in both cohorts. In the premenopausal cohort, median PFS was 27.6 months in the ribociclib arm (n = 79) versus 14.7 months in the placebo arm (n = 77) (hazard ratio 0.67 [95% CI: 0.45, 1.01]). In the postmenopausal cohort, median PFS was not reached in the ribociclib arm versus 18.5 months in the placebo arm (n = 77 in each arm) (hazard ratio 0.40 [95% CI: 0.26, 0.62]). Data also suggested improvements in secondary efficacy endpoints, although OS data were not mature. The safety profile in this population was consistent with that in global studies. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate a favorable benefit­risk profile for ribociclib + ET in Chinese patients.

[Spatiotemporal Evolution Characteristics of Carbon Sources and Carbon Sinks and Carbon Balance Zoning in the Yangtze River Delta Region].

Mastering the spatiotemporal evolution laws of carbon sources and sinks is of great significance to promote the coordinated development of regional low-carbon, improve the science of carbon reduction and sink increase policies, and realize the goal of "double carbon." Taking 41 cities in the Yangtze River Delta Region as the research object, this study analyzed the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of carbon sources and sinks in the Yangtze River Delta Region from 2000 to 2020 and conducted the carbon balance zoning. The results were as follows： ① The carbon emissions increased rapidly in the Yangtze River Delta Region from 2000 to 2011 but with some fluctuations after 2011. Carbon sinks increased slowly in the Yangtze River Delta Region from 2000 to 2020. The regional differences in carbon emissions and carbon sinks were significant, and the spatial pattern was relatively stable. ② The carbon compensation rate in the Yangtze River Delta Region showed a downward trend, and the carbon productivity, energy utilization efficiency, and carbon ecological support capacity were constantly enhanced. Interregional differences were the main source of carbon compensation rate in the Yangtze River Delta Region. Both the carbon compensation rate and carbon ecological support coefficient showed a spatial pattern of "high in the west and low in the east, high in the south and low in the north." The areas with high carbon economy contributive coefficient were concentrated in the central and southern areas of the Yangtze River Delta regions, and the areas with low carbon economy contributive coefficient were concentrated in Anhui Province. ③ Based on the carbon economy contributive coefficient and the carbon ecological support coefficient, cities in the Yangtze River Delta Region were classified into low-carbon maintenance areas, economic development areas, carbon sink development areas, and comprehensive optimization areas. Recommendations were proposed for each category of cities in order to promote the coordinated development of regional low-carbon and realize the goal of "double carbon".

Voxelated bioprinting of modular double-network bio-ink droplets.

Analogous of pixels to two-dimensional pictures, voxels-in the form of either small cubes or spheres-are the basic building blocks of three-dimensional objects. However, precise manipulation of viscoelastic bio-ink voxels in three-dimensional space represents a grand challenge in both soft matter science and biomanufacturing. Here, we present a voxelated bioprinting technology that enables the digital assembly of interpenetrating double-network hydrogel droplets made of polyacrylamide/alginate-based or hyaluronic acid/alginate-based polymers. The hydrogels are crosslinked via additive-free and biofriendly click reaction between a pair of stoichiometrically matched polymers carrying norbornene and tetrazine groups, respectively. We develop theoretical frameworks to describe the crosslinking kinetics and stiffness of the hydrogels, and construct a diagram-of-state to delineate their mechanical properties. Multi-channel print nozzles are developed to allow on-demand mixing of highly viscoelastic bio-inks without significantly impairing cell viability. Further, we showcase the distinctive capability of voxelated bioprinting by creating highly complex three-dimensional structures such as a hollow sphere composed of interconnected yet distinguishable hydrogel particles. Finally, we validate the cytocompatibility and in vivo stability of the printed double-network scaffolds through cell encapsulation and animal transplantation.

Study on temperature field in the process of induction heat treatment with current assisted weld double side method.

At present, in the process of weld induction heat treatment, the common method is to carry out centralized induction heating in the weld area, which will lead to large radial temperature difference of the weld, poor controllability of temperature distribution and easy to cause the defects of residual stress concentration in the weld area. To solve the above problems, this paper adopts the two-sided method to conduct induction heating on both sides of the weld, and at the same time, the auxiliary pulse current is passed into the weld to improve the quality of the weld. ANSYS finite element software is used to establish a multi-field coupling prediction model of electric-magnetic-thermal structure, and explore the distribution law of the auxiliary pulse current and the temperature field of the weld. Finally, an experimental study of pulsed current assisted two-sided induction heating is carried out. Temperature test and metallographic test were carried out respectively to verify the effectiveness of pulsed current assisted induction heating technology.

Establishing and clinically validating a machine learning model for predicting unplanned reoperation risk in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer significantly impacts global health, with unplanned reoperations post-surgery being key determinants of patient outcomes. Existing predictive models for these reoperations lack precision in integrating complex clinical data. AIM: To develop and validate a machine learning model for predicting unplanned reoperation risk in colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Data of patients treated for colorectal cancer (n = 2044) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University and Wenzhou Central Hospital from March 2020 to March 2022 were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into an experimental group (n = 60) and a control group (n = 1984) according to unplanned reoperation occurrence. Patients were also divided into a training group and a validation group (7:3 ratio). We used three different machine learning methods to screen characteristic variables. A nomogram was created based on multifactor logistic regression, and the model performance was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve, calibration curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and decision curve analysis. The risk scores of the two groups were calculated and compared to validate the model. RESULTS: More patients in the experimental group were ≥ 60 years old, male, and had a history of hypertension, laparotomy, and hypoproteinemia, compared to the control group. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed the following as independent risk factors for unplanned reoperation (P < 0.05): Prognostic Nutritional Index value, history of laparotomy, hypertension, or stroke, hypoproteinemia, age, tumor-node-metastasis staging, surgical time, gender, and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the model had good discrimination and clinical utility. CONCLUSION: This study used a machine learning approach to build a model that accurately predicts the risk of postoperative unplanned reoperation in patients with colorectal cancer, which can improve treatment decisions and prognosis.

Regioselective Deacetylation in Nucleosides and Derivatives.

Nucleoside analogues are a promising class of natural compounds in the pharmaceutical industry, and many antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer drugs have been created through structural modification of nucleosides scaffold. Acyl protecting groups, especially the acetyl group, play an important role in the protection of hydroxy groups in nucleoside synthesis and modification; consequently, numerous methodologies have been put forth for the acetylation of free nucleosides. However, for nucleosides that contain different O- and N-based functionalities, selective deprotection of the acetyl group(s) in nucleosides has been studied little, despite its practical significance in simplifying the preparation of partially or differentially substituted nucleoside intermediates. In this mini-review, recent approaches for regioselective deacetylation in acetylated nucleosides and their analogues are summarized and evaluated. Different regioselectivities (primary ester, secondary ester, full de-O-acetylation, and de-N-acetylation) are summarized and discussed in each section.