Assessment and phenotypic identification of millet germplasm (Setaria italica L.) in Liaoning, China.

Aims: This study evaluated millet germplasms in Liaoning Province to support the collection, preservation and innovation of millet germplasm resources. Methods: The study was conducted from 2018 to 2020, involved the selection of 105 millet germplasm resources from the Germplasm Bank of the Liaoning Academy of Agricultural Sciences (LAAS), the observation and recording of 31 traits, and the application of multivariate analysis methods to assess phenotypic diversity. Results: From the diversity analysis and correlation analysis, it was found that the tested traits had abundant diversity and complex correlations among them. Principal component analysis (PCA) comprehensively analyzed all quantitative traits and extracted seven principal components. Grey relational analysis (GRA) highlighted the varied contributions of different traits to yield. Through systematic cluster analysis (SCA), the resources were categorized into six groups at Euclidean distance of 17.09. K-mean cluster analysis determined the distribution interval and central value of each trait, then identified resources with desirable traits. Conclusion: The results revealed resources that possess characteristics such as upthrow seedling leaves, more tillers and branches, larger and well-formed ears, and lodging resistance prefer to higher grain yield. It was also discovered that the subear internode length (SIL) could be an indicator for maturity selection. Four specific resources, namely, Dungu No. 1, Xiao-li-xiang, Basen Shengu, and Yuhuanggu No. 1, were identified for further breeding and practical applications.

Effect of a Thermosensitive Hydroxybutyl Chitosan Hydrogel on Postoperative Sequalae and Quality of Life After Impacted Mandibular Third Molar Extraction.

BACKGROUND: Third molar (M3) extraction is a common surgery in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and composite wound dressings such as hydroxybutyl chitosan (HBC) may improve postoperative sequala following M3 removal. PURPOSE: The study purpose was to measure and compare differences in pain, swelling, trismus, wound healing, and quality of life (QOL) between the HBC and the control sides in patients undergoing M3 removal. STUDY DESIGN, SETTING, SAMPLE: This study is a double-blind, split-mouth, randomized clinical trial. Patients who required M3 removal between June 2022 and May 2023 were included. Exclusion criteria included seafood allergies, smoking, poor oral hygiene, and systemic diseases. PREDICTOR VARIABLE: The predictor variable was the socket treatment technique. Subjects were randomly assigned to the HBC or control (physiological saline) side. MAIN OUTCOME VARIABLE: The primary outcome variables, including pain assessed by visual analog scale, swelling, and maximal incisional opening, were measured on the first, third, and seventh postoperative days. The secondary outcome variables included QOL and wound healing score measured on the third and seventh days after surgery. COVARIATES: The covariates included age, sex, and operation time. ANALYSES: The Shapiro‒Wilk test was used to evaluate the normality of the data distribution. The paired t test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test was adopted. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: The study included 60 patients (mean age: 25.81 ± 4.91; 23 (38%) males, 37 (62%) females). A statistically significant difference in the level of pain (HBC: 37.58 ± 4.39 mm, control: 47.00 ± 4.33 mm, day 1, P < .001; 21.88 ± 3.25 mm, 35.95 ± 1.57 mm, day 3, P < .001), maximal incisional opening (23.92 ± 1.38 mm, 18.22 ± 1.82 mm, day 1, P < .001; 30.00 ± 1.61 mm, 23.78 ± 1.70 mm, day 3, P < .001), and swelling (6.86 ± 0.70 mm, 7.15 ± 0.80 mm, day 3, P = .006) was detected after surgery. A statistically significant difference in QOL was detected (HBC: 13.70 ± 1.65, control: 18.60 ± 2.14, day 3, P < .001). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: The application of HBC hydrogels to wounds after impacted mandibular M3 extraction reduces postoperative sequalae, promotes wound healing and improves postoperative QOL.

Preoperative Contrast-Enhanced CT-Based Deep Learning Radiomics Model for Distinguishing Retroperitoneal Lipomas and Well­Differentiated Liposarcomas.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of a preoperative contrast-enhanced CT (CECT)-based deep learning radiomics nomogram (DLRN) for predicting murine double minute 2 (MDM2) gene amplification as a means of distinguishing between retroperitoneal well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS) and lipomas. METHODS: This retrospective multi-center study included 167 patients (training/external test cohort, 104/63) with MDM2-positive WDLPS or MDM2-negative lipomas. Clinical data and CECT features were independently measured and analyzed by two radiologists. A clinico-radiological model, radiomics signature (RS), deep learning and radiomics signature (DLRS), and a DLRN incorporating radiomics and deep learning features were developed to differentiate between WDLPS and lipoma. The model utility was evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS: The DLRN showed good performance for distinguishing retroperitoneal lipomas and WDLPS in the training (AUC, 0.981; accuracy, 0.933) and external validation group (AUC, 0.861; accuracy, 0.810). The DeLong test revealed the DLRN was noticeably better than clinico-radiological and RS models (training: 0.981 vs. 0.890 vs. 0.751; validation: 0.861 vs. 0.724 vs. 0.700; both P < 0.05); however, no discernible difference in performance was seen between the DLRN and DLRS (training: 0.981 vs. 0.969; validation: 0.861 vs. 0.837; both P > 0.05). The calibration curve analysis and DCA demonstrated that the nomogram exhibited good calibration and offered substantial clinical advantages. CONCLUSION: The DLRN exhibited strong predictive capability in predicting WDLPS and retroperitoneal lipomas preoperatively, making it a promising imaging biomarker that can facilitate personalized management and precision medicine.

Disease spectrum and prognostic factors in patients treated for tuberculous meningitis in Shaanxi province, China.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis (TB) and can be difficult to diagnose and treat. We aimed to describe the clinical presentation, diagnosis, disease spectrum, outcome, and prognostic factors of patients treated for TBM in China. Methods: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted from 2009 to 2019 enrolling all presumptive TBM patients referred to Xijing tertiary Hospital from 27 referral centers in and around Shaanxi province, China. Patients with clinical features suggestive of TBM (abnormal CSF parameters) were included in the study if they had adequate baseline information to be classified as "confirmed," "probable," or "possible" TBM according to international consensus TBM criteria and remained in follow-up. Patients with a confirmed alternative diagnosis or severe immune compromise were excluded. Clinical presentation, central nervous system imaging, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results, TBM score, and outcome-assessed using the modified Barthel disability index-were recorded and compared. Findings: A total of 341 presumptive TBM patients met selection criteria; 63 confirmed TBM (25 culture positive, 42 Xpert-MTB/RIF positive), 66 probable TBM, 163 possible TBM, and 49 "not TBM." Death was associated with BMRC grade III (OR = 5.172; 95%CI: 2.298-11.641), TBM score ≥ 15 (OR = 3.843; 95%CI: 1.372-10.761), age > 60 years (OR = 3.566; 95%CI: 1.022-12.442), and CSF neutrophil ratio ≥ 25% (OR = 2.298; 95%CI: 1.027-5.139). Among those with confirmed TBM, nearly one-third (17/63, 27.0%) had a TBM score < 12; these patients exhibited less classic meningitis symptoms and signs and had better outcomes compared with those with a TBM score ≥ 12. In this group, signs of disseminated/miliary TB (OR = 12.427; 95%CI: 1.138-135.758) and a higher TBM score (≥15, OR = 8.437; 95%CI: 1.328-53.585) were most strongly associated with death. Conclusion: TBM patients who are older (>60 years) have higher TBM scores or CSF neutrophil ratios, have signs of disseminated/miliary TB, and are at greatest risk of death. In general, more effort needs to be done to improve early diagnosis and treatment outcome in TBM patients.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology guided margin design in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a single-centre retrospective study.

Objective: The margin status of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients is considered to be predictive of recurrence and long-term survival. Therefore, precise intraoperative margin assessment is crucial. This study investigated the feasibility of using near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology to guide margin design in oral squamous cell carcinoma patients. Methods: In this retrospective study, indocyanine green solution was intravenously injected preoperatively into patients. Intraoperatively, the surgical area was illuminated using a near-infrared fluorescence imaging system, which caused the lesion to fluoresce in the surgical area. Surgery was performed with the assistance of fluorescence imaging. The fluorescence intensity of the lesion area and surrounding normal tissue was recorded during surgery. Intraoperative margins were sent for rapid pathology, and postoperative margin pathology results were documented. Results: Sixteen patients were included in this study (7 males, 9 females), with an average age of 65.65 ± 12.37 years. Preoperative biopsy and postoperative pathology confirmed oral squamous cell carcinoma in all patients. No cancer cells were found in the margin pathology results. The average fluorescence intensity of the lesion area was 214 ± 4.70, and that of the surrounding normal tissue was 104.63 ± 3.14. There was no significant difference in the fluorescence intensity values of the lesion areas among all patients (F=0.38, P>0.05). There was a significant difference in fluorescence intensity between the lesion area and surrounding normal tissue (t=33.76, P<0.05). Conclusion: Near-infrared fluorescence imaging technology can aid in real-time imaging differentiation of lesion areas based on differences in fluorescence intensity during surgery. The use of this technology can assist surgeons in assessing the safety margin and reliably guide surgery.

Exploring the neuroprotective role of artesunate in mouse models of anti-NMDAR encephalitis: insights from molecular mechanisms and transmission electron microscopy.

BACKGROUND: The pathway involving PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and PARKIN plays a crucial role in mitophagy, a process activated by artesunate (ART). We propose that patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis exhibit insufficient mitophagy, and ART enhances mitophagy via the PINK1/PARKIN pathway, thereby providing neuroprotection. METHODS: Adult female mice aged 8-10 weeks were selected to create a passive transfer model of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. We conducted behavioral tests on these mice within a set timeframe. Techniques such as immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and western blotting were employed to assess markers including PINK1, PARKIN, LC3B, p62, caspase3, and cleaved caspase3. The TUNEL assay was utilized to detect neuronal apoptosis, while transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to examine mitochondrial autophagosomes. Primary hippocampal neurons were cultured, treated, and then analyzed through immunofluorescence for mtDNA, mtROS, TMRM. RESULTS: In comparison to the control group, mitophagy levels in the experimental group were not significantly altered, yet there was a notable increase in apoptotic neurons. Furthermore, markers indicative of mitochondrial leakage and damage were found to be elevated in the experimental group compared to the control group, but these markers showed improvement following ART treatment. ART was effective in activating the PINK1/PARKIN pathway, enhancing mitophagy, and diminishing neuronal apoptosis. Behavioral assessments revealed that ART ameliorated symptoms in mice with anti-NMDAR encephalitis in the passive transfer model (PTM). The knockdown of PINK1 led to a reduction in mitophagy levels, and subsequent ART intervention did not alleviate symptoms in the anti-NMDAR encephalitis PTM mice, indicating that ART's therapeutic efficacy is mediated through the activation of the PINK1/PARKIN pathway. CONCLUSIONS: At the onset of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, mitochondrial damage is observed; however, this damage is mitigated by the activation of mitophagy via the PINK1/PARKIN pathway. This regulatory feedback mechanism facilitates the removal of damaged mitochondria, prevents neuronal apoptosis, and consequently safeguards neural tissue. ART activates the PINK1/PARKIN pathway to enhance mitophagy, thereby exerting neuroprotective effects and may achieve therapeutic goals in treating anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Treatment algorithms of relapsing multiple sclerosis: an exploration based on the available disease-modifying therapies in China.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) was defined as a rare disease in China due to its low prevalence. For a long time, interferon ß was the only approved disease-modifying therapy (DMT). Since the first oral DMT was approved in 2018, DMT approval accelerated, and seven DMTs were approved within 5 years. With an increasing number of DMTs being prescribed in clinical practice, it is necessary to discuss the standardized MS treatment algorithms depending on the disease activity and DMT availability. In this review paper, more than 20 Chinese experts in MS have reviewed the therapeutic progress of MS in China and worldwide and discussed algorithms for treating relapsing MS (RMS) based on the available DMTs in China, providing insights for establishing the standardized RMS treatment algorithms in this country.

Treatment algorithms of relapsing multiple sclerosis in China In this review paper, more than 20 Chinese experts in MS have reviewed the therapeutic progress of MS in China and worldwide and discussed algorithms for treating relapsing MS (RMS) based on the available DMTs in China, providing insights for establishing the standardized RMS treatment algorithms in this country: 1) CIS and RRMS account for more than 90% of the MS patients and most of them are mild to moderate; 2) MS patients should initiate DMT treatments as soon as the disease has been diagnosed in order to reduce the risk of disease progression; 3) Patients who have been diagnosed with MS should start treatment with fundamental DMTs unless the disease course has been highly active; 4) MAGNIMS score may be a suitable and simplified assessment tool for measuring treatment response to DMTs; 5) Patients treated with corticosteroids and NSIS should be switched to the standardized DMT treatment during remission in accordance with disease activity.

Different metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zr) decorated Cu/CeO2 catalysts for efficient CO oxidation in a rich CO2/H2 atmosphere.

In this work, CuM/CeO2 (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Zr) catalysts with a low Cu content of 1 wt% were purposely designed and prepared using the co-impregnation method. The samples were characterized using various techniques (TG-DTA, XRD, N2-adsorption/desorption measurements, H2-TPR, XPS and Raman spectroscopy) and CO preferential oxidation (CO-Prox) under H2/CO2-rich conditions was performed. The results have shown that enhanced catalytic performance was achieved upon the introduction of Mn, Co and Ni, and little impact was observed with Zr doping, but Fe showed a negative effect, as compared with the Cu/CeO2 catalyst. Characterization data revealed that the M doping strongly changed the surface composition, revealing the decreased Cu/Ce ratios on the surface, which could be accounted for by the formation of more M/Cu-O-Ce solid solution, or strong Cu-M interactions. When Mn was used, the obtained CuMn/CeO2 catalyst revealed the highest concentration of the oxygen vacancies and Ce3+ ions, which could be correlated well with its superior catalytic performance. Compared with the Cu/CeO2 catalyst, the CO conversion rate increased by 24.7% at a low temperature of 90 °C over the CuMn/CeO2 catalyst. At 130 °C, the maximum CO conversion was 94.7% and the CO2 selectivity was 78.9%. Conversely, the Fe doped Cu/CeO2 catalyst demonstrated the poorest catalytic activity, which was due to the blockage effect of Fe species on Cu showing a high Fe/Cu ratio of 1.9 on the surface.

High Frequency of Autoantibodies in COVID-19 Patients with Central Nervous System Complications: a Multicenter Observational Study.

We present a panel of central nervous system (CNS) complications associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and their clinical characteristics. We aim to investigate associations between neurological autoantibodies and COVID-19 patients with predominant CNS complications. In this retrospective multi-center study, we analyze neurologic complications associated with COVID-19 patients from Dec. 2022 to Feb. 2023 at four tertiary hospitals in China. CSF and/or serum in the enrolled patients were tested for autoantibodies using tissue-based assays (TBAs) and cell-based assays (CBAs). A total of 34 consecutive patients (median age was 40.5 years [range 15-83], 50% were female) were enrolled. CNS syndromes included encephalitis (n=15), encephalopathies (n=6), meningoencephalitis (n=3), ADEM (n=2), depression (n = 2), Alzheimer's disease (n=2), Parkinson disease (n=1), and central nervous system vasculitis (n=1). Twenty-eight specimens (of 44 tested; 11/27 [40.7%] CSF, 13/17 [76.5%] serums) were confirmed by TBAs to be autoantibodies positive. However, only a few autoantibodies (1 with MOG and 1 with NMDAR) were detected by CBAs assays. Twenty-four patients received immunotherapy. After a mean time of 7.26 months of follow-up, 75.8% (25/33) of patients had good outcome (mRS score ≤2). Although no significant difference was observed between the two groups, the proportion of positive CSF autoantibodies in the poor outcomes group was higher than that in the good outcomes group (57.1% vs 31.5%, P = 0.369). Autoantibodies were frequently observed in COVID-19-associated CNS complications. The identification of these autoantibody-positive COVID-19 cases is important as they respond favorably to immunotherapy.

Chemical Mineralization of AMD into Schwertmannite Fixing Iron and Sulfate Ions by Structure and Adsorption: Paving the Way for Enhanced Mineralization Capacity.

Abundant iron and sulfate resources are present in acid mine drainage. The synthesis of schwertmannite from AMD rich in iron and sulfate could achieve the dual objectives of resource recovery and wastewater purification. However, schwertmannite cannot emerge spontaneously due to the Gibbs free energy greater than 0. This results in the iron and sulfate in AMD only being able to use the energy generated by oxidation in the coupling reaction to promote the formation of minerals, but this only achieved partial mineralization, which limited the remediation of AMD through mineralization. In order to clarify the mechanism of iron and sulfate removal by the formation of schwertmannite in AMD, kinetic and thermodynamic parameters were crucial. This work used H2O2 oxidation of Fe2+ as a coupling reaction to promote the formation of schwertmannite from 64.4% of iron and 15.7% of sulfate in AMD, and determined that 99.7% of the iron and 89.9% of sulfate were immobilized in the schwertmannite structural, and only a small fraction was immobilized by the adsorption of schwertmannite, both of which were consistent with second-order kinetics models. The thermodynamic data suggested that reducing the concentration of excess sulfate ions or increasing the energy of the system may allow more iron and sulfate to be immobilized by forming schwertmannite. Experimental verification using the reaction of potassium bicarbonate with the acidity in solution to increase the energy in the system showed that the addition of potassium bicarbonate effectively promoted the formation of schwertmannite from Fe3+ and SO42-. It provided a theoretical and research basis for the direct synthesis of schwertmannite from Fe3+ and SO42- rich AMD for the removal of contaminants from water and the recovery of valuable resources.

Recent progress in plasma modification of 2D metal chalcogenides for electronic devices and optoelectronic devices.

Two-dimensional metal chalcogenides (2D MCs) present a great opportunity for overcoming the size limitation of traditional silicon-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices. Controllable modulation compatible with CMOS processes is essential for the improvement of performance and the large-scale applications of 2D MCs. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in plasma modification of 2D MCs, including substitutional doping, defect engineering, surface charge transfer, interlayer coupling modulation, thickness control, and nano-array pattern etching in the fields of electronic devices and optoelectronic devices. Finally, challenges and outlooks for plasma modulation of 2D MCs are presented to offer valuable references for future studies.

Microglia nuclear receptor corepressor 1 deficiency alleviates neuroinflammation in mice.

Given the established role of nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCoR1) in sensing environmental cues and the importance of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases, elucidation of NCoR1 involvement in neuroinflammation has notable implications. Yet, its regulatory mechanism remains largely unclear. Under in vitro conditions, NCoR1 expression peaked and then decreased at 12 h after lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation in BV2 cells, However, NCoR1 knockdown using si-RNA attenuated microglial inflammation, evident by reduced the levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), phosphorylated-JNK and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Furthermore, NCoR1 suppression could counteract the decline in mitochondrial membrane potential while simultaneously enhancing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). Under in vivo conditions, microglia-specific NCoR1 knockout (MNKO) mice after LPS injections alleviated the symptoms of anhedonia, diminished autonomic activity and cognitive impairment. Additionally, MNKO mice showed attenuation of microglial activation, downregulated HMGB1 and COX2, and upregulated PGC-1α expression in the cortex. In conclusion, these findings suggest that NCoR1 deficiency leads to a modest reduction in neuroinflammation, possibly attributed to the increased expression of PGC-1α.

Formation of superoxide and ozone-like species on Cu doped CeO2(111) and their CO oxidation reactivity: a DFT study.

The adsorption of O2 on Cu/CeO2(111) and the CO oxidation reactivity of the formed oxygen species were studied using the DFT method. The results showed that superoxide species (O2δ-), which directly interacted with Cu, formed when O2 adsorbed on the surface oxygen vacancies, while O2 adsorbed on the subsurface oxygen vacancies gave rise to ozone-like O3δ- species by combining with the nearest surface lattice oxygen (O1). PDOS showed that hybridization of the 2p orbitals between O2 and O1 formed a delocalized π bond, confirming the formation of O3δ-. For O2δ-, electrons on Cu and O1 transferred to O2 while the charge of Ce remained unchanged. However, for O3δ-, the transferred electrons were mainly from O1, and partially from O2, Ce1 and Ce2. It was very interesting that Cu also received a few electrons in the latter case. Compared with CO directly adsorbed on lattice oxygen, the two oxygen species were active for CO oxidation, forming CO2 or carbonates, and higher absolute adsorption energy was obtained with the interaction between CO and O3δ-. The findings of this study provide new insight on the CO oxidation reaction mechanism, facilitating an in-depth understanding of Cu-doped CeO2 catalysts.

Tackling barriers to scale up human papillomavirus vaccination in China: progress and the way forward.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is the first vaccine developed specifically targeting the prevention of cervical cancer. For more than 15 years, China has expedited a series of efforts on research and development of the domestically manufactured HPV vaccines, producing local population-based evidence, promoting free HPV vaccination from pilots, and launching action plans to tackle barriers in the scale-up of HPV vaccination. To further roll out the HPV vaccination program in China, several challenges should be addressed to support the steps forward. The availability of more locally manufactured HPV vaccines, pricing negotiation and local evidence supporting the efficacy of one-dose schedule would greatly alleviate the continued supply and financial constraints in China. Meanwhile, more attention should be paid to girls living in low-resource areas and males to ensure equal access to the HPV vaccination. Furthermore, linkage to secondary prevention and further real-world monitoring and evaluation are warranted to inform effective cervical cancer prevention strategies in the post-vaccine era.

Racial disparities in conditional survival of patients with bladder cancer: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Traditional estimates can only provide static predictions of cancer outcomes and cannot assess the evolving effect of race on patient survival. This study aims to reveal the dynamic survival of patients with bladder cancer and to explore the evolving effect of race on patient prognosis. METHODS: Using data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry, 99,590 white, 6,036 African American, and 4,685 Asian/Pacific Islander (API) patients with bladder cancer were identified. Conditional cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates, which could reflect the dynamic survival prediction of cancer patients, represented the primary outcomes, and were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier algorithm. The evolving effect of race on patient survival was evaluated by multivariable Cox regression in combination with conditional survival (CS) estimates. RESULTS: The 5-year CSS for African American patients who had survived 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 years after definitive therapy improved from the baseline calculation by + 5.8 (84.4%), + 9.5 (87.4%), + 12.8 (90.0%), + 14.4 (91.3%), and + 14.7% (91.5%), respectively. The increasing trend also held for overall white and API patients, and for all patient subsets when CS was calculated according to different levels of sex, age, and disease stage. African Americans, despite having the worst survival at baseline, could have CSS comparable to their white and API counterparts after 4 years of survivorship. In addition, the risk of death for African Americans tended to decrease with increasing survival, and the risk was no longer significantly different from that of whites after 4 years of survival. CONCLUSIONS: While having the worst initial predicted outcomes, African Americans may eventually achieve comparable survival to white and API patients given several years of survivorship. As patient survival increases, African American race may lose its role as an indicator of poorer prognosis.

Stochastic Propagation of Fatigue Cracks in Welded Joints of Steel Bridge Decks under Simulated Traffic Loading.

The fatigue cracking of orthotropic steel bridge decks (OSDs) is a difficult problem that hinders the development of steel structures. The most important reasons for the occurrence of fatigue cracking are steadily growing traffic loads and unavoidable truck overloading. Stochastic traffic loading leads to the random propagation behavior of fatigue cracks, which increases the difficulty of the fatigue life evaluations of OSDs. This study developed a computational framework for the fatigue crack propagation of OSDs under stochastic traffic loads based on traffic data and finite element methods. Stochastic traffic load models were established based on site-specific, weigh-in-motion measurements to simulate fatigue stress spectra of welded joints. The influence of the transverse loading positions of the wheel tracks on the stress intensity factor of the crack tip was investigated. The random propagation paths of the crack under stochastic traffic loads were evaluated. Both ascending and descending load spectra were considered in the traffic loading pattern. The numerical results indicated that the maximum value of KI was 568.18 (MPa·mm1/2) under the most critical transversal condition of the wheel load. However, the maximum value decreased by 66.4% under the condition of transversal moving by 450 mm. In addition, the propagation angle of the crack tip increased from 0.24° to 0.34°-an increase ratio of 42%. Under the three stochastic load spectra and the simulated wheel loading distributions, the crack propagation range was almost limited to within 10 mm. The migration effect was the most obvious under the descending load spectrum. The research results of this study can provide theoretical and technical support for the fatigue and fatigue reliability evaluation of existing steel bridge decks.

Autoantibodies detection in anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Autoimmune encephalitis (AE) covers a group of neurological diseases caused by autoantibodies. AE is severe but treatable. It has attracted more and more attention currently. Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is the most common AE characterized by specific autoantibody mainly against NMDAR subunit 1. Cell-based assays (CBA) on human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells and immunohistochemistry (IHC) on rat brain tissue have been widely used to detect antibody in patients with AE. However, few studies focused on the overview of these assays detecting autoantibodies in AE. Here we reviewed the detection assays in AE and compared the sensitivity and specificity of CBA and IHC. It's found that IHC got a higher positive rate than CBA in both serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) when screening potential AE, while CBA was more specific. Besides, more positive samples were found in CSF than in serum by either IHC or CBA. Hence, both serum and CSF should be sent to detect antibodies by two assays to avoid misdiagnosis. CSF antibody titers were believed more clinically relevant. When positive results were shown in IHC but negative in CBA, other kinds of antibodies associated AE instead of anti-NMDAR encephalitis should be taken into account. Further studies should pay attention to serum testing for diagnosis or assessment of the disease, as CSF testing is invasive and not always available.

Single-nucleus RNA sequencing unveils critical regulators in various hippocampal neurons for anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis.

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is a neuropsychiatric disease with variable clinical manifestations caused by NMDAR autoantibody. The underlying molecular underpinnings of this disease are rarely characterized on a genomic scale. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis mainly affects the hippocampus, however, its effect on gene expression in hippocampal neurons is unclear at present. Here, we construct the active and passive immunization mouse models of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, and use single-nucleus RNA sequencing to investigate the diverse expression profile of neuronal populations isolated from different hippocampal regions. Dramatic changes in cell proportions and differentially expressed genes were observed in excitatory neurons of the dentate gyrus (DG) subregion. In addition, we found that ATP metabolism and biosynthetic regulators related genes in excitatory neurons of DG subregion were significantly affected. Kcnq1ot1 in inhibitory neurons and Meg3 in interneurons also changed. Notably, the latter two molecules exhibited opposite changes in different models. Therefore, the above genes were used as potential targets for further research on the pathological process of anti-NMDAR encephalitis. These data involve various hippocampal neurons, which delineate a framework for understanding the hippocampal neuronal circuit and the potential molecular mechanisms of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Trend in Cervical Cancer Incidence and Mortality Rates in China, 2006-2030: A Bayesian Age-Period-Cohort Modeling Study.

BACKGROUND: There are no studies extrapolating the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in China by comparing incidence and deaths pattern between geographic and age groups. METHODS: We applied age-period-cohort models to assess region-level trends in incidence and mortality from 2006 to 2016, with piecewise linear regression in a Bayesian framework to predict these trends to 2030. RESULTS: Between 2006 and 2016, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) for females aged 15 to 84 years increased by 3.7% (95% confidence interval, 3.1%-4.3%) annually from 11.01 to 16.41 per 100,000 females in China. In the 25 to 39 age groups, the incidence rates decreased in urban regions and inversely increased in rural regions. The age-standardized mortality rates (ASMR) increased from 3.18 to 4.83, with annual increases of about 3.6% (1.5%-5.8%). From 2017 to 2030, the ASIR is expected to increase from 17.13 (15.91-18.46) to 23.22 (20.02-27.01) by 2.5% per year (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the average age at diagnosis is predicted to grow from 53.1 to 60.5 years. In the 15 to 54 age groups, the incidence rates decreased in urban regions but increased in rural regions. The ASMR is expected to increase consistently from 4.82 (4.38-5.31) to 9.13 (7.35-11.39) by 5.0% per year (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are projected to increase in China. In addition, the urban-rural incidence gap is estimated to widen further among young women. IMPACT: Cervical cancer prevention should consider the trend and diversity in incidence patterns between urban and rural regions.