Corrosion Characteristics of Polymer-Modified Oil Well Cement-Based Composite Materials in Geological Environment Containing Carbon Dioxide.

Oil well cement is easily damaged by carbon dioxide (CO2) corrosion, and the corrosion of oil well cement is affected by many factors in complex environments. The anti-corrosion performance of oil well cement can be improved by polymer materials. In order to explore the influence of different corrosion factors on the corrosion depth of polymer-modified oil well cement, the influence of different corrosion factors on corrosion depth was studied based on the Box-Behnken experimental design. The interaction of different influencing factors and the influence of multiple corrosion depths were analyzed based on the response surface method, and a response surface model was obtained for each factor and corrosion depth. The results indicate that within the scope of the study, the corrosion depth of polymer-modified oil well cement was most affected by time. The effects of temperature and the pressure of CO2 decreased sequentially. The response surface model had good significance, with a determination coefficient of 0.9907. The corrosion depth was most affected by the interaction between corrosion time and the pressure of CO2, while the corrosion depth was less affected by the interaction between corrosion temperature and corrosion time. Improving the CO2 intrusion resistance of cement slurry in an environment with a high concentration of CO2 gas can effectively ensure the long-term structural integrity of cement.

Bundle-specific tractogram distribution estimation using higher-order streamline differential equation.

Streamline tractography locally traces peak directions extracted from fiber orientation distribution (FOD) functions, lacking global information about the trend of the whole fiber bundle. Therefore, it is prone to producing erroneous tracks while missing true positive connections. In this work, we propose a new bundle-specific tractography (BST) method based on a bundle-specific tractogram distribution (BTD) function, which directly reconstructs the fiber trajectory from the start region to the termination region by incorporating the global information in the fiber bundle mask. A unified framework for any higher-order streamline differential equation is presented to describe the fiber bundles with disjoint streamlines defined based on the diffusion vectorial field. At the global level, the tractography process is simplified as the estimation of BTD coefficients by minimizing the energy optimization model, and is used to characterize the relations between BTD and diffusion tensor vector under the prior guidance by introducing the tractogram bundle information to provide anatomic priors. Experiments are performed on simulated Hough, Sine, Circle data, ISMRM 2015 Tractography Challenge data, FiberCup data, and in vivo data from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) for qualitative and quantitative evaluation. Results demonstrate that our approach reconstructs complex fiber geometry more accurately. BTD reduces the error deviation and accumulation at the local level and shows better results in reconstructing long-range, twisting, and large fanning tracts.

PERK-ATAD3A interaction provides a subcellular safe haven for protein synthesis during ER stress.

Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress induces repression of protein synthesis throughout the cell. Attempts to understand how localized stress leads to widespread repression have been limited by difficulties in resolving translation rates at the subcellular level. Here, using live-cell imaging of reporter mRNA translation, we unexpectedly found that during ER stress active translation at mitochondria was significantly protected. The mitochondrial protein, ATAD3A, interacted with PERK and mediated this effect on localized translation by competing for binding with PERK's target, eIF2. PERK-ATAD3A interactions increased during ER stress, forming mitochondria-ER contact sites. Furthermore, ATAD3A binding attenuated local PERK signaling and rescued the expression of some mitochondrial proteins. Thus, PERK-ATAD3A interactions can control translational repression at a subcellular level, mitigating the impact of ER stress on the cell.

Strong Electron-Vibration Signals in Weakly Coupled Molecular Junctions: Activation of Spin-Crossover.

Manipulating individual molecular spin states with electronic current has the potential to revolutionize quantum information devices. However, it is still unclear how a current can cause a spin transition in single-molecule devices. Here, we propose a spin-crossover (SCO) mechanism induced by electron-phonon coupling in an iron(II) phthalocyanine molecule situated on a graphene-decoupled Ir(111) substrate. We performed simulations of both elastic and inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS), which reveal current-induced Fe-N vibrations and an underestimation of established electron-vibration signals. Going beyond standard perturbation theory, we examined molecules in various charge and spin states using the Franck-Condon framework. The increased probability of spin switching suggests that notable IETS signals indicate SCO triggered by the inelastic vibrational excitation associated with Fe-N stretching.

Tofacitinib therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus with arthritis: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the effectiveness and safety of tofacitinib in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with arthritis. METHODS: This research was a retrospective cohort study that focused on SLE patients who had arthritis and were treated with tofacitinib at the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology from January 2020 to January 2022. Clinical outcomes, disease activity, immunological parameters, and adverse events were systematically evaluated pre- and post-treatment at 4, 12, and 24 weeks. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients were analyzed. At the 4-week mark, 5 (22.7%) patients were partially relieved, and 17 (77.3%) unalleviated. By the 12-week assessment, CR off corticosteroids was observed in four patients (18.2%), and CR on corticosteroids was seen in six patients (27.3%), with an additional six (27.3%) maintaining partial remission. At 24 weeks after treatment, three patients (13.6%) achieved CR off corticosteroids, ten patients (45.5%) achieved CR on corticosteroids, and all patients received remission. Compared to before treatment, The SLEDAI and PGA scores significantly improved. The level of C3 was increased significantly, and the absolute CD3+ T cell count, the 28-tender and the 28-swollen joint count, and the levels of serum IL-6 were significantly decreased at 24 weeks after treatment. CONCLUSION: Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis, with a safety profile, and the therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation. Key Points • Tofacitinib demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in SLE patients with arthritis • The therapeutic mechanism of tofacitinib may be related to reducing IL-6 expression and inhibiting T cell activation.

Association between COVID-19 infection and uveitis flare in patients with Behcet's disease, a retrospective multicenter cohort study.

PURPOSE: To explore if COVID-19 infection and its subsequent immunosuppressant adjustment as well as previous vaccination status are associated with higher risks of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet's disease. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study was conducted in January 2023 among patients with Behcet's uveitis, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, with an anticipated sample size of 250. The primary objective was to examine the association between COVID-19 infection and the occurrence of uveitis flare. The potential impact of other exposures, including the patient's vaccination status and treatment adjustments to the risk of uveitis flare and the course of COVID-19 infection were also analyzed. RESULTS: 207 patients with COVID-19 infection and 47 patients without COVID-19 infection were included. A total of 127 uveitis flares occurred in the observational period (14.29 events per 100 person-month). COVID-19 infection was found to be significantly associated with a higher rate of uveitis flare (adjusted rate ratio = 4.8, 95% CI 3.7 to 6.3, P < 0.001). However, neither systemic immunosuppressive adjustment nor COVID-19 vaccination status showed a significant association with uveitis flare or the course of COVID-19 infection. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of an association between COVID-19 infection and an increased risk of uveitis flare in patients with Behcet's disease. However, there was no significant evidence to support that baseline immunosuppressive therapy regimens, treatment adjustment after COVID-19 infection, or vaccination status were associated with higher risks of uveitis flare or prolonged COVID-19 course.

Versatile and efficient mammalian genome editing with Type I-C CRISPR System of Desulfovibrio vulgaris.

CRISPR-Cas tools for mammalian genome editing typically rely on single Cas9 or Cas12a proteins. While type I CRISPR systems in Class I may offer greater specificity and versatility, they are not well-developed for genome editing. Here, we present an alternative type I-C CRISPR system from Desulfovibrio vulgaris (Dvu) for efficient and precise genome editing in mammalian cells and animals. We optimized the Dvu type I-C editing complex to generate precise deletions at multiple loci in various cell lines and pig primary fibroblast cells using a paired PAM-in crRNA strategy. These edited pig cells can serve as donors for generating transgenic cloned piglets. The Dvu type I-C editor also enabled precise large fragment replacements with homology-directed repair. Additionally, we adapted the Dvu-Cascade effector for cytosine and adenine base editing, developing Dvu-CBE and Dvu-ABE systems. These systems efficiently induced C-to-T and A-to-G substitutions in human genes without double-strand breaks. Off-target analysis confirmed the high specificity of the Dvu type I-C editor. Our findings demonstrate the Dvu type I-C editor's potential for diverse mammalian genome editing applications, including deletions, fragment replacement, and base editing, with high efficiency and specificity for biomedicine and agriculture.

Pure large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the ovary with a somatic BRCA1 mutation: The first reported case and the review of the literature.

Pure large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the ovary are extremely rare, so there is a lack of molecular information on this type of cancer. Herein, we presented a pure primary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas of the ovary in a 72-year-old female with a pathogenic somatic mutation at the c.5332+1g>a splice site of the BRCA1 gene and with no TP53 mutation. She was uneventful 32 months after the operation and chemotherapies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a BRCA1 somatic mutation in the ovary large-cell neuroendocrine carcinomas. Testing BRCA1/2 mutations in patients with large ovarian cell neuroendocrine carcinomas might provide an opportunity for their future target treatments. It would expand our understanding.

Mitochondrial DNA disorders in neuromuscular diseases in diverse populations.

Neuromuscular features are common in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disorders. The genetic architecture of mtDNA disorders in diverse populations is poorly understood. We analysed mtDNA variants from whole-exome sequencing data in neuromuscular patients from South Africa, Brazil, India, Turkey and Zambia. In 998 individuals, there were two definite diagnoses, two possible diagnoses and eight secondary findings. Surprisingly, common pathogenic mtDNA variants found in people of European ancestry were very rare. Whole-exome or -genome sequencing from undiagnosed patients with neuromuscular symptoms should be re-analysed for mtDNA variants, but the landscape of pathogenic mtDNA variants differs around the world.

Quantum Interference and Coherent Population Trapping in a Double Quantum Dot.

Quantum interference is a natural consequence of wave-particle duality in quantum mechanics, and is widely observed at the atomic scale. One interesting manifestation of quantum interference is coherent population trapping (CPT), first proposed in three-level driven atomic systems and observed in quantum optical experiments. Here, we demonstrate CPT in a gate-defined semiconductor double quantum dot (DQD), with some unique twists as compared to the atomic systems. Specifically, we observe CPT in both driven and nondriven situations. We further show that CPT in a driven DQD could be used to generate adiabatic state transfer. Moreover, our experiment reveals a nontrivial modulation to the CPT caused by the longitudinal driving field, yielding an odd-even effect and a tunable CPT. Our results broaden the field of CPT, and open up the possibility of quantum simulation and quantum computation based on adiabatic passage in quantum dot systems.

Real-time motion artifact suppression using convolution neural networks with penalty in fNIRS.

Introduction: Removing motion artifacts (MAs) from functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals is crucial in practical applications, but a standard procedure is not available yet. Artificial neural networks have found applications in diverse domains, such as voice and image processing, while their utility in signal processing remains limited. Method: In this work, we introduce an innovative neural network-based approach for online fNIRS signals processing, tailored to individual subjects and requiring minimal prior experimental data. Specifically, this approach employs one-dimensional convolutional neural networks with a penalty network (1DCNNwP), incorporating a moving window and an input data augmentation procedure. In the training process, the neural network is fed with simulated data derived from the balloon model for simulation validation and semi-simulated data for experimental validation, respectively. Results: Visual validation underscores 1DCNNwP's capacity to effectively suppress MAs. Quantitative analysis reveals a remarkable improvement in signal-to-noise ratio by over 11.08 dB, surpassing the existing methods, including the spline-interpolation, wavelet-based, temporal derivative distribution repair with a 1 s moving window, and spline Savitzky-Goaly methods. Contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) analysis further demonstrated 1DCNNwP's ability to restore or enhance CNRs for motionless signals. In the experiments of eight subjects, our method significantly outperformed the other approaches (except offline TDDR, t < -3.82, p < 0.01). With an average signal processing time of 0.53 ms per sample, 1DCNNwP exhibited strong potential for real-time fNIRS data processing. Discussion: This novel univariate approach for fNIRS signal processing presents a promising avenue that requires minimal prior experimental data and adapts seamlessly to varying experimental paradigms.

Complexes Based on Zinc and Cadmium for Visible Light-Driven Hydrogen Production.

Photocatalytic water decomposition using solar energy is one of the most effective hydrogen production technologies. The development of a structurally stable photocatalyst for hydrogen production without cocatalysts and photosensitizers remains a great challenge. In this paper, complex photocatalyst compounds 1 and 2 with different crystal structures were designed and obtained by connecting the 4'-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-4,2':6',4″-terpyridine organic ligands with Zn(Ac)2·2H2O and CdCO3. These products were used for photocatalytic hydrogen production separately, and the hydrogen production rates of compounds 1 and 2 were 0.66 mol·mol-1·h-1 and 0.12 mol·mol-1·h-1, respectively, without the addition of any cocatalysts and photosensitizers, and their charge separation and transfer processes were verified by PL, time-resolved PL, and photocurrent. Compound 1 was tested in 6 cycles over 18 h and showed high stability and reproducibility.

Concurrent chemoradiotherapyof different radiation doses and different irradiation fields for locally advanced thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: A randomized, multicenter, phase III clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the optimal radiotherapy regimen, particularly in terms of total dose and planned range of irradiation field, remains unclear. This phase III clinical trial aimed to compare the survival benefits between different radiation doses and different target fields. METHODS: This trial compared two aspects of radiation treatment, total dose and field, using a two-by-two factorial design. The high-dose (HD) group received 59.4 Gy radiation, and the standard-dose (SD) group received 50.4 Gy. The involved field irradiation (IFI) group and elective nodal irradiation (ENI) group adopted different irradiation ranges. The participants were assigned to one of the four groups (HD+ENI, HD+IFI, SD+ENI and SD+IFI). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS), and the secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS). The synergy indexwas used to measure the interaction effect between dose and field. RESULTS: The interaction analysis did not reveal significant synergistic effects between the dose and irradiation field. In comparison to the target field, patients in IFI or ENI showed similar OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.80-1.23, p = 0.930) and PFS (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.82-1.25). The HD treatment did not show significantly prolonged OS compared with SD (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.72-1.11, p = 0.318), but it suggested improved PFS (25.2 months to 18.0 months). Among the four groups, the HD+IFI group presented the best survival, while the SD+IFI group had the worst prognosis. No significant difference in the occurrence of severe adverse events was found in dose or field comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: IFI demonstrated similar treatment efficacy to ENI in CCRT of ESCC. The HD demonstrated improved PFS, but did not significantly improve OS. The dose escalation based on IFI (HD+IFI) showed better therapeutic efficacy than the current recommendation (SD+ENI) and is worth further validation.

Expression and clinical significance of U2AF homology motif kinase 1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: U2AF homology motif kinase 1 (UHMK1) is a newly discovered molecule that may have multiple functions. Recent studies have revealed that UHMK1 had aberrant expression in many tumors and was associated with tumor progression. However, UHMK1 was rarely reported in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). STUDY DESIGN: In this study, Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of UHMK1 in OSCC and peritumoral non-neoplastic tissues. Then, its relationship with clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model were used to analyze the effects of UHMK1 expression on the prognosis and survival of OSCC patients. RESULTS: Our results showed that UHMK1 had higher expression in OSCC tissues compared with in peritumoral non-neoplastic tissues, and its high expression was associated with high TNM stage and lymph node metastasis. High UHMK1 expression was related to short overall and disease-free survival times. Moreover, UHMK1 expression was identified as an independent prognostic factor that influences overall and disease-free survival of OSCC patients. CONCLUSIONS: High expression of UHMK1 is associated with the poor prognosis of patients, and it can be used as a potential prognostic molecule for OSCC.

Molecular characteristics of organic matter derived from sulfonated biochar.

Sulfonated biochar (SBC), as a functional carbon-based material, has attracted widespread attention due to its excellent adsorption properties. The composition of biochar-derived organic matter (B-DOM) is a key factor influencing the migration and transformation of soil elements and pollutants. However, molecular characteristics of sulfonated biochar-derived organic matter (SBC-DOM) are still unclear. In this study, the molecular composition of derived organic matter (DOM) from SBC prepared via one-step carbonization-sulfonation techniques was investigated by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) and then compared with those of DOMs from rice husk (RH), pyrochar (PYC), and hydrochar (HYC). The results show that the CHOS- and CHONS-containing formulae are predominant in SBC-DOM, accounting for 85% of the total molecular formula number, while DOMs from RH, PYC, and HYC are dominated by CHO-containing formulae. Compared to PYC-DOM and HYC-DOM, SBC-DOM has more unsaturated aliphatic compounds, which make it more labile and easily biodegraded. Additionally, SBC-DOM has higher O/C, (N + O)/C ratios and sulfur-containing compounds. These findings provide a theoretical basis for further research on the application of sulfonated biochar in soil improvement and remediation.

Ulinastatin shortens the length of ICU stay in critical patients with organ failure: A 7-year real-world study.

BACKGROUND: Ulinastatin has been applied in a series of diseases associated with inflammation but its clinical effects remain somewhat elusive. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the potential effects of ulinastatin on organ failure patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective study on organ failure patients from 2013 to 2019. Patients were divided into two groups according to using ulinastatin or not during hospitalization. Propensity score matching was applied to reduce bias. The outcomes of interest were 28-day all-cause mortality, length of ICU stay, and mechanical ventilation duration. RESULTS: Of the 841 patients who fulfilled the entry criteria, 247 received ulinastatin. A propensity-matched cohort of 608 patients was created. No significant differences in 28-day mortality between the two groups. Sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) was identified as the independent risk factor associated with mortality. In the subgroup with SOFA ≤ 10, patients received ulinastatin experienced significantly shorter time in ICU (10.0 d [interquartile range, IQR: 7.0∼20.0] vs 15.0 d [IQR: 7.0∼25.0]; p = .004) and on mechanical ventilation (222 h [IQR:114∼349] vs 251 h [IQR: 123∼499]; P = .01), but the 28-day mortality revealed no obvious difference (10.5% vs 9.4%; p = .74). CONCLUSION: Ulinastatin was beneficial in treating patients in ICU with organ failure, mainly by reducing the length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation.

Normative data and correlation parameters for vessel density measured by 6 × 6-mm optical coherence tomography angiography in a large chinese urban healthy elderly population: date from the Beichen eye study.

BACKGROUND: To establish a normative database for macular vessel density (VD) measured by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and explore the parameters related to the VD. METHODS: An observational study in epidemiology. 5840 healthy elderly participants in Beichen district, Tianjin, China underwent detailed ophthalmic and systemic examinations. OCTA was performed in all subjects using a 6 × 6-mm line scan mode centered on the macula and the built-in software was used to quantify VD and stratify the retina. RESULTS: One thousand four hundred sixty-one healthy elderly citizens (30.4% men) were included, with a median age of 60.0 years (8.0 years) and an age range of 50 to 87 years.VDs in the different plexuses: superficial capillary plexus (SCP) 43.9% (3.2%), deep capillary plexus (DCP) 44.3% (2.8%), outer capillary plexus (OCP) 21.9% (5.9%), choriocapillaris (CC) 52.1% (1.4%). 90% medical reference range of the VDs at different plexuses was reported. Age was correlated with the VDs of each capillary plexus. Sex was correlated with the VDs of DCP and OCP, and the VDs of DCP (p < 0.001) and OCP (p = 0.015) in women were higher than that in men. After age and sex adjustment, choroid average thickness was positively correlated with VDs of SCP (R = 0.067, p = 0.010) and DCP (R = 0.108, p < 0.001), ganglion cell layer (GCL) average thickness (R = 0.072, p = 0.006) was positively correlated with the VD of OCP, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (R = 0.082, p = 0.002) was positively correlated with the VD of CC. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the normative VD database of the Chinese urban healthy elderly population measured by the OCTA was established, and parameters related to the VD of each capillary plexus were analyzed, providing new ideas for the future study of the relationship between macular VD and disease. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Beichen Eye Study had been registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website (registry number: ChiCTR2000032280) on April 25, 2020.

iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics revealing the therapeutic mechanism of a medicinal and edible formula YH0618 in reducing doxorubicin-induced alopecia by targeting keratins and TGF-ß/Smad3 pathway.

YH0618, a medicinal and edible formulation, has demonstrated the potential to alleviate doxorubicin-induced alopecia in animal studies and clinical trials. However, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain unexplored. The objective of this study was to ascertain possible therapeutic targets of YH0618 in the treatment of doxorubicin-induced alopecia. The assessment of hair loss was conducted through the measurement of the proportion of the affected area and the examination of skin histology. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) in quantitative proteomics was employed to discern proteins that exhibited variable expressions. The major proteins associated with doxorubicin-induced alopecia were identified using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. The interaction network of the differentially expressed proteins was constructed using the STRING database and the Python software. The study analyzed a total of 3894 proteins extracted from the skin tissue of mice. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in the upregulation of 18 distinct proteins, whereas one differential protein was found to be downregulated. The above effects were reinstated after the administration of the YH0618 therapy. The bioinformatic study revealed that the identified proteins exhibited enrichment in many biological processes, including staphylococcus aureus infection, estrogen signaling route, pyruvate metabolism, chemical carcinogenesis, and PPAR signaling pathway. The results of Western blot revealed that the levels of keratin 81 (Krt81), keratin 34 (Krt34), keratin 33a (Krt33a), and Sma and MAD-related protein 3 (Smad3) were upregulated in response to doxorubicin treatment, and were attenuated by the administration of YH0618. These four proteins are likely to correlate with DOX-induced alopecia and serve as promising therapeutic targets for YH0618. This work presents significant insights and empirical evidence for comprehending the process underlying chemotherapy-induced alopecia, paving the way for exploring innovative therapeutic or preventive strategies employing herbal items.

Ease-of-retrieval mediates the relations of negative emotional states and passage of time judgments.

Little research has investigated the relations of emotional states and passage of time judgments over a long period and explored the mechanisms underlying the relations. In this research, we conducted three studies (N = 2010 in total) in the three time points throughout a year including the end of 2020, the beginning and middle of 2021. In each study, we measured participants' negative emotional states that arise in daily life (including loneliness, anxiety, and depression), feelings of how easy/hard to recall the things having done in the last year, and yearly passage of time judgments. The results from the three studies consistently showed that individuals' feelings of ease-of-retrieval mediated the relations of negative emotional states and yearly passage of time judgments. The stronger the negative emotional states, the harder people feel to recall the things from the last year, and the faster people perceive time passing last year. This research provides novel insights for understanding the relations of negative emotional states and passage of time judgments, and importantly, individuals' feelings of ease-of-retrieval plays a significant role on explaining the relations.