Examining ecological risks of metals in downstream river sediments: Researching agricultural carbon emission efficiency in environmental regulation perspective.

This research investigates the ecological impacts of heavy metals in downstream river sediments with a focus on carbon emission efficiency in agriculture under the environmental regulation context. In this study, thirty sediment samples have been taken from the downstream region of the Shichuanhe River located in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, China, to analyze the availability of heavy metals. The results show that there are high ecological impacts in relation to the heavy metals and that impacts the carbon emission efficiency in agriculture directly. The analysis has also found the importance of significant environmental regulations in the management of such risks. This research has offered a unique angle on the relationship between heavy metal pollution and agricultural carbon release and has given important information on the improvement of environmental control measures. The implications highlight the need for the implementation of measures to enhance the policies that will help to prevent the ecological threats that are connected with heavy metals in the agricultural areas and, thus, improve the management of the environment.

Vascularized characteristics and functional regeneration of three-dimensional cell reconstruction of oral mucosa equivalents based on vascular homeostasis phenotypic modification.

Our prior research has effectively developed tissue-engineered vascularized oral mucosa equivalents (VOME); however, challenges such as low repeatability and stability, as well as the inability to accurately replicate the complexity of real blood vessels, were encountered. Therefore, this study aimed to screen the VOME and native oral mucosa vascular homeostasis phenotypes by tandem mass tag-tagged proteomics associated with laser capture microdissection and human angiogenesis antibody array technology. Then, lentiviruses were constructed and stably transfected with vascular endothelial-like cells (VELCs) to detect angiogenic capacity. HE, EdU Apollo tracer staining, immunofluorescence staining, scanning electron microscopy, biomechanical testing, and a small animal ultrasound imaging system were used to analyze the characteristics of vascularization homeostasis and monitor functional regeneration of the vascularized homeostatic phenotypic oral mucosal equivalents (VHPOME). The results showed that PGAM1, COL5A1, ANG, and RNH1 are potential specific angiogenesis phenotypes. High expression of PGAM1, COL5A1, and ANG and/or low expression of RNH1 can promote the angiogenesis of VOME. ANG/shRNH1 has the most significant tube-like structure-formation ability. The expression of PGAM1, COL5A1, and ANG in the VHPOME group was higher than that of the control group, and the expression of RNH1 was lower than that of the control group. COL5A1/ANG can significantly improve the mechanical properties. The blood flow signal was most significant in the ANG/shRNH1 group. PGAM1, COL5A1, ANG, shRNH1, PGAM1/ANG, COL5A1/ANG, PGAM1/shRNH1, PGAM1/shRNH1, COL5A1/shRNH1, and ANG/shRNH1 may be the targets for establishing vascularization homeostasis and functional regeneration of oral mucosal equivalent genes (groups), and ANG/shRNH1 has the most significant effect.

Identification and functional characterization of the chitinase and chitinase-like gene family in Myzus persicae (Sulzer) during molting.

BACKGROUND: The crucial role of insect chitinase in molting, pupation, and emergence renders it a promising target for pest control strategies. Despite the extensive investigation of chitinase genes in various pests, there is still a lack of systematic identification and functional analysis related to aphid chitinase. RESULTS: We systematically identified a total of nine chitinase/chitinase-like genes and one ENGase gene, which included eight Cht genes, one IDGF gene, and one ENGase gene. Through phylogenetic analysis, the chitinase proteins were classified into nine distinct groups (I, II, III, V, VI, VIII, X, other, and ENGase). The expression profile revealed that the epidermis exhibited relatively high expression levels for three chitinase genes: MpCht5, MpCht7, and MpCht10. Furthermore, transcriptional levels of nine chitinase genes were up-regulated following treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) hormone. Silencing MpCht3, MpCht5, MpCht7, MpCht10, and MpCht11-2 via RNA interference (RNAi) during the molting stage resulted in nymph shrinking, hindering normal molting and leading to death. Additionally, it was observed that silencing of MpIDGF induced the body color of the aphids to change from reddish brown to colorless after molting, culminating in eventual mortality. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that chitinase/chitinase-like genes play a crucial role in the molting process of Myzus persicae. Utilizing RNAi technology, we aimed to elucidate the precise function of MpCht genes in the molting mechanism of M. persicae, this discovery establishes a significant theoretical foundation for future research on aphid control, with chitinase as the target. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Value of Anti CCP Antibodies and Double Stranded DNA in Rhupus Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: There have been only few reports on Rhupus syndrome with severe visceral involvement. Moreover, there was little consensus regarding its treatment. Belimumab is one of the options for treating this disease. For patients with clinical symptoms and elevated levels of anti CCP antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA antibodies, and it suggests Rhupus syndrome. After effective treatment, the decrease in levels of anti CCP antibodies and anti-double stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibodies can effectively delay the progression of the disease and protect target organs. METHODS: We used a chemiluminescence instrument, (Yahuilong; Shenzhen, China), to measure the changes in CCP and dsDNA before and after treatment. RESULTS: Prior to treatment, the patient presented with symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Her laboratory tests showed dsDNA (214 IU/mL) and CCP level of ˃ 3,000 U/mL. After treatment with belimumab, the clinical symptoms were significantly relieved, and the patient's CCP IgG level decreased to 263.5 U/mL. A blood test found that her anti-dsDNA was negative. CONCLUSIONS: CCP and dsDNA can serve as indicators for the diagnosis and treatment of Rhupus syndrome.

Gender differences in behavioral and emotional problems among school children and adolescents in China: National survey findings from a comparative network perspective.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral and emotional problems are common and often co-occur during childhood and adolescence. The aim of this study was to assess gender differences in the network structures of behavioral and emotional problems of children and adolescents in China based on a national survey. METHODS: The Parent version of Achenbach's Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) was used to assess behavioral and emotional problems. To account for potential confounding factors between boys and girls, propensity score matching was utilized. Network model differences were assessed with a Network Comparison Test (NCT). RESULTS: Data from 60,715 children and adolescents were included for analyses. Boys exhibited more severe total behavioral and emotional problems compared to girls. While several edges showed significant differences between boys and girls, the strongest association was consistently found between "Attention problems" (CBCL6) and "Aggressive behavior"(CBCL8) in both boys and girls, regardless of age. Network centrality was higher among adolescents compared to children. The most central problems commonly found across different genders and age groups were "Aggressive behavior" (CBCL8) (centrality values were 1.142 for boys aged 6-11 years, 1.051 for boys aged 12-16 years, 1.148 for girls aged 6-11 years, and 1.028 for girls aged 12-16 years), "Anxious/depressed" (CBCL1) (centrality values of 0.892 for boys aged between 6 and 11 years, 1.031 for boys aged 12-16 years, 0.951 for girls aged 6-11 years, and 1.099 for girls aged 12-16 years) and "Social problems" (CBCL4) (centrality values of 1.080 for boys aged 6-11 years, 0.978 for boys aged 12-16 years, 1.086 for girls aged between 6 and 11 years, and 0.929 for girls aged 12-16 years). CONCLUSION: Development of interventions that address aggressive behavior, anxiety/depression, and social problems may be beneficial for reducing risk of psychopathology among children and adolescents.

Penicipyrrolizidinones A-C, three pyrrolizidinone alkaloids with unprecedented skeletons from the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium sp. DM27.

Three previously undescribed pyrrolizidinone alkaloids, penicipyrrolizidinones A and B (1 and 2), possessing an unprecedented 2-methyl-2-(oct-6-enoyl)pyrrolizidin-3-one skeleton, and penicipyrrolizidinone C (3), featuring a rare 1-alkenyl-2-methyl-pyrrolizidin-3,7-dione skeleton, together with four known pyrrolidine derivatives (4-7) were isolated from the mangrove-derived fungus Penicillium sp. DM27. Their structures were elucidated through comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, theoretical calculations of ECD spectra, and the modified Mosher's method. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for penicipyrrolizidinones A-C (1-3) was proposed. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against B16-F10 melanoma cells with IC50 values of 10.5 µM and 15.5 µM, respectively.

Variational Monte Carlo Study of the 1/9-Magnetization Plateau in Kagome Antiferromagnets.

Motivated by very recent experimental observations of the 1/9-magnetization plateaus in YCu_{3}(OH)_{6+x}Br_{3-x} and YCu_{3}(OD)_{6+x}Br_{3-x}, our study delves into the magnetic-field-induced phase transitions in the nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice using the variational Monte Carlo technique. We uncover a phase transition from a zero-field Dirac spin liquid to a field-induced magnetically disordered phase that exhibits the 1/9-magnetization plateau. Through a comprehensive analysis encompassing the magnetization distribution, spin correlations, chiral order parameter, topological entanglement entropy, ground-state degeneracy, Chern number, and excitation spectrum, we pinpoint the phase associated with this magnetization plateau as a chiral Z_{3} topological quantum spin liquid and elucidate its diverse physical properties.

Intelligent Carbon Dots with Switchable Photo-Activated Oxidase-Mimicking Activity and pH Responsive Antioxidant Activity Adaptive to the Wound Microenvironment for Selective Antibacterial Therapy.

Intelligent antibacterial agent with controllable activities adaptive to the wound microenvironment is appealing to reduce drug resistance and enhance antibacterial efficiency. In this study, celery is chosen as the carbon source to construct celery-based carbon dots (CECDs) with double activities, i.e., reactive oxygen species (ROS)-production and ROS-clearance activities. The ROS-production capability of CECDs is dependent on the oxidase (OXD)-mimicking activity, which is only photo-activated and thus artificially controlled by light to avoid the production of excess ROS. Meanwhile, the optimal OXD-mimicking activity occurrs at the pH of 5, close to microenvironmental pH at the bacterial infection site, which will enhance the antibacterial efficacy. On the other hand, CECDs exhibit the antioxidant activity at the neutral or weak alkaline pH, which will assist the healing of the wound. Thus, the conversion of ROS-production and ROS-clearance ability of CECDs can be dynamically and intelligently switched automatically with microenvironmental pH at different stages of treatment (from acid to neutral/weak basic). The proposed CECDs exert adorable selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and satisfactory therapeutic effect on bacteria infected mice. This study paves a new avenue to design the intelligent antibacterial nanoagent sensitive to the infected microenvironmental condition, reducing drug resistance and assisting precise medicine.

[Effects of Long-term Biochar Addition on Denitrification N2O Emissions from Bacteria and Fungi in Paddy Soil].

Denitrification driven by bacteria and fungi is the main source of nitrous oxide （N2O） emissions from paddy soil. It is generally believed that biochar reduces N2O emissions by influencing the bacterial denitrification process, but the relevant mechanism of its impact on fungal denitrification is still unclear. In this study, the long-term straw carbonization returning experimental field in Changshu Agricultural Ecological Experimental Base of the Chinese Academy of Sciences was taken as the object. Through indoor anaerobic culture and molecular biology technology, the relative contributions of bacteria and fungi to denitrifying N2O production in paddy soil and the related microorganism mechanism were studied under different long-term biochar application amounts （blank, 2.25 t·hm-2, and 22.5 t·hm-2, respectively, expressed by BC0, BC1, and BC10）. The results showed that compared with that in BC0, biochar treatment significantly reduced N2O emission rate, denitrification potential, and cumulative N2O emissions, and the contribution of bacterial denitrification was greater than that of fungal denitrification in all three treatments. Among them, the relative contribution rate of bacterial denitrification in BC10 （62.9%） was significantly increased compared to BC0 （50.8%）, whereas the relative contribution rate of fungal denitrification in BC10 （37.1%） was significantly lower than that in BC0 （49.2%）. The application of biochar significantly increased the abundance of bacterial denitrification functional genes （nirK, nirS, and nosZ） but reduced the abundance of fungal nirK genes. The contribution rate of fungal denitrification was significantly positively correlated with the N2O emission rate and negatively correlated with soil pH, TN, SOM, and DOC. Biochar may have inhibited the growth of denitrifying fungi by increasing pH and carbon and nitrogen content, reducing the abundance of related functional genes, thereby weakening the reduction ability of NO to N2O during fungal denitrification process. This significantly reduces the contribution rate of N2O production during the fungal denitrification process and the denitrification N2O emissions from paddy soil. This study helps to broaden our understanding of the denitrification process in paddy soil and provides a theoretical basis for further regulating fungal denitrification N2O emissions.

Belzutifan versus Everolimus for Advanced Renal-Cell Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Belzutifan, a hypoxia-inducible factor 2α inhibitor, showed clinical activity in clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma in early-phase studies. METHODS: In a phase 3, multicenter, open-label, active-controlled trial, we enrolled participants with advanced clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma who had previously received immune checkpoint and antiangiogenic therapies and randomly assigned them, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive 120 mg of belzutifan or 10 mg of everolimus orally once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxic effects occurred. The dual primary end points were progression-free survival and overall survival. The key secondary end point was the occurrence of an objective response (a confirmed complete or partial response). RESULTS: A total of 374 participants were assigned to belzutifan, and 372 to everolimus. At the first interim analysis (median follow-up, 18.4 months), the median progression-free survival was 5.6 months in both groups; at 18 months, 24.0% of the participants in the belzutifan group and 8.3% in the everolimus group were alive and free of progression (two-sided P = 0.002, which met the prespecified significance criterion). A confirmed objective response occurred in 21.9% of the participants (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.8 to 26.5) in the belzutifan group and in 3.5% (95% CI, 1.9 to 5.9) in the everolimus group (P<0.001, which met the prespecified significance criterion). At the second interim analysis (median follow-up, 25.7 months), the median overall survival was 21.4 months in the belzutifan group and 18.1 months in the everolimus group; at 18 months, 55.2% and 50.6% of the participants, respectively, were alive (hazard ratio for death, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.07; two-sided P = 0.20, which did not meet the prespecified significance criterion). Grade 3 or higher adverse events of any cause occurred in 61.8% of the participants in the belzutifan group (grade 5 in 3.5%) and in 62.5% in the everolimus group (grade 5 in 5.3%). Adverse events led to discontinuation of treatment in 5.9% and 14.7% of the participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Belzutifan showed a significant benefit over everolimus with respect to progression-free survival and objective response in participants with advanced clear-cell renal-cell carcinoma who had previously received immune checkpoint and antiangiogenic therapies. Belzutifan was associated with no new safety signals. (Funded by Merck Sharp and Dohme, a subsidiary of Merck; LITESPARK-005 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04195750.).

Gender differences in the relationship between nicotine exposure and symptoms of depression.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco-derived nicotine exposure is linked to depression. However, the associations of nicotine and its metabolites with symptoms of depression, particularly concerning gender differences, remain underexplored. METHODS: The characteristics and total nicotine equivalents (TNE) of 1001 subjects were determined. The association between the TNE and symptoms of depression, accounting for gender differences, was investigated using generalized linear models and subgroup analyses. RESULTS: Men exhibited significantly greater levels of the nicotine exposure indicators TNE2, TNE3, TNE6, and TNE7 (P < 0.005). A significantly greater percentage of women (23.45 %) than men (9.81 %) exhibited symptoms of depression (P < 0.0001). In women, the relationship between the TNE and depression was reflected by a U-shaped curve with significant inflection points, particularly for TNE3, TNE6, and TNE7. Furthermore, in women, concentrations above 48.98 nmol/mL for TNE3, 53.70 nmol/mL for TNE6, and 57.54 nmol/mL for TNE7 were associated with 154 %, 145 %, and 138 % increases in the risk of depression, respectively. In contrast, these associations did not reach significance among men. LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional design limits the ability to infer causality between nicotine exposure and depressive symptoms. Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Gender could be a significant factor influencing the relationship between nicotine exposure levels and symptoms of depression. The impact of nicotine exposure on symptoms of depression should be particularly considered among women. IMPLICATIONS: This study revealed the complex relationship between tobacco-related nicotine exposure and depressive symptoms, with a particular focus on gender differences. Our results revealed a distinct U-shaped correlation between total nicotine equivalents and depression in women, which differed from that in men. These findings emphasize the importance of tailoring clinical approaches to address nicotine exposure and manage depressive symptoms based on gender.

Unveiling the toxicological effects and risks of prometryn on red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii): Health assessments, ecological, and molecular insights.

Prometryn is commonly used in agricultural and non-agricultural settings. However, possible harm to aquatic organisms remains a persistent concern. Prometryn was also the only one of the 26 triazine herbicides detected in this study. Numerous studies have assessed the harmful effects of prometryn in teleost fish and shrimp. There is a lack of information regarding the ecological and human health risks, as well as the toxic mechanisms affecting crayfish. In this study, human health risk assessment (THQ) and ecological risk assessment (RQ) were conducted on P. clarkii in the rice-crayfish co-culture (IRCC) farming model. The 96 h of exposure to 0.286 mg/L and 1.43 mg/L prometryn was conducted to investigate the potential effects and molecular mechanisms of hepatopancreatic resistance to prometryn in P. clarkii. The original sample analysis revealed that the THQ calculated from the prometryn levels in the muscle and hepatopancreas was below 0.1, suggesting no threat to human health. However, the calculated RQ values were >0.1, indicating a risk to P. clarkii. Histological analysis and biochemical index detection of the experimental samples revealed that the hepatopancreatic injury and oxidative damage in P. clarkii were caused by prometryn. Moreover, transcriptome analysis identified 2512 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after 96 h of prometryn exposure. Prometryn exposure caused significant changes in metabolic pathways, including oxoacid metabolic processes and cytochrome P450-associated drug metabolism. Further hub gene analysis via PPI indicated that exposure to prometryn may inhibit lipid synthesis, storage, and amino acid transport and affect glucose metabolic pathways and hormone synthesis. Additionally, we hypothesized that prometryn-triggered cell death could be linked to the PI3K-Akt signaling cascade. This study's findings have significant meaning for the efficient and logical application of herbicides in IRCC, ultimately aiding in advancing a highly productive agricultural system.

Endovascular Treatment With or Without Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke Due to Tandem Occlusion: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular treatment (EVT) has been demonstrated to be effective for patients with tandem occlusion. The efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis before EVT in patients with tandem occlusion remain debatable. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis with PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from inception to September 2023. The primary outcome was functional independence, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 2 at 90 days. The secondary outcomes included the successful recanalization rate, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, and mortality at 90 days. In total, 9 studies with 1838 enrolled participants were identified. Our results showed that, compared with treatment with EVT alone, intravenous thrombolysis before EVT was associated with a greater proportion of functional independence at 90 days (odds ratio [OR], 1.39 [95% CI, 1.14-1.69]; P=0.001), a greater rate of successful recanalization (OR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.11-1.89]; P=0.007) and decreased mortality (OR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.50-0.93]; P=0.02). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage between the intravenous thrombolysis plus EVT group and the EVT alone group (OR, 1.16 [95% CI, 0.79-1.70]; P=0.45). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute ischemic stroke and tandem occlusion, intravenous thrombolysis before EVT was associated with a greater rate of favorable functional outcomes and successful recanalization and a lower mortality rate without an increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage compared with patients receiving EVT alone.

[Analysis of phthalate esters from vegetable oils by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with headspace solid-phase microextraction using cyclodextrin-based hypercrosslinked polymer coated fiber].

Phthalate esters (PAEs) are used as additives to enhance the pliability and malleability of plastics. These substances frequently migrate from packaging materials to vegetable oils because of the absence of covalent bonds. Over time, this migration could result in the accumulation of PAEs in the human body through ingestion, contributing to various diseases. Therefore, accurate qualitative and quantitative analyses of PAEs in vegetable oils are imperative to assess the origins of contamination and investigate their toxicity, degradation, migration, and transformation patterns. However, the concentration of PAEs in most samples is low, and the composition of vegetable oils is complex. Thus, PAEs must be enriched and purified using appropriate sample pretreatment procedures before analysis. Common methods for pretreating PAEs in oil include solid-phase extraction (SPE), dispersive SPE, and magnetic SPE. These techniques require time-consuming and labor-intensive procedures such as oil dissolution, solvent extraction, and degreasing. These approaches also require numerous solvents and containers, increasing the risk of sample cross-contamination. Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) integrates sampling, extraction, purification, concentration, and injection into a single process, significantly accelerating analytical testing and reducing the potential for sample cross-contamination. In headspace (HS) mode, the analytes achieve equilibrium on the coating and are extracted in the gas phase. The fibers are shielded from nonvolatile and high-relative molecular mass substances in the sample matrix. Thus, SPME is an ideal method for extracting volatile compounds in vegetable oils. When HS-SPME coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), it can achieve the rapid screening of PAEs in vegetable oil. In this study, an SPME with cyclodextrin-based hypercrosslinked polymers (BnCD-HCP) coated on stainless steel fibers was employed to extract PAEs from vegetable oil. The structure and morphology of the polymers were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. BnCD-HCP exhibited high stability and diverse interactions, including π-π, hydrophobic, and host-guest interactions. The oil samples were incubated with methanol, and the PAEs were extracted from the headspace using the probe. The optimal extraction parameters included an extraction time of 20 min, extraction temperature of 50 ℃, desorption time of 4 min, and desorption temperature of 275 ℃. The BnCD-HCP/HS-SPME method was evaluated under optimized experimental conditions. The limits of detection (LODs) and quantification (LOQs) were determined by applying signal-to-noise ratios (S/N) of 3 and 10, respectively. Method accuracy was evaluated using relative standard deviations (RSDs). Single-needle precision was evaluated by conducting three consecutive analyses at 3 h intervals within a day. Inter-needle precision was assessed by conducting the same analyses (three replicates) with differently coated fibers. The 12 PAE compounds exhibited good linearity with correlation coefficients (R2) of at least 0.99. The LODs and LOQs ranged from 0.21 to 3.74 µg/kg and from 0.69 to 12.34 µg/kg, respectively. The RSDs were in the range of 1.8%-11.4% and 5.1%-13.9% for the single-needle and needle-to-needle methods, respectively. The proposed method was applied to soybean, peanut, and sunflower oils, and two PAEs were found in all three oils. Moreover, the method demonstrated good precision (RSD=1.17%-11.73%) and recoveries (72.49%-124.43%). Compared with other methods, the developed method was able to extract many target analytes and had a low or comparable LOD and high recovery. More importantly, this method does not require tedious operations such as solvent extraction and purification. Consequently, the developed method can be used to extract not only PAEs in oils but also other substances with a high lipid content.

Incorporation of Chest Computed Tomography Quantification to Predict Outcomes for Patients on Hemodialysis with COVID-19.

Introduction: Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis are vulnerable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), exhibiting a high risk of hospitalization and mortality. Thus, early identification and intervention are important to prevent disease progression in these patients. Methods: This was a two-center retrospective observational study of patients on hemodialysis diagnosed with COVID-19 at the Lingang and Xuhui campuses of Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital. Patients were randomized into the training (130) and validation cohorts (54), while 59 additional patients served as an independent external validation cohort. Artificial intelligence-based parameters of chest computed tomography (CT) were quantified, and a nomogram for patient outcomes at 14 and 28 days was created by screening quantitative CT measures, clinical data, and laboratory examination items, using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Results: The median dialysis duration was 48 (interquartile range, 24-96) months. Age, diabetes mellitus, serum phosphorus level, lymphocyte count, and chest CT score were identified as independent prognostic indicators and included in the nomogram. The concordance index values were 0.865, 0.914, and 0.885 in the training, internal validation, and external validation cohorts, respectively. Calibration plots showed good agreement between the expected and actual outcomes. Conclusion: This is the first study in which a reliable nomogram was developed to predict short-term outcomes and survival probabilities in patients with COVID-19 on hemodialysis. This model may be helpful to clinicians in treating COVID-19, managing serum phosphorus, and adjusting the dialysis strategies for these vulnerable patients to prevent disease progression in the context of COVID-19 and continuous emergence of novel viruses.

Allopolyploidization from two dioecious ancestors leads to recurrent evolution of sex chromosomes.

Polyploidization presents an unusual challenge for species with sex chromosomes, as it can lead to complex combinations of sex chromosomes that disrupt reproductive development. This is particularly true for allopolyploidization between species with different sex chromosome systems. Here, we assemble haplotype-resolved chromosome-level genomes of a female allotetraploid weeping willow (Salix babylonica) and a male diploid S. dunnii. We show that weeping willow arose from crosses between a female ancestor from the Salix-clade, which has XY sex chromosomes on chromosome 7, and a male ancestor from the Vetrix-clade, which has ancestral XY sex chromosomes on chromosome 15. We find that weeping willow has one pair of sex chromosomes, ZW on chromosome 15, that derived from the ancestral XY sex chromosomes in the male ancestor of the Vetrix-clade. Moreover, the ancestral 7X chromosomes from the female ancestor of the Salix-clade have reverted to autosomal inheritance. Duplicated intact ARR17-like genes on the four homologous chromosomes 19 likely have contributed to the maintenance of dioecy during polyploidization and sex chromosome turnover. Taken together, our results suggest the rapid evolution and reversion of sex chromosomes following allopolyploidization in weeping willow.

Decision fatigue experience of front-line nurses in the context of public health emergency: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

BACKGROUND: Decision fatigue is a new concept in the field of psychology and refers to a state of fatigue alongside impaired cognitive processing and emotional regulation ability. Previous studies have confirmed that nurses are prone to decision fatigue, and nurses who experience decision fatigue may implement nursing measures that are inconsistent with clinical evidence, thus affecting patients' benefits. COVID-19, as a large-scale global public health emergency, increased the workload and burden of nurses and aggravated decision fatigue. However, the factors leading to decision fatigue among nurses have not yet been identified. METHODS: This study is guided by interpretative phenomenology. During the epidemic period of COVID-19: From November 2022 to February 2023, a one-to-one, semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted among nurses with decision fatigue experience who were participating in front-line work in Jilin Province using homogenous sampling. The interview recordings and related data were transcribed into text within 24 h, and data analysis was assisted by NVivo 12.0 software. RESULTS: After a total of 14 front-line nurses were analyzed in this study, The thematic level reaches saturation, the findings present a persuasive and coherent narrative, and the study is terminated, and finally extracted and formed three core themes: "Cognition, influence and attitude of decision fatigue", "Approaching factors of decision fatigue" and "Avoidant factors of decision fatigue". CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that decision fatigue was widespread in the work of front-line nurses, affecting the physical and psychological health of nurses, the quality of nursing work, the degree of benefit of patients and the clinical outcome. However, nursing staff do not know enough about decision fatigue, so the popularization and research of decision fatigue should be strengthened. Improve the attention of medical institutions, nursing managers and nursing staff.Some suggestions are put forward for the intervention of decision fatigue through personnel, task, tool and technology, organization and environment.

Effect of Replacing Alfalfa Hay with Common Vetch Hay in Sheep Diets on Growth Performance, Rumen Fermentation and Rumen Microbiota.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the inclusion of 40% of common vetch (CV) hay as a feed ingredient in place of alfalfa hay (AH) would improve performance and ruminal fermentation and microbiota in fattening lambs. Twenty lambs were equally divided into two groups: control group (fed 40% AH with 20% rice straw) and CV group (fed 40% CV hay with 20% rice straw). Concerning hay quality, CV hay had greater in vitro digestibility of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber (p < 0.05) than AH. Lambs fed the CV diet had a higher average daily gain (ADG) and efficiency of feed and economy than lambs fed the control group. The NH3-N content and estimated methane produced per unit of ADG of the CV diet group were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than control group. Multiple differential microbial genera were identified, with Prevotella being the most dominant genus and a tendency towards higher (p = 0.095) in lambs offered CV diet. The higher Ruminococcus abundance (p < 0.05) was found in animals of the CV group compared to the control group. In summary, CV can be incorporated into lamb diets as a low-cost forage alternative to AH to improve feed efficiency and animal performance and to reduce methane produced per unit of ADG.

Plant-based diet indices and their interaction with ambient air pollution on the ovarian cancer survival: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution might serve as a prognostic factor for ovarian cancer (OC) survival, yet the relationships between plant-based diet indices (PDIs) and OC survival remain unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of comprehensive air pollution and PDIs with OC survival and explored the effects of air pollution-diet interactions. METHODS: The present study encompassed 658 patients diagnosed with OC. The overall plant-based diet index (PDI), the healthful PDI (hPDI), and the unhealthful PDI (uPDI) were evaluated by a self-reported validated food frequency questionnaire. In addition, an air pollution score (APS) was formulated by summing the concentrations of particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. Cox proportional hazard models were applied to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). The potential interactions of APS with PDIs in relation to overall survival (OS) were assessed on both multiplicative and additive scales. RESULTS: Throughout a median follow-up of 37.60 (interquartile: 24.77-50.70) months, 123 deaths were confirmed. Comparing to the lowest tertiles, highest uPDI was associated with lower OS of OC (HR = 2.06, 95 % CI = 1.30, 3.28; P-trend < 0.01), whereas no significant associations were found between either overall PDI or hPDI and OC survival. Higher APS (HR for per interquartile range = 1.27, 95 % CI = 1.01, 1.60) was significantly associated with worse OC survival, and the association was exacerbated by adherence to uPDI. Notably, an additive interaction was identified between combined air pollution and uPDI (P < 0.005 for high APS and high uPDI). We also found that adherence to overall PDI aggravated associations of air pollution with OC survival (P-interaction = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Joint exposure to various ambient air pollutants was significantly associated with lower survival among patients with OC, particularly for those who predominantly consumed unhealthy plant-based foods.