Neuropathology and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease via bidirectional lung-brain axis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of age-related dementia worldwide. Although the neuropathology of AD is clear, its pathogenesis remains unclear. Recently, conceptualising AD as brain-centred has reoriented many scientists because the close functional relationship between the peripheral and central nerves is increasingly recognised. Recently, various studies have focused on the crosstalk between peripherals and centrals. A new hotspot of research and new therapeutic strategies have emerged from this great progress. This mini-review is an overview of the potential molecular mechanism in AD via the bidirectional lung-brain axis, providing a new perspective for the systemic understanding of AD onset.

Structure-activity relationships and activity enhancement techniques of marine bioactive peptides (MBPs).

Marine bioactive peptides (MBPs) are a type of natural compound with a variety of bioactivities, such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive. Due to a wide range of sources, low toxicity, and high specificity, MBPs have now received extensive attention in the fields of food, medicine, and cosmetics. The structure of MBPs determines their biological activities. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the relationship between the structure and bioactivity of MBPs. Because of the advantages of mild conditions, high specificity, safety, and environmental friendliness, enzymatic hydrolysis has become the most commonly used method to produce MBPs. However, the high cost and low yield of enzymatic methods have motivated researchers to search for alternative technologies. Novel pretreatments like ultrasound, microwave, high hydrostatic pressure, and pulsed electric fields have been employed in the production of MBPs. By inducing protein unfolding and increasing enzymatic cleavage sites, these techniques have been demonstrated to accelerate protein hydrolysis and enhance the biological activity of MBPs. This article reviews recent research advances on marine-derived protein hydrolysates and peptides, discusses the relationship between their biological activity and structure, and compares the mechanisms of action of different novel technologies used to promote protein hydrolysis and enhance the biological activity of MBPs. In addition, the current challenges facing the development and application of MBPs are outlined and possible future work in tackling these challenges is also suggested in the current review. It is hoped that this review can promote further development and application of marine active substances.

Night Shift Work Associates with All-Cause and Cause-Specific Mortality: A Large Prospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Health problems associated with shift work and night shift work are gaining increasing public attention. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between night shift work and the hazard of mortality. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 283,579 individuals with paid employment or self-employment aged 37-73 years were included from the UK Biobank with a median follow-up period of 14.0 years. MAIN MEASURES: Participants were divided into day workers and shift workers, including the frequency of night shifts, to evaluate the association between baseline work schedules and all-cause and cause-specific mortality using the Cox proportional hazards model. Additionally, 75,760 participants with work histories were assessed for the association between average frequency and cumulative years of exposure to night shift work and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. KEY RESULTS: Compared with that of day workers, the adjusted hazard of all-cause mortality was increased by 12.0% (hazard ratio [HR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07-1.18) in shift workers, particularly in those with no or rare night shifts (approximately 16.1%; HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25) and those with irregular night shifts (approximately 9.2%; HR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00-1.19). Moreover, a non-linear relationship was identified between cumulative night shift years and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Only individuals who worked night shifts for 20-30 years exhibited a substantially increased hazard of all-cause (HR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.15-2.00) and cardiovascular disease (CVD; HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.16-3.71) mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Shift workers, particularly those with rare or irregular night shifts, exhibited an increased hazard of mortality. Additionally, participants who worked night shifts for 20-30 years exhibited a substantially increased hazard of all-cause and CVD mortality.

Replacement of sedentary behavior with various physical activities and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

BACKGROUND: Sedentary behavior (SB) has emerged as a significant health concern that deserves attention. This study aimed to examine the associations between prolonged sedentary behavior and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality as well as to explore desirable alternatives to sitting in terms of physical activity (PA). METHODS: Two prospective cohort investigations were conducted using the UK Biobank and NHANES datasets, with a total of 490,659 and 33,534 participants, respectively. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the associations between SB and the risk of all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory diseases, and digestive diseases. In addition, we employed isotemporal substitution models to examine the protective effect of replacing sitting with various forms of PA. RESULTS: During the average follow-up times of 13.5 and 6.7 years, 36,109 and 3057 deaths were documented in the UK Biobank and NHANES, respectively. Both cohorts demonstrated that, compared with individuals sitting less than 5 h per day, individuals with longer periods of sitting had higher risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality due to cancer, CVD, and respiratory diseases but not digestive diseases. Moreover, replacing SB per day with PA, even substituting 30 min of walking for pleasure, reduced the risk of all-cause mortality by 3.5% (hazard ratio [HR] 0.965, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.954-0.977), whereas cause-specific mortality from cancer, CVD, and respiratory diseases was reduced by 1.6% (HR 0.984, 95% CI 0.968-1.000), 4.4% (HR 0.956, 95% CI 0.930-0.982), and 15.5% (HR 0.845, 95% CI 0.795-0.899), respectively. Furthermore, the protective effects of substitution became more pronounced as the intensity of exercise increased or the alternative duration was extended to 1 h. CONCLUSIONS: SB was significantly correlated with substantially increased risks of all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality from cancer, CVD, and respiratory diseases. However, substituting sitting with various forms of PA, even for short periods involving relatively light and relaxing physical activity, effectively reduced the risk of both overall and cause-specific mortality.

Solvent-mediated oxide hydrogenation in layered cathodes.

Self-discharge and chemically induced mechanical effects degrade calendar and cycle life in intercalation-based electrochromic and electrochemical energy storage devices. In rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, self-discharge in cathodes causes voltage and capacity loss over time. The prevailing self-discharge model centers on the diffusion of lithium ions from the electrolyte into the cathode. We demonstrate an alternative pathway, where hydrogenation of layered transition metal oxide cathodes induces self-discharge through hydrogen transfer from carbonate solvents to delithiated oxides. In self-discharged cathodes, we further observe opposing proton and lithium ion concentration gradients, which contribute to chemical and structural heterogeneities within delithiated cathodes, accelerating degradation. Hydrogenation occurring in delithiated cathodes may affect the chemo-mechanical coupling of layered cathodes as well as the calendar life of lithium-ion batteries.

Sophorae tonkinensis radix et rhizoma: A comprehensive review of the ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and detoxification strategy.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sophorae tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma (STR), the dried root and rhizome of Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep., is commonly used in the treatment of tonsillitis and pharyngitis, throat soreness and throat obstruction, swelling and aching of gum, etc. in China or other Asian countries. STR is usually used as the core herb in traditional Chinese medicine preparations, such as "Biyanling Tablets", "Fufang Muji Granules" and "Ganyanling Injections", etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of STR in terms of botany, traditional use, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicology and detoxification strategy, to provide a rational application in future research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The information involved in the study was gathered from a variety of electronic resources, including China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), SciFinder, Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Chinese Masters and Doctoral Dissertations. RESULTS: Till now, a total of 333 chemical components have been identified in STR, including 85 alkaloids, 124 flavonoids, 24 triterpenes, 27 triterpene saponins, 34 organic acids, 8 polysaccharides, etc. STR and its main active constituents have cardiovascular protection, anti-tumor activity, anti-inflammatory activity, antipyretic activity, analgesic activity, antibacterial activity, antifungal activity, antiviral activity, and hepatoprotective activity, etc. However, toxic effects of STR on the liver, nerves, heart, and gastrointestinal tract have also been observed. To mitigate these risks, STR needs attenuation before use, with the most common detoxification methods being processing and combined use with other drugs. The pharmacokinetics of STR in vivo and traditional and clinical prescriptions containing STR have been sorted out. Despite the potential therapeutic benefits of STR, further research is warranted to elucidate its hepatotoxicity, particularly in vivo, exploring aspects such as in vivo metabolism, distribution, and mechanisms. CONCLUSION: This review serves to emphasize the therapeutic potential of STR and highlights the crucial need to address its toxicity concerns before considering clinical application. Further research is required to comprehensively investigate the toxicological properties of STR, with particular emphasis on its hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Such research endeavors have the potential to standardize the rational application of STR for optimal therapeutic outcomes.

Catalyst-free regeneration of plasma-activated water via ultrasonic cavitation: Removing aggregation concealment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria with enhanced wastewater sustainability.

Aggregation is a crucial factor in bacterial biofilm formation, and comprehending its properties is vital for managing waterborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In this study, we examined Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) cell aggregation under varying conditions and assessed the inactivation efficiency of a novel disinfection method, micro-nano bubbles plasma-activated water via ultrasonic stirring cavitation (MPAW-US), on aggregated MRSA cells. Aggregation efficiency increased over time and at low salt concentrations but diminished at higher concentrations. Elevated MRSA cell aggregation in actual water samples represented significant real-life biohazard risks. Unlike conventional disinfection, MPAW-US treatment exhibited minimal change in the inactivation rate constant despite protective outer layers. Enhanced inactivation efficiency results from the synergistic effects of increased intracellular oxidative stress damage and extracellular substance disruption, triggered by ultrasound-activated micro-nano bubbles that improve PAW reactivity and applicability. This approach neither induced MRSA cross-resistance to unfavorable conditions nor increased toxicity or regrowth potential of aggregative MRSA, utilizing ATP levels as potential regrowth capability indicators. Ultimately, this energy-efficient disinfection technology functions effectively across diverse temperature ranges, showcasing exceptional sterilization and nutritional bean sprout production after cyclic filtering, thereby promoting wastewater sustainability amidst carbon emission concerns.

ADP-Based Decentralized Load Frequency Control Schemes to Multiarea Asynchronous Markov Jumping Power Systems With Experience Replay.

This article investigates the problem of robust decentralized load frequency control (LFC) in multiarea interconnection power systems, in the presence of the external disturbances and stochastic abrupt variations, such as component failures and different load demands. To capture the different operating conditions of the load in the multiarea power systems, a Markov superposition technique is skillfully employed to model the system's component matrices. To solve the Nash equilibrium solution of the zero-sum differential game problem, an improved online adaptive dynamic programming (ADP) algorithm based on the experience replay technique (ERT) is developed, which addresses the nonlinear coupling difficulties encountered in solving the game algebraic Riccati equations (Game AREs). The proposed algorithm weakens the condition that traditional policy iteration online solutions of zero-sum games require an initial stabilizing control policy pair, and considers the fact that only the transition probability matrix is known, while the prior knowledge of the dynamics is completely unknown. The algorithm is used to obtain both a minimum LFC and maximum disturbance policy for a given disturbance rejection level. Additionally, a safer LFC controller of the power systems with the Markov jumping parameters is designed. The stability and convergence of the proposed algorithm are demonstrated. Finally, the effectiveness and good performance of the proposed design method are validated using a two-area four-mode simulation example.

Accuracy of cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA testing in pleural effusion for diagnosing tuberculous pleurisy: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy (TP) presents a significant challenge due to the low bacterial load in pleural effusion (PE) samples. Cell-free Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA (cf-TB) in PE samples is considered an optimal biomarker for diagnosing TP. This study aimed to evaluate the applicability of cf-TB testing across diverse research sites with a relatively large sample size. METHODS: Patients suspected of TP and presenting with clinical symptoms and radiological evidence of PE were consecutively enrolled by treating physicians from 11 research sites across 6 provinces in China between April 2020 and August 2022. Following centrifugation, sediments obtained from PE were used for Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and mycobacterial culture, while the supernatants were subjected to cf-TB testing. This study employed a composite reference standard to definite TP, which was characterized by any positive result for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) through either PE culture, PE Xpert, or pleural biopsy. RESULTS: A total of 1412 participants underwent screening, and 1344 (95.2%) were subsequently enrolled in this study. Data from 1241 (92.3%) participants were included, comprising 284 with definite TP, 677 with clinically diagnosed TP, and 280 without TP. The sensitivity of cf-TB testing in definite TP was 73.6% (95% CI 68.2-78.4), significantly higher than both Xpert (40.8%, 95% CI 35.3-46.7, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (54.2%, 95% CI 48.4-59.9, P < 0.001). When clinically diagnosed TP was incorporated into the composite reference standard for sensitivity analysis, cf-TB testing showed a sensitivity of 46.8% (450/961, 95% CI 43.7-50.0), significantly higher than both Xpert (116/961, 12.1%, 95% CI 10.2-14.3, P < 0.001) and mycobacterial culture (154/961, 16.0%, 95% CI 13.8-18.5, P < 0.001). The specificities of cf-TB testing, Xpert, and mycobacterial culture were all 100.0%. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of cf-TB testing is significantly superior to that of Xpert and mycobacterial culture methods, indicating that it can be considered as the primary diagnostic approach for improving TP detection. Trial registration The trial was registered on Chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2000031680, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=49316 ).

A fluorescent Aptasensor based on magnetic-separation strategy with gold nanoclusters for Deoxynivalenol (DON) detection.

A highly sensitive method based on MBs-cDNA@Apt-AuNCs519 was developed for deoxynivalenol (DON) detection in wheat. The MBs-cDNA@Apt-AuNCs519 was established using green emission gold nanoclusters (AuNCs519) with aggregation-induced emission properties as signal probes and combining amino-modified DON-aptamer (Apt), biotin-modified DNA strand (the partially complementary to Apt (cDNA)), and streptavidin-modified magnetic beads (MBs). The Apt-AuNCs519 were well connected with MBs-cDNA without DON but dissociated from MBs-cDNA@Apt-AuNCs519 with the addition of DON, leading to a noticeable reduction in the fluorescent intensity of the aptasensor. Moreover, this fluorescence aptasensor showed two linear relationships in the concentration range of 0.1-50 ng/mL and 50-5000 ng/mL with a limit of detection of 3.73 pg/mL with good stability, reproducibility and specificity. The results were consistent with high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods, further indicating the potential of this method for accurate trace detection of DON in wheat.

High sensitive Ratiometric fluorescent Aptasensor with AIE properties for Deoxynivalenol (DON) detection.

An emerging fluorescent ratiometric aptasensor based on gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties was prepared and studied for deoxynivalenol (DON) detection. The ratiometric aptasensor used red fluorescent AuNCs620 labelled with DON aptamer (Apt-AuNCs620) as an indicator and green fluorescent AuNCs519 modified by complementary DNA (cDNA) and magnetic beads (MBs) as internal reference, namely MBs-cDNA-AuNCs519. Under the optimal conditions, the aptasensor exhibited two good linear ranges of 0.1-50 and 50-5000 pg/mL for DON detection with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.9937 and 0.9928, respectively, and the low detection limit (LOD) of 4.09 pg/mL was achieved. Furthermore, this aptasensor was feasible to detect DON in positive wheat samples, and the results were in line with those from HPLC and ELISA, thus providing a promising route to detect DON with high sensitivity in cereals, even for other mycotoxins by replacing the suitable aptamer and cDNA.

Hinokiflavone exerts dual regulation on apoptosis and pyroptosis via the SIX4/Stat3/Akt pathway to alleviate APAP-induced liver injury.

Hinokiflavone (HF), classified as a flavonoid, is a main bioactive compound in Platycladus orientalis and Selaginella. HF exhibits activities including anti-HIV, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant and anti-tumor effects. The study aimed to explore the function and the mechanisms of HF on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute liver injury. Results indicated that HF treatment mitigated the impact of APAP on viability and restored levels of MDA, GSH and SOD on HepG2 cells. The accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HepG2 cells stimulated by APAP were also blocked by HF. HF reduced the levels of pro-apoptotic and pro-pyroptotic proteins. Flow cytometry analysis and fluorescence staining results were consistent with western blot analysis. Following HF treatment in the APAP-induced cell model, there was observed an augmentation in the phosphorylation of Stat3 and an increase in the expression of SIX4. However, not only silenced the SIX4 protein in HepG2 cells by siRNA, but also adding the Stat3 inhibitor (Stattic), attenuated the anti-apoptotic and anti-pyroptotic effects of HF significantly. Furthermore, HF alleviated liver damage in C57BL/6 mice model. Overall, our study demonstrated that HF mitigates apoptosis and pyroptosis induced by APAP in drug-induced liver injury (DILI) through the SIX4/Akt/Stat3 pathway in vivo and in vitro. HF may have promising potential for for the treatment of DILI.

Berberine Inhibits Ferroptosis and Stabilizes Atherosclerotic Plaque through NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 Pathway.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential mechanisms of anti-atherosclerosis by berberine (BBR) using ApoE-/- mice. METHODS: Eight 8-week-old C57BL/6J mice were used as a blank control group (normal), and 56 8-week-old AopE-/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 12 weeks, according to a completely random method, and were divided into the model group, BBR low-dose group (50 mg/kg, BBRL), BBR medium-dose group (100 mg/kg, BBRM), BBR high-dose group (150 mg/kg, BBRH), BBR+nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) inhibitor group (100 mg/kg BBR+30 mg/kg ML385, BBRM+ML385), NRF2 inhibitor group (30 mg/kg, ML385), and positive control group (2.5 mg/kg, atorvastatin), 8 in each group. After 4 weeks of intragastric administration, samples were collected and serum, aorta, heart and liver tissues were isolated. Biochemical kits were used to detect serum lipid content and the expression levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in all experimental groups. The pathological changes of atherosclerosis (AS) were observed by aorta gross Oil Red O, aortic sinus hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Liver lipopathy was observed in mice by HE staining. The morphology of mitochondria in aorta cells was observed under transmission electron microscope. Flow cytometry was used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression in aorta of mice in each group. The content of ferrous ion Fe2+ in serum of mice was detected by biochemical kit. The mRNA and protein relative expression levels of NRF2, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and recombinant solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) were detected by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot, respectively. RESULTS: BBRM and BBRH groups delayed the progression of AS and reduced the plaque area (P<0.01). The characteristic morphological changes of ferroptosis were rarely observed in BBR-treated AS mice, and the content of Fe2+ in BBR group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P<0.01). BBR decreased ROS and MDA levels in mouse aorta, increased SOD activity (P<0.01), significantly up-regulated NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 protein and mRNA expression levels (P<0.01), and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Compared with the model group, the body weight, blood lipid level and aortic plaque area of ML385 group increased (P<0.01); the morphology of mitochondria showed significant ferroptosis characteristics; the serum Fe2+, MDA and ROS levels increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the activity of SOD decreased (P<0.01). Compared with BBRM group, the iron inhibition effect of BBRM+ML385 group was significantly weakened, and the plaque area significantly increased (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Through NRF2/SLC7A11/GPX4 pathway, BBR can resist oxidative stress, inhibit ferroptosis, reduce plaque area, stabilize plaque, and exert anti-AS effects.

Physical adsorption of OH- causes anomalous charging at oxide-water interfaces.

This study reveals a charging mechanism at oxide-water interfaces, solving the puzzle that challenges the traditional electrical double layer (EDL) model. We found that the experimentally measured zeta potential is caused by physically adsorbed OH-, instead of acidic dissociation of surface OHs and the first-layer water. This mechanism should apply for a wide range of material interfaces and could find applications in future.

Meta-analysis of the association between chronic periodontitis and chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Many scholars have performed several clinical studies have investigated the association between chronic periodontitis (CP) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, there are still differences between these research results, and there is no unified conclusion. Therefore, a systematic review is required to understand this issue fully. AIM: To explore the correlation between CP and CKD. METHODS: Literature on the correlation between CP and CKD, as well as the clinical attachment level (CAL) and pocket probing depth (PPD) of CKD and non-CKD, were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science repositories until January 2024. After the effective data were extracted, data processing and statistics were performed using Stata 12.0. RESULTS: Of the 22 studies, 13 were related to CP and CKD, and 9 reported CAL and PPD in patients with CKD and healthy controls. Meta-analysis of the correlation between CP and CKD revealed that CKD probability in people with CP was 1. 54 times that of healthy individuals [relative risk = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-1.70], and CP incidence in patients with CKD was 1. 98 times that of healthy individuals [overall risk (OR) = 1.98, 95%CI: 1.53-2.57]. Meta-analysis of CAL and PPD evaluations between CKD patients and healthy individuals showed that CAL and PPD levels were higher in CKD patients [standard mean difference (SMD) of CAL = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.29-1.01; SMD of PPD = 0.33, 95%CI: 0.02-0.63]. CONCLUSION: A bidirectional association exists between CP and CKD. CKD risk is increased in CP patients and vice versa. Periodontal tissue or tooth loss risks increase over time in CKD patients.

Clinical Predictors of Medication Compliance in Patients With Acute Herpetic Neuralgia.

PURPOSE: Pain is one of the most common and harmful symptoms experienced by individuals with acute herpetic neuralgia (AHN). In this population, studies to determine the causes that affect patients taking medications compliance are rare. This study aimed to construct a predictive model for medication compliance of patients with AHN and to verify its performance. DESIGN AND METHODS: In this prospective study of 398 patients with AHN who were discharged from a tertiary hospital with medications from July 2020 to October 2022, we used logistic regression analysis to explore the predictive factors of medication compliance of patients with AHN and to construct a nomogram. The area under the curve was used to evaluate the predictive effect of the model. RESULTS: A predictive model of drug compliance of patients with AHN was constructed based on the following four factors: disease duration, pain severity before treatment, medication beliefs, and comorbidity of chronic diseases. The area under the curve of the model was 0.766 (95% confidence interval [0.713, 0.819]), with a maximum Youden's index of 0.431, sensitivity of 0.776, and specificity of 0.655. A linear calibration curve was found with a slope close to 1. CONCLUSIONS: The prediction model constructed in this study had good predictive performance and provided a reference for early clinical screening of independent factors that affected the medication compliance of patients with AHN.

The Role of Deformation and Microstructure Evolution on Texture Formation of a TA15 Alloy Subjected to Plane Strain Compression.

In this study, the texture formation mechanism of a TA15 titanium alloy under different plane strain compression conditions was investigated by analyzing the slipping, dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and phase transformation behaviors. The results indicated that the basal texture component basically appears under all conditions, since the dominant basal slip makes the C-axis of the α grain rotate to the normal direction (ND, i.e., compression direction), but it has a different degree of deflection. With an increase in deformation amount, temperature or strain rate, {0001} poles first approach the ND and then deviate from it. Such deviation is mainly caused by a change in slip behaviors and phase transformation. At a smaller deformation amount and higher strain rate, inhomogeneous deformation easily causes a basal slip preferentially arising from the grain with a soft orientation, resulting in a weak basal texture component. A greater deformation amount can increase the principal strain ratio, thereby promoting other slip systems to be activated, and a lower temperature can increase the critical shear stress of the basal slip, further causing a dispersive orientation under these conditions. At a higher temperature and a lower strain rate, apparent phase transformation will induce the occurrence of lamellar α whose orientation obeys the Burgers orientation of the ß phase, thereby disturbing and weakening the deformation texture. As for DRX, continuous-type (CDRX) is most common under most conditions, whereas CDRX grains have a similar orientation to deformed grains, so DRX has little effect on overall texture. Moreover, the microhardness of samples is basically inversely proportional to the grain size, and it can be significantly improved as lamellar α occurs. In addition, deformed samples with a weaker texture present a higher microhardness due to the smaller Schmidt factors of the activated prism slip at ambient loading.

The prevalence of neck pain among online learning students: An observational study.

Neck pain is among the most prevalent musculoskeletal disorders affecting the general population. During the 2019 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, students have increasingly resorted to online learning, requiring prolonged use of electronic devices. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of and factors influencing neck pain during online learning. The study employed a cross-sectional design. Eligible participants were nursing students who had been receiving online instruction for a duration exceeding 3 months. To develop the study instrument, the researchers integrated the study objectives with insights from an extensive literature review. This process culminated in the creation of a comprehensive online questionnaire designed to capture relevant data. The prevalence of neck pain among students was analyzed for both the pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19 periods. The chi-square test was utilized to compare the occurrence of neck pain between these 2 periods, while binary logistic regression was employed to examine the association between various influencing factors and neck pain. This study revealed that out of the 426 students who participated in the study, 391 were female (91.8%) and 35 were male (8.2%). The prevalence of neck pain during online learning (62.7%) was significantly higher than before online learning (37.3%) (P < .05). A significant correlation was also found between neck pain and learning while lying on a bed or table, duration of use of electronic devices, and exercising habits (P < .05). The prevalence of neck pain among students has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research should focus on evaluating the long-term impact of distance learning on undergraduate students. Additionally, it is imperative to develop and implement targeted intervention programs based on the identified influencing factors to mitigate the prevalence of neck pain and alleviate neck discomfort.

Kawasaki disease with shock as the primary manifestation: How to distinguish from toxic shock syndrome?: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a vasculitis syndrome of small to medium-sized arteries that has typical clinical characteristics such as fever, rash, cervical lymphadenopathy, conjunctivitis, and mucosal changes. Cardiac manifestations, including coronary artery aneurysms, myocarditis, myocardial infarction, and sudden cardiac death, are the most serious complications observed in KD. On rare occasions, it may accompanied with reduced organ perfusion due to systolic hypotension, a condition known as Kawasaki disease shock syndrome (KDSS). KDSS is a serious complication that can be presented to the emergency department as an initial feature when typical clinical symptoms of KD have not be detected. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report the case of a 12-year-old boy admitted with prolonged fever, bilateral non-purulent conjunctivitis, and signs of shock such as hypotension and tachycardia. Laboratory findings showed elevated inflammatory markers, hypoalbuminemia, and sterile pyuria. He was initially treated with intravenous cefotaxime and vancomycin considering the possible diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome, while the treatment was not effective. Subsequent chest computerized tomography and ultrasound identified pulmonary consolidation and polyserous effusion. Echocardiography revealed mild biatrial dilatation and mild valvular regurgitation with preserved left ventricular function. DIAGNOSIS: After a multidisciplinary consultation, a diagnosis of KDSS was made. INTERVENTIONS: To prevent coronary artery lesions and other severe complications, the patient immediately received immunoglobulin, corticoid, and acetylsalicylic acid. OUTCOMES: Soon afterwards, he showed significant improvement, with the temperature dropped to normal and hypotension corrected about 24 hours post-intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Polyserous effusions also disappeared before discharge. Follow-up echocardiography revealed normal results. LESSONS: Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for KD and consider pulmonary involvement and polyserous effusions as potential complications. For children with KD, any symptoms pointing to infection should be carefully considered. When there is no etiologic evidence, antibiotics should be used with caution. Our case also highlights the importance of considering KDSS as a differential diagnosis in children presenting with prolonged fever and shock. Early recognition, timely treatment, and close monitoring are key to preventing severe complications and ensuring favorable outcomes in patients with KDSS.

Step-induced double-row pattern of interfacial water on rutile TiO2(110) under electrochemical conditions.

Metal oxides are promising (photo)electrocatalysts for sustainable energy technologies due to their good activity and abundant resources. Their applications such as photocatalytic water splitting predominantly involve aqueous interfaces under electrochemical conditions, but in situ probing oxide-water interfaces is proven to be extremely challenging. Here, we present an electrochemical scanning tunneling microscopy (EC-STM) study on the rutile TiO2(110)-water interface, and by tuning surface redox chemistry with careful potential control we are able to obtain high quality images of interfacial structures with atomic details. It is interesting to find that the interfacial water exhibits an unexpected double-row pattern that has never been observed. This finding is confirmed by performing a large scale simulation of a stepped interface model enabled by machine learning accelerated molecular dynamics (MLMD) with ab initio accuracy. Furthermore, we show that this pattern is induced by the steps present on the surface, which can propagate across the terraces through interfacial hydrogen bonds. Our work demonstrates that by combining EC-STM and MLMD we can obtain new atomic details of interfacial structures that are valuable to understand the activity of oxides under realistic conditions.