Incoherent ultrafast energy transfer in phycocyanin 620 from Thermosynechococcus vulcanus revealed by polarization-controlled two dimensional electronic spectroscopy.

Phycocyanin 620 (PC620) is the outermost light-harvesting complex in phycobilisome of cyanobacteria, engaged in light collection and energy transfer to the core antenna, allophycocyanin. Recently, long-lived exciton-vibrational coherences have been observed in allophycocyanin, accounting for the coherent energy transfer [Zhu et al., Nat. Commun. 15, 3171 (2024)]. PC620 has a nearly identical spatial location of three α84-ß84 phycocyanobilin pigment pairs to those in allophycocyanin, inferring an existence of possible coherent energy transfer pathways. However, whether PC620 undergoes coherent or incoherent energy transfer remains debated. Furthermore, accurate determination of energy transfer rates in PC620 is still necessary owing to the spectral overlap and broadening in conventional time-resolved spectroscopic measurements. In this work, the energy transfer process within PC620 was directly resolved by polarization-controlled two dimensional electronic spectroscopy (2DES) and global analysis. The results show that the energy transfer from α84 to the adjacent ß84 has a lifetime constant of 400 fs, from ß155 to ß84 of 6-8 ps, and from ß155 to α84 of 66 ps, fully conforming to the Förster resonance energy transfer mechanism. The circular dichroism spectrum also reveals that the α84-ß84 pigment pair does not form excitonic dimer, and the observed oscillatory signals are confirmed to be vibrational coherence, excluding the exciton-vibrational coupling. Nodal line slope analysis of 2DES further reveals that all the vibrational modes participate in the energy dissipation of the excited states. Our results consolidate that the ultrafast energy transfer process in PC620 is incoherent, where the twisted conformation of α84 is suggested as the main cause for preventing the formation of α84-ß84 excitonic dimer in contrast to allophycocyanin.

Assessing the potential of n-alkyl amides and n-alkyl nitriles in the arid sedimentary strata of northwestern China as environmental indicators.

Recent advancements in the application of lipid biomarkers as paleoenvironmental indicators have provided invaluable insights into the dynamics of climatic variations, vegetative histories, and anthropogenic impacts. However, our current understanding of nitrogen-containing lipid biomarkers (NCLBs) in sedimentary deposits remains limited, notwithstanding their potential significance in global nitrogen cycling. To bridge this research gap, a comprehensive study was conducted to characterize the distribution patterns of n-alkyl amides (NAAs) and n-alkyl nitriles (NANs) in representative paleo-lake and loess sedimentary profiles from the arid region of northwestern China (NWC). The widespread occurrence of these NCLBs across late Quaternary strata, with distinct distribution patterns observed in various settings, suggests their formation under diverse environmental conditions. The prevalence of NAAs in arid sedimentary deposits can primarily be attributed to the diverse array of local biota, including vascular plants, algae, and fungi, rather than being solely associated with biomass burning, as commonly assumed. Furthermore, the distribution patterns of NANs closely align with those of NAAs, indicating their formation through thermally induced dehydration of precursor NAAs. Both groups of NCLBs exhibit significant preservation potential in sediments within NWC, which is believed to be intimately linked to the region's arid and cold climate as well as its neutral or weakly alkaline depositional setting. These findings underscore the prospective use of NAAs as indicators of environmental changes and NANs as potential markers of past fire-related activities, making them valuable tools for paleoenvironmental reconstructions of late Quaternary strata, especially in arid, cold, and weakly alkaline regions.

Trends and projection of burden on lung cancer and risk factors in China from 1990 to 2060.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer (LC) is currently the number one malignancy death rate disease in China, and its disease burden is serious. The study aimed to analyze trends of LC and its risk factor attributable disease in China from 1990 to 2019 and predict the next 41 years. METHODS: The average annual percentage change (AAPC) was used to analyze the trend of LC and its risk factor attributable incidence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate in China from 1990 to 2019, collected in the Global Burden of Disease 2019. Cochran-Armitage trends examine trends in lung cancer disease burden by sex, age, and attributable risk factor groups in China from 1990 to 2019. In addition, based on data on death and DALYs rate due to LC and its risk factors between 1990 and 2019, an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was developed to predict the change in the trend of burden of disease due to LC and its risk factors over the next 41 years, and the model was evaluated using the model parameters root mean square error, mean absolute error, and mean absolute percentage error. RESULTS: From 1990 to 2019, the incidence, mortality and DALYs of LC were all increased. Among the eight risk factors associated with lung cancer, the DALYs rate and mortality rate of lung cancer risk factors for Chinese residents increased from 1990 to 2019, except for household air pollution from solid fuels and diet low in fruit, which showed a decrease; among them, the DALYs rate and mortality rate due to ambient particulate matter pollution showed the greatest increase with AAPC values of 2.880 and 3.310, respectively, while DALYs and mortality rates due to household air pollution from solid fuels showed the largest decreases, with AAPC values of -4.755 and -4.348, respectively. The results of the ARIMA model predictions show that both the mortality rate and the rate of DALYs for lung cancer are increasing yearly, and it is predicted that the rate of DALYs for lung cancer by 2060 will reach 740.095/100 000 and the mortality rate will reach 35.151/100 000. It is expected that by 2060, the top four risk factors for lung cancer in China will be, in order of DALYs rate and mortality rate, smoking, ambient particulate matter pollution, high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG), and secondhand smoke, with HFPG showing the greatest increase. CONCLUSIONS: The LC burden increased from 1990 to 2019 in China, the LC burden that could be attributed to HFPG will continue to increase in the next 40 years, and will be the third most factor by 2060. Targeted interventions are warranted to facilitate the prevention of LC and improvement of health-related quality of life patients with LC.

Diterpenoid alkaloids from Delphinium trichophorum.

The ethanol extract of the whole plant of Delphinium trichophorum Franch was subjected to a phytochemical study, leading to the isolation of ten unprecedented diterpenoid alkaloids, including nine delnudine-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloids named trichophodines A-I and one kusnezoline-type C20-diterpenoid alkaloid named trichophozine A. Additionally, seven known compounds were also identified. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, including HSQC, HMBC, 1H-1H COSY, NOESY and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Most isolated compounds were screened for inhibitory activities against LPS-induced NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects. Guan-fu base V exhibited potent inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase, demonstrating an inhibitory rate of 53.81% at a concentration of 40 µM.

Electronic symptom monitoring after lung cancer surgery: establishing a core set of patient-reported outcomes for surgical oncology care in a longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Electronic symptom monitoring via patient-reported outcome in surgical oncology is limited owing to lengthy instruments and non-specific items in common patient-reported outcome instruments. To establish electronic symptom monitoring through a clinically relevant and fit-for-purpose core set of patient-reported outcome in patients undergoing lung cancer surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One qualitative (Cohort 1) and two prospective studies (Cohorts 2 and 3) were conducted between 2018 and 2023. Patients undergoing lung cancer surgery were recruited. Items of symptoms and daily functioning were generated through extensive interviews in Cohort 1 and incorporated into a smartphone-based platform to establish the electronic Perioperative Symptom Assessment for Lung surgery (ePSA-Lung). This tool was finalized and validated in Cohort 2. Patients in Cohort 3 were longitudinally monitored for the first year post-surgery using the validated ePSA-Lung. RESULTS: In total, 1,037 patients scheduled for lung cancer surgery were recruited. The 11-item draft PSA-Lung was generated based on qualitative interview with 39 patients and input from a Delphi study involving 42 experts. A 9-item ePSA-Lung was finalized by assessing 223 patients in the validation cohort; the results supported the instrument's understandability, reliability, sensitivity, and surgical specificity. In Cohort 3 (n=775), compliance ranged from 63.21% to 84.76% during the one-year follow-up after discharge. Coughing, shortness of breath, and disturbed sleep were the most severe symptoms after discharge. Longitudinally, patients who underwent single-port video-assisted thoracic surgery had a lower symptom burden than those who underwent multi-port video-assisted thoracic surgery or thoracotomy (all symptoms, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The ePSA-Lung is valid, concise, and clinically applicable as it supports electronic symptom monitoring in surgical oncology care. The need for long-term extensive care was identified for patients after discharge, even in early-stage cancer with potential curative treatment.

Rejuvenation of peripheral immune cells attenuates Alzheimer's disease-like pathologies and behavioral deficits in a mouse model.

Immunosenescence contributes to systematic aging and plays a role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential of immune rejuvenation as a therapeutic strategy for AD. To achieve this, the immune systems of aged APP/PS1 mice were rejuvenated through young bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that young BMT restored the expression of aging- and AD-related genes in multiple cell types within blood immune cells. The level of circulating senescence-associated secretory phenotype proteins was decreased following young BMT. Notably, young BMT resulted in a significant reduction in cerebral Aß plaque burden, neuronal degeneration, neuroinflammation, and improvement of behavioral deficits in aged APP/PS1 mice. The ameliorated cerebral amyloidosis was associated with an enhanced Aß clearance of peripheral monocytes. In conclusion, our study provides evidence that immune system rejuvenation represents a promising therapeutic approach for AD.

Multi-modal imaging for the diagnosis of spontaneous visceral artery dissection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous visceral artery dissection (SVAD) is a rare condition that affects the visceral arteries, such as the celiac, superior mesenteric, and inferior mesenteric arteries, without involving the aorta. Organ ischemia or hemorrhage from vessel rupture can occur in SVAD; therefore, prompt detection and management is essential. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) has been used to diagnose most of the previous cases, but few studies have explored the potential of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for early detection of this disease. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old male presented with complaints of poor appetite and abnormal liver function for the past 6 months. He had previously undergone transabdominal splenectomy, esophagogastric devascularization, and cholecystectomy for gallstones and severe portal hypertension. Liver ultrasound was performed in our department to assess liver status. An abnormal hepatic artery spectrum was observed, and dissection involving both the celiac artery and the common hepatic artery was observed. A CEUS was then performed and clearly showed the entry site of the intimal tear and the false lumen, and dissection was subsequently confirmed by CECT. The patient was asymptomatic; therefore, treatment to control the blood pressure was provided, and follow-up was recommended. After 6 months of follow-up, the celiac artery was found to be dilated with an adherent thrombus visible in the wall, and the common hepatic artery was occluded with the presence of collateralization. Despite these findings, no significant changes in liver function were observed. CONCLUSION: Multi-modal imaging is effective in diagnosing SVAD, and conservative treatment is a choice for asymptomatic patients.

Undergoing Lung Surgery (PSA-Lung) was appropriate for symptom assessment after discharge.

PURPOSE: To examine whether a 7-day or 24-h recall period of Perioperative Symptom Assessment for Patients Undergoing Lung Surgery (PSA-Lung) was appropriate for symptom assessment after discharge. METHODS: A total of 377 patients were recruited in a cohort study of patients who underwent lung surgery. We measured patient symptoms daily and weekly using the two recall period versions of the PSA-Lung scale, respectively. The psychometric properties of both versions were calculated. Spearman rank correlation coefficients and kappa (k) coefficients were used to measure the association between items score measured by the two version scales each week. Cohen's d effect size and mixed linear model were used to measure responsiveness to change over time. RESULTS: Spearman rank correlation coefficients between the symptom scores generated by the 7-day and 24-h versions (range 0.48-0.77; all P < 0.05). The correlations increased in patients in stable condition (weekly symptom change < 2). Cronbach's α coefficients for both ratings were > 0.87 and both had good test-retest reliability. The longitudinal analysis and Cohen's d effect sizes showed that both ratings had good ability to detect changes in all items. CONCLUSION: The 7-day retrospective scale was as effective as the 24-h retrospective scale in terms of psychometric performance. In the stage where the patient's symptoms change rapidly, it is recommended to use the 24-h retrospective scale for symptom monitoring. On the contrary, in a stable state, it can be considered to use the 7-day retrospective scale for monitoring to reduce the patient's burden.

Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Symptom Management Versus Usual Care After Lung Cancer Surgery: Long-Term Results of a Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial.

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned co-primary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical Trial Updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.We previously reported superior symptom control of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO)-based symptom management after lung cancer surgery for up to 1 month postdischarge. Here, we present the long-term results (1-12 months) of this multicenter, randomized trial, where patients were assigned 1:1 to receive postoperative ePRO-based symptom management or usual care daily postsurgery, twice weekly postdischarge until 1 month, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months postdischarge. Long-term patient-reported outcomes were assessed with MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Lung Cancer module. Per-protocol analyses were performed with 55 patients in the ePRO group and 57 in the usual care group. At 12 months postdischarge, the ePRO group reported significantly fewer symptom threshold events (any of the five target symptom scored ≥4; median [IQR], 0 [0-0] v 0 [0-1]; P = .040) than the usual care group. From 1 to 12 months postdischarge, the ePRO group consistently reported significantly lower composite scores for physical interference (estimate, -0.86 [95% CI, -1.32 to -0.39]) and affective interference (estimate, -0.70 [95% CI, -1.14 to -0.26]). Early intensive ePRO-based symptom management after lung cancer surgery reduced symptom burden and improved functional status for up to 1 year postdischarge, supporting its integration into standard care.

A chromosome-level genome reveals genome evolution and molecular basis of anthraquinone biosynthesis in Rheum palmatum.

BACKGROUND: Rhubarb is one of common traditional Chinese medicine with a diverse array of therapeutic efficacies. Despite its widespread use, molecular research into rhubarb remains limited, constraining our comprehension of the geoherbalism. RESULTS: We assembled the genome of Rheum palmatum L., one of the source plants of rhubarb, to elucidate its genome evolution and unpack the biosynthetic pathways of its bioactive compounds using a combination of PacBio HiFi, Oxford Nanopore, Illumina, and Hi-C scaffolding approaches. Around 2.8 Gb genome was obtained after assembly with more than 99.9% sequences anchored to 11 pseudochromosomes (scaffold N50 = 259.19 Mb). Transposable elements (TE) with a continuous expansion of long terminal repeat retrotransposons (LTRs) is predominant in genome size, contributing to the genome expansion of R. palmatum. Totally 30,480 genes were predicted to be protein-coding genes with 473 significantly expanded gene families enriched in diverse pathways associated with high-altitude adaptation for this species. Two successive rounds of whole genome duplication event (WGD) shared by Fagopyrum tataricum and R. palmatum were confirmed. We also identified 54 genes involved in anthraquinone biosynthesis and other 97 genes entangled in flavonoid biosynthesis. Notably, RpALS emerged as a compelling candidate gene for the octaketide biosynthesis after the key residual screening. CONCLUSION: Overall, our findings offer not only an enhanced understanding of this remarkable medicinal plant but also pave the way for future innovations in its genetic breeding, molecular design, and functional genomic studies.

Transcriptomic divergence of the Rheum palmatum complex derived from top-geoherb and non-geoherb areas provides the insights into geoherbalism properties of rhubarb.

Geoherb usually represents high-quality medicinal herbs with better clinical therapeutic effects, and elucidating the geoherbalism is essential for the quality improvement of traditional Chinese Medicine. However, few researches were conducted to clarify the geoherbalism based on a large scale of transcriptomics. In the present study, we compared the transcriptomes of Rheum palmatum complex derived from top-geoherb and non-geoherb areas to show the geoherbalism properties of rhubarb. A total of 412.32 Gb clean reads were obtained with unigene numbers of 100,615 after assembly. Based on the obtained transcriptome datasets, key enzyme-encoding genes involved in the anthraquinones biosynthesis were also obtained. We also found that 21 anthraquinone-related unigenes were differentially expressed between two different groups, and some of these DEGs were correlated to the content accumulation of five free anthraquinones, indicating that the gene expression profiles may promote the geoherbalism formation of rhubarb. In addition, the selective pressure analyses indicated that most paired orthologous genes between these two groups were subject to negative selection, and only a low proportion of orthologs under positive selection were detected. Functional annotation analyses indicated that these positive-selected genes related to the functions such as gene expression, substance transport, stress response and metabolism, indicating that discrepant environment also enhanced the formation of geoherbalism. Our study not only provided insights for the genetic mechanism of geoherbalism of rhubarb, but also laid more genetic cues for the future rhubarb germplasms improvement and utilization.

KAT8-catalyzed lactylation promotes eEF1A2-mediated protein synthesis and colorectal carcinogenesis.

Aberrant lysine lactylation (Kla) is associated with various diseases which are caused by excessive glycolysis metabolism. However, the regulatory molecules and downstream protein targets of Kla remain largely unclear. Here, we observed a global Kla abundance profile in colorectal cancer (CRC) that negatively correlates with prognosis. Among lactylated proteins detected in CRC, lactylation of eEF1A2K408 resulted in boosted translation elongation and enhanced protein synthesis which contributed to tumorigenesis. By screening eEF1A2 interacting proteins, we identified that KAT8, a lysine acetyltransferase that acted as a pan-Kla writer, was responsible for installing Kla on many protein substrates involving in diverse biological processes. Deletion of KAT8 inhibited CRC tumor growth, especially in a high-lactic tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the KAT8-eEF1A2 Kla axis is utilized to meet increased translational requirements for oncogenic adaptation. As a lactyltransferase, KAT8 may represent a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Epidemiological characteristics of suspected adenomyosis in the Chinese physical examination population: a nested case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the epidemiological characteristics of suspected adenomyosis within a physical examination population in China. DESIGN: A retrospective, nested case-control study; we matched healthy people and those with potential adenomyosis on a 1:2 ratio by age. SETTING: A tertiary hospital health management centre. PARTICIPANTS: We included 15-60 years old women who underwent at least one uterine examination from October 2017 to December 2020, excluding those who had undergone hysterectomy and menopause. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: We estimated the incidence and prevalence rate of suspected adenomyosis. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate associations between serum biomarkers and potential adenomyosis. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AUC) were used to determine the cut-off point of the cancer antigen 125 (CA125) level for suspected adenomyosis. RESULTS: A total of 30 629 women had uterus-related imaging examinations; 877 had suspected adenomyosis. The standardised incidence and prevalence of suspected adenomyosis was 1.32% and 2.35%, respectively, for all age groups. The conditional logistic regression analysis results showed that total bilirubin≥18.81 µmol/L (HR: 2.129; 95% CI 1.067 to 4.249; p<0.0321) and CA125 levels (HR: 1.014; 95% CI 1.002 to 4.731; p<0.0273) were positively correlated with onset of suspected adenomyosis; body mass index>24 kg/m2 (HR: 1.262; 95% CI 1.055 to 1.511; p<0.0109), CA125 levels (HR: 1.007; 95% CI 1.006 to 1.009; p<0.0001), and blood platelet levels (HR: 1.002; 95% CI 1 to 1.003; p<0.0141) were positively correlated with potential adenomyosis. The optimal cut-off of CA125 for new suspected adenomyosis was 10.714 U/mL, with a sensitivity of 77.42%, specificity of 53.76%, and AUC of 0.7841 (95% CI 0.7276 to 0.8407). CONCLUSIONS: The disease burden of suspected adenomyosis remains huge and can be informed by biomarkers. The disease-specific threshold of CA125 will support further preventive strategy development in population. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ChiCTR2100049520, 2021/8/2.

Longitudinal patterns of patient-reported sleep disturbances after surgery for lung cancer.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify longitudinal heterogeneous trajectories of sleep status, adjusted for the effect of pain over time, among patients who had surgery for lung cancer and to quantify how disturbed sleep in the hospital affects functional recovery after discharge. METHODS: We included patients from a surgical cohort (CN-PRO-Lung 1). All patients reported symptoms using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Lung Cancer (MDASI-LC) daily during postoperative hospitalization. Group-based dual trajectory modeling was used to investigate trajectories of disturbed sleep and pain during the first 7 days of postoperative hospitalization. Cox regression was used to compare the recovery of walking ability between the different sleep trajectories. RESULTS: Among 421 patients, disturbed sleep trajectories comprised low (31%), moderate (52%), and high (17%) groups. The surgical approach and number of chest tubes were associated with pain, and the number of chest tubes was also associated with sleep disturbances (OR = 1.99; 95% CI: 1.08-3.67). Recovery of walking ability after discharge was significantly slower in the high (median days = 16; 95% CI: 5-NA) and moderate disturbed sleep trajectory groups (median days = 5; 95%CI: 4-6) than in the low group (median days = 3; 95% CI: 3-4). CONCLUSION: Changes in disturbed sleep among patients with lung cancer followed three distinct trajectories over the first 7 days of hospitalization after surgery. Dual trajectory analyses highlighted the high concordance between specific trajectories of disturbed sleep and pain. Patients at high sleep disturbance and high levels of pain may benefit from appropriate interventions for both symptoms in combination with the patient's surgical approach and the number of chest tubes.

Variability of rare earth and heavy metal elements in a representative alluvial depositional system.

Heavy metals (Ni, Cr, W, Cd, and Pb) and rare earth elements (REE) were investigated in the flood plain sediments of an island of the lower Yangtze River near Nanjing to determine how the vertical distribution of heavy metals could be affected by natural sedimentation processes and anthropogenic contamination. Stratigraphic analyses of magnetic susceptibility and the mean grain size distribution of the deposits enabled us to identify layers associated with a relatively high influx of suspended sediments that resulted in sudden changes in the concentrations of heavy metals. The results show that layers associated with high sediment influx (0.8 m depth) displayed low concentrations of Cr, Ni, W, and Cd that were mainly lithogenic in origin. The Post Archean Australian Shale (PAAS) normalized REE patterns in the flood plain cores were enrichment in Ce and Eu relative to PAAS, indicating that the sediments were most likely derived from a mixture of sediments and not from an anthropogenic source. Sharp increases in Y/Ho ratios, as well as heavy metal (Cd, Cr, Ni, and W) and Y concentrations were observed in the uppermost layer that could have been deposited from the rapid transport of sediment-laden, contaminated waters. The temporal (vertical) trends in Pb concentrations may be strongly influenced by coal burning. Elevated Pb concentrations (350 ppm and 1000 ppm) correlate with high magnetic susceptibility (> 200 m3 × kg-1) and the history of thermal power plant (1910-2002) activity. The anthropogenic inputs of Pb were, however, not diluted by high suspended sediment loads, which supports the argument that Pb was derived from fly ash.

Longitudinal relationship between quality of life and negative life events among adolescents during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-lagged panel analysis.

BACKGROUND: The negative association of quality of life (QoL) and negative life evens (NLEs) among adolescents has been proved by cross-sectional studies, without exploring sex differences. This study aimed to explore the longitudinal associations between QoL and NLEs among adolescents during novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and whether there are sex or age differences. METHODS: A stratified cluster sampling was used to select 1421 students in primary school and middle school in Chongqing, China. From November 2020 (T0) to December 2021 (T2), the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist and the Adolescent Quality of Life Scale were used to collect 3 waves of data. The correlations between study variables were conducted by the Pearson correlation analyses. The direction and strength of the longitudinal associations were analyzed using cross-lagged panel analyses. RESULTS: Results showed significant changes in both variables during COVID-19 pandemic (P < 0.001). Cross-sectional analyses showed stable negative correlations between NLEs and QoL stratified by sex or by age (P < 0.001). Sex and age differences in longitudinal relationships were shown by cross-lagged panel analyses. For males, NLEs had a short-term bi-directional association with QoL [ßA-D = -(0.091-0.340), P < 0.05]; for females, QoL had a short-term correlation with NLEs [ßA = -0.119), ßC = -0.109), P < 0.001]. In the youngest age group, NLEs had a short-term bi-directional correlation with QoL [ßA-D = -(0.098-0.428), P < 0.05]. There was a short-term association between total QoL and NLEs among students except the 14∼15 year group [ßA = -(0.071-0.149), ßC = -(0.086-0.119), P < 0.05], the long-term association between total QoL and NLEs was only significant in adolescents aged 14∼15 years (ßE = -0.132, P < 0.05). The strength of NLEs was slightly higher than that of total QoL, but lower than that of QoL in each dimension. CONCLUSION: There were negative longitudinal relationships between NLEs and QoL during COVID-19 pandemic, and the strength of the associations varied across sex or age. Strengthening QoL in different dimensions may be a promising way to reduce NLEs during the pandemic among adolescents, and interventions should be tailored according different sex and ages.

Total Ionizing Dose Effects on the Threshold Voltage of GaN Cascode Devices.

GaN devices are nowadays attracting global attention due to their outstanding performance in high voltage, high frequency, and anti-radiation ability. Research on total ionizing dose and annealing effects on E-mode GaN Cascode devices has been carried out. The Cascode device consists of a low-voltage MOSFET and a high-voltage depletion-mode GaN MISHEMT. Cascode devices of both conventional processed MOSFET and radiation-hardened MOSFET devices are fabricated to observe the TID effects. Experiment results indicate that, for the Cascode device with conventional processed MOSFET, the VTH shifts to negative values at 100 krad(Si). For the Cascode device with radiation-hardened MOSFET, the VTH shifts by -0.5 V at 100 krad(Si), while shifts to negative values are 500 krad(Si). The annealing process, after the TID experiment, shows that it can release trapped charges and help VTH recover. On one hand, the VTH shift and recover trends are similar to those of a single MOSFET device, suggesting that the MOSFET is the vulnerable part in the Cascode which determines the anti-TID ability of the device. On the other hand, the VTH shift amount of the Cascode device is much larger than that of a previously reported p-GaN HEMT device, indicating that GaN material shows a better anti-TID ability than Si.

Using Clinician-Patient WeChat Group Communication Data to Identify Symptom Burdens in Patients With Uterine Fibroids Under Focused Ultrasound Ablation Surgery Treatment: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Unlike research project-based health data collection (questionnaires and interviews), social media platforms allow patients to freely discuss their health status and obtain peer support. Previous literature has pointed out that both public and private social platforms can serve as data sources for analysis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use natural language processing (NLP) techniques to identify concerns regarding the postoperative quality of life and symptom burdens in patients with uterine fibroids after focused ultrasound ablation surgery. METHODS: Screenshots taken from clinician-patient WeChat groups were converted into free texts using image text recognition technology and used as the research object of this study. From 408 patients diagnosed with uterine fibroids in Chongqing Haifu Hospital between 2010 and 2020, we searched for symptom burdens in over 900,000 words of WeChat group chats. We first built a corpus of symptoms by manually coding 30% of the WeChat texts and then used regular expressions in Python to crawl symptom information from the remaining texts based on this corpus. We compared the results with a manual review (gold standard) of the same records. Finally, we analyzed the relationship between the population baseline data and conceptual symptoms; quantitative and qualitative results were examined. RESULTS: A total of 408 patients with uterine fibroids were included in the study; 190,000 words of free text were obtained after data cleaning. The mean age of the patients was 39.94 (SD 6.81) years, and their mean BMI was 22.18 (SD 2.78) kg/m2. The median reporting times of the 7 major symptoms were 21, 26, 57, 2, 18, 30, and 49 days. Logistic regression models identified preoperative menstrual duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% CI 5.86-6.37; P=.009), age of menophania (OR -1.02 , 95% CI 11.96-13.47; P=.03), and the number (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.45-1.83; P=.04) and size of fibroids (OR 0.12, 95% CI 2.43-3.51; P=.04) as significant risk factors for postoperative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Unstructured free texts from social media platforms extracted by NLP technology can be used for analysis. By extracting the conceptual information about patients' health-related quality of life, we can adopt personalized treatment for patients at different stages of recovery to improve their quality of life. Python-based text mining of free-text data can accurately extract symptom burden and save considerable time compared to manual review, maximizing the utility of the extant information in population-based electronic health records for comparative effectiveness research.