Fulminant myocarditis caused by influenza B virus in a male child: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Influenza B virus induced myocarditis is a rare complication with potentially wide variations in severity and clinical presentation, and the pathogenesis is unclear. CASE PRESENTATION: We describe a rare case of a 7-year-old boy who developed fulminant myocarditis (FM) due to influenza B virus infection. Treatment measures included mechanical ventilation, vasoactive agents, Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT), anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-infection, and enteral nutrition support. After 10 days of treatment, the patient succumbed to multiorgan failure. CONCLUSIONS: After a systematic review of the literature, we found that this disease predominantly affects females, with pediatric cases exceedingly rare. Fulminant myocarditis (FM) progresses rapidly, poses significant treatment challenges sporadic, and carries a poor prognosis. Interestingly, literature reports suggest that anti-thymocyte globulin therapy may have a positive impact in treating FM, potentially offering new insights into its pathogenesis and clinical management.

Ubiquity and ecological risks of conjugated steroids cannot be overlooked: First evidence from estuarine sediments.

Steroids, renowned for endocrine-disrupting capabilities, have garnered significant research interest, predominantly centered on their parent forms. This study was the first to explore the composition, spatiotemporal characteristics, sources, mass inventories, and ecological risks of steroids in free and conjugated forms in estuarine sediments. Seventeen steroids were identified in sediments with the total levels of 1.3-4.3 ng/g. Most natural steroids and metabolites existed in free forms, while synthetic ones predominantly stored in conjugates. Environmental factors exerted limited impacts on steroid distribution. Raw domestic wastewater, drug consumption, and mariculture may be leading steroid sources in estuarine sediments, with total mean mass inventories of 177-219 µg/m2. The predominant contributors to the ecological risk were cortisol, prednisolone, 20α-dihydroprogesterone, 20ß-dihydroprogesterone, and progesterone. This research gives the first insight into the understanding of conjugated steroids in the marine environment, and advocates for more studies on the fate and ecotoxicology of conjugated steroids.

Development and validation of a rating scale for barriers to and facilitators of nurses' participation intentions in "Internet + Nursing Service".

BACKGROUND: Given increases in China's aging population, the growing demand for public health services and the shortage of human resources among nurses have become more prominent. Under such a background, "Internet + Nursing Services" have received more attention. Thus, exploring the barriers to and facilitators of nurses' willingness to participate in "Internet + Nursing Services" and utilizing internet technology to increase the supply of nursing services has become a key issue. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to develop a scale for assessing the barriers to and facilitators of nurses' willingness to participate in "Internet + Nursing Services" and to test the validity and reliability of the scale. METHODS: A preliminary scale was developed based on a literature review, theoretical research, semistructured qualitative interviews, and two rounds of Delphi expert inquiry. A convenient sampling method was used for the questionnaire survey. A 5-point Likert scale was used to evaluate the importance of the items. The survey data of 659 clinical nurses obtained from February to March 2023 were used for item analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and reliability and validity tests of the scale. The survey data of 538 clinical nurses obtained in April 2023 were used for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the final scale. RESULTS: The final scale consists of 25 items and 4 dimensions (performance expectations, perceived risk, need for professional knowledge training, and nonprofessional knowledge training). The scale showed good structural validity and content validity: the Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.955, the split-half reliability was 0.778, the test-retest reliability was 0.944, the kaiser-meyer-olkin(KMO) value was 0.960, and the cumulative variance contribution rate of the 4 common factors was 83.147%. The scale content validity index(S-CVI) was 0.914. The confirmatory factor analysis model had favorable fit indices: χ2/df = 4.234, RMSEA = 0.078, NFI = 0.940, IFI = 0.953, TLI = 0.947, and CFI = 0.953. CONCLUSION: The scale for assessing the barriers to and facilitators of nurses' willingness to participate in "Internet + Nursing Services" has good reliability and validity, and provides a reference for evaluating nurses' willingness to participate in "Internet + Nursing Services".

PFC/M1 activation and excitability: a longitudinal cohort study on fatigue symptoms in healthcare workers post-COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is one of the most common neurological symptoms reported post coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In order to establish effective early intervention strategies, more emphasis should be placed on the correlation between fatigue and cortical neurophysiological changes, especially in healthcare workers, who are at a heightened risk of COVID-19 infection. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 29 COVID-19 medical workers and 24 healthy controls. The assessment included fatigue, sleep and health quality, psychological status, and physical capacity. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was employed to detect activation of brain regions. Bilateral primary motor cortex (M1) excitabilities were measured using single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation. Outcomes were assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months into the disease course. RESULTS: At 1-month post-COVID-19 infection, 37.9% of patients experienced severe fatigue symptoms, dropping to 10.3% at 3 months. Interestingly, the remarkable decreased activation/excitability of bilateral prefrontal lobe (PFC) and M1 were closely linked to fatigue symptoms after COVID-19. Notably, greater increase in M1 region excitability correlated with more significant fatigue improvement. Re-infected patients exhibited lower levels of brain activation and excitability compared to single-infection patients. CONCLUSIONS: Both single infection and reinfection of COVID-19 lead to decreased activation and excitability of the PFC and M1. The degree of excitability improvement in the M1 region correlates with a greater recovery in fatigue. Based on these findings, targeted interventions to enhance and regulate the excitability of M1 may represent a novel strategy for COVID-19 early rehabilitation. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Ethics Review Committee of Xijing Hospital, No. KY20232051-F-1; www.chictr.org.cn , ChiCTR2300068444.

Structural insights into the molecular effects of the anthelmintics monepantel and betaine on the Caenorhabditis elegans acetylcholine receptor ACR-23.

Anthelmintics are drugs used for controlling pathogenic helminths in animals and plants. The natural compound betaine and the recently developed synthetic compound monepantel are both anthelmintics that target the acetylcholine receptor ACR-23 and its homologs in nematodes. Here, we present cryo-electron microscopy structures of ACR-23 in apo, betaine-bound, and betaine- and monepantel-bound states. We show that ACR-23 forms a homo-pentameric channel, similar to some other pentameric ligand-gated ion channels (pLGICs). While betaine molecules are bound to the classical neurotransmitter sites in the inter-subunit interfaces in the extracellular domain, monepantel molecules are bound to allosteric sites formed in the inter-subunit interfaces in the transmembrane domain of the receptor. Although the pore remains closed in betaine-bound state, monepantel binding results in an open channel by wedging into the cleft between the transmembrane domains of two neighboring subunits, which causes dilation of the ion conduction pore. By combining structural analyses with site-directed mutagenesis, electrophysiology and in vivo locomotion assays, we provide insights into the mechanism of action of the anthelmintics monepantel and betaine.

Integrated assessment of environmental and economic impact of municipal solid waste incineration for power generation: A case study in China.

Municipal solid waste incineration for power generation is significant for reducing and reusing solid waste. The study conducted an integrated assessment of environment and economy on municipal solid waste incineration in China, from a "cradle to grave" perspective using 1 tonne of municipal solid waste incineration as the functional unit. The environmental impacts of each month are also calculated to analyze the dynamic change throughout one year. The results indicate that the environmental impacts are mainly concentrated in marine ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, human carcinogenic toxicity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity. Flue gas purification, waste incineration and transportation are the key processes, which account for 65.61 %, 18.50 %, and 11.93 % of the overall environmental impact, respectively. Urea, activated carbon, chelating agent (EDTA) and diesel fuel for transportation are key factors. The life cycle cost (LCC) is 132.26 RMB/t of waste, of which the initial capital causes the largest economic cost. When considering power generated from municipal solid waste incineration to replace electricity supply from the power grid, it achieves significant environmental benefits and the normalized environmental impact value changes from 0.85 to -12.19. The findings provide references for municipal solid waste treatment to mitigate the environmental impact and reduce the economic burden across the entire life cycle.

Effect of caspase inhibitors on hemodynamics and inflammatory factors in ARDS model rats.

To study the effects of caspase inhibitors on hemodynamics and inflammatory factors in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) model rats. Sixty healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely, the control group, ARDS group and ARDS + Caspase inhibitor group, with 20 rats in each group. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with 2 mL/kg saline, and the ARDS model group was established by intraperitoneally injecting 4 mg/kg Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), ARDS + Caspase inhibitor group was adminstered 20 mg/kg caspase inhibitor after intraperitoneal LPS injection. Changes in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 6 and 12 h before and after administration were recorded. Moreover, arterial blood gas was evaluated with a blood gas analyzer and changes in the partial pressure of O2 (PaO2), partial pressure of CO2 (PaCO2), partial pressure of O2/fraction of inspired O2 (PaO2/FiO2) were evaluated. In addition, the lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio and inflammatory factor levels in lung tissue were determined. Finally, pathological sections were used to determine the pulmonary artery media thickness (MT), MT percentage (MT%), and the degree of muscle vascularization. The pulmonary arterial pressure of rats was determined at several time points. Compared with the control group, the model group had a significantly increased pulmonary arterial pressure at each time point (P < 0.01), and the mean arterial pressure significantly increased at 6 h (P < 0.05). Compared with that of rats in the model group, the pulmonary arterial pressure of rats in drug administration group was significantly reduced at each time point after administration (P < 0.01), and the mean arterial pressure was significantly reduced at 6 h (P < 0.05). The arterial blood gas analysis showed that compared with those in the control group, PaO2, PaCO2 and PaO2/FiO2 in the model group were significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and PaO2, PaCO2 and PaO2/FiO2 were significantly increased after caspase inhibitor treatment (P < 0.05 or 0.01). The levels of the inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the model group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01), and they were significantly decreased after caspase inhibitor treatment (P < 0.01). In the model group, pulmonary artery MT, MT% and the degree of muscle vascularization were significantly increased (P < 0.05 or 0.01), and pulmonary artery MT and the degree of muscle vascularization were significantly reduced after caspase inhibitor treatment (P < 0.05 or 0.01). Apoptosis Repressor with a Caspase Recuitment Domain (ARC) can alleviate the occurrence and development of pulmonary hypertension (PH) by affecting hemodynamics and reducing inflammation.

Air Pollution Metabolomic Signatures and Chronic Respiratory Diseases Risk: A Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence has documented the associations of ambient air pollution with chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) and lung function, the underlying metabolic mechanisms remain largely unclear. RESEARCH QUESTION: How does the metabolomic signature for air pollution relate to CRD risk, respiratory symptoms, and lung function? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We retrieved 171,132 participants free of COPD and asthma at baseline from the UK Biobank, who had data on air pollution and metabolomics. Exposures to air pollutants (particulate matter with diameter ≤ 2.5 µm [PM2.5], particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 µm, nitrogen oxide [NOX], and NO2) were assessed for 4 years before baseline considering residential address histories. We used 10-fold cross-validation elastic net regression to identify air pollution-associated metabolites. Multivariable Cox models were used to assess the associations between metabolomic signatures and CRD risk. Mediation and pathway analysis were conducted to explore the metabolic mechanism underlying the associations. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 12.51 years, 8,951 and 5,980 incident COPD and asthma cases were recorded. In multivariable Cox regressions, air pollution was positively associated with CRD risk (eg, hazard ratio per interquartile range increment in PM2.5, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06-1.13). We identified 103, 86, 85, and 90 metabolites in response to PM2.5, particulate matter with a diameter ≤ 10 µm, NOX, and NO2 exposure, respectively. The metabolomic signatures showed significant associations with CRD risk (hazard ratio per SD increment in PM2.5 metabolomic signature, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.09-1.14). Mediation analysis showed that peripheral inflammatory and erythrocyte-related markers mediated the effects of metabolomic signatures on CRD risk. We identified 14 and 12 perturbed metabolic pathways (energy metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways, etc) for PM2.5 and NOX metabolomic signatures. INTERPRETATION: Our study identifies metabolomic signatures for air pollution exposure. The metabolomic signatures showed significant associations with CRD risk, and inflammatory- and erythrocyte-related markers partly mediated the metabolomic signatures-CRD links.

Magnetic materials as adsorbents for the pre-concentration and separation of active ingredients from herbal medicine.

Herbal medicine (HM) is crucial in disease management and contains complex compounds with few active pharmacological ingredients, presenting challenges in quality control of raw materials and formulations. Effective separation, identification, and analysis of active components are vital for HM efficacy. Traditional methods like liquid-liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction are time-consuming and environmentally concerning, with limitations such as sorbent issues, pressure, and clogging. Magnetic solid-phase extraction uses magnetic sorbents for targeted analyte separation and enrichment, offering rapid, pressure-free separation. However, inorganic magnetic particles' aggregation and oxidation, as well as lack of selectivity, have led to the use of various coatings and modifications to enhance specificity and selectivity for complex herbal samples. This review delves into magnetic composites in HM pretreatment, specifically focusing on encapsulated or modified magnetic nanoparticles and materials like silica, ionic liquids, graphene family derivatives, carbon nanotubes, metal-organic frameworks, covalent organic frameworks, and molecularly imprinted polymers.

Genome-wide association studies of body size traits in Tibetan sheep.

BACKGROUND: Elucidating the genetic variation underlying phenotypic diversity will facilitate improving production performance in livestock species. The Tibetan sheep breed in China holds significant historical importance, serving as a fundamental pillar of Qinghai's animal husbandry sector. The Plateau-type Tibetan sheep, comprising 90% of the province's population, are characterized by their tall stature and serve as the primary breed among Tibetan sheep. In contrast, Zhashijia sheep exhibit larger size and superior meat quality. These two species provide an excellent model for elucidating the genetic basis of body size variation. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a comprehensive genome-wide association study on these two Tibetan sheep breeds to identify single nucleotide polymorphism loci and regulatory genes that influence body size traits in Tibetan sheep. RESULT: In this study, the phenotypic traits of body weight, body length, body height, chest circumference, chest depth, chest width, waist angle width, and pipe circumference were evaluated in two Tibetan sheep breeds: Plateau-type sheep and Zhashijia Tibetan sheep. Whole genome sequencing generated 48,215,130 high-quality SNPs for genome-wide association study. Four methods were applied and identified 623 SNPs significantly associated with body size traits. The significantly associated single nucleotide polymorphisms identified in this study are located near or within 111 candidate genes. These genes exhibit enrichment in the cAMP and Rap1 signaling pathways, significantly affecting animal growth, and body size. Specifically, the following genes were associated: ASAP1, CDK6, FRYL, NAV2, PTPRM, GPC6, PTPRG, KANK1, NTRK2 and ADCY8. CONCLUSION: By genome-wide association study, we identified 16 SNPs and 10 candidate genes associated with body size traits in Tibetan sheep, which hold potential for application in genomic selection breeding programs in sheep. Identifying these candidate genes will establish a solid foundation for applying molecular marker-assisted selection in sheep breeding and improve our understanding of body size control in farmed animals.

Cut-off points for knee extension strength: identifying muscle weakness in older adults.

PURPOSE: Generalized muscle weakness is the primary characteristic of sarcopenia. Handgrip strength (HGS) is widely employed to detect muscle weakness. However, knee extension strength (KES) declines much earlier and more pronounced than HGS, and there is a stronger correlation between KES and functional performance. Therefore, KES may be a more appropriate proxy for identifying muscle weakness compared to HGS. The purpose of this review was to clarify the KES measurement towards a standardized approach and summarize the cut-off points for KES. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Scopus and Medline databased up to July 10th, 2023. RESULTS: A total of 12 articles were ultimately included in this review, which proposed various cut-off points for KES. Notably, these studies exhibited high heterogeneities, including diverse living settings for participants, KES measurement, methods for KES normalization, methodologies for determining cut-off points and study designs. CONCLUSIONS: No consensus on cut-off points for KES was reached due to the heterogeneities in KES measurement and normalized methods among studies. To enhance the comparability among studies and facilitate the sarcopenia screening framework, a standardized approach for KES measurement and KES normalization are needed. Regarding KES measurement, the hand-held dynamometer-based isometric KES is easy to access and ideally suited for both clinical and community settings, while isokinetic KES, representing the gold standard, is preferred for research settings. Additionally, it is suggested to normalize isometric KES to body weight (BW), while normalizing isokinetic KES to allometrically scaled BW.

Association between vitamin D receptor polymorphism and breast cancer in women: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of observational investigations.

This study aimed to conduct an umbrella review of meta-analyses to synthesize the existing evidence regarding the relationship between vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism and breast cancer (BC) risk. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, including Embase, PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and the Web of Science. The investigation included 17 meta-analyses for the BsmI polymorphism, 6 for the Cdx2 polymorphism, and 6 for the Poly (A) polymorphism. Among the 119 datasets analyzed, only 6 (5 %) reported statistically significant outcomes (p < 0.05), comprising 2 comparisons for VDR BsmI polymorphism (3 %), 1 for VDR Cdx-2 polymorphism (4 %), and 3 for VDR Poly (A) polymorphism (14 %), across various genetic models. Notably, significant heterogeneity was observed in 82 comparisons, and publication bias was detected in 16 comparisons. Furthermore, a substantial proportion (86 %) of the included studies exhibited critically low methodological quality. In conclusion, our findings suggest that VDR polymorphism (BsmI, Cdx-2, and Poly (A)) is not strongly associated with BC risk in the general population.

Dynamic impacts of short-term bath administration of enrofloxacin on juvenile black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii.

Dynamic impacts of short-term enrofloxacin (ENR) exposure on juvenile marine fish are not well understood, and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We therefore investigated the accumulation and elimination of ENR in the liver of juvenile black seabream Acanthopagrus schlegelii. Meanwhile, the dynamic alterations of biochemical parameters and liver transcriptomes after short-term bath immersion and withdrawal treatment were explored. The results indicated that the contents of ENR in the liver were significantly increased after bath administration for 24 h, and then quickly declined to very low concentrations along with the decontamination time increasing. Judging from the changes in biochemical indicators and liver transcriptomic alterations, 0.5 and 1 mg/L ENR exposure for 24 h triggered oxidative stress, impairment of immune system, as well as aberrant lipid metabolism via differential molecular pathways. Interestingly, biochemical and transcriptome analysis as well as integrated biomarker response (IBR) values showed that more significant changes appeared in 1 mg/L ENR group at decontamination periods, which indicated that the impact of high dose ENR on juvenile A. schlegelii may persist even after depuration for 7 days. These results revealed that the risk of short-term bath of 1 mg/L ENR should not be overlooked even after depuration period. Therefore, attention should be paid to the dosage control when administering the drug to juvenile A. schlegelii, and the restoration of physiological disturbance may be an important factor in formulating a reasonable treatment plan.

Quantitative EEG reactivity induced by electrical stimulation predicts good outcome in comatose patients after cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND: EEG reactivity is a predictor for neurological outcome in comatose patients after cardiac arrest (CA); however, its application is limited by variability in stimulus types and visual assessment. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the quantitative analysis of EEG reactivity induced by standardized electrical stimulation and for early prognostication in this population. METHODS: This prospective observational study recruited post-CA comatose patients in Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University (Beijing, China) between January 2016 and June 2023. EEG reactivity to electrical or traditional pain stimulation was randomly performed via visual and quantitative analysis. Neurological outcome within 6 months was dichotomized as good (Cerebral Performance Categories, CPC 1-2) or poor (CPC 3-5). RESULTS: Fifty-eight post-CA comatose patients were admitted, and 52 patients were included in the final analysis, of which 19 (36.5%) had good outcomes. EEG reactivity induced with the electrical stimulation had superior performance to the traditional pain stimulation for good outcome prediction (quantitative analysis: AUC 0.932 vs. 0.849, p = 0.048). When using the electrical stimulation, the AUC of EEG reactivity to predict good outcome by visual analysis was 0.838, increasing to 0.932 by quantitative analysis (p = 0.039). Comparing to the traditional pain stimulation by visual analysis, the AUC of EEG reactivity for good prognostication by the electrical stimulation with quantitative analysis was significantly improved (0.932 vs. 0.770, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: EEG reactivity induced by the standardized electrical stimulation in combination with quantitative analysis is a promising formula for post-CA comatose patients, with increased predictive accuracy.

Unusual Janus Bi2TeSe2 Topological Insulators Displaying Second-Harmonic Generation, Linear-in-Temperature Resistivity, and Weak Antilocalization.

Well-established knowledge about inversion-symmetric Bi2TexSe3-x topological insulators characterizes the promising new-generation quantum device. Noticeably, the inversion asymmetric phase containing different surface electronic structures may create an extra topological phenomenon pointing to a new device paradigm. Herein, Janus Bi2TeSe2 single-crystal nanosheets with an unconventional stacking sequence of Se-Bi-Se-Bi-Te are realized via chemical vapor deposition growth, which is clarified by atomically resolved AC-STEM and elemental mapping. An obvious polarization-dependent second-harmonic generation with a representative 6-fold rotational symmetry is detected due to the broken out-of-plane mirror symmetry in this system. Low-temperature transport measurements display a strange metal-like linear-in-temperature resistivity. Anomalous conductance peaks under low magnetic fields induced by the weak antilocalization effect of topological surface states and the two-dimensional transport-dominated anisotropic magnetoresistance are revealed. These findings correlate the Janus Bi2TeSe2 phase with emerging physics topics, which would inspire fresh thoughts in well-developed Bi3TexSe3-x topological insulators and open up opportunities for exploring hybrid nonlinear optoelectronic topological devices.

Distribution and typologies of anthropogenic seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters, China.

Marine litter pollution poses a significant threat to offshore ecosystems, eliciting widespread concern. We investigated seafloor litter patterns in the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent coastal waters of China in 2023 via bottom trawl survey. Average number and weight densities were found to be 154.34 ± 30.95 n/km2 and 2384.63 ± 923.98 g/km2, respectively. Plastic was the most abundant material by number density (79.07 %), and rubber the highest by weight density (22.93 %). Overall number density varied from 40.50 ± 22.50 to 221.13 ± 52.44 n/km2, with the highest in Daya Bay and the lowest in Guanghai Bay. Weight density varied from 189.93 ± 71.94 to 5386.70 ± 3050.30 g/km2, with the highest in Qiao Island and the lowest in Honghai Bay. The main source was plastic bags and wrappers. The Pearl River Delta and Daya Bay were identified as seafloor litter distribution hotspots. Controlling plastic waste input is crucial for reducing seafloor litter in the Pearl River Estuary.

Functionalized magnetic nanomaterials as recyclable adsorbents for efficient flavonoid enrichment in Scutellaria Radix.

A magnetic composite (Fe3O4@SiO2@PNIPAM-co-NHMA) with high adsorption capacity and recoverability was developed for the enrichment and determination of flavonoids in Scutellaria Radix (SR). A magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) technique using Fe3O4@SiO2@PNIPAM-co-NHMA absorbent in combination with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for selectively enrichment and determination of the biologically active flavonoids in the aqueous extract of SR, including baicalein, baicalin, wogonoside and wogonin. Under the optimized experimental conditions, the magnetic adsorbent could adsorb up to 77.0 ± 0.98 % - 98.15 ± 0.15 % of four representative flavonoids from SR, with elution rates varying from 55.10 ± 0.25 % to 91.94 ± 1.85 %. The limits of detection (LOD) and limits of quantitation (LOQ) were 0.01-0.35 µg/mL and 0.03-0.98 µg/mL, respectively. In addition, it remained effective after six replicates, demonstrating its potential as a recoverable adsorbent for enriching flavonoids in traditional Chinese medicine.

The Lithium Storage Mechanism of Zero-Strain Anode Materials with Ultralong Cycle Lives.

At present, graphite is a widely used anode material in commercial lithium-ion batteries for its low cost, but the large volume expansion (about 10%) after fully lithiated makes the material prone to cracking and even surface stripping in the cycle. Therefore, the development of zero-strain anode materials (volume change <1%) is of great significance. LiAl5O8 is a zero-strain insertion anode material with a high theoretical specific capacity. However, the Li+ storage mechanism remains unclear, and the cycle life as well as fast-charging capability need to be greatly improved to meet the practical requirements. In this study, LiAl5O8 nanorods are prepared by utilizing aluminum ethoxide nanowires as a soft template and doped with the Zr element to further improve the Li+ diffusion coefficient and electronic conductivity, which in turn improves cycle and rate performances. The Zr-doped LiAl5O8 presents a high reversible capacity of 227.2 mAh g-1 after 20,000 cycles under 5 A g-1, which significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art anode materials. In addition, the Li+ storage mechanisms of LiAl5O8 and Zr-doped LiAl5O8 are clearly clarified with a variety of characterization techniques including nuclear magnetic resonance. This work greatly promotes the practical process of zero-strain insertion anode materials.

Evaluating the psychometric properties of the simplified Chinese version of PROMIS-29 version 2.1 in patients with hematologic malignancies.

The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System 29-item Profile version 2.1 (PROMIS-29 V2.1) is a widely utilized self-reported instrument for assessing health outcomes from the patients' perspectives. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the PROMIS-29 V2.1 Chinese version among patients with hematological malignancy. Conducted as a cross-sectional, this research was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (registration number QTJC2022002-EC-1). We employed convenience sampling to enroll eligible patients with hematological malignancy from four tertiary hospitals in Tianjin, Shandong, Jiangsu, and Anhui province in China between June and August 2023. Participants were asked to complete a socio-demographic information questionnaire, the PROMIS-29 V2.1, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G). We assessed the reliability, ceiling and floor effects, structural, convergent discriminant and criterion validity of the PROMIS-29 V2.1. A total of 354 patients with a mean age of 46.93 years was included in the final analysis. The reliability of the PROMIS-29 V2.1 was affirmed, with Cronbach's α for the domains ranging from 0.787 to 0.968. Except sleep disturbance, the other six domains had ceiling effects, which were seen on physical function (26.0%), anxiety (37.0%), depression (40.4%), fatigue (18.4%), social roles (18.9%) and pain interference (43.2%), respectively. Criterion validity was supported by significant correlations between the PROMIS-29 V2.1 and FACT-G scores, as determined by the Spearman correlation test (P < 0.001). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated a good model fit, with indices of χ2/df (2.602), IFI (0.960), and RMSEA (0.067). The Average Variance Extracted (AVE) values for the seven dimensions of PROMIS-29 V2.1, ranging from 0.500 to 0.910, demonstrated satisfactory convergent validity. Discriminant validity was confirmed by ideal √AVE values. The Chinese version of the PROMIS-29 V2.1 profile has been validated as an effective instrument for assessing symptoms and functions in patients with hematological malignancy, underscoring its reliability and applicability in this specific patient group.

Assessment of satellite-based water requirements for a drip-irrigated apple orchard in Mediterranean agroclimatic conditions.

Accurate assessment of evapotranspiration (ETa) and crop coefficient (Kc) is crucial for optimizing irrigation practices in water-scarce regions. While satellite-based surface energy balance models offer a promising solution, their application to sparse canopies like apple orchards requires specific validation. This study investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of ETa and Kc in a drip-irrigated 'Pink Lady' apple orchard under Mediterranean conditions over three growing seasons (2012/13, 2013/14, 2014/15). The METRIC model, incorporating calibrated sub-models for leaf area index (LAI), surface roughness (Zom), and soil heat flux (G), was employed to estimate ETa and Kc. These estimates were validated against field-scale Eddy Covariance data. Results indicated that METRIC overpredicted Kc and ETa with errors less than 10 %. These findings highlight the potential of the calibrated METRIC model as a valuable decision-making tool for irrigation management in apple orchards.