Manipulating host secreted protein gene expression: an indirect approach by HPV11/16 E6/E7 to suppress PBMC cytokine secretion.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 11/16 E6/E7 proteins have been recognized to be pivotal in viral pathogenesis. This study sought to uncover the potential mechanisms of how HPV11/16 E6/E7-transfected keratinocytes inhibit cytokine secretion in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Upon co-culturing HPV11/16 E6/E7-transfected keratinocytes with PBMC in a non-contact manner, we observed a marked decrease in various cytokines secreted by PBMC. To determine if this suppression was mediated by specific common secreted factors, we conducted transcriptomic sequencing on these transfected cells. This analysis identified 53 common differentially secreted genes in all four HPV-transfected cells. Bioinformatics analysis demonstrated these genes were predominantly involved in immune regulation. Results from quantitative PCR (qPCR) and an extensive literature review suggested the downregulation of 12 genes (ACE2, BMP3, BPIFB1, CLU, CST6, CTF1, HMGB2, MMP12, PDGFA, RNASE7, SULF2, TGM2), and upregulation of 7 genes (CCL17, CCL22, FBLN1, PLAU, S100A7, S100A8, S100A9), may be crucial in modulating tumor immunity and combating pathogenic infections, with genes S100A8 and S100A9, and IL-17 signaling pathway being particularly noteworthy. Thus, HPV11/16 E6/E7 proteins may inhibit cytokine secretion of immune cells by altering the expression of host-secreted genes. Further exploration of these genes may yield new insights into the complex dynamics of HPV infection.

Association between hibernating myocardium and collateral circulation in patients with coronary chronic total occlusion.

Objective: To explore the association between the quantity of hibernating myocardium (HM) and collateral circulation in patients with coronary chronic total occlusion (CTO). Materials and methods: 88 CTO patients were retrospectively analyzed who underwent evaluation for HM using both 99mTc-sestamibi Single photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-MIBI SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) combined with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG PET) myocardial metabolism imaging (MMI). They were divided into two groups according Rentrop grading: the poorly/well-developed collateral circulation group (PD/WD group, Rentrop grades 0-1/2-3). After adjusting for the potential confounding factors and conducting a stratified analysis, we explored the association between the HM index within CTO region and the grading of collateral circulation. Results: In the WD group, the HM index was notably higher than PD group (46.2 ± 15.7% vs. 20.9 ± 16.7%, P < 0.001). When dividing the HM index into tertiles and after adjusting for potential confounders, we observed that the proportion of patients with WD rose as the HM index increased (OR: 1.322, 95% CI: 0.893-1.750, P < 0.001), the proportion of patients with WD was 17.4%, 63.3%, and 88.6% for Tertile 1 to Tertile 3.This increasing trend was statistically significant (OR: 1.369, 95% CI: 0.873-1.864, P < 0.001), especially between Tertile 3 vs. Tertile 1 (OR: 4.330, 95% CI: 1.459-12.850, P = 0.008). Curve fitting displaying an almost linear positive correlation between the two. Conclusion: The HM index within CTO region is an independent correlation factor for the grading of coronary collateral circulation. A greater HM index corresponded to an increased likelihood of WD.

Structure and performance regulation of energetic complexes through multifunctional molecular self-assembly.

The design of novel energetic compounds constitutes a pivotal research direction within the field of energetic materials. However, exploring the intricate relationship between their molecular structure and properties, in order to uncover their potential applications, remains a challenging endeavor. Therefore, employing multi-molecule assembly techniques to modulate the structure and performance of energetic materials holds immense significance. This approach enables the creation of a new generation of energetic materials, fueling research and development efforts in this field. In this study, a series of coordination compounds are synthesized by utilizing tetranitroethide (TNE) as an anion, which possesses a high nitrogen and oxygen content. The synthesis involves the synergistic modification between metal ions and small molecule ligands. Characterization of the obtained compounds is carried out using various techniques, including single crystal X-ray diffraction, IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and simultaneous TG-DSC analysis. Additionally, the energy of formation for these compounds is calculated using bomb calorimetry, based on the heat of combustion. The detonation performances of the compounds are determined through calculations using the EXPLO 5 software, and their sensitivities to external stimuli are evaluated.

High-Strength MOF-Based Polymer Electrolytes with Uniform Ionic Flow for Lithium Dendrite Suppression.

The uneven formation of lithium dendrites during electroplating/stripping leads to a decrease in the utilization of active lithium, resulting in poor cycling stability and posing safety hazards to the battery. Herein, introducing a 3D continuously interconnected zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF808) network into a polyethylene oxide polymer matrix establishes a synergistic mechanism for lithium dendrite inhibition. The 3D MOF808 network maintains its large pore structure, facilitating increased lithium salt accommodation, and expands anion adsorption at unsaturated metal sites through its diverse large-space cage structure, thereby promoting the flow of Li+. Infrared-Raman and synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering results demonstrate that the transport behavior of lithium salt ion clusters at the MOF/polymer interface verifies the increased local Li+ flux concentration, thereby raising the mobility number of Li+ to 0.42 and ensuring uniform Li+ flux distribution, leading to dendrite-free and homogeneous Li+ deposition. Furthermore, nanoindentation tests reveal that the high modulus and elastic recovery of MOF-based polymer electrolytes contribute to forming a robust, dendrite-resistant interface. Consequently, in symmetric battery systems, the system exhibits minimal overpotential, merely 35 mV, while maintaining stable cycling for over 1800 h, achieving low-overpotential lithium deposition. Moreover, it retains redox stability under high voltages up to 5.3 V.

Galacto-oligosaccharides modified whey protein isolate ameliorates cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression.

The effect of whey protein isolate (WPI)- galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS)/fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) conjugates on RAW264.7 cells, and further the effect of WPI-GOS conjugates on CTX-induced immunosuppressed mice were investigated. Compared to WPI-FOS conjugates, WPI-GOS conjugates exhibited deeper glycation extent, more pronounced structural unfolding and helix-destabilizing, and obviously improved functional indicators of RAW264.7 macrophages. In addition, WPI-GOS conjugates also repaired immune organ and intestinal barrier and increased IL-1ß and IFN-γ levels in immunosuppressed mice. The alteration of gut microbiota induced by WPI-GOS conjugates changed the serum metabolites, causing the activation of NFκB pathway, which strengthens the immune system. The activation of NFκB pathway maybe associated with the mTOR signal pathway and ABC transporters. However, the precise mechanisms by which NFκB pathway interacts with mTOR signal pathway and ABC transporters to modulate the immune response need for further research.

Enhancing cassava beer quality: Extrusion-induced modification of cassava starch structure boosts fermentable sugar content in wort.

The high starch content and cost-effectiveness of cassava make it an attractive adjunct in beer brewing, with the fine structure of starch playing a crucial role in determining the composition of fermentable sugars (FS) and overall beer quality. This study investigated the effect of extrusion-induced changes in the starch structure of cassava flour on the FS profile of the wort and, consequently, on the quality attributes of cassava beer. The findings revealed that the shear stress during extrusion significantly reduced the molecular weight to 1.20 × 105g/mol and the branching degree of amylopectin. Simultaneously, there was an increase in the concentrations of short- and intermediate- chain amylose by 5.61% and 42.72%, respectively. These structural changes enhanced the enzymatic hydrolysis of extruded cassava flour (ECF), resulting in a higher total fermentable sugars content (22.00g/100 mL) in the ECF wort, predominantly composed of maltose and glucose. Furthermore, the altered FS profile led to an increased production of higher alcohols and esters in extruded cassava beer (ECB), particularly noted for the elevation of 2-phenylethyl alcohol levels, which imparted a distinctive rose aroma to the ECB. Consequently, the sensory profile of ECB showed significant improvement. This study offers critical insight into optimizing cassava beer quality and broadens the potential applications of cassava flour in the brewing industry.

Incorporating whole soybean pulp into wheat flour for nutrient-enriched steamed bread: Exploring the impact on physical and nutritional characteristics.

This research explored the impact of incorporating various levels of whole soybean pulp (WSP) (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) into wheat flour on the physical and nutritional qualities of steamed bread. In comparison with the traditional steamed bread, the substitution of up to 20% WSP did not significantly alter the specific volume, hardness, and chewiness of the steamed bread. Additionally, the crumb texture of the steamed bread with 20% WSP maintained small and uniform pores, with optimal springiness and cohesiveness. Nutritionally, the substitution of 10%-50% WSP enhanced total dietary fiber, total phenolics, and protein by 9.40%-89.79%, 14.96%-116.31%, and 3.45%-34.36%, respectively. Isoflavones in the steamed bread increased markedly from 22.92 µg/g to a range of 140.12-997.12 µg/g. The expected glycemic index showed a decrease from 90.24 to between 85.85 and 70.75, whereas amino acid scores improved from 59.22 to a range of 64.58-65.08, with lysine (Lys) scores notably increasing from 59.22 to between 64.96 and 88.80. In conclusion, partially replacing wheat flour with WSP is an effective method for enhancing the nutritional profile and addressing the essential amino acid imbalance in steamed bread. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study partially replaced flour with WSP to improve the steamed bread's nutritional quality. The optimal substitution level was determined to be 20% WSP, which improves the bread's nutritional value without significantly impacting its physical qualities. Furthermore, WSP is produced from soaked soybeans through hot water milling. This process simplifies soybean processing, lowers energy consumption and costs, and reduces pollution. It also effectively retains essential nutrients, such as protein, dietary fiber, polyphenols, and soy isoflavones, ensuring the full utilization of soybeans.

In-Hospital Adverse Events of Pheochromocytoma-Induced Takotsubo Syndrome: A Literature Review and Cluster Analysis of 172 Cases.

Background: Pheochromocytoma-induced takotsubo syndrome (Pheo-TTS) significantly increases the risk of adverse events for inpatient. The early identification of risk factors at admission is crucial for effective risk stratification and minimizing complications in Pheo-TTS patients. Methods: We conducted a systematic review combined with hierarchical cluster and feature importance analysis of demographic, clinical and laboratory data upon admission, alongside in-hospital complication data for Pheo-TTS patients. We analyzed cases published in PubMed and Embase from 2 May 2006 to 27 April 2023. Results: Among 172 Pheo-TTS patients, cluster analysis identified two distinct groups: a chest pain dominant (CPD) group (n = 86) and a non-chest pain dominant (non-CPD) group (n = 86). The non-CPD group was characterized by a younger age (44.0 ± 15.2 vs. 52.4 ± 14.4, p < 0.001), a higher prevalence of neurological/psychiatric disorders (53.5% vs. 32.6%), and increased presentation of dyspnea (87.2% vs. 17.4%), pulmonary rales (59.3% vs. 8.1%), and tachycardia (77.9% vs. 30.2%). Additionally, they exhibited more atypical takotsubo syndrome (TTS) imaging phenotypes (55.8% vs. 36.5%, all p < 0.05). The non-CPD group experienced more than a 2-fold increase for in-hospital adverse events compared to the CPD group (70.9% vs. 30.2%, p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, the absence of chest pain (odds ratio [OR] = 0.407, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.169-0.979, p = 0.045), the presence of abdominal symptoms (OR = 3.939, 95% CI 1.770-8.766, p = 0.001), pulmonary rales (OR = 4.348, 95% CI 1.857-10.179, p = 0.001), and atypical TTS imaging phenotype (OR = 3.397, 95% CI 1.534-7.525, p = 0.003) remained as independent predictors of in-hospital complications. Conclusions: Clinical manifestations and imaging features at admission help to predict in-hospital complications for Pheo-TTS patients.

Temperature and Dissolved Oxygen Drive Arsenic Mobility at the Sediment-Water Interface in the Lake Taihu.

In this study examining the effects of temperature and dissolved oxygen (DO) on arsenic (As) release at the sediment-water interface (SWI), it was found that an increase in temperature promoted the formation of an anaerobic environment and the reduction and desorption of As fractions within the sediments. A temperature of 32 °C was the most favorable condition for As release at the SWI, and low DO conditions aggravated this process. Even under high DO conditions, the release of sediment As was significantly accelerated under high-temperature conditions, allowing dissolved As to rapidly migrate to the overlying water. In this process, the release of As from sediments was a consequence of the transformation of As fractions in the sediments.

How does the data element-driven industry affect corporate cash holdings? Evidence from Chinese listed companies.

The data element-driven industry (DEDI) generates large amounts of data, thereby mitigating information asymmetry. Does this affect corporate cash holdings? On the basis of theoretical analysis, this study empirically analyzes the impact of DEDI on enterprises' cash holdings and its transmission path using data of Chinese cities and A-share listed enterprises from 2008 to 2020. First, the results indicate that the DEDI reduces corporate cash holdings. As the development level of the DEDI improves, the corporate cash holdings gradually decrease. Second, the DEDI indirectly affects corporate cash holdings by influencing debt-financing and external credit supply capacities. Specifically, the DEDI increases the upstream corporate debt-financing and downstream corporate external credit supply capacities. Improvements in debt-financing and the external credit supply capacities can reduce corporate cash holdings. Third, the DEDI has a heterogeneous impact. For enterprise with CEO duality, small and medium-sized, and information technology enterprises, the impact of DEDI in reducing cash holdings is greater.

Mycobacterium vaccae attenuates airway inflammation by inhibiting autophagy and activating PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in OVA-induced allergic airway inflammation mouse model.

PURPOSE: The etiology of asthma remains elusive, with no known cure. Based on accumulating evidence, autophagy, a self-degradation process that maintains cellular metabolism and homeostasis, participates in the development of asthma. Mycobacterium vaccae vaccine (M. vaccae), an immunomodulatory agent, has previously been shown to effectively alleviate airway inflammation and airway remodeling. However, its therapeutic effect on asthma via the regulation of autophagy remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of M. vaccae in attenuating asthma airway inflammation via autophagy-mediated pathways. METHODS: Balb/c mice were used to generate an ovalbumin (OVA)-immunized allergic airway model and were subsequently administered either M. vaccae or M. vaccae + rapamycin (an autophagy activator) prior to each challenge. Next, airway inflammation, mucus secretion, and airway remodeling in mouse lung tissue were assessed via histological analyses. Lastly, the expression level of autophagy proteins LC3B, Beclin1, p62, and autolysosome was determined both in vivo and in vitro, along with the expression level of p-PI3K, PI3K, p-Akt, and Akt in mouse lung tissue. RESULTS: The findings indicated that aerosol inhalation of M. vaccae in an asthma mouse model has the potential to decrease eosinophil counts, alleviate airway inflammation, mucus secretion, and airway remodeling through the inhibition of autophagy. Likewise, M. vaccae could reduce the levels of OVA-specific lgE, IL-5, IL-13, and TNF-α in asthma mouse models by inhibiting autophagy. Furthermore, this study revealed that M. vaccae also suppressed autophagy in IL-13-stimulated BEAS-2B cells. Moreover, M. vaccae may activate the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. CONCLUSION: In summary, the present study suggests that M. vaccae may contribute to alleviating airway inflammation and remodeling in allergic asthma by potentially modulating autophagy and the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. These discoveries offer a promising avenue for the development of therapeutic interventions targeting allergic airway inflammation.

Ocular manifestations in ANCA-associated vasculitis: a comprehensive analysis from Chinese medical centers.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to explore ocular manifestations in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), focusing on granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and to examine the associations with laboratory parameters and other systemic manifestations. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed data from 533 AAV patients across two major Chinese medical centers from January 2016 to November 2023. Data including diagnosis, cranial manifestations of disease, ocular complications, and laboratory parameters were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed associations across disease manifestations. Machine learning models were also utilized to predict the risk of retinal/eye involvement in AAV patients. RESULTS: Among 533 patients (210 GPA, 217 MPA, 99 EGPA, and 7 unclassified AAV), ocular complications were observed in 20.64% of them, with a distribution of 36.67% in GPA, 7.37% in MPA, and 18.18% in EGPA. The most common ocular manifestations included scleritis and retro-orbital mass/dacryocystitis, which were notably prevalent in GPA patients. Retinal involvement was observed in 9.09% of EGPA cases. The machine learning models yielded that eosinophil percentage (EOS%), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and CD4 + T cell/CD8 + T cell ratio (T4/T8) can predict retinal involvement. Furthermore, the white blood cell, EOS%, APTT, IgA, hsCRP, PR3-ANCA, and T4/T8 can predict eye involvement. CONCLUSION: Ocular manifestations are a prevalent complication across all forms of AAV. Predictive models developed through machine learning offer promising tools for early intervention and tailored patient care. This necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, integrating rheumatology and ophthalmology expertise for optimal patient outcomes.

High-risk ARGs (HRA) Chip: A high-throughput qPCR-based array for assessment of high-risk ARGs from the environment.

The global surge in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) presents a serious public health challenge. While methods like metagenomic analysis and qPCR arrays have been instrumental in investigating ARG distributions and dynamics, the vast diversity of ARGs often complicates effective monitoring and risk assessment. Here, we developed a High-Risk ARGs (HRA) chip based on high-capacity quantitative PCR array targeting previously identified high-risk ARGs. These ARGs are known to be prevalent in human-related environments, exhibit gene mobility, and are present in ESKAPE pathogens. The HRA chip include 101 primer sets and the 16S rRNA gene as a reference. These primer sets consist of 34 obtained from previous studies, and 67 newly designed primer sets which were validated in silico and experimentally. Absolute quantification of targeted ARGs is accomplished by generating standard curves for all ARGs with serially ten-fold diluted mixed plasmids containing targeted ARG sequences. The amplification efficiencies of all ARGs exceed 99% via plasmid template dilution tests, suggesting high reliability in quantification. The performance of HRA chip is further evaluated by practical applications in environmental samples from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and soils with various land use types and fertilization regimes. The results indicate the dynamics of high-risk ARGs during wastewater treatment process, and reveal the profiles of soil high-risk ARGs which is distinct from those derived via metagenomic approaches. These findings highlight the potentials of HRA Chip in the evaluation of anthropogenic impacts on the environmental resistome with a more focused spectrum of high-risk ARGs. Overall, the HRA Chip emerges as a powerful and efficient high-throughput tool for rapid detection and quantification of high-risk ARGs, facilitating comprehensive profiling of high-risk resistomes in environmental samples which is essential for human health risk assessment of ARGs.

Improving Granulosa Cell Function in Premature Ovarian Failure with Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Exosome-Derived hsa_circ_0002021.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic potential of exosomes from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUMSCs-Exo) for delivering specific circular RNAs (circRNAs) in treating premature ovarian failure (POF) is not well understood. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of HUMSCs-Exo in delivering hsa_circ_0002021 for POF treatment, focusing on its effects on granulosa cell (GC) senescence and ovarian function. METHODS: Bioinformatic analysis was conducted on circRNA profiles using the GSE97193 dataset from GEO, targeting granulosa cells from varied age groups. To simulate granulosa cell senescence, KGN cells were treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX). HUMSCs were transfected with pcDNA 3.1 vectors to overexpress hsa_circ_0002021, and the HUMSCs-Exo secreted were isolated. These exosomes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Western blotting to confirm exosomal markers CD9 and CD63. Co-culture of these exosomes with CTX-treated KGN cells was performed to assess ß-galactosidase activity, oxidative stress markers, ROS levels, and apoptosis via flow cytometry. Interaction between hsa_circ_0002021, microRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a-5p), and cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) was investigated using dual-luciferase assays and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP). A POF mouse model was induced with CTX, treated with HUMSCs-Exo, and analyzed histologically and via immunofluorescence staining. Gene expression was quantified using RT-qPCR and Western blot. RESULTS: hsa_circ_0002021 was under expressed in both in vivo and in vitro POF models and was effectively delivered by HUMSCs-Exo to KGN cells, showing a capability to reduce GC senescence. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0002021 in HUMSCs-Exo significantly enhanced these anti-senescence effects. This circRNA acts as a competitive adsorbent of miR-125a-5p, regulating CDK6 expression, which is crucial in modulating cell cycle and apoptosis. Enhanced expression of hsa_circ_0002021 in HUMSCs-Exo ameliorated GC senescence in vitro and improved ovarian function in POF models by modulating oxidative stress and cellular senescence markers. CONCLUSION: This study confirms that hsa_circ_0002021, when delivered through HUMSCs-Exo, can significantly mitigate GC senescence and restore ovarian function in POF models. These findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of POF and highlight the therapeutic potential of circRNA-enriched exosomes in treating ovarian aging and dysfunction.

Role of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in development of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism in lung cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy.

Background: The role of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF), especially the long-acting factor in the development of cancer-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lung cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy has been understudied, although the use of rhG-CSF has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of VTE. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1,673 lung cancer patients who underwent hospitalized chemotherapy. We performed propensity score matching to offset confounding factors related to cancer-associated VTE development and classified the patients into short-acting (N = 273), long-acting (N = 273), and no rhG-CSF (N = 273) groups. The primary outcome was cumulative cancer-associated VTE development three months after all cycles of chemotherapy. Results: The overall VTE incidence in the short-acting, long-acting, and no rhG-CSF groups was 5.5%, 10.3%, and 2.2%, respectively (P <0.001). The VTE incidence in the long-acting rhG-CSF group was higher than that in the short-acting (P = 0.039) and no rhG-CSF groups (P <0.001). The VTE incidence in the short-acting rhG-CSF group was higher than that in the no rhG-CSF group (P = 0.045). The use of rhG-CSF (hazard ratio [HR] 2.337; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.236-5.251], P = 0.006) was positively correlated with VTE development among all patients, whereas the use of long-acting rhG-CSF (HR 1.917, 95% CI [1.138-4.359]; P = 0.016), was positively correlated with VTE development in patients receiving rhG-CSF. Conclusion: The use of rhG-CSF, especially long-acting rhG-CSF, increases the risk of cancer-associated VTE development compared to no rhG-CSF use in lung cancer patients who undergo hospitalized chemotherapy.

A Prediction Rule for Occurrence of Chronic Thromboembolic Disease After Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

BACKGROUND: Occurrence of chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) after 3 or 6 months of standard and effective anticoagulation is not uncommon in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). To date, there has been no scoring model for the prediction of CTED occurrence. METHODS: A Prediction Rule for CTED (PRC) was established in the establishment cohort (n=1,124) and then validated in the validation cohort (n=211). Both original and simplified versions of the PRC score were provided by using different scoring and cut-offs. RESULTS: The PRC score included 10 items: active cancer (3.641; 2.338-4.944; p<0.001), autoimmune diseases (2.218; 1.545-2.891; p=0.001), body mass index >30 kg/m2 (2.186; 1.573-2.799; p=0.001), chronic immobility (2.135; 1.741-2.529; p=0.001), D-dimer >2,000 ng/mL (1.618; 1.274-1.962; p=0.005), PE with deep vein thrombosis (3.199; 2.356-4.042; p<0.001), previous venous thromboembolism (VTE) history (5.268; 3.472-7.064; p<0.001), thromboembolism besides VTE (4.954; 3.150-6.758; p<0.001), thrombophilia (3.438; 2.573-4.303; p<0.001), and unprovoked VTE (2.227; 1.471-2.983; p=0.001). In the establishment cohort, the sensitivity, specificity, Youden index (YI), and C-index were 85.5%, 79.7%, 0.652, and 0.821 (0.732-0.909) when using the original PRC score, whereas they were 87.9%, 74.6%, 0.625, and 0.807 (0.718-0.897) when using the simplified one, respectively (Kappa coefficient 0.819, p-value of McNemar's test 0.786). In the validation cohort, the sensitivity, specificity, YI, and C-index were 86.3%, 76.3%, 0.626, and 0.815 (0.707-0.923) when using the original PRC score, whereas they were 85.0%, 78.6%, 0.636, and 0.818 (0.725-0.911) when using the simplified one, respectively (Kappa coefficient 0.912, p-value of McNemar's test 0.937); both were better than that of the DASH score (72.5%, 69.5%, 0.420, and 0.621 [0.532-0.710]). CONCLUSIONS: A prediction score for CTED occurrence, termed PRC, predicted the likelihood of CTED occurrence after 3 or 6 months of standard anticoagulation in hospitalised patients with a diagnosis of acute PE.

Estimation of soybean yield based on high-throughput phenotyping and machine learning.

Introduction: Soybeans are an important crop used for food, oil, and feed. However, China's soybean self-sufficiency is highly inadequate, with an annual import volume exceeding 80%. RGB cameras serve as powerful tools for estimating crop yield, and machine learning is a practical method based on various features, providing improved yield predictions. However, selecting different input parameters and models, specifically optimal features and model effects, significantly influences soybean yield prediction. Methods: This study used an RGB camera to capture soybean canopy images from both the side and top perspectives during the R6 stage (pod filling stage) for 240 soybean varieties (a natural population formed by four provinces in China: Sichuan, Yunnan, Chongqing, and Guizhou). From these images, the morphological, color, and textural features of the soybeans were extracted. Subsequently, feature selection was performed on the image parameters using a Pearson correlation coefficient threshold ≥0.5. Five machine learning methods, namely, CatBoost, LightGBM, RF, GBDT, and MLP, were employed to establish soybean yield estimation models based on the individual and combined image parameters from the two perspectives extracted from RGB images. Results: (1) GBDT is the optimal model for predicting soybean yield, with a test set R2 value of 0.82, an RMSE of 1.99 g/plant, and an MAE of 3.12%. (2) The fusion of multiangle and multitype indicators is conducive to improving soybean yield prediction accuracy. Conclusion: Therefore, this combination of parameters extracted from RGB images via machine learning has great potential for estimating soybean yield, providing a theoretical basis and technical support for accelerating the soybean breeding process.

Genetic assessment of eight zoo populations of golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) implication to the conservation management of captive populations.

Captive breeding programs play an important role in preserving the genetic diversity of endangered species. It is of utmost importance to conduct genetic assessment for captive populations in order to develop scientific breeding plans and conservation management strategies. Here, we genotyped 10 microsatellite loci and sequenced 368 bp of mitochondrial DNA control region for the golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) from eight captive populations in China, and compared the genetic indices of captive populations with a wild population. Meanwhile, we performed paternity tests to verify the genealogical records and established genetic lineages. A total of 157 individuals were identified from 161 fecal samples, including 135 captive individuals (approximately 25% of captive individuals in China). Microsatellite analysis showed that the nine populations had moderate levels of genetic diversity, with polymorphism information content (PIC) ranging from 0.43 to 0.542; the genetic diversity of captive populations (average PIC: 0.503) was slightly higher than that of the wild population (PIC: 0.438). The Structure analysis indicated that individuals of the eight captive populations contained two different genetic components. We conducted either single-blind or double-blind paternity testing on 40 offspring of captive individuals and found that five offspring from two zoos (Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo and Shanghai Wild Animal Park) showed discrepant kinships from their pedigree records, probably due to the inaccuracies in pedigree records. By constructing genetic pedigrees, inbred offspring were found in Beijing Zoo, Shanghai Zoo, Hangzhou Zoo, and Chengdu Zoo. Analysis based on mitochondrial DNA showed a high level of genetic diversity in the eight captive populations (mean nucleotide diversity: 0.047). However, no nucleotide diversity was found in the wild population. This study conducted a genetic survey for captive golden snub-nosed monkeys and will significantly benefit the genetic conservation management for captive populations in the future.

Squaramide-catalyzed enantioselective Michael addition of nitromethane to 2-enoylazaarenes: synthesis of chiral azaarene-containing γ-nitroketones.

Bifunctional chiral squaramide-catalyzed highly enantioselective Michael addition of nitromethane to diverse 2-enoylazaarenes was successfully performed. This protocol provided a set of chiral azaarene-containing γ-nitroketones with up to 98% yield and 98% ee in a solvent-free catalytic system under mild conditions. Furthermore, gram-scale synthetic utility was also showcased.

Optimal initial duration of low molecular weight heparin lead-in before direct oral anticoagulants for short-term outcomes of hospitalized patients with non-high-risk acute pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: There are currently three strategies for the duration of LMWH lead-in before DOACs in patients with acute PE: one is at least 5 days, the other is at least 3 days, and the last one is less than 3 days. Which one is the best is yet unknown. METHODS: We divided non-high-risk PE patients into short-LMWH (LMWH <3 days), intermediate-LMWH (LMWH 3-5 days), and long-LMWH (LMWH >5 days) groups, in a 1:1:2 ratio by using propensity score matching. Primary outcomes were a composite of mortality including all-cause and PE-related mortality, VTE recurrence, and major bleeding, as well as each one of them, at 3-month after PE diagnosis. RESULTS: The short-LMWH group (N = 504) had higher 3-month composite primary outcome (129 [25.6%] vs 67 [13.3%], P < 0.001), all-cause mortality (112 [22.2%] vs 39 [7.7%], P < 0.001), and PE-related mortality (48 [9.5%] vs 17 [3.4%], P < 0.001), than the intermediate-LMWH group (N = 504). The short-LMWH group also had higher 3-month composite primary outcome (129 [25.6%] vs 151 [15.0%], P < 0.001), all-cause mortality (112 [22.2%] vs 90 [8.9%], P < 0.001), and PE-related mortality (48 [9.5%] vs 41 [4.1%], P < 0.001) than the long-LMWH group (N = 1008). The VTE recurrence and major bleeding rates were similar between the short-LMWH and intermediate-LMWH groups, and between the short-LMWH and long-LMWH groups. The intermediate-LMWH and long-LMWH groups had similar 3-month primary outcomes rates in whole or in part with each other. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with non-high-risk acute PE, the optimal duration of initial LMWH lead-in before switching to DOACs could be 3 to 5 days.