Inhibition of Th17 cell differentiation by aerobic exercise improves vasodilatation in diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND: Aortic endothelial diastolic dysfunction is an early complication of diabetes and the abnormal differentiation of Th17 cells is involved in the development of diabetes. However, the exact role of exercise on regulating the Th17 cells differentiation and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated in diabetic mice. METHODS: db/db and db/m+ mice were randomly divided into exercise and sedentary groups. Mice in exercise group were exercised daily, 6 days/week, for 6 weeks and mice in sedentary groups were placed on a nonmoving treadmill for 6 weeks. Vascular endothelial function was measured via wire myograph and the frequencies of Th17 from peripheral blood in mice were assessed via flow cytometry. RESULTS: Our data showed that exercise improved insulin resistance and aortic endothelial diastolic function in db/db mice. In addition, the proportion of Th17 cells and IL-17A level in peripheral blood of db/db mice were significantly increased, and exercise could promote Th17 cell differentiation and reduce IL-17A level. More importantly, STAT3 or ROR-γt inhibitors could promote Th17 cell differentiation in db/db mice, while exercise significantly down-regulated p-STAT3/ROR-γt signaling in db/db mice, suggesting that exercise regulated Th17 differentiation through STAT3/ROR-γt signaling. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that exercise improved vascular endothelial function in diabetic mice via reducing Th17 cell differentiation through p-STAT3/ROR-γt pathway, suggesting exercise may be an important non-pharmacological intervention strategy for the treatment of diabetes-related vascular complications.

A Self-foaming Strategy to Construct Small Mo2C Nanoparticles Decorated 3D Carbon Foams as Superior Electromagnetic Wave Absorbing Materials with Strong Corrosion Resistance.

3D macroporous carbon-based foams are always considered as promising candidates for high-performance electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbing materials due to the collaborative EM contribution and salutary structure effect. However, the uneven distribution of heterogeneous EM components and the cumbersome preparation process have become key issues to hinder their performance improvement and practical popularity. Herein, the fabrication of 3D carbon foam decorated with small and highly dispersed Mo2C nanoparticles is realized by an innovative self-foaming strategy. The foaming mechanism can be attributed to the decomposition of nitrate during the softening process of organic polymers. The good dispersion of Mo2C nanoparticles boosts interfacial polarization significantly. After regulating the content of Mo2C nanoparticles, the optimal Mo2C/CF-x exhibits good EM absorption performance, whose minimum reflection loss intensity value can reach up to -72.2 dB, and effective absorption bandwidth covers 6.7 GHz with a thickness of 2.30 mm. Very importantly, the resultant Mo2C/CF-x exhibits hydrophobicity and strong acidic anticorrosion, and a long-time treatment in HCl solution (6.0 mol L-1) produces negligible impacts on their EM functions. It is believed that this extraordinary feature may render Mo2C/C foams as qualified and durable EM wave absorbing materials (EWAMs) under rigorous conditions.

Apoptotic vesicles rescue impaired mesenchymal stem cells and their therapeutic capacity for osteoporosis by restoring miR-145a-5p deficiency.

Apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) play a vital role in various pathological conditions; however, we have yet to fully understand their precise biological effects in rescuing impaired mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and regulating tissue homeostasis. Here, we proved that systemic infusion of bone marrow MSCs derived from wild-type (WT) mice effectively improved the osteopenia phenotype and hyperimmune state in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Importantly, the WT MSCs rescued the impairment of OVX MSCs both in vivo and in vitro, whereas OVX MSCs did not show the same efficacy. Interestingly, treatment with apoVs derived from WT MSCs (WT apoVs) restored the impaired biological function of OVX MSCs and their ability to improve osteoporosis. This effect was not observed with OVX MSCs-derived apoVs (OVX apoVs) treatment. Mechanistically, the reduced miR-145a-5p expression hindered the osteogenic differentiation and immunomodulatory capacity of OVX MSCs by affecting the TGF-ß/Smad 2/3-Wnt/ß-catenin signaling axis, resulting in the development of osteoporosis. WT apoVs directly transferred miR-145a-5p to OVX MSCs, which were then reused to restore their impaired biological functions. Conversely, treatment with OVX apoVs did not produce significant effects due to their limited expression of miR-145a-5p. Overall, our findings unveil the remarkable potential of apoVs in rescuing the biological function and therapeutic capability of MSCs derived from individuals with diseases. This discovery offers a new avenue for exploring apoVs-based MSC engineering and expands the application scope of stem cell therapy, contributing to the maintenance of bone homeostasis through a previously unrecognized mechanism.

Unveiling the complex networks of urban tree diversity research: A global perspective.

Ecosystem services offered by urban forests must be proactively managed to remain diverse and sustainable. Recent research findings deserve a systematic synthesis to elucidate inherent knowledge structures and dynamics. This study focused on the urban tree diversity theme from 2000 to 2022. Web of Science Core Collection database provided bibliometric details on academic publications. The data-driven quantitative analysis explored research quantities, emphasis, trends, patterns, linkages, and impacts by countries, institutions, authors, journals, and citations. Publications and research topics have expanded continually, with accelerated growth in recent years. Research activities, outputs and interactions demonstrated conspicuous spatial clustering. A few countries, institutions and researchers generated a notable proportion of publications. Their scholarly contributions were visualized in knowledge graphs as complex networks of nodes and inter-node links. Keyword analysis generated a network to indicate research hotspots and frontiers to steer and prioritize future studies. Recent findings affirmed that cities can harbor substantial tree diversity due to enhanced habitat heterogeneity and successful species adaptation. Aligning tree traits with environmental conditions and management objectives can improve benefits. Urbanization can filter tree traits to shape community assemblages through stressors: habitat degradation, fragmentation and loss, in conjunction with pollution, climate change, and introduced species. Diversity preservation strategies include protecting remnant natural vegetation, connecting green spaces, and restoring complex canopy geometry and biomass structure. The emerging frontiers are marked by modeling future species distributions, leveraging technologies like remote sensing, linking ecology with human values, and committing to community-based stewardship. Management can be upgraded by interdisciplinary perspectives integrating ecological science and social engagement. The findings highlight the need for biodiversity enrichment anchored by native species, trait-matched assemblages, adaptive policies, and community participation to create livable-green cities. This review synthesizes key advances in urban tree ecology and biodiversity research to inform the planning and stewardship of resilient urban forests.

Kinetics of hydrogen absorption/desorption in the Zr-2.5Nb alloy.

The Zr-2.5Nb alloy is a typical pressure tube material in heavy water nuclear reactors, and an increase of hydrogen isotope content in the alloy during service can pose major safety risks; hot vacuum extraction-mass spectrometry is an efficient method for evaluating hydrogen isotope concentrations in the Zr-2.5Nb alloy. This work investigates the kinetics and thermodynamic properties of deuterium (D) absorption and desorption of the Zr-2.5Nb alloy using the constant volume adsorption method and the hot vacuum extraction method. In addition to the previously reported volume contraction model, it was observed that at 600 °C and above, the reaction between D2 and Zr-2.5Nb is dominated by diffusion, while the reaction is predominantly influenced by surface adsorption and dissociation below 600 °C. Phase transition sequence of Zr-2.5Nb deuterides during non-isothermal desorption was established using quantitatively calibrated thermal desorption spectra combined with the phase transition process of deuteride decomposition. These results can provide important references for optimizing the process parameters of the hot vacuum extraction-mass spectrometry method.

Bifurcation analysis and control of improved traffic flow model considering the effect of strong winds.

In recent years, the problem of traffic congestion has become increasingly serious, and research on traffic system control has become a new hotspot. Studying the bifurcation characteristics of traffic flow systems and designing control schemes for unstable support points can alleviate traffic congestion from a new perspective. This article improves the full speed differential model considering strong wind models from the perspective of bifurcation control to adjust traffic flow. This article theoretically proves the existence conditions of Hopf bifurcation and saddle node bifurcation in the model and finds the stability mutation point of the transportation system stability. A nonlinear system feedback controller was designed for unstable bifurcation points using Chebyshev polynomial approximation and random feedback control methods. Without changing the system equilibrium point, the advance, delay, and elimination of Hopf bifurcation were achieved, and the abrupt behavior of the transportation system was controlled, thereby alleviating traffic congestion. This article explains the changes in the stability of complex transportation systems from the perspective of bifurcation analysis, which can better capture the characteristics of traffic flow. By adjusting the control parameters in the feedback controller, the influence of boundary conditions on the stability of the transportation system is fully described, and the influence of unstable focal points and saddle points on the system is suppressed, thereby slowing down the traffic flow. In addition, unstable bifurcation points can be eliminated, and the Hopf bifurcation can be controlled to advance, delay, and disappear, thereby achieving control over the stable behavior of the transportation system. This helps alleviate traffic congestion and also helps describe actual traffic phenomena.

Mandibular cortical bone remodeling characteristics in patients with extraction: A cone-beam computed tomography study.

INTRODUCTION: This study evaluated the labial and lingual cortical bone remodeling characteristics of mandibular central incisors after retraction, which remain controversial among orthodontists. METHODS: Cortical bone remodeling and central incisor movement of 33 patients (aged 23.64 ± 4.30 years) who underwent mandibular first premolar extraction and incisor retraction at the crestal (S1), midroot (S2), and apical (S3) levels were analyzed using superimposed cone-beam computed tomography images on the basis of voxel-based registration of the mandibular stable region. Multivariate linear regression was used to explore the relationships between labial bone remodeling/tooth movement (BT) ratios and factors such as the ANB angle, mandibular plane angle (Mp-SN), and incisor movement patterns. The patients were divided into 4 groups according to the lingual cortical bone remodeling condition and the relationship between posttreatment incisor roots and the original lingual cortical bone border. At the 3 levels (S1, S2, and S3), the classifications of cortical bone remodeling of the mandibular incisors were calculated; t tests were used to compare the amount of labial and lingual bone remodeling, BT ratios, and lingual bone remodeling/root over the original border (BRo) ratios. RESULTS: The mean labial BT ratios at all 3 levels were close to 1. Multivariate linear regression indicated that the tooth movement pattern negatively correlated with the BT ratio at the S2 and S3 levels (P <0.05). Lingual bone apposition occurs when the root penetrates the original lingual cortical bone border in most patients. BRo ratios can more accurately reflect the inherent remodeling ability of the lingual cortical bone than BT ratios. The mean lingual BRo ratios were (1) S1 level: mandibular left central incisor (T31), 0.87 ± 0.25 and mandibular right incisor (T41), 0.86 ± 0.25; (2) S2 level: T31, 0.81 ± 0.12 and T41, 0.80 ± 0.22; and (3) S3 level: T31, 0.76 ± 0.20 and T41, 0.83 ± 0.26. There was no significant difference between labial BT ratios and lingual BRo ratios at the S2 and S3 levels. CONCLUSIONS: The amount of labial cortical bone resorption caused by mandibular incisor retraction showed varied relationships with the amount of tooth movement. Bodily retraction may decrease the labial BT ratios at the S2 and S3 levels. Active lingual cortical bone apposition occurred when the roots penetrated the original lingual border and exhibited strong remodeling ability.

The effect of a Schema-based method on correcting persistent errors in mental arithmetic: an experimental study.

Introduction: Arithmetic calculation is a fundamental skill for mathematical learning and daily life. However, elementary school students often make errors in practice. Methods: Grounded in the schema theory and the memory retrieval theory of mental arithmetic, this study employs a controlled experiment to investigate the effect of a schema-based method in correcting persistent errors in mental arithmetic, specifically in the context of simple addition operations. The experimental group utilizes a schema-based method to help participants rectify incorrect answers in memory retrieval, while the control group did not receive this treatment. Results: The results showed that significant differences emerged between the experimental and control groups in both the post-test performance and the reduction of persistent error count, indicating that the experimental group had rectified incorrect answers in memory; and persistent errors in simple addition were indeed caused by interference from incorrect answers during memory retrieval; and the schema-based method proves to be effective. Discussion: The findings of this study contribute to enhancing practical mental arithmetic instruction, assisting students in correcting relevant errors, and improving their mental arithmetic abilities. Not only does it offer directive guidance for teaching practices, but it also provides an enlightening reference for promoting innovative teaching methods.

Estimated plasma volume status as a simple and accessible predictor of 28-day mortality in septic shock: insights from a retrospective study of the MIMIC-IV database.

Background: Assessing volume status in septic shock patients is crucial for tailored fluid resuscitation. Estimated plasma volume status (ePVS) has emerged as a simple and effective tool for evaluating patient volume status. However, the prognostic value of ePVS in septic shock patients remains underexplored. Methods: The study cohort consisted of septic shock patients admitted to the ICU, sourced from the MIMIC-IV database. Patients were categorized into two groups based on 28-day survival outcomes, and their baseline characteristics were compared. According to the ePVS (6.52 dL/g) with a hazard ratio of 1 in the restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, patients were further divided into high and low ePVS groups. A multivariable Cox regression model was utilized to evaluate the association between ePVS and 28-day mortality rate. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve was plotted, and all-cause mortality was compared between the high and low groups using the log-rank test. Results: A total of 7,607 septic shock patients were included in the study, among whom 2,144 (28.2%) died within 28 days. A J-shaped relationship was observed between ePVS at ICU admission and 28-day mortality, with an increase in mortality risk noted when ePVS exceeded 6.52 dL/g. The high ePVS group exhibited notably higher mortality rates compared to the low ePVS group (28-day mortality: 26.2% vs. 30.2%; 90-day mortality: 35% vs. 42.3%). After adjustment for confounding factors, ePVS greater than 6.52 dL/g independently correlated with an increased risk of 28-day mortality (HR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.10-1.31, p < 0.001) and 90-day mortality (HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.15-1.35, p < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier curves demonstrated a heightened risk of mortality associated with ePVS values exceeding 6.52 dL/g. Conclusion: A J-shaped association was observed between ePVS and 28-day mortality in septic shock patients, with higher ePVS levels associated with increased risk of mortality.

A survey on advancements in image-text multimodal models: From general techniques to biomedical implementations.

With the significant advancements of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the field of Natural Language Processing (NLP), the development of image-text multimodal models has garnered widespread attention. Current surveys on image-text multimodal models mainly focus on representative models or application domains, but lack a review on how general technical models influence the development of domain-specific models, which is crucial for domain researchers. Based on this, this paper first reviews the technological evolution of image-text multimodal models, from early explorations of feature space to visual language encoding structures, and then to the latest large model architectures. Next, from the perspective of technological evolution, we explain how the development of general image-text multimodal technologies promotes the progress of multimodal technologies in the biomedical field, as well as the importance and complexity of specific datasets in the biomedical domain. Then, centered on the tasks of image-text multimodal models, we analyze their common components and challenges. After that, we summarize the architecture, components, and data of general image-text multimodal models, and introduce the applications and improvements of image-text multimodal models in the biomedical field. Finally, we categorize the challenges faced in the development and application of general models into external factors and intrinsic factors, further refining them into 2 external factors and 5 intrinsic factors, and propose targeted solutions, providing guidance for future research directions. For more details and data, please visit our GitHub page: https://github.com/i2vec/A-survey-on-image-text-multimodal-models.

Regulation of cardiac fibrosis in mice with TAC/DOCA-induced HFpEF by resistin-like molecule gamma and adenylate cyclase 1.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is one of the major subtypes of heart failure (HF) and no effective treatments for this common disease exist to date. Cardiac fibrosis is central to the pathology of HF and a potential avenue for the treatment of HFpEF. To explore key fibrosis-related genes and pathways in the pathophysiological process of HFpEF, a mouse model of HFpEF was constructed. The relevant gene expression profiles were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) was performed targeting fibrosis-related pathways to explore differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in healthy control and HFpEF heart tissues with cross-tabulation analysis of fibrosis-related genes. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed on the identified fibrosis-related genes. The two most significant DEGs were selected, and further validation was conducted in HFpEF mice. The results indicated that myocardial fibrosis was significantly upregulated in HFpEF mice compared to healthy controls, while the ssGSEA results revealed significant differences in the enrichment of nine fibrosis-related pathways in HFpEF myocardial tissue, with 112 out of 798 DEGs being related to fibrosis. The in vivo results demonstrated that expression levels of resistin-like molecule gamma (Relmg) and adenylate cyclase 1 (Adcy1) in the heart tissues of HFpEF mice were significantly higher and lower, respectively, compared to healthy controls. Taken together, these results suggest that Relmg and Acdy1 as well as the fibrosis process may be potential targets for HFpEF treatment.

European Society of Intensive Care Medicine clinical practice guideline on fluid therapy in adult critically ill patients. Part 1: the choice of resuscitation fluids.

PURPOSE: This is the first of three parts of the clinical practice guideline from the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) on resuscitation fluids in adult critically ill patients. This part addresses fluid choice and the other two will separately address fluid amount and fluid removal. METHODS: This guideline was formulated by an international panel of clinical experts and methodologists. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was applied to evaluate the certainty of evidence and to move from evidence to decision. RESULTS: For volume expansion, the guideline provides conditional recommendations for using crystalloids rather than albumin in critically ill patients in general (moderate certainty of evidence), in patients with sepsis (moderate certainty of evidence), in patients with acute respiratory failure (very low certainty of evidence) and in patients in the perioperative period and patients at risk for bleeding (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using isotonic saline rather than albumin in patients with traumatic brain injury (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using albumin rather than crystalloids in patients with cirrhosis (very low certainty of evidence). The guideline provides conditional recommendations for using balanced crystalloids rather than isotonic saline in critically ill patients in general (low certainty of evidence), in patients with sepsis (low certainty of evidence) and in patients with kidney injury (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using isotonic saline rather than balanced crystalloids in patients with traumatic brain injury (very low certainty of evidence). There is a conditional recommendation for using isotonic crystalloids rather than small-volume hypertonic crystalloids in critically ill patients in general (very low certainty of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: This guideline provides eleven recommendations to inform clinicians on resuscitation fluid choice in critically ill patients.

Liquid-liquid phase separation in innate immunity.

Intrinsic and innate immune responses are essential lines of defense in the body's constant surveillance of pathogens. The discovery of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) as a key regulator of this primal response to infection brings an updated perspective to our understanding of cellular defense mechanisms. Here, we review the emerging multifaceted role of LLPS in diverse aspects of mammalian innate immunity, including DNA and RNA sensing and inflammasome activity. We discuss the intricate regulation of LLPS by post-translational modifications (PTMs), and the subversive tactics used by viruses to antagonize LLPS. This Review, therefore, underscores the significance of LLPS as a regulatory node that offers rapid and plastic control over host immune signaling, representing a promising target for future therapeutic strategies.

Distribution pattern of large old Ginkgo biloba in China under climate change scenarios.

Large old Ginkgo biloba trees (LOGTs), with profound ecological and cultural significance in China, face increasing threats from climate change and human activities. We employed the BIOCLIM and DOMAIN species distribution models to predict their spatial patterns under the present climate and doubled-CO2 climate change scenario in 2100. We collected 604 validated LOGT occurrence records and data on 19 bioclimate factors for the analysis. Our study yielded a LOGT geographic distribution pattern covering a wide latitudinal belt extending from south subtropical to temperate zones in central and eastern China, concentrating in low elevations and coastal regions. The principal component analysis identified the dominant bioclimatic factors shaping their distribution, namely annual precipitation and low winter temperatures. BIOCLIM and DOMAIN generated predicted suitable habitats that match the present distribution range well. However, under the future climate scenario, the models indicated habitat retentions mainly in the core distribution areas and habitat losses mainly in the southern edge of the present range and scattered pockets elsewhere. Some retained habitats, including excellent ones, will suffer from fragmentation. The predicted new habitats may permit some range expansion and migration but are beset by small patch size and large interpatch distance, bringing fragmentation and gene flow restrictions. The anticipated projected range decline highlights considerable threats climate change poses to the long-term survival of the precious natural-cum-cultural resource. Understanding the distribution patterns and underlying drivers and distillation of practical conservation measures can foster sustainable management vis-a-vis the looming global change.

Unrecognized extensive charge of microbial gas in the Junggar basin.

Different from the Qaidam basin with about 320 billion m3 microbial gas, only limited microbial gases were found from the Junggar basin with similarly abundant type III kerogen. To determine whether microbial gases have not yet identified, natural gas samples from the Carboniferous to Cretaceous in the Junggar basin have been analyzed for chemical and stable isotope compositions. The results reveal some of the gases from the Mahu sag, Zhongguai, Luliang and Wu-Xia areas in the basin may have mixed with microbial gas leading to straight ethane to butane trends with a "dogleg" light methane in the Chung's plot. Primary microbial gas from degradation of immature sedimentary organic matter is found to occur in the Mahu sag and secondary microbial gas from biodegradation of oils and propane occurred in the Zhongguai, Luliang and Beisantai areas where the associated oils were biodegraded to produce calcites with δ13C values from + 22.10‰ to + 22.16‰ or propane was biodegraded leading to its 13C enrichment. Microbial CH4 in the Mahu sag is most likely to have migrated up from the Lower Wuerhe Formation coal-bearing strata by the end of the Triassic, and secondary microbial gas in Zhongguai and Beisantan uplifts may have generated after the reservoirs were uplifted during the period of the Middle and Late Jurassic. This study suggests widespread distribution of microbial gas and shows the potential to find large microbial gas accumulation in the basin.

Growth Evaluation After Costochondral Graft Combined With Functional Appliance in Children With Temporomandibular Joint Ankylosis.

The treatment of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in children is a great challenge for surgeons. Costochondral graft (CCG) is a common method of reconstructing the TMJ in children. However, the growth pattern of CCG is unpredictable. In this study, we introduced a surgical-orthodontic approach and evaluated the growth results of the mandible and maxilla in children with TMJ ankylosis through 3-dimensional computed tomography measurements. A prospective cohort study was conducted on child patients diagnosed as having TMJ ankylosis between September 1, 2018 and June 1, 2020. Computer-aided virtual mandibular position guided the CCG, and removable functional appliance was used after surgery. The maximal incisal opening (MIO), the maxilla height, and the length of mandibular ramus were determined. Paired t test was performed to analyze the differences among various stages. Six patients (3 females, 3 males; aged 6-9 y) were included in this study. MIO was 12.4 mm before surgery and improved to 36.8 mm after 42.8 months' follow-up. Mandible length increased by 5.1 mm in the affected side and by 5.3 mm in the unaffected side, without significant difference. The affected maxilla height increased by 6.7 mm, which was more than 5.0 mm in the unaffected side. In conclusion, continued growth of mandible and maxilla can be achieved through CCG combined with functional appliance treatment for children TMJ ankylosis.

Quantitative analysis of the morphing wing mechanism of raptors: Bionic design of Falco Peregrinus wing skeleton.

The wing is one of the most important parts of a bird's locomotor system and is the inspiration origination for bionic wing design. During wing motions, the wing shape is closely related to the rotation angles of wing bones. Therefore, the research on the law of bone movement in the process of wing movement can be good guidance for the design of the bionic morphing wing. In this paper, the skeletal posture of the peregrine falcon wing during the extension/flexion is studied to obtain critical data on skeletal posture. Since an elbow joint and a wrist joint rotate correlatively to drive a wing to flex/extend, the wing skeleton is simplified as a four-bar mechanism in this paper. The degree of reproduction of wing skeleton postures was quantitatively analyzed using the four-bar mechanism model, and the bionic wing skeleton was designed. It is found that the wing motions have been reproduced with high precision.

Improving mental arithmetic ability of primary school students with schema teaching method: An experimental study.

Skillful utilization of mental arithmetic can significantly improve students' mathematical computation ability. However, it was observed that primary school students often resort to reiterating the process of written arithmetic in their minds during mental arithmetic, which is not conducive to their numerical ability improvement. This paper devises a set of graphic teaching aids for primary school students' mental arithmetic improvement based on mental arithmetic strategies, schema theory, and working memory. To validate the effectiveness of schema teaching in enhancing mental arithmetic ability among primary school students, a controlled experiment was conducted with two groups of third-grade students randomly selected from a primary school in Jingshan City. The results, obtained through descriptive statistical analysis and the multitrait-multimethod approach (MTMM), indicated that the experimental group (n = 52) demonstrated significant improvements in speed, accuracy, and stability in mental addition and subtraction after a 14-day instruction period in schema teaching. This study offers a potent mental arithmetic teaching strategy for elementary mathematics education, which can lead to a comprehensive enhancement of students' mental calculation abilities. It also holds promise for inspiring innovative teaching methodologies in primary and secondary mathematics education in the future.

Biomechanical effects of clear aligner with different shape design at extraction space area during anterior teeth retraction.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the biomechanical effects of clear aligner (CA) with different shape designs at extraction space (CAES) area during space closing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A finite-element method (FEM) model of mandibular dentition, periodontal ligaments, attachments, and corresponding CA was established. The connecting rod design of CAES was modelled for the control group. Eight test groups with different heights of CAES from -4 mm to +4 mm were designed. Tooth displacement tendencies were calculated. The maximum principal stress in PDLs, teeth, and CAs was analysed. Both global coordinate system and local coordinate system were also used to evaluate individual tooth movements. RESULTS: Across all groups, stresses concentrated on the lingual outer surface of CAESs. For the lowered CAES groups, both the stress value and the stress distribution area at CAESs were increased. The lowered CAES groups showed reduced movement in anterior teeth and less tipping tendency of the canines. CONCLUSION: The shape of CAES has a biomechanical impact on anterior teeth movement and should be considered in aligner design. The results suggest that increasing the height of CAES can enhance anterior teeth retraction, while lowered CAES may facilitate controlled root movement. Changes in the shape of CAES represent a potential direction for biomechanical improvement of clear aligner in extraction cases and are worth exploring.

New insights into the genetic loci related to egg weight and age at first egg traits in broiler breeder.

Egg weight (EW) and age at first egg (AFE) are economically important traits in breeder chicken production. The genetic basis of these traits, however, is far from understood, especially for broiler breeders. In this study, genetic parameter estimation, genome-wide association analysis, meta-analysis, and selective sweep analysis were carried out to identify genetic loci associated with EW and AFE in 6,842 broiler breeders. The study found that the heritability of EW ranged from 0.42 to 0.44, while the heritability of AFE was estimated at 0.33 in the maternal line. Meta-analysis and selective sweep analysis identified two colocalized regions on GGA4 that significantly influenced EW at 32 wk (EW32W) and at 43 wk (EW43W) with both paternal and maternal lines. The genes AR, YIPF6, and STARD8 were located within the significant region (GGA4: 366.86-575.50 kb), potentially affecting EW through the regulation of follicle development, cell proliferation, and lipid transfer etc. The promising genes LCORL and NCAPG were positioned within the significant region (GGA4:75.35-75.42 Mb), potentially influencing EW through pleiotropic effects on growth and development. Additionally, 3 significant regions were associated with AFE on chromosomes GGA7, GGA19, and GGA27. All of these factors affected the AFE by influencing ovarian development. In our study, the genomic information from both paternal and maternal lines was used to identify genetic regions associated with EW and AFE. Two genomic regions and eight genes were identified as the most likely candidates affecting EW and AFE. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the genetic basis of egg production traits in broiler breeders and provide new insights into future technology development.