Design and tuning of S-band traveling wave accelerating structures for Hefei Advanced Light Facility.

The Hefei Advanced Light Facility (HALF) injector comprises 40 S-band 3-m traveling wave accelerating structures, capable of delivering electrons with a full energy of 2.2 GeV into the storage ring. To mitigate emittance degradation caused by field asymmetry in the coupler cavity, the coupler design incorporates a racetrack and a short-circuit waveguide. This paper introduces the microwave design and provides the parameters of the HALF accelerating structure. Two design methods for couplers were compared, and the effectiveness of using the undercoupling (for which the coupling coefficient ß calculated by Kyhl's method is less than 1) to match the output coupler was experimentally demonstrated. The nodal-shift method and bead-pull method were used to test and tune the structures of different output coupler designs during the cold test, demonstrating the tuning results under actual conditions. Experiments were conducted under different load conditions to calculate the local reflection coefficient of the output coupler. The results show that both the accelerating structure design and the tuning results meet the HALF requirements.

Home-Based Shi's Knee Daoyin Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial.

Objective: Shi's Knee Daoyin (SKD) exercise is a treatment derived from Traditional Chinese exercise (TCE) specifically designed for lower limb health care. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a randomized controlled trial to explore the effectiveness of SKD exercise in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods: Participants were randomized to receive Health Education (HE) or SKD exercise. The primary outcomes were feasibility and safety outcomes, including participant recruitment rate, retention rate, as well as adherence to intervention. The secondary outcomes included Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores for pain, the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score, the 20-Meter Walk Test (20-MWT) and the 5-times Chair-Stand Test (5-CST). Results: The results indicate that out of 89 individuals invited to participate in the study, 72 were eligible and agreed to participate, resulting in a recruitment rate of 80.9%. All participating patients completed the follow-up and were included in the analysis; no patients dropped out of the study due to adverse events. The secondary outcome measures showed that after twelve weeks of treatment, the VAS score, WOMAC total score, WOMAC pain score, WOMAC stiffness score, and WOMAC function score of patients in the HE group and SKD group all improved, but the improvement was more significant in the SKD group. The 20-MWT of SKD group after treatment was significantly shorter than before treatment (P<0.001); There was no significant difference in 20-MWT between the HE group and baseline after treatment. The performance of the two groups of patients improved in 5-CST, but there was no statistical difference between the two groups after treatment (P=2.439). Conclusion: This study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of home-based SKD exercise intervention in alleviating symptoms in patients with symptomatic KOA, providing valuable information for designing an appropriate randomized controlled study.

Effect of Shi-Style Steaming and Bathing Decoction in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: Study Protocol for a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Purpose: To prove more accurately that Chinese herbal bath therapy may be a safe, effective, simple alternative treatment modality for knee OA, we designed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to explore the effectiveness of SSBD for the relief of pain, daily activities, and quality of life in patients with knee OA. Patients and Methods: A single-center, 52-week, randomized controlled trial of SSBD versus placebo is being performed. A total of 200 patients with symptomatic knee OA will be randomly allocated to the SSBD treatment or placebo intervention group for 4 weeks. The two groups of patients are allowed to steam and bathe their knees once every other day, using one packet of SSBD each time, for 30 minutes, 3 times a week, for a total of 4 weeks. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain subscale at 4 weeks is the primary outcome measure, and the secondary outcomes include WOMAC stiffness and function scores, the Lysholm knee scale score, quality of life, the Brief Pain Inventory score, the Patient's Global Impressions of Improvement Scale score and the Clinical Global Impressions of Severity scale score. The safety of the herbal medications will also be evaluated. Conclusion: We will discuss whether SSBD has greater advantages in terms of efficacy, safety, and patient overall perception than does placebo control in middle-aged and elderly patients with knee OA. The findings may provide new and valuable information about the efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal bath therapy in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

Impact of a random TN5 mutation on endoglucanase secretion in ruminal cellulolytic Escherichia coli.

OBJECTIVE: Most protein secretion systems are found in gram-negative bacteria, but the mechanism of endoglucanase (BcsZ) secretion in Escherichia coli (E. coli) remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we used JBZ-DH5α (which overexpresses BcsZ on the E. coli DH5α genome) as the initial strain. A mutant library was created by randomly inserting the TN5 transposon into the genome, and mutants with reduced transparent circles were identified on Congo red plates. The insertion sites of transposons in the genome were determined through whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS: The results revealed that the genes rnc, lon, and suhB, which encode RNC-ribonuclease III (RNC), LON-protease (LON), and SuhB-inositol phosphatase (SuhB), respectively, were disrupted. BcsZ secretion decreased in E. coli DH5α when the lon, rnc, or suhB genes were deleted, but the overexpression of these genes restored their secretion levels. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the lon, rnc, and suhB genes play a role in BcsZ secretion in E. coli, potentially enhancing our knowledge of BcsZ secretion and offering a strategy to increase protein secretion in E. coli as a cell factory.

Salinomycin, a potent inhibitor of XOD and URAT1, ameliorates hyperuricemic nephropathy by activating NRF2, modulating the gut microbiota, and promoting SCFA production.

Long-term hyperuricemia can induce kidney damage, clinically referred to as hyperuricemic nephropathy (HN), which is characterized by renal fibrosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. However, currently used uric acid-lowering drugs are not capable of protecting the kidneys from damage. Therefore, uric acid-lowering drugs that can also protect the kidneys are urgently needed. In this study, we first discovered that salinomycin, an antibiotic, can regulate uric acid homeostasis and ameliorate kidney damage in mice with HN. Mechanistically, salinomycin inhibited serum and hepatic xanthine oxidase (XOD) activities and downregulated renal urate transporter 1 (URAT1) expression and transport activity, thus exerting uric acid-lowering effects in mice with HN. Furthermore, we found that salinomycin promoted p-NRF2 Ser40 expression, resulting in increased nuclear translocation of NRF2 and activation of NRF2. More importantly, salinomycin affected the gut microbiota and promoted the generation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in mice with HN. In conclusion, our results revealed that salinomycin maintains uric acid homeostasis and alleviates kidney injury in mice with HN by multiple mechanisms, suggesting that salinomycin might be a desirable candidate for HN treatment in the clinic.

The influence of knee position during static calibration trials on evaluation of knee loading during gait in individual with medial knee osteoarthritis.

Quantitative three-dimensional gait analysis has been used to evaluate the loading at the knee (i.e. external knee adduction moment, EKAM) during level ground walking in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The magnitude of EKAM can be influenced by some factors, such as knee marker position and foot placement angles in static calibration trials, which may lead to inaccurate functional assessments and intervention planning. This study aimed to clarify the effects of knee position during static calibration trials on the evaluation of knee loading during gait in individuals with medial knee OA. Seventeen individuals with medial knee OA completed three different static standing trials; (1) knee flexed at 0 degrees, (2) knee flexed at 15 degrees, and (3) knee flexed at 30 degrees before walking at their self-selected speed. A sixteen-camera three-dimensional VICON gait analysis system with four AMTI force platforms was used to collect the EKAM, knee adduction angular impulse (KAAI), knee joint center (KJC), and other knee kinematic and kinetic variables during gait. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate the differences between conditions. The 1st peak of EKAM, the 1st peak EKAM arm, KAAI, and knee extension moment were significantly increased at the 15-degree and 30-degree conditions in comparison with the 0-degree condition (P < 0.05). Additionally, the knee flexion moment and knee external rotation moment were significantly reduced at the 15-degree and 30-degree conditions in comparison with the 0-degree condition (P < 0.05). All biomechanical variables were influenced by the localization of the KJC during static calibration trials. The changes in knee position during static trials significantly affected the 1st peak EKAM, KAAI, and other knee kinematics and kinetics variables during gait. Therefore, future studies should consider keeping the participants' knees in a consistent position during static trials between visits, as the variations in knee position could mask or exaggerate the differences between groups and interventions.

Comparing long-term prognosis following different surgical methods in patients with early stage breast cancer and obesity: a retrospective cohort study in China.

OBJECTIVE: Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) includes breast-conserving surgery (BCS) combined with radiation therapy (RT). RT plays a crucial role in improving the prognosis of patients who undergo BCS. However, obesity is a potential risk factor for resistance to radiation. The aim of this study was to evaluate any difference in the long-term prognosis of patients with early stage breast cancer and obesity treated with BCT or total mastectomy (TM). DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a retrospective cohort study involving 1125 patients diagnosed with early stage breast cancer and obesity at the Shanghai Cancer Center of Fudan University from 2013 to 2016. OUTCOME MEASURES: Obesity in the Chinese population was defined as a body mass index ≥28 kg/m2. Surgical options included BCT and TM. The primary survival outcomes were overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to control for the impact of confounding factors on prognosis. RESULTS: The median follow-up times in the BCT group and TM group without postoperative RT were 51.1 months (IQR of 40.6-68.1 months) and 61.8 months (IQR of 46.5-76.7 months), respectively. After IPTW, the baseline data were balanced. Compared with those in the TM cohort, patients in the whole IPTW cohort in the BCT cohort had worse DFS (HR 4.280, 95% CI 2.180 to 8.400; p<0.001), RFS (HR 4.380, 95% CI 2.370 to 8.120; p<0.001) and OS (HR 3.590, 95% CI 1.620 to 7.950; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: In patients with early stage breast cancer and obesity, TM is associated with better survival outcomes than BCT.

Clinical Effect of Personalized Adjustable Mandibular Advancement Device on Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Aims/Background: Mandibular advancement devices are effective in treating mild or moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but such devices that are commonly used in clinical settings require further improvement. In this study, we evaluated the clinical effects of personalized adjustable mandibular advancement devices on mild or moderate OSA. Methods: Forty patients with mild or moderate OSA were randomly divided into experimental (personalized adjustable device) and control (traditional device) groups. Side effects, including increased salivation, dry mouth, muscle aches, and temporomandibular joint discomfort, were assessed. Respiratory markers during sleep, including the apnea-hypopnea index, mean blood oxygen saturation, lowest blood oxygen saturation and maximum apnea time, were evaluated using polysomnography. The upper airway cross-sectional area and temporomandibular joint morphology and motion trajectory were evaluated using cone beam computed tomography. Results: Side effects were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Respiratory marker levels were significantly restored post-treatment. Soft palate- and tongue-pharyngeal cross-sectional areas were significantly increased in both groups, but temporomandibular joint morphology or motion trajectory remained unchanged. Conclusion: The personalized adjustable mandibular advancement devices may reduce side effects and are effective in treating patients with OSA. Clinical Trial Registration: The study was registered and approved by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2400080306). https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=206538.

A nanofluidic spiking synapse.

Currently, the nanofluidic synapse can only perform basic neuromorphic pulse patterns. One immediate problem that needs to be addressed to further its capability of brain-like computing is the realization of a nanofluidic spiking device. Here, we report the use of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate membrane to achieve bionic ionic current-induced spiking. In addition to the simulation of various electrical pulse patterns, our synapse could produce transmembrane ionic current-induced spiking, which is highly analogous to biological action potentials with similar phases and excitability. Moreover, the spiking properties could be modulated by ions and neurochemicals. We expect that this work could contribute to biomimetic spiking computing in solution.

The effects of exergames for cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and metaanalysis.

Purpose: Exergames are an innovative method that can promote neuroplasticity and improve the cognitive abilities of the elderly. This study aimed to compare the effects of single-task and multi-task exergames on the cognitive ability of the elderly with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Computerized literature search was performed using PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Elsevier, ProQuest, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang and VIP database to identify relevant articles from the establishment of the database from inception to April 1, 2024. The inclusion criteria were: (i) participants aged 60 or older diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, regardless of gender; (ii) use of randomized controlled trials (RCTs); (iii) interventions involving exergames with physical activity or as the primary variable; and (iv) outcome measures using standardized neuropsychological instruments to assess cognitive function, including statistical data on sample size, mean, and standard deviation. Finally, the included study comprised a total of 526 participants. Mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to synthesize the effect size in the data. Results: 11 studies were included. Due to the differences in the intervention methods, subgroup analysis was performed on the included research. Compared with the control group assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, the single-task intervention improved the cognitive ability of the elderly with MCI (MD 3.40, 95% CI 2.43-4.37), the Mini-Mental State Examination Scale (MD 2.38, 95% CI -2.03 to 2.72), the Trail Making Test (MD -3.89, 95% CI -6.45 to -1.33), and the Digit Span Forward test (MD 1.16, 95% CI 0.73-1.60). Conclusion: This meta-analysis supports that exergames could be an effective cognitive rehabilitation method for MCI patients. Our study recommends that patients implement a customized exergames program and adhere to it for a long time. It is necessary to pay attention to the exercise guidelines and provide evidence from clinicians. Strengths and limitations of this study: (1) This meta-analysis supports that exergames could be an effective cognitive rehabilitation method for MCI patients. Our study recommends that patients implement a customized exergames program and adhere to it for a long time. It is necessary to pay attention to the exercise guidelines and provide evidence from clinicians. (2) This research provides preliminary evidence for the clinical utility of VR tasks developed for mild cognitive impairment. (3) In this paper, only relevant studies in Chinese and English were searched, and no studies in other languages were searched.