Development of a cost-effective confocal Raman microscopy with high sensitivity.

Confocal Raman microscopy is a powerful technique for identifying materials and molecular species; however, the signal from Raman scattering is extremely weak. Typically, handheld Raman instruments are cost-effective but less sensitive, while high-end scientific-grade Raman instruments are highly sensitive but extremely expensive. This limits the widespread use of Raman technique in our daily life. To bridge this gap, we explored and developed a cost-effective yet highly sensitive confocal Raman microscopy system. The key components of the system include an excitation laser based on readily available laser diode, a lens-grating-lens type spectrometer with high throughput and image quality, and a sensitive detector based on a linear charge-coupled device (CCD) that can be cooled down to -30 °C. The developed compact Raman instrument can provide high-quality Raman spectra with good spectral resolution. The 3rd order 1450 cm-1 peak of Si (111) wafer shows a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) better than 10:1, demonstrating high sensitivity comparable to high-end scientific-grade Raman instruments. We also tested a wide range of different samples (organic molecules, minerals and polymers) to demonstrate its universal application capability.

Decoding molecular mechanisms: brain aging and Alzheimer's disease.

The complex morphological, anatomical, physiological, and chemical mechanisms within the aging brain have been the hot topic of research for centuries. The aging process alters the brain structure that affects functions and cognitions, but the worsening of such processes contributes to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. Beyond these observable, mild morphological shifts, significant functional modifications in neurotransmission and neuronal activity critically influence the aging brain. Understanding these changes is important for maintaining cognitive health, especially given the increasing prevalence of age-related conditions that affect cognition. This review aims to explore the age-induced changes in brain plasticity and molecular processes, differentiating normal aging from the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease, thereby providing insights into predicting the risk of dementia, particularly Alzheimer's disease.

A geographically weighted neural network model for digital soil mapping of heavy metal copper in coastal cities.

Assessing the spatial distribution of heavy metals in soil is essential for mitigating risks to human health and ensuring the sustainable use of soil resources. This study proposed a geographically weighted neural network (GWNN) model, leveraging deep learning and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The model was designed based on the GWR concept to address the spatial autocorrelation of copper (Cu) in soil and incorporated convolutional neural network (CNN) to capture the nonlinear relationships between Cu and environmental covariates. The GWNN model was compared with GWR, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and artificial neural network (ANN) models. XGBoost was employed to select important environmental covariates and spatial autocorrelation of Cu concentrations was assessed using Moran's I. The model's performance was evaluated using 10-fold cross-validation, and prediction uncertainty was quantified with 100 bootstrap models. The results indicated that temperature covariates were the most significant predictors of soil Cu concentrations. The R2 values for Cu prediction accuracy were 0.60 for GWNN, 0.53 for ANN, 0.49 for XGBoost, and 0.32 for GWR. The spatial distribution of Cu showed a trend of higher concentrations in the north and lower concentrations in the south, consistent with spatial clusters identified by local Moran's I. The mean uncertainty of the 90 % confidence interval for GWNN was 16.49 %, closely aligning with XGBoost (15.44 %) and ANN (16.29 %) and significantly outperforming the GWR (18.25 %). Overall, the GWNN model demonstrated strong predictive accuracy and low uncertainty, offering an improved approach for digital soil mapping applications.

GRESS: Grouping Belief-Based Deep Contrastive Subspace Clustering.

The self-expressive coefficient plays a crucial role in the self-expressiveness-based subspace clustering method. To enhance the precision of the self-expressive coefficient, we propose a novel deep subspace clustering method, named grouping belief-based deep contrastive subspace clustering (GRESS), which integrates the clustering information and higher-order relationship into the coefficient matrix. Specifically, we develop a deep contrastive subspace clustering module to enhance the learning of both self-expressive coefficients and cluster representations simultaneously. This approach enables the derivation of relatively noiseless self-expressive similarities and cluster-based similarities. To enable interaction between these two types of similarities, we propose a unique grouping belief-based affinity refinement module. This module leverages grouping belief to uncover the higher-order relationships within the similarity matrix, and integrates the well-designed noisy similarity suppression and similarity increment regularization to eliminate redundant connections while complete absent information. Extensive experimental results on four benchmark datasets validate the superiority of our proposed method GRESS over several state-of-the-art methods.

Application of target scanning combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in the diagnosis of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of target scanning combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 2017 patients with pathologically confirmed early-stage lung adenocarcinoma who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from September 2018 to May 2023. These patients were initially diagnosed using conventional spiral CT scanning, and the study explored the application of target scanning combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in the diagnosis of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma. Results: the pulmonary nodules were classified into three groups according to the pathological classification: Pre-Invasive lesion (PI), Microinvasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and Invasive adenocarcinoma (IA), there were significant differences in the mean diameter of pulmonary nodules, the mean diameter of solid components, the proportion of solid components, pleural indentation, lobulation, spinous process, spiculation, and vascular convergence among the three groups. There were no significant differences between conventional spiral CT scanning and target scanning combined with three-dimensional reconstruction in terms of the number of cases with pure ground-glass nodules, mixed density nodules, pure solid nodules, the detection rate of vacuole signs, the CT value of the solid component and ground-glass component, and the maximum nodule diameter (P>0.05). However, target scanning combined with three-dimensional reconstruction detected a higher number of cases with lobulation signs, spinous process signs, pleural depression signs, burr signs, vessel convergence signs, and larger maximum diameters of the solid component compared to conventional spiral CT scanning (P<0.05). Conclusions: Target scanning combined with three-dimensional reconstruction provides more reliable imaging evidence for the diagnosis of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma, particularly in identifying specific signs and characterizing solid components.

M protein ectodomain-specific immunity restrains SARS-CoV-2 variants replication.

Introduction: The frequent occurrence of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein, with up to dozens of mutations, poses a severe threat to the current efficacy of authorized COVID-19 vaccines. Membrane (M) protein, which is the most abundant viral structural protein, exhibits a high level of amino acid sequence conservation. M protein ectodomain could be recognized by specific antibodies; however, the extent to which it is immunogenic and provides protection remains unclear. Methods: We designed and synthesized multiple peptides derived from coronavirus M protein ectodomains, and determined the secondary structure of specific peptides using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was utilized to detect IgG responses against the synthesized peptides in clinical samples. To evaluate the immunogenicity of peptide vaccines, BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally immunized with peptide-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) conjugates adjuvanted with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA). The humoral and T-cell immune responses induced by peptide-KLH conjugates were assessed using ELISA and ELISpot assays, respectively. The efficacy of the S2M2-30-KLH vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 variants was evaluated in vivo using the K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse model. The inhibitory effect of mouse immune serum on SARS-CoV-2 virus replication in vitro was evaluated using microneutralization assays. The subcellular localization of the M protein was evaluated using an immunofluorescent staining method, and the Fc-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity of the S2M2-30-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) was measured using an ADCC reporter assay. Results: Seroconversion rates for ectodomain-specific IgG were observed to be high in both SARS-CoV-2 convalescent patients and individuals immunized with inactivated vaccines. To assess the protective efficacy of the M protein ectodomain-based vaccine, we initially identified a highly immunogenic peptide derived from this ectodomain, named S2M2-30. The mouse serum specific to S2M2-30 showed inhibitory effects on the replication of SARS-CoV-2 variants in vitro. Immunizations of K18-hACE2-transgenic mice with the S2M2-30-keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) vaccine significantly reduced the lung viral load caused by B.1.1.7/Alpha (UK) infection. Further mechanism investigations reveal that serum neutralizing activity, specific T-cell response and Fc-mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) correlate with the specific immuno-protection conferred by S2M2-30. Discussion: The findings of this study suggest that the antibody responses against M protein ectodomain in the population most likely exert a beneficial effect on preventing various SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Neutropenia possibly caused by cefoperazone/sulbactam.

Neutropenia is a rare complication of drug therapy and is usually underdiagnosed. Cefoperazone/sulbactam is a combination of broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. Data on cefoperazone/sulbactam-induced neutropenia are limited. Herein, we report the case of a 35 year-old female patient who was admitted to the hospital due to an appendiceal abscess. After anti-infective treatment with cefoperazone/sulbactam, the patient developed neutropenia on day 4. After discontinuing treatment with cefoperazone/sulbactam, the patient's white blood cells and neutrophils gradually returned to normal. Hence, clinicians should monitor changes in neutrophil count during cefoperazone/sulbactam therapy and provide timely treatment.

Isolation, identification, and mechanism analysis of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria in tobacco.

Plant growth, crop yield, and pest and disease control are enhanced by PGPR (Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria), which are beneficial microorganisms found in a close symbiosis with plant roots. Phytohormones are secreted, nutrient uptake is improved, and soil properties along with the microbiological environment are regulated by these microorganisms, making them a significant focus in agricultural research. In this study, the efficient PGPR strain T1 was isolated and screened from tobacco inter-root soil, and identified and confirmed by ITS sequencing technology. Tobacco growth indicators and soil property changes were observed and recorded through potting experiments. The activities of key enzymes (e.g., sucrase, catalase, urease) in soil were further determined. High-throughput sequencing technology was utilized to sequence the soil microbial community, and combined with macro-genomics analysis, the effects of T1 strain on soil microbial diversity and metabolic pathways were explored. Following the application of T1, significant improvements were observed in the height, leaf length, and width of tobacco plants. Furthermore, the physical and chemical properties of the soil were notably enhanced, including a 26.26% increase in phosphorus availability. Additionally, the activities of key soil enzymes such as sucrase, catalase, and urease were significantly increased, indicating improved soil health and fertility. Comprehensive joint microbiomics and macrogenomics analyses revealed a substantial rise in the populations of beneficial soil microorganisms and an enhancement in metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, synthesis, and production of secondary metabolites. These increase in beneficial microorganisms and the enhancement of their metabolic functions are crucial for plant growth and soil fertility. This study provides valuable references for the development of innovative microbial fertilizers and offers programs for the sustainable development of modern agriculture.

The knowledge, training, and willingness of first year students in Xuzhou, China to perform bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can significantly improve the rate of return of spontaneous circulation in patients with cardiac arrest. Since first year students with no specific academic background are energetic and quick to learn, many Chinese schools offer first-aid training course including CPR to them before they start school. However, data on CPR knowledge, training, and willingness among first year students are lacking in most regions of China, which makes the effectiveness of CPR training unknown. Objectives: To evaluate first year students' knowledge level, training experience and rescue willingness for CPR of first year students in Xuzhou, and to analyze the influencing factors of CPR knowledge level and rescue willingness of first year students in Xuzhou. Design: A cross-sectional study. Participations: A total of 9,887 first year students from three universities in Xuzhou city were selected by multi-stage random cluster sampling method. Methods: A self-designed five-part structured questionnaire was used to investigate the knowledge, training and willingness of CPR among first year students. Independent sample t-test, χ2 -test and Logistic regression were used for data analysis. Results: The average score of CPR knowledge was 2.44 (±1.60), 99.13% of the respondents were willing to participate in CPR training, and 66.25% had received CPR training. Respondents with rural household registration, relatives who had suffered from serious diseases, relatives engaged in the medical profession, good self-rated quality of life, CPR training, and willing to CPR training had higher CPR knowledge levels. 76.77% of the respondents were willing to perform bystander CPR. Women, those who had received CPR training, and those who were willing to receive CPR training were more willing to help patients with sudden cardiac arrest. Lack of first aid knowledge and skills (82.61%) was the biggest obstacle hindering respondents from performing rescue. Conclusion: Most of the first year students of Xuzhou University in China have CPR training experience and have a strong willingness to train. Most are willing to perform bystander CPR, but have a low knowledge level. Colleges and universities can adopt diversified training methods, make plans for regular CPR retraining and other strategies to improve the quality and effect of CPR training for college students.

Bifunctional photocatalyst/hydrogel composites: Synergistic effects and degradation mechanisms for the degradation of benzo(a)pyrene in smoked sausages.

Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) is a structurally stable and carcinogenic compound, and B(a)P deposition and transport from smoking environment particulates to smoked meat products is a global challenge. In this study, a novel photosensitive bifunctional composite gel (ST/SiO2-Mn) was successfully synthesized as a reliable material for reducing PM2.5-B(a)P in the smoke environment. B(a)P removal experiments demonstrated that the adsorption and filtration properties of the gel effectively reduced the emission of PM2.5-B(a)P in smoke environment. The ST/SiO2-Mn gel removed 88.5 % of PM2.5-B(a)P in 240 min, which further led to a 59.7 % decrease in B(a)P on the sausage surface. In addition, photocatalytic experiments demonstrated that the ST/SiO2-Mn composite could effectively remove B(a)P, and 50 µg/mL B(a)P could be completely degraded within 20 min. Free radical trapping experiments showed that superoxide radicals (•O2-) contributed significantly to the degradation process. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights for effective PM2.5-B(a)P degradation without increasing economic burden.

Associations between peripheral whole blood cell counts derived indexes and cancer prognosis: An umbrella review of meta-analyses of cohort studies.

Meta-analyses have reported conflicting data on the whole blood cell count (WBCC) derived indexes (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio [NLR], platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio [PLR], and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio [LMR]) and cancer prognosis. However, the strength and quality of this evidence has not been quantified in aggregate. To grade the evidence from published meta-analyses of cohort studies that investigated the associations between NLR, PLR, and LMR and cancer prognosis. A total of 694 associations from 224 articles were included. And 219 (97.8%) articles rated as moderate-to-high quality according to AMSTAR. There were four associations supported by convincing evidence. Meanwhile, 165 and 164 associations were supported by highly suggestive and suggestive evidence, respectively. In this umbrella review, we summarized the existing evidence on the WBCC-derived indexes and cancer prognosis. Due to the direction of effect sizes is not completely consistent between studies, further research is needed to assess causality and provide firm evidence.

Dysfunction of γδ T cells in pediatric chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection.

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection (CAEBV) is a progressive and life-threatening disease characterized by persistent or recurrent EBV activation. It has been reported that, γδ T cells, a type of cytotoxic lymphocyte, play a critical role in restricting EBV. However, the functional status of γδ T cells in pediatric CAEBV patients has not yet been described. In this study, flow cytometry analysis was conducted to explore the cytokine production capacity of γδ T cells in CAEBV patients. A diminished frequency of γδ T cells and decreased expression of cytolytic molecule granzyme B were found in CAEBV patients, suggesting a dysfunction in the immune regulatory function of γδ T cells in this disease.

Childhood violence exposure and anxiety and depression of children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Mental disorders constitute a global public health problem worldwide and occurs in childhood and lasts to adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between childhood violence exposure and currently diagnosed depression and anxiety in children and adolescents and investigate whether the association differs by sex and age. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from 2017 to 2021 National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH). Childhood violence exposure and anxiety or depression of children were reported from caregivers. Logistic regression analyses and subgroup analyses were conducted to assess the association between the childhood violence exposure and anxiety and depression. RESULTS: This study included 113,400 participants aged 6 to 17 years (weighted mean [SD] age, 11.5 [3.4] years; 54,539 females [weighted proportions, 48.9 %]). 9603 of them (weighted proportions, 9.0 %) had childhood violence exposure. Childhood violence exposure was associated with higher risks of anxiety (adjusted risk difference: 7.8 %, 95%CI: 6.3-9.3 %; adjusted OR: 2.11, 95%CI: 1.87-2.39) and depression (adjusted risk difference: 6.2 %, 95%CI: 5.1-7.4 %; adjusted OR: 2.94, 95%CI: 2.54-3.41) after full adjustment. Stratified analyses demonstrated that the association appeared to be stronger in younger children and the association between violence exposure and anxiety was stronger in females than in males. CONCLUSION: In this cross-sectional study, childhood violence exposure was significantly associated with higher risks of anxiety and depression. The associations appeared to be stronger in younger and female children. Differences in sex and age-specific associations highlight the importance of building age-specific and sex-specific patterns of childhood violence prevention and intervention.

Analysis of risk factors for postpartum depression after cesarean section in women with early-onset preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Early-onset preeclampsia significantly increases maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Many pregnant women with early onset preeclampsia choose cesarean section as their delivery method. Although extensive research has explored the association between postpartum depression (PPD) and cesarean section, few studies have investigated the risk factors after cesarean section in women with early-onset preeclampsia. AIM: To examine these risk factors through a retrospective, observational analysis of 287 women who underwent a cesarean section for early preeclampsia between June 2014 and March 2024. METHODS: Participants were assessed in person during the 32nd week of pregnancy, 2 days post-cesarean, and 6 weeks postpartum. According to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), participants who underwent cesarean section were divided into PPD (n = 60) and non-PPD groups (n = 227). Furthermore, PPD was diagnosed at 6 weeks postpartum according to depressive symptoms (EPDS score ≥ 11). The demographic and clinical features of PPD were screened. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify PPD risk factors. RESULTS: The prevalence of PPD was 20.9% (60/287) among the 287 women who underwent cesarean section for early-onset preeclampsia. Multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that advanced age (age > 40 years) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.93, 95%CI: 1.31-2.82], previous preeclampsia (OR = 7.15, 95%CI: 5.81-8.85), pre-pregnancy obesity (OR = 2.42, 95%CI: 1.62-3.63), gestational diabetes mellitus (OR = 3.52, 95%CI: 2.51-4.92), preexisting hypertension (OR = 1.35, 95%CI: 1.03-1.89), PPD symptoms (EPDS ≥ 11) at 2 days postpartum (OR = 6.15, 95%CI: 1.32-28.35), high prenatal self-rating anxiety scale score (OR = 1.13, 95%CI: 1.06-1.18), and pain at 6 weeks postpartum (OR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.28-3.66) were independently associated with PPD. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for PPD after cesarean section in women with early-onset preeclampsia include advanced age (age > 40 years), pre-pregnancy obesity, previous preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, preexisting hypertension, PPD symptoms (EPDS ≥ 11) at 2 days postpartum, prenatal anxiety, and pain at 6 weeks postpartum. The early identification of these factors and interventions can mitigate the risk of PPD.

Resistance monitoring of diamide insecticides and characterization of field-evolved chlorantraniliprole resistance among Chinese populations of the tomato pinworm Phthorimaea (=Tuta) absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae).

The tomato pinworm, Phthorimaea (=Tuta) absoluta, is considered one of the most destructive and invasive insect pests worldwide, having developed significant resistance to many popular insecticides. In this study, we monitored the field resistance of P. absoluta populations from China to three diamide insecticides: flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, and cyantraniliprole. We found that one field population from Wuzhong City (WZ) exhibited high level of resistance to chlorantraniliprole. Using the WZ population and a susceptible reference strain (YN-S), we established a near-isogenic line (WZ-NIL) of P. absoluta with resistance to chlorantraniliprole. This strain also showed substantial cross-resistance to flubendiamide, and cyantraniliprole. Genetic analysis revealed that the inheritance of resistance to chlorantraniliprole in the WZ-NIL strain was autosomal and incompletely dominant. Additionally, the pesticide synergist piperonyl butoxide significantly inhibited chlorantraniliprole resistance by compromising P450 monooxygenase activity, which was significantly higher in the resistant strain. Furthermore, WZ-NIL had significantly prolonged developmental stages, lower pupation rates, reduced female fecundity, and lower egg hatchability than YN-S individuals. The fitness of WZ-NIL relative to YN-S was estimated to be 0.73, indicating significant fitness cost associated with chlorantraniliprole resistance. Rotating chlorantraniliprole with other insecticides that have different modes of action and degradation may be particularly useful for managing chlorantraniliprole resistance in P. absoluta.

MatSwarm: trusted swarm transfer learning driven materials computation for secure big data sharing.

The rapid advancement of Industry 4.0 necessitates close collaboration among material research institutions to accelerate the development of novel materials. However, multi-institutional cooperation faces significant challenges in protecting sensitive data, leading to data silos. Additionally, the heterogeneous and non-independent and identically distributed (non-i.i.d.) nature of material data hinders model accuracy and generalization in collaborative computing. In this paper, we introduce the MatSwarm framework, built on swarm learning, which integrates federated learning with blockchain technology. MatSwarm features two key innovations: a swarm transfer learning method with a regularization term to enhance the alignment of local model parameters, and the use of Trusted Execution Environments (TEE) with Intel SGX for heightened security. These advancements significantly enhance accuracy, generalization, and ensure data confidentiality throughout the model training and aggregation processes. Implemented within the National Material Data Management and Services (NMDMS) platform, MatSwarm has successfully aggregated over 14 million material data entries from more than thirty research institutions across China. The framework has demonstrated superior accuracy and generalization compared to models trained independently by individual institutions.

Rapid Access Diagnostics for Asthma (RADicA): protocol for a prospective cohort study to determine the optimum series of investigations to diagnose asthma using conventional and novel tests.

INTRODUCTION: The diagnosis of asthma is often based on characteristic patterns of symptoms in the absence of an alternative explanation, resulting in over and under diagnosis. Therefore, diagnostic guidelines usually recommend including confirmation of variable airflow obstruction. Some recommend using a sequence of objective tests; however the tests used, the specific cut-off values and the specified order are yet to be validated. We aimed to determine the optimal cut-off values and series of investigations to diagnose asthma. We also explore the potential for novel tests of small airways function and biomarkers, which could be incorporated into future diagnostic pathways. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Rapid Access Diagnostics for Asthma study is an observational study of 300 symptomatic patients with 'clinician-suspected asthma' and healthy controls (aged ≥3 to <70 years), recruited from primary and secondary care in Greater Manchester, UK. Symptomatic participants will undergo four core visits and one optional visit. Participants will complete two baseline visits and undergo a series of established (spirometry, bronchodilator reversibility, exhaled nitric oxide, home peak flow monitoring and bronchial challenge testing) and novel tests. Following visit 2, participants will receive monitored medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy for 6-8 weeks, after which they will return for repeat testing. Patients will be diagnosed with asthma by 'expert panel' opinion (minimum two respiratory specialists) on review of all data (excluding novel tests) pre and post treatment. Healthy controls will attend two visits to establish reference intervals and calculate repeatability coefficients for novel tests where there is a lack of evidence on what threshold constitutes a 'normal' set of values. The primary end point is to determine the optimum diagnostic pathway for diagnosing asthma. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee (18/NW/0777). All participants or parents/guardians are required to provide written informed consent and children to provide written assent. The results will be published in peer-review journals and disseminated widely at conferences and with the help of Asthma and Lung UK (www.asthmaandlung.org.uk). TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN11676160.

Transfer of pesticides and metabolites in corn: Production, processing, and livestock dietary burden.

Corn stover is widely used in livestock feed but has received limited attention regarding its potential risks. In this study, pesticide residues were monitored across 12 provinces in China, and terminal residues of four pesticides, chlorantraniliprole, thiamethoxam, epoxiconazole, and pyraclostrobin, were tested. In addition, the silage processing experiment was conducted. All processing factors (PF) were <1, indicating pesticide degradation. The physicochemical properties of pesticides, especially log P, were related to degradation efficiency. Pesticides with higher log P values showed higher PFs (0.43 to 0.85), indicating lower degradation efficiency. The dietary burden of livestock before and after silage processing was calculated using OECD livestock dietary burden calculator. Results showed that after silage fermentation, the dietary burden was reduced by 28.8 % to 79.2 %. Throughout the entire production and processing process, the fastest degradation of all pesticides in whole corn was primarily observed from the pesticide application time to the harvest time, with some pesticides also showing accelerated degradation during subsequent processing stages. Therefore, in actual production, especially for pesticides which are difficult to degrade, appropriate extension of the safety interval or selection of suitable processing methods can be taken to further reduce pesticide residues in agricultural products.

A CT-based radiomics predictive nomogram to identify pulmonary tuberculosis from community-acquired pneumonia: a multicenter cohort study.

Purpose: To develop a predictive nomogram based on computed tomography (CT) radiomics to distinguish pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) from community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Methods: A total of 195 PTB patients and 163 CAP patients were enrolled from three hospitals. It is divided into a training cohort, a testing cohort and validation cohort. Clinical models were established by using significantly correlated clinical features. Radiomics features were screened by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm. Radiomics scores (Radscore) were calculated from the formula of radiomics features. Clinical radiomics conjoint nomogram was established according to Radscore and clinical features, and the diagnostic performance of the model was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Two clinical features and 12 radiomic features were selected as optimal predictors for the establishment of clinical radiomics conjoint nomogram. The results showed that the predictive nomogram had an outstanding ability to discriminate between the two diseases, and the AUC of the training cohort was 0.947 (95% CI, 0.916-0.979), testing cohort was 0.888 (95% CI, 0.814-0.961) and that of the validation cohort was 0.850 (95% CI, 0.778-0.922). Decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated that the nomogram has outstanding clinical value. Conclusions: This study developed a clinical radiomics model that uses radiomics features to identify PTB from CAP. This model provides valuable guidance to clinicians in identifying PTB.

Hypoxia-driven M2-polarized macrophages facilitate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of glioblastoma via extracellular vesicles.

Rationale: M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote the malignant progression of glioblastomas. However, the mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon remain unclear. Methods: RT-PCR, Western blot and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the polarization status of macrophages. RT-PCR, western blot or/and immunohistochemistry was used to determine the expression of circ_0003137, PTBP1, PLOD3 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers. Transwell assay was used to assess migration and invasion ability of tumor cells. RNA sequencing, bioinformatic analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient was performed to explore the relation between PTBP1 and circ_003137/PLOD3. In vivo experiment was used to determine the role of sh-circ_0003137-loaded nanoplatform. Results: Hypoxia promoted the polarization of macrophages towards M2-like TAMs in an HIF1α dependent manner. Then, M2-like TAMs could transport circ_0003137 enriched extracellular vesicles (EVs) to glioblastoma cells, upregulating circ_0003137 in glioblastoma cells. The circ_0003137 overexpression promoted the EMT of glioblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, circ_0003137 physically binds to polypyrimidine tract binding protein 1 (PTBP1), enhancing the stability of procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 3 (PLOD3) and promoting the EMT of glioblastoma cells. Moreover, a liposome-based nanoplatform that delivers shRNAs was established and used to encapsulate sh-circ_0003137. The fluorescence microscope tracer and cell co-culture assays demonstrated that the nanoplatform encapsulated with sh-circ_0003137 was stable and could penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB), finally reaching the central nervous system (CNS). The intracranial in situ tumor model showed that injecting the sh-circ_0003137-loaded nanoplatform via the tail vein significantly inhibited glioblastoma progression and improved the nude mice's survival. Conclusions: Hypoxia can drive macrophage polarization towards M2-like TAMs. Polarized M2-like TAMs can transport circ_0003137 to glioblastoma cells through EVs. Then, circ_0003137 promotes the EMT of glioblastomas by targeting the PTBP1/PLOD3 axis. Hence, targeting circ_0003137 might be a novel therapeutic strategy against glioblastoma.