Effect of Grain Size on Nanometric Cutting of Polycrystalline Silicon via Molecular Dynamics Simulation.

The grain size effect is an important factor in determining the material removal behavior of polycrystalline silicon (p-Si). In the present study, to improve the understanding of nanoscale machining of p-Si, we performed molecular dynamics simulation of nanometric cutting on a p-Si workpiece and discussed the grain size effect on material removal behavior and subsurface damage formation. The simulation results indicate that when cutting on the polycrystal workpiece, the material removal process becomes unstable compared with single crystals. Higher removal efficiency, less elastic recovery and higher frictional coefficient are observed as the average grain size decreases. In the subsurface workpiece, when the grain size decreases, slip along grain boundaries merges as a nonnegligible process of the plastic deformation and suppresses the elastic deformation ahead of the cutting tool. It is also revealed that when cutting on a polycrystal workpiece with smaller grains, the average stress decreases while the workpiece temperature increases due to the impediment of heat transfer by grain boundaries. These results could provide a fundamental understanding in the material deformation mechanism of p-Si during nanoscale machining.

A three-mode biosensor for hypoxanthine assay in aquatic products under various storage conditions.

Establishing a rapid and accurate method for monitoring the freshness of aquatic products is of great importance. Hypoxanthine has been considered an essential indicator of aquatic products' freshness. Here, a novel smartphone colorimetric / inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) / photothermal three-mode sensing strategy was established for monitoring hypoxanthine. Hypoxanthine can be catalyzed by xanthine oxidase to H2O2 and uric acid, which can simultaneously degrade MnO2 nanosheets (NSs) to Mn2+. After filter-assisted separation, the smartphone and ICP-MS were performed by monitoring the color of the membrane and the Mn2+ in the filtrate. Additionally, MnO2 NSs can facilitate the oxidation of dopamine to form polydopamine nanoparticles, which exhibit strong photothermal efficiency. The approach successfully monitored the deterioration of aquatic products under various storage conditions through portable thermometers and smartphones with low limits of detection (LODs), providing a potential application for in-situ evaluation of the freshness of aquatic products.

Impact of digital finance on urban ecological resilience: evidence from the Yangtze River Economic Belt in China.

From the emergence of the new coronavirus pandemic to extreme climatic catastrophes, the development and enhancement of urban ecological resilience has evolved into a critical and strategic imperative. Investigating the capacity of digital finance to promote urban ecological resilience bears substantial relevance to the sustainable advancement of urban centers. This study examines the influence of digital finance on urban ecological resilience by applying a benchmark regression model on data from 107 prefecture-level cities within the Yangtze River Economic Belt across 2011-2020. Additionally, this study delves into its mechanism and spatial spillover impacts via a mediating effect model and a spatial effect model. The findings revealed that (1) digital finance strengthens the ecological resilience of the locale and beneficially impacts the surrounding regions; (2) digital finance enhances urban ecological resilience by fostering technological innovation and reducing energy intensity; and (3) in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, digital finance plays a greater role in improving urban ecological resilience. Cities with high level of traditional financial development, high level of economic development and high intensity of environmental regulation have a more obvious role in promoting urban ecological resilience. Within the paradigm of ecological civilization, it is advisable for governmental bodies to fortify inter-regional digital financial collaboration, refine the green financial infrastructure, and advocate for sustainable, low-carbon, high-quality urban development.

MRI-visible enlarged perivascular spaces in basal ganglia rather than centrum semiovale was associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Background: The subarachnoid space is continuous with the perivascular compartment in the central nervous system. However, whether the topography and severity of enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) correlates with spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) remains unknown. Based on the underlying arteriopathy distributions, we hypothesized that EPVS in basal ganglia (BG-EPVS) are more closely associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) than other SAH without aneurysm. Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 271 consecutive SAH survivors with and without aneurysm were analyzed for EPVS and other markers of imaging data. In the subgroup analysis, we compared the clinical characteristics and EPVS of SAH participants with and without pre-existing known risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, and smoking history) using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Patients with aSAH (n = 195) had a higher severity of BG-EPVS and centrum semiovale EPVS (CSO-EPVS) than those without aneurysm (n = 76). Importantly, BG-EPVS predominance pattern (BG-EPVS>CSO-EPVS) only existed in aSAH survivors rather than other SAH without aneurysm. In the subgroup analysis, interestingly, we also found that a high degree of BG-EPVS showed an independent relationship with aSAH in patients without pre-existing risk factors (e.g., hypertension). Conclusion: In this cohort study, BG-EPVS predominance pattern was associated with aSAH patients compared with those without aneurysm. Moreover, BG-EPVS still showed a strong association with aSAH survivors without pre-existing vascular risk factors. Our present study suggested the BG-EPVS as a potential MRI-visible characteristic would shed light on the pathogenesis of glymphatic function at the skull base for aSAH.

Assessing China's development zones and carbon emissions.

The present article evaluates establishment of development zones and its association with carbon emissions. In the process of industrialization, carbon emissions in underdeveloped regions of the world increase with economic growth. In order to promote economic growth in the western region and strengthen the management of enterprise pollution emissions, the Chinese government has set up hundreds of development zones. Existing research shows that development zone establishment can promote economic growth; however, literature is scarce when the relationship is tested across region. Based on the panel data of five provinces with relatively backward economy in western China from 2001 to 2017, this paper constructs a "multi-period difference-in-difference" (DID) model with the establishment of development zones as a "quasi-natural experiment" to test the relationship. Findings reveal that development zone establishment increases carbon emissions in the region, and has a significant inhibitory effect on carbon emissions at national level. The conclusions of this paper provide empirical evidence and policy implications for reducing carbon emissions in economically underdeveloped areas.

Spatiotemporal divergence and convergence test of green total factor productivity of grain in China: based on the dual perspective of carbon emissions and surface source pollution.

The topic of grain production and quality has always been a fundamental issue for the country's livelihood. With the purpose of contributing to high-quality grain development and ensuring national food security, this paper explores the spatial and temporal evolution, regional differences and convergence of grain green total factor productivity (GTFP) in the main grain-producing regions of China from the dual perspectives of carbon emissions and surface pollution with the help of EBM-GML model, kernel density function estimation and convergence methods. The results show that (1) Grain GTFP has generally shown a positive growth trend, although there exists obvious spatial differences. (2) In terms of decomposition indices, technological progress is the source of the increase in grain GTFP. (3) There are σ convergence, absolute ß convergence and conditional ß convergence in the main producing region as well as in the Yellow River basin and the Yangtze River basin; there are only absolute ß convergence and conditional ß convergence in the Songhua River basin. Grain GTFP has a single high-efficiency convergence point, and the grain GTFP is enhancing year by year in each province, and the inter-provincial gap is shrinking.

Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease in pediatric, adult and elderly: clinical characteristics and visual outcomes.

PURPOSE: To depict a whole spectrum of clinical feartures and visual prognosis among pediatric, adult, and elderly Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) patients. METHODS: Retrospective chart review was conducted in 2571 VKH patients diagnosed from April 2008 to January 2022. Based on age of disease onset, patients were divided into pediatric (age ≤ 16 years), adult (16 < age < 65 years), and elderly (age ≥ 65 years) VKH group. Ocular and extraocular manifestations were compared among these patients. Visual outcomes and complications were evaluated using logistic regression models and restricted cubic splines analysis. RESULTS: The median follow-up time was 48 (IQR, 12-60) months. Pediatric, adult and elderly VKH were found in 106 (4.1%), 2355 (91.6%), and 110 (4.3%) patients, respectively. All of the patients showed similar ocular manifestations in the context of disease phasing. The proportion of neurological and auditory manifestations in pediatric (42.3% and 7.5%) VKH patients was significantly lower than that in adults (66.5% and 47.9%) and elderly (68.2% and 50%) (both p < 0.0001). An increased risk of macular abnormalities was seen in adults (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.62-7.29) compared with elderly VKH. An inverted-U-shaped pattern was observed between disease onset age and a poor visual outcome (visual acuity 6/18 or worse) according to OR value in VKH patients. The highest risk of BCVA ≤ 6/18 was observed in 32 years at disease onset (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.18-1.94). A higher risk of visual loss was observed in adult VKH patients (OR, 9.06; 95% CI, 2.18-37.6) compared with elderly VKH patients. And stratified by macular abnormalities, the interaction test was not significant (P = 0.634). CONCLUSION: Our study identified, for the first time, a whole spectrum of clinical features of VKH based on a large cohort of Chinese patients. Adult VKH patients have an increased risk of poor visual outcomes, possibly due to increased frequency of macular abnormalities.

Simulation of anaerobic co-digestion of steam explosion pulping wastewater with cattle manure: Focusing on degradation and inhibition of furfural.

In this study, an extended Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1, which considered the degradation and inhibition properties of furfural, was established and implemented to simulate the anaerobic co-digestion of steam explosion pulping wastewater and cattle manure in batch and semi-continuous modes. Batch and semi-continuous experimental data helped calibrate the new model and recalibrate the parameters related to furfural degradation, respectively. The cross-validation results showed the batch-stage calibration model accurately predicted the methanogenic behavior of all experimental treatments (R2 ≥ 0.959). Meanwhile, the recalibrated model satisfactorily matched the methane production results in the stable and high furfural loading stages in the semi-continuous experiment. In addition, recalibration results revealed the semi-continuous system tolerated furfural better than the batch system. These results provide insights into the anaerobic treatments and mathematical simulations of furfural-rich substrates.

Interferon-α2a induces CD4+ T cell apoptosis and suppresses Th1/Th17 responses via upregulating IRF1-mediated PDL1 expression in dendritic cells from Behcet's uveitis.

Recombinant interferon-α2a (IFNα2a) has been widely used in the treatment of Behcet's uveitis (BU). However, the mechanism underlying its effects remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated its effect on dendritic cells (DCs) and CD4+ T cells, which are essential for the development of BU. Our results showed that the expression of PDL1 and IRF1 was significantly decreased in DCs from active BU patients, and IFNα2a could significantly upregulate PDL1 expression in an IRF1-dependent manner. IFNα2a-treated DCs induced CD4+ T cells apoptosis and inhibited the Th1/Th17 immune response in association with reduced secretion of IFN-γ and IL-17. We also found that IFNα2a promoted Th1 cell differentiation and IL-10 secretion by CD4+ T cells. Finally, a comparison of patients before and after IFNα2a therapy revealed that the frequencies of Th1/Th17 cells significantly decreased in association with remission of uveitis after IFNα2a therapy. Collectively, these results show that IFNα2a could exert its effects by modulating the function of DCs and CD4+ T cells in BU.

Smartphone readable colorimetry and ICP-MS dual-mode sensing platform for ultrasensitive and label-free detection of Escherichia coli based on filter-assisted separation.

The development and application of portable and user-friendly biosensing technology for rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria are essential for human and environmental care. In this work, based on the phenomenon that the filter membrane can selectively separate MnO2 nanosheets (MnO2 NSs) and Mn2+, a novel label-free sensing platform was developed to detect the Escherichia coli (E. coli) using ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) as a marker. MnO2 NSs were utilized as a dual-mode signal molecule of smartphone-based colorimetric analysis and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). ß-Gal can catalyze the 4-Aminophenyl ß-D-galactopyranoside (PAPG) to produce p-aminophenol (PAP), which could reduce MnO2 NSs to Mn2+. After selective separation of MnO2 NSs and Mn2+ by the filter, colorimetric detection was achieved with a smartphone by identifying the RGB value of the MnO2 NSs coated membrane, while the Mn2+ in the filtrate was detected by ICP-MS. Under optimal conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) of E. coli by smartphone-based RGB analysis and ICP-MS were 5.6 × 103 CFU mL-1 and 35 CFU mL-1, respectively. This method was successfully used for E. coli assay in meat, vegetables, and fruit samples with the advantages of sensitivity, simplicity, and short incubation time (within 1 h).

Application of Radiomics Model of CT Images in the Identification of Ureteral Calculus and Phlebolith.

Objective: To investigate the clinical application of the three-dimensional (3D) radiomics model of the CT image in the diagnosis and identification of ureteral calculus and phlebolith. Method: Sixty-one cases of ureteral calculus and 61 cases of phlebolith were retrospectively investigated. The enrolled patients were randomly categorized into the training set (n = 86) and the testing set (n = 36) with a ratio of 7 : 3. The plain CT scan images of all samples were manually segmented by the ITK-SNAP software, followed by radiomics analysis through the Analysis Kit software. A total of 1316 texture features were extracted. Then, the maximum correlation minimum redundancy criterion and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator algorithm were used for texture feature selection. The feature subset with the most predictability was selected to establish the 3D radiomics model. The performance of the model was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was also calculated. Additionally, the decision curve was used to evaluate the clinical application of the model. Results: The 10 selected radiomics features were significantly related to the identification and diagnosis of ureteral calculus and phlebolith. The radiomics model showed good identification efficiency for ureteral calculus and phlebolith in the training set (AUC = 0.98; 95%CI: 0.96-1.00) and testing set (AUC = 0.98; 95%CI: 0.95-1.00). The decision curve thus demonstrated the clinical application of the radiomics model. Conclusions: The 3D radiomics model based on plain CT scan images indicated good performance in the identification and prediction of ureteral calculus and phlebolith and was expected to provide an effective detection method for clinical diagnosis.

Altered regional homogeneity of spontaneous brain activity in patients with toothache: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Toothache (TA) is a common and severe pain, but its effects on the brain are somewhat unclear. In this study, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to compare regional homogeneity (ReHo) between TA patients and a normal control group and to explore the brain activity changes during TA, establishing the theoretical basis for the mechanism of neuropathic pain. In total, 20 TA patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited and underwent assessment of pain, and then resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). The ReHo method was used to analyze the original whole-brain images. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between mean ReHo values in each brain region and clinical symptoms, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to conduct correlation analysis on the brain regions studied. The ReHo values of the right lingual gyrus (RLG), right superior occipital gyrus (RSOG), left middle occipital gyrus (LMOG) and right postcentral gyrus (RPG) in the TA group were significantly higher than in HCs. The mean ReHo values in the RLG were positively correlated with the anxiety score (AS) (r = 0.723, p < 0.001), depression score (DS) (r = 0.850, p < 0.001) and visual analogue score (VAS) (r = 0.837, p < 0.001). The mean ReHo values of RSOG were also positively correlated with AS (r = 0.687, p = 0.001), DS (r = 0.661, p = 0.002) and VAS (r = 0.712, p < 0.001). The areas under the ROC curve of specific brain area ReHo values were as follows: RLG, 0.975; RSOG, 0.959; LMOG, 0.975; RPG, 1.000. Various degrees of brain activity changes reflected by ReHo values in different areas of the brain indicate the impact of TA on brain function. These findings may reveal related neural mechanisms underlying TA.

Static composting of cow manure and corn stalk covered with a membrane in cold regions.

The disposal of livestock wastes is an urgent task in China. Compost is highly regarded for its ability to treat livestock wastes and protect arable land. In particular, some problems of livestock manure in cold regions, such as low efficiency because of low environmental temperature in winter, urgently need to be solved. In order to provide valuable composting information in the cold area at low environmental temperatures, the composting experiments were carried out with cow manure and corn stalk as substrates. The properties and bacterial community of compost samples in different stages were investigated. The electrical conductivity (EC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and organic matter (OM) of the final compost were 551 µS/cm, 1.12, 0.77, and 63.5%, respectively. No E. coli or Ascaris eggs were detected. The temperature was the key factor to affect the physical-co-chemical and biological properties. The absolutely dominant genera were Sporosarcina, Virgibacillus, Flavobacterium, and Steroidobacter in heating, high temperature, cooling, and maturing stages, respectively. Also, these bacteria could act as biological indicators during the composting process. Cryobacterium, Caldicoprobacter, Virgibacillus, and Sporosarcina were relatively novel genera in the compost piles in a cold environment. The biodegradation of exogenous substances mainly occurs in the initial and maturing stages. It is proven that composting can be carried out successfully in early spring or later autumn after a harvest.

Spatiotemporal Evolution and Factors Influencing Ecological Civilization Development in Chinese Watersheds.

The construction of ecological civilization plays an important role in realizing the harmonious coexistence between man and nature. The aims of this study were to explore the development of ecological civilization in China's top 10 river basins from 2004 to 2018 and construct an evaluation index system of ecological civilization. Factor analysis was used for the evaluation, and intergroup gap and panel regression analyses were utilized to determine the evolution of the spatiotemporal patterns and factors affecting the development level of ecological civilization in Chinese river basins. The results show that areas with a high level of ecological civilization development gradually spread to peripheral basins such as the Liaohe, Yellow, and Songhua River basins. The level of ecological civilization in China's watersheds is undergoing continuous development. The degree of opening up, forest cover, and education have markedly positive effects on the development of ecological civilization in the basins, whereas urban development and financial autonomy have significant negative effects. The results of this study provide new ideas for evaluating the level of ecological civilization construction, as well as a reference for the government to formulate policies related to the construction of ecological civilization in river basins.

Altered Intrinsic Brain Activity in Patients With Toothache Using the Percent Amplitude of a Fluctuation Method: A Resting-State fMRI Study.

Objective: The percent amplitude of fluctuation (PerAF) technique was utilized to evaluate the neural functions of specific cerebrum areas in patients with toothache (TA). Patients and Methods: An aggregation of 18 patients with TA (eight males and 10 females) were included in the study. We also recruited 18 healthy controls (HCs; eight men and 10 women) aligned for sex and age. Resting functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) scans were obtained. Then, we utilized the PerAF method and a support vector machine (SVM) to analyze the image data and measure neural abnormalities in related cerebrum areas. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was utilized to appraise the two data sets. Results: The PerAF signals in the right dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus (RDSFG) and the right posterior central gyrus (RPCG) of TA sufferers were lower than HC signals. These results may reveal neural dysfunctions in relevant cerebrum regions. The AUC values of PerAF in the two areas were 0.979 in the RDSFG and 0.979 in the RPCG. The SVM results suggested that PerAF could be utilized to distinguish the TA group from HCs with a sensitivity of 75.00%, a specificity of 66.67%, and an accuracy of 70.83%. Conclusion: Patients with TA had marked differences in PerAF values in some regions of the cerebrum. Changes in PerAF values represented distinctions in blood oxygen level dependent semaphore intensity, which reflected the overactivity or inactivation of some cerebrum areas in those suffering from TA. At the same time, we analyzed the PerAF values of TAs with ROC curve, which can be helpful for the diagnosis of TA severity and subsequent treatment. Our results may help to elucidate the pathological mechanism of TA.

Effects of rice straw biochar on methanogenic bacteria and metabolic function in anaerobic digestion.

Anaerobic digestion technology mitigates agricultural organic waste pollution, thereby alleviating the energy crisis. Biochar materials increase the utilisation rate of biomass resources and promote the enrichment and growth of microorganisms. Biochar is an effective exogenous additive that stabilises the anaerobic digestion, improves anaerobic digestion efficiency and gas production. Herein, biochar materials were prepared from rice straw utilising the sequencing batch anaerobic digestion process. The biochar microstructure was characterised by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and microbial succession and metabolic pathways were analysed using 16S rRNA sequencing to reveal the molecular mechanisms. Rice straw biochar addition increased gas production during anaerobic fermentation. SEM revealed that numerous cocci and microbacteria became agglomerated and attached to the surface and pores of biochar, which was revealed by BET analysis to be a good habitat for microorganisms. After anaerobic digestion, the specific surface area and total pore volume of biochar decreased. 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that biochar affected the abundance of certain bacteria and archaea. Biochar had no obvious effect on the function of bacterial flora but inhibited carbohydrate metabolism by bacteria and glycan biosynthesis and metabolism by archaea in the anaerobic fermentation system while promoting lipid metabolism by archaea. Biochar addition inhibited acetic acid production in the anaerobic fermentation system and promoted methane production based on hydrogen and carbon dioxide levels.

Neurofilament Light Chain (NF-L) Stimulates Lipid Peroxidation to Neuronal Membrane through Microglia-Derived Ferritin Heavy Chain (FTH) Secretion.

A part of the axonal cytoskeleton protein complex, neurofilament light chain (NF-L) has been suggested as a pathological hallmark in various neurological disorders, including hemorrhagic stroke, vascular dementia, and cerebral small vessel disease. Neuroaxonal debris are mainly engulfed and phagocytosed by microglia, while the effects of NF-L on microglia have not been elucidated. Ferritin heavy chain (FTH) not only reflects the age-related status of microglia but may also be secreted into the extracellular space. After treatment of microglia with varying concentrations of NF-L (0-3 µg/ml), we found robust increases in the number of secretory FTH-containing exosomes in the medium. Induction of the FTH-containing exosomes secreted from microglia stimulates neuronal loss and membrane lipid peroxidation, as assessed by CKK8 and C11-Bodipy581/591, respectively. However, this oxidative stress damage was attenuated by blocking Fth1 expression. Our results suggest that NF-L, as a biomarker of axonal injury itself, could participate in neuronal ferroptosis in a nonclassical manner by secreting FTH-containing exosomes from microglia into the extracellular matrix.

Microbial succession of lignocellulose degrading bacteria during composting of corn stalk.

The discarding and burning of corn stalks in the fields after harvesting lead to environmental pollution and waste of resources. Composting is an effective way to disposal of the crop straws. Composting is a complex biochemical process and needs a detailed study in cold region. Hence, the succession process of bacteria and Actinomycetes in the process of corn stalk composting in cold region was studied by 16SrRNA. Alpha diversity analysis showed that the detection results could represent the real situation. The bacterial community diversity from high to low was F50 > F90 > F0 > F10 > F20. The results of beta analysis showed that F20 and F50 had the most similar microbial structure at the phylum level, and the difference between F0 and F20 was the largest. The dominant microbes changed from Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in F0 in heating stage to Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes in F10 during early high temperature stage, and Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in cooling and post composting phases. Actinobacteria and Firmicutes were the dominant bacteria in the whole composting process. In the composting process, the microbial community was mainly involved in amino acid metabolism related to nitrogen transformation and carbohydrate metabolism related to lignocellulose degradation. Lignin and hemicellulose were mainly degraded in thermophilic stage. The conversion of nitrogen and degradation of cellulose occurred mainly in the early stages of composting. The research will be helpful to understand the biochemical process of composting in cold region.

Nomogram to Predict Cognitive Dysfunction After a Minor Ischemic Stroke in Hospitalized-Population.

An easily scoring system to predict the risk of cognitive impairment after minor ischemic stroke has not been available. We aimed to develop and externally validate a nomogram for predicting the probability of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) among hospitalized population with minor stroke. Moreover, the association of Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) with PSCI is also investigated. We prospectively conducted a developed cohort on collected data in stroke center from June 2017 to February 2018, as well as an external validation cohort between June 2018 and February 2019. The main outcome is cognitive impairment defined as <22 Montreal Cognition Assessment (MoCA) score points 6 - 12 months following a minor stroke onset. Based on multivariate logistic models, the nomogram model was generated. Plasma TMAO levels were assessed at admission using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 228 participants completed the follow-up data for generating the nomogram. After multivariate logistic regression, seven variables remained independent predictors of PSCI to compose the nomogram included age, female, Fazekas score, educational level, number of intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS), HbA1c, and cortical infarction. The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) curve of model was 0.829, C index was good (0.810), and the AUC-ROC of the model applied in validation cohort was 0.812. Plasma TMAO levels were higher in patients with cognitive impairment than in them without cognitive dysfunction (median 4.56 vs. 3.22 µmol/L; p ≤ 0.001). In conclusion, this scoring system is the first nomogram developed and validated in a stroke center cohort for individualized prediction of cognitive impairment after minor stroke. Higher plasma TMAO level at admission suggests a potential marker of PSCI.

Evaluation of lignin inhibition in anaerobic digestion from the perspective of reducing the hydrolysis rate of holocellulose.

In this study, Anaerobic Digestion Model No. 1 (ADM1) were modified to simulate anaerobic digestion (AD) process of microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and five lignocellulosic substrates, with the goal of predicting the hydrolysis rates of holocellulose fractions in environments with and without lignin inhibition. After model verification, the hydrolysis rate constant of MCC, i.e., the hydrolyzability of cellulose without lignin inhibition, was 3.227 d-1, while those of the holocellulose fractions of five lignocellulosic substrates (I_khyd) were in the range of 1.270 d-1 to 3.364 d-1 (average of 2.242 d-1), which demonstrated remarkable suppression of holocellulose hydrolysis by lignin. Lignin inhibition index (LII) was proposed as an indicator to intuitively quantify and characterize the lignin inhibitory strength in a specific substrate. A series of factors with the potential to affect the LII were analyzed sequentially. This study provides an advanced understanding of the participation and behavior of lignin in the AD process.