Concurrent manipulation of competitive mechanisms to construct glutathione-stabilized gold nanocluster-based dual-channel molecular classifier for metal ions detection and information steganography.

Understanding charge transport in metal ion-mediated glutathione-stabilized gold nanoclusters (GSH-Au NCs) has proved difficult due to the presence of various competitive mechanisms, such as electron transfer (ET) and aggregation induction effect (AIE). In this paper, we present a dual-channel fluorescence (FL) and second-order Rayleigh scattering (SRS) sensing method for high-throughput classification of metal ions, relying on the competition between ET and AIE using GSH-Au NCs. The SRS signals show significant enhancement when Pb2+, Ag+, Al3+, Cu2+, Fe3+, and Hg2+ are present, as a result of the aggregation of GSH-Au NCs. Notably, the fluorescence signal exhibits the opposite trend. The FL intensities of GSH-Au NCs are enhanced by Pb2+, Ag+, and Al3+ through the AIE mechanism, while they are quenched by Cu2+, Fe3+, and Hg2+, which is dominated by the ET mechanism. By employing principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, these signals are transformed into unique fingerprints and Euclidean distances, respectively, enabling successful distinction of six metal ions and their mixtures with a low detection limit of 30 nM. This new strategy has successfully addressed interference from impurities in the testing of real water samples, demonstrating its strong ability to detect multiple metal ions. Impressively, we have achieved molecular cryptosteganography, which involves encoding, storing, and concealing information by transforming the selective response of GSH-Au NCs to binary strings. This research is anticipated to advance utilization of nanomaterials in logic sensing and information safety, bridging the gap between molecular sensors and information systems.

Copper-Catalyzed Directed Hydroindolation/Annulation Sequence of Alkynes with Indoles via Copper Carbenes.

Described herein is an efficient copper-catalyzed tandem alkyne indolylcupration-initiated 1,2-indole migration/6π-electrocyclic reaction of allene-ynamides with indoles by the in situ-generated metal carbenes. This method allows the efficient synthesis of valuable indole-fused spirobenzo[f]indole-cyclohexanes with high regio- and stereoselectivity. In addition, this reaction affords rapid access to the functionalized spirobenzo[f]indole-cyclohexanes in the absence of indoles by a presumable 5-exo-dig cyclization/Friedel-Crafts alkylation via copper-containing all-carbon 1,4-dipoles.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Indolyl Ynamide Oxidation/Dearomatization: Divergent and Regioselective Synthesis of Valuable Indoline Scaffolds.

A highly convenient copper(I)-catalyzed oxidation-initiated cyclopropanation of indolyl ynamide for the rapid construction of indole-fused cyclopropane-lactams is described, which represents, to the best of our knowledge, the first non-noble-metal-catalyzed indolyl ynamide oxidation/dearomatization by the in situ generated α-oxo copper carbenes. Compared to hydrazone and diazo, the use of alkynes as carbene precursors allows cyclopropanation to occur under a safe and convenient pathway. Moreover, this transformation can lead to the divergent synthesis of pentacyclic spiroindolines involving the reversal of ynamide regioselectivity by engineering substrate structures.

Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease with cortical involvement in left hemisphere: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare highly heterogeneous disease. In this paper, we present a case of NIID featured in cortical involvement in left hemisphere of brain and the imaging changes in the process of the disease. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old female was hospitalized due to recurrent attacks of headache with cognitive impairment and tremor for 2 years. The symptoms of headache episodes were reversible. The characteristic radiologic change was high intensity signal involving the grey matter-white matter junction on the brain diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), which existed in the frontal lobe and then extended backwards. Atypical features on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) sequences showing small patchy high signals in the cerebellar vermis. High signals and edema were detected on FLAIR images along the cortex of the left occipito-parieto-temporal lobes, expanding and gradually shrinking in the follow-up visit. Besides, cerebral atrophy and bilateral symmetrical leukoencephalopathy were also detected. Skin biopsy and genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of NIID. CONCLUSION: Except for typical radiological change strongly suggesting NIID, it is also necessary to notice the insidious symptoms of NIID combining with some atypical imaging features to make an early diagnosis. Skin biopsies or genetic testing should be carried out early in patients with highly suspected NIID.

Identification of flowering genes in Camellia perpetua by comparative transcriptome analysis.

Camellia perpetua has the excellent characteristic of flowering multiple times throughout the year, which is of great importance to solve the problem of "short flowering period" and "low fresh flower yield" in the yellow Camellia industry at present. Observations of flowering phenology have demonstrated that most floral buds of C. perpetua were formed by the differentiation of axillary buds in the scales at the base of the terminal buds of annual branches. However, the molecular mechanism of flowering in C. perpetua is still unclear. In this study, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic study of the terminal buds and their basal flower buds in March (spring) and September (autumn) using RNA-seq and found that a total of 11,067 genes were significantly differentially expressed in these two periods. We identified 27 genes related to gibberellin acid (GA) synthesis, catabolism, and signal transduction during floral bud differentiation. However, treatment of the terminal buds and axillary buds of C. perpetua on annual branch with GA3 did not induce floral buds at the reproductive growth season (in August) but promoted shoot sprouting. Moreover, 203 flowering genes were identified from the C. perpetua transcriptome library through homology alignment, including flowering integrators LEAFY (LFY) and UNUSUAL FLORAL ORGANS (UFO), as well as MADS-box, SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-box (SBP-box), and TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) genes, which were specifically upregulated in floral buds and were likely involved in flowering in C. perpetua. The floral inhibitor CperTFL1b was identified and cloned from C. perpetua, and its expression level was specifically regulated in terminal buds in autumn. Ectopic overexpression of CperTFL1b delayed flowering time and produced abnormal inflorescence and floral organs in Arabidopsis, suggesting that CperTFL1b inhibits flowering. In conclusion, this study deepens our understanding of the molecular mechanism of blooms throughout the year in C. perpetua and provides a helpful reference for cultivating new varieties of yellow Camellia with improved flowering traits.

The Precision of Place Fields Governs Their Fate across Epochs of Experience.

Spatial memories are represented by hippocampal place cells during navigation. This spatial code is dynamic, undergoing changes across time, known as representational drift, and across changes in internal state, even while navigating the same spatial environment with consistent behavior. A dynamic code may provide the hippocampus a means to track distinct epochs of experience that occur at different times or during different internal states and update spatial memories. Changes to the spatial code include place fields (PFs) that remap to new locations and place fields that vanish, while others are stable. However, what determines place field fate across epochs remains unclear. We measured the lap-by-lap properties of place cells in mice during navigation for a block of trials in a rewarded virtual environment. We then determined the position of the place fields in another block of trials in the same spatial environment either separated by a day (a distinct temporal epoch) or during the same session but with reward removed to change reward expectation (a distinct internal state epoch). We found that place cells with remapped place fields across epochs tended to have lower spatial precision during navigation in the initial epoch. Place cells with stable or vanished place fields tended to have higher spatial precision. We conclude that place cells with less precise place fields have greater spatial flexibility, allowing them to respond to, and track, distinct epochs of experience in the same spatial environment, while place cells with precise place fields generally preserve spatial information when their fields reappear.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism and the Risk of Leukoaraiosis in a South Chinese Han Population: A Case-Control Study.

Leukoaraiosis (LA) appears as white matter hyperintensities on T2-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging scans. Age and hypertension are considered the primary risk factors for LA, but its pathogenesis remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism and LA. A total of 140 patients with LA and 136 neuroimaging alteration-free controls were recruited in a case-control study. ACE I/D polymorphism was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. The allele and genotype distributions of the ACE I/D polymorphism were significantly different between subjects with and without LA. Significant difference was observed in the genotypic distribution between LA patients and controls for recessive and additive models. A statistically significant association remained apparent after adjusting for potential risk factors (D/D vs. I/D + I/I: adjusted OR 3.251, 95% CI 1.185-8.918; D/D vs. I/I: adjusted OR 3.277, 95% CI 1.187-9.047). Our results indicate that the D/D genotype and D allele are important risk factors for LA. Future studies with larger populations are needed to validate our results.

Reduced atmospheric sulfate enhances fine particulate nitrate formation in eastern China.

Nitrate (NO3-) is a major component of atmospheric fine particles. Recent studies in eastern China have shown the increasing trend of NO3- in contrast to the ongoing control of nitrogen oxide (NOx). Here, we elucidate the effects of reduced sulfur dioxide (SO2) on the enhancement of NO3- formation based on field measurements at the summit of Mt. Tai (1534 m a.s.l.) and present detailed modelling analyses. From 2007 to 2018, the measured springtime concentrations of various primary pollutants and fine sulfate (SO42-) decreased sharply (-16.4 % to -89.7 %), whereas fine NO3- concentration increased by 22.8 %. The elevated NO3- levels cannot be explained by the changes in meteorological conditions or other related parameters but were primarily attributed to the considerable reduction in SO42- concentrations (-73.4 %). Results from a multi-phase chemical box model indicated that the reduced SO42- levels decreased the aerosol acidity and prompted the partitioning of HNO3 into the aerosol phase. WRF-Chem model analyses suggest that such a negative effect is a regional phenomenon throughout the planetary boundary layer over eastern China in spring. This study provides new insights into the worsening situation of NO3- aerosol pollution and has important implications for controlling haze pollution in China.

Efficacy and Safety Assessment of Rivaroxaban for the Treatment of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in a Chinese Population.

We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban for acute and long-term management of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). This study reviewed CVST-diagnosed patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University from January 2015 to December 2020. The primary outcome was a composite of recurrent thrombosis or major bleeding events. The secondary efficacy outcomes included a disease recovery time (DRT) presenting the time from admission to the endpoint as recovery (the modified Rankin scale [mRS] score [0-1]) within 30 and 90 days, and length of hospital stay (LHS). Patients treated with rivaroxaban (38) and warfarin (45) were enrolled in the final analysis. The primary outcome had no significant difference (5.3% vs 11.1%, P = .576) between the 2 groups. The secondary efficacy outcome regarding the median 30-d DRT was 17 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.6-19.4) in the rivaroxaban group, compared with 26.0 days (95% CI, 16.8-35.2) in the warfarin group (hazard ratio, 1.806; 95% CI, 1.051-3.103; log-rank P = .026). Two groups have a significant difference in LHS (P = .041). Patients with cerebral edema, intracerebral hemorrhage, and mild/moderate disability (admission mRS score [2-3]) treated with rivaroxaban recovered faster than those with warfarin (log-rank P < .05). Patients with cerebral edema, intracerebral hemorrhage, and mild/moderate disability treated with rivaroxaban had a shorter recovery time than those treated with warfarin within 1 month from admission, indicating that rivaroxaban a promising convenient therapy for CVST, helping them speedily restore social functions.

[Research on Rapid Detection Technology for Quality Control of Emergency Ventilator].

OBJECTIVE: In order to grasp the quality status of the first-aid ventilator in pre-hospital and field environment in time, the quality control and detection items of invasive ventilator were optimized to form a rapid detection operation process of first-aid ventilator and ensure the safety of patient treatment. METHODS: Based on the quality control detection data of invasive ventilator in hospital in recent years, methods such as narrowing the range of qualified criteria and analyzing confidence interval were adopted to extract indicators prone to deviation and verify their correlation with similar indicators, so as to form an optimized rapid detection portfolio. RESULTS: Compared with the original quality control detection procedures, the detection indicators of the rapid detection procedures were reduced from 5 categories of 24 indicators to 3 categories of 7 indicators. The detection time was shortened by 56.1% and the coincidence rate of the detection results was 100% after the actual measurement and verification. CONCLUSIONS: Under the premise of ensuring the testing quality, the operating procedure for rapid detection of emergency ventilator can greatly reduce the detection time, and realize the rapid and high frequency quality control detection, so as to ensure the quality and safety of the equipment.

Gold-catalyzed cycloadditions of allenes via metal carbenes.

In recent years, gold-catalyzed cycloadditions of allenes, especially those involving a gold carbene intermediate, have received significant interest, as they avoid the utilization of potentially hazardous and inaccessible diazo compounds as starting materials for carbene generation. Cycloaddition reactions consisting of the uncomplicated addition of two or more unsaturated functional groups are one of the most efficient synthetic methodologies for the rapid assembly of carbo- and heterocyclic structures from simple acyclic precursors. In this review, we introduce an overview of the advances in the gold-catalyzed cycloaddition of allenes via a metal carbene intermediate and categorize these reactions according to the reaction types of the cycloadditions.

[Long-term Trends and Sources of Atmospheric Halocarbons at Mount Taishan, Northern China].

Halocarbons are hot topics in atmospheric environment and climate change research. Combining observational data from six field campaigns at the summit of Mount Taishan (36.25°N, 117.10°E, 1534 m above sea level) with backward trajectory and receptor source analyses, this study analyzed the long-term trends and major emission sources of halocarbons in the regional background atmosphere of the North China Plain (NCP) from 2003 to 2018. The results showed that the volume fraction of species eliminated by the Montreal Protocol (MP) showed a significant downward trend; however, the MP-controlled and unregulated species showed an overall upward trend. Meanwhile, the median volume fraction of the MP-controlled and unregulated species at Mount Taishan were significantly higher than the mid-latitude median background values in the northern hemisphere. Mount Taishan air was mainly affected by four types of air masses, of which the air mass originating from NCP accounted for the highest proportion (41%). The major sources of halocarbons were biomass/biofuel burning (38.1%), refrigeration (26.2%), industrial and domestic solvent use (21.7%), solvent use in the electronic industry (8.7%), and leakage of chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) banks (5.3%). This study fully demonstrates that MP has been effectively implemented in China and provides evidence and recommendations to further reduce and control the volume fraction of halocarbons.

Clinical Study of Acupotomy for Knee Osteoarthritis Based on the Meridian-Sinew Theory: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

This study was performed to compare the effectiveness of acupotomy based on the meridian-sinew theory with acupotomy based on the anatomical theory in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA). A total of 124 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized into the meridian-sinew (MS) group (63 patients) and anatomy group (61 patients). In the MS group, acupotomy based on the meridian-sinew theory was performed. In the anatomy group, acupotomy based on anatomy was applied. Patients were subgrouped by TCM Constitutions. The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index and visual analog scale (VAS) were used to evaluate treatment effectiveness. The results showed that VAS (F = 22.61, p < 0.01) and WOMAC (F = 24.84, p < 0.01) scores declined with time, and there was no significant difference between the two groups nor subgroups (Yang deficiency subgroup, Yin-Yang harmony subgroup, and the subgroup of the others). A total of 5 patients reported 6 cases of the minor adverse effect, and all patients achieved complete recovery without medical intervention. This study indicates that the effectiveness and safety of acupotomy based on the meridian-sinew theory are equivalent to that of acupotomy based on anatomy in KOA treatment.

Distinct place cell dynamics in CA1 and CA3 encode experience in new environments.

When exploring new environments animals form spatial memories that are updated with experience and retrieved upon re-exposure to the same environment. The hippocampus is thought to support these memory processes, but how this is achieved by different subnetworks such as CA1 and CA3 remains unclear. To understand how hippocampal spatial representations emerge and evolve during familiarization, we performed 2-photon calcium imaging in mice running in new virtual environments and compared the trial-to-trial dynamics of place cells in CA1 and CA3 over days. We find that place fields in CA1 emerge rapidly but tend to shift backwards from trial-to-trial and remap upon re-exposure to the environment a day later. In contrast, place fields in CA3 emerge gradually but show more stable trial-to-trial and day-to-day dynamics. These results reflect different roles in CA1 and CA3 in spatial memory processing during familiarization to new environments and constrain the potential mechanisms that support them.

[New Particle Formation Events in Summer and Winter in the Coastal Atmosphere in Qingdao, China].

Atmospheric particle number size distributions were measured by a wide-range particle size spectrometer and a scanning mobility particle size spectrometer in the summertime and wintertime in the coastal area of Qingdao (China). The inorganic and organic gaseous precursors and particulate chemical composition were measured to characterize new particle formation (NPF) events by combining meteorological parameters and backward trajectories. In summer, the occurrence frequency of NPF events was 18% lower. However, the atmospheric particle number concentration increased by approximately 1-4 times during the NPF events compared with those without NPF. The apparent formation rates and growth rates were (5.2±4.3) cm-3·s-1 and (6.5±2.2) nm·h-1, respectively, except for a special NPF event on July 20. The correlation analysis results implied that biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) seemingly favor NPF, and the reverse is true for anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOCs). The occurrence frequency of NPF events of 27% in winter was clearly higher than that in summer. The apparent formation rates and growth rates, i.e., (3.3±3.1) cm-3·s-1 and (5.3±3.3) nm·h-1, decreased, although the decreases were not significant (P>0.05). The correlation analyses implied that AVOCs favored NPF. However, BVOCs had no correlation with NPF. For the cases in which new particles could grow to CCN sizes (>50 nm), the particle growth characteristics showed significant seasonal differences, i.e., in summer, new particles could grow to CCN sizes via photochemical reactions, whereas in winter, second-stage growth driven by the formation of nitrate aerosols was needed to grow new particles to CCN sizes.

Associations between SNP83 of phosphodiesterase 4D gene and carotid atherosclerosis in a southern Chinese Han population: a case-control study.

Atherosclerosis was an important pathophysiological basis of atherothrombotic stroke, and phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) polymorphism (SNP83/rs966221) was reported to be associated with the susceptibility to atherothrombotic stroke. Aim of the present study was to explore the potential association between SNP83 and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS). 204 southern Chinese Han participants were divided into two groups according to the carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery: CAS group (carotid IMT ≥ 1.0 mm) and non-CAS group (carotid IMT < 1.0 mm). Carotid IMT was measured by color Doppler ultrasound. The PDE4D SNP83 polymorphism was determined by SNaPshot technique. Our study found that SNP83 was associated significantly with CAS susceptibility under the dominant, overdominant and codominant models. After adjusting for age, gender, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, Hemoglobin A1c, cigarette smoking, hypertension history, and diabetes mellitus history, the association still remained significant (dominant model: crude OR = 2.373, 95% CI: 1.268-4.442, P = 0.007; adjusted OR = 3.129, 95% CI: 1.104-8.866, P = 0.032; overdominant model: crude OR = 1.968, 95% CI: 1.043-3.714, P = 0.037; adjusted OR = 2.854, 95% CI: 1.005-8.108, P = 0.049; codominant: crude OR = 2.102, 95% CI: 1.110-3.979, P = 0.023; adjusted OR = 2.984, 95% CI: 1.047-8.502, P = 0.041). Carotid IMT of carriers with CT + CC genotypes was higher than carriers with TT genotype (P = 0.016). Our results indicated that the SNP83/rs966221 located on PDE4D gene was significantly associated between CAS susceptibility and carotid IMT independently of conventional risk factors in a southern Chinese Han population.

[Application of "process management and evaluation" in resident standardization training plan in acupuncture-moxibustion department of hospital for postgraduates of non-acupuncture- moxibustion speciality].

The teaching effect of "process management and evaluation" was assessed in resident standardization training plan in acupuncture-moxibustion department of hospital for postgraduates of non-acupuncture-moxibustion speciality. A total of 120 postgraduates of non-acupuncture-moxibustion speciality participating in resident standardization training were randomized into an observation group (60 cases) and a control group (60 cases, 1 case dropped off). In the control group, the conventional training mode was used. In the observation group, the "process management and evaluation" was adopted, in which, the syllabus was refined, various teaching modes were cooperated and the summary was conducted once a week. The training results were evaluated at the end of 1-month shift test and questionnaire was issued in all of the postgraduates of the two groups. In the observation group, the score for theory and the score of each of the items for technical ability, named differentiation and treatment, technical manipulation and physician-patient communication, as well as the total score were all higher than the control group successively (P<0.05, P<0.01). The results of the student questionnaire showed that in the items as "being liable to the memory of relevant knowledge" "connection of theory with practical ability" "stimulating students' interest and subjective initiative" "self-learning ability" "clinical question handling ability" and "communication ability with patients" as well as the total score in the observation group were all higher than the control group successively (P<0.01, P<0.05). The teaching effect of "process management and evaluation" is obviously better than the conventional teaching mode.

Formation of peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and its impact on ozone production in the coastal atmosphere of Qingdao, North China.

Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN), acting as a relatively long-lived reservoir for both NOx and radicals, plays a crucial role in ozone (O3) formation in the troposphere. However, its quantitative impacts on radical concentrations and O3 production were rarely studied in the coastal atmosphere. In this study, ambient concentrations of PAN, O3, and related species were simultaneously measured from October 5 to November 10, 2018 (autumn), and July 14 to August 24, 2019 (summer) at a rural coastal site in Qingdao, North China. The formation mechanism of PAN and its impact on in-situ O3 production were explored with an observation-based chemical box model. Photochemical formation of PAN and O3 was controlled by both NOx and VOCs, and acetaldehyde and methylglyoxal were the main contributors to PAN formation. However, the sensitivities of PAN to precursors were larger than that of O3 in autumn while smaller in summer, which was mainly caused by the rapid decomposition of PAN at high temperatures. Zero-out sensitivity simulation showed that PAN could either promote or inhibit the in-situ O3 formation by affecting the radical chemistry. It tended to suppress O3 production by competing with precursors and terminating radical chain reactions under low-NOx and low-ROx circumstances but enhanced O3 production by supplying RO2 radicals under conditions with sufficient NOx. This study provides some new complementary insights into the formation mechanism of PAN and its impacts on O3 production, and has implications for the formulation of control policy to mitigate regional photochemical pollution in northern China.

Copper(I)-Catalyzed Enyne Oxidation/Cyclopropanation: Divergent and Enantioselective Synthesis of Cyclopropanes.

An efficient copper(I)-catalyzed enyne oxidation/cyclopropanation for the modular synthesis of cyclopropane derivatives is described, which represents the first non-noble metal-catalyzed enynes oxidation/cyclopropanation by the in situ generated α-oxo copper carbenes. This protocol allows the assembly of valuable cyclopropane-γ-lactams in generally good to excellent yields with excellent diastereoselectivity. More significantly, the enantioselective version of enyne oxidation/cyclopropanation has been disclosed with chiral copper catalysts.

Association between polymorphisms in ABO gene and stroke patients with small artery occlusion in southern Chinese Han population.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate associations between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs505922 and rs532436 in ABO gene and the risk of small artery occlusion stroke (SAO) in southern Chinese Han population. METHODS: Our case-control study comprising 121 patients with SAO and 136 controls. All participants were Han population of southern China. IS sub-type was defined on the basis of the TOAST criteria. SAO was strictly diagnosed after a systematic physical examination and neuroimaging via MRI. Genotype analysis was conducted by the snapshot technique. RESULTS: The distribution of rs532436 genotype between these two groups showed a statistically significant difference (P = 0.048) while that of rs505922 genotype showed no significant difference (P = 0.572). SNP rs532436 was significantly associated with SAO in overdominant model (GA vs. GG + AA) after adjusting for age, hypertension history, diabetes history and cigarette smoking (adjusted OR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.14-3.62, P = 0.016). However, under all genetic models, the rs505922 polymorphism failed to show association with SAO. CONCLUSION: The resultsindicate that rs532436 polymorphism in ABO gene may have association with SAO in southern Chinese Han population.