Strigolactone-gibberellin crosstalk mediated by a distant silencer fine-tunes plant height in upland cotton.

Optimal plant height is crucial in modern agriculture, influencing lodging resistance and facilitating mechanized crop production. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is the most important fiber crop globally; however, the genetic basis underlying plant height remains largely unexplored. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study to identify a major locus controlling plant height (PH1) in upland cotton. This locus encodes gibberellin 2-oxidase 1A (GhPH1) and features a 1133-bp structural variation (PAVPH1) located approximately 16 kb upstream. The presence or absence of PAVPH1 influences the expression of GhPH1, thereby affecting plant height. Further analysis revealed that a gibberellin-regulating transcription factor (GhGARF) recognizes and binds to a specific CATTTG motif in both the GhPH1 promoter and PAVPH1. This interaction downregulates GhPH1, indicating that PAVPH1 functions as a distant upstream silencer. Intriguingly, we found that DWARF53 (D53), a key repressor of the strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway, directly interacts with GhGARF to inhibit its binding to targets. Moreover, we identified a previously unrecognized gibberellin-SL crosstalk mechanism mediated by the GhD53-GhGARF-GhPH1/PAVPH1 module, which is crucial for regulating plant height in upland cotton. These findings shed light on the genetic basis and gene interaction network underlying plant height, providing valuable insights for the development of semi-dwarf cotton varieties through precise modulation of GhPH1 expression.

Evaluation of genotoxicity and teratogenicity of phillyrin.

Phillyrin is extracted from Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl, is significantly higher in (unripe Forsythiae Fructus) Qing qiao than in (ripe Forsythiae Fructus) Lao qiao fruits of the plant. However, the toxicity of phillyrin has not been adequately investigated. The study investigates the genetic and teratogenic effects of phillyrin to determine its safety profile. Assessing the genotoxicity and teratogenicity of phillyrin involved various tests, such as the bacterial reverse mutation assay, mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus assay, spermatocyte chromosome aberration assay, and teratogenicity assay. The results demonstrated that phillyrin exhibited no discernible impact on the following: number of colonies that spontaneously revert for Salmonella typhimurium TA 97, TA98, TA100, TA102, and TA1535, frequency of bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes, and the rate of chromosomal aberrations. In the teratogenicity test, the pregnant rats exhibited no signs of toxicity or abnormal changes, and the growth, embryonic development, and visual anatomy of each pup were normal. In comparison with the negative control group, there were no significant differences in fetal body weight, mortality, deformity rate, malformed nest rate, gravid uterus weight, average number of fetuses per litter, fetal body length, or visceral and skeletal development in each dose group. In conclusion, these findings provide evidence that phillyrin does not exhibit genotoxic or teratogenic effects, supporting its potential safety for pharmacological applications.

[Comparison of Blood Oxygen Saturation Detection Methods in Patients with Hyperleukocytic Acute Leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate which indicator is more advantageous when using arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) and fingertip pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) for blood oxygen detection in patients with hyperleukocytic acute leukemia (HAL). METHODS: In this prospective research, the difference between SaO2 and SpO2 of 18 HAL patients (observation group) and 14 patients (control group), as well as the relationship between the difference and white blood cell (WBC) counts were analyzed. RESULTS: SaO2 was lower than SpO2 in the observation group (P <0.05), and SpO2-SaO2 difference was positively correlated with WBC counts (r =0.47). However, there was no statistical difference between SaO2 and SpO2 in the control group. SaO2 and PO2 showed a downward trend with the prolongation of detection time after arterial blood was collected in the observation group, but there was no statistical difference. There was no downward trend of SaO2 and PO2 in the control group. CONCLUSION: HAL patients have a phenomenon where SaO2 is lower than SpO2, that is pseudohypoxemia, and this phenomenon may be caused by excessive consumption of oxygen by the leukemia cells in vitro SpO2 can be monitored bedside in real time and is non-invasive, it is a better way to detect the blood oxygen status of HAL patients.

Flexible Multimodal Sensors Enhanced by Electrospun Lead-Free Perovskite and PVDF-HFP Composite Form-Stable Mesh Membranes for In Situ Plant Monitoring.

The pH and humidity of the crop environment are essential indicators for monitoring crop growth status. This study reports a lead-free perovskite/polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene composite (LPPC) to enhance the stability and reliability of in situ plant pH and humidity monitoring. The mesh composite membrane of LPPC illustrates a hydrophobic contact angle of 101.982°, a tensile strain of 800%, and an opposing surface potential of less than -184.9 mV, which ensures fast response, high sensitivity, and stability of the sensor during long-term plant monitoring. The LPPC-coated pH electrode possesses a sensitivity of -63.90 mV/pH, which provides a fast response within 5 s and is inert to environmental temperature interference. The LPPC-coated humidity sensor obtains a sensitivity of -145.7 Ω/% RH, responds in 28 s, and works well under varying light conditions. The flexible multimodal sensor coated with an LPPC membrane completed real-time in situ monitoring of soilless strawberries for 17 consecutive days. Satisfactory consistency and accuracy performance are observed. The study provides a simple solution for developing reliable, flexible wearable multiparameter sensors for in situ monitoring of multiple parameters of crop environments.

Exploring the regulatory role of non-coding RNAs in fiber development and direct regulation of GhKCR2 in the fatty acid metabolic pathway in upland cotton.

Cotton fiber holds immense importance as the primary raw material for the textile industry. Consequently, comprehending the regulatory mechanisms governing fiber development is pivotal for enhancing fiber quality. Our study aimed to construct a regulatory network of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) and assess the impact of non-coding RNAs on gene expression throughout fiber development. Through whole transcriptome data analysis, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) regulated by non-coding RNA (ncRNA) that were predominantly enriched in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and the fatty acid elongation pathway. This analysis involved two contrasting phenotypic materials (J02-508 and ZRI015) at five stages of fiber development. Additionally, we conducted a detailed analysis of genes involved in fatty acid elongation, including KCS, KCR, HACD, ECR, and ACOT, to unveil the factors contributing to the variation in fatty acid elongation between J02-508 and ZRI015. Through the integration of histochemical GUS staining, dual luciferase assay experiments, and correlation analysis of expression levels during fiber development stages for lncRNA MSTRG.44818.23 (MST23) and GhKCR2, we elucidated that MST23 positively regulates GhKCR2 expression in the fatty acid elongation pathway. This identification provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying fiber development, emphasizing the intricate interplay between non-coding RNAs and protein-coding genes.

Deep-Learning-Guided Evaluation Method for the High-Volume Preparation of Flexible Sensors Based on Inkjet Printing.

Flexible sensors for application in various industries, including biomedicine and wearable electronics, are frequently made using silver nanoparticle (AgNP) inks and inkjet printing (IJP) technology. Inkjet-printed flexible electronic devices are made up of many printed lines that run parallel to each other, and the surface morphology of the printed lines and the interline state directly impact the electrical conductivity of the electronic devices. This paper describes the experimental setup for IJP, the definition of print line characteristics, and common unavoidable defects. Conductivity and physical defects are considered in defining the print line quality assessment. In addition, two prediction models of flexible sensors before batch printing and a model for detecting defects after printing are provided. The predictive models can guide actions, leading to a print success rate of over 80%. We build the defect detection model using a neural architecture search because manually fine-tuning neural networks for reference is challenging. Finally, a target detection model with a mAP@0.5 of 81.2% is built in just 0.77 graphics processing unit (GPU) days. The model takes only 4.6 ms to detect an image, satisfying the real-time monitoring needs. At the same time, an accuracy of 95.5% can be achieved in the test data set. This work provides a new idea for the high-volume preparation of flexible sensors.

Identification and characterization of candidate genes for primary root length in Asiatic cotton (Gossypium arboreum L.).

KEY MESSAGE: One major gene controlling primary root length (PRL) in Gossypium arboreum is identified and this research provides a theoretical basis for root development for cotton. Primary root elongation is an essential process in plant root system structure. Here, we investigated the primary root length (PRL) of 215 diploid cotton (G. arboreum) accessions at 5, 8, 10, 15 days after sowing. A Genome-wide association study was performed for the PRL, resulting in 49 significant SNPs associated with 32 putative candidate genes. The SNP with the strongest signal (Chr07_8047530) could clearly distinguish the PRLs between accessions with two haplotypes. GamurG is the only gene that showed higher relative expression in the long PRL genotypes than the short PRL genotypes, which indicated it was the most likely candidate gene for regulating PRL. Moreover, the GamurG-silenced cotton seedlings showed a shorter PRL, while the GamurG-overexpressed Arabidopsis exhibited a significantly longer PRL. Our findings provide insight into the regulation mechanism of cotton root growth and will facilitate future breeding programs to optimize the root system structure in cotton.

Methylation of TTC4 interaction with HSP70 inhibits pyroptosis in macrophages of sepsis-induced lung injury by NLRP3 inflammation.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is an acute infectious diseases caused by a variety of factors. The function of TTC4 in sepsis-induced lung injury remains largely unknown. This study aimed to explore the critical role of TTC4 in sepsis-induced lung injury. Mice anaesthetized using pentobarbital sodium and subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery. TTC4 expression levels in patients with sepsis-induced lung injury were down-regulated. The inhibition of TTC4 gene promoted lung injury in mice model of sepsis. TTC4 gene improved inflammation in vitro model and mice model. TTC4 gene reduced pyroptosis in macrophages of sepsis-induced lung injury by the inhibition of mitochondrial damage. TTC4 gene induced HSP70 expression to reduce NLRP3-induced pyroptosis in macrophages. TTC4 protein interlinked HSP70 protein. The activation of HSP70 reduced the effects of sh-TTC4 in model of sepsis-induced lung injury through mitochondrial damage. m6A-forming enzyme METTL3 reduced TTC4 stability. Our study suggests the m6A forming enzyme METTL3 control TTC4 reduced inflammation and pyroptosis in model of sepsis-induced lung injury through inhibition of mitochondrial damage by HSP70/ROS/NLRP3 signaling pathway, TTC4 gene as an represents a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of sepsis-induced lung injury.

Moisture-Electric-Moisture-Sensitive Heterostructure Triggered Proton Hopping for Quality-Enhancing Moist-Electric Generator.

Moisture-enabled electricity (ME) is a method of converting the potential energy of water in the external environment into electrical energy through the interaction of functional materials with water molecules and can be directly applied to energy harvesting and signal expression. However, ME can be unreliable in numerous applications due to its sluggish response to moisture, thus sacrificing the value of fast energy harvesting and highly accurate information representation. Here, by constructing a moisture-electric-moisture-sensitive (ME-MS) heterostructure, we develop an efficient ME generator with ultra-fast electric response to moisture achieved by triggering Grotthuss protons hopping in the sensitized ZnO, which modulates the heterostructure built-in interfacial potential, enables quick response (0.435 s), an unprecedented ultra-fast response rate of 972.4 mV s-1, and a durable electrical signal output for 8 h without any attenuation. Our research provides an efficient way to generate electricity and important insight for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of moisture-generated carrier migration in ME generator, which has a more comprehensive working scene and can serve as a typical model for human health monitoring and smart medical electronics design.

Low-dose decitabine for previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia ineligible for intensive chemotherapy aged 65 years or older: a prospective study based on comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Background: The outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) aged ⩾65 years is poor. Effective treatment options are limited for patients with AML who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of low-dose decitabine in previously untreated patients with AML aged ⩾65 years who were ineligible for intensive chemotherapy based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment. Design: We performed a prospective, multicenter, open-label, and non-randomized study. Methods: Patients were enrolled at four centers in Beijing between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2020. They were treated with decitabine at a dose of 6 mg/m2 for 10 days. The treatment was repeated every 28 days for one cycle for a total of six cycles. The primary endpoint of our study was overall survival (OS) at the end of the first year after enrolment. The secondary endpoints included overall response rate, leukemia-free survival, relapse rate, treatment-related mortality (TRM), quality of life, safety, and transfusion dependence. Patients were continuously monitored for toxicity. Results: Overall, 47 patients (30 males and 17 females) participated in this study. The median age of the enrolled patients was 78 (range, 65-90) years. The median follow-up time was 22.2 (range, 4.6-38.8) months. Fifteen (31.9%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), 11 (23.4%) patients achieved partial remission, 3 (6.4%) patients achieved hematological improvement only, and 18 (38.3%) patients did not achieve remission. The median time to obtain CR was 2 months. The median CR was 8.5 months. Of the patients, 36 (76.6%) patients completed six cycles of treatment with low-dose decitabine, and the 1-year OS was 36.1%. According to instrumental activities of daily living scales, age, comorbidities, and albumin (IACA) scores, the median survival was 11.2 months in the unfit group and 6 months in the frail group. The 1-year OS rates in the unfit and frail groups were 49.2% and 23.4%, respectively. Grade ⩾3 non-hematological toxicity was observed in 70.2% (33/47) of the patients. TRM occurred in three patients. No early deaths occurred after treatment. Conclusion: In newly diagnosed older patients with AML whose IACA assessment was unfit or frail for standard chemotherapy, treatment with low-dose decitabine demonstrated clinical activity and good security in our study.

Novel nomogram to predict the overall survival of postoperative patients with gastric signet.

BACKGROUND: The TNM staging system cannot accurately predict the prognosis of postoperative gastric signet ring cell carcinoma (GSRC) given its unique biological behavior, epidemiological features, and various prognostic factors. Therefore, a reliable postoperative prognostic evaluation system for GSRC is required. This study aimed to establish a nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS) rate of postoperative patients with GSRC and validate it in the real world. METHODS: Clinical data of postoperative patients with GSRC from 2002 to 2014 were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database and randomly assigned to training and internal validation sets at a 7:3 ratio. The external validation set used data from 124 postoperative patients with GSRC who were admitted to the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University between 2002 and 2014. The independent risk factors affecting OS were screened using univariate and multivariate analyses to construct a nomogram. The performance of the model was evaluated using the C-index, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, decision analysis (DCA) curve, and adjuvant chemotherapy decision analysis. RESULTS: Univariate/multivariate analysis indicated that age, stage, T, M, regional nodes optimized (RNE), and lymph node metastasis rate (LNMR) were independent risk factors affecting prognosis. The C-indices of the training, internal validation, and external validation sets are 0.741, 0.741, and 0.786, respectively. The ROC curves for the first, third, and fifth years in three sets had higher areas under the curves, (training set, 0.782, 0.864, 0.883; internal validation set, 0.781, 0.863, 0.877; external validation set, 0.819, 0.863, 0.835). The calibration curve showed high consistency between the nomogram-predicted 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS and the actual OS in the three queues. The DCA curve indicated that applying the nomogram enhanced the net clinical benefits. The nomogram effectively distinguished patients in each subgroup into high- and low-risk groups. Adjuvant chemotherapy can significantly improve OS in high-risk group (P = 0.034), while the presence or absence of adjuvant chemotherapy in low-risk group has no significant impact on OS (P = 0.192). CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram can effectively predict the OS of patients with GSRC and may help doctors make personalized prognostic judgments and clinical treatment decisions.

Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in patients with plasma cell dyscrasias during the first Omicron wave in Beijing since December 2022: a retrospective study at a National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease.

The wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with Omicron variant reached its first peak in Beijing, China in December 2022. We delineated characteristics and factors associated with adverse outcome of patients with plasma cell dyscrasias (PCDs) and COVID-19 during the first month of the wave. A total of 104 patients with a median age of 65 years were included in the study, with multiple myeloma (74%, n=77) and primary Immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (16.3%, n=17) being the two most common disease. Overall, severe or critical COVID-19 was developed in 18 (17.3%) patients, with a total all-cause mortality rate of 4.8% (n=5). The vaccination coverage was 41% and 48.1%, before and during the upsurge of Omicron, respectively, calling for the improvement of vaccination in PCD patients. Multivariable analysis revealed that age was the only independent risk factors (OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.06-1.26, p = 0.002) associated with the development of severe or critical disease. Among patients with severe or critical group, low levels of albumin (HR=18.29; 95% CI: 1.82-183.44, p = 0.013) and high levels of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) (HR=0.08; 95% CI: 0.01-0.65, p = 0.018) were associated with longer time to negative conversion of COVID-19.

Developing a Quality Evaluation System for Color Reproduction of Color 3D Printing Based on MATLAB Multi-Metrics.

Color 3D printing has been widely used in many fields such as cultural, medical, industrial, and food. The color reproduction accuracy of 3D printed products in these fields is becoming increasingly demanding, which requires more reproduction methods and practical tools. At present, most color 3D printing devices use one quantitative index, that is, color difference, to directly predict the color reproduction quality. However, this single quantitative index is not optimal for the curved surface of 3D printed color objects. Based on color evaluation principles, in this study, five new quantitative metrics consisting of color gamut comparison index, color SSIM index, color FSIM index, iCID index, and subjective scaling values are proposed for comparison, and the corresponding GUI design and code implementation of new color quality evaluation system are performed by MATLAB. Moreover, the comprehensive color assessment of color 3D printed products is confirmed by utilizing standard image acquisition and microscopic imaging methods that are not limited to printing materials and sampling locations. The operation of this system is validated to provide interactivity, simplicity and high efficiency. As a result, the system can provide new valuable feedback for color separation and output calibration of color 3D printing devices.

Transcriptome and proteome profiling revealed the key genes and pathways involved in the fiber quality formation in brown cotton.

Colored cotton is also called eco-cotton because of its natural color fiber. It is inferior in yield and quality than white cotton. The underlying regulatory genes involved in fiber quality and pigment synthesis are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the transcriptomic and proteomic changes during fiber development in a brown cotton cultivar (Z161) and a white cotton cultivar. The differential proteins with the same expression trend as genes were significantly and positively correlated with corresponding fold changes in expression. Enrichment analysis revealed that Z161, enriched in fiber elongation genes related to flavonoid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and many more genes (proteins) are up-regulated. Moreover, 164 glycosyltransferases genes, 15 MYB-bHLH-WD40 genes, and other transcription factors such as C2H2 (12), ERF (11), and NAC (7) were preferentially expressed in Z161. Weighted correlation network analysis identified fatty acid synthesis and energy metabolism as the principal metabolic pathways in both cotton genotypes during fiber development. Identified 15 hub genes will provide important insights for genetic manipulation of fiber quality and pigment deposition balance in brown cotton fibers.

SMYD Family Members Serve as Potential Prognostic Markers and Correlate with Immune Infiltrates in Gastric Cancer.

Background: The SMYD family comprises a group of genes encoding lysine methyltransferases, which are closely related to tumorigenesis. However, a systematic understanding of their role in gastric cancer (GC) is lacking. Methods: Using databases and tools such as the Cancer Genome Atlas, Human Protein Atlas, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, and Metascape, we comprehensively analyzed differences in SMYD expression and its prognostic value as well as the association of SMYDs with immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and microsatellite instability (MSI). We conducted functional enrichment analysis and explored a competing endogenous RNA mechanism regulating SMYD mRNA and protein levels in patients with GC. Results: In GC, the expression of SMYD2/3/4/5 mRNA was significantly upregulated, as opposed to that of SMYD1 mRNA, which was significantly downregulated. The protein levels of SMYDs were consistent with mRNA levels. SMYD1/2/4/5 was negatively correlated with overall survival; SMYD1/2/3/5 was negatively correlated with progression-free survival. Our SMYD-based signature and nomogram model may be useful for inferring the prognosis of GC. All SMYDs were closely associated with the infiltration of six immune cell types: uncharacterized, CD8+ T, CD4+ T, macrophage, endothelial, and B cells. TMB was significantly negatively correlated with SMYD1 expression, while a significant positive correlation was observed with SMYD2/5. Furthermore, MSI was significantly positively correlated with SMYD2/5 expression. Long non-coding RNAs, such as chr22-38_28785274-29006793.1, XLOC_002309, and CTD-2008N3.1, were suggested to regulate SMYD expression by sponging multiple microRNAs. Conclusion: SMYDs are differentially expressed in GC and are thus potential prognostic markers. SMYD expression is closely related to immune infiltration, TMB, and MSI, all of which are closely related to the response to targeted immune therapy.

Genome-wide analysis of growth-regulating factor genes in grape (Vitis vinifera L.): identification, characterization and their responsive expression to osmotic stress.

KEY MESSAGE: Identification, characterization and osmotic stress responsive expression of growth-regulating factor genes in grape. The growth and fruit production of grape vine are severely affected by adverse environmental conditions. Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) play a vital role in the regulation of plant growth, reproduction and stress tolerance. However, their biological functions in fruit vine crops are still largely unknown. In the present study, a total number of nine VvGRFs were identified in the grape genome. Phylogenetic and collinear relationship analysis revealed that they formed seven subfamilies, and have gone through three segmental duplication events. All VvGRFs were predicted to be nucleic localized and contained both the conserved QLQ and WRC domains at their N-terminals, one of the typical structural features of GRF proteins. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses demonstrated that all VvGRFs, with a predominant expression of VvGRF7, were constitutively expressed in roots, leaves and stems of grape plants, and showed responsive expression to osmotic stress. Further growth phenotypic analysis demonstrated that ectopic expression of VvGRF7 promoted the growth and sensitivity of transgenic Arabidopsis plants to osmotic stress. Our findings provide important information for the future study of VvGRF gene functions, and potential gene resources for the genetic breeding of new fruit vine varieties with improved fruit yield and stress tolerance.

Clinical Characteristics, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Outcomes of Patients with Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China, 2013-2021.

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility profiles, and outcomes of patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) at a hospital in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, to provide the basis for improving the clinical treatment effect. Methods: Patients with IPD were retrospectively collected from 2013 to 2021. Clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, antimicrobial susceptibility, antibiotic treatment, and outcomes of the disease were analyzed. Results: In this study, we identified 127 IPD cases, of whom 49 (38.6%) had meningitis and 78 (61.4%) had bacteremia. The median ages of pediatric cases and adult cases were 2 years (IQR: 0-5) and 52.5 years (IQR: 35-62), respectively. There were 27 and 45 males in the pediatric and adult groups, and no significant gender difference in the different age groups (p = 0.584) was found. Of 75 cases with underlying diseases, pneumonia (11%), malignancy (11%), hypertension (9.4%), and hepatic cirrhosis (7.9%) were the most common. The incidence of underlying diseases was even higher in the adult group (67.1%) than in the pediatric group (47.1%) (p = 0.028). The frequency of fever, cough, and seizures was significantly higher in the pediatric group than in the adult group, with p-values of 0.004, 0.004, and 0.001, respectively. The percentage of neutrophils in the blood was significantly higher in the adult cases than in the pediatric cases (p < 0.001). Furthermore, there was a significantly higher WBC count (p < 0.001), percentage of neutrophils (p = 0.012), and protein level (p = 0.019) in the CSF samples in the adult patients compared to pediatric patients. The susceptibility rates of S. pneumoniae isolates to vancomycin, linezolid, and levofloxacin were 100%. The susceptibility rates of penicillin were 98.7% and 34.1% in bacteremia and meningitis patients, respectively. Most isolates were resistant to erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, and azithromycin. The most common antibiotic treatment was ß-lactams. Seven (5.5%) patients died during hospitalization, and 38 (29.9%) patients' health deteriorated. Conclusion: These results may provide a reference basis for the diagnosis and empiric treatment of IPD in the region.

Perfusion heterogeneity of cerebral small vessel disease revealed via arterial spin labeling MRI and machine learning.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is associated with altered cerebral perfusion. However, global and regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) are highly heterogeneous across CSVD patients. The aim of this study was to identify subtypes of CSVD with different CBF patterns using an advanced machine learning approach. 121 CSVD patients and 53 healthy controls received arterial spin label MRI, T1 structural MRI and clinical measurements. Regional CBF were used to identify distinct perfusion subtypes of CSVD via a semi-supervised machine learning algorithm. Statistical analyses were used to explore alterations in CBF, clinical measures, gray and white matter volume between healthy controls and different subtypes of CSVD. Correlation analysis was used to assess the association between clinical measures and altered CBF in each CSVD subtype. Three subtypes of CSVD with distinct CBF patterns were found. Subtype 1 showed decreased CBF in the temporal lobe and increased CBF in the parietal and occipital lobe. Subtype 2 exhibited decreased CBF in the right hemisphere of the brain, and increased CBF in the left cerebrum. Subtype 3 demonstrated decreased CBF in the posterior part of the brain, and increased CBF in anterior part of the brain. The three subtypes also differed significantly in gender (p = 0.005), the proportion of subjects with lacune (p = 0.002), with periventricular white matter hyperintensity (p = 0.043), and CSVD burden score (p = 0.048). In subtype 3, it was found that widespread decreased CBF was correlated with total CSVD burden score (r = -0.324, p = 0.029). Compared with healthy controls, the three CSVD subtypes also showed distinct volumetric patterns of white matter. The current results associate different subtypes with different clinical and imaging phenotypes, which can improve the understanding of brain perfusion alterations of CSVD and can facilitate precision diagnosis of CSVD.

Low-Dimensional Nanomaterial Systems Formed by IVA Group Elements Allow Energy Conversion Materials to Flourish.

In response to the exhaustion of traditional energy, green and efficient energy conversion has attracted growing attention. The IVA group elements, especially carbon, are widely distributed and stable in the earth's crust, and have received a lot of attention from scientists. The low-dimensional structures composed of IVA group elements have special energy band structure and electrical properties, which allow them to show more excellent performance in the fields of energy conversion. In recent years, the diversification of synthesis and optimization of properties of IVA group elements low-dimensional nanomaterials (IVA-LD) contributed to the flourishing development of related fields. This paper reviews the properties and synthesis methods of IVA-LD for energy conversion devices, as well as their current applications in major fields such as ion battery, moisture electricity generation, and solar-driven evaporation. Finally, the prospects and challenges faced by the IVA-LD in the field of energy conversion are discussed.

Solar-Driven Soil Remediation along with the Generation of Water Vapor and Electricity.

As a renewable energy source, solar energy has become an important part of human energy use. However, facilities utilizing solar energy are often complex and technically difficult, and preparation equipment and materials are expensive, while these equipment and materials often cause new environmental pollution. Soil, which exists in large quantities on the earth's surface, is an inexhaustible natural material with loose and stable properties. Due to the specificity of its composition and microscopic form, the soil has an inherent advantage as a medium for solar thermal and photovoltaic conversion. Here, we built an integrated solar energy utilization system, the Integrated Soil Utilization Module (ISUM), integrating multi-functions into one hybrid system, which enables solar-driven water vapor and electricity generation and soil remediation. The evaporation rate of the soil represented by the rocky land was 1.2 kg·m-2·h-1 under 1-sun irradiation with evaporation induced voltage of 0.3 V. With only seven days of continuous exposure to sunlight, the removal of heavy metal ions from the soil reached 90%, while the pH was raised to near neutral. The combined application of readily available natural soil with solar energy not only demonstrates the potential of a soil for solar desalination and power generation, but in addition, solar-driven interfacial evaporation provides an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable method for purifying heavy metal and acid-contaminated soil.