Blood transfusion might not be recommended for gastric cancer patients with pretransfusion minimum hemoglobin values higher than 90 g/L: a real-world study covering 20 years of 13470 patients.

BACKGROUND: There was no consistent evidence whether perioperative blood transfusion (PBT) affects the long-term survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients after undergoing gastrectomy. This study aimed to investigate the effects of PBT on long-term survival of GC patients, as well as to determine the threshold of PBT and provide evidence for future surgical practice. METHODS: We performed this real-world study of GC patients undergoing gastrectomy in China National Cancer Center from January 1, 2000 to December 30, 2019. Overall survival (OS) curves were plotted using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared statistically using the log-rank test. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the risk factors for OS. RESULTS: In total, 13470 GC patients undergoing gastrectomy from 2000 to 2019 was included, of whom 3465 (34.6%) GC patients received PBT. PBT ratios declined from 29.1% (114/392) in 2000 to 11.2% in 2019 (149/1178), with the highest blood transfusion ratio in 2005 at 43.7% (220/504). For patients transfused with red blood cells, the median value of hemoglobin (Hb) before transfusion in the PBT group decreased from 110 g/L in 2000 to 87 g/L in 2019. Compared with patients who not receiving perioperative blood transfusion (NPBT), PBT group are more likely to be older (≥65, 39.1% vs. 30.1%, P<0.001), open operation (89.7% vs. 78.1%, P<0.001), higher ASA score (>2, 25.3% vs. 14.9%, P<0.001) and in the later pTNM stage (pTNM stage III, 68.5% vs. 51.5%, P<0.001). Results of multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that PBT was an independent prognostic factor for worse OS in GC patients undergoing gastrectomy (HR=1.106, 95% CI, 1.01-1.211, P=0.03). After stratified according to tumor stage, we found that PBT group had a worse prognosis only in pTNM stage III (HR=1.197, 95% CI, 1.119-1.281, P<0.001). OS was obviously poor in the PBT group when Hb levels were higher than 90 g/L (90 g/L120 g/L:HR= 1.207, 95% CI, 1.098-1.327, P<0.001), while there was no difference between the two groups when Hb levels were lower than or equal to 90 g/L (Hb≤90 g/L: HR=1.162, 95% CI, 0.985-1.370, P=0.075). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, PBT was an independent prognostic factor for worse OS. Blood transfusion might not be recommended for gastric cancer patients with perioperative minimum Hb values higher than 90 g/L.

Green synthesis of N-rich carbon dot-derived crosslinked covalent organic nanomaterial for multipurpose chromatographic applications.

Carbon dots (CDs) derived crosslinked covalent organic nanomaterials (CONs) possessing high specific surface area and abundant surface functional groups are considered to be potential candidates for multimodal chromatographic separations. Typically, the synthesis of CDs and CONs requires harsh reaction conditions and toxic organic solvents, hence, the pursuit of facile and mild preparation strategies is the goal of researchers. In this work, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and D-glucose were used as nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively, to prepare amino-CDs (AmCDs) by rapid low-temperature polymerization rather than the common high-temperature and high-pressure reaction. Then, surface functionalization of the aminated silica gel was carried out in a deep eutectic solvent by using hydrophilic AmCDs and 1,3,5-triformylbenzene (TFB) as the functional monomers. Consequently, a novel N-rich CDs derived CON surface-functionalized silica gel (AmCDs-CON@SiO2) was obtained under mild reaction conditions. The combination of AmCDs and TFB created an ideal CON based chromatographic stationary phase. The incorporation of TFB not only contributed to the successful construction of a crosslinked CON, but also enhanced the interaction forces. The developed AmCDs-CON@SiO2 has a great potential for versatile applications in liquid chromatography. This study proposes a simple stationary phase preparation strategy by the surface modification of silica gel with CDs-based CON. Moreover, this study verified the application potential of CDs derived CON in chromatographic separation. This not only promotes the development of CDs in the field of liquid chromatographic stationary phase, but also provides some reference value for the wide application of cross-linked CON.

A new method based on melatonin-mediated seed germination to quickly remove pesticide residues and improve the nutritional quality of contaminated grains.

In the present study, we attempted to use melatonin combined with germination treatment to remove pesticide residues from contaminated grains. High levels of pesticide residues were detected in soybean seeds after soaking with chlorothalonil (10 mM) and malathion (1 mM) for 2 hours. Treatment with 50 µM melatonin for 5 days completely removed the pesticide residues, while in the control group, only 61-71% of pesticide residues were removed from soybean sprouts. Compared with the control, melatonin treatment for 7 days further increased the content of ascorbic acid (by 48-66%), total phenolics (by 52-68%), isoflavones (by 22-34%), the total antioxidant capacity (by 37-40%), and the accumulated levels of unsaturated fatty acids (C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3) (by 17-30%) in soybean sprouts. Moreover, melatonin treatment further increased the accumulation of ten components of phenols and isoflavones in soybean sprouts relative to those in the control. The ability of melatonin to accelerate the degradation of pesticide residues and promote the accumulation of antioxidant metabolites might be related to its ability to trigger the glutathione detoxification system in soybean sprouts. Melatonin promoted glutathione synthesis (by 49-139%) and elevated the activities of glutathione-S-transferase (by 24-78%) and glutathione reductase (by 38-61%). In summary, we report a new method in which combined treatment by melatonin and germination rapidly degrades pesticide residues in contaminated grains and improves the nutritional quality of food.

Surface molecularly imprinted polymer/covalent organic framework/silica composite material with specific recognition ability and excellent chromatographic performance.

Facing with the difficulty of specific chromatographic separation of nucleoside drugs, this study prepared a surface molecularly imprinted polymer (SMIP) modified covalent organic framework (COF) coated silica stationary phase based on the specificity of molecular imprinting technology and the powerful chromatographic separation performance of COF. This novel SMIP-COF@SiO2 stationary phase can not only specifically identify template molecule and structural analogs, but can also be used to separate multiple types of analytes, such as B vitamins, sulfonamides, alkylbenzenes, phenyl ketones, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and environmental endocrine disruptors, which satisfies the need for complex sample separation. Various retention mechanisms have been investigated and multiple interactions between the SMIP-COF@SiO2 stationary phase and the analytes are discovered. The chromatographic performance of SMIP-COF@SiO2 is far superior to that of the SMIP@SiO2 and COF@SiO2. Furthermore, the SMIP-COF@SiO2 stationary phase can be successfully used to analyze polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environmental water sample and detect whitening ingredient in skincare product, indicating its great potential for application in various fields.

Cotton stalk decomposition with DBD low-temperature plasma: Characteristics and kinetics.

DBD low-temperature plasma (DLTP) is recognized as one of the most efficient technologies for treating cotton stalks. This study investigates the impact of various conditions on the gas production characteristics of cotton stalks (CS) and delves into the DLTP decomposition kinetics of CS and CSC in oxygen-enriched (30 % O2/Ar) and CO2 atmospheres. The decomposition rates of CS followed the order CO2 > N2 > Ar. The decomposition behavior of CSC in oxygen-enriched DLTP (30 % O2/Ar) aligned well with the chemical reaction model. The activation energies for CSC decomposition at 900 °C and 1000 °C were determined to be 23.8 kJ/mol and 33.8 kJ/mol, respectively. Moreover, the reaction rate decreased at higher carbonization temperatures, which proved to be detrimental to the decomposition of CSC. The DLTP decomposition of CSC in CO2 exhibited consistency with the fitting results of the unreacted shrinking core model, revealing an observed activation energy of 19.4 kJ/mol.

Research progress on the improvement of cardiovascular diseases through the autonomic nervous system regulation of the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Cardiovascular disease stands as a leading global cause of mortality. Nucleotide-binding Oligomerization Domain-like Receptor Protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is widely acknowledged as pivotal factor in specific cardiovascular disease progression, such as myocardial infarction, heart failure. Recent investigations underscore a close interconnection between autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction and cardiac inflammation. It has been substantiated that sympathetic nervous system activation and vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) assumes critical roles withinNLRP3 inflammasome pathway regulation, thereby contributing to the amelioration of cardiac injury and enhancement of prognosis in heart diseases. This article reviews the nexus between NLRP3 inflammasome and cardiovascular disorders, elucidating the modulatory functions of the sympathetic and vagus nerves within the ANS with regard to NLRP3 inflammasome. Furthermore, it delves into the potential therapeutic utility of NLRP3 inflammasome to be targeted by VNS. This review serves as a valuable reference for further exploration into the potential mechanisms underlying VNS in the modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Design of smart temperature-sensitive terpolymeric hydrogel for multi-applications in liquid chromatography.

Hydrogels with a unique three-dimensional network structure have been widely used in a variety of fields. However, hydrogels are prone to swelling under water-rich conditions, which severely limits their application in liquid chromatography. Therefore, producing a hydrogel with reliable performance and good mechanical property is essential. Smart temperature-sensitive chromatographic packings have attracted extensive attentions in recent years. In this work, sodium 4-styrenesulfonate and 1-octadecene were introduced into the poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel to improve mechanical property and separation performance. As a consequence, a smart temperature-sensitive terpolymeric hydrogel modified silica stationary phase (ION-hydrogel@SiO2) was synthesized for multimode liquid chromatographic separation. It was found that this new ION-hydrogel@SiO2 column exhibited excellent chromatographic separation ability for a wide range of analytes. To a certain extent, this new column has a higher chromatographic separation efficiency compared to the commercial C18 column and XAmide column. Moreover, the use of low proportion of organic phase in chromatographic separation is conducive to the realization of green chromatography. By investigating the chromatographic separation mechanism, it has been demonstrated that the hydrogen bonding interaction is primarily responsible for the temperature-sensitive behavior of the hydrogel. Finally, the ION-hydrogel@SiO2 column was used for the determination of pyridoxine in the commercially available tablet samples. In conclusion, this study presents a feasible idea for the development of novel copolymer hydrogels as liquid chromatographic stationary phases.

Research on driving mechanism and prediction of electric power carbon emission in Gansu Province under dual-carbon target.

The electric power industry is a key industry for the country to achieve the double carbon target. Its low carbon development has a double effect on this industry and helps other industries to achieve the carbon peak target. This paper firstly uses the IPCC inventory method to calculate carbon emissions in the production phase of the power industry in Gansu Province from 2000 to 2019, followed by the ridge regression method and the STIRPAT model to analyse the quantitative impact of six major drivers on carbon emissions, and finally, the scenario analysis method is used to forecast carbon emissions in this phase. The results show that the carbon emissions of Gansu Province show a trend of rising and then falling, and reached a peak of 65.66 million tons in 2013. For every 1% increase in population effect, urbanisation level, affluence, clean energy generation share, technology level and industrial structure, carbon emissions will grow by 4.939%, 0.625%, 0.224%, - 0.259%, 0.063% and 0.022% respectively. Because of the clean energy advantage in Gansu Province, the low-carbon development scenario will continue to have low carbon emissions during the scenario cycle, which can be reduced to 53.454 million tons in 2030; the baseline scenario will achieve a carbon peak in 2025, with a peak of 62.627 million tons; the economic development scenario has not achieved carbon peak during the scenario cycle, and carbon emissions will increase to 73.223 million tons in 2030.

Lanthanum hydroxide protects kidney through gut microbiota in a rat model of chronic kidney disease.

The progression of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) is complex, influenced by a myriad of factors including gut microbiota. While emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota can have beneficial effects in managing CKD, it is also recognized that dysbiosis may contribute to the progression of CKD and associated uremic complications. Our previous research has demonstrated the efficacy of lanthanum hydroxide in delaying kidney failure and preserving renal function. However, the role of lanthanum hydroxide in modulating gut microbiota in this context remains unclear. In our study, we induced CKD in rats using adenine, leading to gut microbial dysbiosis, kidney pathology, and disturbances in amino acid metabolism. In this adenine-induced CKD model with hyperphosphatemia, treatment with lanthanum hydroxide improved renal function. This improvement was associated with the restoration of gut microbial balance and an increase in urine ammonium metabolism. These results suggest that the therapeutic potential of lanthanum hydroxide in CKD may be partly due to its ability to reshape gut microbiota composition. This study underscores the significance of lanthanum hydroxide in kidney protection, attributing its benefits to the modulation of gut microbiota in a rat model of CKD.

Dual-monomer solvatochromic probe system (DSPS) for effectively differentiating lipid raft cholesterol and active membrane cholesterol in the inner-leaflet plasma membrane.

Monitoring active membrane cholesterol and lipid raft cholesterol in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane is significant for understanding the membrane function and cellular physiopathological processes. Limited by existing methods, it is difficult to differentiate active membrane cholesterol and lipid raft cholesterol. A novel dual-monomer solvatochromic probe system (DSPS) that targets two types of cholesterol was developed. Acrylodan-BG/SNAP-D4 composed of SNAP-D4 cholesterol-recognizing monomers and solvatochromic acrylodan-BG-sensing monomers exhibits excellent cholesterol detecting properties in terms of selectivity, accuracy, convenience and economic benefits. Cell imaging revealed that lipid raft cholesterol emitted blue fluorescence, whereas active membrane cholesterol (which partially bobbed in aqueous cytosol) displayed green fluorescence; both the fluorescence emissions increased or decreased in a cholesterol-dependent manner. This system provides a new technology for the determination of two types of cholesterol, which is beneficial for the further study of membrane function, intracellular cholesterol trafficking, and cell signaling.

Simultaneous adsorption of chromate and arsenate onto ferrihydrite/alginate composite beads: Competition and mechanism.

Ferrihydrite is an effective adsorbent of chromate and arsenate. In order to gain insight into the application of ferrihydrite in water treatment, macroporous alginate/ferrihydrite beads, synthesized using two different methods (internal and encapsulation processes), were used in this work. The properties of the ferrihydrite were assessed using various techniques, including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) theory, and zetametry. The results showed that the specific surface area of the ferrihydrite was 242 m2/g, and the PZC was pH8. The kinetic and isotherm adsorption properties of the ferrihydrite were evaluated in this study. The results indicate that the pseudo second-order and Freundlich models accurately describe the kinetic and isotherm adsorption properties of chromates and arsenates. For chromate removal, ferrihydrite exhibited a relatively high adsorption capacity (40.7 mgCr/g) compared to other adsorbents. However, the arsenate adsorption capacity of MFHB-SI (140.8 mgAs/g) was shown to be the most optimal. The internal synthesis process was suitable for arsenate retention due to the resulting arsenate precipitation. The competitive adsorption analyses indicated that the presence of chromate does not limit the adsorption of arsenate. However, the presence of arsenate almost completely inhibits the adsorption of chromate when the arsenate concentration is above 50 mg/L, due to the precipitation reaction of arsenate.

Spectrum-effect relationship study between ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprints and anti-hepatoma effect in vitro of Cnidii Fructus.

Cnidii Fructus, derived from the dried ripe fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss, has the effect of warming kidneys and invigorating Yang. This study established the spectrum-effect relationships between ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) fingerprints and the antitumor activities of Cnidii Fructus on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. In UHPLC fingerprints, 19 common peaks were obtained, and 17 batches of herbs had similarity >0.948. In Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) test, 17 batches of Cnidii Fructus extract significantly inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells to different degrees, showing different half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values. Furthermore, gray correlation analysis, Pearson's analysis, and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis were performed to screen out eight components. The analysis of mass spectrum data and a comparison with standards revealed that the eight components were methoxsalen, isopimpinellin, osthenol, imperatorin, osthole, ricinoleic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. The verification experiments by testing single compounds indicated that these eight compounds were the major anti-hepatoma compounds in Cnidii Fructus. This work provides a model combining UHPLC fingerprints and antitumor activities to study the spectrum-effect relationships of Cnidii Fructus, which can be used to determine the principal components responsible for the bioactivity.

Association of survival with adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage IB gastric cancer: a multicentre, observational, cohort study.

Background: Recurrence following radical resection in patients with stage IB gastric cancer (GC) is not uncommon. However, whether postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy could reduce the risk of recurrence in stage IB GC remains contentious. Methods: We collected data on 2110 consecutive patients with pathologic stage IB (T1N1M0 or T2N0M0) GC who were admitted to 8 hospitals in China from 2009 to 2018. The survival of patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy was compared with that of postoperative observation patients using propensity score matching (PSM). Two survival prediction models were constructed to estimate the predicted net survival gain attributable to adjuvant chemotherapy. Findings: Of the 2110 patients, 1344 received adjuvant chemotherapy and 766 received postoperative observation. Following the 1-to-1 matching, PSM yielded 637 matched pairs. Among matched pairs, adjuvant chemotherapy was not associated with improved survival compared with postoperative observation (OS: hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-1.00; DFS: HR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.64-1.29). Interestingly, in the subgroup analysis, reduced mortality after adjuvant chemotherapy was observed in the subgroups with elevated serum CA19-9 (HR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.57; P = 0.001 for multiplicative interaction), positive lymphovascular invasion (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.17-0.62; P < 0.001 for multiplicative interaction), or positive lymph nodes (HR, 0.17; 95% CI, 0.07-0.38; P < 0.001 for multiplicative interaction). The survival prediction models mainly based on variables associated with chemotherapy benefits in the subgroup analysis demonstrated good calibration and discrimination, with relatively high C-indexes. The C-indexes for OS were 0.74 for patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and 0.70 for patients treated with postoperative observation. Two nomograms were built from the models that can calculate individualized estimates of expected net survival gain attributable to adjuvant chemotherapy. Interpretation: In this cohort study, pathologic stage IB alone was not associated with survival benefits from adjuvant chemotherapy compared with postoperative observation in patients with early-stage GC. High-risk clinicopathologic features should be considered simultaneously when evaluating patients with stage IB GC for adjuvant chemotherapy. Funding: National Natural Science Foundation of China; the National Key R&D Program of China.

Enhancement of ester biosynthesis in blueberry wines through co-fermentation via cell-cell contact between Torulaspora delbrueckii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

This study investigated the effects of co-fermentation of T. delbrueckii and S. cerevisiae on the volatile composition and sensory characteristics of blueberry wines. Mixed fermentation led to higher levels of terpenes, higher alcohols, and esters compared to wines fermented with each yeast individually. Conversely, when T. delbrueckii were physically separated from S. cerevisiae in the double-compartment fermenter, contrasting outcomes emerged. The stronger fruity aroma induced by mixed fermentation were linked to higher ester concentrations, including isoamyl acetate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl hexanoate, and diethyl succinate. The enhanced esters in mixed fermentation can be attributed to the upregulated alcohol acyltransferase activity and the expressions of ACC1, FAS2, ELO1 and ATF1 genes in late fermentation stage via the cell-cell contact between T. delbrueckii and S. cerevisiae. These findings can deepen the understanding of the interaction between non-Saccharomyces and S. cerevisiae in ester production, assisting wineries in effectively controlling wine aroma through mixed fermentations.

Psychological mechanisms of English academic stress and academic burnout: the mediating role of rumination and moderating effect of neuroticism.

Introduction: Academic stress is a significant and prevalent phenomenon among college students. According to the Demands-Resources Model, when individuals are unable to cope with stress that exceeds their capacity, burnout may occur. Although English courses hold a significant position in university education, there has been limited research on the mechanisms linking English academic stress to English academic burnout. Methods: This study recruited 1,130 undergraduate students taking English courses. Participants completed online questionnaires assessing English academic stress, rumination, English academic burnout, and neuroticism traits. A moderated mediation model was constructed to examine the relationship among these variables. Results: The results indicate that (1) Rumination serves as a mediator in the relationship between English academic stress and burnout; (2) neuroticism significantly moderates the pathway between English academic stress and rumination. Specifically, students with high neuroticism tendencies are more prone to developing rumination when faced with high levels of English academic stress. Conclusion: These findings offer valuable insights into the psychological mechanisms underlying the association between English learning stress and academic burnout. They emphasize the importance of addressing rumination as a mediator and considering individuals' levels of neuroticism in interventions aimed at preventing and alleviating academic burnout among university students.

Clinical Outcomes and Risk Factors for Death in Critically Ill Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Treated with Ceftazidime-Avibactam: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) is a significant public health threat, because it is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. However, the risk factors associated with treatment failure of ceftazidime-avibactam (CAZ-AVI) and the need for CAZ-AVI-based combination remain unclear. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of critically ill patients (age: > 18 years) diagnosed with CRKP infections and treated with CAZ-AVI for at least 24 h between June 2020 and December 2022 at Henan Provincial People's Hospital. Results: This study included a total of 103 patients who received CAZ-AVI. Of these, 91 (88.3%) patients received the standard dosage of 2.5 g every q8h, while only 20 (19.4%) received monotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the all-cause 30-day mortality was significantly higher among patients who experienced septic shock than those who did not. There was no significant difference in mortality between monotherapy and combination therapy. Dose reduction of CAZ-AVI was associated with a significantly increased mortality rate. Independent risk factors for the 30-day mortality included higher APACHE II score (HR: 1.084, 95% CI: 1.024-1.147, p = 0.005) and lower lymphocyte count (HR: 0.247, 95% CI: 0.093-0.655, p = 0.005). Conversely, a combination therapy regimen containing carbapenems was associated with lower mortality (HR: 0.273, 95% CI: 0.086-0.869, p = 0.028). Conclusion: Our study suggests that CAZ-AVI provides clinical benefits in terms of survival and clinical response in critically ill patients with CRKP infection. A higher APACHE II score and lower lymphocyte count were associated with 30-day mortality, while the combination therapy regimen containing carbapenems was the only protective factor. CAZ-AVI dose reduction was associated with an increased mortality rate. Futher large-scale studies are needed to validate these findings.

Combined exposure to lead and microplastics increased risk of glucose metabolism in mice via the Nrf2/NF-κB pathway.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of combined lead (Pb) and two types of microplastic (MP) (polyvinyl chloride [PVC] and polyethylene [PE]) exposure on glucose metabolism and investigate the role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in mediating these effects in mice. Adult C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups: control, Pb (100 mg/L), MPs (containing 10 mg/L PE and PVC), and Pb + MPs, each of which was treated with drinking water. Treatments were conducted for 6 weeks. Co-exposure to Pb + MPs exhibited increase glycosylated serum protein levels, insulin resistance, and damaged glucose tolerance compared with the control mice. Additionally, treatment with Pb + MPs caused more severe damage to hepatocytes than when exposed to them alone concomitantly, exposed to Pb + MPs exhibited improved the levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and malondialdehyde, but reduced superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase assay in livers. Furthermore, they increase the Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) and phosphorylated p-NF-κB protein levels but reduced the protein levels of heme oxygenase-1 and Nrf2, as well as increased Keap1 mRNA and Nrf2 mRNA. Co-exposure to Pb + MP impacts glucose metabolism via the Nrf2 /NF-κB pathway.

Integrated Care for Pregnant and Parenting People With Substance Use.

Caring for pregnant people with substance use requires knowledge about specific substances used, treatment options, and an integrated, trauma-informed care team. This chapter will discuss crucial information for clinicians regarding evidence-based practice for screening, intervention, and ongoing support for pregnant people and their families impacted by substance use.

A Weakly Supervised Semantic Segmentation Model of Maize Seedlings and Weed Images Based on Scrawl Labels.

The task of semantic segmentation of maize and weed images using fully supervised deep learning models requires a large number of pixel-level mask labels, and the complex morphology of the maize and weeds themselves can further increase the cost of image annotation. To solve this problem, we proposed a Scrawl Label-based Weakly Supervised Semantic Segmentation Network (SL-Net). SL-Net consists of a pseudo label generation module, encoder, and decoder. The pseudo label generation module converts scrawl labels into pseudo labels that replace manual labels that are involved in network training, improving the backbone network for feature extraction based on the DeepLab-V3+ model and using a migration learning strategy to optimize the training process. The results show that the intersection over union of the pseudo labels that are generated by the pseudo label module with the ground truth is 83.32%, and the cosine similarity is 93.55%. In the semantic segmentation testing of SL-Net for image seedling of maize plants and weeds, the mean intersection over union and average precision reached 87.30% and 94.06%, which is higher than the semantic segmentation accuracy of DeepLab-V3+ and PSPNet under weakly and fully supervised learning conditions. We conduct experiments to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Facile synthesis of a novel polymer/covalent organic framework@silica composite material in deep eutectic solvent for mixed-mode liquid chromatographic separation.

The solvothermal synthesis of covalent organic framework (COF) modified silica gel usually requires the use of harmful organic solvents, tedious steps, and harsh reaction conditions. In pursuit of green chemistry, a new strategy for the facile preparation of COF@SiO2 composite material was realized in this work by using a low-toxicity and low-cost deep eutectic solvent as the reaction medium. Additionally, a flexible polyacrylic acid (PAA) was introduced for the purpose of improving the hydrophilic selectivity and separation efficiency of COF@SiO2. Based on the above ideas, a novel PAA/COF@SiO2 composite was successfully developed as a liquid chromatographic packing material. Performance evaluation of the slurry-packed PAA/COF@SiO2 column showed that diverse types of analytes were effectively separated, and the retention behavior of polar nucleosides showed a U-shaped trend, indicating mixed-mode of hydrophobic/hydrophilic retention mechanisms. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the separation mechanism was largely independent of temperature. This work verifies the feasibility of synthesizing polymer/COF@SiO2 composite material in the deep eutectic solvent. This strategy provides a theoretical reference for the green and facile preparation of COF@SiO2 as an efficient liquid chromatographic stationary phase.