Recycling Valuable Alkylbenzenes from Polystyrene through Methanol-Assisted Depolymerization.

The vast bulk of polystyrene (PS), a major type of plastic polymers, ends up in landfills, which takes up to thousands of years to decompose in nature. Chemical recycling promises to enable lower-energy pathways and minimal environmental impacts compared with traditional incineration and mechanical recycling. Herein, we demonstrated that methanol as a hydrogen supplier assisted the depolymerization of PS (denoted as PS-MAD) into alkylbenzenes over a heterogeneous catalyst composed of Ru nanoparticles on SiO2. PS-MAD achieved a high yield of liquid products which accounted for 93.2 wt % of virgin PS at 280 °C for 6 h with the production rate of 118.1 mmolcarbon gcatal. -1 h-1. The major components were valuable alkylbenzenes (monocyclic aromatics and diphenyl alkanes), the sum of which occupied 84.3 wt % of liquid products. According to mechanistic studies, methanol decomposition dominates the hydrogen supply during PS-MAD, thereby restraining PS aromatization which generates by-products of fused polycyclic arenes and polyphenylenes.

Hypophysitis after COVID-19 vaccination in a patient with Rathke's cleft cyst: A case report.

With the widespread vaccination of COVID-19 vaccine, a few cases have been reported that COVID-19 vaccine may cause endocrine disorders. A 59-y-old man presented with a loss of appetite after the first COVID-19 vaccination, which resolved spontaneously after 3 d. After the second COVID-19 vaccination, the symptoms including the loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting reappeared and worsened along with loss of vision. He was found to have severe hyponatremia, and further investigations revealed secondary adrenal insufficiency, secondary hypothyroidism and Rathke's cleft cyst. The patient responded well to glucocorticoid and levothyroxine supplementation, and at 1-y follow-up the patient developed hypogonadism. We hypothesize that hypophysitis is probably induced by COVID-19 vaccine and report the rare but serious adverse reactions for early recognition and intervention.

Return to flight duty (RTFD) after posterior lumbar spine surgery for symptomatic lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis (LIS) in Chinese military pilots.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and lumbar isthmic spondylolisthesis (LIS) present significant challenges for military pilots, which may result in grounding if not effectively managed. Surgical treatment for LDH and LIS may offer a pathway to return to flight duty (RTFD), but recent data on this crucial topic is lacking. This study seeks to address this gap by investigating the RTFD outcomes among Chinese military pilots who have undergone lumbar spine surgery for symptomatic LDH and LIS. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on active-duty military pilots who underwent isolated decompressive or fusion procedures at an authorized military medical center from March 1, 2007, to March 1, 2023. The analysis utilized descriptive statistics to examine demographic, occupational, surgical, and outcome data, with a particular focus on preoperative flight status, recommended clearance by spine surgeons, and actual RTFD outcomes and time. RESULTS: Among the identified cases of active-duty military pilots with LDH or LIS treated by lumbar surgery (n = 24), 70.8% (17 of 24) consistently maintained RTFD status without encountering surgical complications or medical issues during the follow-up period. Of the seven pilots who did not RTFD, one retired within a year of surgery, two had anterior cruciate ligament injuries, three had residual radicular symptoms, and one had chronic low back pain. Excluding pilots who retired and did not RTFD for reasons unrelated to their lumbar conditions, the RTFD rate stood at 81.0% (17 of 21). The median time for recommended clearance by spine surgeons was 143.0 days (inter-quartile range, 116.5-196.0), while the median duration for actual RTFD attainment was 221.0 days (inter-quartile range, 182.0-300.0). The median follow-up post-lumbar surgery was 1.7 years (inter-quartile range, 0.4-2.9). CONCLUSION: Most military pilots diagnosed with symptomatic LDH and LIS can continue their careers and regain active-duty flight status following lumbar spine surgery, as reflected by the high RTFD rate. Lumbar spine surgery can successfully alleviate the physical constraints associated with spinal conditions, facilitating the return of military pilots to their demanding profession.

Use of different food additives to control browning in fresh-cut potatoes.

Fresh-cut potato browning is a severe problem in the potato processing industry. Ascorbic acid, L-cysteine, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and nitric oxide (NO) have been reported to reduce the browning in fresh-cut vegetables and fruits. We compared the effect of each food additive at its commonly used concentration on fresh-cut potato browning in order to choose a highly efficient treatment and explore its mechanism. Fresh-cut potato slices were immersed in 0.3 mmol L-1 ascorbic acid, 0.7 mmol L-1 L-cysteine, 0.7 mmol L-1 H2S, or 2.0 mmol L-1 NO for 10 min and stored at 4°C until the measurements finished. Results showed that the ascorbic acid and L-cysteine treatments showed less browning than the control treatment, while the H2S and NO treatments did not. Ascorbic acid increased total phenolic content, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities, while L-cysteine decreased PPO and POD activities with no change in total phenolic content. In addition, these two treatments did not influence respiration rate, weight loss, or rot index. In conclusion, ascorbic acid (0.3 mmol L-1) and L-cysteine (0.7 mmol L-1) can be valuable means to control fresh-cut potato browning. Ascorbic acid inhibits the browning mainly by reducing quinones back to phenolic compounds, but L-cysteine inhibits the browning mainly by decreasing PPO and POD activities.

Prevalence and risk factors of occupational neck pain in Chinese male fighter pilots: a cross-sectional study based on questionnaire and cervical sagittal alignment.

Background: Neck pain (NP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder among fighter pilots and has become a rising concern due to its detrimental impact on military combat effectiveness. The occurrence of NP is influenced by a variety of factors, but less attention has been paid to the association of NP with demographic, occupational, and cervical sagittal characteristics in this group. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of NP in Chinese male fighter pilots using a questionnaire and cervical sagittal measurements. Methods: Demographic and flight-related data, as well as musculoskeletal pain information, were gathered from Chinese male fighter pilots via a self-report questionnaire. Cervical sagittal parameters were measured and subtypes were classified using standardized lateral cervical radiographs. Differences in various factors between the case and control groups were analyzed using t-tests or chi-square tests. Binary logistic regressions were conducted to explore potential risk factors contributing to NP. Predictors were presented as crude odds ratios (CORs) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs), along with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 185 male fighter pilots were included in this cross-sectional study. Among them, 96 (51.9%) reported experiencing NP within the previous 12 months. The multivariate regression analysis revealed that continuous flight training (AOR: 4.695, 95% CI: 2.226-9.901, p < 0.001), shoulder pain (AOR: 11.891, 95% CI: 4.671-30.268, p < 0.001), and low back pain (AOR: 3.452, 95% CI: 1.600-7.446, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with NP. Conclusion: The high 12-month prevalence of NP among Chinese male fighter pilots confirms the existence of this growing problem. Continuous flight training, shoulder pain, and low back pain have significant negative effects on pilots' neck health. Effective strategies are necessary to establish appropriate training schedules to reduce NP, and a more holistic perspective on musculoskeletal protection is needed. Given that spinal integrated balance and compensatory mechanisms may maintain individuals in a subclinical state, predicting the incidence of NP in fighter pilots based solely on sagittal characteristics in the cervical region may be inadequate.

False lumen-dependent segmental arteries are associated with spinal cord injury in frozen elephant trunk procedure for acute type I aortic dissection.

Objective: To investigate the association between false lumen (FL) dependency of segmental arteries (SAs) at T9-L3 levels and the risk of spinal cord injury (SCI) following total arch replacement and frozen elephant trunk (FET) implantation in the setting of acute DeBakey type I aortic dissection (AAD). Methods: The study involved consecutive patients with AAD who underwent total arch replacement and FET implantation between 2020 and 2022. Primary outcome was postoperative SCI. The inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) method was employed to minimize the impact of no-randomization bias. Antegrade placement of FET was followed by end-to-end anastomosis of a 4-branch arch graft at the proximal landing site of FET. Results: A total of 146 patients were included (age, 50.5 ± 11.7 years, 115 male), of whom 35 (24%) had SAs at T9-L3 levels completely dependent on FL (FL-dependency group). There was no significant difference in early (30-day or in-hospital) mortality rates between FL-dependency (14.3%) and FL-independency (18.0%) groups (P = .80), however, the rate of SCI was significantly higher in the FL-Dependency group (34.3% vs 2.7%, P < .001). After adjustments, FL dependency was associated with a significantly increased risk of SCI (odds ratio, 13.1; 95% confidence interval, 4.2-41.0; P < .001), whereas it was not significantly associated with risks of early mortality or other major complications (P = .16-.98). Conclusions: FL dependency of SAs at the T9-L3 levels was significantly associated with the development of SCI following FET implantation in AAD, warning against its uses on patients presenting with FL dependency of SAs at critical segments.

Return to active duty after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in Chinese male military aircrews.

Background: Surgically treated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries may be a waivable condition and allow return to full flight status, but waivers are based on expert opinion rather than recent published data. The purpose of this study was to evaluate return to flight after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) in male military aircrews with ACL injuries and to identify factors that affect flight clearance. Method: A single-center retrospective review was conducted by the authors for all active-duty aircrew who underwent ACLR at an authorized military medical center from January 2010 to December 2019. Demographic characteristics, occupational information, surgical data, and flight readiness evaluation outcomes were collected. Based on the final medical evaluation, subjects were divided into a qualified group (N = 64) and a disqualified group (N = 9), and the difference in data collected between the two groups was then analyzed to identify factors affecting flight clearance. Results: A total of 73 patients underwent successful ACLR with a mean age of 31.6 ± 5.6 years. Non-contact injury was the main type of ACL injury, accounting for 84.9% of the total injuries. 55 cases (75.3%) occurred during daily sports activities and 18 (24.7%) during military training. 64 of the 73 crewmembers (87.7%) were able to return to flight at their last follow-up evaluation. The preoperative interval time (PIT) was significantly less in the qualified group than in the disqualified group (P = 0.002). Patients who underwent ACLR within three months were more likely to return to flying than those who underwent the procedure three months later (97.4% vs. 76.5%, P = 0.010). The incidence of failure to return to flight duty was significantly higher in aircrews with ACL injuries combined with meniscal injuries than in aircrews with isolated ACL injuries (21.4% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.017). Conclusion: ACLR appears to be safe for military aircrew suffering ACL injuries with or without meniscal injury, and return to flight status is the most likely outcome for the majority of postoperative pilots. Prolonged PIT, PIT > 3 months, and ACL injury combined with meniscus injury had a negative impact on postoperative flight readiness.

Asiatic acid protects against pressure overload-induced heart failure in mice by inhibiting mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent cardiomyocyte apoptosis significantly contribute to pressure overload-induced heart failure (HF). A highly oxidative environment leads to mitochondrial damage, further exacerbating this condition. Asiatic acid (AA), a proven antioxidant and anti-hypertrophic agent, might provide a solution, but its role and mechanisms in chronic pressure overload-induced HF remain largely unexplored. METHODS: We induced pressure overload in mice using transverse aortic constriction (TAC) and treated them with AA (100 mg/kg/day) or vehicle daily by oral gavage for 8 weeks. The effects of AA on mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress-associated signaling pathways, and overall survival were evaluated. Additionally, an in vitro model using hydrogen peroxide-exposed neonatal rat cardiomyocytes was established to further investigate the role of AA in oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial apoptosis. RESULTS: AA treatment significantly improved survival and alleviated cardiac dysfunction in TAC-induced HF mice. It preserved mitochondrial structure, reduced the LVW/BW ratio by 20.24%, mitigated TAC-induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by significantly lowering the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-9/3 levels, and attenuated oxidative stress. AA treatment protected cardiomyocytes from hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis, with concurrent modulation of mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis pathway-related proteins and the JNK pathway. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that AA effectively combats chronic TAC-induced and hydrogen peroxide-induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis through a mitochondria-dependent mechanism. AA reduces cellular levels of oxidative stress and inhibits the activation of the JNK pathway, highlighting its potential therapeutic value in the treatment of HF.

Intrawound vancomycin powder in orthopaedic surgery as surgical site wound infection prophylaxis: A meta-analysis.

A meta-analysis research was executed to appraise the consequence of intrawound vancomycin powder (IWVP) in orthopaedic surgery (OPS) as surgical site wound infection (SSWI) prophylaxis. Inclusive literature research till March 2023 was carried out and 2756 interconnected researches were revised. Of the 18 picked researches enclosed 13 214 persons with OPS were in the used researches' starting point, 5798 of them were utilising IWVP, and 7416 were control. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to appraise the consequence of the IWVP in OPS as SSWI prophylaxis by the dichotomous approaches and a fixed or random model. IWVP had significantly lower SSWIs (OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.50-0.74, P < .001), deep SSWIs (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.36-0.91, P = .02), and superficial SSWIs (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46-0.98, P = .04) compared with control in persons with OPS. IWVP had significantly lower SSWIs, deep SSWIs, and superficial SSWIs compared with control in persons with OPS. However, when interacting with its values, caution must be taken and more research is needed to confirm this finding.

Efficient solvent- and hydrogen-free upcycling of high-density polyethylene into separable cyclic hydrocarbons.

Plastic pollution is a planetary threat that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic due to the surge in medical waste, personal protective equipment and takeaway packaging. A socially sustainable and economically viable method for plastic recycling should not use consumable materials such as co-reactants or solvents. Here we report that Ru nanoparticles on zeolitic HZSM-5 catalyse the solvent- and hydrogen-free upcycling of high-density polyethylene into a separable distribution of linear (C1 to C6) and cyclic (C7 to C15) hydrocarbons. The valuable monocyclic hydrocarbons accounted for 60.3 mol% of the total yield. Based on mechanistic studies, the dehydrogenation of polymer chains to form C=C bonds occurs on both Ru sites and acid sites in HZSM-5, whereas carbenium ions are generated on the acid sites via the protonation of the C=C bonds. Accordingly, optimizing the Ru and acid sites promoted the cyclization process, which requires the simultaneous existence of a C=C bond and a carbenium ion on a molecular chain at an appropriate distance, providing high activity and cyclic hydrocarbon selectivity.

Divergent expression of Neurl3 from hemogenic endothelial cells to hematopoietic stem progenitor cells during development.

Prior to the generation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from the hemogenic endothelial cells (HECs) mainly in the dorsal aorta in midgestational mouse embryos, multiple hematopoietic progenitors including erythro-myeloid progenitors and lymphoid progenitors are generated from yolk sac HECs. These HSC-independent hematopoietic progenitors have recently been identified as major contributors to functional blood cell production until birth. However, little is known about yolk sac HECs. Here, combining integrative analyses of multiple single-cell RNA-sequencing datasets and functional assays, we reveal that Neurl3-EGFP, in addition to marking the continuum throughout the ontogeny of HSCs from HECs, can also serve as a single enrichment marker for yolk sac HECs. Moreover, while yolk sac HECs have much weaker arterial characteristics than either arterial endothelial cells in the yolk sac or HECs within the embryo proper, the lymphoid potential of yolk sac HECs is largely confined to the arterial-biased subpopulation featured by the Unc5b expression. Interestingly, the B lymphoid potential of hematopoietic progenitors, but not for myeloid potentials, is exclusively detected in Neurl3-negative subpopulations in midgestational embryos. Taken together, these findings enhance our understanding of blood birth from yolk sac HECs and provide theoretical basis and candidate reporters for monitoring step-wise hematopoietic differentiation.

Direct synthesis of extra-heavy olefins from carbon monoxide and water.

Extra-heavy olefins (C12+=), feedstocks to synthesize a wide range of value-added products, are conventionally generated from fossil resources via energy-intensive wax cracking or multi-step processes. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis with sustainably obtained syngas as feed-in provides a potential way to produce C12+=, though there is a trade-off between enhancing C-C coupling and suppressing further hydrogenation of olefins. Herein, we achieve selective production of C12+= via the overall conversion of CO and water, denoted as Kölbel-Engelhardt synthesis (KES), in polyethylene glycol (PEG) over a mixture of Pt/Mo2N and Ru particles. KES provides a continuously high CO/H2 ratio, thermodynamically favoring chain propagation and olefin formation. PEG serves as a selective extraction agent to hinder hydrogenation of olefins. Under an optimal condition, the yield ratio of CO2 to hydrocarbons reaches the theoretical minimum, and the C12+= yield reaches its maximum of 1.79 mmol with a selectivity (among hydrocarbons) of as high as 40.4%.

Liver cancer cell-secreted exosomes promote bone metastasis of liver cancer by facilitating osteoclast differentiation through the miR-574-5p/BMP2 axis.

Bone metastasis of liver cancer leads to a worse prognosis with no appropriate treatment clinically. Exosomes are associated with tumor bone metastasis. This study aimed to investigate the effects of liver cancer cell-derived exosomes on bone metastasis. Exosomes were isolated from Hep3B cells, and the effects of osteoclast differentiation were assessed using TRAP assay. The expression of OPG and RANKL was assessed using qRT-PCR. The interaction of miR-574-5p and BMP2 was analyzed using luciferase reporter analysis, RNA pull-down, and qRT-PCR. We found that Hep3B cells promoted osteoclast differentiation of RANKL-induced Raw264.7 cells by secreting exosomes, with decreased OPG and increased RANKL expression. The exosomes were isolated from Hep3B cells, which promoted osteoclast differentiation. Exosomal miR-574-5p promoted osteoclastogenesis by targeting BMP2. Moreover, exosomes facilitated osteoclast differentiation, promoting bone metastasis by regulating miR-574-3p in vivo. In conclusion, liver cancer cell-derived exosomal miR-574-5p promoted osteoclastogenesis by regulating BMP2, thereby promoting bone metastasis in vivo. The findings suggest that liver cancer cell-released exosomes are the potential therapeutic approach for bone metastatic liver cancer. DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT: The datasets used and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

A smartphone-based online platform for clinical skills training and assessment with standardized patients: platform development and pilot study outcomes.

There are limitations and difficulties in the management of traditional in-person standardized patient (SP) practice. The latest developments in online communication tools and the COVID-19 pandemic have promoted the needs for online clinical skills training objectively. However, existing commercial online platforms may not meet the requests for SP-based medical simulation. This paper described the methodology applied to develop a smartphone-based online platform for the management of clinical skills training and assessment with remote SPs, and aimed to determine whether this new platform is acceptable or useful through a pilot run in September 2020. The post-run survey including questionnaire inspired by technological acceptance model and determinants of the perceived ease of use was used to assess the acceptability and usefulness of the platform. Twenty four-year students of clinical medicine participated in the pilot study with twenty SPs and ten faculties. Data from the post-run survey showed that there was a general recognition that the platform is easy to use among all the users. Two questions regarding the usefulness of the platform showed significant differences between the SPs/faculties and the students. More SPs found the platform useful as a training method than the students did. The faculties showed more attempts than the students to use this platform for clinical skills training in the future. This smartphone-based online platform was widely accepted among the tested students, SPs and faculties, which meets the requests and challenges of the new era. It provides an effective approach for clinical skills training and assessment with remote SPs.

An enhanced deep deterministic policy gradient algorithm for intelligent control of robotic arms.

Aiming at the poor robustness and adaptability of traditional control methods for different situations, the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) algorithm is improved by designing a hybrid function that includes different rewards superimposed on each other. In addition, the experience replay mechanism of DDPG is also improved by combining priority sampling and uniform sampling to accelerate the DDPG's convergence. Finally, it is verified in the simulation environment that the improved DDPG algorithm can achieve accurate control of the robot arm motion. The experimental results show that the improved DDPG algorithm can converge in a shorter time, and the average success rate in the robotic arm end-reaching task is as high as 91.27%. Compared with the original DDPG algorithm, it has more robust environmental adaptability.

3D Printed Graphene-Based Metamaterials: Guesting Multi-Functionality in One Gain.

Advanced functional materials with fascinating properties and extended structural design have greatly broadened their applications. Metamaterials, exhibiting unprecedented physical properties (mechanical, electromagnetic, acoustic, etc.), are considered frontiers of physics, material science, and engineering. With the emerging 3D printing technology, the manufacturing of metamaterials becomes much more convenient. Graphene, due to its superior properties such as large surface area, superior electrical/thermal conductivity, and outstanding mechanical properties, shows promising applications to add multi-functionality into existing metamaterials for various applications. In this review, the aim is to outline the latest developments and applications of 3D printed graphene-based metamaterials. The structure design of different types of metamaterials and the fabrication strategies for 3D printed graphene-based materials are first reviewed. Then the representative explorations of 3D printed graphene-based metamaterials and multi-functionality that can be introduced with such a combination are further discussed. Subsequently, challenges and opportunities are provided, seeking to point out future directions of 3D printed graphene-based metamaterials.

Comparison of the Clinical Efficacy of Two Reduction Methods for the Treatment of Irreducible Unilateral Subaxial Cervical Facet Joint Dislocation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of the minimally invasive technique and the open method in the treatment of irreducible unilateral subaxial cervical facet joint dislocation (SCFD). METHODS: From March 2015 to September 2018, 62 patients with unilateral SCFD were studied. The cases were divided into 2 groups based on different surgery strategies. Thirty-one patients were enrolled in the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) group, and 31 patients were enrolled in the open surgery group. The duration of prone position operation, blood loss, and total hospitalization costs were recorded. The clinical effects were evaluated using visual analogue scale scores, the Oswestry Disability Index, and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores at each follow-up. In addition, the segmental Cobb angle and intervertebral height were recorded and compared. RESULTS: The amount of intraoperative blood loss, prone position operation duration, and total hospital costs in the MIS group were significantly lower than in the open surgery group. The visual analogue scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores of the 2 groups significantly improved after the operation. A satisfactory fusion rate was obtained in both groups, and the segmental Cobb angle and intervertebral height scores in both groups improved significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive reduction had equal clinical efficacy to posterior open surgery. However, MIS was less invasive and had lower costs. Therefore, it is a potential option in the treatment of SCFD.

High G Tolerance and Cardiopulmonary Reserve Function in Healthy Air Force Aviators.

INTRODUCTION: There is no consensus on whether cardiopulmonary reserve affects the risk of gravity-induced loss of consciousness (G-LOC) or almost loss of consciousness (A-LOC). Few previous studies have used cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) to assess cardiopulmonary reserve function (CPRF) of fighter aviators. We compared CPET-related parameters in G-LOC/A-LOC and non-G-LOC/A-LOC fighter aviators to explore the effect of cardiopulmonary reserve function on G tolerance.METHODS: A total of 264 male fighter aviators with more than 500 h of flight experience participated in the study, all of whom underwent CPET and human centrifuge testing. We divided the aviators into two groups based on whether they experienced G-LOC/A-LOC during the human centrifuge test and compared the CPET parameters between the two groups.RESULTS: A total of 37 aviators (14%) experienced G-LOC/A-LOC. There were no significant differences in age (26.65 ± 4.30 vs. 26.01 ± 4.95), height (173.68 ± 4.21 vs. 173.55 ± 3.37), weight (69.51 ± 6.22 vs. 69.63 ± 6.01), or body mass index (23.06 ± 2.11 vs. 23.11 ± 1.82) between the two groups. Forced vital capacity (FVC) (4.95 ± 0.87 vs. 4.65 ± 0.79) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) divided by FVC (FEV1/FVC) (79.88 ± 7.24 vs. 83.72 ± 9.24) of pulmonary function of the G-LOC/A-LOC group was significantly lower than that of the non-G-LOC/A-LOC group. There was no significant difference in CPET-related parameters between the two groups.DISCUSSION: In conclusion, FEV1/FVC may be a factor affecting aviators' G-LOC/A-LOC, meaning aviators with slightly lower ventilation are more likely to experience G-LOC/A-LOC. However, oxygen uptake and exercise blood pressure, oxygen pulse, etc., may not be the main factors influencing G-LOC/A-LOC.Lan X, Zhu W, Du J, Wang J, Yang M, Xu Y, Cao Y. High G tolerance and cardiopulmonary reserve function in healthy air force aviators. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2023; 94(12):911-916.

Mathematical models for intraoperative prediction of metastasis to regional lymph nodes in patients with clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer.

It remains challenging to determine the regions of metastasis to lymph nodes during operation for clinical stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to establish intraoperative mathematical models with nomograms for predicting the hilar-intrapulmonary node metastasis (HNM) and the mediastinal node metastasis (MNM) in patients with clinical stage I NSCLC. The clinicopathological variables of 585 patients in a derivation cohort who underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy with complete lymph node dissection were retrospectively analyzed for their association with the HNM or the MNM. After analyzing the variables, we developed multivariable logistic models with nomograms to estimate the risk of lymph node metastasis in different regions. The predictive efficacy was then validated in a validation cohort of 418 patients. It was confirmed that carcinoembryonic antigen (>5.75 ng/mL), CYFRA211 (>2.85 ng/mL), the maximum diameter of tumor (>2.75 cm), tumor differentiation (grade III), bronchial mucosa and cartilage invasion, and vascular invasion were predictors of HNM, and carcinoembryonic antigen (>8.25 ng/mL), CYFRA211 (>2.95 ng/mL), the maximum diameter of tumor (>2.75 cm), tumor differentiation (grade III), bronchial mucosa and cartilage invasion, vascular invasion, and visceral pleural invasion were predictors of MNM. The validation of the prediction models based on the above results demonstrated good discriminatory power. Our predictive models are helpful in the decision-making process of specific therapeutic strategies for the regional lymph node metastasis in patients with clinical stage I NSCLC.

Organic acid metabolism in Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.] is controlled by a complex gene regulatory network.

The acidity of Chinese dwarf cherry [Cerasus humilis (Bge.) Sok.] fruits is a key factor affecting the sensory quality of fruits, and it undergoes great changes during development. The molecular mechanisms of these changes are still unclear. In this study, fruits of high-acid 'Nongda4' and low-acid 'DS-1' varieties of Chinese dwarf cherry were used to determine the acid content at different developmental stages. We used transcriptome profiles to identify key genes related to organic acid metabolism and construct their co-expression networks, and we studied the expression patterns of key genes in 36 Chinese dwarf cherry accessions. The titratable acid content of both 'DS-1' and 'Nongda4' fruits first increased and then decreased during fruit development; however, the titratable acid content of 'DS-1' fruits changed to a minor extent. The organic acid content of 'Nongda4' was significantly higher than that of 'DS-1'. The organic acids in mature fruits were mainly malic acid and citric acid. Analysis of the differentially expressed genes related to organic acid metabolism revealed six key genes, including two MDH genes, one tDT gene, one ME gene, one PEPCK gene, and one VHA gene. Weighted gene co-expression network association analysis revealed four modules that were significantly correlated with organic acid content, and 10 key genes with high connectivity among these four modules were screened, including two PK genes, two MDH genes, two ME genes, one PEPCK gene, one VHA gene, one PEPC gene, and one tDT gene. According to the expression patterns of genes in different Chinese dwarf cherry accessions, seven genes were confirmed to represent key genes related to the regulation of organic acids during Chinese dwarf cherry fruit development. These results provide a foundation for further studies on the molecular mechanism of organic acid accumulation in Chinese dwarf cherry fruit.