Serum stromal cell-derived factor-1 concentrations are increased and associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in children with obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a newly discovered small molecule adipocytokine, and research has shown that it is closely related to the occurrence and development of obesity. However, there are currently few research reports on SDF-1 in childhood obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and this study aims to explore the relationship between SDF-1 and obesity related indicators in obese children. METHODS: Serum SDF-1 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical and biochemical data were collected, such as body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, liver enzymes, cholesterol, and fasting insulin. Children with NAFLD or not were evaluated through Color Doppler Ultrasound. RESULTS: Serum SDF-1 concentrations were significantly higher in obese subjects than in non-obese subjects (P < 0.05), and were elevated in the NAFLD obese subjects than in the non-NAFLD obese subjects (P < 0.05). SDF-1 was positively correlated with BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic blood pressure, body fat percentage (BFP), basal metabolic rate (BMR), alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), glutyltranspeptidase (GT), and homoeostasis model of HOMA-IR, independent of their uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), gender and age. BFP and BMR were associated with the serum SDF-1 concentrations in multivariable linear regression analysis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that SDF-1 levels are elevated in obese children and are associated with NAFLD, indicating that SDF-1 may play a role in the development of childhood obesity and metabolic disorders.

Disulfiram Improves Fat Graft Retention by Modulating Macrophage Polarization Via Inhibition of NLRP3 Inflammasome-Mediated Pyroptosis.

BACKGROUND: Macrophage-mediated inflammatory response in the early post-grafting period restricts fat graft retention. Pyroptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death that extensively participates in inflammatory pathologies. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine whether macrophage pyroptosis is activated during the inflammatory phase after fat grafting and to investigate the efficacy of a pyroptosis inhibitor, disulfiram (DSF) in fat graft retention. METHODS: We established a C57BL/6 mice fat grafting model and then analyzed macrophage pyroptosis. DSF (50 mg/kg, every other day) was intraperitoneally injected started from 1 h prior to fat grafting and continued for 14 days. An in vitro co-culture system was established in which mouse RAW264.7 macrophages were co-cultured with apoptotic adipocytes to further validate the findings of the in vivo studies and to explore the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS: Here we reported that macrophage pyroptosis was activated in both fat grafts and in vitro co-culture models. DSF was found to be a potent pyroptosis inhibitor to promote M2 macrophage polarization. In addition, DSF was demonstrated to enhance vascularization and graft retention. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that pyroptosis plays a crucial role in the inflammatory cascade within fat grafts. DSF, being a clinically available drug could be translated into a clinically effective drug for improving fat graft survival via inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis, thereby inducing M2 macrophage polarization and promoting neovascularization.

Analysis of Whole-Genome facilitates rapid and precise identification of fungal species.

Fungal identification is a cornerstone of fungal research, yet traditional molecular methods struggle with rapid and accurate onsite identification, especially for closely related species. To tackle this challenge, we introduce a universal identification method called Analysis of whole GEnome (AGE). AGE includes two key steps: bioinformatics analysis and experimental practice. Bioinformatics analysis screens candidate target sequences named Targets within the genome of the fungal species and determines specific Targets by comparing them with the genomes of other species. Then, experimental practice using sequencing or non-sequencing technologies would confirm the results of bioinformatics analysis. Accordingly, AGE obtained more than 1,000,000 qualified Targets for each of the 13 fungal species within the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Next, the sequencing and genome editing system validated the ultra-specific performance of the specific Targets; especially noteworthy is the first-time demonstration of the identification potential of sequences from unannotated genomic regions. Furthermore, by combining rapid isothermal amplification and phosphorothioate-modified primers with the option of an instrument-free visual fluorescence method, AGE can achieve qualitative species identification within 30 min using a single-tube test. More importantly, AGE holds significant potential for identifying closely related species and differentiating traditional Chinese medicines from their adulterants, especially in the precise detection of contaminants. In summary, AGE opens the door for the development of whole-genome-based fungal species identification while also providing guidance for its application in plant and animal kingdoms.

Lineage-Specific CYP80 Expansion and Benzylisoquinoline Alkaloid Diversity in Early-Diverging Eudicots.

Menispermaceae species, as early-diverging eudicots, can synthesize valuable benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) like bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids (bisBIAs) and sinomenines with a wide range of structural diversity. However, the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for their chemo-diversity are not well understood. Here, a chromosome-level genome assembly of Menispermum dauricum is presented and demonstrated the occurrence of two whole genome duplication (WGD) events that are shared by Ranunculales and specific to Menispermum, providing a model for understanding chromosomal evolution in early-diverging eudicots. The biosynthetic pathway for diverse BIAs in M. dauricum is reconstructed by analyzing the transcriptome and metabolome. Additionally, five catalytic enzymes - one norcoclaurine synthase (NCS) and four cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) - from M. dauricum are responsible for the formation of the skeleton, hydroxylated modification, and C-O/C-C phenol coupling of BIAs. Notably, a novel leaf-specific MdCYP80G10 enzyme that catalyzes C2'-C4a phenol coupling of (S)-reticuline into sinoacutine, the enantiomer of morphinan compounds, with predictable stereospecificity is discovered. Moreover, it is found that Menispermum-specific CYP80 gene expansion, as well as tissue-specific expression, has driven BIA diversity in Menispermaceae as compared to other Ranunculales species. This study sheds light on WGD occurrences in early-diverging eudicots and the evolution of diverse BIA biosynthesis.

Identification of closely related species in Aspergillus through Analysis of Whole-Genome.

The challenge of discriminating closely related species persists, notably within clinical diagnostic laboratories for invasive aspergillosis (IA)-related species and food contamination microorganisms with toxin-producing potential. We employed Analysis of the whole-GEnome (AGE) to address the challenges of closely related species within the genus Aspergillus and developed a rapid detection method. First, reliable whole genome data for 77 Aspergillus species were downloaded from the database, and through bioinformatic analysis, specific targets for each species were identified. Subsequently, sequencing was employed to validate these specific targets. Additionally, we developed an on-site detection method targeting a specific target using a genome editing system. Our results indicate that AGE has successfully achieved reliable identification of all IA-related species (Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus terreus) and three well-known species (A. flavus, Aspergillus parasiticus, and Aspergillus oryzae) within the Aspergillus section. Flavi and AGE have provided species-level-specific targets for 77 species within the genus Aspergillus. Based on these reference targets, the sequencing results targeting specific targets substantiate the efficacy of distinguishing the focal species from its closely related species. Notably, the amalgamation of room-temperature amplification and genome editing techniques demonstrates the capacity for rapid and accurate identification of genomic DNA samples at a concentration as low as 0.1 ng/µl within a concise 30-min timeframe. Importantly, this methodology circumvents the reliance on large specialized instrumentation by presenting a singular tube operational modality and allowing for visualized result assessment. These advancements aptly meet the exigencies of on-site detection requirements for the specified species, facilitating prompt diagnosis and food quality monitoring. Moreover, as an identification method based on species-specific genomic sequences, AGE shows promising potential as an effective tool for epidemiological research and species classification.

Analysis of Whole-Genome as a Novel Strategy for Animal Species Identification.

Survival crises stalk many animals, especially endangered and rare animals. Accurate species identification plays a pivotal role in animal resource conservation. In this study, we developed an animal species identification method called Analysis of whole-GEnome (AGE), which identifies species by finding species-specific sequences through bioinformatics analysis of the whole genome and subsequently recognizing these sequences using experimental technologies. To clearly demonstrate the AGE method, Cervus nippon, a well-known endangered species, and a closely related species, Cervus elaphus, were set as model species, without and with published genomes, respectively. By analyzing the whole genomes of C. nippon and C. elaphus, which were obtained through next-generation sequencing and online databases, we built specific sequence databases containing 7,670,140 and 570,981 sequences, respectively. Then, the species specificities of the sequences were confirmed experimentally using Sanger sequencing and the CRISPR-Cas12a system. Moreover, for 11 fresh animal samples and 35 commercially available products, our results were in complete agreement with those of other authoritative identification methods, demonstrating AGE's precision and potential application. Notably, AGE found a mixture in the 35 commercially available products and successfully identified it. This study broadens the horizons of species identification using the whole genome and sheds light on the potential of AGE for conserving animal resources.

Compact mode converter on SOI based on a polygonal subwavelength grating structure.

In this Letter, we design and experimentally demonstrate compact mode converters with a lightning-like and arrow-like polygonal subwavelength grating (SWG) structure on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform, which can convert the TE0 mode to the TE1 and TE2 modes, respectively. The footprints of the proposed TE0-1 and TE0-2 mode converters are only 4.44 × 1.3 and 5.89 × 1.8 µm2, respectively. The experimental results show the mode converters have a low insertion loss (<1 dB) and a broad bandwidth (>50 nm). The measured cross talks of the TE0-1 and TE0-2 mode converters are -7.2 dB and -10.3 dB, respectively. In addition, the proposed mode converters with the SWG structure have the advantage in fabrication, since only a one-step full-etching process is required.

A Comprehensive Study on the Association between Plasma NOV/CCN3 Levels and Insulin Resistance in Childhood Obesity.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood obesity is a global health problem that is associated with various metabolic complications, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms underlying the development of insulin resistance in childhood obesity are not fully understood. Nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (NOV), also known as CCN3, is a member of the CCN family of matricellular proteins that modulate cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration, and survival. Previous studies have shown that NOV/CCN3 is involved in glucose metabolism and insulin signaling in various tissues and cell types. However, the role of NOV/CCN3 in childhood obesity and insulin resistance remains unclear. METHODS: In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between plasma NOV/CCN3 levels and insulin resistance in 58 obese and 43 non-obese children aged 6-12 years. We measured plasma NOV/CCN3 levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and assessed insulin resistance by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). We also collected clinical and biochemical data, such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), fasting glucose (FG), fasting insulin (FI), lipid profile, and inflammatory markers. RESULTS: We found that plasma NOV/CCN3 levels were significantly higher in obese children than in non-obese children (P<0.001), and positively correlated with BMI (r=0.42, P<0.001), WC (r=0.38, P<0.001), BP (r=0.35, P<0.001), FG (r=0.31, P<0.001), FI (r=0.45, P<0.001), HOMA-IR (r=0.48, P<0.001), triglycerides (r=0.28, P<0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (r=0.26, P<0.001), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (r=0.32, P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that plasma NOV/CCN3 levels were independently associated with HOMA-IR after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, WC, BP, FG, FI, lipid profile, and CRP (ß=0.36, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that plasma NOV/CCN3 levels are elevated in childhood obesity and are associated with insulin resistance, indicating that NOV/CCN3 may play a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders in obese children.

Enhancing vehicular emissions monitoring: A GA-GRU-based soft sensors approach for HDDVs.

Vehicle emissions have a serious impact on urban air quality and public health, so environmental authorities around the world have introduced increasingly stringent emission regulations to reduce vehicle exhaust emissions. Nowadays, PEMS (Portable Emission Measurement System) is the most widely used method to measure on-road NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and PN (Particle Number) emissions from HDDVs (Heavy-Duty Diesel Vehicles). However, the use of PEMS requires a lot of workforce and resources, making it both costly and time-consuming. This study proposes a neural network based on a combination of GA (Genetic Algorithm) and GRU (Gated Recurrent Unit), which uses CC (Pearson Correlation Coefficient) to determine and simplify OBD (On-board Diagnosis) data. The GA-GRU model is trained under three real driving conditions of HDDVs, divided by vehicle driving parameters, and then embedded as a soft sensor in the OBD system to monitor real-time emissions of NOx and PN within the OBD system. This research addresses the existing research gap in the development of soft sensors specifically designed for NOx and PN emission monitoring. In this study, it is demonstrated that the described soft sensor has excellent R2 values and outperforms other conventional models. This research highlights the ability of the proposed soft sensor to eliminate outliers accurately and promptly while consistently tracking predictions throughout the vehicle's lifetime. This method is a groundbreaking update to the vehicle's OBD system, permanently adding monitoring data to the vehicle's OBD, thus fundamentally improving the vehicle's self-monitoring capabilities.

Clinical efficacy of stromal vascular fraction gel in the treatment of mature striae distensae.

BACKGROUND: Striae Distensae (SD) is a common dermatological lesion. The mechanism of formation is unclear, the prevailing theory is mechanical pulling of the skin and hormonal changes. Traditional SD treatment methods include topical drugs, photoelectric therapy, stripping and others, but each has limitations. Stromal vascular fraction gel (SVF-gel) is a filler physically prepared from granular fat, enriched with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM). A good effect in the treatment of neck lines, wounds, acne, and other aspects. SD formation and treatment goals are comparable to those of neck lines. In this study, SVF-gel filling will be used to treat mature SD, and its effectiveness and safety will be discussed in detail. METHODS: From December 2019 to June 2022, recruit patients who want to treat SD caused by obesity or pregnancy among those who have "autologous fat aspiration" to change their body shape. Preoperatively, the area to be treated for SD was marked, autologous fat aspiration was performed, and the aspirated fat was prepared as SVF-gel and filled into the preoperatively marked SD. All patients had preoperative and postoperative follow-up with planar photographs and VISIA skin analyzer photographs to assess surgical results and safety from subjective and objective perspectives. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients were enrolled, with 31 of them successfully followed up on. The mean Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) score six months after surgery was 1.87 ± 0.03. At six months postoperatively, the overall patient satisfaction rate was 90%. The depth, area, and color of SD improved six months after surgery, and no serious complications occurred in any of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: SVF-gel is a safe and effective method of improving mature SD and can be used as a clinical treatment option.

U-type soft tissue lifting: A new composited technique for reversing lower eyelid and midfacial aging.

BACKGROUND: Facial rejuvenation is becoming more and more popular, particularly among middle-aged persons. There are currently many techniques for improving the aforementioned situations, but each has its drawbacks. Our study aimed to discuss the treatment effect of a composited technique for reversing both lower eyelid and midface aging. METHODS: The patient's face was designed and measured before surgery. During surgery, a traditional lower blepharoplasty incision was made. The layer between the orbital septum and the orbicularis oculi muscle was separated to approximately 4-5 mm below the infraorbital, then the orbital septum and orbicularis retaining ligament were found to be released. A self-made suspension curving needle subconsciously passed through the brim of the superficial cheek fat pad via the "U-type" path and raised them to the proper location. Then sutured them to the infraorbital rim periosteum, as well as the suborbicularis oculi fat (SOOF) and the orbital septum fat. Secured the outside canthus to keep the lower lid position stable. RESULTS: From February 2020 to November 2022, 106 patients underwent the new surgical procedure and were successfully followed up for 20 ± 6.5 months postoperatively. The mean GAIS score was 2.42 ± 0.78, patient satisfaction rate was 95%. All of the Barton grades were decreased. The nasal base level suspension points were elevated to a level of 5 ± 2 mm. 3D measurement data revealed significant improvements. CONCLUSIONS: The composited technique is a safe and effective way to reverse the aging of the lower eyelid and midface.

Alpha Rhythm Wavelength of Electroencephalography Signals as a Diagnostic Biomarker for Alzheimer's Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To explore changes in the alpha rhythm wavelength of background electroencephalography in Alzheimer's disease patients with different degrees of dementia in a resting state; examine their correlation with the degree of cognitive impairment; determine whether the alpha rhythm wavelength can distinguish mild Alzheimer's disease patients, moderately severe Alzheimer's disease patients, and healthy controls at the individual level; and identify a cut-off value to differentiate Alzheimer's disease patients from healthy controls. METHODS: Quantitative electroencephalography signals of 42 patients with mild Alzheimer's disease, 42 patients with moderately severe Alzheimer's disease, and 40 healthy controls during rest state with eyes closed were analyzed using wavelet transform. Electroencephalography signals were decomposed into different scales, and their segments were superimposed according to the same length (wavelength and amplitude) and phase alignment. Phase averaging was performed to obtain average phase waveforms of the desired scales of each lead. The alpha-band wavelengths corresponding to the ninth scale of the background rhythm of different leads were compared between groups. RESULTS: The average wavelength of the alpha rhythm phase of the whole-brain electroencephalography signals in Alzheimer's disease patients was prolonged and positively correlated with the severity of cognitive dysfunction (P < 0.01). The ninth-scale phase average wavelength of each lead had high diagnostic efficacy for Alzheimer's disease, and the diagnostic efficacy of lead P3 (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.873) was the highest. CONCLUSION: The average wavelength of the electroencephalography alpha rhythm phase may be used as a quantitative feature for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, and the slowing of the alpha rhythm may be an important neuro-electrophysiological index for disease evaluation.

NOx emission deterioration in modern heavy-duty diesel vehicles based on long-term real driving measurements.

NOx emissions from diesel vehicles generally deteriorate with increased durability mileage owing to the wear and deterioration of engines and after-treatment systems. Three China-VI heavy-duty diesel vehicles (HDDVs) were selected for four-phase long-term real driving emission (RDE) tests using the portable emission measurement system (PEMS). After 200,000 km of on-road driving, the maximum NOx emission factor of the test vehicles (387.06 mg/kWh) was found to be significantly lower than the NOx limit of 690 mg/kWh. Under all driving conditions, the NOx conversion efficiency of selected catalytic reduction (SCR) decreased almost linearly as the durability mileage increased. Importantly, the deterioration rate of the NOx conversion efficiency in low-temperature intervals was discernibly higher than that in high-temperature intervals. The NOx conversion efficiency at 200 °C dropped by 16.67-19.82% with higher durability mileage; however, the highest values at 275-400 °C only decreased by 4.11%. Interestingly, the SCR catalyst at 250 °C showed strong NOx conversion efficiency and durability (maximum decline of 2.11%). Overall, the poor de-NOx performance of SCR catalysts at low temperatures significantly challenges the long-term effective control of NOx emissions from HDDVs. Thus, improving the NOx conversion efficiency and durability at low-temperature intervals is the top priority for SCR catalyst optimization; NOx emissions from HDDVs at low velocities and loads should also be monitored by environmental authorities. The linear fitting coefficient for the NOx emission factors of the four-phase RDE tests was 0.90-0.92, indicating that NOx emissions deteriorated linearly with an increase in mileage. Based on the linear fitting results, the NOx emission control of the test vehicles during 700,000 km of on-road driving was highly likely to be qualified. These results can be used by environmental authorities to supervise the NOx emission conformity of in-use HDDVs after validation using other types of vehicles.

Diagnostic value of ACR TI-RADS combined with three-dimensional shear wave elastography in ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional shear wave elastography (3D-SWE) is a promising method in distinguishing benign and malignant thyroid nodules. By combining with conventional method, it may further improve the diagnostic value. The study aimed to assess the diagnostic value of American College of Radiology (ACR) thyroid imaging reporting and data system (TI-RADS) combined with 3D-SWE in ACR TI-RADS 4 and 5 thyroid nodules. METHODS: All nodules were examined by conventional ultrasonography, ACR TI-RADS classification, and 3D-SWE examination. Conventional ultrasonography was used to observe the location, size, shape, margin, echogenicity, taller-than-wide sign, microcalcification, and blood flow of thyroid nodules, and then ACR TI-RADS classification was performed. The Young's modulus values (3D-C-Emax, 3D-C-Emean, and elastography standard deviation [3D-C-Esd]) were measured on the reconstructed coronal plane images. According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the best diagnostic efficiency among 3D-C-Emax, 3D-C-Emean, and 3D-C-Esd was selected and the cut-off threshold was calculated. According to the surgical pathology, they were divided into benign group and malignant group. And appropriate statistical methods such as t -test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the difference between the two groups. On this basis, 3D-SWE combined with conventional ACR TI-RADS was reclassified as combined ACR TI-RADS to determine benign or malignant thyroid nodules. RESULTS: Of the 112 thyroid nodules, 62 were malignant and 50 were benign. The optimal cut-off value of three-dimensional maximum Young's modulus in coronal plane (3D-C-Emax) was 51.5 kPa and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.798. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of conventional ACR TI-RADS were 0.828, 83.9%, 66.0%, and 75.9%, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of combined ACR TI-RADS were 0.845, 90.3%, 66.0%, and 79.5%, respectively. The difference between the two AUC values was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Combined ACR TI-RADS has higher diagnostic efficiency than conventional ACR TI-RADS. The sensitivity and accuracy of combined ACR TI-RADS showed significant improvements. It can be used as an effective method in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

An improved AdaBoost algorithm for identification of lung cancer based on electronic nose.

The research developed an improved intelligent enhancement learning algorithm based on AdaBoost, that can be applied for lung cancer breath detection by the electronic nose (eNose). First, collected the breath signals from volunteers by eNose, including healthy individuals and people who had lung cancer. Additionally, the signals' features were extracted and optimized. Then, multi sub-classifiers were obtained, and their coefficients were derived from the training error. To improve generalization performance, K-fold cross-validation was used when constructing each sub-classifier. The prediction results of a sub-classifier on the test set were then achieved by the voting method. Thus, an improved AdaBoost classifier would be built through heterogeneous integration. The results shows that the average precision of the improved algorithm classifier for distinguishing between people with lung cancer and healthy individuals could reach 98.47%, with 98.33% sensitivity and 97% specificity. And in 100 independent and randomized tests, the coefficient of variation of the classifier's performance hardly exceeded 4%. Compared with other integrated algorithms, the generalization and stability of the improved algorithm classifier are more superior. It is clear that the improved AdaBoost algorithm may help screen out lung cancer more comprehensively. Additionally, it will significantly advance the use of eNose in the early identification of lung cancer.

Different influences of phylogenetically conserved and independent floral traits on plant functional specialization and pollination network structure.

Plant specialization and pollination network structure play important roles in community assembly. Floral traits can mediate plant-pollinator interactions and thus have important impacts on nestedness and modularity of pollination network. When such traits are phylogenetically conserved, therefore, phylogeny and traits should predict network structure to similar degrees. Moreover, conserved network structures were also found attributed to pollination syndrome or pollination system. However, we still know little about the relation between pollination syndrome and pollination network, especially under a phylogenetic framework. Herein, we established a phylogenetic framework including five floral traits (flower density, floral size, floral shape, floral symmetry, and floral color) and five species-level metrics (species strength, weighted closeness, specialization d', nestedness contribution, and modularity contribution) to test how floral traits could directly or indirectly influence species' specialization and network structure in central China. Phylogenetic signals were found in all floral traits except flower density. Structural equation model and phylogenetic structural equation model results showed that both floral size and floral density affected plant specialization and its contribution to network modularity indirectly. However, compared with phylogenetic independent flower density, phylogenetic conserved floral size had much more complexed influences, having a direct influence both on species' specialization and on modularity contribution. In this nested and modular network, abundant species with larger flowers tend to be more central and had larger values of z. Floral shape, symmetry, and color could act as co-flowering filters in pollination sharing and help to shape network modularity. Our results emphasize that phylogenetically conserved traits partially represent pollination syndrome and are important drivers for modular structure of local pollination network. This study may improve the understanding how the evolutionary history and ecological process drive local network structure and dynamics.

Study of resonant mode coupling in the transverse-mode-conversion based resonator with an anti-symmetric nanobeam Bragg reflector.

The traveling-wave like Fabry-Perot (F-P) resonators based on transverse-mode-conversion have been extensively studied as on-chip filters. However, the incomplete transverse mode conversion will lead to the coupling between two degenerated resonant modes, which brings additional loss and may further induce the resonance splitting. In this paper, we take the transverse-mode-conversion based resonator with anti-symmetric nanobeam Bragg reflector as an example and study the resonant mode coupling in both the direct-coupled and side-coupled resonators. The coupled mode equations are used to model the incomplete transverse mode conversion of Bragg reflector. The resonant mode coupling can be effectively suppressed by carefully designing the phase shifter length and adding the tapered holes. The insertion loss of less than -1 dB can be achieved in the simulation using the two methods. This work is believed to benefit the design of mode-conversion based resonators with low insertion loss and non-splitting line shape.

Triglyceride-glucose index and short-term functional outcome and in-hospital mortality in patients with ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index has been demonstrated as an independent marker of ischemic stroke. Whether TyG index predicts short-term outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke remains uncertain. The aim of the study was to investigate the early prognosis value of TyG index in ischemic stroke patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 3216 acute ischemic stroke patients from 22 hospitals were included in this analysis. The TyG index was calculated as ln (fasting triglyceride [mg/dL] × fasting glucose [mg/dL]/2). Logistic regression model was performed to estimate the relationship between TyG index and unfavorable functional outcome of death or disability (modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6) at discharge. Risk reclassification with TyG index to predict unfavorable functional outcome was analyzed. During hospitalization, 748 patients (23.3%) experienced poor functional outcome and 105 patients (3.3%) died from all causes. The multivariable adjusted odds ratios for the highest versus lowest quartile of TyG index was 1.62 (95% CI 1.15-2.29) for unfavorable functional outcome at discharge. The addition of TyG index to the conventional model improved the risk reclassification (net reclassification improvement 10.37%; integrated discrimination improvement 0.27%; both p < 0.05) for poor functional outcome. Moreover, TyG index was associated with an odds ratio (95% CI) of 1.26 (1.02-1.55) for an ordinal shift in mRS score and 2.49 (1.21-5.12) for in-hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Higher TyG index was associated with higher risk of unfavorable functional outcome at discharge and in-hospital mortality, implicating the significant short-term prognostic effect of TyG index in patients with ischemic stroke.

The Retention-Rate Improvement of Stromal Vascular Fraction Gel in Prefrontal Filling With Botulinum Toxin-A Injection: A Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: As a derivative of adipose tissues, stromal vascular fraction gel has been widely utilized in facial soft tissue filling, but it still does not achieve the expected effect in forehead filling. The reason may be related to the corrugator muscles movements. OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate the effect of botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) on the retention rate of stromal vascular fraction gel by limiting the corrugator muscles movements and to provide a theoretical basis that short-term inhibition of movement in the affected area could improve the effects of the fat graft. METHODS: From January 2019 to June 2021, patients with stromal vascular fraction gel facial filling (including frontal and temporal parts) were selected. According to whether or not BTX-A treatment was received, patients were divided into injected and the noninjected groups. A questionnaire and the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS) were administered to evaluate 2-dimensional photos. The retention rate and curvature were calculated with 3-dimensional images utilizing Artec Studio 13 Professional and MATLAB software. RESULTS: The graft retention, forehead curvature, and GAIS scores were all higher in the injected group than the noninjected group (P < .01). On the questionnaire, the injected group also showed more satisfaction with the treatment effect and were more willing to recommend the treatment to their friends. CONCLUSIONS: BTX-A injection can improve the retention rate of prefrontal stromal vascular fraction gel filling, with higher patient satisfaction and better postoperative effects.

Application of 3-Dimensional Technology for Evaluating Muscular Type and Muscle-Fat Pad Mixed-Type Nasolabial Folds With Botulinum Toxin-A Treatment.

BACKGROUND: Botulinum toxin-A (BTX-A) is used in the treatment of nasolabial folds (NLFs). However, lighting and clinician subjectivity play a major role in evaluating the efficacy of this treatment. OBJECTIVES: By applying 3-dimensional (3D) technology, this study aimed to quantitatively evaluate the effects of BTX-A injection on muscular (M) and muscle-fat pad mixed-type (MF) NLFs. METHODS: BTX-A was injected into bilateral marked points on the NLFs, where the levator labii alaeque nasi, zygomaticus minor, and zygomaticus major pull the skin to form the NLF (2 U at each injection site). Pretreatment and posttreatment 3D facial images were captured with static and laughing expressions. The curvature, width, depth, and lateral fat volume of the NLFs were measured to compare the therapeutic efficacy for type M and MF NLFs. RESULTS: Thirty-nine patients with type M and 37 with type MF NLFs completed the follow-up data. In these patients, the curvature, width, and depth of the NLF showed a significant reduction at 1 month and gradually recovered at 3 and 6 months after treatment, with more significant improvement when laughing than when static. Variations compared to the pretreatment values of type MF were greater than those of type M at each time point. The lateral fat volume of the type MF NLF was significantly reduced (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: 3D technology can quantitatively evaluate the effects BTX-A injection for treating type M and type MF NLFs. BTX-A is more effective on type MF than on type M NLFs.