Photoperiodic and lighting treatments for flowering control and its genetic regulation in sugarcane breeding.

Improvement of sugarcane is hampered due to its narrow genetic base, and the difficulty in synchronizing flowering further hinders the exploitation of the genetic potential of available germplasm resources. Therefore, the continuous evaluation and optimization of flowering control and induction techniques are vital for sugarcane improvement. In view of this, the review was conducted to investigate the current understanding of photoperiodic and lighting treatment effects on sugarcane flowering and its genetic regulation. Photoperiod facilities have made a significant contribution to flowering control in sugarcane; however, inductive photoperiods are still unknown for some genotypes, and some intended crosses are still impossible to produce because of unresponsive varieties. The effectiveness of lower red/far-red ratios in promoting sugarcane flowering has been widely understood. Furthermore, there is vast potential for utilizing blue, red, and far-red light wavelengths in the flowering control of sugarcane. In this context, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) remain efficient sources of light. Therefore, the combined use of photoperiod regimes with different light wavelengths and optimization of such treatment combinations might help to control and induce flowering in sugarcane parental clones. In sugarcane, FLOWERING LOCUS T (ScFT) orthologues from ScFT1 to ScFT13 have been identified, and interestingly, ScFT3 has evidently been identified as a floral inducer in sugarcane. However, independent assessments of different FT-like gene family members are recommended to comprehensively understand their role in the regulation of flowering. Similarly, we believe this review provides substantial information that is vital for the manipulation of flowering and exploitation of germplasm resources in sugarcane breeding.

The diagnostic value of tenascin-C in acute aortic syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Misdiagnosis of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) significantly increases mortality. Tenascin-C (TN-C) is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein related to cardiovascular injury. The elevation of TN-C in AAS and whether it can discriminate sudden-onset of acute chest pain in Chinese remains unclear. METHODS: We measured the plasma concentration of TN-C by ELISA in a cohort of 376 patients with chest or back pain. Measures to discriminate AAS from acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were compared and calculated. RESULTS: From October 2016 to September 2021, 376 undiagnosed patients with chest or back pain were enrolled. 166 of them were finally diagnosed as AAS, 100 were ACS and 110 without cardiovascular diseases (NCV). TN-C was significantly elevated in AAS at 18.18 ng/mL (IQR: 13.10-27.68) compared with 7.51 ng/mL (IQR: 5.67-11.38) in ACS (P < 0.001) and 3.68 ng/mL (IQR: 2.50-5.29) in NCV (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in TN-C level among the subtypes of AAS. Of the 166 AAS patients, the peaked level of TN-C was at acute stage (P = 0.012), then a slight of decrease was observed at subacute stage. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve for AAS patients versus NCV was 0.979 (95% CI: 0.964-0.994) for TN-C. At a cutoff level of 11.474 ng/mL, TN-C has a sensitivity of 76.0%, specificity of 85.5%, accuracy of 82.0%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 76.0%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 85.5%. Diagnostic performance of TN-C was superior to D-dimer and hs-cTnT. CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of serum TN-C in AAS patients was significantly higher than that in ACS patients and NCV. TN-C could be a new biomarker to distinguish AAS patients in the early stage after symptoms onset from other pain diseases.

UsIL-6: An unbalanced learning strategy for identifying IL-6 inducing peptides by undersampling technique.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is the critical factor of early warning, monitoring, and prognosis in the inflammatory storm of COVID-19 cases. IL-6 inducing peptides, which can induce cytokine IL-6 production, are very important for the development of diagnosis and immunotherapy. Although the existing methods have some success in predicting IL-6 inducing peptides, there is still room for improvement in the performance of these models in practical application. METHODS: In this study, we proposed UsIL-6, a high-performance bioinformatics tool for identifying IL-6 inducing peptides. First, we extracted five groups of physicochemical properties and sequence structural information from IL-6 inducing peptide sequences, and obtained a 636-dimensional feature vector, we also employed NearMiss3 undersampling method and normalization method StandardScaler to process the data. Then, a 40-dimensional optimal feature vector was obtained by Boruta feature selection method. Finally, we combined this feature vector with extreme randomization tree classifier to build the final model UsIL-6. RESULTS: The AUC value of UsIL-6 on the independent test dataset was 0.87, and the BACC value was 0.808, which indicated that UsIL-6 had better performance than the existing methods in IL-6 inducing peptide recognition. CONCLUSIONS: The performance comparison on independent test dataset confirmed that UsIL-6 could achieve the highest performance, best robustness, and most excellent generalization ability. We hope that UsIL-6 will become a valuable method to identify, annotate and characterize new IL-6 inducing peptides.

The histologic features, molecular features, detection and management of serrated polyps: a review.

The serrated pathway to colorectal cancers (CRCs) is a significant pathway encompassing five distinct types of lesions, namely hyperplastic polyps (HPs), sessile serrated lesions (SSLs), sessile serrated lesions with dysplasia (SSL-Ds), traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs), and serrated adenoma unclassified. In contrast to the conventional adenoma-carcinoma pathway, the serrated pathway primarily involves two mechanisms: BRAF/KRAS mutations and CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP). HPs are the most prevalent non-malignant lesions, while SSLs play a crucial role as precursors to CRCs, On the other hand, traditional serrated adenomas (TSAs) are the least frequently encountered subtype, also serving as precursors to CRCs. It is crucial to differentiate these lesions based on their unique morphological characteristics observed in histology and colonoscopy, as the identification and management of these serrated lesions significantly impact colorectal cancer screening programs. The management of these lesions necessitates the crucial steps of removing premalignant lesions and implementing regular surveillance. This article provides a comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, histologic features, molecular features, and detection methods for various serrated polyps, along with recommendations for their management and surveillance.

Spatial-temporal characteristics and driving factors' contribution and evolution of agricultural non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions in China: 1995-2021.

Comprehending the spatial-temporal characteristics, contributions, and evolution of driving factors in agricultural non-CO2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a macro level is pivotal in pursuing temperature control objectives and achieving China's strategic goals related to carbon peak and carbon neutrality. This study employs the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) carbon emissions coefficient method to comprehensively evaluate agricultural non-CO2 GHG emissions at the provincial level. Subsequently, the contributions and spatial-temporal evolution of six driving factors derived from the Kaya identity were quantitatively explored using the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) and Geographical and Temporal Weighted Regression (GTWR) methods. The results revealed that the distribution of agricultural non-CO2 GHG emissions is shifting from the central provinces to the northwest regions. Moreover, the dominant driving factors of agricultural non-CO2 GHG emissions were primarily economic factor (EDL) with positive impact (cumulative promotion is 2939.61 million metric tons (Mt)), alongside agricultural production efficiency factor (EI) with negative impact (cumulative reduction is 2208.98 Mt). Influence of EDL diminished in the eastern coastal regions but significantly impacted underdeveloped regions such as the northwest and southwest. In the eastern coastal regions, EI gradually became the absolute dominant driver, demonstrating a rapid reduction effect. Additionally, a declining birth rate and rural-to-urban population migration have significantly amplified the driving effects of the population factor (RP) at a national scale. These findings, in conjunction with the disparities in geographic and socioeconomic development among provinces, can serve as a guiding framework for the development of a region-specific roadmap aimed at reducing agricultural non-CO2 GHG emissions.

[Adsorption Performance and Mechanism of Oxytetracycline in Water by KOH Modified Biochar Derived from Corn Straw].

The pollution control of tetracycline antibiotics in the environment has become a hot topic, and biochar adsorption has become an important technology to remove organic pollutants. Pyrolytic biochars (BC400, BC500, and BC600) were prepared from corn straw and then were modified by KOH to obtain KBC400, KBC500, and KBC600. Among them, KBC400 was selected for secondary pyrolysis activation at 400-600℃ to obtain AKBC400, AKBC500, and AKBC600. The structure characteristics and surface properties of AKBC were also characterized. The adsorption kinetics and thermodynamic characteristics of oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC) in the solution by AKBC were investigated using batch experiments. Compared to that of BC400, the specific surface area and pore structure of AKBC were significantly improved, and the aromaticity was also enhanced, resulting in the notable enhancement of the adsorption capacities for OTC. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model could better fit the adsorption process, and AKBC500 had the largest adsorption rate constant and capacity. Both the intraparticle diffusion and film diffusion were the rate-limiting steps. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models could fit the adsorption isotherms perfectly. The adsorption of OTC on AKBC was a spontaneous, endothermic, and entropy-increasing process by both physisorption and chemisorption. The pH values in the range of 3.0-7.0 were favorable for the adsorption of OTC by AKBC. The adsorption capacity decreased with the humic acid concentration over 10 mg·L-1. The adsorption mechanism of OTC by AKBC involved pore filling, hydrogen bonding, π-π conjugation, cation-π bond, and strong electrostatic effect. AKBC still had good reusability for OTC removal after five times of regeneration. The obtained AKBC is a potential adsorbent for OTC removal from water due to the good pore structure, high adsorption capacity, and stable adsorption effect.

A Deep-Learning Model for Diagnosing Fresh Vertebral Fractures on Magnetic Resonance Images.

BACKGROUND: The accurate diagnosis of fresh vertebral fractures (VFs) was critical to optimizing treatment outcomes. Existing studies, however, demonstrated insufficient accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in detecting fresh fractures using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fall short in localizing the fracture sites. METHODS: This prospective study comprised 716 patients with fresh VFs. We obtained 849 Short TI Inversion Recovery (STIR) image slices for training and validation of the AI model. The AI models employed were yolov7 and resnet50, to detect fresh VFs. RESULTS: The AI model demonstrated a diagnostic accuracy of 97.6% for fresh VFs, with a sensitivity of 98% and a specificity of 97%. The performance of the model displayed a high degree of consistency when compared to the evaluations by spine surgeons. In the external testing dataset, the model exhibited a classification accuracy of 92.4%, a sensitivity of 93%, and a specificity of 92%. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlighted the potential of AI in diagnosing fresh VFs, offering an accurate and efficient way to aid physicians with diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Risk communication in multistakeholder engagement: A novel spatial econometric model.

Existing studies on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) neglect the inverse effect of pollution transfer from environmental regulation interactions on pollution reduction from a risk analysis perspective. Based on the regional differentiated attitudes on the environmental regulation reached in risk communication by the risk awareness biases of multiple interest groups, this article clarifies the causality between risk communication and risk transfer based on multistakeholder engagement processes; furthermore, the article incorporates the simultaneous action of the technological innovation effect and pollution risk transfer effect to construct a spatial environmental hyperbolic model with a bidirectional correlation between pollution emissions and economic growth in different regions. To verify our model, we select the pollution from agricultural watersheds in China as a sample to examine the two inverse effects. The results demonstrate that (1) agricultural watershed pollution and economic growth show an inverted U-shaped relation and a U-shaped relation in the local region and adjacent regions, respectively; (2) the pollution reduction assessment of the classical EKC model can be largely attributed to pollution risk transfer behavior; and (3) the turning point of the U-shaped curve appears earlier than that of the inverted U-shaped curve in the spatial hyperbola model. The findings suggest that stakeholders should consider the risk awareness bias caused by the imbalance of regional economic development and the scenarios that provide a "haven" for pollution risk transfer. Moreover, our study expands the theoretical connotation of the classical EKC hypothesis and is more suitable for pollution reduction scenarios in developing countries.

Excess Mortality for Femoral Intertrochanteric Fracture Patients Aged 50 Years and Older Treated Surgically and Conservatively in Tianjin, China: A Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Intertrochanteric fracture is one type of hip fracture, which is the most serious consequence of osteoporosis. Along with the growing elderly population, intertrochanteric fracture is expected to rise increasingly. The aim of this study was to assess excess mortality after intertrochanteric fractures and to identify the predictors of long-term mortality by therapy among patients aged 50 years and older in Tianjin. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study on mortality for 3029 patients aged 50 years and older in Tianjin experiencing an intertrochanteric fracture between December 26, 2014 and December 31, 2018. Data were from Tianjin Hospital Hip Fracture (THHF) cohort. Follow-up period was until March 31, 2022. Mortality, excess mortality, and comorbidities were analyzed and stratified by therapy and gender. Time dependent Cox models were performed to estimate the effects of the variables. RESULTS: Absolute mortality for all the patients was 5.90% at 3 months, 12.55% at 12 months, 19.92% at 24 months and 27.28% at 36 months. Absolute mortality for surgical group was 1.57% at 3 months, 4.77% at 12 months, 8.49% at 24 months and 12.07% at 36 months, significantly lower than conservative group: 10.50% at 3 months, 20.73% at 12 months, 31.96% at 24 months and 43.04% at 36 months. We found a substantially lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.34, 95% confidence internal, [CI]: 0.23-0.52, p = 0.000) among patients undergoing surgical therapy than those undergoing conservative therapy, even when controlled for gender, age, the length of hospital stay, and all the comorbidities. Female patients (HR 0.68, 95% CI: 0.58-0.79, p = 0.000) were less likely to die than male patients after an intertrochanteric fracture. Patients treated by the two methods were both found to have excess mortality rates compared to the general population, although in different levels. The excess mortality rates for patients in the conservative therapy group were 14.46% in males and 17.93% in females, while in the surgical therapy group, 2.78% in females and 4.37% in males. The comorbidities moderate or severe renal disease (HR 2.19, 95% CI: 1.61-2.98, p = 0.000), metastatic solid tumor (HR 6.35, 95% CI: 1.56-25.85, p = 0.010), hypoproteinemia (HR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47, p = 0.034), and older age (HR 1.89, 95% CI: 1.73-2.08, p = 0.000) were also risk factors on mortality. A worse-case analysis for the primary outcome were performed as sensitivity analysis and it was consistent with the original conclusion. CONCLUSION: Intertrochanteric factures for people aged 50 years older were found to have excess mortality compared to the general population in Tianjin city, and preventing the fractures in the hip for elderly people was imperative. After controlling tfor comorbidities and age, female gender and surgical therapy were protective factors for the death after fractures, which could provide strong evidence for patients and surgeons to make decisions.

Automatic Detection and Classification of Modic Changes in MRI Images Using Deep Learning: Intelligent Assisted Diagnosis System.

OBJECTIVE: Modic changes (MCs) are the most prevalent classification system for describing intravertebral MRI signal intensity changes. However, interpreting these intricate MRI images is a complex and time-consuming process. This study investigates the performance of single shot multibox detector (SSD) and ResNet18 network-based automatic detection and classification of MCs. Additionally, it compares the inter-observer agreement and observer-classifier agreement in MCs diagnosis to validate the feasibility of deep learning network-assisted detection of classified MCs. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of 140 patients with MCs who underwent MRI diagnosis and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria in Tianjin Hospital from June 2020 to June 2021 was used as the internal dataset. This group consisted of 55 males and 85 females, aged 25 to 89 years, with a mean age of (59.0 ± 13.7) years. An external test dataset of 28 patients, who met the same criteria and were assessed using different MRI equipment at Tianjin Hospital, was also gathered, including 11 males and 17 females, aged 31 to 84 years, with a mean age of 62.7 ± 10.9 years. After Physician 1 (with 15 years of experience) annotated all MRI images, the internal dataset was imported into the deep learning model for training. The model comprises an SSD network for lesion localization and a ResNet18 network for lesion classification. Performance metrics, including accuracy, recall, precision, F1 score, confusion matrix, and inter-observer agreement parameter Kappa value, were used to evaluate the model's performance on the internal and external datasets. Physician 2 (with 1 year of experience) re-labeled the internal and external test datasets to compare the inter-observer agreement and observer-classifier agreement. RESULTS: In the internal dataset, when models were utilized for the detection and classification of MCs, the accuracy, recall, precision and F1 score reached 86.25%, 87.77%, 84.92% and 85.60%, respectively. The Kappa value of the inter-observer agreement was 0.768 (95% CI: 0.656, 0.847),while observer-classifier agreement was 0.717 (95% CI: 0.589, 0.809).In the external test dataset, the model's the accuracy, recall, precision and F1 scores for diagnosing MCs reached 75%, 77.08%, 77.80% and 74.97%, respectively. The inter-observer agreement was 0.681 (95% CI: 0.512, 0.677), and observer-classifier agreement was 0.519 (95% CI: 0.290, 0.690). CONCLUSION: The model demonstrated strong performance in detecting and classifying MCs, achieving high agreement with physicians in MCs diagnosis. These results suggest that deep learning models have the potential to facilitate the application of intelligent assisted diagnosis techniques in the field of spine research.

Co(III)-Catalyzed C6-Selective C-H Activation/Pyridine Migration of 2-Pyridones with Propiolates.

A versatile Co(III)-catalyzed C6-selective C-H activation/pyridine migration of 2-pyridones with available propiolates as coupling partners was demonstrated. This method features high atom economy, excellent regioselectivity, and good functional group tolerance by employing an inexpensive Co(III) catalyst under mild reaction conditions. Moreover, gram-scale synthesis and late-stage modifications of pharmaceuticals were performed to prove the effectiveness of these synthetic approaches.

Forecast of peak infection and estimate of excess deaths in COVID-19 transmission and prevalence in Taiyuan City, 2022 to 2023.

In this paper, with the method of epidemic dynamics, we assess the spread and prevalence of COVID-19 after the policy adjustment of prevention and control measure in December 2022 in Taiyuan City in China, and estimate the excess population deaths caused by COVID-19. Based on the transmission mechanism of COVID-19 among individuals, a dynamic model with heterogeneous contacts is established to describe the change of control measures and the population's social behavior in Taiyuan city. The model is verified and simulated by basing on reported case data from November 8th to December 5th, 2022 in Taiyuan city and the statistical data of the questionnaire survey from December 1st to 23rd, 2022 in Neijiang city. Combining with reported numbers of permanent residents and deaths from 2017 to 2021 in Taiyuan city, we apply the dynamic model to estimate theoretical population of 2022 under the assumption that there is no effect of COVID-19. In addition, we carry out sensitivity analysis to determine the propagation character of the Omicron strain and the effect of the control measures. As a result of the study, it is concluded that after adjusting the epidemic policy on December 6th, 2022, three peaks of infection in Taiyuan are estimated to be from December 22nd to 31st, 2022, from May 10th to June 1st, 2023, and from September 5th to October 13th, 2023, and the corresponding daily peaks of new cases can reach 400 000, 44 000 and 22 000, respectively. By the end of 2022, excess deaths can range from 887 to 4887, and excess mortality rate can range from 3.06% to 14.82%. The threshold of the infectivity of the COVID-19 variant is estimated 0.0353, that is if the strain infectivity is above it, the epidemic cannot be control with the previous normalization measures.

Isolation and identification of vapA-absent Aeromonas salmonicida in diseased snakehead Channa argus in China.

Aeromonas salmonicida is the typical pathogen causing furunculosis, reported widely in salmonids. Because of multiple serotypes, the control of A. salmonicida-caused disease has increasingly received much attention. Recently, A. salmonicida infection was reported in non-salmonid fish species. Here, a pathogenic A. salmonicida, named as As-s, was isolated from cultured snakehead (Channa argus) in a local fish farm in Shandong, China. As-s displayed clear hemolysis, amylase, and positive catalase activities, and grew at a wide range of temperatures (10-37 °C) and pH values (5.5-8.5). As-s was highly sensitive to cefuroxime sodium, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, piperacillin, and cefoperazone and also apparently sensitive to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, and 25% cinnamaldehyde. The Virulence array protein gene cloning' results suggested that As-s has this gene compared with the other two vapA-containing strains, despite a close relationship of these strains via phylogenetic analysis. Severe ulcers on skin, muscle, and abnormal liver, and hemorrhage in pectoral/ventral fins and anal region were observed, and exophthalmos were also noticed in infected juvenile snakehead, as well as necrosis and infiltration of blood cells emerged in the internal organs using pathological section. In addition, As-s caused high mortality in snakehead, consistently with its immune gene response. This study reports the first isolation of vapA-absent A. salmonicida in snakehead.

Host-Guest Photosensitizer of a Cationic BODIPY Derivative and Cucurbit[7]uril for High-Efficiency Visible Light-Induced Photooxidation Reactions.

In recent years, there has been a notable surge of interest in the fields of organic and pharmaceutical research about photocatalysts (PCs) and photosensitizers (PSs). In this study, a 4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) molecule adorned with quaternary ammonium (TMB) functionality was meticulously designed and synthesized. This compound has remarkable characteristics such as exceptional water solubility, great optical qualities, and commendable photostability. It can form a 1:1 complex (TMB-CB[7]) with cucurbit[7]uril (CB[7]) through host-guest interactions in the aqueous solution and shows obvious fluorescence enhancement. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion radical (O2·-) and singlet oxygen (1O2) generation ability of TMB-CB[7] were promoted compared with that of TMB in the aqueous solution. More interestingly, the ROS generated from TMB-CB[7] can be used as PCs for aerobic cross dehydrogenation coupling reactions and photooxidation reactions in water with high yields of 89 and 95%, respectively. Therefore, the utilization of a host-guest PS presents a novel and environmentally friendly approach for conducting photocatalyzed organic processes under ambient conditions using visible light.

The effect of annulus fibrosus incision and foraminoplasty on lumbar biomechanics in percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy: a finite element analysis.

The objective of this study was to analyze the effects of annulus fibrosus incision and foraminoplasty on lumbar biomechanics during posterior lateral approach translaminar percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) using a lumbar 4/5 segment model and three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA). We created a model of the L4 to L5 segment and performed simulated foraminoplasty, annulus fibrosus incision, and a combined operation. The models were tested under six working conditions, and we recorded the deformation and equivalent strain/stress of each group. Results showed that foraminoplasty can affect the stability and rotation axis of the segment during rotation without significantly impacting discal stress. Conversely, annulus fibrosus incision significantly increases discal stress except for when the patient is doing a forward flexion movement. We recommend that surgical maneuvers minimize the removal and destruction of the annulus fibrosus and that rotation movements are avoided during the short-term recovery period following PELD surgery.

Construction of an efficient artificial light-harvesting system based on hyperbranched polyethyleneimine and improvement of photocatalytic performance.

An artificial light-harvesting system (ALHS) was developed in aqueous solution by employing the electrostatic co-assembly of a tetraphenylethylene derivative modified with two sulfonate groups (TPE-BSBO) and hyperbranched polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the energy donors, and 4,7-bis(2-thienyl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole (DBT) as the energy acceptors. The ALHS exhibits not only high efficiency in energy transfer and conversion but also a significant enhancement in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide anion radicals (O2˙-), facilitating its utilization in photocatalytic oxidation reactions.

Ce-mediated molecular tailoring on gigantic polyoxometalate {Mo132} into half-closed {Ce11Mo96} for high proton conduction.

Precise synthesis of polyoxometalates (POMs) is important for the fundamental understanding of the relationship between the structure and function of each building motif. However, it is a great challenge to realize the atomic-level tailoring of specific sites in POMs without altering the major framework. Herein, we report the case of Ce-mediated molecular tailoring on gigantic {Mo132}, which has a closed structural motif involving a never seen {Mo110} decamer. Such capped wheel {Mo132} undergoes a quasi-isomerism with known {Mo132} ball displaying different optical behaviors. Experiencing an 'Inner-On-Outer' binding process with the substituent of {Mo2} reactive sites in {Mo132}, the site-specific Ce ions drive the dissociation of {Mo2*} clipping sites and finally give rise to a predictable half-closed product {Ce11Mo96}. By virtue of the tailor-made open cavity, the {Ce11Mo96} achieves high proton conduction, nearly two orders of magnitude than that of {Mo132}. This work offers a significant step toward the controllable assembly of POM clusters through a Ce-mediated molecular tailoring process for desirable properties.

Spatiotemporal and kinematic gait analysis in patients with knee osteoarthritis and femoral varus deformity.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is commonly combined with the presentation of a coronal deformity of the knee. The bony origin of the knee varus deformity can be classified as tibial origin, femoral origin, or a combination of tibial and femoral causes. Deformities of tibial origin are mostly common clinically, while patients with knee OA with femoral varus deformity are less common. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do hip, knee and ankle kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters differ between patients with knee OA with femoral varus deformity and healthy subjects? METHODS: Twenty-five patients (14 females and 11 males) with knee OA and femoral varus deformity and 20 healthy subjects (12 males and 8 females) as control group were included in this study. The kinematic parameters of the hip-knee-ankle joint and spatiotemporal gait parameters were included in the study. RESULTS: This study found that the step speed and step length of the knee OA with femoral varus (KOAF) group were smaller than those of the control group, while double support period percentage was greater in the KOAF group. Significant differences were found in the maximum knee extension angle, maximum knee flexion angle, knee flexion range of motion, maximum hip flexion angle, maximum hip extension angle, and hip flexion range of motion between the two groups. After comparing the ankle motion between the two groups, significant differences were found in the maximum eversion angle, inversion range of motion, maximum ankle abduction angle, and abduction range of motion. SIGNIFICANCE: Knee OA with femoral varus deformity causes adaptive changes in the kinematic parameters of hip, knee and ankle joints and spatiotemporal gait parameters to alleviate symptoms and maintain normal activity.

Mechanical analysis of the femoral neck dynamic intersection system with different nail angles and clinical applications.

BACKGROUND: The femoral neck dynamic intersection system (FNS) is mechanically more stable than other internal fixation techniques. Current studies have confirmed that the structural design of FNS has good biomechanical properties in European and American populations. However, whether the suitability of the FNS's 130° main nail angle design for Asian populations has been thoroughly investigated remains unclear. AIM: To compare the biomechanical stability differences among different main nail angles of the FNS in the treatment of femoral neck fractures in Asian populations. METHODS: Computed tomography data of the femur of healthy adult male volunteers were imported into Mimics software to create a three-dimensional model of the femur. The model was adapted to the curve using Geomagic software and imported into Solidworks software to construct the Pauwels I femoral neck fracture model and design the FNS internal fixation model using different main nail angles. Afterward, the models were assembled with the FNS fracture model and meshed using the preprocessing Hypermesh software. Subsequently, they were imported into Abaqus software to analyze and evaluate the biomechanical effects of different angles of the FNS main nail on the treatment of femoral neck fractures. RESULTS: The peak displacement of the proximal femur under different angles of FNS fixation under stress was 7.446 millimeters in the 120° group and 7.416 millimeters in the 125° group; in the 130°, 135°, and 140° FNS fixation groups, the peak displacement was 7.324 millimeters, 8.138 millimeters, and 8.246 millimeters, respectively. In the 120° and 125° FNS fixation groups, the maximum stresses were concentrated at the main nail and the anti-rotation screw, which intersected the fracture line of the femur neck, resulting in peak stresses of 200.7 MPa and 138.8 MPa, respectively. Peak stresses of 208.8 MPa, 219.8 MPa, and 239.3 MPa were observed on the angular locking plate distal to the locking screw in the 130°, 135°, and 140° fixation groups. CONCLUSION: FNS has significant stress distribution properties, a minimal proximal femoral displacement, and an optimal stability for treating femoral neck fractures in Asian populations when performed with a 130° main nail angle.