Treatment of chromium-containing sludge using sintering and ironmaking combined technology: A risk-reducing strategy for environmental impact.

The efficient, safe and eco-friendly disposal of the chromium-containing sludge (CCS) has attracted an increasing concern. In this study, Co-processing of CCS was developed via employing sintering and ironmaking combined technology for its harmless disposal and resource utilization. Crystalline phase and valence state transformation of chromium (Cr), technical feasibility assessment, leaching risk, characteristics of sintered products, and pollutant release during CCS co-processing were investigated through a series of laboratory-scale sintering pot experiments and large scale industrial trials. The results showed that the content of Cr(VI) in sintered products first increased then decreased with increasing temperature ranges of 300 °C-800 °C, and reached a maximum of 2189.64 mg/kg at 500 °C. 99.99% of Cr(VI) can be reduced to Cr(III) at above 1000 °C, which was attributed to the transformation of the Cr(VI)-containing crystalline phases (such as, MgCrO4 and CaCrO4) to the (Mg, Fe2+)(Cr, Al, Fe3+)2O4. The industrial trial results showed that adding 0.5 wt‰ CCS to sintering feed did not have adverse effects on the properties of the sintered ore and the plant's operating stability. The tumbler index of sinter was above 78% and the leaching concentrations of TCr (0.069 mg/L) was significantly lower than the Chinese National Standard of 1.0 mg/L (GB5085.3-2007). The TCr contents of sintering dust and blast furnace gas (BFG) scrubbing water were less than 0.19 wt‰ and 0.11 mg/L, respectively, which was far below the regulatory limit (1.5 mg/L, GB13456-2012). The mass balance evaluation results indicated that at least 89.9% of the Cr in the CCS migrated into the molten iron in the blast furnace (BF), which became a useful supplement to the molten iron. This study provided a new perspective strategy for the safe disposal and resource utilization of CCS in iron and steel industry.

Hepatocyte-derived exosomes deliver the lncRNA CYTOR to hepatic stellate cells and promote liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis is characterized by the activation and transformation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) induced by various injury factors. The degree of liver fibrosis can be significantly improved, but persistent injury factors present a significant therapeutic challenge. Hepatocytes are the most important parenchymal cell type in the liver. In this study, we explored the molecular mechanisms by which damaged liver cells activate HSCs through extracellular vesicles. We established a coculture model of LO2 and LX2 and validated its exosomal transmission activity. Subsequently, differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were screened through RNA sequencing and their mechanisms of action as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) further confirmed using biological methods, such as FISH and luciferase assays. Damaged liver cells induced activation of LX2 and upregulation of liver fibrosis-related markers. Exosomes extracted and identified from the supernatant fraction contained differentially expressed lncRNA cytoskeleton regulator RNA (CYTOR) that competed with microRNA-125 (miR-125) for binding to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in HSCs, in turn, promoting LX2 activation. MiR-125 could target and regulate both CYTOR and GDNF and vice versa, as verified using the luciferase assay. In an in vivo model, damaged liver extracellular vesicles induced the formation of liver fibrosis. Notably, downregulation of CYTOR within extracellular vesicles effectively inhibited liver fibrosis. The lncRNA CYTOR in exosomes of damaged liver cells is upregulated and modulates the expression of downstream GDNF through activity as a ceRNA, providing an effective mechanism for activation of HSCs.

Mn-Co-Ce/biochar based particles electrodes for removal of COD from coking wastewater by 3D/HEFL system: Characteristics, optimization, and mechanism.

In this work, the Mn, Co, Ce co-doped corn cob biochar (MCCBC) as catalytic particle electrodes in a three-dimensional heterogeneous electro-Fenton-like (3D-HEFL) system for the efficient degradation of coking wastewater was investigated. Various characterization methods such as SEM, EDS, XRD, XPS and electrochemical analysis were employed for the prepared materials. The results showed that the MCCBC particle electrodes had excellent electrochemical degradation performances of COD in coking wastewater, and the COD removal and degradation rates of the 3D/HEFL system were 85.35% and 0.0563 min-1 respectively. RSM optimized conditions revealed higher COD removal rate at 89.23% after 31.6 min of electrolysis. The efficient degradability and wide adaptability of the 3D/HEFL system were due to its beneficial coupling mechanism, including the synergistic effect between the system factors (3D and HEFL) as well as the synergistic interactions between the ROS (dominated by •OH and supplemented by O2•-) in the system. Moreover, the COD removal rate of MCCBC could still remain at 81.41% after 5 cycles with a lower ion leaching and a specific energy consumption of 11.28 kWh kg-1 COD. The superior performance of MCCBC, as catalytic particle electrodes showed a great potential for engineering applications for the advanced treatment of coking wastewater.

OsGEX3 affects anther development and improves osmotic stress tolerance in rice.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Overexpression and loss of function of OsGEX3 reduce seed setting rates and affect pollen fertility in rice. OsGEX3 positively regulates osmotic stress response by regulating ROS scavenging. GEX3 proteins are conserved in plants. AtGEX3 encodes a plasma membrane protein that plays a crucial role in pollen tube guidance. However, the function of its homolog in rice, OsGEX3, has not been determined. Our results demonstrate that OsGEX3 is localized in the plasma membrane and the nucleus as shown by a transiently transformed assay using Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The up-regulation of OsGEX3 was detected in response to treatments with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 4000, hydrogen peroxide, and abscisic acid (ABA) via RT-qPCR analysis. Interestingly, we observed a significant decline in the seed setting rates of OsGEX3-OE lines and mutants, compared to the wild type. Further investigations reveal that overexpression and loss of function of OsGEX3 affect pollen maturation. TEM observation revealed a significant decrease in the fertile pollen rates of OsGEX3-OE transgenic lines and Osgex3 mutants due to a delay in pollen development at the late vacuolated stage. Overexpression of OsGEX3 improved osmotic stress and oxidative stress tolerance by enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in rice seedlings, whereas Osgex3 mutants exhibited an opposite phenotype in osmotic stress. These findings highlight the multifunctional roles of OsGEX3 in pollen development and the response to abiotic stress. The functional characterization of OsGEX3 provides a fundamental basis for rice molecular breeding and can facilitate efforts to cultivate drought resistance and yield-related varieties.

OsNAC103, an NAC transcription factor negatively regulates plant height in rice.

MAIN CONCLUSION: OsNAC103 negatively regulates rice plant height by influencing the cell cycle and crosstalk of phytohormones. Plant height is an important characteristic of rice farming and is directly related to agricultural yield. Although there has been great progress in research on plant growth regulation, numerous genes remain to be elucidated. NAC transcription factors are widespread in plants and have a vital function in plant growth. Here, we observed that the overexpression of OsNAC103 resulted in a dwarf phenotype, whereas RNA interference (RNAi) plants and osnac103 mutants showed no significant difference. Further investigation revealed that the cell length did not change, indicating that the dwarfing of plants was caused by a decrease in cell number due to cell cycle arrest. The content of the bioactive cytokinin N6-Δ2-isopentenyladenine (iP) decreased as a result of the cytokinin synthesis gene being downregulated and the enhanced degradation of cytokinin oxidase. OsNAC103 overexpression also inhibited cell cycle progression and regulated the activity of the cell cyclin OsCYCP2;1 to arrest the cell cycle. We propose that OsNAC103 may further influence rice development and gibberellin-cytokinin crosstalk by regulating the Oryza sativa homeobox 71 (OSH71). Collectively, these results offer novel perspectives on the role of OsNAC103 in controlling plant architecture.

A novel and sensitive method for simultaneous determination of 6 low-calorie bulk sweeteners by HPLC-ELSD.

A novel and sensitive method for the simultaneous analysis of six low-calorie bulk sweeteners (D-allulose, D-tagatose, D-mannitol, mycose, palatinose, and erythritol) without derivatisation was developed using high-performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-ELSD). Chromatographic separations were carried out on a Zorbax Original NH2 (5 µm particle size, 250 mm×4.60 mm id, 70 Å) column with flow rate gradient elution with acetonitrile: water (80:20, v/v). Drift tube temperature was set at 50 ℃, the nebuliser carrier gas flow rate was 1.0 mL·min-1, and nitrogen pressure was regulated to 276 kPa with gain:3. The regression equation showed good linearity (R2 = 0.9985-0.9998) for all six low-calorie bulk sweeteners in the tested range (0.060-0.60 mg·mL-1). The limits of detection (LOD) for the six low-calorie bulk sweeteners ranged from 0.02 to 0.06 mg·mL-1. The proposed HPLC-ELSD method was validated for the quantification of the low-calorie bulk sweeteners in 14 types of foods, and the results were satisfactory. In addition, the results showed that the number of sweeteners in each food product varied. The presence of multiple low-calorie bulk sweeteners in certain foods is interesting. This method is successful in monitoring low-calorie bulk sweeteners in food.

Distributed Sequential Detection for Cooperative Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Internet of Things.

The rapid development of wireless communication technology has led to an increasing number of internet of thing (IoT) devices, and the demand for spectrum for these devices and their related applications is also increasing. However, spectrum scarcity has become an increasingly serious problem. Therefore, we introduce a collaborative spectrum sensing (CSS) framework in this paper to identify available spectrum resources so that IoT devices can access them and, meanwhile, avoid causing harmful interference to the normal communication of the primary user (PU). However, in the process of sensing the PUs signal in IoT devices, the issue of sensing time and decision cost (the cost of determining whether the signal state of the PU is correct or incorrect) arises. To this end, we propose a distributed cognitive IoT model, which includes two IoT devices independently using sequential decision rules to detect the PU. On this basis, we define the sensing time and cost functions for IoT devices and formulate an average cost optimization problem in CSS. To solve this problem, we further regard the optimal sensing time problem as a finite horizon problem and solve the threshold of the optimal decision rule by person-by-person optimization (PBPO) methodology and dynamic programming. At last, numerical simulation results demonstrate the correctness of our proposal in terms of the global false alarm and miss detection probability, and it always achieves minimal average cost under various costs of each observation taken and thresholds.

A new sesquiterpene from endophytic fungus Colletotrichum sp. B-89.

A new sesquiterpene, named (1S, 4aS, 7 R, 8 R, 8aR) Decahydro-1,4a-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethyl)-1,8-naphthalenediol (1), and six known compounds (2-7) were obtained from Colletotrichum sp. B-89, an endophytic fungus isolated from Dracaena cochinchinensis collected at Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. Their structures were elucidated by detailed analysis of comprehensive spectroscopic data, and the structure of 1 was further determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial activities of above compounds were assayed and compound 6 exhibited certain activities against S. aureus ATCC 25923, B. subtilis ATCC 6633, E. coli ATCC 25922, and K. pneumoniae ATCC 13883.

Effectiveness of Heart Failure Checklist Management in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: An Open-Label, Single-Center Controlled Study During 18 Months of Follow-Up.

Background: The efficacy of chronic heart failure (CHF) checklist management in reducing adverse outcomes of heart failure patients is still uncertain. This study explores whether CHF checklist management is more useful than usual care in reducing adverse health outcomes in the medium- and long-term among CHF patients. Methods: In our prospective study, 132 patients with CHF were randomly assigned to CHF management group and usual care group by random number method. Patients in CHF management group were conducted through CHF checklist by cardiologists and general practitioner. Patients assigned to usual care were treated by non-stationary medical group without checklist. All groups were followed up for 18 months. Results: There was no significant difference in overall mortality rate between management group and control group during 18 months (12.3% [8/65] vs. 11.7% [7/60], P = 0. 912]). The re-hospitalization rate of heart failure in management group (18.5% [12/65]) was significantly lower than that in usual care group (38.3% [23/60]) after 18 months of follow-up (P = 0.013). Median NT-proBNP level (632.3 ng/l vs. 1678 ng/l, p = 0.004) was lower in management group than that in usual care group. Cardiac ultrasonography was performed at 18 months between the management and usual care group. LVEDD (55.88±7.11 mm vs. 60.92±8.06 mm) and LVESD (43.25±8.42mm vs. 48.41± 9.02mm) were decreased (P<0.01). LVEF was increased (45.36±10.64% vs. 39.96 ±10.15%, P<0.01). The utilization rate of ACEI/ARB/ARNI, ß-blocker were high in management group. Conclusion: CHF checklist management by cardiologists and general practitioners can significantly reduce the re-hospitalization and improve cardiac function. CHF management through heart failure checklist may improve prognosis in patients with CHF in the medium- and long-term.

Hedgehog-Gli1-derived exosomal circ-0011536 mediates peripheral neural remodeling in pancreatic cancer by modulating the miR-451a/VGF axis.

BACKGROUND: Hedgehog-Gli1 signaling induces development of two common neurological features seen in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC): peripheral neural invasion (PNI) and peripheral neural remodeling (PNR). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms in cancer cells and nerves within Gli1-derived PNR have not previously been comprehensively analyzed. METHODS: In this study, RNA sequencing was used to screen meaningful circRNAs in PNR. An in vitro model of PNR was subsequently constructed through a co-culture system comprising PDAC cells and murine dorsal root ganglia (DRG) (as the neuronal element), and the relevant mechanisms were explored using a series of molecular biology experiments. A subcutaneous nude mouse tumorigenesis model was established to further verify the occurrence of PNR that was detected in human PDAC samples. RESULTS: We first confirmed the molecular mechanisms of PNR development through crosstalk between exosomal circ-0011536 and DRG. In Gli1-overpressed PDAC, circ-0011536 is mainly secreted by exosomes. After being ingested by DRG, it can promote the activity of DRG by degrading miR-451a and upregulating the expression of VGF. Overexpression of Gli1 can accelerate the proliferation of subcutaneous tumors in mice and is closely related to the density of nerve plexuses, while downregulating circ-RNA inhibits tumor proliferation and reduces the density of nerve plexuses. In addition, TMA results confirmed that Gli1 overexpression significantly increased the expression of VGF and was closely associated with increased nerve plexus density. CONCLUSION: Hedgehog-Gli1-induced exosomal circ-0011536 promoted PNR via the miR-451a/VGF axis, thereby establishing that it may contribute to PDAC-associated nerve changes with activated Hedgehog signaling.

The neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio is associated with all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we evaluated the predictive utility of neutrophil percentage-to-albumin ratio (NPAR) for all-cause mortality in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Patients diagnosed as CHF enrolled in this retrospective cohort study were from Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, capital medical university. Admission NPAR was calculated as neutrophil percentage divided by serum albumin. The endpoints of this study were defined as 90-day, 1-year and 2-year all-cause mortality. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model was performed to confirm the association between NPAR and all-cause mortality. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the ability for NPAR to predict all-cause mortality. RESULTS: The 90-day (P = 0.009), 1-year (P < 0.001) and 2-year (P < 0.001) all-cause mortality in 622 patients with CHF were increased as admission NPAR increased. Multivariable Cox regression analysis found the higher NPAR value was still independently associated with increased risk of 90-day (Group III versus Group I: HR, 95% CI: 2.21, 1.01-4.86, P trend = 0.038), 1-year (Group III versus Group I: HR, 95% CI:2.13, 1.30-3.49, P trend = 0.003), and 2-year all-cause mortality (Group III versus Group I: HR, 95% CI:2.06, 1.37-3.09, P trend = 0.001), after adjustments for several confounders. ROC curves revealed that NPAR had a better ability to predict all-cause mortality in patients with CHF, than either albumin or the neutrophil percentage alone. CONCLUSIONS: NPAR was independently correlated with 90-day, 1-year, and 2-year all-cause mortality in patients with CHF.

Two new diketopiperazines from the Cordyceps fungus Samsoniella sp. XY4.

Two new diketopiperazines, namely samsoniellain A (1) and samsoniellain B (2), together with two known compounds (3, 4) were isolated from Cordyceps fungus Samsoniella sp. XY4. The planar structures of 1 and 2 were determined by HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Results of antimicrobial activity indicated that compound 2 showed weak bacteriostatic activities against S. typhimurium χ 8956, H. influenza ATCC 10211, MRSA 2024 with the MIC values of 128, 256, and 256 µg ml-1, respectively. This is the first report about secondary metabolites of Samsoniella sp.

Root microbiota alters response to root rot in Rhododendron delavayi Franch.

Root microbiota have a significant effect on plant health. However, the role of root microbiota in the resistance of Rhododendron against root rot is not known. In this study, we employed amplicon 16S and ITS sequencing to investigate the bacterial and fungal communities associated with four distinct niches (bulk soil, rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and endosphere) of both healthy and diseased Rhododendron plants in the Baili Rhododendron nature reserve in China. The amplicon data analysis identified 182 bacterial genera and 141 fungal genera that were impacted by root rot across all niches. Specifically, the rhizoplane appeared to exert a selective gating effect, resulting in a reduction in the complexity of bacterial communities, but not fungal communities, in wild Rhododendron delavayi Franch roots. Nevertheless, the stress induced by root rot led to alterations in the root microbiota and compromised the gating function of the rhizoplane, thereby significantly increasing the complexity of the bacterial community within the plant root. In the root tissue following root rot outbreak, the relative abundance of the pathogenic species Pezicula brunnea and Diaporthe helianthi was enriched by as much as 6.13% and 1.71%, respectively. These findings provide novel insights into the contribution of enrichment of root-associated microbiota to wild plant hosts under the disease stress of root rot. The root rot-causing pathogenic fungi may interact with beneficial bacteria and induce plants to send out "cry for help" signals, which may encourage the specific assembly of microbiota. In the Rhododendron delavayi Franch root microbiota, we found 23 potentially beneficial microbes. Notably, certain beneficial bacteria, such as Sporolactobacillus and Stenotrophomonas, were found to accumulate in the rhizoplane and endosphere under root rot disease stress. Overall, our results lend support to our hypothesis that Rhododendron recruits protective microbes as a strategy to suppress root rot outbreaks. Future endeavors in isolating beneficial microbes capable of mitigating root rot have the potential to enhance plant resilience against root diseases.

[Simultaneous determination of six rare sugars in solid foods by high performance liquid chromatography-evaporative light-scattering detection].

Excessive sugar consumption is associated with metabolic health problems. Rare sugars are gradually being used as substitutes for sugar, and their consumption is increasing daily, raising food-safety issues such as false advertising, adulteration, and overdosing. The determination of rare-sugar compounds has attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, no standard method for the simultaneous determination of six rare sugars (allulose, tagatose, trehalose, isomaltulose, erythritol, and mannitol) in solid foods is available. Therefore, establishing a suitable analytical method for these sugars is necessary. In this study, high performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light-scattering detection was used to determine rare sugars in solid foods. The optimum chromatographic and detector conditions were determined by evaluating the instrument parameters. Analysis was carried out on a Zorbax Original NH2 column (250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 µm) via flow-rate gradient elution (0-15 min, 1.0 mL/min; 15-18 min, 1.0-2.0 mL/min; 18-25 min, 2.0 mL/min) with acetonitrile-water (80∶20, v/v) as the mobile phase. Sharp and symmetric chromatographic peaks were obtained under these conditions. The resolutions for all the six rare sugars were greater than 1.5. Optimization of the evaporative light-scattering detector was extremely important to the responses of the rare-sugar compounds. The two most significant parameters were the nebulizer carrier gas flow rate and drift tube temperature. The detection system was operated under the following conditions: the drift tube temperature was set to 50 ℃, the nebulizer carrier gas was high-purity nitrogen, the carrier gas flow rate was 1.0 mL/min, the nitrogen pressure was regulated to 275.79 kPa, and the gain factor was set to 3. The sample was extracted with 25 mL of water, shaken and vortexed for 10 min, purified with 200 µL of zinc acetate solution and 200 µL of potassium ferricyanide solution, and centrifuged at 4500 r/min for 10 min. Next, 1 mL of the supernatant was passed through a 0.22 µm aqueous-phase filter membrane, and the filtrate obtained was analyzed using the evaporative light-scattering detector. The six rare sugars were quantitatively analyzed using the external standard method and showed good linearity with coefficients of determination (R2) greater than 0.9985. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.020-0.60 and 0.60-1.8 g/100 g, respectively. In addition, when blank solid food samples were spiked with the analytes at three levels, the average recoveries of the six rare sugars were 92.6%-103.2%, with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 0.7%-4.4%. An RSD of <5% indicated that the method had good precision. Interference experiments were performed to determine whether the sugars and artificial sweeteners commonly found in solid foods affected the targets. The method established in this study was used to analyze the contents of the six rare sugars in actual solid food samples. The experimental results showed various levels of rare glycoconjugates in different solid foods. Moreover, the actual compositions and labeled of rare glycoconjugates in the solid foods were generally consistent. The proposed method features simple operation, rapid results, high sensitivity, and good reproducibility; thus, it meets the requirements for the detection of the six rare sugars in solid foods. It also provides technical support for the development of methodological standards and detection limits for rare sugars in Chinese foods. The results of this study are of great relevance for the daily monitoring of the levels of the six rare sugars in solid foods.

Growth differentiation factor 15 predicts cardiovascular events in stable coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has been explored as a potential biomarker for various inflammatory diseases and cardiovascular events. This study aimed to assess the predictive role of GDF-15 levels in cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, considering traditional risk factors and other biomarkers. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted and 3699 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) were enrolled into the research. Baseline GDF-15 levels were measured. Median follow-up was 3.1 years during the study. We analyzed clinical variables and several biomarkers. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was performed to evaluate prognostic performance of GDF-15 levels in predicting myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, stroke, cardiovascular death, and non-cardiovascular death. RESULTS: Baseline GDF-15 levels for 3699 patients were grouped by quartile (≤ 1153, 1153-1888, 1888-3043, > 3043 ng/L). Higher GDF-15 levels were associated with older age, male gender, history of hypertension, and elevated levels of N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP), soluble suppression of tumorigenesis-2 (sST2), and creatine (each with P < 0.001). Adjusting for established risk factors and biomarkers in Cox proportional hazards models, a 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in GDF-15 was associated with elevated risk of clinical events [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.18, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.52-3.11)], including: MI [HR = 2.83 95% CI: (1.03-7.74)], heart failure [HR = 2.71 95% CI: (1.18-6.23)], cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular death [HR = 2.48, 95% CI (1.49-4.11)] during the median follow up of 3.1 years. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of GDF-15 consistently provides prognostic information for cardiovascular events and all cause death, independent of clinical risk factors and other biomarkers. GDF-15 could be considered as a valuable addition to future risk prediction model in secondary prevention for predicting clinical events in patient with stable CAD.

Subgroups of self-directed learning ability and their differences in professional identity among nursing undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic: a latent profile analysis.

BACKGROUND: Promoting self-directed learning (SDL) among nursing undergraduates is crucial to meet the new requirements of the healthcare system and to adapt to online learning contexts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, identifying the classification features of SDL ability and developing targeted interventions are both critical. Professional identity (PI) may contribute to the cultivation of SDL ability, but their relationship remains relatively unknown. This study aimed to explore the subgroups of SDL ability and their differences in PI among nursing undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A total of 2438 nursing undergraduates at four universities in China were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from November 2021 to February 2022. The Self-Directed Learning Scale of Nursing Undergraduates (SLSNU) and the Professional Identity Scale for Nursing Students (PISNS) were administered. A latent profile analysis was performed to explore SDL ability latent profiles. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictors of profile membership, and a one-way analysis of variance was applied to compare the PI scores in each latent profile. RESULTS: Three latent profiles were identified and labeled 'low SDL ability' (n = 749, 30.7%), 'low initiative of help-seeking' (n = 1325, 54.4%) and 'high SDL ability' (n = 364, 14.9%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis suggested that nursing undergraduates who voluntarily chose a nursing major, had served as a student cadre, and had participated in clinical practicum were less likely to be included in the "low SDL ability" group. The average PI score was statistically different across the three profiles (F = 884.40, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The SDL ability among nursing undergraduates was divided into three profiles, and results show that promoting PI may effectively foster SDL ability. This study highlights the importance of targeted interventions by considering their distinct SDL ability patterns, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Simultaneous Rapid Determination of Seven Alternaria Toxins in Tuberous Crops during Storage Using QuEChERS Coupled with Ultrahigh-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Robust and sensitive ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) combined with the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe (QuEChERS) method was applied for the detection of seven Alternaria toxins (ATs) in tuberous crops. The influence of tuber conditions (fresh, germinated, and moldy) during storage on the concentration of the seven ATs is also investigated. ATs were extracted with acetonitrile under acidic conditions and purified with a C18 adsorbent. ATs were scanned with electrospray ionization (positive/negative ion) dynamic switching and detected in MRM mode. Calibration curve analysis results reveal good linear relationships in all toxin concentration ranges (R2 > 0.99). The limit of detection and limit of quantification were 0.25-0.70 and 0.83-2.31 µg/kg, respectively. The average recoveries of the seven ATs were 83.2-104% with intra-/inter-day precision at 3.52-6.55% and 4.02-7.26%, respectively. The developed method provided adequate selectivity, sensitivity, and precision in detecting the seven ATs at trace levels, and dispensed with standard addition or matrix-matched calibration to compensate for matrix effects. ATs in the fresh, germinated, and moldy samples of tuberous crops in storage (taro, potato, sweet potato, yam, cassava) were analyzed with this method, and the concentrations were 2.01-14.51 µg/kg and significantly increased with storage duration. ALS was detected in most samples, whereas no quantities of ALT and ATX-I were detected. AME was often detected in combination with AOH in sweet potatoes. TeA and Ten were mostly detected in taro, potato, and yam. The established method could be used for the simultaneous detection and quantification of multicomponent toxins in elaborate matrices.

Nomograms Based on Non-High-Density Lipoprotein to Predict Outcomes in Patients with Prior Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting with Acute Coronary Syndrome: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Introduction: Non-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) is a secondary therapeutic target in cardiovascular diseases and is used for residual risk assessment in patients with coronary artery syndrome (ACS). This study was designed to determine the association between non-HDL-C in patients with prior coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with ACS and clinical outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 468 patients with prior CABG with ACS and categorized them into two groups based on the median non-HDL-C level. The primary endpoints were major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), including cardiovascular death and recurrent myocardial infarction. Kaplan-Meier curves, Cox proportional-hazard regressions, and restricted cubic splines were used to determine the association between non-HDL-C and MACEs. The discrimination and reclassification of the nomogram based on non-HDL-C were assessed using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and net reclassification improvement (NRI). Results: During the average follow-up time of 744.5 days, non-HDL-C was independently associated with the occurrence of MACEs (hazard ratio [HR] = 5.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.65-15.24; p = 0.005) after adjusting for other lipid parameters. The spline curves indicated a linear relationship between non-HDL-C and MACEs (p-nonlinear: 0.863). The time-dependent areas under the ROC curves of prior-CABG-ACS nomograms containing non-HDL regarding MACEs in two consecutive years were 91.7 (95% CI: 85.5-97.9) and 91.5 (95% CI: 87.3-95.7), respectively. The NRI analysis indicated that the prior-CABG-ACS model improved the reclassification ability for 1- and 2-year MACEs (22.4% and 7%, p < 0.05, respectively). Discussion: Non-HDL is independently associated with the risk of MACEs in patients with prior CABG with ACS. The prior-CABG-ACS nomogram based on non-HDL-C and five convenient variables generates valid and stable predictions of MACE occurrence.

Thrombospondin-1 plasma levels associated with in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Thrombospondin-1, a large matricellular glycoprotein, exerts multifaced biological effects on the cardiovascular system and is correlated with cardiovascular diseases. Its plasma levels and correlation with in-hospital prognosis are yet unclear in the acute coronary syndrome population. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between thrombospondin-1 plasma levels and in-hospital adverse events in patients with acute coronary syndrome. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 341 inpatients with acute coronary syndrome were recruited in Beijing Chaoyang Hosipital from May 2021 to November 2021. The thrombospondin-1 plasma levels were measured, and the in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events, including all-cause death, recurrent ischemia, arrhythmias, and heart failure, were recorded. This correlation was assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The thrombospondin-1 plasma levels were higher in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction and ST-elevation myocardial infarction compared to those in unstable angina (P < 0.001), while the differences between the two different types of myocardial infarction were not statistically different. Thrombospondin-1 plasma levels were correlated with GRACE score, leukocytes, neutrophils, platelets, troponin I, creatine kinase-MB, D-dimer, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and log10 brain natriuretic peptide. Furthermore, thrombospondin-1 plasma levels were associated with the in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with acute coronary syndrome (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombospondin-1 plasma levels were higher in patients with myocardial infarction than those in unstable angina. The high thrombospondin-1 plasma levels were associated with in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events.

Prediction of acute lung injury in severe acute pancreatitis by routine clinical data.

AIM: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a common complication of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) with a high mortality. Early prediction of patients at risk in initial stage can improve the long-term survival. METHODS: A total of 91 patients with SAP out of 1647 acute pancreatitis patients from January 2015 to December 2020 were considered. A predictive model for SAP-associated ALI was constructed based on the valuable risk factors identified from routine clinical characteristics and plasma biomarkers. The value of the model was evaluated and compared with Lung Injury Prediction Score (LIPS). A nomogram was built to visualize the model. RESULTS: Diabetes, oxygen supplementation, neutrophil count and D-dimer were found to be associated with ALI in SAP. The predictive model based on these factors had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC: 0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.81-0.95], which was superior to LIPS (AUC: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.60-0.83), also with the higher sensitivity (65%) and specificity (96%) than LIPS (62%, 74%, respectively). Decision curve analysis of the model showed a higher net benefit than LIPS. Visualization by a nomogram facilitated the application of the model. CONCLUSION: Diabetes, oxygen supplementation, neutrophil count and D-dimer were risk factors for SAP-associated ALI. The combination of these routine clinical data and the model visualization by a nomogram provided a simple and effective way in predicting ALI in the early phase of SAP.