Ebselen and TPI-1, as RecG helicase inhibitors, potently enhance the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to DNA damage agents.

Holliday junction (HJ) is a four-way structured DNA intermediate in processes of homologous recombination and DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair. In bacteria, HJs are processed via either the RuvABC or RecG-dependent pathways. In addition, RecG also plays a critical role in the reactivation of stalled replication forks, making it an attractive target for antibacterial drug development. Here, we conducted a high-throughput screening targeting the RecG helicase from a common opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa). From a library containing 7920 compounds, we identified Ebselen and TPI-1 (2',5'-Dichloro-[1,1'-biphenyl]-2,5-dione) as two potent PaRecG inhibitors, with IC50 values of 0.31 ± 0.02 µM and 1.16 ± 0.06 µM, respectively. Further biochemical analyses suggested that both Ebselen and TPI-1 inhibited the ATPase activity of PaRecG, and hindered its binding to HJ DNA with high selectivity. These compounds, when combined with our previously reported RuvAB inhibitors, resulted in more severe DNA repair defects than the individual treatment, and potently enhanced the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa to the DNA damage agents. This work reports novel small molecule inhibitors of RecG, offering valuable chemical tools for advancing our understanding of RecG's function and mechanism. Additionally, these inhibitors might be further developed as promising antibacterial agents in the fight against P. aeruginosa infections.

Effects of sex on meat quality traits, amino acid and fatty acid compositions, and plasma metabolome profiles in White King squabs.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sex on meat quality and the composition of amino and fatty acids in the breast muscles of White King pigeon squabs. Untargeted metabolomics was also conducted to distinguish the metabolic composition of plasma in different sexes. Compared with male squabs, female squabs had greater intramuscular fat (IMF) deposition and lower myofiber diameter and hydroxyproline content, leading to a lower shear force. Female squabs also had higher monounsaturated fatty acid and lower n-6 and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid proportions in the breast muscle, and had greater lipogenesis capacity via upregulation of PPARγ, FAS and LPL gene expression. Moreover, female squabs had lower inosine 5'-monophosphate, essential, free and sweet-tasting amino acid contents. Furthermore, Spearman's correlations between the differential plasma metabolites and key meat parameters were assessed, and putrescine, N-acetylglutamic acid, phophatidylcholine (18:0/P-16:0) and trimethylamine N-oxide were found to contribute to meat quality. In summary, the breast meat of male squabs may have better nutritional value than that of females, but it may inferior in terms of sensory properties, which can be attributed to the lower IMF content and higher shear force value. Our findings enhance our understanding of sex variation in squab meat quality, providing a basis for future research on pigeon breeding.

Research Note: Effect of different photoperiodic programs from rearing period on the reproductive performance and hormone secretion of White King pigeons.

The photoperiod is an important factor during rearing and laying period that affects age and body weight at sexual maturation and reproductive performance in poultry; however relevant research on this factor in pigeons is still lacking. Thus, this study investigated the effects of different photoperiodic programs on the reproductive performance and hormonal profile in White King pigeons. From 101 d of age, the pigeons in the control group were exposed to a natural photoperiod until 160 d, and then to a photoperiod of 16 h (16 light [L]: 8 dark [D]) and lasted for 200 d. Pigeons in the 3 experimental groups were exposed to a short photoperiod of 8L: 16D until 160 d, and then to 14L: 10D, 16L: 8D, and 18L: 6D, respectively. The results showed that light-restriction (8L: 16D) during the rearing period and then 14L: 10D or 16L: 8D photostimulation delayed the age at first egg laying in pigeons. However, 16L: 8D after an 8L: 16D photoperiod during the breeding period ensured maximum photosensitivity, and significantly improved the reproductive performance (egg production and fertility rates) in pigeons. Moreover, the highest reproductive performance in group under16L: 8D after 8L: 16D photoperiodic program was accompanied by improved follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol levels and reduced prolactin hormone levels. The results indicated that photoperiodic programs from rearing to laying period are closely related to the reproductive performance of White King pigeons. The results provide information that 8L: 16D during rearing period and 16L: 8D during laying period can be used to enhance reproductive performance in the pigeon industry.

A photoelectrochemical cytosensor based on a Bi2S3-MoS2 heterojunction-modified reduced oxide graphene honeycomb film for sensitive detection of circulating tumor cells.

A novel photoelectrochemical (PEC) cytosensor for the ultrasensitive detection of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) was developed. The bio-inspired reduced graphene oxide (rGO) honeycomb film photoelectrode was fabricated via a "breath figure" method, followed by the self-assembly of a Bi2S3-MoS2 heterojunction. The resulting Bi2S3-MoS2 heterojunction-modified rGO honeycomb film was employed as a sensing matrix for the first time. Compared to the smooth rGO film, the significant enhanced photocurrent of the photoelectrode under visible light was attributed to its improved visible light absorption, increased surface area and enhanced separation efficiency of photo-generated electron-hole pairs, which met the requirements of the PEC sensor for detecting larger targets. By virtue of the photocurrent decrease due to the steric hindrance of MCF-7 cells, which were captured by an aptamer immobilized on the surface of the photoelectrode, a cytosensor for detecting CTCs was achieved, showing a wide linear range of 10-1 × 105 cells per mL and a low detection limit of 2 cells per mL. Furthermore, MCF-7 cells in human serum were determined by this PEC biosensor, exhibiting great potential in the clinical detection of CTCs.

Robust and Corrosion-Resistant Overall Water Splitting Electrode Enabled by Additive Manufacturing.

Electrolysis of water has emerged as a prominent area of research in recent years. As a promising catalyst support, copper foam is widely investigated for electrolytic water, yet the insufficient mechanical strength and corrosion resistance render it less suitable for harsh working conditions. To exploit high-performance catalyst supports, various metal supports are comprehensively evaluated, and Ti6 Al4 V (Ti64) support exhibited outstanding compression and corrosion resistance. With this in mind, a 3D porous Ti64 catalyst support is fabricated using the selective laser sintering (SLM) 3D printing technology, and a conductive layer of nickel (Ni) is coated to increase the electrical conductivity and facilitate the deposition of catalysts. Subsequently, Co0.8 Ni0.2 (CO3 )0.5 (OH)·0.11H2 O (CoNiCH) nanoneedles are deposited. The resulting porous Ti64/Ni/CoNiCH electrode displayed an impressive performance in the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and reached 30 mA cm-2 at an overpotential of only 200 mV. Remarkably, even after being compressed at 15.04 MPa, no obvious structural deformation is observed, and the attenuation of its catalytic efficiency is negligible. Based on the computational analysis, the CoNiCH catalyst demonstrated superior catalytic activity at the Ni site in comparison to the Co site. Furthermore, the electrode reached 30 mA cm-2 at 1.75 V in full water splitting conditions and showed no significant performance degradation even after 60 h of continuous operation. This study presents an innovative approach to robust and corrosion-resistant catalyst design.

Highly Efficient Aligned Ion-Conducting Network and Interface Chemistries for Depolarized All-Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries.

Improving the long-term cycling stability and energy density of all-solid-state lithium (Li)-metal batteries (ASSLMBs) at room temperature is a severe challenge because of the notorious solid-solid interfacial contact loss and sluggish ion transport. Solid electrolytes are generally studied as two-dimensional (2D) structures with planar interfaces, showing limited interfacial contact and further resulting in unstable Li/electrolyte and cathode/electrolyte interfaces. Herein, three-dimensional (3D) architecturally designed composite solid electrolytes are developed with independently controlled structural factors using 3D printing processing and post-curing treatment. Multiple-type electrolyte films with vertical-aligned micro-pillar (p-3DSE) and spiral (s-3DSE) structures are rationally designed and developed, which can be employed for both Li metal anode and cathode in terms of accelerating the Li+ transport within electrodes and reinforcing the interfacial adhesion. The printed p-3DSE delivers robust long-term cycle life of up to 2600 cycles and a high critical current density of 1.92 mA cm-2. The optimized electrolyte structure could lead to ASSLMBs with a superior full-cell areal capacity of 2.75 mAh cm-2 (LFP) and 3.92 mAh cm-2 (NCM811). This unique design provides enhancements for both anode and cathode electrodes, thereby alleviating interfacial degradation induced by dendrite growth and contact loss. The approach in this study opens a new design strategy for advanced composite solid polymer electrolytes in ASSLMBs operating under high rates/capacities and room temperature.

Assessment of Fetal Exposure and Elimination of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: New Evidence from Paired Serum, Placenta, and Meconium Samples.

Multiple pieces of evidence have shown that prenatal exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is closely related to adverse birth outcomes for infants. However, difficult access to human samples limits our understanding of PFASs transport and metabolism across the human placental barrier, as well as the accurate assessment of fetal PFASs exposure. Herein, we assess fetal exposure to 28 PFASs based on paired serum, placenta, and meconium samples. Overall, 21 PFASs were identified first to be exposed to the fetus prenatally and to be metabolized and excreted by the fetus. In meconium samples, 25 PFASs were detected, with perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid being the dominant congeners, suggesting the metabolism and excretion of PFASs through meconium. Perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acids might be more easily eliminated through the meconium than perfluorinated carboxylic acids. Importantly, based on molecular docking, MRP1, OATP2B1, ASCT1, and P-gp were identified as crucial transporters in the dynamic placental transfer of PFASs between the mother and the fetus. ATSC5p and PubchemFP679 were recognized as critical structural features that affect the metabolism and secretion of PFASs through meconium. With increasing carbon chain length, both the transplacental transfer efficiency and meconium excretion efficiency of PFASs showed a structure-dependent manner. This study reports, for the first time, that meconium, which is a noninvasive and stable biological matrix, can be strong evidence of prenatal PFASs exposure.

Identification of ferroptosis-related genes as potential diagnostic biomarkers for diabetic nephropathy based on bioinformatics.

Objective: This study investigated to probe ferroptosis-related diagnostic biomarkers and underlying molecular mechanisms in Diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: GSE30122 and GSE1009 from GEO database were used as training and verification sets, respectively, to screen differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs). These genes were further analyzed using GO, KEGG, and GSEA methods, and screened with PPI, LASSO, and SVM-RFE to identify ferroptosis-related diagnostic biomarkers for DN. A diagnostic model was established using the Glm function and verified with ROC curve. The relationship between these biomarkers and immune cell was analyzed, and qRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of these biomarkers in kidney tissues and identify the effect of TP53 on DN development. Results: Fifty one differentially expressed FRGs were enriched in bioprocesses such as p53 signaling pathway, oxidative stress and chemical stress response, and mTOR signaling pathway. TP53, RB1, NF2, RRM2, PRDX1, and CDC25A were identified as ferroptosis-related diagnostic biomarkers for DN. TP53 showed the most differential expression. ROC analysis showed that AUC values of TP53, RB1, NF2, RRM2, PRDX1, and CDC25A were 0.751, 0.705, 0.725, 0.882, 0.691, and 0.675, respectively. The AUC value of DN diagnosis model was 0.939 in training set and 1.000 in verification set. qRT-PCR results confirmed significant differences in these six biomarkers between DN and normal kidney tissue (p < 0.05), and correlation analysis showed that five biomarkers were significantly correlated with infiltrating immune cells (p < 0.05). Furthermore, western blots showed that TP53 promotes apoptosis through PI3K-AKT signaling in DN. Conclusion: TP53, RB1, NF2, RRM2, PRDX1, and CDC25A have potential as diagnostic biomarkers for DN. The diagnostic model containing the above six biomarkers performs well in the diagnosis of DN. Five of the six biomarkers are strongly associated with several infiltrating immune cells. TP53 may play an essential role in the development of DN.

The relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying among Chinese adolescents: the role of social exclusion and sense of control.

Introduction: Abundant evidence has proved the association between the Dark Triad and bullying. However, the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are still not fully understood. Based on the temporal need-threat model, three studies were designed to explore the mediating role of social exclusion and sense of control in this research. Methods: In study 1 we recruited 571 Chinese adolescents (Mage = 14.53, SD = 0.716) to participate in a cross-sectional study. And two experiments were respectively designed in Study 2 (N = 88) and Study 3 (N = 102) to verify the effects of real and cyber social exclusion on adolescent bullying behavior. Results: Study 1 showed that social exclusion and sense of control would play the serial mediating role in the relationship between the Dark Triad and bullying (except social exclusion as a mediator between the Dark Triad and cyberbullying). Study 2 and 3 showed that adolescents with high Dark Triad show lower sense of control and more bullying behavior after experiencing social exclusion. Discussion: These findings extend the research on the Dark Triad and bullying by providing a solid empirical foundation and intervention strategies to avoid bullying so that the problem can be rationally and scientifically approached.

LncRNA-Encoded Micropeptide ACLY-BP Drives Lipid Deposition and Cell Proliferation in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma via Maintenance of ACLY Acetylation.

Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common subtype of lethal kidney cancer. Reprogramming of fatty acid and glucose metabolism resulting in the accumulation of lipids and glycogen in the cytoplasm is a hallmark of ccRCC. Here, we identified a micropeptide ACLY-BP encoded by the GATA3-suppressed LINC00887, which regulated lipid metabolism and promoted cell proliferation and tumor growth in ccRCC. Mechanistically, the ACLY-BP stabilizes the ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) by maintaining ACLY acetylation and preventing ACLY from ubiquitylation and degradation, thereby leading to lipid deposition in ccRCC and promoting cell proliferation. Our results may offer a new clue for the therapeutic approaches and the diagnostic assessment for ccRCC. IMPLICATIONS: This study identifies ACLY-BP encoded by LINC00887 as a lipid-related micropeptide that stabilizes ACLY to generate acetyl-CoA, driving lipid deposition and promoting cell proliferation in ccRCC.

Examining the expression and correlation of trip13 and angpt1 in small cell lung cancer: a professional exploration with an analogy to football players

This professional exploration delves into the intricate realm of thyroid hormone receptor interactor 13 (TRIP13) and angiopoietin-1 (ANGPT1) within the context of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Drawing parallels to the precision and teamwork exemplified by football players on the field, we meticulously investigate the expression patterns and correlations of these molecular players in the complex landscape of SCLC. Our study encompassed a cohort of 78 SCLC patients treated at our institution between January 2015 and April 2017. Through rigorous immunohistochemical staining, we scrutinized the expression profiles of TRIP13 and ANGPT1 within tumor tissues, seeking to unravel their associations with clinicopathological characteristics and progression-free survival. Noteworthy findings emerged from our analysis. We observed significantly elevated positive expression rates of TRIP13 in SCLC tissues with lower differentiation levels and liver metastases, highlighting the analogy to football players' precise maneuvers. Similarly, ANGPT1 exhibited markedly increased positive expression rates in cases with larger tumor diameters, lower differentiation, and liver metastases, akin to a coordinated football team's collective effort. Our professional exploration uncovered a compelling positive correlation between the expression levels of TRIP13 and ANGPT1 in SCLC, akin to the synergy seen among football players on the field. This molecular partnership shed light on an intriguing aspect of SCLC's pathophysiology. The impact on progression-free survival time further emphasized the clinical relevance of TRIP13 and ANGPT1 in SCLC. Patients expressing both TRIP13 and ANGPT1 or either molecule alone experienced significantly shorter mean progression-free survival times, akin to the swift tactics and strategies employed by football players in a high-stakes game. (AU)

Metabolomics and transcriptomics provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of anthocyanin accumulation in the seed coat of differently colored mung bean (Vigna radiata L.).

Black mung bean is rich in anthocyanin, however, the accumulation and the molecular mechanism of anthocyanin synthesis in black mung bean are unclear. In this study, anthocyanin metabolomics and transcriptomics on the seed coats of two different colors of mung bean were performed to clarify the composition of anthocyanins, and identify transcription factors involved in regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. In the mature stage, 23 kinds of anthocyanin compounds were identified. All anthocyanin components contents were significantly higher in seed coat of black mung bean compare with green mung bean. Transcriptome analysis suggested that most of the structural genes for anthocyanin biosynthesis and some potential regulatory genes were significantly differentially expressed. WGCNA suggested VrMYB90 was an important regulatory gene in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing VrMYB90 showed significant accumulation of anthocyanins. PAL, 4CL, DFR, F3'5'H, LDOX, F3'H and UFGT were up-regulated in 35S:VrMYB90 Arabidopsis thaliana. These findings provide valuable information for understanding the synthesis mechanism of anthocyanins in black mung bean seed coats.

[Short-term effectiveness of transverse antecubital incision for failed closed reduction of Gartland type â ¢ supracondylar humerus fractures in children].

Objective: To investigate the short-term effectiveness of transverse antecubital incision in the treatment of failed closed reduction of Gartland type Ⅲ supracondylar humeral fractures (SHFs) in children. Methods: Between July 2020 and April 2022, 20 children with Gartland type Ⅲ SHFs who failed in closed reduction were treated with internal and external condylar crossing Kirschner wire fixation through transverse antecubital incision. There were 9 boys and 11 girls with an average age of 3.1 years (range, 1.1-6.0 years). The causes of injuries were fall in 12 cases and fall from height in 8 cases. The time from admission to operation ranged from 7 to 18 hours, with an average of 12.4 hours. The healing of the incision and the occurrence of complications such as nerve injury and cubitus varus were observed after operation; the elbow flexion and extension range of motion after removing the gypsum, after removing the Kirschner wire, and at last follow-up were recorded and compared, as well as the elbow flexion and extension and forearm rotation range of motion at last follow-up between healthy and affected sides; the Baumann angle was measured on the X-ray film, and the fracture healing was observed. At last follow-up, the effectiveness was evaluated according to the Flynn elbow function evaluation criteria. Results: All incisions healed by first intention, and there was no skin necrosis, scar contracture, ulnar nerve injury, and cubitus varus. Postoperative pain occurred in the radial-dorsal thumb in 2 cases. The gypsum was removed and elbow flexion and extension exercises were started at 2-4 weeks (mean, 2.7 weeks) after operation, and the Kirschner wire was removed at 4-5 weeks (mean, 4.3 weeks). All the 20 patients were followed up 6-16 months, with an average of 12.4 months. The fracture healing time was 4-5 weeks, with an average of 4.5 weeks, and there was no complication such as delayed healing and myositis ossificans. The flexion and extension range of motion of the elbow joint gradually improved after operation, and there were significant differences between the time after removing the gypsum, after removing the Kirschner wire, and at last follow-up ( P<0.017). There was no significant difference in the flexion and extension of the elbow joint and the forearm rotation range of motion between the healthy and affected sides at last follow-up ( P>0.05). There was no significant difference in Baumann angle between the time of immediate after operation, after removing the Kirschner wire, and at last follow-up ( P>0.05). According to Flynn elbow function evaluation standard, 16 cases were excellent and 4 cases were good, the excellent and good rate was 100%. Conclusion: The treatment of Gartland type Ⅲ SHFs in children with failed closed reduction by internal and external condylar crossing Kirschner wire fixation through transverse antecubital incision has the advantages of complete soft tissue hinge behind the fracture for easy reduction and wire fixation, small incision, less complications, fast fracture healing, early functional recovery, reliable reduction and fixation, and can obtain satisfactory results.

Ultrasonic Diagnosis of Intestinal Obstruction in Neonates-Original Article.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal obstruction in neonates is a common problem that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment, and ultrasound could be a potential tool for it. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accuracy of ultrasonography in diagnosing and identifying the cause of intestinal obstruction in neonates, the corresponding ultrasonic manifestations, as well as to utilize the diagnostic method. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all neonatal intestinal obstruction in our institute between 2009 and 2022. The accuracy of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of intestinal obstruction and the identification of its etiology was compared with the results of operation as the gold standard. RESULTS: The accuracy of the ultrasonic diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was 91%, and the accuracy of the ultrasonic etiological diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was 84%. The main ultrasound findings for the neonatal intestinal obstruction were dilation and high tension of the proximal bowel and collapse of the distal intestinal. Other major manifestations were the presence of corresponding diseases causing intestinal obstruction at the junction of the dilated and collapsed bowel. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound has the advantages of being a flexible multi-section dynamic evaluation and a valuable tool to diagnose and identify the cause of intestinal obstruction in neonates.

Capture and release of circulating tumor cells stimulated by pH and NIR irradiation of magnetic Fe3O4@ZIF-8 nanoparticles.

Detecting and analyzing circulating tumor cells(CTCs) is significant for early diagnosis, management, and personalized treatment of tumors. Herein, a smart magnetic aptamer modified Fe3O4@ZIF-8 core/shell structured nanoparticle (NPs) was successfully constructed using for capture and simultaneous pH- and NIR-irradiation responsive release of CTCs. Taking MCF-7 as model CTCs, it could be captured ca. 60 % in low-concentration artificial blood by aptamer (SYL3C) on the surface of Fe3O4@ZIF-8 NPs. After magnetic separation, the ZIF-8 shell in aptamer-modified Fe3O4@ZIF-8 NPs carrying captured CTCs would disintegrate within 20 min under the synergistic effect of an acidic environment (pH=6.0) and NIR irradiation leading to the release of CTCs with high cell viability, which was benefited for the subsequent culture and analysis. This magnetic and core/shell structured device integrated high-efficiency capture, quick isolation and perfect release into one system, which showed great potentials for the detection of CTCs in the clinic.

Manageable Bubble Release Through 3D Printed Microcapillary for Highly Efficient Overall Water Splitting.

Porous metal foams (e.g., Ni/Cu/Ti) are applied as catalyst supports extensively for water splitting due to their large specific area and excellent conductivity, however, intrinsic bubble congestion is unavoidable because of the irregular three-dimensional (3D) networks, resulting in high polarization and degraded electrocatalytic performances. To boost the H2 O decomposition kinetics, the immediate bubble removal and water supply sequential in the gas-liquid-solid interface is essential. Inspired by the high efficiency of water/nutrient transport in the capillaries plants, this work designs a graphene-based capillary array with side holes as catalyst support to manage the bubble release and water supply via a Z-axis controllable digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing technology. Like planting rice, a low-cost, high-active CoNi carbonate hydroxide (CoNiCH) is planted on support. A homemade cell can reach 10 mA cm-2 in 1.51 V, and be kept at 30 mA cm-2 for 60 h without noticeable degradation, surpassing most of the known cells. This research provides a promising avenue to design and prepare advanced catalysts in various fields, including energy applications, pollutant treatment, and chemical synthesis.

Study of the medical service efficiency of county-level public general hospitals based on medical quality constraints: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Since the new medical reform in 2009, county-level hospitals in China have achieved rapid development, but health resource waste and shortage issues still exist. DESIGN: We applied the meta-frontier and slacks-based measurement-undesirable data envelopment analysis model to measure the medical service efficiency with or without medical quality constraints of the county-level public general hospitals (CPGHs). The assessment includes four inputs, three desirable outputs and one undesirable output. We conducted the assessment via Max-DEA V.8.19 software. Moreover, we analyse the factors affecting CPGHs' medical service efficiency based on the fractional response model. SETTING: A total of 77 sample CPGHs were selected from Shanxi province in China from 2013 to 2018. RESULTS: The results of this study showed that the efficiency level of county-level public hospitals in Shanxi Province is relatively low overall (the mean value of efficiency is 0.61 without quality constraints and 0.63 under quality constraints). This showed that ignoring medical quality constraints will result in lower efficiency and lower health resource usage for high medical quality hospitals. The medical service efficiency of CPGHs differs greatly among different regions. Under the meta-frontier, the hospitals in the central region had the highest efficiency (efficiency score 0.70), followed by those in the south (efficiency score 0.63) and the hospitals in the north had the lowest efficiency (efficiency score 0.54). Factors that have larger impacts on the service efficiency of county public hospitals are the average length of hospital stay, per capita disposable income and financial subsidy income. CONCLUSIONS: To improve CPGHs' medical service efficiency, the government should increase investment in the northern region, and hospitals should improve the management level and allocate human resources rationally.

Development of a Multi-Channel Wearable Heart Sound Visualization System.

A multi-channel wearable heart sound visualization system based on novel heart sound sensors for imaging cardiac acoustic maps was developed and designed. The cardiac acoustic map could be used to detect cardiac vibration and heart sound propagation. The visualization system acquired 72 heart sound signals and one ECG signal simultaneously using 72 heart sound sensors placed on the chest surface and one ECG analog front end. The novel heart sound sensors had the advantages of high signal quality, small size, and high sensitivity. Butterworth filtering and wavelet transform were used to reduce noise in the signals. The cardiac acoustic map was obtained based on the cubic spline interpolation of the heart sound signals. The results showed the heart sound signals on the chest surface could be detected and visualized by this system. The variations of heart sounds were clearly displayed. This study provided a way to select optimal position for auscultation of heart sounds. The visualization system could provide a technology for investigating the propagation of heart sound in the thoracic cavity.

A Possible Mechanism for Double-Yolked Eggs in the Early Stage of Egg-Laying in Zhedong White Goose-Function of IGF1 and LHR Signaling.

The cause of double-yolk (DY) egg production in birds is unclear, but it is related to body weight and adiposity. We explored the causes of the high proportion (up to 26%) of DY eggs in the first clutch of Zhedong white geese. We recorded the egg production of Zhedong white geese during the first egg-laying cycle and counted the proportion of DY eggs. We found that 30% of geese had 3 sets of double or triple follicles of the same diameter in the abdomen, which was close to the DY egg rate. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) genes in granulosa cells were similar within the same set of follicles. Furthermore, the IGF1 concentration in geese that had at least 3 sets of follicles of the same diameter was significantly higher than that in birds with 0-1 set of follicles of the same diameter. Thus, we proposed that, in the first egg-laying stage of geese, high plasma concentrations of IGF1 stimulate the development of pre-hierarchal follicles and cause more than one follicle to be selected at the same time, mature at the same rate under the same gonadotrophin milieu, and ovulate at the same time to produce DY eggs.

Organic electrochromic energy storage materials and device design.

While not affecting electrochemical performance of energy storage devices, integrating multi-functional properties such as electrochromic functions into energy storage devices can effectively promote the development of multifunctional devices. Compared with inorganic electrochromic materials, organic materials possess the significant advantages of facile preparation, low cost, and large color contrast. Specifically, most polymer materials show excellent electrochemical properties, which can be widely used in the design and development of energy storage devices. In this article, we focus on the application of organic electrochromic materials in energy storage devices. The working mechanisms, electrochemical performance of different types of organics as well as the shortcomings of organic electrochromic materials in related devices are discussed in detail.