Hypertension-specific association of cardio-ankle vascular index with subclinical left ventricular function in a Chinese population: Danyang study.

The association of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), with subclinical cardiac dysfunction in hypertensive patients is unclear. We aim to examine their relationship in hypertensive patients compared with that in normotensive subjects. Our study included 1887 subjects enrolled from Danyang between 2018 and 2019. CAVI was measured using VaSera VS-1500A device. We performed conventional echocardiography to measure ejection fraction (EF) and E/A, tissue Doppler to measure mitral annular early diastolic velocities (e'), and speckle-tracking to estimate left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS). LV mass index (76.3, 80.0, and 84.0 g/m2), and E/e' (7.6, 8.2, and 8.8) were increased and GLS (21.1, 21.0, and 20.4%), E/A (1.2, 1.0, and 0.8) and e' velocity (11.2, 9.4, and 8.2 cm/s) was decreased from tertiles 1-3 of CAVI on unadjusted analyses (P < .001). After adjustment for covariates, GLS, E/A, and e' were still significantly decreased from tertiles 1-3 of CAVI (P ≤ .04). Further sensitive analyses revealed a similar association pattern for diastolic function but not systolic function. Compared with the lowest tertile, subjects with a top tertile of CAVI were at higher risk of subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in hypertensive patients (OR = 2.61; P = .005). Increased CAVI is associated with worse subclinical diastolic function. However, this relationship of CAVI to subclinical systolic function was more prominent in hypertensive patients.

The OsCLV2s and OsCRN1 regulate grain shape in rice.

The highly conserved CLV-WUS negative feedback pathway plays a decisive role in regulating stem cell maintenance in shoot and floral meristems in higher plants, including Arabidopsis, rice, maize, and tomato. Here, we report the discovery that CLV-like genes directly regulate grain shape in rice. We find significant natural variations in the OsCLV2c, OsCLV2d, and OsCRN1 loci in a genome-wide association study of grain shape in rice. OsCLV2a, OsCLV2c, OsCLV2d, and OsCRN1 negatively regulate grain shape and show distinctive geographical distribution, indica-japonica differentiation, and artificial selection signatures. Notably, OsCLV2a and OsCRN1 interact biochemically and genetically, suggesting that the two components function in a complex to regulate grain shape in rice. Furthermore, the genetic contributions of the haplotypes combining OsCLV2a, OsCLV2c, and OsCRN1 are significantly higher than that of each single gene alone in controlling key yield traits. These findings identify two groups of receptor-like kinases that may function as distinct co-receptors to control grain size in rice, thereby revealing a previously unrecognized role of the CLV class genes in regulating seed development and proposing a framework to understand the molecular mechanisms of the CLV-WUS pathway in rice and other crops.

Sex differences in prevalence and clinical correlates of internet addiction among Chinese adolescents with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: Patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) exhibit sex differences in various aspects, and patients with SCZ have a high prevalence of internet addiction (IA). However, sex differences in IA among patients with SCZ mostly remain unstudied, particularly in Chinese adolescent patients with SCZ. This study investigated sex differences in prevalence, risk factors, and clinical correlates of IA among Chinese adolescent patients with SCZ. METHODS: A total of 706 adolescent patients with SCZ were enrolled in this study using a cross-sectional design and a convenience sampling method. Demographics and clinical data of the patients were collected using a standardized clinical assessment form. The Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Young's Internet Addiction Test were used to evaluate psychopathological symptoms and IA respectively. RESULTS: Overall, the prevalence of IA among Chinese adolescent patients with SCZ was 26.30% (95% CI: 23.09-29.60%). In Chinese adolescents with SCZ, there was a sex difference in the comorbidity of IA (males: 33.33% vs. females: 21.69%). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that IA was significantly predicted by good socioeconomic status in male and female patients with SCZ. City of living and PANSS total score were associated with IA in male patients with SCZ. In contrast, hospitalization rate and depression score were associated with IA in female patients with SCZ. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests sex differences in clinical correlates of IA in Chinese adolescent patients with SCZ. An additional longitudinal study is required to confirm the findings of the present study.

Construction of Magnesium Phosphate Chemical Conversion Coatings with Different Microstructures on Titanium to Enhance Osteogenesis and Angiogenesis.

Titanium (Ti) and its alloys are widely used as hard tissue substitutes in dentistry and orthopedics, but their low bioactivity leads to undesirable osseointegration defects in the early osteogenic phase. Surface modification is an important approach to overcome these problems. In the present study, novel magnesium phosphate (MgP) coatings with controllable structures were fabricated on the surface of Ti using the phosphate chemical conversion (PCC) method. The effects of the microstructure on the physicochemical and biological properties of the coatings on Ti were researched. The results indicated that accelerators in PCC solution were important factors affecting the microstructure and properties of the MgP coatings. In addition, the coated Ti exhibited excellent hydrophilicity, high bonding strength, and good corrosion resistance. Moreover, the biological results showed that the MgP coatings could improve the spread, proliferation, and osteogenic differentiation of mouse osteoblast cells (MC3T3-E1) and vascular differentiation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating that the coated Ti samples had a great effect on promoting osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Overall, this study provided a new research idea for the surface modification of conventional Ti to enhance osteogenesis and angiogenesis in different bone types for potential biomedical applications.

The GW5-WRKY53-SGW5 module regulates grain size variation in rice.

Grain size is a crucial agronomic trait that affects stable yield, appearance, milling quality, and domestication in rice. However, the molecular and genetic relationships among QTL genes (QTGs) underlying natural variation for grain size remain elusive. Here, we identified a novel QTG SGW5 (suppressor of gw5) by map-based cloning using an F2 segregation population by fixing same genotype of the master QTG GW5. SGW5 positively regulates grain width by influencing cell division and cell size in spikelet hulls. Two nearly isogenic lines exhibited a significant differential expression of SGW5 and a 12.2% increase in grain yield. Introducing the higher expression allele into the genetic background containing the lower expression allele resulted in increased grain width, while its knockout resulted in shorter grain hulls and dwarf plants. Moreover, a cis-element variation in the SGW5 promoter influenced its differential binding affinity for the WRKY53 transcription factor, causing the differential SGW5 expression, which ultimately leads to grain size variation. GW5 physically and genetically interacts with WRKY53 to suppress the expression of SGW5. These findings elucidated a new pathway for grain size regulation by the GW5-WRKY53-SGW5 module and provided a novel case for generally uncovering QTG interactions underlying the genetic diversity of an important trait in crops.

Circ-Bptf Ameliorates Learning and Memory Impairments via the miR-138-5p/p62 Axis in APP/PS1 Mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common age-associated progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is implicated in the aberrant regulation of numerous circular RNAs (circRNAs). Here, we reported that circ-Bptf, a conserved circRNA derived from the Bptf gene, showed an age-dependent decrease in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice. Overexpression of circ-Bptf significantly reversed dendritic spine loss and learning and memory impairment in APP/PS1 mice. Moreover, we found that circ-Bptf was predominantly localized to the cytoplasm and upregulated p62 expression by binding to miR-138-5p. Furthermore, the miR-138-5p mimics reversed the decreased expression of p62 induced by the silencing of circ-Bptf. Together, our findings suggested that circ-Bptf ameliorated learning and memory impairments via the miR-138-5p/p62 axis in APP/PS1 mice. It may act as a potential player in AD pathogenesis and therapy.

Prediction of moisture content for a single maize kernel based on viscoelastic properties.

BACKGROUND: The rapid and accurate detection of moisture content is important to ensure maize quality. However, existing technologies for rapidly detecting moisture content often suffer from the use of costly equipment, stringent environmental requirements, or limited accuracy. This study proposes a simple and effective method for detecting the moisture content of single maize kernels based on viscoelastic properties. RESULTS: Two types of viscoelastic experiments were conducted involving three different parameters: relaxation tests (initial loads: 60, 80, 100 N) and frequency-sweep tests (frequencies: 0.6, 0.8, 1 Hz). These experiments generated corresponding force-time graphs and viscoelastic parameters were extracted based on the four-element Maxwell model. Then, viscoelastic parameters and data of force-time graphs were employed as input variables to explore the relationships with moisture content separately. The impact of different preprocessing methods and feature time variables on model accuracy was explored based on force-time graphs. The results indicate that models utilizing the force-time data were more accurate than those utilizing viscoelastic parameters. The best model was established by partial least squares regression based on S-G smoothing data from relaxation tests conducted with initial force of 100 N. The correlation coefficient and the root mean square error of the calibration set were 0.954 and 0.021, respectively. The corresponding values of the prediction set were 0.905 and 0.029, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the potential for accurate and fast detection of moisture content in single maize kernels using viscoelastic properties, which provides a novel approach for the detection of various components in cereals. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

College students' knowledge, attitudes, and practices of garbage sorting and their associations: a cross-sectional study of several universities in Beijing, China.

Background: In recent years, the Chinese government has placed growing emphasis on environmental development. The implementation of effective waste separation practices in schools is crucial for establishing an ecological civilization in China. Objective: The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of waste separation among Chinese university students and to understand the demographic factors influencing the KAP of the interviewed students. These sociodemographic factors include gender, age, education, and family environment. Methods: Based on the KAP theoretical model and the Lewin behavioral model (LBM), this study developed its questionnaire on college students' KAP of rubbish sorting. A survey was conducted on 1,282 college students from five colleges and universities in Beijing. A one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis, and multiple linear stepwise regression analyzes were employed to explore the factors influencing college students' KAP scores on waste sorting. The questionnaire's reliability and validity were effectively verified through two rounds of Delphi expert consultation. Results: The scores for KAP dimensions were 55.64, 69.18, and 54.8%, respectively. The overall KAP score of university students in waste classification was 46.93 ± 9.93, with a percentage score of 62.57%. More than half of the college students lack a clear understanding of waste classification. Grade, gender, major, highest family education, and family economic status all influence college students' KAP scores on waste classification. There is a notable deficiency in school education regarding waste classification, with only 30.7% reporting having received such education. Conclusion: This study unveils the overall KAP score of waste separation among Chinese college students, which is marginally acceptable. The interviewed students exhibit a positive attitude and a willingness to participate in waste separation. However, there is room for improvement in both knowledge and practices. A lack of knowledge about waste sorting emerges as the primary influence on individual-level practices. Consideration should be given to enhancing education and management of waste separation among college students, emphasizing the cultivation of an eco-conscious culture, and guiding students to establish correct ecological values.

Exploring Wavefront Detection in Imaging Systems with Rectangular Apertures Using Phase Diversity.

The attainment of a substantial aperture in the rotating synthetic aperture imaging system involves the rotation of a slender rectangular primary mirror. This constitutes a pivotal avenue of exploration in space telescope research. Due to the considerable aspect ratio of the primary mirror, environmental disturbances can significantly impact its surface shape. Active optical technology can rectify surface shape irregularities through the detection of wavefront information. The Phase Diversity (PD) method utilizes images captured by the imaging system to compute wavefront information. In this study, the PD method is applied to rotating synthetic and other rectangular aperture imaging systems, employing Legendre polynomials to model the wavefront. The study delved into the ramifications stemming from the aperture aspect ratio and aberration size.

Investigation into the Co-Phase Detection Methodology for Segmented Plane Mirrors Utilizing Grazing Incidence Interferometry.

Segmented plane mirrors constitute a crucial component in the self-aligned detection process for large-aperture space optical imaging systems. Surface shape errors inherent in segmented plane mirrors primarily manifest as tilt errors and piston errors between sub-mirrors. While the detection and adjustment techniques for tilt errors are well-established, addressing piston errors poses a more formidable challenge. This study introduces a novel approach to achieve long-range, high-precision, and efficient co-phase detection of segmented plane mirrors by proposing a segmented plane mirror shape detection method based on grazing incidence interferometry. This method serves to broaden the detection range of piston errors, mitigate the issue of the 2π ambiguity resulting from piston errors in co-phase detection, and extend the detection capabilities of the interferometer. By manipulating the incident angle of the interferometer, both rough and precise adjustments of the segmented plane mirrors can be effectively executed.

The impact of environmental education at Chinese Universities on college students' environmental attitudes.

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of environmental education on students' attitudes about the environment in Chinese higher education. The findings showed that students' environmental attitudes can be greatly enhanced by college-level ecology and environmental education. One of the most major factors influencing students' environmental attitudes in the context of college environmental education is subjective norms, and curriculum education also has a big impact on this. It is possible that Chinese college students today lack the self-efficacy necessary to safeguard the environment since perceived behavioral control has less of an impact on college students' environmental attitudes than subjective norms and curricular education. This highlights the need of promoting environmental practices and improving college students' self-perceive and capacity for environmental protection. The study also showed that factors including gender, location, educational level, and economic status of the family had no impact on college students' environmental attitudes. The results of this study can be used to examine the factors influencing the environmental views of Chinese college students and to teach educators how to raise college students' awareness of the environment through curricular modifications, classroom instruction, and perceived behavioral control.

Validity Evidence for Procedure-specific Competence Assessment Tools in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Scoping Review.

INTRODUCTION: Competency-based training requires frequent assessment of residents' skills to determine clinical competence. This study reviews existing literature on procedure-specific competence assessment tools in orthopaedic surgery. METHODS: A systematic search of eight databases up to May 2023 was conducted. Two reviewers independently assessed validity evidence and educational utility of each assessment tool and evaluated studies' methodological quality. RESULTS: Database searching identified 2,556 unique studies for title and abstract screening. Full texts of 290 studies were reviewed; 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Bibliography review identified another five studies, totaling 22 studies examining 24 assessment tools included in the analysis. These tools assessed various orthopaedic surgery procedures within trauma, sports medicine, spine, and upper extremity. Overall validity evidence was low across all studies, and was lowest for consequences and highest for content. Methodological quality of studies was moderate. Educational utility assessment was not explicitly done for most tools. DISCUSSION: The paucity of current procedure-specific assessment tools in orthopaedic surgery lacks the validity evidence required to be used reliably in high-stake summative assessments. Study strengths include robust methodology and use of an evidence-based validity evidence framework. Poor-quality existing evidence is a limitation and highlights the need for evidence-based tools across more subspecialties.

Biomechanical Comparison of Distal Radioulnar Joint Reconstruction Graft Preparation Techniques.

Background Graft preparation techniques for the Adams-Berger distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) reconstruction vary among surgeons with insufficient evidence to support any specific technique. Questions/Purposes We compared survival with cyclic loading, absolute elongation, elongation rate, and modes of failure of four graft preparation techniques. Methods Fifteen porcine extensor tendons were divided into three equal groups: tendon only; tendon augmented along its full length with nonlocking 2-0 FiberLoop suture spaced at 6 mm intervals; and tendon with suture at 12 mm intervals. Suture only was also tested. Samples were woven through custom radius- and ulna-simulating jigs mounted on a mechanical testing machine. Samples underwent a staircase cyclic loading protocol and were then inspected visually for the mode of failure. Survival with cyclic loading, absolute elongation, and elongation rate was compared. Results Average survival with cyclic loading of suture-augmented tendon was significantly higher than tendon only. All tendon groups had significantly higher survival compared with suture only. Absolute elongation was subject to variability due to initial nonlinear elongation behavior of samples. The elongation rate was significantly lower with suture compared with all tendon groups. Modes of failure included rupture of the tendon and/or suture at the simulated graft-bone interface and elongation of the entire construct without rupture. Conclusions In this biomechanical study, augmentation of porcine tendons with suture spaced at either 6 or 12 mm for DRUJ reconstruction significantly increased survival to a staircase cyclic loading protocol Clinical Relevance For the Adams-Berger reconstruction, tendon grafts augmented along their entire length by nonabsorbable braided suture are biomechanically superior to tendon alone.

Insertion of a miniature inverted-repeat transposable element into the promoter of OsTCP4 results in more tillers and a lower grain size in rice.

A class I PCF type protein, TCP4, was identified as a transcription factor associated with both grain size and tillering through a DNA pull-down-MS assay combined with a genome-wide association study. This transcription factor was found to have a significant role in the variations among the 533 rice accessions, dividing them into two main subspecies. A Tourist-like miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) was discovered in the promoter of TCP4 in japonica/geng accessions (TCP4M+), which was found to suppress the expression of TCP4 at the transcriptional level. The MITE-deleted haplotype (TCP4M-) was mainly found in indica/xian accessions. ChIP-qPCR and EMSA demonstrated the binding of TCP4 to promoters of grain reservoir genes such as SSIIa and Amy3D in vivo and in vitro, respectively. The introduction of the genomic sequence of TCP4M+ into different TCP4M- cultivars was found to affect the expression of TCP4 in the transgenic rice, resulting in decreased expression of its downstream target gene SSIIa, increased tiller number, and decreased seed length. This study revealed that a Tourist-like MITE contributes to subspecies divergence by regulating the expression of TCP4 in response to environmental pressure, thus influencing source-sink balance by regulating starch biosynthesis in rice.

Specific tissue engineering for temporomandibular joint disc perforation.

BACKGROUND: The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc is a critical fibrocartilaginous structure with limited regenerative capacity in the oral system. Perforation of the TMJ disc can lead to osteoarthritis and ankylosis of the TMJ because of the lack of disc protection. Clinical treatments for TMJ disc perforation, such as discectomy, hyaluronic acid injection, endoscopic surgery and high position arthroplasty of TMJ, are questionable with regard to long-term outcomes, and only three fourths of TMJ disc perforations are repairable by surgery, even in the short-term. Tissue engineering offers the potential for cure of repairable TMJ disc perforations and regeneration of unrepairable ones. OBJECTIVES: This review discusses the classification of TMJ disc perforation and defines typical TMJ disc perforation. Advancements in the engineering-based repair of TMJ disc perforation by stem cell therapy, construction of a disc-like scaffold and functionalization by offering bioactive stimuli are also summarized in the review, and the barriers developing engineering technologies need to overcome to be popularized are discussed.

Traumatic Volar Carpal Instability Nondissociative: A Case Series.

Carpal instability nondissociative (CIND) involves disruption between carpal rows from injury to extrinsic and intrinsic wrist ligaments. CIND traumatic (CINDT) highlights the posttraumatic etiology of some of these cases and has been gaining increasing attention in the literature. We present four cases of CINDT-volar intercalated segmental instability (VISI). We diagnosed two adults with distal radius fractures and two adolescents with Galeazzi fractures, all treated surgically, who developed CINDT-VISI with radiolunate angles greater than 15° at 2 weeks after surgery. One adult had progressive deformity but was asymptomatic at 33 months. The other underwent volar capsular release at 1 year to improve alignment. One adolescent with a fixed deformity required soft tissue releases and temporary pinning to restore alignment at 7 months. We treated the other successfully with early physiotherapy. No patient had radiographic signs of arthritis at 1-2 years. This is the first reported association between Galeazzi fractures and CINDT-VISI. Contrary to existing literature, we report successful outcomes with nonsurgical and delayed nonfusion surgery of CINDT-VISI.

Root biomass and root morphological traits of three shrub species: Implications for the soil anti-scouring resistance of the ecological slope.

The purpose of this study was to determine which shrub species will enhance soil anti-scouring resistance on an ecological slope. Root traits and soil anti-scouring resistance of three shrubs (Amorpha fruticosa Linn (AFL), Swida alba Opiz (SAO) and Lespedeza bicolor Turcz (LBT)) were measured. Results showed that root biomass and root morphological traits of three shrubs were significantly correlated with the soil anti-scouring resistance index. According to the composition characteristic values, root morphological traits among the three shrubs had a high contribution rate. Under two slopes and two rainfall conditions, when root biomass and root morphological traits (e.g., root length, root volume and root surface area) were identical, AFL had the highest soil anti-scouring resistance index. These results suggested that root biomass and morphological traits of AFL had more significant effects on soil anti-scouring resistance comparing with SAO and LBT. Therefore, in engineering practice, AFL with stronger soil anti-scouring resistance can be selected as slope plants.

Mice deficient in complement C3 are protected against recognition memory deficits and astrogliosis induced by status epilepticus.

Introduction: Status epilepticus (SE) can significantly increase the risk of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and cognitive comorbidities. A potential candidate mechanism underlying memory defects in epilepsy may be the immune complement system. The complement cascade, part of the innate immune system, modulates inflammatory and phagocytosis signaling, and has been shown to contribute to learning and memory dysfunctions in neurodegenerative disorders. We previously reported that complement C3 is elevated in brain biopsies from human drug-resistant epilepsy and in experimental rodent models. We also found that SE-induced increases in hippocampal C3 levels paralleled the development of hippocampal-dependent spatial learning and memory deficits in rats. Thus, we hypothesized that SE-induced C3 activation contributes to this pathophysiology in a mouse model of SE and acquired TLE. Methods: In this study C3 knockout (KO) and wild type (WT) mice were subjected to one hour of pilocarpine-induced SE or sham conditions (control; C). Following a latent period of two weeks, recognition memory was assessed utilizing the novel object recognition (NOR) test. Western blotting was utilized to determine the protein levels of C3 in hippocampal lysates. In addition, we assessed the protein levels and distribution of the astrocyte marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Results: In the NOR test, control WT + C or C3 KO + C mice spent significantly more time exploring the novel object compared to the familiar object. In contrast, WT+SE mice did not show preference for either object, indicating a memory defect. This deficit was prevented in C3 KO + SE mice, which performed similarly to controls. In addition, we found that SE triggered significant increases in the protein levels of GFAP in hippocampi of WT mice but not in C3 KO mice. Discussion: These findings suggest that ablation of C3 prevents SE-induced recognition memory deficits and that a C3-astrocyte interplay may play a role. Therefore, it is possible that enhanced C3 signaling contributes to SE-associated cognitive decline during epileptogenesis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target for treating cognitive comorbidities in acquired TLE.