Comparison of the efficacy between the dual therapy of tegoprazan and the quadruple therapy of tegoprazan: A randomized, controlled, multicenter study.

INTRODUCTION: Tegoprazan (TPZ), a potassium-competitive acid blocker, exerts a strong acid-suppression effect and a rapid onset of action. However, research on TPZ-amoxicillin (TA) dual treatment is limited. Here, we compared the safety and efficacy of TPZ-amoxicillin dual treatment and TPZ, bismuth potassium citrate, amoxicillin, and clarithromycin (TBAC) quadruple therapy in patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection over a 14-day treatment period. METHODS: A total of 236 patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori were enrolled in this multi-center, prospective, open-label, and randomized controlled study. Patients randomly received either TA dual or TBAC quadruple therapy. The incidence of adverse reactions and treatment compliance were recorded and then analyzed. RESULTS: The intention-to-treat analysis revealed that H. pylori-eradication rates were 83.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78.2%-91.3%) and 81.4% (95% CI 74.2%-88.5%) for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively, with no statistically significant difference between them (P = 0.606). The per-protocol analysis revealed that the H. pylori-eradication rates were 88.3% and 84.8% for the TA and TBAC groups, respectively (P = 0.447). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the TA group than in the TBAC group (4.2% vs. 15.3%, P = 0.004). Moreover, the TA group demonstrated substantially higher treatment compliance than the TBAC group (94.1% vs. 89.0%, P = 0.020). CONCLUSION: The TA dual therapy successfully eradicated H. pylori with a high eradication rate and a low incidence of adverse reactions. Therefore, this treatment is recommended as an alternative course for patients newly diagnosed with H. pylori infection.

Achieving Self-Reinforcing Triboelectric-Electromagnetic Hybrid Nanogenerator by Magnetocaloric and Magnetization Effects of Gadolinium.

Triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (TEHG) has emerged as a promising technology for distributed energy harvesting. However, currently reported hybrid generators are straightforward combinations of two functional components. Moreover, inevitable heat from friction intensifies material abrasion and degrades the performance of polymer-based triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). Here, a self-reinforcing TEHG (SR-TEHG) that harnesses the magnetocaloric and magnetization effects of gadolinium (Gd), is proposed. The synergy between TENG and electromagnetic generator (EMG) renders them an indivisible unit. Leveraging Gd's magnetocaloric effect, an efficient heat transfer mechanism is constructed to cool the tribolayer and strengthen the device's electrical stability. After 80 h of continuous operation, the optimized TENG occupies a charge decay rate of only 0.32% per hour, significantly outperforming most existing TENGs. Additionally, Gd's magnetization effect boosts the power of EMG by ≈80.84%. This work provides a universal solution in hybrid generators where internal components reinforce each other, achieving a synergistic effect of 1 + 1 > 2.

Clinical manifestation, lifestyle, and treatment patterns of chronic erosive gastritis: A multicenter real-world study in China.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic erosive gastritis (CEG) is common, its clinical characteristics have not been fully elucidated. The lack of consensus regarding its treatment has resulted in varied treatment regimens. AIM: To explore the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and short-term outcomes in CEG patients in China. METHODS: We recruited patients with chronic non-atrophic or mild-to-moderate atrophic gastritis with erosion based on endoscopy and pathology. Patients and treating physicians completed a questionnaire regarding history, endoscopic findings, and treatment plans as well as a follow-up questionnaire to investigate changes in symptoms after 4 wk of treatment. RESULTS: Three thousand five hundred sixty-three patients from 42 centers across 24 cities in China were included. Epigastric pain (68.0%), abdominal distension (62.6%), and postprandial fullness (47.5%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Gastritis was classified as chronic non-atrophic in 69.9% of patients. Among those with erosive lesions, 72.1% of patients had lesions in the antrum, 51.0% had multiple lesions, and 67.3% had superficial flat lesions. In patients with epigastric pain, the combination of a mucosal protective agent (MPA) and proton pump inhibitor was more effective. For those with postprandial fullness, acid regurgitation, early satiety, or nausea, a MPA appeared more promising. CONCLUSION: CEG is a multifactorial disease which is common in Asian patients and has non-specific symptoms. Gastroscopy may play a major role in its detection and diagnosis. Treatment should be individualized based on symptom profile.

Rapid preparation of the Amadori rearrangement product of glutamic acid - xylose through intermittent microwave heating and its browning formation potential in microwave thermal processing.

Directional and rapid formation of the Amadori rearrangement product (ARP) from the glutamic acid and xylose was achieved through intermittent microwave heating. The yield of ARP reached 58.09 % by subjecting the system to intermittent microwave heating at a power density of 10 W/g for 14 min. Dehydration rate and microwave effects were found to be key factors to optimize the conditions for directional and rapid preparation of the ARP. Through a comprehensive analysis of the ARP degradation and further browning under both conductive and microwave thermal processing, it was observed that microwave processing significantly accelerated the browning degree of systems, leading to a tenfold reduction in the heating time required for browning. This research presented a promising avenue for the development of novel and expedited methods for the production of ARP and highlighted the potential of ARP in enhancing color quality in fast-cooking applications utilizing microwave.

Off-policy two-dimensional reinforcement learning for optimal tracking control of batch processes with network-induced dropout and disturbances.

In this paper, a new off-policy two-dimensional (2D) reinforcement learning approach is proposed to deal with the optimal tracking control (OTC) issue of batch processes with network-induced dropout and disturbances. A dropout 2D augmented Smith predictor is first devised to estimate the present extended state utilizing past data of time and batch orientations. The dropout 2D value function and Q-function are further defined, and their relation is analyzed to meet the optimal performance. On this basis, the dropout 2D Bellman equation is derived according to the principle of the Q-function. For the sake of addressing the dropout 2D OTC problem of batch processes, two algorithms, i.e., the off-line 2D policy iteration algorithm and the off-policy 2D Q-learning algorithm, are presented. The latter method is developed by applying only the input and the estimated state, not the underlying information of the system. Meanwhile, the analysis with regard to the unbiasedness of solutions and convergence is separately given. The effectiveness of the provided methodologies is eventually validated through the application of a simulated case during the filling process.

Halogen-Free Functional Quaternary Ammonium-Based Ionic Liquid as an Ecofriendly Corrosion Inhibitor for Q235 Steel in Acids.

A halogen-free quaternary ammonium-based ionic liquid functionalized with benzotriazole, BTA-16-BTA, was synthesized. Its anticorrosion effects on Q235 steel were evaluated in two different acids (6 M HCl or 1 M H3PO4) by weight loss and electrochemical tests. BTA-16-BTA shows the best performance at 30 °C with the highest inhibition efficiencies of 98.84% in 6 M HCl and 96.40% in 1 M H3PO4. The adsorption behavior of BTA-16-BTA molecules on Q235 steel in HCl solution obeys the Langmuir isotherm with an adsorption energy of about -40 kJ·mol-1, which implies chemisorption. Quantum chemistry calculation indicates that the chemical adsorption originated from the injection of π-electrons from inhibitor molecules into empty 3d orbitals of Fe atoms. The tight adsorption of inhibitor molecules and associated dehydration of the steel surface promoted the corrosion inhibition in HCl solutions. In H3PO4 solutions, passivation by phosphate anions and adsorption of inhibitor molecules contributed synergistically to the excellent anticorrosion performance.

Enhancing Resource Sharing and Access Control for VNF Instantiation with Blockchain.

In the realm of Network Function Virtualization (NFV), Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) are crucial software entities that require execution on virtualized hardware infrastructure. Deploying a Service Function Chain (SFC) requires multiple steps for instantiating VNFs to analyze, request, deploy, and monitor resources. It is well recognized that the sharing of infrastructure resources among different VNFs will enhance resource utilization. However, conventional mechanisms for VNF sharing often neglect the interests of both VNF instances and infrastructure providers. In this context, this paper presents a blockchain-based framework that focuses on resource sharing and access control, with a particular emphasis on ensuring profitability during VNF instantiation. Additionally, a resource sharing game model and a novel greedy matching algorithm are introduced to optimize the benefits for both VNF instances and infrastructure resource providers. Furthermore, a blockchain-based access control mechanism is designed to securely store keys and provide fine-grained access control. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed resource sharing game model and greedy matching algorithm promote healthy competition among resource owners and facilitate effective bargaining between resource owners and infrastructure providers. In comparison to the standard Stackelberg game solution, our proposed method achieves up to an 8.1 times performance improvement while sacrificing fewer optimal social utility values. Furthermore, compared to other CP-ABE methods, the proposed approach enhances security within a blockchain-based framework while maintaining an excellent encryption efficiency and a moderate decryption efficiency.

Comparative Analysis of Circadian Transcriptomes Reveals Circadian Characteristics between Arabidopsis and Soybean.

The circadian clock, an endogenous timing system, exists in nearly all organisms on Earth. The plant circadian clock has been found to be intricately linked with various essential biological activities. Extensive studies of the plant circadian clock have yielded valuable applications. However, the distinctions of circadian clocks in two important plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana and Glycine max (soybean), remain largely unexplored. This study endeavors to address this gap by conducting a comprehensive comparison of the circadian transcriptome profiles of Arabidopsis and soybean to uncover their distinct circadian characteristics. Utilizing non-linear regression fitting (COS) integrated with weights, we identified circadian rhythmic genes within both organisms. Through an in-depth exploration of circadian parameters, we unveiled notable differences between Arabidopsis and soybean. Furthermore, our analysis of core circadian clock genes shed light on the distinctions in central oscillators between these two species. Additionally, we observed that the homologous genes of Arabidopsis circadian clock genes in soybean exert a significant influence on the regulation of flowering and maturity of soybean. This phenomenon appears to stem from shifts in circadian parameters within soybean genes. These findings highlight contrasting biological activities under circadian regulation in Arabidopsis and soybean. This study not only underscores the distinctive attributes of these species, but also offers valuable insights for further scrutiny into the soybean circadian clock and its potential applications.

Changes of lipid oxidation, volatile and taste-active compounds during pan-heating of pork belly.

This study investigated the mechanisms underlying the evolution and formation of aroma and taste-active compounds of pork belly in representative traditional pork cuisines during pan-heating. The results revealed that as the temperature increased to 110 ℃, the unsaturation of fatty acids decreased from 60.25 % to 58.71 %, while the content of free radicals and secondary oxidation products increased. At the later heating stages, the addition of spices and increased heating temperature (150 â„ƒ) led to continuous increments in the contents (from 958.20 µg/kg to 1511.88 µg/kg) and diversity of volatile compounds in pork belly, imparting the unique aroma. Additionally, the accumulation of low-molecular-weight peptides, free amino acids, and nucleotides not only provided the substrate for thermal reactions and their synergistic effects, but also contributed to the desired taste quality. These findings offered insights into the flavor formation mechanisms of traditional pork cuisines and provided direction for further research.

Genetic and molecular regulation of increased photosynthetic cell number contributes to leaf size heterosis in Arabidopsis.

Heterosis is an important genetic phenomenon that has been observed and widely utilized in agriculture. However, the genetic and molecular bases of heterosis are unclear. Through transcriptome-wide association studies (TWAS) and expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis to integrate genome, transcriptome, and heterotic phenotype of a half-sibling Arabidopsis hybrid population, we report that the genetic and molecular bases of variations in leaf growth heterosis can be explained by the varied expression levels of growth-regulating genes resulting from distinct sets of heterozygous eQTLs carried by the half-sibling hybrids. In F1 versus parent, the degree of up-regulated gene expression in the cell cycle pathway in the shoot apex and the photosynthesis pathway in true leaf positively correlates with true leaf area heterosis level, and this is affected by the accumulation of superior heterozygous eQTLs. This was further corroborated by the major contribution of increased photosynthetic cell number to leaf area heterosis.

Phenolic acid-induced phase separation and translation inhibition mediate plant interspecific competition.

Phenolic acids (PAs) secreted by donor plants suppress the growth of their susceptible plant neighbours. However, how structurally diverse ensembles of PAs are perceived by plants to mediate interspecific competition remains a mystery. Here we show that a plant stress granule (SG) marker, RNA-BINDING PROTEIN 47B (RBP47B), is a sensor of PAs in Arabidopsis. PAs, including salicylic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid and so on, directly bind RBP47B, promote its phase separation and trigger SG formation accompanied by global translation inhibition. Salicylic acid-induced global translation inhibition depends on RBP47 family members. RBP47s regulate the proteome rather than the absolute quantity of SG. The rbp47 quadruple mutant shows a reduced sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of the PA mixture as well as to that of PA-rich rice when tested in a co-culturing ecosystem. In this Article, we identified the long sought-after PA sensor as RBP47B and illustrated that PA-induced SG-mediated translational inhibition was one of the PA perception mechanisms.

Efficacy and safety of vonoprazan-based dual therapy and esomeprazole-based dual therapy in eradicating primary Helicobacter pylori infection: A propensity score matching analysis.

BACKGROUND: According to the Maastricht VI/Florence consensus report, potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) may improve Helicobacter pylori eradication treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 213 H. pylori treatment-naive patients aged between 18 and 70 years were treated with two regimens. The two regimens are VDT: 20 mg vonoprazan twice a day and 1 g amoxicillin three times daily and EDT: 20 mg esomeprazole four times a day and 750 mg amoxicillin four times daily. 13 C-urea breath tests were used to evaluate eradication rate 4-6 weeks after treatment. Based on propensity score matching (PSM), this retrospective study analyzed the eradication rates, adverse events (AEs), compliance, and antibiotic resistance rates in VDT and EDT groups. RESULTS: On intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, the eradication rate in VDT group (89.0%; 95% CI 81.7-96.3) was non-inferior to that in EDT group (87.7%; 95% CI 80.1-95.3; p = 0.796). The corresponding per-protocol (PP) eradication rates were 94.1% (95% CI 88.4-99.8) and 92.8% (95% CI 86.7-98.9; p = 1.000), respectively. There were no significant between-group differences with respect to compliance or incidence of AEs. CONCLUSIONS: The efficacy and safety of 14-day VDT and EDT were comparable. Therefore, 14-day VDT or EDT may be recommended for the first-line treatment of H. pylori infection.

Erratum to "Development and validation of a clinical radiomics nomogram to predict secondary loss of response to infliximab in Crohn's disease patients" [Heliyon 9(4) (April 2023) e14594].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14594.].

Plant genome resequencing and population genomics: Current status and future prospects.

Advances in DNA sequencing technology have sparked a genomics revolution, driving breakthroughs in plant genetics and crop breeding. Recently, the focus has shifted from cataloging genetic diversity in plants to exploring their functional significance and delivering beneficial alleles for crop improvement. This transformation has been facilitated by the increasing adoption of whole-genome resequencing. In this review, we summarize the current progress of population-based genome resequencing studies and how these studies affect crop breeding. A total of 187 land plants from 163 countries have been resequenced, comprising 54 413 accessions. As part of resequencing efforts 367 traits have been surveyed and 86 genome-wide association studies have been conducted. Economically important crops, particularly cereals, vegetables, and legumes, have dominated the resequencing efforts, leaving a gap in 49 orders, including Lycopodiales, Liliales, Acorales, Austrobaileyales, and Commelinales. The resequenced germplasm is distributed across diverse geographic locations, providing a global perspective on plant genomics. We highlight genes that have been selected during domestication, or associated with agronomic traits, and form a repository of candidate genes for future research and application. Despite the opportunities for cross-species comparative genomics, many population genomic datasets are not accessible, impeding secondary analyses. We call for a more open and collaborative approach to population genomics that promotes data sharing and encourages contribution-based credit policy. The number of plant genome resequencing studies will continue to rise with the decreasing DNA sequencing costs, coupled with advances in analysis and computational technologies. This expansion, in terms of both scale and quality, holds promise for deeper insights into plant trait genetics and breeding design.

Composite Bridge Girders Structure Health Monitoring Based on the Distributed Fiber Sensing Textile.

Distributed structure health monitoring has been a hot research topic in recent years, and optic fiber sensors are largely developed for the advantages of high sensitivity, better spatial resolution, and small sensor size. However, the limitation of fibers in installation and reliability has become one of the major drawbacks of this technology. This paper presents a fiber optic sensing textile and a new installation method inside bridge girders to address those shortcomings in fiber sensing systems. The sensing textile was utilized to monitor strain distribution in the Grist Mill Bridge located in Maine based on Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (BOTDA). A modified slider was developed to increase the efficiency of installation in the confined bridge girders. The bridge girder's strain response was successfully recorded by the sensing textile during the loading tests that involved four trucks on the bridge. The sensing textile demonstrated the capability to differentiate separated loading locations. These results demonstrate a new way of installing fiber optic sensors and the potential applications of fiber optic sensing textiles in structural health monitoring.

Effect of tannic acid-OSA starch complexation on the binding capacity and release of aldehydes off-flavor in aqueous matrix.

In order to further clarify the regulation of tannic acid on the off-flavor in starch-based algal oil emulsions, the effect of different starch matrix (OSA starch and OSA starch-tannic acid complex) on the release capacities of aldehydes (pentanal, hexanal, heptanal, nonanal) were investigated. The adsorption and retention ability, thermodynamic parameters, and hydrophobicity of aldehydes in the starch matrix were analyzed. Nonanal exhibited the strongest adsorption ability (65.01%-85.69%) with the starch matrix, followed by heptanal, hexanal, and pentanal, which accounted for the structures of aldehydes. Furthermore, aldehydes had a higher affinity with complex (16.33%-83.67%) than OSA starch (9.70%-66.71%) because the tannic acid altered the structure of OSA starch. Isothermal titration calorimetry suggested that the interaction between the starch matrix and aldehydes was an entropy-driven spontaneous endothermic reaction, and hydrophobic interactions were the predominant driving forces. Altogether, these results lay a theoretical foundation for facilitating the regulation of flavor in starch foods.

Development and validation of a clinical radiomics nomogram to predict secondary loss of response to infliximab in Crohn's disease patients.

Background: Infliximab (IFX) is the first-line treatment for Crohn's disease (CD). However, the secondary loss of response (LOR) is common in IFX therapy. Therefore, non-invasive assessment of LOR in CD patients is the goal pursued by clinicians. Methods: A multicenter study involving 181 CD patients was conducted, with patients being split into a training cohort (n = 102), testing cohort (n = 45), and validation cohort (n = 34). The study evaluated various clinical factors to establish a clinical model, and a radiomics signature was constructed based on reproducible features from computed tomography enterography (CTE). Logistic regression modeling was used to create models based on the radiomics signature and significant clinical factors, with the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) used to compare their performance. Results: The study found that 64 of the 181 CD patients included experienced secondary LOR. The radiomics signature performed well in predicting secondary LOR, showing good discrimination in the training cohort (AUC [area under the curve], 0.947; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.910-0.976), the testing cohort (AUC, 0.860; 95% CI, 0.768-0.941), and the validation cohort (AUC, 0.921; 95% CI: 0.831-1.000). Decision curve analysis (DCA) demonstrated the clinical value of the radiomics nomogram. Conclusions: The CTE-based radiomics model showed good performance in predicting secondary LOR in CD patients. The nomogram can help clinicians choose alternative biologics early for CD patients.

Eradication rates of Helicobacter pylori in treatment-naive patients following 14-day vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy: A multicenter randomized controlled trial in China.

BACKGROUND: Potassium-competitive acid blockers (P-CAB) are recommended for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections, but dual therapy of P-CAB with amoxicillin has been poorly studied. The current study compared the efficacy, adverse reactions, compliance, and effects on gut microbiota of 14-day vonoprazan-amoxicillin (VA) dual therapy with esomeprazole, bismuth potassium citrate, amoxicillin, and metronidazole (EBAM) quadruple therapy in treatment-naive patients with H. pylori. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter, open-label, randomized, and controlled, non-inferiority study. Patients (n = 194) enrolled from six centers were randomly divided into either the VA or EBAM group. H. pylori eradication was determined using 13 C urea breath tests (UBT) 4-6 weeks post-treatment. Fecal samples were collected, and gut microbial populations were analyzed by 16S rDNA and metagenomic sequencing technology. RESULTS: Eradication rates of H. pylori in the VA and EBAM groups were 88.7% and 91.8%, respectively, according to intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis; 95.6% and 96.7% with per-protocol (PP) analysis; and 94.5% and 96.7% with modified ITT (mITT) analysis (all p > 0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the VA group was significantly lower compared to the EBAM group, and compliance within both groups was good. There was no difference in α-diversity or microbial composition in the VA and EBAM groups at one-month post-treatment compared to baseline, except for a markedly reduced abundance of Bacteroides in the EBAM group. CONCLUSION: VA therapy achieved excellent eradication rates with low adverse reactions, good compliance, and little impact on gut microbiota. VA therapy should be recommended as a first-line treatment against H. pylori.

Semantic Segmentation of Medical Images Based on Runge-Kutta Methods.

In recent years, deep learning has achieved good results in the semantic segmentation of medical images. A typical architecture for segmentation networks is an encoder-decoder structure. However, the design of the segmentation networks is fragmented and lacks a mathematical explanation. Consequently, segmentation networks are inefficient and less generalizable across different organs. To solve these problems, we reconstructed the segmentation network based on mathematical methods. We introduced the dynamical systems view into semantic segmentation and proposed a novel segmentation network based on Runge-Kutta methods, referred to hereafter as the Runge-Kutta segmentation network (RKSeg). RKSegs were evaluated on ten organ image datasets from the Medical Segmentation Decathlon. The experimental results show that RKSegs far outperform other segmentation networks. RKSegs use few parameters and short inference time, yet they can achieve competitive or even better segmentation results compared to other models. RKSegs pioneer a new architectural design pattern for segmentation networks.

Aptamer-based nanointerferometer enables amplification-free ultrasensitive detection and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2 variants.

The state-of-the-art SARS-CoV-2 detection methods include qRT-PCR and antibody-based lateral flow assay (LFA) point-of-care tests. Despite the high sensitivity and selectivity, qRT-PCR is slow, expensive and needs well-trained operators. On the other extreme, LFA suffers from low sensitivity albeit its fast detection speed, low detection cost and ease of use. Therefore, the continuing COVID-19 pandemic calls for a SARS-CoV-2 detection method that is rapid, convenient and cost-effective without compromise in sensitivity. Here we provide a proof-of-principle demonstration of an optimized aptamer-based nanointerferometer that enables rapid and amplification-free detection of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-coated pseudovirus directly from human saliva with the limit of detection (LOD) of about 400 copies per mL. This LOD is on par with that of qRT-PCR, making it 1000 to 100,000-fold more sensitive than commercial LFA tests. Using various combinations of negative selections during the screens for the aptamer targeting the receptor binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, we isolated two aptamers that can distinguish the Omicron and Delta variants. Integrating these two aptamers with LFA strips or the nanointerferometer sensors allows both detection and differentiation of the Omicron and Delta variants which has the potential to realize rapid triage of patients infected different SARS-CoV-2 variants.