Volumetric measurement techniques for assessment of cutaneous neurofibromas:A review

Cutaneous neurofibroma(cNF)is a prevalent clinical manifestation of neurofibromatosis type 1,significantly affecting the well-being and quality of life of the affected individuals.The adoption of reliable and reproducible volumetric measurement techniques is essential for precisely evaluating tumor burden and plays a critical role in the development of effective treatments for cNF.This study focuses on widely used volumetric measurement techniques,including vernier calipers,ultrasound,computed tomography,magnetic resonance imaging,and three-dimensional scanning imaging.It outlines the merits and drawbacks of each technique in assessing the cNF load,providing an overview of their current applications and ongoing research advancements in this domain.

麻疯树精细胞分离

将麻疯树成熟花粉置于一定渗透剂溶液中,可使其破裂,释放出其中的一对精细胞。释放的精细胞在20~30 min后用FDA染色仍可显示具有活性的荧光。用显微操作仪将释放的精细胞收集,得到一定数量具有活性的精细胞群体。研究了不同渗透剂浓度下释放的精细胞状态,比较了不同渗透剂的精细胞释放率及保持精细胞活性的最适浓度,以7.5%的葡萄糖溶液分离麻疯树精细胞的最佳浓度。麻疯树精细胞的成功分离为其离体受精实验奠定了一定基础,也为研究麻疯树精细胞发育的分子生物学实验提供了材料。

The effects of claudin 14 during early Wallerian degeneration after sciatic nerve injury

Claudin 14 has been shown to promote nerve repair and regeneration in the early stages of Wallerian degeneration （0-4 days） in rats with sciatic nerve injury, but the mechanism underlying this process remains poorly understood. This study reported the effects of claudin 14 on nerve degeneration and regeneration during early Wallerian degeneration. Claudin 14 expression was up-regulated in sciatic nerve 4 days after Wallerian degeneration. The altered expression of claudin 14 in Schwann cells resulted in expression changes of cytokines in vitro. Expression of claudin 14 affected c-Jun, but not Akt anal ERK1/2 patl^ways, l^urther studies reve^ed that enhanced expression of claudin 14 could promote Schwann cell proliferation and migration. Silencing of claudin 14 expression resulted in Schwann cell apoptosis and reduction in Schwann cell proliferation. Our data revealed the role of claudin 14 in early Wallerian degeneration, which may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of Wallerian degeneration.

The status of professional identity and professional self-efficacy of nursing students in China and how the medical documentaries affect them: A quasi-randomized controlled trial

Objectives: Professional identity and self-efficacy are important for the education and career develop-ment of students. However, how to improve these factors among Chinese nursing students needs further study. This quasi-randomized control trial was designed to explore the effect of medical documentaries on professional self-efficacy and identity among nursing students in Chinese technical schools. Methods: A total of 277 nursing students were enrolled in this study and divided into an experimental group (n = 135) and a control group (n = 142). The experimental group was invited to watch Chinese medical documentaries, whereas the control group remained on a waiting list. A self-designed general questionnaire, along with professional identity and professional self-efficacy questionnaires, was completed by the nursing students. Results: No significant change in professional self-efficacy was observed (-3.55 ± 14.23, P=0.173) in the experimental group, while professional identity significantly declined (-6.24 ± 12.85, P = 0.002) after the intervention. No significant change was found in the two aspects in the control group. Conclusion: Medical documentaries negatively affect professional identity but do not affect professional self-efficacy. Further researches should be conducted to explore the real reasons.

Alkaline pressure oxidative leaching of bismuth-rich and arsenic-rich lead anode slime

A new alkaline pressure oxidative leaching process(with NaNO3 as the oxidant and NaOH as the alkaline reagent)is proposed herein to remove arsenic,antimony,and lead from bismuth-rich and arsenic-rich lead anode slime for bismuth,gold,and silver enrichment.The effects of the temperature,liquid-to-solid ratio,leaching time,and reagent concentration on the leaching ratios of arsenic,antimony,and lead were investigated to identify the optimum leaching conditions.The experimental results under optimized conditions indicate that the average leaching ratios of arsenic,antimony and lead are 95.36%,79.98%,63.08%,respectively.X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that the leaching residue is composed of Bi,Bi2O3,Pb2Sb2O7,and trace amounts of NaSb(OH)6.Arsenic,antimony,and lead are thus separated from lead anode slime as Na3AsO4·10H2O and Pb2Sb2O7.Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry imaging revealed that the samples undergo appreciable changes in their surface morphology during leaching and that the majority of arsenic,lead,and antimony is removed.X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to demonstrate the variation in the valence states of the arsenic,lead,and antimony.The Pb(IV)and Sb(V)content was found to increase substantially with the addition of NaNO3.

φ-pH diagram of As-N-Na-H_2O system for arsenic removal during alkaline pressure oxidation leaching of lead anode slime

In order to illustrate the thermodynamic characteristics of arsenic during alkaline pressure oxidation leaching process oflead anode slime(NaNO3as oxidant;NaOH as alkaline reagent),theφ-pH diagrams of As-Na-H2O,N-H2O,As-N-Na-H2Osystems at ionic mass concentration of0.1mol/kg and temperatures of298,373,423and473K were established according tothermodynamic calculation.The results show that the existence forms of arsenic are associated with pH value,which mainly exists inthe forms of H3AsO4,24H AsO-,24HAsO-,H2AsO2-and As2O3in lower pH region,while it mainly exists in the form of3AsO4-when pH>11.14.High alkali concentration and high temperature are advantageous to the arsenic leaching.The alkaline pressureoxidation leaching experiments display that the tendency of arsenic leaching rate confirms the thermodynamic analysis resultsobtained from theφ-pH diagrams of As-N-Na-H2O system,and the highest leaching rate of arsenic reaches95.85%at453K.

HRM: H-tree based reconfiguration mechanism in reconfigurable homogeneous PE array

In order to accommodate the variety of algorithms with different performance in specific application and improve power efficiency,reconfigurable architecture has become an effective methodology in academia and industry.However,existing architectures suffer from performance bottleneck due to slow updating of contexts and inadequate flexibility.This paper presents an H-tree based reconfiguration mechanism(HRM)with Huffman-coding-like and mask addressing method in a homogeneous processing element(PE)array,which supports both programmable and data-driven modes.The proposed HRM can transfer reconfiguration instructions/contexts to a particular PE or associated PEs simultaneously in one clock cycle in unicast,multicast and broadcast mode,and shut down the unnecessary PE/PEs according to the current configuration.To verify the correctness and efficiency,we implement it in RTL synthesis and FPGA prototype.Compared to prior works,the experiment results show that the HRM has improved the work frequency by an average of 23.4%,increased the updating speed by 2×,and reduced the area by 36.9%;HRM can also power off the unnecessary PEs which reduced 51%of dynamic power dissipation in certain application configuration.Furthermore,in the data-driven mode,the system frequency can reach 214 MHz,which is 1.68×higher compared with the programmable mode.

Sustained delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor mediated by bioactive methacrylic anhydride hydrogel accelerates peripheral nerve regeneration after crush injury

Neurotrophic factors,currently administered orally or by intravenous drip or intramuscular injection,are the main method for the treatment of peripheral nerve crush injury.However,the low effective drug concentration arriving at the injury site results in unsatisfactory outcomes.Therefore,there is an urgent need for a treatment method that can increase the effective drug concentration in the injured area.In this study,we first fabricated a gelatin modified by methacrylic anhydride hydrogel and loaded it with vascular endothelial growth factor that allowed the controlled release of the neurotrophic factor.This modified gelatin exhibited good physical and chemical properties,biocompatibility and supported the adhesion and proliferation of RSC96 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells.When injected into the epineurium of crushed nerves,the composite hydrogel in the rat sciatic nerve crush injury model promoted nerve regeneration,functional recovery and vascularization.The results showed that the modified gelatin gave sustained delivery of vascular endothelial growth factors and accelerated the repair of crushed peripheral nerves.

Proteoglycans and their functions in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)is a highly malignant disease that has a poor prognosis.Its high lethality is mainly due to the lack of symptoms at early stages,which culminates in diagnosis at a late stage when the tumor has already metastasized.Unfortunately,the common cancer biomarkers have low sensitivity and specificity in esophageal cancer.Therefore,a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying ESCC progression is needed to identify novel diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for intervention.The invasion of cancer cells into the surrounding tissue is a crucial step for metastasis.During metastasis,tumor cells can interact with extracellular components and secrete proteolytic enzymes to remodel the surrounding tumor microenvironment.Proteoglycans are one of the major components of extracellular matrix.They are involved in multiple processes of cancer cell invasion and metastasis by interacting with soluble bioactive molecules,surrounding matrix,cell surface receptors,and enzymes.Apart from having diverse functions in tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment,proteoglycans also have diagnostic and prognostic significance in cancer patients.However,the functional significance and underlying mechanisms of proteoglycans in ESCC are not well understood.This review summarizes the proteoglycans that have been studied in ESCC in order to provide a comprehensive view of the role of proteoglycans in the progression of this cancer type.A long term goal would be to exploit these molecules to provide new strategies for therapeutic intervention.

Time trends in myopia and high myopia prevalence in young university adults in China

AIM:To investigate time trends in myopia and high myopia prevalence over 6y among young university adults in China.METHODS:This is a 6-year series cross-sectional study from 2016 to 2021.Totally 4910 freshmen were enrolled and completed a questionnaire concerning age,gender,and disease history.Students with eye diseases were excluded after a detailed eye examination.The refractive status was measured by non-cycloplegic objective refraction and ocular parameters were measured by Lenstar 900.The examination followed the same protocol each year.Trends over time in myopia and high myopia prevalence,as well as ocular biometry parameters,were analyzed.RESULTS:From 2016 to 2021,the axial length(AL)and corneal radius(CR)increased significantly(P=0.002 for AL;P=0.04 for CR).However,the spherical equivalent(SE)and the ratio of axial length to the corneal radius(AL/CR)did not change significantly(P=0.59 for SE;P=0.24 for AL/CR).The frequency of AL≥26.0 mm increased from 26.6%in 2016 to 29.3%in 2021(P=0.05 for trend).The prevalence of myopia and high myopia did not change significantly in our study(P≥0.18).Compared to a similar cross-sectional study conducted 10 years ago,the prevalence of myopia decreased significantly(94.9%vs 91.8%,P<0.001).Whereas the prevalence of high myopia increased largely(18.12%vs 27.6%,P<0.001).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of high myopia increases in young university adults during 10y period.Myopia control should begin earlier in childhood.However,these interventions are still needed for high myopia even in young adulthood.

葡萄糖受体靶向型超支化功能聚合物的合成及荧光标记和抗菌应用

传统的小分子抗菌剂受限于其易挥发、化学稳定性差、使用剂量大,且有不易于实现对细菌的选择性标记和杀灭性能等的缺点,在实际应用中具有一定的局限性。文中以聚乙二醇双丙烯酸酯(A_(2))、1-(2-氨基乙基)哌嗪(B_(3))为功能单体,氨基葡萄糖为封端剂,通过Micheal加成反应得到了一类具有葡萄糖受体识别功能的超支化聚合物。这类聚合物因分子内富含叔胺结构,故具有良好的自发荧光性。通过研究其在不同外界环境中的荧光性能,揭示了聚合物浓度、温度、溶剂均会在一定程度上影响其荧光强度。实验结果表明,最佳荧光发光条件为温度20℃,聚合物浓度为0.1 mg/mL,pH=3,最佳激发波长为λ_(EX.)=350nm。合理调节外部条件可使其获得良好的荧光性质,故该类含糖超支化聚合物有望成为一种高效的基于细菌胞外葡萄糖受体的检测型抗菌剂。

Prevalence and inconformity of refractive errors and ocular biometry of 3573 medical university freshman students for 4 consecutive years

AIM:To evaluate the prevalence of refractive errors and ocular biometry in 3573 freshman students at Tianjin Medical University for 4 consecutive years.METHODS:In this university-based, cross-sectional study, comprising 3573 students, visual acuity(VA), slitlamp examination, non-cycloplegic auto-refraction, and ocular biometry were recorded.RESULTS:The prevalence of myopia increased annually, from 2017 to 2020 were 93.5%, 94.5%, 95.9%, and 96.2%, respectively(P=0.03), and the prevalence of high myopia was 25.7%, 26.9%, 28.6%, and 28.6%, respectively. Males tended to have a higher percentage of total astigmatism than females, with astigmatism ≥0.75 and ≥1.0 D criteria. The percentage of with-the-rule astigmatism, against-therule astigmatism, and oblique astigmatism was 90.3%, 5.8%, and 3.9%, respectively, with astigmatism ≥1.00 D criteria. The mean spherical equivalent, axial length(AL), central corneal thickness(CCT), anterior chamber depth(ACD), lens thickness(LT), corneal radius(CR), and lens position(LP) were 4.37±2.52 D, 25.28±1.24 mm, 539.49±34.98 μm, 3.31±0.34 mm, 3.47±0.21 mm, 7.8±0.28 mm, and 5.04±0.32 mm, respectively. With diopter increase in myopia, the AL became longer, CR became steeper, ACD became deeper, LT became thinner, and LP became more posterior(all P<0.01). Females had a shorter AL, thinner CCT, smaller CR, shallower ACD, thicker lens, and more anterior LP than males(P<0.01). The 64% of high myopia had AL≥26 mm, meanwhile, 5.8% mild myopia and 21.1% moderate myopia had AL≥26 mm. With AL≥26 mm, mild and moderate myopia compared to high myopia, AL was shorter(26.51±0.46 vs 26.87±0.70 mm), CR was larger(8.10±0.3 vs 7.85±0.23 mm) and LT was thinner(3.39±0.19 vs 3.45±0.19 mm, P<0.001).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of myopia and high myopia is significantly high in freshman students. The majority of astigmatism is with-the-rule. Inconformity of refractive errors and ocular biometry existed in some students. Attention should be paid to the ocular biometry of myopia.

Associations between polymorphisms in leptin and leptin receptor genes and colorectal cancer survival

Objective:Leptin(LEP)is an obesity-associated adipokine associated with tumor cell growth.We examined the relevance of genetic variants of LEP and leptin receptor(LEPR)to colorectal cancer(CRC)survival by using data from the Newfoundland Familial Colorectal Cancer Study.Methods:A total of 532 patients newly diagnosed with CRC between 1997 and 2003 were followed up until April 2010.Data on their demographics and lifestyles were collected via questionnaires.Genotyping of blood samples was performed with the Illumina Human Omni-Quad Bead chip.Multivariable Cox models were used to assess the relationships of 35 tag single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in LEP and LEPR with overall survival(OS),disease-free survival(DFS),and CRC-specific survival.Results:At the gene level,LEP was associated with DFS(P=0.017),and LEPR was associated with both DFS(P=0.021)and CRCspecific survival(P=0.013)in patients with CRC.In single-SNP analysis,LEP rs11763517,LEPR rs9436301,and LEPR rs7602 were associated with DFS after adjustment for multiple testing.The LEPR haplotypes G-C-T(rs7534511-rs9436301-rs1887285)and A-A-G(rs7602-rs970467-rs9436748)were associated with prolonged OS among patients with CRC overall(G-C-T:HR,0.63;95%CI,0.43–0.93;A-A-G:HR,0.59;95%CI,0.38–0.91)and those diagnosed with colon cancer(G-C-T:HR,0.54;95%CI,0.34–0.86;A-A-G:HR,0.49;95%CI,0.29–0.83).Similar results were observed for DFS.Moreover,significant interactions were found among LEPR rs7602(A vs.G),LEPR rs1171278(T vs.C),red meat intake,and BMI status:the associations between these variants and prolonged DFS were limited to patients with below-median red meat consumption and body mass index(BMI)<25 kg/m2.Conclusions:Polymorphic variations in the LEP and LEPR genes were associated with survival of patients after CRC diagnosis.The LEP/LEPR-CRC survival association was modified by participants’red meat intake and BMI.

生物质基锂硫电池正极材料的超临界制备及其电化学性能研究

为了缓解锂硫电池的穿梭效应,提高其电化学性能,本研究利用橘皮为碳源合成了一种氮掺杂的纳米片状多孔碳(NNPC),并通过超临界二氧化碳沉积技术合成了硫碳复合材料(C-S-CO2)作为电池的正极材料,其载硫量达到64%。通过XRD、XPS、SEM、TEM、以及拉曼等方法对材料的表面形貌和特性进行了表征。电化学测试表明,在0.2 C的电流密度下,C-S-CO2复合正极材料的初始比容量达到1065 mAh g?1,远高于熔融渗透法合成的硫碳材料(C-S-M)的初始比容量773 mAh g?1;并且经过200次循环之后,C-S-CO2的保持率能达到70%左右。

Effect of NaNO3 concentration on anodic electrochemical behavior on the Sb surface in NaOH solution

The effect of NaNO_3 concentration on the anodic electrochemical behavior of antimony in 4 M NaOH solution was investigated using cyclic voltammetry(CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy(EIS) analyses. The mechanism of NO_3^-concentration effect on the anodic electrochemical behavior of antimony was proposed, and its availability was confirmed by experimental results. The effect of NaNO_3 on the anodic behavior of antimony in Na OH solution can be interpreted as a stepwise formation of different antimony compounds with different NaNO_3 concentrations. Metallic antimony is apt to be oxidized into Sb_2O_3 within the NaNO_3 concentration range of 0–0.48 M. NaSbO_3 can be found on the antimony surface when the NaNO_3 concentration increases gradually. Insoluable NaSbO_3 inhibits the anodic oxidation of antimony due to its shielding effect on the mass transport of the reactants and products. Surface morphology and composition were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), scanning electronic microscopy(SEM), and electron dispersion spectroscopy(EDS) analyses. Results indicate that the anodic oxidation layer is composed of Sb_2O_3, NaSbO_3, and Sb. The atomic proportion of antimony in the form of NaSbO_3 increases with increasing NaNO_3 concentration due to the powerful oxidizing property of NaNO_3.

凝聚态物质科学科研数据管理与应用

大数据已经以不可阻挡的脚步踏入了社会生活,大到国家范围流行病趋势的准确预测[1]、纳斯达克上市公司市值估算(http://busmiamiedu/umbfc/common/files/papers/Karabulutpdf);小到机票最佳购买时机的选择[2]、出行自动导航等[3].作为一种新的技术,大数据已对人们的生活、生产带来了深远的变革性影响[4,5].

湖库水体藻类浓度预测模型的原理和应用

在全球气候变化和人为污染的背景下,湖库型水源地因富营养化暴发水华的风险显著提高,严重影响城市供水安全。因此,有必要构建基于藻类生长影响因子的数学模型,以实现藻类浓度预测和水华预警。本文从物理、化学和生物三个层面归纳了影响藻类生长的主要因子,并在此基础上总结概述了现有预测模型的构建思路和应用场景。根据建模方法可将预测模型分为过程机理模型和数据驱动模型两类。两种建模方法都已有广泛的研究,也在部分湖泊水库实现了应用。前者基于自然过程的研究和解析,具有可解释性和一般性,但有一定的研究和测试门槛且成本较高。后者基于机器学习等人工智能方法,建模方法灵活多样,但依赖数据质量,缺乏机理支持且具有地点特异性。为进一步提高模型性能,今后的研究工作需要提高数据监测的频率和质量,同时将过程机理与人工智能方法相结合。

The development of local ambient air quality standards: A case study of Hainan Province, China

The ambient air quality standard(AAQS)is a vital policy instrument for protecting the environment and human health.Hainan Province is at the forefront of China's efforts to protect its ecological environment,with an official goal to achieve world-leading air quality by 2035.However,neither the national AAQS nor the World Health Organization guideline offers sufficient guidance for improving air quality in Hainan because Hainan has well met the former while the latter is excessively stringent.Consequently,the establishment of Hainan's local AAQS becomes imperative.Nonetheless,research regarding the development of local AAQS is scarce,especially in comparatively more polluted countries such as China.The relatively high background values and significant interannual fluctuations in air pollutant concentrations in Hainan present challenges in the development of local AAQS.Our research proposes a world-class local AAQS of Hainan Province by reviewing the AAQS in major countries or regions worldwide,analyzing the influence of different statistical forms,and carefully evaluating the attainability of the standard.In the proposed AAQS,the annual mean concentration limit for PM2.5,the annual 95th percentile of daily maximum 8-h mean(MDA8)concentration limit for O_(3),and the peak season concentration limit for O_(3) are set at 10,120,and 85μg/m^(3),respectively.Our study indicates that,with effective control policies,Hainan is projected to achieve compliance with the new standard by 2035.The implementation of the local AAQS is estimated to avoid 1,526(1,253–1,789)and 259(132–501)premature deaths attributable to longterm exposure to PM2.5 and O_(3) in Hainan in 2035,respectively.

A multi-center study on genetic variations in the fusion protein of respiratory syncytial virus from children with Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in China during 2017-2021

Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV)is a significant cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection(ALRTI)in children underfive years of age.Between 2017 and 2021,396 complete sequences of the RSV F gene were obtained from 500 RSV-positive throat swabs collected from ten hospitals across nine provinces in China.In addition,151 sequences from China were sourced from GenBank and GISAID,making a total of 549 RSV F gene sequences subjected to analysis.Phylogenetic and genetic diversity analyses revealed that the RSV F genes circulating in China from 2017 to 2021 have remained relatively conserved,although some amino acids(AAs)have undergone changes.AA mutations with frequencies10%were identified at six sites and the p27 region:V384I(site I),N276S(site II),R213S(siteØ),and K124N(p27)for RSV A;F45L(site I),M152I/L172Q/S173 L/I185V/K191R(site V),and R202Q/I206M/Q209R(siteØ)for RSV B.Comparing mutational frequencies in RSV-F before and after 2020 revealed minor changes for RSV A,while the K191R,I206M,and Q209R frequencies increased by over 10%in RSV B.Notably,the nirsevimab-resistant mutation,S211N in RSV B,increased in frequency from 0%to 1.15%.Both representative strains aligned with the predicted RSV-F structures of their respective prototypes exhibited similar conformations,with low root-mean-square deviation values.These results could provide foundational data from China for the development of RSV mAbs and vaccines.

Interleukin-6 induces cognitive impairment via toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)-mediated neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in mice with chronic kidney disease

Backgrounds:Past epidemiological and experimental studies in rodents have demonstrated that chronic kidney disease(CKD)leads to cognitive impairment.However,the underlying mechanism requires further investigation.Herein,a mouse model of CKD was established using conventional 5/6 nephrectomy.We aimed to examine the relationship between CKD and cognitive impairment and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.Methods:Cognitive behavior was assessed using the Morris water maze,novel object recognition test,and fear conditioning test.Further experiments were also conducted to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms.Results:Our clinical data revealed a decrease in cognitive function among patients with CKD,accompanied by elevated plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.A positive correlation between cytokine concentrations and serum creatinine levels,as well as a significant positive correlation with cognitive dysfunction,were observed.Correlation analyzes demonstrated that hippocampal cytokine levels were positively correlated with serum creatinine levels and cognitive dysfunction in CKD model mice.Furthermore,20 mg/mL interleukin-6(IL-6)significantly decreased HT22 cell activity in vitro.Further,HT22 cells treated with IL-6 showed increased expression levels of toll-like receptor 4(TLR4)and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88(MyD88),thereby inducing the nuclear factor kappa-B p65 inflammatory pathway and mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.The CKD mouse model showed increased expression of TLR4 and cytokines in the hippocampus.TLR4 knockdown antagonized the IL-6-mediated pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic effects in HT22 cells.TLR4 knockdown in the CKD model mice decreased hippocampal inflammation and increased the number of neuron dendrites,thus ameliorated cognitive impairment.Conclusion:These results suggest that IL-6 triggers TLR4 activation to induce neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in CKD,ultimately culminate in cognitive impairment.