Correlation between type 2 diabetes mellitus remission and intrapancreatic fat deposition

BACKGROUND Intrapancreatic fat deposition(IPFD)exerts a significant negative impact on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM),accelerates disease deterioration,and may lead to impairedβ-cell quality and function.AIM To investigate the correlation between T2DM remission and IPFD.METHODS We enrolled 80 abdominally obese patients with T2DM admitted to our institution from January 2019 to October 2023,including 40 patients with weight lossinduced T2DM remission(research group)and 40 patients with short-term intensive insulin therapy-induced T2DM remission(control group).We comparatively analyzed improvements in IPFD[differential computed tomography(CT)values of the spleen and pancreas and average CT value of the pancreas];levels of fasting blood glucose(FBG),2-h postprandial blood glucose(2hPBG),and insulin;and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)scores.Correlation analysis was performed to explore the association between T2DM remission and IPFD.RESULTS After treatment,the differential CT values of the spleen and pancreas,FBG,2hPBG,and HOMA-IR in the research group were significantly lower than those before treatment and in the control group,and the average CT value of the pancreas and insulin levels were significantly higher.Correlation analysis revealed that the greater the T2DM remission,the lower the amount of IPFD.

Beads-on-string hierarchical structured electrocatalysts for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Rational design of hierarchically structured electrocatalysts is particularly important for electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction(ORR).Here,ZIF-67 crystals are stringed on core-shell Ag@C nanocables using a coordinationmodulated process.Upon pyrolysis,Ag@C strings of Co nanoparticles embedded with three-dimensional porous carbon with beads-on-string hierarchical structures are developed.Due to the advantages of the rich electrochemical active sites of Co-based“beads”and the efficient electron transfer pathways via Ag@C“strings,”the resultant NH_(3)-Ag@C@Co-N-C-700 catalyst shows an improved electrocatalytic activity toward ORR.NH_(3)-Ag@C@Co-N-C-700 shows a high onset potential of 0.99 V versus RHE,a high half-wave potential of 0.88 V versus RHE,and a large limiting current of 5.8 mA cm^(-2),which are better than those of commercial Pt/C electrocatalysts.Additionally,the NH_(3)-Ag@C@Co-N-C-700 catalyst shows high stability and preeminent methanol tolerance,which makes NH_(3)-Ag@C@Co-N-C-700 a promising catalyst for oxygen electrocatalysis in fuel cell applications.

Scheduling a Single-Arm Multi-Cluster Tool With a Condition-Based Cleaning Operation

As wafer circuit widths shrink less than 10 nm,stringent quality control is imposed on the wafer fabrication processes. Therefore, wafer residency time constraints and chamber cleaning operations are widely required in chemical vapor deposition, coating processes, etc. They increase scheduling complexity in cluster tools. In this paper, we focus on scheduling single-arm multi-cluster tools with chamber cleaning operations subject to wafer residency time constraints. When a chamber is being cleaned, it can be viewed as processing a virtual wafer. In this way, chamber cleaning operations can be performed while wafer residency time constraints for real wafers are not violated. Based on such a method, we present the necessary and sufficient conditions to analytically check whether a single-arm multi-cluster tool can be scheduled with a chamber cleaning operation and wafer residency time constraints. An algorithm is proposed to adjust the cycle time for a cleaning operation that lasts a long cleaning time.Meanwhile, algorithms for a feasible schedule are also derived.And an algorithm is presented for operating a multi-cluster tool back to a steady state after the cleaning. Illustrative examples are given to show the application and effectiveness of the proposed method.

Scheduling Dual-Arm Multi-Cluster Tools With Regulation of Post-Processing Time

As wafer circuit width shrinks down to less than ten nanometers in recent years,stringent quality control in the wafer manufacturing process is increasingly important.Thanks to the coupling of neighboring cluster tools and coordination of multiple robots in a multi-cluster tool,wafer production scheduling becomes rather complicated.After a wafer is processed,due to high-temperature chemical reactions in a chamber,the robot should be controlled to take it out of the processing chamber at the right time.In order to ensure the uniformity of integrated circuits on wafers,it is highly desirable to make the differences in wafer post-processing time among the individual tools in a multicluster tool as small as possible.To achieve this goal,for the first time,this work aims to find an optimal schedule for a dual-arm multi-cluster tool to regulate the wafer post-processing time.To do so,we propose polynomial-time algorithms to find an optimal schedule,which can achieve the highest throughput,and minimize the total post-processing time of the processing steps.We propose a linear program model and another algorithm to balance the differences in the post-processing time between any pair of adjacent cluster tools.Two industrial examples are given to illustrate the application and effectiveness of the proposed method.

中医康复疗法结合颈椎操治疗颈椎病的临床疗效

目的探讨在颈椎病治疗中采取颈椎操与中医康复联合疗法的临床效果。方法依据单双日法随机将我院2015年1月-2016年12月期间收治的104例颈椎病患者分为对照组(n=50)和实验组(n=54),将采取中医康复治疗患者作为对照组,将实行颈椎操与中医康复联合疗法患者作为实验组,对两组患者的治疗有效率进行对比分析。结果经治疗,实验组患者的总有效率为98.14%,显著优于对照组的82.00%,两组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论将颈椎操与中医康复联合疗法应用在颈椎病治疗中效果良好,具有明显止痛效果,可以增加活动度可以改善患者生存质量,值得临床推广应用。

Platelets in hemostasis and thrombosis:Novel mechanisms of fibrinogen-independent platelet aggregation and fibronectin-mediated protein wave of hemostasis

Platelets are small anucleate cells generated from megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. Although platelet genera- tion, maturation, and clearance are still not fully understood, significant progress has been made in the last 1-2 dec- ades. In blood circulation, platelets can quickly adhere and aggregate at sites of vascular injury, forming the platelet plug （i.e. the first wave of hemostasis）. Activated platelets can also provide negatively charged phosphatidylserine- rich membrane surface that enhances cell-based thrombin generation, which facilitates blood coagulation （i.e. the second wave of hemostasis）. Platelets therefore play central roles in hemostasis. However, the same process of hemostasis may also cause thrombosis and vessel occlusion, which are the most common mechanisms leading to heart attack and stroke following ruptured atherosclerotic lesions. In this review, we will introduce the classical mechanisms and newly discovered pathways of platelets in hemostasis and thrombosis, including fibrinogen-inde- pendent platelet aggregation and thrombosis, and the plasma fibronectin-mediated ＂protein wave＂ of hemostasis that precedes the classical first wave of hemostasis. Furthermore, we briefly discuss the roles of platelets in inflam- marion and atherosclerosis and the potential strategies to control atherothrombosis.

Task Scheduling for Multi-Cloud Computing Subject to Security and Reliability Constraints

The rise of multi-cloud systems has been spurred.For safety-critical missions,it is important to guarantee their security and reliability.To address trust constraints in a heterogeneous multi-cloud environment,this work proposes a novel scheduling method called matching and multi-round allocation(MMA)to optimize the makespan and total cost for all submitted tasks subject to security and reliability constraints.The method is divided into two phases for task scheduling.The first phase is to find the best matching candidate resources for the tasks to meet their preferential demands including performance,security,and reliability in a multi-cloud environment;the second one iteratively performs multiple rounds of re-allocating to optimize tasks execution time and cost by minimizing the variance of the estimated completion time.The proposed algorithm,the modified cuckoo search(MCS),hybrid chaotic particle search(HCPS),modified artificial bee colony(MABC),max-min,and min-min algorithms are implemented in CloudSim to create simulations.The simulations and experimental results show that our proposed method achieves shorter makespan,lower cost,higher resource utilization,and better trade-off between time and economic cost.It is more stable and efficient.

超支化环氧树脂改性氰酸酯树脂及其性能

氰酸酯树脂(CE)是一种在航空航天应用广泛的高性能树脂,但其固化温度高、韧性差等缺点影响其应用领域。文中利用超支化环氧树脂(E102)改性CE,系统研究E102对CE体系的固化行为、热性能和力学性能的影响规律。结果表明,E102对CE固化具有显著的促进效果,能降低固化峰值温度16.3℃,同时能明显增强增韧CE树脂,可使CE树脂的冲击强度和弯曲强度分别提高42.27%和16.95%,且能很好地保持树脂的耐热性和较高的玻璃化转变温度(282.4℃)。并利用动态力学热分析和扫描电镜证实了界面相互作用和树脂之间的良好相容性,阐述了均相增强增韧机理。该结果对降低CE固化温度和制备高韧性的CE树脂及其复合材料具有重要意义,有利于其在高新技术领域的广泛应用。

The Efficacy and Safety of Triazavirin for COVID-19: A Trial Protocol

根据2019年12月的报道,新冠病毒肺炎(coronavirus disease 2019, COVID-19)是由一种新型冠状病毒引起的肺炎。到目前为止,还没有发现能够治疗这种病毒的有效药物。本研究是一项在黑龙江省10个研究中心正在进行的多中心双盲随机对照试验(randomized controlled trial, RCT),其目的是研究与安慰剂相比,特力阿扎维林(triazavirin, TZV)治疗COVID-19患者的疗效和安全性。共计划招募240名COVID-19患者参加这项试验。咽拭子病毒核酸检测为阳性的受试者被随机(1∶1)分为两组:使用标准治疗加TZV或标准治疗加安慰剂,进行为期7 d的治疗和为期21 d的随访。主要结局是受试者临床改善的时间。次要结局包括临床改善率、退热时间、肺内炎症明显吸收的平均时间和人数比例、病毒核酸转阴率、病死率以及重症和危重症患者的转化率。整个试验过程将对不良事件,严重不良事件,肝功能、肾功能以及合并用药进行监测和记录。本试验的结果可为临床医生治疗COVID-19提供循证医学的证据和建议。

Post-Processing Time-Aware Optimal Scheduling of Single Robotic Cluster Tools

Integrated circuit chips are produced on silicon wafers.Robotic cluster tools are widely used since they provide a reconfigurable and efficient environment for most wafer fabrication processes.Recent advances in new semiconductor materials bring about new functionality for integrated circuits.After a wafer is processed in a processing chamber,the wafer should be removed from there as fast as possible to guarantee its high-quality integrated circuits.Meanwhile,maximization of the throughput of robotic cluster tools is desired.This work aims to perform post-processing time-aware scheduling for such tools subject to wafer residencytime constraints.To do so,closed-form expression algorithms are derived to compute robot waiting time accurately upon the analysis of particular events of robot waiting for singlearm cluster tools.Examples are given to show the application and effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Establishment and implementation of safety check project for invasive procedures outside the operating room

Objective:This study aimed to describe the implementation of the surgical safety check policy and the surgical safety checklist for invasive procedures outside the operating room(OR)and evaluate its effectiveness.Methods:In 2017,to improve the safety of patients who underwent invasive procedures outside of the OR,the hospital quality and safety committee established the surgery safety check committee responsible for developing a new working plan,revise the surgery safety check policy,surgery safety check Keywords:Invasive procedures outside the operating room Safety management Surgical safety checklist Patient safety form,and provide training to the related staff,evaluated their competency,and implemented the updated surgical safety check policy and checklist.The study compared the data of pre-implementation(Apr to Sep 2017)and two post-implementation phases(Apr to Sep 2018,Apr to Sep 2019).It also evaluated the number of completed surgery safety checklist,correct signature,and correct timing of signature.Results:The results showed an increase in the completion rate of the safety checklist after the program implementation from 41.7%(521/1,249)to 90.4%(3,572/3,950),the correct rates of signature from 41.9%(218/521)to 99.0%(4,423/4,465),and the correct timing rates of signature from 34.4%(179/521)to 98.5%(4,401/4,465),with statistical significance(P<0.01).Conclusion:Implementing the updated surgery safety check significantly is a necessary and effective measure to ensure patient safety for those who underwent invasive procedures outside the OR.Implementing surgical safety checks roused up the clinical staff's compliance in performing safety checks,and enhanced team collaboration and communication.

Screening of SARS-CoV-2 in 299 Hospitalized Children with Hematooncological Diseases:A Multicenter Survey in Hubei,China

Summary:The SARS-CoV-2 infection status of hospitalized children was surveyed in the department of pediatric hematology and oncology in three different hospitals of epidemic areas in Hubei,China.A cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the clinical characteristics,lung CT scan,SARS CoV-2 nucleic acid test and serum antibodics of hospitalized children with hemato-oncological diseases from January 23 to April 24,2020.299 children were enrolled in this study,including 176 males(58.9%)and 123 females(41.1%),aged from 2 months to 16 years.255 cases(85.3%)received chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive therapies,and there were 44 cases(14.7%)of other benign diseases.Nucleic acid test was performed on 258 children(86.3%)and one case was positive.163 cases(54.5%)were tested for serum antibodies,and all of them were negative.Lung CT scan was performed on 247 children(82.6%),and 107 of them showed infectious changes.Only one case(0.33%)of COVID-19 was diagnosed in the group.The prevalence rate of COVID-19 in enrolled children with hemato-oncological diseases in Hubei was 0.33%.Immunosuppressed patients are not prone to produce related antibodies.Comprehensive protective measures and ward management can reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the group patients.

Efficacy and Safety of Triazavirin Therapy for Coronavirus Disease 2019:A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

目前,尚无有效疗法可治愈由严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2)引起的新型冠状病毒肺炎(coronavirus disease 2019,COVID-19)。为了评估抗病毒药物特力阿扎维林治疗COVID-19的有效性和安全性,本研究针对感染COVID-19的成年住院患者开展了一项随机双盲对照试验。本研究从10个分中心招募COVID-19患者,并将患者按1:1的比例随机分为两组。试验组的患者每天服用250 mg的特力阿扎维林药物3~4次,对照组患者则服用安慰剂,为期共7 d。主要结局指标为临床改善时间,临床改善时间的定义为随机分组28d内患者的体温、呼吸频率、血氧饱和度、咳嗽频率和肺CT(计算机断层扫描,computed tomography)所显示的肺部感染吸收情况全部恢复正常的时间。次要结局指标包括主要结局指标的5个组成指标,及肺部感染吸收的平均时间和吸收比例,以及用咽拭子采样法连续两次SARS-CoV-2核酸检测阴性的转阴率。与此同时,记录合并的治疗药物、不良事件和严重不良事件。由于需要进行住院治疗的新增感染病例的减少,本研究在招募52名患者后便停止招募。将52名受试者随机分为服用特力阿扎维林药物的试验组(n=26)和服用安慰剂的对照组(n=26)。结果显示,两组临床改善时间并无明显差异[中位数,7 d vs.12 d;风险比(RR)为2.0;95%置信区间(CI)为0.7~5.6;p=0.2]。服用特力阿扎维林的试验组中有10名患者发生临床改善,服用安慰剂的对照组中有6名患者出现临床改善(38.5%vs.23.1%,RR为2.1;95%CI为0.6~7.0;p=0.2)。除了肺部感染的吸收情况外(试验组50.0%,对照组26.1%),其余主要结局所观察指标均在28 d内恢复正常。此外,试验组的患者在呼吸系统、心脏、肾、肝或凝血功能等方面的合并治疗较对照组少。尽管特力阿扎维林药物对COVID-19患者的疗效尚未达到统计学上的显著性水平,但本研究结果表明,由于特力阿扎维林药物具有抗病毒作用,将其用于COVID-19的治疗也可能具有一定的疗效。对此,需要进一步的研究进行验证。

Carotid blowout syndrome caused by chronic infection:A case report

BACKGROUND Carotid blowout syndrome(CBS)refers to rupture of the extracranial carotid artery and its branches;as a severe complication,it usually occurs after surgery or radiotherapy for malignant tumours of the head and neck.We present a case of CBS caused by chronic infection of the external carotid artery(ECA).In this case,we did not find any evidence of head and neck tumours.CASE SUMMARY A 42-year-old man was referred to the Emergency Department with a complaint of a lump found on the left side of his neck with pain and fever for 4 d.We diagnosed the condition as neck infection with abscess formation based on physical examination,routine blood examination,ultrasound examination and plain computed tomography(CT)and decided to perform emergency surgery.During the operation,30 mL of grey and smelly pus was drained from the deep surface of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.The second day after the operation,the patient suddenly exhibited a large amount of haemoptysis and incision bleeding.The enhanced CT showed distal occlusion of the left ECA and irregular thickening of the broken ends of the artery encased in an uneven enhancement of soft tissue density.Infected ECA occlusion and rupture were considered.The patient was transferred to a vascular unit for transcatheter ECA embolization and recovered well.CONCLUSION Surgeons need to pay attention to vascular lesions caused by chronic infection that may develop into acute CBS.

Electrocardiogram abnormalities and higher body mass index as clinically applicable factors for predicting poor outcome in patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Background:Patients with coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)have high resource utilization.Identifying the causes of severe COVID-19 is helpful for early intervention to reduce the consumption of medical resources.Methods:We included 103 patients with COVID-19 in this single-center observational study.To evaluate the incidence,predictors,and effects of COVID-19,we analyzed demographic information,laboratory results,comorbidities,and vital signs as factors for association with severe COVID-19.Results:The incidence of severe COVID-19 was 16.5%and the percent poor outcome(including mortality,entering in ICU or transferred to a superior hospital)was 6.8%.The majority of severe COVID-19 patients had abnormal electrocardiogram(ECG)(82.35%),hypertension(76.47%)and other cardiac diseases(58.82%).Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of severe illness.Abnormal body mass index(BMI)and ECG(P<0.05)were independent predictors of severe COVID-19.ECG abnormality was associated with increased odds of poor outcome(area under the receiver operating characteristic curves[AUC],0.793;P=0.010)and severe COVID-19(AUC,0.807;P<0.0001).Overweight was also associated with increased odds of poor outcome(AUC,0.728;P=0.045)and severe illness COVID-19(AUC,0.816;P<0.0001).Conclusion:Overweight and electrophysiological disorders on admission are important predictors of prognosis of patients with COVID-19.

π-Conjugated nitroxide radicals for resistive switching devices

Organic molecules have been deeply explored for logic electronic circuits to satisfy the explosive growth of data in modern society,due to their low cost,flexibly tuned structures,solution processability,high-density and fast data storage[1,2].Currently,various organic materials,such as donor-acceptor complexes,organic-inorganic hybrids,biomacromolecules and radicals with unpaired electron,have been developed for memory.Among these materials,radical species have aroused particular attention because they are very sensitive to electron transfer reactions,that is they can be easily,rapidly and reversibly transformed between radical and ion states having different conducting ability[3-5].

Model construction and clinical therapeutic potential of engineered cardiac organoids for cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular diseases cause significant morbidity and mortality worldwide.Engineered cardiac organoids are being developed and used to replicate cardiac tissues supporting cardiac morphogenesis and development.These organoids have applications in drug screening,cardiac disease models and regenerative medicine.Therefore,a thorough understanding of cardiac organoids and a comprehensive overview of their development are essential for cardiac tissue engineering.This review summarises different types of cardiac organoids used to explore cardiac function,including those based on co-culture,aggregation,scaffolds,and geometries.The self-assembly of monolayers,multilayers and aggravated cardiomyocytes forms biofunctional cell aggregates in cardiac organoids,elucidating the formation mechanism of scaffold-free cardiac organoids.In contrast,scaffolds such as decellularised extracellular matrices,three-dimensional hydrogels and bioprinting techniques provide a supportive framework for cardiac organoids,playing a crucial role in cardiac development.Different geometries are engineered to create cardiac organoids,facilitating the investigation of intrinsic communication between cardiac organoids and biomechanical pathways.Additionally,this review emphasises the relationship between cardiac organoids and the cardiac system,and evaluates their clinical applications.This review aims to provide valuable insights into the study of three-dimensional cardiac organoids and their clinical potential.

Early drainage removal in the management of lymphatic leakage after robotic pelvic lymph node dissection

Background:Radical prostatectomy(RP)and radical cystectomy(RC)with concurrent pelvic lymph node dissection(PLND)are considered as the curative surgical treatment options for localized prostate cancer(PC)or muscle-invasive bladder cancer(BC).Regarding lymphatic leakage management after PLND,there is no standard of care,with different therapeutic approaches having been reported with varying success rates.Methods:Seventy patients underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy during robotic RP and RC with postoperative pelvic drainage volume more than 50 mL/day before the removal of drainage tube,were retrospectively evaluated in this study between August 2015 and June 2023.If the pelvic drainage volume on postoperative Day 2 was more than 50 mL/day,a drainage fluid creatinine was routinely tested to rule out urine leakage.We removed the drainage if the patient had no significant abdominal free fluid collection,no abdominal distension or pain,no fever,and no abdominal tenderness.After 1-day observation of the vital signs and abdominal symptoms,the patient was discharged and followed-up in clinic for 2 weeks after surgery.Results:Forty-one cases underwent the early drainage removal even if the pelvic drainage volume was more than 50mL/day.Among these forty-one cases,twenty-five drainage tubes were removed when drainage volume was more than 100 mL/day.All the forty-one cases with pelvic drainage volume greater than 50mL/day were successfully managed with the early drainage removal.No paracentesis or drainage placement was required.No readmission occured during the follow-up period.Conclusion:It is safe to manage the high-volume pelvic lymphatic leakage by early clamping of the drainage tube,ultrasonography assessment of no significant residual fluid in the abdominal and pelvic cavity,and then the early removal of the drainage tube.

The Reference Genome of Tea Plant and Resequencing of 81 Diverse Accessions Provide Insights into Its Genome Evolution and Adaptation

Tea plant is an important economic crop,which is used to produce the world's oldest and most widely consumed tea beverages.Here,we present a high-quality reference genome assembly of the tea plant(Camellia sinensis var.sinensis)consisting of 15 pseudo-chromosomes.LTR retrotransposons(LTR-RTs)account for 70.38%of the genome,and we present evidence that LTR-RTS play critical roles in genome size expansion and the transcriptional diversification of tea plant genes through preferential insertion in promoter regions and introns.Genes,particularly those coding for terpene biosynthesis pro-teins,associated with tea aroma and stress resistance were significantly amplified through recent tandem duplications and exist as gene clusters in tea plant genome.Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences of 81 tea plant accessions with diverse origins revealed three well-differentiated tea plant populations,support-ing the proposition for the southwest origin of the Chinese cultivated tea plant and its later spread to western Asia through introduction.Domestication and modern breeding left significant signatures on hundreds of genes in the tea plant genome,particularly those associated with tea quality and stress resis-tance.The genomic sequences of the reported reference and resequenced tea plant accessions provide valuable resources for future functional genomics study and molecular breeding of improved cul-tivars of tea plants.

Rapid microwave-assisted refluxing synthesis of hierarchical mulberry-shaped Na_3V_2(PO_4)_2O_2F@C as high performance cathode for sodium & lithium-ion batteries

Unique hierarchical mulberry-shaped Na3V2(PO4)2O2F@C nanocomposite was fabricated by a rapid microwave-assisted low-temperature refluxing strategy. The V(acac)3 reverse micelle systems in the water-in-oil microemulsions played key roles in forming the self-assembly architectures. The prepared Na3V2(PO4)2O2F@C nanoparticles with the anisotropic growth along the [002] direction were in-situ encapsulated in carbon shells, which greatly contribute to fast Na+/e-transfer in electrodes. And the self-assemblies with high structure stability help to improve the cycle performance and mitigate voltage fading. The initial discharge capacity of Na3V2(PO4)2O2F@C as cathode for sodium ion batteries is about 127.9 m A h g-1 at 0.1 C. Besides, a high rate performance with a capacity of 88.1 mA h g-1 at 20 C has been achieved, and the capacity retains 82.1% after 2,000 cycles. In addition, the reaction kinetics and Na+ transportation mechanism of Na3V2(PO4)2O2F@C were preliminarily investigated by the ex situ X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique. More interestingly, when coupled with Li, the fabricated hybrid Li/Na-ion batteries also exhibit excellent rate and cycling performances. The proposed rapid refluxing strategy to synthesize mulberry-shaped Na3V2(PO4)2O2F@C opens up a new opportunity to develop high-performance electrode materials for the energy storage systems.