Temporal and external validation of the algorithm predicting first trimester outcome of a viable pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Symptoms like vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain in early pregnancy can create anxiety about potential miscarriage. Previous studies have demonstrated ultrasonographic variables at the first trimester transvaginal scan (TVS) which can assist in predicting outcomes by 12 weeks gestation. AIM: To validate the miscarriage risk prediction model (MRP) in women who present with a viable intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) at the primary ultrasound. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multi-centre diagnostic study of 1490 patients was performed between 2011 and 2019 for retrospective external and 2017-2019 for prospective temporal validation. The reference standard was a viable pregnancy at 12 + 6 weeks. The MRP model is a multinomial logistic regression model based on maternal age, embryonic heart rate, logarithm (gestational sac volume/crown-rump length (CRL)) ratio, CRL and presence or absence of clots. RESULTS: Temporal validation data from 290 viable IUPs were collected: 225 were viable at the end of the first trimester, 31 had miscarried and 34 were lost to follow-up. External validation data from 1203 viable IUPs were collected at two other ultrasound units: 1062 were viable, 69 had miscarried and 72 were lost to follow-up. Temporal validation with a cut-off of 0.1 demonstrated: area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8 (0.7-0.9), sensitivity 66.7%, specificity 83.9%, positive predictive value (PPV) 35.7%, negative predictive value (NPV) 94.9%, positive likelihood ration (LR+) 4.1 and negative LR (LR-) 0.4. External validation demonstrated: AUC 0.7 (0.7-0.8), sensitivity 44.9%, specificity 90.4%, PPV 23.3%, NPV 96.2%, LR+ 4.6 and LR- 0.6 (0.4-0.7). CONCLUSION: The MRP model is not able to be used in real time for counselling, and management should be individualised.

Analysis of the effect on costochondral graft for TMJ ankylosis with jaw deformities in pediatrics.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of costochondral grafting (CCG) used for temporomandibular joint ankylosis (TMJA) in growing patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pediatric patients with TMJA treated by CCG from 2010.5 to 2021.7 were included in the study. CT scans were performed before and after operations with at least 1 year follow-up. The height of the mandibular ramus, menton deviation or retraction, osteotomy gap, etc. were measured by ProPlan CMF1.4 software. CCG growth, resorption, and relapse were evaluated and analyzed with influencing factors such as age, ostectomy gap, etc. by generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: There were 24 patients (29 joints) with an average age of 6.30 ± 3.13 years in the study. After operation, the mandibular ramus was elongated by 5.97 ± 3.53 mm. Mandibular deviation or retrusion was corrected by 4.82 ± 2.84 mm and 3.76 ± 2.97 mm respectively. After a mean follow-up of 38.91 ± 29.20 months, 58.62% CCG grew (4.18 ± 7.70 mm), 20.69% absorbed (2.23 ± 1.16 mm), and 20.69% re-ankylosed. The re-ankylosis was negatively correlated with the osteotomy gap (OR:0.348,0.172-0.702 95%CI, critical value = 6.10 mm). CCG resorption was positively correlated with the distance of CCG ramus elongation (OR:3.353,1.173-9.586 95%CI, critical value = 7.40 mm). CONCLUSIONS: An adequate osteotomy gap and CCG ramus elongation distance are the key factors for successful treatment of TMJA with jaw deformities in growing patients. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: TMJA affects mouth opening and jaw development in pediatric patients. The most common autogenous bone graft for pediatric patients is CCG due to its growth potential, convenient access and easy contouring. Also, it can simultaneously reconstruct the TMJ and improve jaw deformity by lengthening the mandibular ramus. But the growth of CCG is unpredictable. In this study, we explored several factors that may affect the absorption and re-ankylosis of CCG, expecting to provide several suggestions to improve future CCG treatment.

Crohn's disease treatment and memory T-cell subset changes: insights from a case series.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease with significant morbidity, affecting millions worldwide. The intricacies of immune responses in CD, especially post-treatment, remain a vital area of exploration. While memory T (Tm)-cell subsets play a pivotal role in adaptive immunity, their specific function in patients with CD after treatment is not well-understood. This study aims to investigate the effect and function of Tm-cell subsets in these patients, addressing a crucial knowledge gap in the context of CD therapeutics. Methods: A total of eight patients diagnosed with CD were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria. All patients were treated with either anti-inflammatory agents, immunosuppressive drugs, or a combination of both. For comparison, healthy donors were enrolled based on exclusion of autoimmune or inflammatory diseases. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lymphocytes were isolated from blood and lymph node tissue respectively. The phenotype and cytokine production of T lymphocytes from both CD patients and healthy donors were analyzed using flow cytometry. Statistical comparisons of the outcomes between CD patients and healthy donors were made using Mann-Whitney test (two-tailed) and Student t-test. Results: Post-treatment CD patients exhibited an altered T cell distribution with a notable increase in CD8+ T cells in PBMCs (P=0.0005), and altered frequencies of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs). Tm cells showed decreased interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production, with significant alterations in the frequency of IFN-γ-producing CD8+ stem cell-like Tm (Tscm) cells in lesions of the MLNs from patients with CD (CD-M-Lys) compared to healthy MLNs from patients with CD (N-M-Lys) (P=0.0152). Differences in tissue-resident Tm (Trm)-cell subset frequencies were observed between the MLNs and small intestinal mucosa in CD patients. Conclusions: The treatments with anti-inflammatory agents and/or immunosuppressive drugs have a significant effect on the frequency and function of Tm-cell subsets. Clinically, these findings suggest a potential therapeutic avenue in modulating Tm-cell responses, which might be particularly beneficial for conditions where immune response modulation is crucial. Further clinical studies are warranted to explore the full therapeutic implications of these findings.

Band 40/41 Surface Acoustic Wave Filters on 42°YX-Lithium Tantalate Substrate with Suppression of Transverse Leakage.

The transverse leakage of leaky surface acoustic waves (LSAWs) occurs on 42°YX-lithium tantalate substrates (42LT), which increases the insertion loss, narrows the bandwidth and flattens the roll-off of band 40/41 SAW filters and duplexers. In this work, LSAW characteristics with different metal materials and thicknesses are calculated by the finite element method (FEM), which determines the IDT material and thickness used for band 40/41 SAW filter design. To deeply understand transverse leakage and suppress it, the effects of different gap and dummy lengths on transverse leakage are simulated and discussed. Then, a new technique of using a wider dummy without any additional lithographic or depositing processes is proposed to suppress the leakage. Its effectiveness is validated by both simulations and experiments. Then, the technique is extended to applications of band 40 and 41 SAW filters. The experimental results show that with the wider dummy structure, the band 40 and 41 SAW filters achieve a more than 0.2 dB improvement in the insertion loss, a wider bandwidth and a steeper roll-off characteristic. This technique may also be extended to the other band SAW filter applications.

Hydrogel loaded with bone marrow stromal cell-derived exosomes promotes bone regeneration by inhibiting inflammatory responses and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Bone healing is a complex process involving early inflammatory immune regulation, angiogenesis, osteogenic differentiation, and biomineralization. Fracture repair poses challenges for orthopedic surgeons, necessitating the search for efficient healing methods. AIM: To investigate the underlying mechanism by which hydrogel-loaded exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) facilitate the process of fracture healing. METHODS: Hydrogels and loaded BMSC-derived exosome (BMSC-exo) gels were characterized to validate their properties. In vitro evaluations were conducted to assess the impact of hydrogels on various stages of the healing process. Hydrogels could recruit macrophages and inhibit inflammatory responses, enhance of human umbilical vein endothelial cell angiogenesis, and promote the osteogenic differentiation of primary cranial osteoblasts. Furthermore, the effect of hydrogel on fracture healing was confirmed using a mouse fracture model. RESULTS: The hydrogel effectively attenuated the inflammatory response during the initial repair stage and subsequently facilitated vascular migration, promoted the formation of large vessels, and enabled functional vascularization during bone repair. These effects were further validated in fracture models. CONCLUSION: We successfully fabricated a hydrogel loaded with BMSC-exo that modulates macrophage polarization and angiogenesis to influence bone regeneration.

Elevated AIP is associated with the prevalence of MAFLD in the US adults: evidence from NHANES 2017-2018.

Background: Atherogenic Index of plasma (AIP) is closely related to metabolic abnormalities. But as of now, there is no definitive conclusion on the dose-response relationship pattern between AIP and metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD). Objective: The objective of this study was to provide a fresh insight for understanding the intrinsic link between AIP and the prevalence of MAFLD by exploring the dose-response pattern between AIP and MAFLD. Methods: A total of 9254 participants received the survey and 1090 participants were finally included according to the screening criteria. To evaluate the association between AIP and the prevalence of MAFLD based on weighted multivariate logistic regression. Sensitivity analysis of the association between AIP and MAFLD was performed using propensity score matching (PSM). Restrictive cubic splines (RCS) were used to identify patterns of dose-response relationships between AIP and MAFLD, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the predictive ability of AIP and traditional lipid parameters for MAFLD. Results: In this study, a total of 563 participants were found to have MAFLD. The results of weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that, after adjusting for sex and age, participants in the highest quartile (Q4) of AIP had a significantly increased risk of developing MAFLD compared to those in the lowest quartile (Q1) (Model 2: OR = 9.03, 95% CI 4.75-17.17). A similar trend was observed in the fully adjusted model (Model 3: OR = 3.85, 95% CI 1.55-9.52). The RCS analysis revealed a linear dose-response association between AIP and MAFLD(P for crude non-linearity = 0.087). This association remained significant after accounting for potential confounding variables(P for adjusted non-linearity = 0.663). The ROC curve results suggest that AIP performs better than traditional lipid indicators in predicting MAFLD (AUC = 0.732, 95%CI 0.705-0.758). Conclusion: A linear dose-response relationship exists between AIP and MAFLD, suggesting that as AIP increases, so does the risk of developing MAFLD.

Enantioselective Nickel-Catalyzed Denitrogenative Transannulation En Route to N-N Atropisomers.

Nickel-catalyzed transannulation reactions triggered by the extrusion of small gaseous molecules have emerged as a powerful strategy for the efficient construction of heterocyclic compounds. However, their use in asymmetric synthesis remains challenging because of the difficulty in controlling stereo- and regioselectivity. Herein, we report the first nickel-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of N-N atropisomers by the denitrogenative transannulation of benzotriazones with alkynes. A broad range of N-N atropisomers was obtained with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity under mild conditions. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations provided insights into the nickel-catalyzed reaction mechanism and enantioselectivity control.

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric carbene coupling en route to inherently chiral heptagon-containing polyarenes.

Developing facile and direct synthesis routes for enantioselective construction of cyclic π-conjugated molecules is crucial. However, originate chirality from the distorted structure around heptagon-containing polyarenes is largely overlooked, the enantioselective construction of all-carbon heptagon-containing polyarenes remains a challenge. Herein, we present a highly enantioselective synthesis route for fabricating all carbon heptagon-containing polyarenes via palladium-catalyzed carbene-based cross-coupling of benzyl bromides and N-arylsulfonylhydrazones. A wide range of nonplanar, saddle-shaped tribenzocycloheptene derivatives are efficiently prepared in high yields with excellent enantioselectivities using this approach. In addition, stereochemical stability experiments show that these saddle-shaped tribenzocycloheptene derivatives have high inversion barriers.

Simulation test of short-term and long-term clogging of permeable pavement.

Permeable pavement is superior in functions such as reducing noise, improving traffic safety, and protecting urban water environment. However, contaminants on the pavement due to spillage of transported goods, deposits from vehicle wear and tear, and natural settlement can cause the risk of blockage when these contaminants enter the interior of the permeable pavement. Timely maintenance of permeable performance can effectively solve the degradation of environmental performance of permeable pavement caused by clogging. Consequently, exploring permeable pavement clogging patterns can support determining the timing of maintenance. In this paper, simulation clogging material gradations were formulated based on actual road clogging conditions. According to the self-developed permeable pavement clogging simulator, the clogging behavior of permeable pavement was comprehensively explored, taking external conditions, mix proportion, structural combination, and long-term clogging conditions into consideration. Moreover, the effect of external conditions on the clogging pattern was simulated by varying the rainfall intensity and clogging particle size. Furthermore, the effects of gradation, void rate, nominal maximum particle size, and the overwater section on the clogging resistance were investigated. The clogging-sensitive particle size under different structures was determined. It is demonstrated that the water head height is the crucial factor on the clogging behavior. Greater rainfall intensity and water head height lead to more severe clogging. The increase of nominal maximum aggregate size is beneficial to the anti-clogging ability of permeable pavement. Also, the clogging material with small particle sizes is more likely to cause structural clogging. Finally, the evaluation index of clogging level was put forward, which divides the clogging level of permeable pavement into mild, moderate, and severe. The research can support the rationalization, intelligence, and convenience of permeable pavement maintenance timing decisions. Meanwhile, there is key significance to the promotion application and performance maintenance.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveals anthocyanin biosynthesis in leaf coloration of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.).

BACKGROUND: Quinoa leaves demonstrate a diverse array of colors, offering a potential enhancement to landscape aesthetics and the development of leisure-oriented sightseeing agriculture in semi-arid regions. This study utilized integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the mechanisms underlying anthocyanin synthesis in both emerald green and pink quinoa leaves. RESULTS: Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that both flavonoid biosynthesis pathway (ko00941) and anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway (ko00942) were significantly associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were analyzed between the two germplasms during different developmental periods. Ten DEGs were verified using qRT-PCR, and the results were consistent with those of the transcriptomic sequencing. The elevated expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), 4-coumarate CoA ligase (4CL) and Hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (HCT), as well as the reduced expression of flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and Flavonol synthase (FLS), likely cause pink leaf formation. In addition, bHLH14, WRKY46, and TGA indirectly affected the activities of CHS and 4CL, collectively regulating the levels of cyanidin 3-O-(3'', 6''-O-dimalonyl) glucoside and naringenin. The diminished expression of PAL, 4CL, and HCT decreased the formation of cyanidin-3-O-(6"-O-malonyl-2"-O-glucuronyl) glucoside, leading to the emergence of emerald green leaves. Moreover, the lowered expression of TGA and WRKY46 indirectly regulated 4CL activity, serving as another important factor in maintaining the emerald green hue in leaves N1, N2, and N3. CONCLUSION: These findings establish a foundation for elucidating the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in quinoa leaves, and also provide some theoretical basis for the development of leisure and sightseeing agriculture.

Simultaneous standard total joint prosthesis reconstruction with SSRO and Le Fort I osteotomy in the treatment of unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis with jaw deformity: a case cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Unilateral temporomandibular joint ankylosis with jaw deformity (UTMJAJD) may require simultaneous total joint prosthesis (TJP) reconstruction, sagittal split ramus (SSRO), and Le Fort I osteotomies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes in patients treated with these procedures. METHODS: Patients diagnosed UTMJAJD between 2016 and 2018 were selected for the study. Mandible-first procedure was performed after ankylosis release with TJP on the ankylosed side and SSRO on the contralateral side. Le Fort I osteotomy with and without genioplasty was lastly performed. Maximal incisor opening (MIO), facial symmetry, and jaw and condyle stability were compared before, after operation, and during follow-ups. RESULTS: Seven patients were included in the study. Their average chin deviation was 9.5 ± 4.2 mm, and maxillary cant was 5.1 ± 3.0°. After operation, jaw deformity significantly improved, with chin deviation corrected 7.6 ± 4.1 mm (p = 0.015) and advanced 5.9 ± 2.5 mm (p = 0.006). After an average follow-up of 26.6 ± 17.1 months, MIO significantly increased from 11.4 ± 9.3 to 35.7 ± 2.6 mm (p = 0.000). The occlusion was stable with no significant positional or rotational changes of the jaw (p > 0.05). There was no obvious condylar resorption during follow-ups. CONCLUSION: Simultaneous TJP reconstruction, SSRO, and Le Fort I osteotomy are reliable and effective methods for the treatment of UTMJAJD.

Comparison of disc position stability and condylar bone remodelling between two open disc repositioning surgeries: a retrospective single-centre cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Open suturing (OSu) and mini-screw anchor (MsA) are two commonly used open disc repositioning surgeries for anterior disc displacement (ADD) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This study assesses the differences in disc position stability (DPS) and condylar bone remodelling (CBR) between these two surgical procedures in a single centre. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using MRI scans (pre-operation, 1 week and 12 months post-operation) of all patients who had open TMJ disc repositioning surgery from January 2016 to June 2021 at one centre through two surgical techniques (OSu and MsA) was performed. The predictor variable was technique (OSu and MsA). Outcome variables were DPS and CBR. During follow-up, DPS was rated as good, acceptable and poor, and CBR was graded as improved, unchanged, and degenerated. Multivariate analysis was used to compare the DPS and CBR at 12 months after adjusting five factors including age, sex, Wilkes stage, preoperative bone status (normal, mild/moderate abnormal) and the degree of disc repositioning (normal, overcorrected, and posteriorly repositioned). Relative risk (RR) for DPS and CBR was calculated by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-five patients with 583 joints were included in the study. MRIs at 12 months showed that 514 joints (93.5%) had good DPS, and 344 joints (62.5%) had improved CBR. Multivariate analysis revealed that OSu had higher DPS (RR=2.95; 95% CI, 1.27-6.85) and better CBR (RR=1.58; 95% CI, 1.02-2.46) than MsA. Among the factors affecting DPS, females had better results than males (RR=2.63; 95% CI, 1.11-6.26) and overcorrected or posteriorly repositioned discs were more stable than normally repositioned discs (RR=5.84; 95% CI, 2.58-13.20). The improvement in CBR decreased with age increasing (RR=0.91; 95% CI, 0.89-0.93). Preoperative mild/moderate abnormal bone status had a higher probability of improved CBR compared to normal preoperative bone status (RR=2.60; 95% CI, 1.76-3.83). CONCLUSION: OSu had better DPS and CBR than MsA. Sex and the degree of disc repositioning impacted DPS, while age and preoperative bone status affected CBR.

Single Bolus r-SAK Before Primary PCI for ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: It is uncertain whether adjunctive thrombolysis is beneficial for patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 120 minutes of presentation. This study was to determine whether in patients presenting with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction a single bolus recombinant staphylokinase (r-SAK) before timely PCI leads to improved patency of the infarct-related artery and reduces the infarct size. METHODS: This is an open-label, prospective, multicenter, randomized study. We enrolled patients aged 18 to 75 years who were within 12 hours of symptom onset of ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction and expected to undergo PCI within 120 minutes. Patients were administered loading doses of aspirin and ticagrelor and intravenous heparin and were randomized to receive 5 mg bolus of r-SAK or normal saline intravenously before PCI. The primary end point was Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 to 3 or grade 3 in the infarct-related artery 60 minutes after thrombolysis. The infarct size was detected by cardiac magnetic resonance 5 days after randomization. The safety end point was major bleeding (Bleeding Academic Research Consortium ≥3) during 30-day follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 283 patients were screened from 8 centers and 200 were randomized (median age, 58.5 years; 14% female). The median symptom to thrombolysis time was 252.5 (interquartile range, 142.8-423.8) minutes and thrombolysis to coronary arteriography was 50.0 (interquartile range, 37.0-66.0) minutes. Patients randomized to r-SAK compared with normal saline more often had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 2 to 3 (69.0% versus 29.0%; P<0.001) and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 (51.0% versus 18.0%; P<0.001) and had smaller infarct size (21.91±10.84% versus 26.85±12.37%; P=0.016). There was no increase in major bleeding (r-SAK, 1.0% versus control, 3.0%; P=0.616). CONCLUSIONS: A single bolus r-SAK before primary PCI for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction improves infarct-related artery patency and reduces infarct size without increasing major bleeding. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT05023681.

Observations of HONO and its precursors between urban and its surrounding agricultural fields: The vertical transports, sources and contribution to OH.

The insufficient study on vertical observations of main atmospheric reactive nitrogen oxides (NO2 and HONO) posed a great challenge to evaluate their intertransport between urban and agricultural areas, and to further learn the atmospheric nitrogen chemistry and the atmospheric oxidation capacity at high altitudes. A stereoscopic measurement campaign (satellite remote sensing, hyperspectral unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing and MAX-DOAS observation) was performed in a typical inland city Hefei and its surrounding agricultural fields from June to October 2022. Average aerosol vertical profiles exhibited a Gaussian shape above 100 m with maximum values of 0.67 km-1 and 0.55 km-1 at 300-400 m layer at Anhui University (AHU) and Changfeng (CF), respectively. The distinct layered structure was mainly attributed to regional transport. Average H2O and NO2 vertical profiles all showed a Gaussian shape and an exponential shape at AHU and CF, respectively. Moreover, the diurnal evolution of H2O profiles performed one peak and bi-peak patterns at AHU and CF, respectively, whereas the diurnal evolution of NO2 at two stations all exhibited bi-peak patterns attributed to vehicle emissions. Average HONO vertical profiles showed an exponential shape and a Gaussian shape at AHU and CF, respectively. Higher HONO (> 0.05 ppb) above 1.0 km at 14:00-16:00 was observed at CF. The transport flux analysis showed that the northern transport flux always larger than southern transport flux for aerosol and H2O. The maximum northern transport fluxes appeared at 300 m and surface for aerosol and H2O, respectively. It indicated that surrounding agricultural fields was an important source of atmospheric H2O of city. The southern transport flux was larger than northern transport flux for NO2, with a maximum net transport flux of 9.20 ppb m s-1 at 100 m. It demonstrated that NO2 transported from urban areas was an important source of NO2 in agricultural fields. For HONO, the southern transport flux was larger than northern transport flux under 100 m, whereas it was opposite above 100 m. It indicated that the HONO distributed at high altitudes at agricultural fields had potential to enhance the atmospheric oxidation capacity of urban area. The net horizontal transport fluxes of HONO of our defined cropland were 5.25 µg m-2 s-1 and -3.65 µg m-2 s-1 during non-fertilization and fertilization periods, respectively. It indicated that the cropland could obviously export HONO to surrounding atmosphere during the fertilization period. Deducing the contribution of direct emission, heterogeneous process was a major source of HONO at urban and agricultural areas. The average surface conversion rate of NO2-to-HONO (CHONO) was 0.01467 h-1, and this value decreased with the increase of height at urban station. While average surface CHONO was 0.0322 h-1 at agricultural fields, which was ~1.2-2.8 times higher than that at urban area. The CHONO at agricultural fields significantly increased with the increase of height. The average CHONO at 1.0 km was ~2.0-3.6 times higher than that at surface. That suggested that the heterogeneous process was the main HONO source at high altitudes at CF, and this process obviously correlated with aerosol and H2O. The higher OH production from HONO (P(OH)HONO) occurred at 0-200 m and 100-400 m with averaged values of 0.31 ppb h-1 and 0.39 ppb h-1 at AHU and CF, respectively. The high P(OH)HONO above 1.0 km at CF from September to October was strongly correlated with high O3 (> 80 ppb). This study emphasized the importance of the stereoscopic of HONO on the analysis of its distribution, evolution, source and atmospheric oxidizing contribution.

Analysis of joint protein expression profile in anterior disc displacement of TMJ with or without OA.

OBJECTIVE: Anterior disc displacement (ADD) is a common clinical issue and may cause osteoarthritis (OA). However, the research of protein changes in synovial fluid as disease development marker and potential treatment clue is still insufficient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted the high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS) of synovial fluid collected from 60 patients with normal disk position to ADD and ADD with osteoarthritis (OA). The proteins with significant changes among the 3 groups were analyzed by biological information and further validated by in primary rat condyle chondrocytes and OA animal model. RESULTS: FGL2, THBS4, TNC, FN1, OMD etc. were significantly increased in ADD without OA (p < 0.05), which reflected the active extracellular matrix and collagen metabolism. FGFR1, FBLN2, GRB2 etc. were significantly increased in ADD with OA group (p < 0.05), which revealed an association with apoptosis and ferroptosis. Proteins such as P4HB, CBLN4, FHL1, VIM continuously increase in the whole disease progress (p < 0.05). Both the in vitro and in vivo results are consistent with protein changes detected in MS profile. CONCLUSION: This study firstly provides the expression changes of proteins from normal disc condyle relationship toward ADD with OA, which can be selected and studied further as disease progress marker and potential treatment targets.

Organocatalytic Enantioselective Synthesis of Seven-Membered Ring with Inherent Chirality.

Inherent chirality is used to describe chiral cyclic molecules devoid of central, axial, planar, or helical chirality and has tremendous applications in chiral recognition and enantioselective synthesis. Catalytic and divergent syntheses of inherently chiral molecules have attracted increasing interest from chemists. Herein, we report the enantioselective synthesis of inherently chiral tribenzocycloheptene derivatives via chiral phosphoric acid (CPA)-catalyzed condensation of cyclic ketones and hydroxylamines. This chemistry paves the way to accessing the less stable derivatives of 7-membered rings with inherent chirality. A series of chiral tribenzocycloheptene oxime ethers was synthesized in good yields (up to 97 %) with excellent enantioselectivities (up to 99 % ee).

Urolithin B Attenuates Cerebral Ischemia-reperfusion Injury by Modulating Nrf2-regulated Anti-oxidation in Rats.

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) induces a wide range of irreversible injuries. Cerebral IR injury (IRI) refers to additional brain tissue damage that occurs after blood flow is restored following cerebral ischemia. Currently, no established methods exist for treating IRI. Oxidative stress is recognized as a primary mechanism initiating IRI and a crucial focal target for its treatment. Urolithin B, a metabolite derived from ellagitannins, antioxidant polyphenols, has demonstrated protective effects against oxidative stress in various disease conditions. However, the precise mechanism underlying UB's effect on IRI remains unclear. In our current investigation, we assessed UB's ability to mitigate neurological functional impairment induced by IR using a neurological deficit score. Additionally, we examined cerebral infarction following UB administration through TTC staining and neuron Nissl staining. UB's inhibition of neuronal apoptosis was demonstrated through the TUNEL assay and Caspase-3 measurement. Additionally, we examined UB's effect on oxidative stress levels by analyzing malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and immunohistochemistry analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and 8-hydroxyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG). Notably, UB demonstrated a reduction in oxidative stress levels. Mechanistically, UB was found to stimulate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, as evidenced by the significant reduction in UB's neuroprotective effects upon administration of ATRA, an Nrf2 inhibitor. In summary, UB effectively inhibits oxidative stress induced by IR through the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. These findings suggest that UB holds promise as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of IRI.

The hamburger-shape photocatalyst: thioxanthone-based chiral [2.2]paracyclophane for enantioselective visible-light photocatalysis of 3-methylquinoxalin-2(1H)-one and styrenes.

A new thioxanthone-based photocatalyst with a [2.2]paracyclophane skeleton and planar chirality has been developed. The catalyst has been successfully applied in the visible light-mediated enantioselective aza Paternò-Büchi reactions of quinoxalinone and styrenes to produce azetidines. The structures of the catalyst derivatives were unequivocally determined by their single crystal X-ray crystallography analysis.

A high-speed current source for magnetorheological applications.

Current source is an indispensable component of magnetorheological (MR) systems. Though MR fluid has a phase change as fast as in 1 ms, the response of MR damper (MRD) to generate the damping force may be two orders of magnitude longer. Therefore, the rapid response of current source is a key to realize the real-time semi-active control of MR devices. This study proposes a programmable high-speed, low-cost current source exclusively for MR devices based on the synergy between supercapacitor and Buck converter (i.e., SSBC current source). SSBC current source features a strategy consisting of a lifting phase of supercapacitor and a following maintaining phase of Buck converter. Specifically, the high power density of supercapacitor contributes to rapidly lifting/raising the initial current, and then, like a "relay race", the expected output is maintained through a Buck converter. Theoretical modeling and experiments are performed systematically. The response times (@ 95% of expected outputs) measured are 0.44, 0.84 and 1.88 ms for the outputs of 3, 6 and 9 A, respectively; these values are highlighted as the fastest level in this field. Besides, the response can be up to 24.6 and 43.7 times faster than the cases using supercapacitor and Buck converter to directly drive the MRD, respectively. SSBC current source is employed to generate a sequence of currents/magnetic inductions, only four variables of which need to be controlled programmatically: the order of lifting and maintaining phases, switching time of lifting phase, PWM duty cycle of Buck converter and duration of maintaining phase. The response time stability is verified by 100 cycles of on/off tests, showing a fluctuation of only 1.1%, which indicates a very reliable high-speed response. This study provides an exclusive power supply with a novel strategy for MR devices, which is believed to be an important promotion for MR technologies.

A prospective cohort study on decreased serum apelin-13 levels after human aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: associations with severity and prognosis.

Apelin-13 may have neuroprotective effects. We aimed to determine whether serum apelin-13 could serve as a potential biomarker for severity, delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), and prognosis after human aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). In this prospective, observational, cohort, single-center study of 139 patients with aSAH and 139 healthy individuals, serum apelin-13 levels were determined. The indicators of stroke severity were the Hunt-Hess scale and the modified Fisher grading scale. The prognostic parameters were DCI and 6-month worse prognosis (Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale scores of 1-4). Using binary logistic regression analysis, the relationship between serum apelin-13 levels and prognosis was reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Under the receiver operating characteristic curve, prognostic abilities were shown as areas under the curve (AUCs) with 95% CIs. Serum apelin-13 levels were substantially lower in patients than in controls (median, 28.8 versus 48.6 ng/ml; P < 0.001), in patients with DCI than in non-DCI patients (median, 14.9 versus 31.6 ng/ml; P < 0.001), and in patients with worse prognosis than in those with good prognosis (median, 16.3 versus 33.7 ng/ml; P < 0.001). Serum apelin-13 levels were independently correlated with Hunt-Hess scores (beta, -6.836; 95% CI, -8.963-4.708; VIF, 2.219; P = 0.001) and modified Fisher scores (beta, -3.350; 95% CI, -6.151-0.549; VIF, 1.562; P = 0.019). Serum apelin-13 levels were an independent predictor of DCI (OR, 0.951; 95% CI, 0.914-0.990; P = 0.022) and worse prognosis (OR, 0.954; 95% CI, 0.916-0.993; P = 0.013). Serum apelin-13 levels significantly differentiated DCI and poor prognosis, with AUCs of 0.753 (95% CI, 0.656-0.850) and 0.791 (95% CI, 0.713-0.868) respectively. Using the Youden method, serum apelin-13 levels < 19.3 ng/ml distinguished the risk of DCI with 64.7% sensitivity and 77.1% specificity, and serum apelin-13 levels < 30.2 ng/ml discriminated the development of worse prognosis with 89.1% sensitivity and 63.4% specificity. Serum apelin-13 levels combined with Hunt-Hess scores and modified Fisher scores displayed a significantly higher AUC than any one of them for prognostic prediction (all P < 0.05). Decreased serum apelin-13 levels, which are strongly correlated with disease severity, independently predicted poor outcomes following aSAH, substantializing serum apelin-13 as a useful prognostic biomarker of aSAH.