Identification of Noncoding Functional Regulatory Variants of STIM1 Gene in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: STIM1 (stromal interaction molecule 1) regulates store-operated calcium entry and is involved in pulmonary artery vasoconstriction and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, leading to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). METHODS: Bioinformatics analysis and a 2-stage matched case-control study were conducted to screen for noncoding variants that may potentially affect STIM1 transcriptional regulation in 242 patients with idiopathic PAH and 414 healthy controls. Luciferase reporter assay, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, and intracellular Ca2+ measurement were performed to study the mechanistic roles of those STIM1 noncoding variants in PAH. RESULTS: Five noncoding variants (rs3794050, rs7934581, rs3750996, rs1561876, and rs3750994) were identified and genotyped using Sanger sequencing. Rs3794050, rs7934581, and rs1561876 were associated with idiopathic PAH (recessive model, all P<0.05). Bioinformatics analysis showed that these 3 noncoding variants possibly affect the enhancer function of STIM1 or the microRNA (miRNA) binding to STIM1. Functional validation performed in HEK293 and pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells demonstrated that the noncoding variant rs1561876-G (STIM1 mutant) had significantly stronger transcriptional activity than the wild-type counterpart, rs1561876-A, by affecting the transcriptional regulatory function of both hsa-miRNA-3140-5p and hsa-miRNA-4766-5p. rs1561876-G enhanced intracellular Ca2+ signaling in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells secondary to calcium-sensing receptor activation and promoted proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells under both normoxia and hypoxia conditions, suggesting a possible contribution to PAH development. CONCLUSIONS: The potential clinical implications of the 3 noncoding variants of STIM1, rs3794050, rs7934581, and rs1561876, are 2-fold, as they may help predict the risk and prognosis of idiopathic PAH and guide investigations on novel therapeutic pathway(s).

Renshen Yangrong decoction for secondary malaise and fatigue: network pharmacology and Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Renshen Yangrong decoction (RSYRD) has been shown therapeutic effects on secondary malaise and fatigue (SMF). However, to date, its bioactive ingredients and potential targets remain unclear. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the potential ingredients and targets of RSYRD on SMF through a comprehensive strategy integrating network pharmacology, Mendelian randomization as well as molecular docking verification. Methods: Search for potential active ingredients and corresponding protein targets of RSYRD on TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM for network pharmacology analysis. Mendelian randomization (MR) was performed to find therapeutic targets for SMF. The eQTLGen Consortium (sample sizes: 31,684) provided data on cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL, exposure). The summary data on SMF (outcome) from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were gathered from the MRC-IEU Consortium (sample sizes: 463,010). We built a target interaction network between the probable active ingredient targets of RSYRD and the therapeutic targets of SMF. We next used drug prediction and molecular docking to confirm the therapeutic value of the therapeutic targets. Results: In RSYRD, network pharmacology investigations revealed 193 possible active compounds and 234 associated protein targets. The genetically predicted amounts of 176 proteins were related to SMF risk in the MR analysis. Thirty-seven overlapping targets for RSYRD in treating SMF, among which six (NOS3, GAA, IMPA1, P4HTM, RB1, and SLC16A1) were prioritized with the most convincing evidence. Finally, the 14 active ingredients of RSYRD were identified as potential drug molecules. The strong affinity between active components and putative protein targets was established by molecular docking. Conclusion: This study revealed several active components and possible RSYRD protein targets for the therapy of SMF and provided novel insights into the feasibility of using Mendelian randomization for causal inference between Chinese medical formula and disease.

Changes in the rumen development, rumen fermentation, and rumen microbiota community in weaned calves during steviol glycosides treatment.

Early weaning leads to weaning stress in calves, which hinders healthy growth and development. As an excellent sweetener applied in food, steviol glycosides (STE) has also been shown to exhibit positive biological activity in monogastric animals. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the impact of incorporating STE as a dietary supplement on rumen development, fermentation, and microbiota of rumen in weaned calves. This study selected 24 healthy Holstein bull calves and randomly allocated them into two groups (CON and STE). The results indicated that supplementation STE group improved rumen development in weaned calves, as demonstrated by a marked increase in the weight of the rumen, as well as the length and surface area of the rumen papilla. Compared with the CON group, the concentrations of total volatile fatty acids (TVFA), propionate, butyrate, and valerate were higher in the STE group. Moreover, STE treatment increased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Actinobacteria at the phylum level. At the genus level, the STE group showed a significantly increased relative abundance of Succiniclasticum, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, and Olsenella, and a decreased relative abundance of Acinetobacter compared to the CON group. Pusillimonas, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, Olsenella, and Succiniclasticum were significantly enriched in rumen chyme after supplementation with STE, as demonstrated by LEfSe analysis. Overall, our findings revealed that rumen bacterial communities altered in response to the dietary supplementation with STE, and some bacterial taxa in these communities may have positive effects on rumen development during this period.

Consensus for antifungal stewardship in China (2024 edition).

Background: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) has become a serious threat to human health in China and around the world, with high mortality and morbidity. Currently, the misdiagnosis rate of IFD is extremely high, compounded with the low quality of prescription antifungals and the high incidence of adverse events associated with IFD treatment, resulting in lengthy hospitalization, low clinical response, and high disease burden, which have become serious challenges in clinical practice. Antifungal stewardship (AFS) can not only significantly increase the early diagnosis rate of IFD, reduce inappropriate utilization of antifungal drugs, improve patient prognosis, but can also improve therapeutic safety and reduce healthcare expenses. Thus, it is urgent to identify key AFS metrics suitable for China's current situation. Methods: Based on metrics recommended by international AFS consensuses, combined with the current situation of China and the clinical experience of authoritative experts in various fields, several metrics were selected, and experts in the fields of respiratory diseases, hematology, intensive care units (ICUs), dermatology, infectious diseases, microbiology laboratory and pharmacy were invited to assess AFS metrics by the Delphi method. Consensus was considered to be reached with an agreement level of ≥80% for the metric. Results: Consensus was reached for 24 metrics, including right patient metrics (n=4), right time metrics (n=3), and right use metrics (n=17). Right use metrics were further subdivided into drug choice (n=8), drug dosage (n=4), drug de-escalation (n=1), drug duration (n=2), and drug consumption (n=2) metrics. Forty-six authoritative experts assessed and reviewed the above metrics, and a consensus was reached with a final agreement level of ≥80% for 22 metrics. Conclusions: This consensus is the first to propose a set of AFS metrics suitable for China, which helps to establish AFS standards in China and is also the first AFS consensus in Asia, and may improve the standard of clinical diagnosis and treatment of IFD, and guide hospitals to implement AFS, ultimately promoting the rational use of antifungal drugs and improving patient prognosis.

Prognostic and therapeutic roles of SETD2 in cutaneous melanoma.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is an aggressive form of skin cancer with limited treatment options for advanced stages. Prognostic markers that accurately predict patients' outcomes and guide therapeutic strategies are crucial for improving melanoma management. SETD2 (SET Domain-Containing Protein 2), a histone methyltransferase involved in chromatin remodeling and gene regulation, has recently emerged as a tumor suppressor. Its dysfunction is involved in oncogenesis in some cancers, but little is known about its functions in progression and therapeutic response of melanoma. METHODS: RNA-seq and clinical data from public database were used to evaluate the survival analysis, gene set enrichment, IC50 of therapeutics and immunotherapy response. SETD2 knock-out A375 cell line (A375SETD2ko) was developed by Crispr/cas9 and CCK-8 analysis and nude mice used to evaluate the proliferation and invasion of melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo, while Western blotting tested the MMR-related protein. RESULTS: SETD2 was commonly down-regulated in melanoma samples which demonstrated an unfavorable survival. Cells without SETD2 expression tend to have a more progressive and invasive behavior, with resistance to chemotherapy. However, they are more sensitive to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). They also exhibit inflamed features with lower TIDE (Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion) score and higher tumor mutation burden (TMB), showing that these patients may benefit from immunotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that SETD2 dysfunction in melanoma implied a poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance, but highly sensitive to TKIs and immunotherapy, highlighting the prognostic and therapeutic value of SETD2 in cutaneous melanoma.

A novel inherited CARD9 deficiency in an otherwise healthy woman with CNS candidiasis.

Patients with caspase-associated recruitment domain-9 (CARD9) deficiency are more likely to develop invasive fungal disease that affect CNS. However, the understanding of how Candida invades and persists in CNS is still limited. We here reported a 24-year-old woman who were previously immunocompetent and diagnosed with CNS candidiasis. A novel autosomal recessive homozygous CARD9 mutation (c.184 + 5G > T) from this patient was identified using whole genomic sequencing. Furthermore, we extensively characterized the impact of this CARD9 mutation on the host immune response in monocytes, neutrophils and CD4 + T cells, using single cell sequencing and in vitro experiments. Decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine productions of CD14 + monocyte, impaired Th17 cell differentiation, and defective neutrophil accumulation in CNS were found in this patient. In conclusion, this study proposed a novel mechanism of CNS candidiasis development. Patients with CNS candidiasis in absence of known immunodeficiencies should be analyzed for CARD9 gene mutation as the cause of invasive fungal infection predisposition.

Whole body vibration training promotes proprioceptive pathway for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in rats.

Background: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is the most ubiquitous form of urinary incontinence in women. The therapeutic management of patients with SUI is challenging. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of whole body vibration training (WBVT) for SUI. Methods: Thirty-five female rats were randomly divided into a sham group (Sham group, n=5), SUI + WBVT group (n=15) and SUI + whole body rest group (SUI + WBR group, n=15). The SUI + WBVT group was trained as follows: frequency 30 Hz, amplitude four mm, one min/repeat, four min rest, repeated 10 times, five days/week. After the intervention, five rats were taken on the 7th, 14th and 21st day to observe the urodynamic changes, levator ani muscle and dorsal root ganglia (DRG) morphology, and to observe the expression of neurotrophic factor-3/tyrosine protein kinase C (NT-3/TrkC) by Western blot. Results: The urodynamic results showed that the difference in bladder leak point pressure/abdominal leak point pressure (BLPP/ALPP) between the Sham group and the SUI + WBR group was statistically significant (P<0.001) on 7th day, indicating successful modeling. The BLPP/ALPP of the SUI + WBVT group and the SUI + WBR group improved on 7th, 14th, and 21st day, and the BLPP/ALPP of SUI + WBVT group was higher than the SUI + WBR group. Compared with the Sham group, pathological changes appeared in the muscle shuttles in the SUI + WBVT group and SUI + WBR group. Western blot showed a gradual up-regulation of NT-3/TrkC. Conclusions: WBVT can be used to treat SUI by affecting the expression of NT-3/TrkC, improving the structural morphology of the proprioceptors, and restoring the urinary control function. This study provides evidence for the clinical practice of WBVT. Future studies could further refine the behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of the assessment.

Anesthetic predictors for postoperative pneumonia in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Postoperative pneumonia (POP) is a preventable complication associated with adverse outcomes. The aim of this study is to explore the anesthetic predictor for POP in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after surgery. Methods: A total of 306 patients with NSCLC were selected. Multivariable logistic regression analysis model was used to screen the independent predictors for POP. The primary outcome was POP and the secondary outcomes were intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, reintubation rate and postoperative hospital stay (PHS). Results: POP occurred in 102 (33.3%) of 306 patients. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that perioperative propofol administration >4.42 mg/kg [odds ratio (OR) =0.543, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.330-0.895, P=0.02] lowered the risk of POP, while duration of surgery >3 h (OR =1.951, 95% CI: 1.189-3.199, P=0.008) and total intraoperative fluid infusion >1,450 mL (OR =2.428, 95% CI: 1.307-4.509, P=0.005) were associated with the increasing risk of POP. There was a higher ICU admission and reintubation rate in the POP group (P<0.05). Conclusions: Perioperative propofol administration >4.42 mg/kg may diminish the incidence of POP, while duration of surgery >3 h and intraoperative fluid infusion >1,450 mL increase the development of POP.

Relationship between human activities and environmental changes in the southern Tibetan Plateau since the Little Ice Age.

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is one of the most challenging areas for human long-term settlement due to its extreme living environment. Understanding the relationship between human activities and environmental changes in this extreme environment is important and can provide a historical reference for adapting to future climate change. In this study, we took the Angren Basin in the southern TP as a case study to elucidate the relationship since Little Ice Age (LIA). Using fecal stanol in feces, lake and river surface sediments, surface soils, and sediment core, we found that specific indices S1 and S2 from the composition of coprostanol, epicoprostanol, 5ß-ethylcoprostanol and 5ß-ethylepicoprostanol can reflect changes in human population and herbivores, respectively. Through the comparison between environmental changes determined by grain size, elements, sedimentation rate, and other climate records, the relationship between human activities and environmental changes was interpreted. Our results indicate that: (i) during 1480-1820 CE, the fecal stanols in lake sediments mainly originated from livestock, and the human population was low. In contrast, during 1820-2021 CE, the proportion and flux of S1 have been continuously increasing, indicating significant population growth. (ii) During the middle LIA, the cold-dry climate inhibited the development of agriculture and farming. However, the increased precipitation during the late LIA promoted that development, resulting in an increase in human population and livestock in a short term. (iii) Since 1951, people have reclaimed wasteland and developed husbandry, leading to increased soil erosion. (iv) Over the past 40 years, with a warm-humid climate and good policy support, human activities, such as agriculture and husbandry, have rapidly increased, but soil erosion has declined in the recent 20 years due to good soil-water conservation efforts. This study sheds light on the relationship between human activities and environmental changes and provides insights into future climate change responses.

Time trends in the mortality of testicular cancer across the BRICS: an age-period-cohort analysis for the GBD 2019.

Testicular cancer (TCa) is a rare but impactful malignancy that primarily affects young men. Understanding the mortality rate of TCa is crucial for improving prevention and treatment strategies to reduce the risk of death among patients. We obtained TCa mortality data by place (5 countries), age (20-79 years), and year (1990-2019) from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Age-period-cohort model was used to estimate the net drift, local drift, age effects, period and cohort effects. In 2019, the global mortality of TCa increased to 10842 (95% UI 9961, 11902), with an increase of 50.08% compared to 1990.The all-age mortality rate for TCa in 2019 increased from 0.17/100,000 (95% UI 0.13, 0.20) in China to 0.48/100,000 (95% UI 0.38, 0.59) in Russian Federation, whereas the age-standardized mortality rate in 2019 was highest in the South Africa 0.47/100,000 (95% UI 0.42, 0.53) and lowest in the China 0.16/100,000 (95% UI 0.13, 0.19). China's aging population shifts mortality patterns towards the elderly, while in Russian Federation, young individuals are primarily affected by the distribution of deaths. To address divergent TCa mortality advancements in BRICS countries, we propose a contextually adaptive and resource-conscious approach to prioritize TCa prevention. Tailoring strategies to contextual diversity, including policy frameworks, human resources, and financial capacities, will enhance targeted interventions and effectiveness in reducing TCa mortality.

Six undescribed 23-norursane triterpenoids from the biotransformation of ilexgenin a by endophytic fungi and their vascular protective activity.

Biotransformation of ursane-type triterpenoid ilexgenin A by endophytic fungi Lasiodiplodia sp. MQD-4 and Pestalotiopsis sp. ZZ-1, isolated from Ilex pubescences and Callicarpa kwangtungensis respectively, was investigated for the first time. Six previously undescribed metabolites (1-6) with 23-norursane triterpenoids skeleton were isolated and their structures were unambiguously established by the analysis of spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic experiments. Decarboxylation, oxidation, and hydroxylation reactions were observed on the triterpenoid skeleton. Especially, the decarboxylation of C-23 provided definite evidence to understand the biogenetic process of 23-norursane triterpenoids. Moreover, the qualitative analysis of the extract of I. pubescences showed metabolites 1, 3, 4, and 6 could be detected in the originated plant, indicating biotransformation by endophytic fungi is a practical strategy for the isolation of novel natural products. Finally, all isolates were evaluated for the protective activities against H2O2-induced HUVECs dysfunction in vitro. Compound 5 could improve the viability of endothelial cells and decrease the level of intracellular ROS.

Transcriptomics Reveals the Mechanism of Purpureocillium lilacinum GZAC18-2JMP in Degrading Keratin Material.

Microbial degradation of keratin is characterized by its inherent safety, remarkable efficiency, and the production of copious degradation products. All these attributes contribute to the effective management of waste materials at high value-added and in a sustainable manner. Microbial degradation of keratin materials remains unclear, however, with variations observed in the degradation genes and pathways among different microorganisms. In this study, we sequenced the transcriptome of Purpureocillium lilacinum GZAC18-2JMP mycelia on control medium and the medium containing 1% feather powder, analyzed the differentially expressed genes, and revealed the degradation mechanism of chicken feathers by P. lilacinum GZAC18-2JMP. The results showed that the chicken feather degradation rate of P. lilacinum GZAC18-2JMP reached 64% after 216 h of incubation in the fermentation medium, reaching a peak value of 148.9 µg·mL-1 at 192 h, and the keratinase enzyme activity reached a peak value of 211 U·mL-1 at 168 h, which revealed that P. lilacinum GZAC18-2JMP had a better keratin degradation effect. A total of 1001 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the transcriptome database, including 475 upregulated genes and 577 downregulated genes. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the DEGs revealed that the metabolic pathways related to keratin degradation were mainly sulfur metabolism, ABC transporters, and amino acid metabolism. Therefore, the results of this study provide an opportunity to gain further insight into keratin degradation and promote the biotransformation of feather wastes.

In Situ Growth of Highly Compatible Cu2O-GO Hybrids via Amino-Modification for Melt-Spun Efficient Antibacterial Polyamide 6 Fibers.

Polyamide 6 fiber has the advantages of high strength and good wear resistance. However, it is still challenging to effectively load inorganic antibacterial agents into polymer substrates without antimicrobial activity. In this work, graphene oxide was used as a carrier, which was modified with an aminosilane coupling agent (AEAPTMS) to enhance the compatibility and antimicrobial properties of the inorganic material, as well as to improve its thermal stability in a high-temperature melting environment. Cuprous oxide-loaded aminated grapheme (Cu2O-GO-NH2) was constructed by in situ growth method, and further PA6/Cu2O-GO-NH2 fibers were prepared by in situ polymerization. The composite fiber has excellent washing resistance. After 50 times washing, its bactericidal rates against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were 98.85% and 99.99%, respectively. In addition, the enhanced compatibility of Cu2O-GO-NH2 with the PA6 matrix improved the orientation and crystallinity of the composite fibers. Compared with PA6/Cu2O-GO fibers, the fracture strength of PA6/Cu2O-GO-NH2 fibers increased from 3.0 cN/dtex to 4.2 cN/dtex when the addition of Cu2O-GO-NH2 was 0.2 wt.%. Chemical modification and in situ concepts help to improve the compatibility of inorganic antimicrobial agents with organic polymers, which can be applied to the development of medical textiles. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effect of TSH on aromatase expression of ovarian granulosa cells in obese mice.

PURPOSE: Aromatase plays an important role in ovarian development, the normal progress of the menstrual cycle, and fertility status. Elevated aromatase activity is linked to obesity. There is a bidirectional relationship between obesity and thyroid function. Few studies have investigated the relationship between TSH and ovarian aromatase in obesity. Our aim was to investigate the effect of TSH on aromatase expression of ovarian granulosa cells in obese mice. METHODS: Female mice pups were divided into an obesity group and a control group. Obese parameters and the time of pubertal onset were recorded. At the age of 5 weeks, blood and tissues were obtained. Serum aromatase and hormone concentrations were measured using ELISA. The granulosa cells were isolated and exposed to variable concentrations (0 µM, 1 µM, 10 µM, 100 µM) of TSH. The expression of CYP19A1 mRNA and protein were assessed via RT-qPCR and western blot. RESULTS: In female mice, body weight, Lee's obesity index, and serum levels of E2, aromatase, and TSH were significantly higher in the obesity group compared to the control group, whereas the time of pubertal onset and serum T3 and T4 concentrations were significantly lower (all P < 0.001). In granulosa cells, the expression of CYP19A1 mRNA in the obesity group was lower than that in the control group at 1 µM and 100 µM concentrations of TSH (both P < 0.001). The expression of CYP19A1 protein in the obesity group was higher than that in the control group after TSH stimulation (P = 0.014, P < 0.001, and P = 0.004, respectively). With the increase of TSH concentrations, the expression of CYP19A1 mRNA and protein in the two groups significantly increased (all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Early puberty and elevated serum aromatase and TSH levels were found in obese female mice. In the granulosa cells of obese mice, TSH directly regulates aromatase expression in a dose-dependent manner.

Precede-Proceed Model-dominant Nursing Combined With Nutrition Support for Patients Discharged After Hepatobiliary Surgery With T Tube.

Context: Hepatobiliary disease requires surgical treatment and T-tube installment postoperatively, and discharged patients' usually still have a T tube. Little nursing care is available in China for patients after discharge, resulting in postdischarge complications. Also, the incidence of nutritional risk in patients with hepatobiliary surgery is high. Objective: The study aimed to investigate the benefits of a precede-proceed model-dominant nursing combined with nutritional support for patients discharged after hepatobiliary surgery with a T tube, so as to improve their prognoses and promote their rehabilitation. Design: The research team conducted a prospective, single-center, randomized controlled trial. Setting: The study took place at Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Participants: Participants were 120 patients discharged after hepatobiliary surgery at the hospital between June 2020 and June 2022. Interventions: The research team randomly divided participants into two groups using the random number table method, each with 60 participants: (1) an intervention group, which received precede-proceed model-dominant nursing combined with nutrition support and (2) a control group, which received routine care. Outcome Measures: At baseline and postintervention, the research team assessed: (1) nutritional status, (2) self-care agency, (3) compliance, (4) quality of life (QoL), (5) incidence of complications. Results: At baseline, no significant differences existed between the groups in nutritional status, self-care agency, QoL, or compliance (all P > .05). Postintervention compared to the control group, the intervention group's: (1) nutritional status, including albumin (P = .015), hemoglobin (P < .001), growth hormone (P < .001), BW (P = .047), BMI (P = .046), TST (P = .001), and MAMC (P = .016) were significantly higher and transferrin (P < .001) and NRS-2002 score (P < .001) were significantly lower; (2) self-care agency, including self-concept, self-responsibility, health knowledge, and self-nursing skills were significantly higher (all P < .001); (3) compliance scores, including observing the volume and color of bile correctly, clamping and opening the T tube properly, replacing the drainage bag correctly and in a timely manner, regularly disinfecting the skin around the drainage tube, keeping a balanced diet, adhering to medical regimens, exercising adequately were significantly higher (all P < .001); (4) QoL was significantly higher (P < .001); and (5) incidence of complications was significantly lower (P = .008). Conclusions: Precede-proceed model-dominant nursing combined with nutrition support can significantly improve nutritional status, self-care agency, and QoL and can significantly decrease the incidence of complications for patients discharged after hepatobiliary surgery with a T tube and is worthy of promotion in clinics.

RANK-BASED INDICES FOR TESTING INDEPENDENCE BETWEEN TWO HIGH-DIMENSIONAL VECTORS.

To test independence between two high-dimensional random vectors, we propose three tests based on the rank-based indices derived from Hoeffding's D, Blum-Kiefer-Rosenblatt's R and Bergsma-Dassios-Yanagimoto's τ*. Under the null hypothesis of independence, we show that the distributions of the proposed test statistics converge to normal ones if the dimensions diverge arbitrarily with the sample size. We further derive an explicit rate of convergence. Thanks to the monotone transformation-invariant property, these distribution-free tests can be readily used to generally distributed random vectors including heavily tailed ones. We further study the local power of the proposed tests and compare their relative efficiencies with two classic distance covariance/correlation based tests in high dimensional settings. We establish explicit relationships between D,R,τ* and Pearson's correlation for bivariate normal random variables. The relationships serve as a basis for power comparison. Our theoretical results show that under a Gaussian equicorrelation alternative, (i) the proposed tests are superior to the two classic distance covariance/correlation based tests if the components of random vectors have very different scales; (ii) the asymptotic efficiency of the proposed tests based on D,τ* and R are sorted in a descending order.

Research advances on microplastics contamination in terrestrial geoenvironment: A review.

The contamination of microplastics in terrestrial geoenvironment (CMTG) is widespread and severe and has, received considerable attention. However, studies on CMTG are in their initial stages. The literature on CMTG published in the past decade was analyzed through bibliometric analysis, such as the annual publications, countries with the highest contributions, prolific authors, and author keywords. The sources, compositions, migrations and environmental impacts of CMTG are summarized, and possible future directions are proposed. This study analyzed the annual publications, countries with the highest contributions, prolific authors, and author keywords related to microplastics. The results demonstrated that 15,306 articles were published between 2014 and 2023. China is the leading country in terms of the total number of publications. The main sources of CMTG include landfills, agricultural non-point sources, sewage treatment systems and transportation systems. The composition of the CMTG exhibits significantly temporal and spatial variability from different sources. The migration paths of the CMTG were within the soil, groundwater seepage and wind transportation of suspended particles. Microplastics increase soil cohesion, decrease porosity, reduce pore scale, decrease air circulation, and increase water retention capacity, and the exudation of highly water-soluble additives in microplastics can cause secondary contamination of geological entities. Microplastics have an adverse effect on plant growth, animal digestion, microbial activity, energy and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and respiratory diseases in humans. It is recommended to develop more efficient and convenient quantitative testing methods for microplastics, formulate globally harmonized testing and evaluation standards, include microplastic testing in testing programs for contaminated soils, and develop efficient methods for the remediation of microplastic contaminated geological bodies.

Field-Effect Thermoelectric Hotspot in Monolayer Graphene Transistor.

Graphene is a promising candidate for the thermal management of downscaled microelectronic devices owing to its exceptional electrical and thermal properties. Nevertheless, a comprehensive understanding of the intricate electrical and thermal interconversions at a nanoscale, particularly in field-effect transistors with prevalent gate operations, remains elusive. In this study, nanothermometric imaging is used to examine a current-carrying monolayer graphene channel sandwiched between hexagonal boron nitride dielectrics. It is revealed for the first time that beyond the expected Joule heating, the thermoelectric Peltier effect actively plays a significant role in generating hotspots beneath the gated region. With gate-controlled charge redistribution and a shift in the Dirac point position, an unprecedented systematic evolution of thermoelectric hotspots, underscoring their remarkable tenability is demonstrated. This study reveals the field-effect Peltier contribution in a single graphene-material channel of transistors, offering valuable insights into field-effect thermoelectrics and future on-chip energy management.

A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy in terms of patient survival rate and quality of life in breast cancer.

The study aimed to assess the effects of breast-conserving surgery (BCS) versus mastectomy on survival and quality of life in Stages I, II, and III breast cancer, providing solid evidence for clinical decisions. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on breast cancer treatments, searching databases such as PubMed and the Cochrane Library to compare BCS, and mastectomy's effects on survival and quality of life. A combined total of 16 734 patients in the control group and 17 435 patients in the experimental group were included in this analysis. This meta-analysis used RevMan 5.3 (Cochrane Collaboration, Copenhagen, Denmark) software for analysis. Our meta-analysis of 34 169 patients from 11 studies showed that BCS significantly reduced the overall recurrence rate at a median follow-up of 29 months, with a mean difference of 1.27 and a 95% confidence interval of 1.19-1.36, strongly supporting its effectiveness (P < .00001). Furthermore, our analysis found no significant increase in 5-year local recurrence rates for BCS versus mastectomy, indicating its long-term effectiveness with a mean difference of 1.13 (95% confidence interval: [1.03, 1.24], P = .01). Additionally, there was a notable decrease in tissue ischaemic necrosis among patients who had received BCS, with a mean difference of 0.37 (95% confidence interval: [0.33, 0.42], P < .00001), underscoring its benefits and long-term viability. BCS resulted in fewer cases of tissue ischaemic necrosis and higher body image scores compared with mastectomy, suggesting that it is a preferable option for better cosmetic outcomes and potentially favourable effects on prognosis and quality of life.

Fabrication of Flower-Shaped Sb2S3/Fe2O3 Heterostructures for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance.

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) has been recognized as a catalytic material for splitting water by solar energy because of its suitable narrow band gap, high absorption coefficient, and abundance of elements. However, many deep-level defects in Sb2S3 result in a significant recombination of photoexcited electron-hole pairs, weakening its photoelectrochemical performance. Here, by using a simple hydrothermal and spin-coating method, we fabricated a step-scheme heterojunction of Sb2S3/α-Fe2O3 to improve the photoelectrochemical performance of pure Sb2S3. Our Sb2S3/α-Fe2O3 photoanode has a photocurrent density of 1.18 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode, 1.39 times higher than that of Sb2S3 (0.84 mA/cm2). In addition, our heterojunction has a lower onset potential, a higher absorbance intensity, a higher incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency, a higher applied bias photon-to-current efficiency, and a lower charge transfer resistance compared to pure Sb2S3. Based on ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy, we constructed a step-scheme band structure of Sb2S3/α-Fe2O3 to explain its photoelectrochemical enhancement. This work offers a promising strategy to optimize the performance of Sb2S3 photoelectrodes for solar-driven photoelectrochemical water splitting.