Customizing pyridinic nitrogen coordination in Ni-N-C for electrocatalytic CO2reduction towards CO.

Nickel anchored N-doped carbon electrocatalysts (Ni-N-C) are rapidly developed for the electrochemical reduction reaction of carbon dioxide (CO2RR). However, the high-performanced Ni-N-C analogues design for CO2RR remains bewilderment, for the reason lacking of definite guidance for its structure-activity relationship. Herein, the correlation between the proportion of nitrogen species derived from various nitrogen sources and the CO2RR activity of Ni-N-C is investigated. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectrum combined with the CO2RR performance results show that pyridinic-N content has a positive correlation with CO2RR activity. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) demonstrates that pyridinic-N coordinated Ni-N4 sites offers optimized free energy and favorable selectivity towards CO2RR compared with pyrrolic-N. Accordingly, Ni-Na-C with highest pyridinic-N content (ammonia as nitrogen source) performs superior CO2RR activity, with the maximum carbon monoxide faradaic efficiency (FECO) of 99.8% at -0.88 V vs. RHE and the FECO surpassing 95% within potential ranging of -0.88 to -1.38 V vs. RHE. The building of this parameter for CO2RR activity of Ni-N-C give instructive forecast for low-cost and highly active CO2RR electrocatalysts. .

Analysis of endophytic bacterial diversity in seeds of different genotypes of cotton and the suppression of Verticillium wilt pathogen infection by a synthetic microbial community.

BACKGROUND: In agricultural production, fungal diseases significantly impact the yield and quality of cotton (Gossypium spp.) with Verticillium wilt posing a particularly severe threat. RESULTS: This study is focused on investigating the effectiveness of endophytic microbial communities present in the seeds of disease-resistant cotton genotypes in the control of cotton Verticillium wilt. The technique of 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA) amplicon sequencing identified a significant enrichment of the Bacillus genus in the resistant genotype Xinluzao 78, which differed from the endophytic bacterial community structure in the susceptible genotype Xinluzao 63. Specific enriched strains were isolated and screened from the seeds of Xinluzao 78 to further explore the biological functions of seed endophytes. A synthetic microbial community (SynCom) was constructed using the broken-rod model, and seeds of the susceptible genotype Xinluzao 63 in this community that had been soaked with the SynCom were found to significantly control the occurrence of Verticillium wilt and regulate the growth of cotton plants. Antibiotic screening techniques were used to preliminarily identify the colonization of strains in the community. These techniques revealed that the strains can colonize plant tissues and occupy ecological niches in cotton tissues through a priority effect, which prevents infection by pathogens. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the key role of seed endophytes in driving plant disease defense and provides a theoretical basis for the future application of SynComs in agriculture.

Long-term observation of polycaprolactone small-diameter vascular grafts with thickened outer layer and heparinized inner layer in rabbit carotid arteries.

In our previous study, the pristine bilayer small-diameterin situtissue engineered vascular grafts (pTEVGs) were electrospun from a heparinized polycaprolactone (PCL45k) as an inner layer and a non-heparinized PCL80k as an outer layer in the thickness of about 131 µm and 202 µm, respectively. However, the hydrophilic enhancement of inner layer stemmed from the heparinization accelerated the degradation of grafts leading to the early formation of arterial aneurysms in a period of 3 months, severely hindering the perennial observation of the neo-tissue regeneration, host cell infiltration and graft remodeling in those implanted pTEVGs. Herein to address this drawback, the thickness of the outer layers was increased with PCL80k to around 268 µm, while the inner layer remained unchangeable. The thickened TEVGs named as tTEVGs were evaluated in six rabbits via a carotid artery interpositional model for a period of 9 months. All the animals kept alive and the grafts remained patent until explantation except for one whose one side of arterial blood vessels was occluded after an aneurysm occurred at 6 months. Although a significant degradation was observed in the implanted grafts at 9 month, the occurrence of aneurysms was obviously delayed compared to pTEVGs. The tissue stainings indicated that the endothelial cell remodeling was substantially completed by 3 months, while the regeneration of elastin and collagen remained smaller and unevenly distributed in comparison to autologous vessels. Additionally, the proliferation of macrophages and smooth muscle cells reached the maximum by 3 months. These tTEVGs possessing a heparinized inner layer and a thickened outer layer exhibited good patency and significantly delayed onset time of aneurysms.

Therapeutic potential of Lingjiao Gouteng decoction in acute alcohol intoxication and alcohol-induced brain injury involving the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alcohol misuse persists as a prevalent societal concern and precipitates diverse deleterious consequences, entailing significant associated health hazards including acute alcohol intoxication (AAI). Binge drinking, a commonplace pattern of alcohol consumption, may incite neurodegeneration and neuronal dysfunction. Clinicians tasked with managing AAI confront a dearth of pharmaceutical intervention alternatives. In contrast, natural products have garnered interest due to their compatibility with the human body and fewer side effects. Lingjiao Gouteng decoction (LGD), a classical traditional Chinese medicine decoction, represents a frequently employed prescription in cases of encephalopathy, although its efficacy in addressing acute alcoholism and alcohol-induced brain injury remains inadequately investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the conceivable therapeutic benefits of LGD in AAI and alcohol-induced brain injury, while delving into the underlying fundamental mechanisms involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We established an AAI mouse model through alcohol gavage, and LGD was administered to the mice twice at the 2 h preceding and 30 min subsequent to alcohol exposure. The study encompassed the utilization of the loss of righting reflex assay, histopathological analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and cerebral tissue biochemical assays to investigate the impact of LGD on AAI and alcohol-induced brain injury. These assessments included a comprehensive evaluation of various biomarkers associated with the inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Finally, RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining were carried out to explore the underlying mechanisms through which LGD exerts its therapeutic influence, potentially through the regulation of the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway. RESULTS: Our investigation underscores the therapeutic efficacy of LGD in ameliorating AAI, as evidenced by discernible alterations in the loss of righting reflex assay, pathological analysis, and assessment of inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. Furthermore, the results of RT-qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence staining manifest a noteworthy regulatory effect of LGD on the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirmed the therapeutic potential of LGD in AAI and alcohol-induced brain injury, and the protective effects of LGD against alcohol-induced brain injury may be intricately linked to the RhoA/ROCK2/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Modifying the Mobility Scale for Acute Stroke (MSAS) for All Stroke Phases (MSAllS): Measurement Properties and Clinical Application.

OBJECTIVE: To develop and examine the measurement properties and interpretability of the Mobility Scale for "All" Stroke Phases (MSAllS) as a potential single outcome measure to capture improvements in physical function throughout the stroke continuum. DESIGN: Retrospective cross-sectional study. SETTING: Inpatient rehabilitation unit. PARTICIPANTS: People after stroke at discharge from rehabilitation (N=309). INTERVENTION: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): We developed MSAllS by extending the highest MSAS level (walk 10 m independently) with 4 gait speed levels. To establish a clinical anchor, we extracted a 4-level discharge outcome. To assess the distributional properties and internal consistency of MSAllS, we evaluated its ceiling effects and calculated the Cronbach alpha, respectively. To assess structural validity, we performed a confirmatory factor analysis. To assess (i) its convergent validity with the FIM and (ii) its predictive validity with the clinical anchor, we used Spearman's rank correlations. To evaluate the clinical interpretability of MSAllS, we used an item-response theory-based method to estimate MSAllS thresholds associated with the clinical anchor. RESULTS: The MSAllS had lower ceiling effects compared with MSAS (0% vs 25%). Internal consistency of MSAllS was excellent (α=0.94). Structural validity of MSAllS demonstrated a good fit (Comparative Fit Index=0.95; Tucker-Lewis Index=0.92; Root Means Square Error of Approximation=0.17). MSAllS demonstrated a moderate correlation (rho=0.66) with FIM score and with the clinical anchor (rho=0.75). MSAllS thresholds for increasing levels of the clinical anchor were 22 (20.8 to 23.6) - at least moderate assistance with walking/transfers, 28 (27.5 to 29.4) - at most supervision with walking, and 33 (32.5 to 33.4) - able to walk unassisted. CONCLUSION: The MSAllS showed adequate measurement properties and clinical interpretability. MSAllS has the potential to be a single universal measure to evaluate physical function after stroke but further evaluation of clinical interpretability is required.

Protection effects of mice liver and lung injury induced by coronavirus infection of Qingfei Paidu decoction involve inhibition of the NLRP3 signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a grave and pervasive global infectious malady brought about by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), posing a significant menace to human well-being. Qingfei Paidu decoction (QFPD) represents a pioneering formulation derived from four classical Chinese medicine prescriptions. Substantiated evidence attests to its efficacy in alleviating clinical manifestations, mitigating the incidence of severe and critical conditions, and reducing mortality rates among COVID-19 patients. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to investigate the protection effects of QFPD in mice afflicted with a coronavirus infection, with a particular focus on determining whether its mechanism involves the NLRP3 signaling pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The coronavirus mice model was established through intranasal infection of Kunming mice with Hepatic Mouse Virus A59 (MHV-A59). In the dose-effect experiment, normal saline, ribavirin (80 mg/kg), or QFPD (5, 10, 20 g/kg) were administered to the mice 2 h following MHV-A59 infection. In the time-effect experiment, normal saline or QFPD (20 g/kg) was administered to mice 2 h post MHV-A59 infection. Following the assessment of mouse body weights, food consumption, and water intake, intragastric administration was conducted once daily at consistent intervals over a span of 5 days. The impact of QFPD on pathological alterations in the livers and lungs of MHV-A59-infected mice was evaluated through H&E staining. The viral loads of MHV-A59 in both the liver and lung were determined using qPCR. The expression levels of genes and proteins related to the NLRP3 pathway in the liver and lung were assessed through qPCR, Western Blot analysis, and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: The administration of QFPD was shown to ameliorate the reduced weight gain, decline in food consumption, and diminished water intake, all of which were repercussions of MHV-A59 infection in mice. QFPD treatment exhibited notable efficacy in safeguarding tissue integrity. The extent of hepatic and pulmonary injury, when coupled with QFPD treatment, demonstrated not only a reduction with higher treatment dosages but also a decline with prolonged treatment duration. In the dose-effect experiment, there was a notable, dose-dependent reduction in the viral loads, as well as the expression levels of IL-1ß, NLRP3, ASC, Caspase 1, Caspase-1 p20, GSDMD, GSDMD-N, and NF-κB within the liver of the QFPD-treated groups. Additionally, in the time-effects experiments, the viral loads and the expression levels of genes and proteins linked to the NLRP3 pathway were consistently lower in the QFPD-treated groups compared with the model control groups, particularly during the periods when their expressions reached their zenith in the model group. Notably, IL-18 showed only a modest elevation relative to the blank control group following QFPD treatment. CONCLUSIONS: To sum up, our current study demonstrated that QFPD treatment has the capacity to alleviate infection-related symptoms, mitigate tissue damage in infected organs, and suppress viral replication in coronavirus-infected mice. The protective attributes of QFPD in coronavirus-infected mice are plausibly associated with its modulation of the NLRP3 signaling pathway. We further infer that QFPD holds substantial promise in the context of coronavirus infection therapy.

Azo-Linked Porous Polycalix[n]arenes for the Efficient Removal of Organic Micropollutants from Water.

Developing novel porous adsorbents for efficient wastewater treatment is significant to the environment protection. Herein, three porous polycalix[n]arenes (n = 4, 6, and 8) which had varying cavity sizes of the macrocycle (Azo-CX4P, Azo-CX6P, and Azo-CX8P) were prepared under mild conditions and tested for their potential application in water purification. Azo-CX8P with a larger cavity size of the macrocycle outperformed Azo-CX4P and Azo-CX6P in screening studies involving a range of organic micropollutants. It was proved that Azo-CX8P was especially efficient in the removal of cationic dyes because of its high negative surface charge. In terms of the adsorption of Rhodamine B with Azo-CX8P, the pseudo-second-order rate constant reaches 5.025 g·mg-1·min-1 with the maximum adsorption capacity being 1345 mg·g-1. These values are significantly higher compared with those recorded for most adsorbents. In addition, the easily prepared Azo-CX8P can be reused at least six times without a loss of the adsorption efficiency, demonstrating its potential use in water purification.

The compound artemisinin-hydroxychloroquine ameliorates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats by inhibiting TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a lethal disease characterized by a progressive decline in lung function. Currently, lung transplantation remains the only available treatment for PF. However, both artemisinin (ART) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) possess potential antifibrotic properties. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of a compound known as Artemisinin-Hydroxychloroquine (AH) in treating PF, specifically by targeting the TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 pathway. To do this, we utilized an animal model of PF induced by a single tracheal drip of bleomycin (BLM) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The PF animal models were administered various doses of AH, and the efficacy and safety of AH were evaluated through pulmonary function testing, blood routine tests, serum biochemistry tests, organ index measurements, and pathological examinations. Additionally, Elisa, western blotting, and qPCR techniques were employed to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of AH in treating PF. Our findings reveal that AH effectively and safely alleviate PF by inhibiting BLM-induced specific inflammation, reducing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and interfering with the TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Notably, the windfall for this study is that the inhibition of ECM may initiate self-healing in the BLM-induced PF animal model. In conclusion, AH shows promise as a potential therapeutic drug for PF, as it inhibits disease progression through the TGF-ß1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway.

Design and Numerical Simulation Study of a Novel AICD for Water Control and Gas Production in Gas Wells.

The automatic inflow control device (AICD) used for water control and gas recovery in gas wells as the core component of gas well intelligent layered/segmented production and water control technology is very important for the development of advanced well completion (AWC) technology in water-producing gas reservoirs. Therefore, the design of AICD to ensure that the gas flows smoothly inside it and to keep water under control to a greater extent can maximize the performance of the AICD, and the most important thing is to restrict the water in the formation from entering the wellbore. However, currently, there are very few designs and research on the AICD used for water control and gas production in the gas wells, and the performance of this type of tool and the law of gas and water flow inside it are not perfect, so more in-depth research is needed. In this paper, a new type of AICD is designed to realize the function of water control and gas flow smoothly, and the DoE of the new AICD is carried out, determining the factors that will affect the key technical indicators and the factors that may have interactive effects, using the numerical simulation method of computational fluid dynamics to carry out optimal design, conducting fluid physical property sensitivity analysis, and flow rate applicability analysis. The results show that the tool is not sensitive to the viscosity of water and gas in different gas reservoirs but is very sensitive to the density of water and gas. When the gas/water flow rate ratio is less than 4, it can exert its water control effect. In addition, the results of multiple sets of physical experiments are well consistent with the simulation results; the average deviation of single-phase water is 10.91% and the average deviation of single-phase gas is 11.85%. Computational fluid dynamics and physical experiment results show that, under these conditions, the difference in fluid flow characteristics can be fully exploited; the channel is automatically identified to produce a small gas pressure drop and a large water flow pressure drop. The research in this paper belongs to the key technology of the AWC technology of gas wells in the new water control strategy of the current and has a certain reference value to make up for the defects of drainage gas recovery technology in the water management strategy..

Association between eNOS gene polymorphisms and the risk of unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion in Yunnan province, China.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent spontaneous abortion affects approximately 1-2% of reproductive-age women, with roughly half of RSA cases classified as unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). Genetic polymorphisms in eNOS gene have been shown to have significant implications across various disease processes. Nevertheless, the potential impact of eNOS gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility to URSA in Yunnan population has yet to be explored or documented. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the potential association between specific variations in the eNOS gene (VNTR 4b/a, -786T > C, and +894G > T) and the risk of URSA in Yunnan population. METHODS: A total of 243 URSA patients and 241 healthy females are involved in this study. We conducted amplification of the eNOS gene fragment and performed sanger sequencing to detect the specific eNOS gene polymorphisms, including VNTR 4b/a, -786T > C, and +894G > T. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, we evaluate the potential association between eNOS gene polymorphisms (VNTR 4b/a, -786T > C, and +894G > T) and the risk of URSA. Furthermore, serum NO levels were measured in URSA patients. RESULTS: The presence of VNTR 4a, -786C, and +894T alleles was found to be associated with an increased risk of URSA. Additionally, our study revealed a significant association between the G-C-4b haplotype of the investigated eNOS gene polymorphisms and a predisposition to URSA. Notably, these eNOS polymorphisms were shown to reduce serum NO levels in URSA patients. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence supporting the association between eNOS gene polymorphisms, VNTR 4b/a, -786T > C, and +894G > T, and the occurrence of URSA in Yunnan Province, China.

Major depressive disorder and chronic gastritis: A bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study.

OBJECTIVE: Observational studies have posited a strong correlation between chronic gastritis (CG) and major depressive disorder (MDD), but the nature of this association remains uncertain, owing to the challenges of establishing the temporal sequence. The present study sought to elucidate the elusive relationship between CG and MDD by employing a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. METHODS: We extracted instrumental variants for MDD and CG from published genome-wide association study data, focusing on individuals of primarily European descent. A comprehensive suite of MR estimations and sensitivity analyses was performed to ensure the robustness of the findings. Each outcome database was analyzed separately in both directions. RESULTS: For MDD and CG, 221 and 5 genetic variants, respectively, were selectively extracted as instrumental variants. The results suggest that MDD is causally associated with an elevated risk of CG (IVW: 23andMe, OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.15-1.54; p = 1.06 × 10-4); conversely, no strong evidence was found to corroborate that CG exerts a causal effect on the incidence of MDD (IVW: OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.95-1.07; p = 0.68). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide novel insights into the causal relationship between CG and MDD, which may have implications for clinical decision-making in patients with MDD and CG.

Mapping global zoonotic niche and interregional transmission risk of monkeypox: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Outbreaks of monkeypox have been ongoing in non-endemic countries since May 2022. A thorough assessment of its global zoonotic niche and potential transmission risk is lacking. METHODS: We established an integrated database on global monkeypox virus (MPXV) occurrence during 1958 - 2022. Phylogenetic analysis was performed to examine the evolution of MPXV and effective reproductive number (Rt) was estimated over time to examine the dynamic of MPXV transmissibility. The potential ecological drivers of zoonotic transmission and inter-regional transmission risks of MPXV were examined. RESULTS: As of 24 July 2022, a total of 49 432 human patients with MPXV infections have been reported in 78 countries. Based on 525 whole genome sequences, two main clades of MPXV were formed, of which Congo Basin clade has a higher transmissibility than West African clade before the 2022-monkeypox, estimated by the overall Rt (0.81 vs. 0.56), and the latter significantly increased in the recent decade. Rt of 2022-monkeypox varied from 1.14 to 4.24 among the 15 continuously epidemic countries outside Africa, with the top three as Peru (4.24, 95% CI: 2.89-6.71), Brazil (3.45, 95% CI: 1.62-7.00) and the United States (2.44, 95% CI: 1.62-3.60). The zoonotic niche of MPXV was associated with the distributions of Graphiurus lorraineus and Graphiurus crassicaudatus, the richness of Rodentia, and four ecoclimatic indicators. Besides endemic areas in Africa, more areas of South America, the Caribbean States, and Southeast and South Asia are ecologically suitable for the occurrence of MPXV once the virus has invaded. Most of Western Europe has a high-imported risk of monkeypox from Western Africa, whereas France and the United Kingdom have a potential imported risk of Congo Basin clade MPXV from Central Africa. Eleven of the top 15 countries with a high risk of MPXV importation from the main countries of 2022-monkeypox outbreaks are located at Europe with the highest risk in Italy, Ireland and Poland. CONCLUSIONS: The suitable ecological niche for MPXV is not limited to Africa, and the transmissibility of MPXV was significantly increased during the 2022-monkeypox outbreaks. The imported risk is higher in Europe, both from endemic areas and currently epidemic countries. Future surveillance and targeted intervention programs are needed in its high-risk areas informed by updated prediction.

Effects of biochar additions on the mechanical stability of soil aggregates and their role in the dynamic renewal of aggregates in slope ecological restoration.

Mechanical stability of soil aggregates is important for resisting external disturbances in slope soils. Biochar (BC) is widely used in slope remediation. However, biochar application may not be conducive to the formation of mechanical-stable soil aggregates, and the effects of biochar additions on the mechanical stability of soil aggregates in slope restoration remain largely unclear. In this context, an incubation experiment was conducted in this study with four biochar levels added to artificial soil, namely 0 % (BC0), 1.5 % (BC1), 3 % (BC2), and 4.5 % (BC3), corresponding approximately to 0, 0.77, 1.53 and 2.30 M ha-1, respectively. The contributions of different soil aggregate fractions to maintaining the mechanical stability of aggregates, as well as the main influencing factors and pathways of biochar additions on soil aggregate stability in a dynamic renewal process of aggregates, were investigated in this study. The results showed a decreasing trend in the mean weight diameter (MWD) with increasing biochar levels and BC1 has no significant difference with BC0, showing MWD values of 2.74 and 2.75, respectively. In contrast, BC3 is significantly lower MWD value of 2.18. The BC3 exhibited negative impact on the mechanical stability of the aggregates. Redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that large macroaggregates (>5 mm) exhibited a stronger contribution on the aggregate mechanical stability between all soil aggregate fractions. The random forest (RF) algorithm and structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that microaggregate-associated soil organic carbon (SOC) contents and soil pH values were the main factors driving the changes in the aggregate mechanical stability caused by biochar applications. Indeed, the biochar level of 1.5 % maintained the stability of macroaggregates and increased the microaggregate-associated SOC content by 35.7 %, which was conducive to the formation of microaggregates within macroaggregates. Our study suggests that the application of biochar at a level of 1.5 % is more beneficial for maintaining the mechanical stability of artificial soil aggregates.

Prevalence and Etiological Characteristics of Norovirus Infection in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Norovirus is a common cause of sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis worldwide, although its prevalence and the dominant genotypes responsible for gastroenteritis outbreaks remain obscure. A systematic review was conducted on norovirus infection in China between January 2009 and March 2021. A meta-analysis and beta-binomial regression model were used to explore the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of norovirus infection and the potential factors contributing to the attack rate of the norovirus outbreaks, respectively. A total of 1132 articles with 155,865 confirmed cases were included, with a pooled positive test rate of 11.54% among 991,786 patients with acute diarrhea and a pooled attack rate of 6.73% in 500 norovirus outbreaks. GII.4 was the predominant genotype in both the etiological surveillance and outbreaks, followed by GII.3 in the etiological surveillance, and GII.17 in the outbreaks, with the proportion of recombinant genotypes increasing in recent years. A higher attack rate in the norovirus outbreaks was associated with age group (older adults), settings (nurseries, primary schools, etc.) and region (North China). The nation-wide pooled positive rate in the etiological surveillance of norovirus is lower than elsewhere in the global population, while the dominant genotypes are similar in both the etiological surveillance and the outbreak investigations. This study contributes to the understanding of norovirus infection with different genotypes in China. The prevention and control of norovirus outbreaks during the cold season should be intensified, with special attention paid to and enhanced surveillance performed in nurseries, schools and nursing homes from November to March.

Effects of social support, anxiety, and hope levels on cognitive bias in patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes.

BACKGROUND: Unplanned extubation is a common adverse event and an important indicator of quality and safety of care. It is well recognized that the incidence of unplanned extubation of nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes is higher than that of other devices. Theory and previous research have suggested that cognitive bias in conscious patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes may lead to unplanned extubation, and that social support, anxiety, and hope are influencing factors of cognitive bias. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effects of social support, anxiety, and hope levels on cognitive bias in patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 438 patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes were selected from 16 hospitals in Suzhou from December 2019 to March 2022 by convenience sampling method. The participants were assessed using the General Information Questionnaire, Perceived Social Support Scale, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, Herth Hope Index, and Cognitive Bias Questionnaire for patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes. The structural equation model was established with AMOS 22.0 software. RESULTS: The cognitive bias score of patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes was 2.82±0.61. Patients' perceived levels of social support and hope were negatively correlated with their cognitive bias (r=-0.395 and -0.427, respectively, P<0.05), and anxiety was positively correlated with cognitive bias (r=0.446, P<0.05). Structural equation model analysis showed that anxiety had a direct positive effect on cognitive bias, with an effect value of 0.35 (P<0.001), and hope level had a direct negative effect on cognitive bias with an effect value of -0.33 (P<0.001). Social support had a direct negative effect on cognitive bias and was also shown to indirectly affect cognitive bias through anxiety and hope levels. The effect values were -0.22, -0.12, and -0.19 (P<0.001), for social support, anxiety, and hope, respectively. Social support, anxiety, and hope explained 46.2% of the total variation in cognitive bias. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate cognitive bias is noted in patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes, and social support significantly affects cognitive bias. Anxiety and hope level play a mediating role in social support and cognitive bias. Positive psychological intervention and the obtention of positive support could improve the cognitive bias of patients with nasogastric/nasoenteric tubes.

Host insect specificity and interspecific competition drive parasitoid diversification in a plant-insect community.

Ecological interactions among plants, insect herbivores, and parasitoids are pervasive in nature and play important roles in community assembling, but the codiversification of tri-trophic interactions has received less attention. Here we compare pairwise codiversification patterns between a set of 22 fig species, their herbivorous pollinating and galling wasps, and their parasitoids. The parasitoid phylogeny showed significant congruence and more cospeciation events with host insects phylogeny than with host plants. These results suggest that parasitoid phylogeny and speciation is more closely related to their host insects than to their host plants. The pollinating wasps hosted more parasitoid species than gallers and indicated a more intense interspecific competition among parasitoids associated with pollinators. Closer matching and fewer evolutionary host shifts were found between parasitoids and galler hosts than between parasitoids and pollinator hosts. These results suggest that interspecific competition among parasitoids, rather than resource availability of host wasps, is the main driver of the codiversification pattern in this community. Therefore, our study highlights the important role of interspecific competition among high trophic level insects in plant-insect tri-trophic community assembling.

Clinical characteristics, susceptibility profiles, and treatment of nocardiosis: a multicenter retrospective study in 2015-2021.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the microbiological characteristics, antimicrobial resistance profiles, antibiotic choice, and outcomes of Nocardia infection in various centers over a 7-year period (from 2015 to 2021). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of all hospitalized patients diagnosed with Nocardia between 2015 and 2021. The isolates were identified to the species level through the sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA or secA1 or ropB genes. The susceptibility profiles were determined using the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Of the 130 nocardiosis cases, 99 (76.2%) were established as pulmonary infection, of which the most common underlying disease was chronic lung disease (40.4%, 40/99), including bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic bronchitis. Among 130 isolates, 12 species were identified, with the most common species being Nocardia cyriacigeorgica (37.7%) and Nocardia farcinica (20.8%). All Nocardia strains were susceptible to linezolid and amikacin, and the susceptibility rate of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) was 97.7%. Of the 130 patients, 86 (66.2%) received TMP-SMX monotherapy or multidrug regimen. Furthermore, 92.3% patients who were treated achieved clinical improvement. CONCLUSION: TMP-SMX was the treatment of choice for nocardiosis, and other combination drugs with TMP-SMX therapy yielded even better results.

Mapping the global distribution of spotted fever group rickettsiae: a systematic review with modelling analysis.

BACKGROUND: Emerging and re-emerging spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsioses are increasingly recognised worldwide as threats to public health, yet their global distribution and associated risk burden remain poorly understood. METHODS: In this systematic review and modelling analysis, we mapped global distributions of all confirmed species of SFG rickettsiae (SFGR) detected in animals, vectors, and human beings, using data collected from the literature. We assessed ecological drivers for the distributions of 17 major SFGR species using machine learning algorithms, and mapped model-predicted risks. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1, 1906, and March 31, 2021, we found reports of 48 confirmed SFGR species, with 66 133 human infections worldwide, with a large spatial variation across the continents. 198 vector species were detected to carry 47 of these Rickettsia spp. (146 ticks, 24 fleas, 15 mosquitoes, six mites, four lice, two keds, and one bug). Based on model-predicted global distributions of the 17 major SFGR species, we found five spatial clusters aggregated by ecological similarity in terms of environmental and ecoclimatic features. Rickettsia felis is the leading SFGR species to which 4·4 billion (95% CI 3·8-5·3 billion) people are at risk, followed by Rickettsia conorii (3·7 billion) and Rickettsia africae (3·6 billion). INTERPRETATION: The wide spectrum of vectors is contributing substantially to the increasing incidence of SFGR infections among humans. Awareness, diagnosis, and surveillance of SFGR infections should be improved in the high-risk regions, especially in areas where human infections are underreported. FUNDING: National Key Research and Development Program of China.

Overexpressing NeuroD1 reprograms Müller cells into various types of retinal neurons.

The onset of retinal degenerative disease is often associated with neuronal loss. Therefore, how to regenerate new neurons to restore vision is an important issue. NeuroD1 is a neural transcription factor with the ability to reprogram brain astrocytes into neurons in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that in adult mice, NeuroD1 can reprogram Müller cells, the principal glial cell type in the retina, to become retinal neurons. Most strikingly, ectopic expression of NeuroD1 using two different viral vectors converted Müller cells into different cell types. Specifically, AAV7m8 GFAP681::GFP-ND1 converted Müller cells into inner retinal neurons, including amacrine cells and ganglion cells. In contrast, AAV9 GFAP104::ND1-GFP converted Müller cells into outer retinal neurons such as photoreceptors and horizontal cells, with higher conversion efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate that Müller cell conversion induced by AAV9 GFAP104::ND1-GFP displayed clear dose- and time-dependence. These results indicate that Müller cells in adult mice are highly plastic and can be reprogrammed into various subtypes of retinal neurons.

Current strategies for SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection.

The molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 is extremely important for the discovery and prevention of pandemic dissemination. Because SARS-CoV-2 is not always present in the samples that can be collected, the sample chosen for testing has inevitably become the key to the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases screening. The nucleotide amplification strategy mainly includes Q-PCR assays and isothermal amplification assays. The Q-PCR assay is the most used SARS-CoV-2 detection assay. Due to heavy expenditures and other drawbacks, isothermal amplification cannot replace the dominant position of the Q-PCR assay. The antibody-based detection combined with Q-PCR can help to find more positive cases than only using nucleotide amplification-based assays. Pooled testing based on Q-PCR significantly increases efficiency and reduces the cost of massive-scale screening. The endless stream of variants emerging across the world poses a great challenge to SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection. The multi-target assays and several other strategies have proved to be efficient in the detection of mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants. Further research work should concentrate on: (1) identifying more ideal sample plucking strategies, (2) ameliorating the Q-PCR primer and probes targeted toward mutated SARS-CoV-2 variants, (3) exploring more economical and precise isothermal amplification assays, and (4) developing more advanced strategies for antibody/antigen or engineered antibodies to ameliorate the antibody/antigen-based strategy.