Acidity-activated aggregation and accumulation of self-complementary zwitterionic peptide-decorated gold nanoparticles for photothermal biofilm eradication

Drug-resistant biofilm infection is an extremely serious clinical problem, that easily leads to failure of antibiotic treatment. Although gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as photothermal agents have been widely used in biofilm eradication, there are still challenges to be addressed, such as insignificantly redshifted absorption and slow assembly process of aggregated AuNPs. Herein, we developed an acidity-activated dispersion-to-aggregation transition to enhance the accumulation of self-complementary zwitterionic peptide-decorated AuNPs for photothermal eradication of drug-resistant biofilm infections. AuNPs were decorated with self-complementary zwitterionic peptides (ZP1 and ZP2) coupled with pH-sensitive anhydride (DMA) and pH-insensitive anhydride (SA), respectively. ZP2-decorated AuNPs with DMA modification (AuNP@ZP2(DMA)) exhibited prolonged blood circulation and enhanced accumulation in acidic biofilm microenvironment. Moreover, the electrostatic attraction between self-complementary ligands drove AuNPs to form closely packed aggregates with strong near-infrared absorption, leading to in vivo photoacoustic imaging ability and photothermal effect against drug-resistant bacteria and fungus, as well as microbial biofilms. AuNP@ZP2(DMA) with longer charge domains and a polyethylene glycol oligomer spacer showed greater photothermal antimicrobial and biofilm resistance in vitro and in vivo. This study develops an innovative acidity-activated AuNP photothermal agent, which provides an effective approach for treatment of biofilm infections.

Associations Among Psychological Resilience, Self-Esteem, Social Support, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behaviors in Adolescents Receiving Inpatient Psychiatric Care

PURPOSE

To explore associations among psychological resilience, self-esteem, social support, and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents receiving inpatient psychiatric care.

METHOD

In this cross-sectional study, 505 Chinese adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) receiving inpatient psychiatric care completed a general characteristics questionnaire, the Psychological Resilience Scale (PRS), Self-Esteem Scale (SES), and Child and Adolescent Social Support Scale (CASSS). Statistical tests were used to compare NSSI incidence, scale scores, and factors influencing NSSI.

RESULTS

The incidence rate of NSSI was 77.82% (n = 393). Total and dimension scores on the PRS, SES, and CASSS in the NSSI group were significantly lower than those in the non-NSSI group (p < 0.01). Binary logistic multifactorial regression analysis showed that participants who were female and aged 10 to 14 years were more prone to NSSI behavior (p < 0.05). Having close friends, high parental expectations, and moderate to high self-esteem were protective factors for NSSI behavior (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Nursing personnel should prioritize enhancing psychological resilience, self-esteem, and social support in adolescents receiving inpatient psychiatric care to mitigate the risk of NSSI and ensure the safety of hospitalized individuals. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, xx(xx), xx-xx.].

Modulation of transport at the interface in the microporous layer for high power density proton exchange membrane fuel cells

The proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is a device that demonstrates a significant potential for environmental sustainability, since it efficiently converts chemical energy into electrical energy. The microporous layer (MPL) in PEM fuel cells promotes gas transport and eliminates water. Nevertheless, the power density of PEM fuel cells is restricted by ohmic losses and mass transport losses in conventional MPLs. In this study, we enhanced the power density of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells through the identification of appropriate materials and the mitigation of mass transport losses occurring at the interface between the microporous layer and the catalyst layer. The incorporation of high electron conductivity, slip behavior at the interface between graphene and water, and rapid water evaporation facilitated by nanoporous graphene effectively address transport-related challenges. We evaluated two types of graphene as potential substitutes for carbon black in the microporous layer (MPL). The enhanced power density (up to 1.1 W cm-2) under all humidity conditions and reduced mass transport resistance (a 75 % reduction compared to carbon black MPL) make them promising candidates for next-generation PEM fuel cells. Furthermore, these findings provide guidance for controlling interfacial mass transport in colloidal systems.

Slip-Enhanced Transport by Graphene in the Microporous Layer for High Power Density Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells are a promising and environmentally friendly device to directly convert hydrogen energy into electric energy. However, water flooding and gas transport losses degrade its power density owing to structural issues (cracks, roughness, etc.) of the microporous layer (MPL). Here, we introduce a green material, supercritical fluid exfoliated graphene (s-Gr), to act as a network to effectively improve gas transport and water management. The assembled PEM fuel cell achieves a power density of 1.12 W cm-2. This improved performance is attributed to the reduction of cracks and the slip of water and gas on the s-Gr surface, in great contrast to the nonslip behavior on carbon black (CB). These findings open up an avenue to solve the water and gas transport problem in porous media by materials design with low friction and provide a new opportunity to boost high power density PEM fuel cells.

Association between life events, anxiety, depression and non-suicidal self-injury behavior in Chinese psychiatric adolescent inpatients: a cross-sectional study

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major public health concern among adolescents. Further research is needed into contributors to this behavior, in particular among adolescents with psychiatric disorders. The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of life events and emotional stress on NSSI among hospitalized psychiatric adolescents.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 505 Chinese psychiatric adolescent inpatients 10-19  years old completed questionnaires about sociodemographic characteristics and NSSI as well as the Adolescent Self-Rating Life Events Checklist (ASLEC), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form Y, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Chi-square test was used to compare the incidence of NSSI in psychiatric adolescent patients with different sociodemographic. T-test was used to compare the total scores and dimension scores of the ASLEC, STAI-Y, and CES-D between the NSSI group and the non-NSSI group. A binary logistic regression model was built to explore the relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, questionnaire scores and NSSI.

Results

Most psychiatric adolescent inpatients (393, 77.8%) reported NSSI behavior. The higher risk for NSSI was observed among female (odds ratio [OR] 2.665, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.575-4.510), younger adolescents (10-14 years; OR 2.021, 95% CI 1.258-3.245), with a suicide history (OR 2.479, 95% CI 1.549-3.967), or with depression symptom (OR 3.217, 95% CI 1.572-6.582) and those with higher scores of ASLEC (OR 1.019, 95% CI 1.010-1.029).

Conclusion

Our study in China is one of the first to apply to adolescent inpatients the diagnostic criteria of NSSI in the latest edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Our analysis suggests that NSSI prevalence is disturbingly high among adolescents with mental illness in China. A better understanding of contributing factors, especially negative life events and negative emotions, may guide interventions that can reduce its prevalence.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide protects cardiomyocytes from hypoxia/reoxygenation injury via activation of SIRT3/CypD signaling

Background

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion is a common pathological feature of many heart and vascular diseases, but the molecular mechanism of this process is still unclear, and there is no effective way to protect cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to examine the effects and underlying molecular mechanisms of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in cardiomyocytes.

Methods

The cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2 were used to establish an in vitro hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) model. After treatment with LBP and/or the SIRT3 inhibitor 3-TYP, cell morphology was observed under the light microscopy. The Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay were used to detect cell proliferation, and flow cytometry was performed to assess cell apoptosis. The lysine (166)-acetylation of CypD1 was determined by co-immunoprecipitation assay. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in the culture medium. Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured.

Results

LBP alleviated cell damage and upregulated STIR3 expression in a dose-dependent manner. Upregulated SIRT3 expression and suppressed acetylation of CypD were also observed in H/R-induced H9c2 cells treated with LBP. Indeed, LBP remarkably reversed the inhibition of proliferation and cell apoptosis in H/R-induced H9c2 cells by activating SIRT3/CypD signaling. Blockade of SIRT3 with SIRT3 inhibitor (3-TYP) inhibited the protective effect of LBP on H9c2 cells. LBP markedly alleviated the H/R-induced increase of LDH release, and the decrease of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity, Ca²⁺-ATPase activity, and NO levels. Inhibition of SIRT3 restored the protective effects of LBP.

Conclusions

LPB induced deacetylation of CypD by upregulating SIRT3, thereby protecting mitochondrial function and relieving H/R-induced injury in cardiomyocytes.

Tripterygium Wilfordii Polyglycosides (TP) Ameliorate Alcoholic Kidney Injury in Rats by Regulating Protein Expression Associated with the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 Signaling Pathway

Objective: To explore the mechanisms of protection of tripterygium wilfordii polyglycosides (TP) against alcoholic kidney injury by regulating Nrf2 signaling pathway in rats. Materials and Methods: Dividing rats into Control, Model, LD, MD and HD groups. The kidney was weighed to calculate kidney index. The morphology of the kidney was observed by HE staining. Nrf2, p-Nrf2 and HO-1 in kidney were detected by immunohistochemistry. Measuring Scr by Jaffe’s method and BUN by diacetyl-oxime method. The renal SOD and MDA were detected by colorimetry. The renal ROS was detected by fluorescence spectrometry. Results: Compared with Control, histopathological changes were observed in Model group, The kidney index, Scr, BUN, renal MDA and ROS concentrations increased significantly (P <0.001). Renal SOD activity, expression of p-Nrf2 and HO-1, p-Nrf2/Nrf2 decreased significantly (P < 0.001). With TP supplement, compared with Model, histopathological was improved, The kidney index, Scr, BUN, renal MDA and ROS concentrations decreased significantly (P <0.05, respectively); Renal SOD activity, p-Nrf2 and HO-1, p-Nrf2/Nrf2 increased significantly (P <0.05, respectively) in TP treated groups (LD, MD and HD). Conclusion: TP can prevent or reduce oxidative stress and attenuate alcoholic kidney injury via regulating Nrf2 signaling pathway in vivo.

Influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury according to DSM-5 in adolescents admitted to the psychiatric department: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is being increasingly recognized as a prominent mental health concern, especially among adolescents. In psychiatric clinical samples, its incidence is high and difficult to identify. However, few studies have explored the NSSI behavior of psychiatric hospitalized adolescents. This study aimed to explore the influencing factors of NSSI according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5) in adolescents admitted to the psychiatric department.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, by convenient sampling, a total of 505 psychiatric adolescent inpatients aged 10-19 years completed questionnaires to record details of sociodemographic characteristics, the NSSI questionnaire, the Child Psychological Abuse and Neglect Scale (CPANS), the self-report version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (self-report SDQ), the Coping Style Scale for Middle School Students (CSSMSS), which were compared between NSSI inpatients and non-NSSI inpatients. This study used the diagnostic criteria for NSSI disorder in DSM-5: adolescent patients who have NSSI behaviors for more than 5 times in the past 1 year are called NSSI. A multiple logistic regression model was built to explore the relationships among general information, CPANS, SDQ, CSSMSS, and NSSI. Risk for NSSI is quantified by odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI).

RESULTS

The results showed that 77.82% (n=393) of adolescent inpatients had NSSI, and 80.0% were female (n=404). NSSI adolescent inpatients experienced more family scolding, psychological abuse, and neglect and showed more positive attitudes toward NSSI than non-NSSI adolescent inpatients. However, after controlling for covariables, the difference disappeared. NSSI behavior was significantly associated with female (OR =2.391, 95% CI: 1.396-4.097, P=0.002), younger age (10-14 years old) (OR =1.876, 95% CI: 1.154-3.049, P=0.011), have close friends (OR =0.355, 95% CI: 0.164-0.768, P=0.008), peer discussion about self-injury (OR =1.977, 95% CI: 1.047-3.734, P=0.036), emotional and behavioral difficulties (OR =1.853, 95% CI: 1.054-3.258, P=0.032), problem-oriented coping styles (OR =0.968, 95% CI: 0.945-0.991, P=0.007), emotion-oriented coping styles (OR =1.035, 95% CI: 1.006-41.064, P=0.016).

CONCLUSIONS

Measures should be taken to prevent and reduce the occurrence of NSSI behaviors among hospitalized adolescents in psychiatric department, which include improving adolescents' attitude towards NSSI, reducing adolescents' gathering behavior in the ward, preventing adolescents from discussing NSSI through social media, improving their coping style when facing difficulties, and reasonably regulating their abnormal emotions and behaviors.

Optimum display luminance under a wide range of ambient light for cockpit displays

The self-luminous cockpit displays need to be adaptive to a wide range of ambient light levels, which changes from very low illuminance to very high levels. Yet, current studies on evaluation and luminance setting of displays in bright surroundings are still limited. In this study, a three-dimensional visual ergonomic experiment was carried out to investigate how bright a cockpit display should be to meet aircrew operational requirements under different illuminance. A lab study with a within-subjects (N = 12) design was conducted in a simulated cockpit. According to the Weber-Fechner's Law, human observers evaluated five display luminance conditions (10¹, 10^1.5, 10², 10^2.5, 10³ cd/m²) under five ambient illuminance conditions (10°, 10¹, 10², 10³, 10⁴ lx). Visual performance, visual fatigue and visual comfort were used as evaluation bases, which were measured by d2 task, subjective fatigue questionnaire and visual perception semantic scales. Nonlinear function fitting was used to calculate the optimal luminance under a certain illuminance. Finally, curvilinear regression was used to analyze the illuminance and its corresponding optimal luminance. Based on Silverstein luminance power function, a luminance adjustment model with the form of power function was obtained. The proposed three-dimensional model fits the experimental data well and is consistent with the existing studies. It can be regarded as a supplement and optimization of the previous model under high ambient illuminance. This study can contribute not only to the pleasing luminance setting of panel displays in aircraft cockpits but also to other self-luminous devices, such as tablet devices, outdoor monitoring equipment and advertising screens.

High circadian stimulus lighting therapy for depression: Meta-analysis of clinical trials

Although bright light therapy (BLT) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of depression, the antidepressant effect of BLT is not well understood. Considering the connection between depression and disrupted circadian rhythm, we assumed the model of human circadian phototransduction could be more accurate in evaluating the efficacy of BLT for depression compared to light level and spectrum. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted and the CS (circadian stimulus) model was used to quantify the efficacy of lighting in BLT. Articles published up to June 2022 were searched in COCHRANE, EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science. Randomized clinical trials included articles using high circadian stimulus (H-CS, CS > 0.1) as lighting therapy for people with depressive disorder vs. a control group (CS < 0.1). The treatment effect was estimated by calculating the mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Seven trials involving 258 participants met the inclusion criteria. In this sample size, H-CS lighting was associated with a significant reduction in depressive symptoms (MD = −5.56, 95% CI = −9.22 to −1.90, P = 0.003, I² = 64%). According to the meta-analysis, CS can be employed for the clinical evaluation of BLT for patients with depressive disorder and exposure to H-CS lighting significantly reduced depressive symptoms among adults. A range of CS > 0.57 was obtained, during which different lighting parameter combinations (e.g., light levels, spectra, duration, and light distribution) could achieve better treatment for depression.

Study on the Effects of Melatonin on Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis of Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells and Autophagy Protein L Light Chain 3 (LC3)

Purpose: The aim of this work was to discuss Melatonin’s effects on Cisplatin-induced Apoptosis of Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells. Materials and Methods: Blood and renal tissue were collected, The level of serum creatinine (Scr) was detected, the content of p53 protein in renal tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry, the expression of p53 protein and autophagy marker protein microtubule associated protein L light chain 3II (LC3II)/LC 3I ratio in renal tissue was detected by WB method, the apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells was detected by TUNEL method, and the morphological changes of renal tissue were observed by light microscope. Results: Scr level and apoptosis cell rate were significantly increased in Model group (P < 0.001), P53 and LC 3II/LC 3I ratio were significantly depressed (P < 0.001). With MT supplement, Scr level and apoptosis cell rate were significantly depressed (P < 0.05); MT could significantly up-regulate P53 and LC 3II/LC 3I ratio (P < 0.05), MT could improve the pathological changes such as renal tubular epithelial cell fusion and vacuolar degeneration, and reduce renal tubular injury. Conclusion: MT has a protective effect on cisplatin induced AKI in mice. Its mechanism may be related to up regulating the expression levels of p53 protein and LC 3II/LC 3I ratio.

Global prevalence and characteristics of non-suicidal self-injury between 2010 and 2021 among a non-clinical sample of adolescents: A meta-analysis

Background

Adolescents with immature mind and unstable emotional control are high-risk groups of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior. We meta-analyzed the global prevalence of NSSI and prevalence of NSSI characteristics in a non-clinical sample of adolescents between 2010 and 2021.

Methods

A systematic search for relevant articles published from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2021 was performed within the scholarly database search engines of CBM, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang, PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, and Embase. Eligibility criteria were as follows: provided cross-sectional data on the prevalence of NSSI; the subjects were non-clinical sample adolescents; and a clear definition of NSSI was reported. We used the following definiton of NSSI as our standard: the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction of body tissue, such as cutting, burning, and biting, without attempted suicide. The quality evaluation tool for cross-sectional studies recommended by the JBI was used. The global prevalence of NSSI was calculated based on the random-effects model by Comprehensive Meta-analysis version 3.0. Subgroup analyses were performed to compare the prevalence according to sex, living place, smoking or drinking history, and family structure.

Results

Sixty-two studies involving 264,638 adolescents were included. The aggregate prevalence of NSSI among a non-clinical sample of adolescents was similar between over a lifetime (22.0%, 95% CI 17.9-26.6) and during a 12-month period (23.2%, 95% CI 20.2-26.5). Repetitive NSSI was more common than episodic NSSI (20.3% vs. 8.3%) but the frequency of mild injury (12.6%) was similar to that of moderate injury (11.6%). Multiple-method NSSI occurred slightly more often compared than one-method NSSI (16.0% vs. 11.1%). The top three types of NSSI in adolescents were banging/hitting (12.0%, 95% CI 8.9-15.9), pinching (10.0%, 95% CI 6.7-14.8), and pulling hair (9.8%, 95% CI 8.3-11.5), and the least common type was swallowing drugs/toxic substances/chemicals (1.0%, 95% CI 0.5-2.2). Subgroup analyses showed that being female, smoking, drinking, having siblings, and belonging to a single-parent family may be linked to higher prevalence of NSSI.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis found a high prevalence of NSSI in non-clinical sample of adolescents, but there are some changes in severity, methods, and reasons. Based on the current evidence, adolescents in modern society are more inclined to implement NSSI behavior by a variety of ways, which usually are repetitive, and moderate and severe injuries are gradually increasing. It is also worth noting that adolescents with siblings or in single-parent families are relatively more likely to implement NSSI behavior due to maladjustment to the new family model. Future research needs to continue to elucidate the features and risk factors of NSSI so as to intervene in a targeted way.

Limitation

The limitation of this study is that the heterogeneity among the included studies is not low, and it is mainly related to Chinese and English studies. The results of this study should be used with caution.

Systematic review registration

[www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/], identifier [CRD42022283217].

Artificial Monovalent Metal Ion-Selective Fluidic Devices Based on Crown Ether@Metal-Organic Frameworks with Subnanochannels

Precise regulation of ion transport through nanoscale pores will profoundly impact diverse fields from separation to energy conversion but is still challenging to achieve in artificial ion channels. Herein, inspired by the exquisite ion selectivity of biological Na⁺ channels, we have successfully fabricated hierarchically grown metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) on an asymmetrical substrate assisted by atomically thin nanoporous graphene. Efficient separation of monovalent metal ions is realized by encapsulating 18-crown-6 into MOF crystals. The resulting 18-crown-6@ZIF-67/ZIF-8 device, with subnanochannels and specific K⁺ binding sites, shows an ultrahigh Li⁺ conductivity of 1.46 × 10^-2 S cm^-1 and selectivities of 9.56 and 6.43 for Li⁺/K⁺ and Na⁺/K⁺, respectively. The Li⁺ conductivity is around 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than reported values for the other MOF materials. It is the first time that MOFs with subnanochannels realize selective transport of Na⁺ (ionic diameter of 1.9 Å) over K⁺ (2.6 Å) based on subangstrom differences in their ionic diameter. Our work opens new avenues to develop crown ether@MOF platforms toward efficient ion transistors, fluidic logic devices, and biosensors.

Percutaneous CT-Guided Microwave Ablation Combined with Vertebral Augmentation for Treatment of Painful Spinal Metastases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Percutaneous thermal ablation followed by vertebral augmentation is an emerging minimally invasive therapeutic alternative for the management of spinal metastases. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness and safety of microwave ablation combined with vertebral augmentation for the treatment of painful vertebral metastases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Overall, 91 patients with 140 metastatic vertebrae who experienced refractory moderate-to-severe pain were treated with CT-guided microwave ablation and vertebral augmentation. Procedural effectiveness was determined using the visual analog scale, daily morphine consumption, and the Oswestry Disability Index preprocedurally and during follow-up. Local tumor control was assessed at follow-up imaging.

RESULTS

The procedure was technically successful in all patients. The median visual analog scale score and mean morphine dose were 6 (range, 4-10) and 77.8 (SD, 31.5) mg (range, 15-143 mg), preprocedurally; 5 (range 3-8) and 34.5 (SD, 23.8) mg (range, 0-88 mg) at 3 days; 4 (range, 2-7) and 28.7 (SD, 16.4) mg (range, 0-73 mg) at 1 week; 3 (range, 1-6) and 24.6 (SD, 13.2) mg (range, 0-70 mg) at 1 month; 3 (range, 1-6) and 21.70 (SD, 10.0) mg (range, 0-42 mg) at 3 months; and 3 (range, 1-8) and 21.0 (SD, 9.9) mg (range, 0-46 mg) at 6 months postprocedurally (all P < .05). A decrease in the Oswestry Disability Index score was also observed (P < .01). Local control was achieved in 94.8% of the treated metastatic vertebrae during the 6-month follow-up period. Asymptomatic cement leakage occurred in 42 (30%) treated vertebrae. A grade 3 neural injury was observed in 1 patient (1.1%). The patient's neurologic function returned to normal following treatment with mannitol, glucocorticoids, and radiation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that percutaneous CT-guided microwave ablation combined with vertebral augmentation is a safe and effective minimally invasive intervention for the treatment of painful spinal metastases.

Diurnal Circadian Lighting Accumulation Model: A Predictor of the Human Circadian Phase Shift Phenotype

Light is an important external factor that affects human circadian rhythms. This study aimed to explore the effects of different dimensions of diurnal light exposure on the physiological circadian phase shift (CPS) of the human body. A strict light exposure experiment with different timing schemes (8:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00, 18:00-22:00), durations (4 h, 8 h) and effective circadian stimulus levels (circadian stimulus: 0.35, 0.55) was performed in an enclosed laboratory. Fourteen participants, including seven males and seven females, with a mean age of 24.29 ± 2.43 (mean ± standard deviation), participated in this experiment and experienced all six lighting schemes. The results showed that both time factor (F _3,40 = 29.079, p < 0.001, the power of the sample size = 0.98) and circadian stimulus levels (T ₂₀ =  - 2.415, p = 0.025, the power of sample size = 0.76) significantly affect the CPS. On this basis, a diurnal circadian lighting accumulation (DCLA)-CPS model was proposed in the form of the Boltzmann function, and was validated by experimental data with high correlation (R ² = 0.9320, RSS = 0.1184), which provides strong support for rationally arranging the light level at different times of the day.

Tunable Pore Size from Sub-Nanometer to a Few Nanometers in Large-Area Graphene Nanoporous Atomically Thin Membranes

Membranes are key components in chemical purification, biological separation, and water desalination. Traditional polymeric membranes are subjected to a ubiquitous trade-off between permeance and selectivity, which significantly hinders the separation performance. Nanoporous atomically thin membranes (NATMs), such as graphene NATMs, have the potential to break this trade-off. Owing to their uniqueness of two-dimensional structure and potential nanopore structure controllability, NATMs are expected to have outstanding selectivity through molecular sieving while achieving ultimate permeance at the same time. However, a drastic selectivity discrepancy exists between the proof-of-concept demonstrations and scalable separation applications in graphene membranes. In this paper, we offer a possible solution to narrow this discrepancy by tuning the pore density and pore size separately with two successive plasma treatments. We demonstrate that by narrowing the pore size distribution, the selectivity of graphene membranes can be greatly increased. Low-energy argon plasma is first applied to nucleate high density of defects in graphene. Controlled oxygen plasma is then utilized to selectively enlarge the defects into nanopores with desired sizes. This method is scalable, and the fabricated 1 cm2 graphene NATMs with sub-nanometer pores can separate KCl and Allura Red with a selectivity of 104 and a permeance of 1.1 × 10-6 m s-1. The pores in NATMs can be further tuned from gas-selective sub-nanometer pores to a few nanometer size. The fabricated NATMs show a selectivity of 35 between CO2 and N2. With longer enlargement time, a selectivity of 21.2 between a lysozyme and bovine serum albumin can also be achieved with roughly four times higher permeance than that of a commercial dialysis membrane. This research offers a solution to realize NATMs of tunable pore size with a narrow pore size distribution for different separation processes from sub-nanometer in gas separation or desalination to a few nanometers in dialysis.

Decimeter-Scale Atomically Thin Graphene Membranes for Gas-Liquid Separation

Graphene holds great potential for fabricating ultrathin selective membranes possessing high permeability without compromising selectivity and has attracted intensive interest in developing high-performance separation membranes for desalination, natural gas purification, hemodialysis, distillation, and other gas-liquid separation. However, the scalable and cost-effective synthesis of nanoporous graphene membranes, especially designing a method to produce an appropriate porous polymer substrate, remains very challenging. Here, we report a facile route to fabricate decimeter-scale (∼15 × 10 cm²) nanoporous atomically thin membranes (NATMs) via the direct casting of the porous polymer substrate onto graphene, which was produced by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). After the vapor-induced phase-inversion process under proper experimental conditions (60 °C and 60% humidity), the flexible nanoporous polymer substrate was formed. The resultant skin-free polymer substrate, which had the proper pore size and a uniform spongelike structure, provided enough mechanical support without reducing the permeance of the NATMs. It was demonstrated that after creating nanopores by the O₂ plasma treatment, the NATMs were salt-resistant and simultaneously showed 3-5 times higher gas (CO₂) permeance than the state-of-the-art commercial polymeric membranes. Therefore, our work provides guidance for the technological developments of graphene-based membranes and bridges the gap between the laboratory-scale "proof-of-concept" and the practical applications of NATMs in the industry.

Community diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria in shrimp pond sediment at different culture stages

AIMS

Ammonia oxidation is a significant process of nitrogen cycles in a lot of ecosystems sediments while there are few studies in shrimp culture pond (SCP) sediments. This paper attempted to explore the community diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in SCP sediments at different culture stages.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We collected SCP sediments and analysed the community diversity and abundance of AOA and bacteria in shrimp pond sediment at different culture stages using the ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene with quantitative PCR (qPCR) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The AOB-amoA gene abundance was showed higher than AOA-amoA gene abundance in SCP sediments on Day 50 and Day 60 after shrimp larvae introducing into the pond, and the diversity of AOA in SCP sediments was higher than that of AOB. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the most of AOA were the member of Nitrosopumilus and Nitrososphaera, and the majority of AOB sequences were clustered into Nitrosospira, Nitrosomonas clusters 6a and 7. The AOA community has close relationship with total organic carbon (TOC), pH, total phosphorus (TP), nitrate reductase, urease, acid phosphatase and β-glucosidase. The AOB community was related to TOC, C/N and nitrate reductase.

CONCLUSIONS

AOA and AOB play the different ecological roles in SCP sediments at different culture stages.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Our results suggested that the different community diversity and abundance of AOA and AOB in SCP sediments, which may improve our ecological cognition of shrimp culture stages in SCP ecosystems.

Effect of Cold Application on Pain and Bruising in Patients With Subcutaneous Injection of Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin: A Meta-Analysis

To evaluate the effect of cold application on pain and bruising after the subcutaneous injection of low-molecular-weight heparin, 8 electronic databases were searched for randomized controlled trials and quasiexperimental studies from the inception of the databases to June 2019. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the heterogeneity test and meta-analysis. A total of 8 studies including 694 participants were analyzed. The cold application group assessed with the Verbal Descriptor Scale pain assessment tool showed significant reductions in pain intensity immediately after injection. Compared to the control group, the cold application group showed a reduction in the occurrence of bruises at 12 hours, 24 hours, and 48 hours after injection. There was no significant difference in the area of bruising in the cold application group at 48 hours after injection, but the area of bruising at 72 hours after injection was significantly reduced. These results show that cold application can reduce the incidence of pain and bruising after subcutaneous injection of low-molecular-weight heparin and reduce the area of bruising 72 hours after injection. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm these findings.

Spouses' perceptions of and attitudes toward female menopause: a mixed-methods systematic review

Objective: Menopausal women experience physical and psychological discomfort, which may be affected by their spouses' perceptions of and attitudes toward menopause. The purpose of this review is to summarize men's perceptions of and attitudes toward female menopause in different cultural contexts.Method: A sequential integrated design method was used in this mixed-methods systematic review. PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Wanfang database were searched. Studies on spousal perceptions of and attitudes toward female menopause were included in the analysis.Results: A total of 12 articles met the inclusion criteria. Men have little knowledge of menopause and health-care status. Men have different attitudes toward wives' changes during menopause. A large proportion of them cannot cope with these changes, possibly due to poor knowledge about menopause; aging and disease; psychological changes; religious and other internal factors; and external factors, including family life, work stress, and wives' menopausal symptoms. In addition, spouses' perceptions of and attitudes toward menopause may affect women's menopausal symptoms, attitudes toward menopause, and marriage relationships.Conclusion: Although there was little evidence, it seems that male spouses' perceptions of and attitudes toward female menopause are important factors affecting menopausal women's quality of life.

Biomaterials research of China from 2013 to 2017 based on bibliometrics and visualization analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to evaluate the changes of development trends and research hotspots of biomaterials research from 2013 to 2017, which can identify the general information of papers and explore the changes of research content, thus providing perspectives for the development of biomaterials in China and other countries.

METHODS

Data of the paper were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, and then analyzed by the bibliometric and CiteSpace visualization analysis.

RESULTS

It was found that a total of 3,839 related papers had been published from the year 2013 to 2017. The analysis of the articles showed that the annual quantity and quality of the articles in the biomaterials research have been increasing since 2013, and the Wang L / Chinese Academy of Sciences were the most productive author/institution. Meanwhile, the keywords "in vitro", "scaffold", "nanoparticle" , "mechanical property", and "biocompatibility" have the relatively higher frequency, and the keywords "apatite", "deposition", and "surface modification" have the strongest burst citation.

CONCLUSIONS

After statistics and analysis, we found that biomaterials is a promising research field. The study may be helpful in understanding research trends in this field.

Classification of water contamination developed by 2-D Gabor wavelet analysis and support vector machine based on fluorescence spectroscopy

The identification of the specific categories of pollutants in the urban water supply system is necessary. Traditional detection methods are based mainly on common water quality indicators. However, inspecting these water quality indicators is made difficult by issues such as long analysis time, insufficient sensitivity, need for reagents, and generation of waste liquid. These problems hinder high-frequency water detection and monitoring. In this study, three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectroscopy is adopted as a monitoring method for water quality. An identification method based on two-dimensional (2D) Gabor wavelets and support vector machine (SVM) multi-classification is also proposed. The Delaunay triangulation method for interpolation is used to pre-process 3D fluorescence spectra and thereby eliminate Rayleigh scattering and Raman scattering. A 2D Gabor wavelet function generated by filters of different scales and rotation angles is proposed to extract the features of the spectra. The block statistics method, based on Gabor feature description, is employed to enhance the efficiency in describing spectra features. Then, multiple SVM classifiers are used in pollutant classification and recognition. By comparing the proposed method with principal component analysis, which is a commonly used feature extraction method, this study finds that the application of 2D Gabor wavelets and block statistics can effectively describe the characteristics of 3D fluorescence spectra. Moreover, 2D Gabor wavelets achieve high classification accuracy, especially for substances with closely positioned or overlapping characteristic peaks.

[Status Analysis and Improvement Suggestions on the Renew Registration of Passive Medical Devices]

The article collected 250 renew registration of domestic Class Ⅱ passive medical devices from Jan. 2016 to Aug. 2017 in Shanghai. It summarized the common problems listed in the correction notifications of the technical evaluation, and then provides some relevant countermeasures or suggestions. So that we can further speed up the evaluation and approval of medical devices.

Comparative analysis of the bacterial community compositions of the shrimp intestine, surrounding water and sediment

AIMS

To reveal the relationship of the bacterial communities in shrimp intestine and surrounding environments.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined bacterial communities in the intestine of pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, the surrounding water and sediment by high-throughput sequencing analysis. Sequences were clustered into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity levels, which ranged from 4956 to 5976 in each sample. All OTUs were affiliated with at least 64 phyla. The 10 most abundant phyla were Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Firmicutes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Gemmatimonadetes and Verrucomicrobia. The relationship of bacterial communities in the intestine and the surroundings was also investigated. A total of 1395 OTUs shared in the three habitats, accounting for 80, 65 and 77% in the intestine, the surrounding water and sediment respectively. There were 352, 891, 833 unique OTUs in intestine, surrounding water and sediment. Welch's t-test analysis showed that the abundances of some taxa were significantly different between the shrimp intestine and surroundings. Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean analysis revealed that there was a generally similar bacterial community composition in three environments.

CONCLUSIONS

These results showed that the bacterial compositions are mostly the same in shrimp intestine, water and sediment, but with different relative abundances of the bacterial communities.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study provided valuable findings on the relationship of the bacterial communities in shrimp intestine, the surrounding water and sediment, which can expand our knowledge of the broad trend on bacterial community in shrimp cultural ecosystems.

Direct loop gain and bandwidth measurement of phase-locked loop

A simple and robust technique for directly measuring the loop gain and bandwidth of a phase-locked loop (PLL) is proposed. This technique can be used for the real-time measurement of the real loop gain in a closed PLL without breaking its locking state. The agreement of the measured loop gain and theoretical calculations proves the validity of the proposed measurement technique. This technique with a simple configuration can be easily expanded to other phase-locking systems whose loop gain and bandwidth should be measured precisely.

Population-based cohort study of variation in the use of emergency cholecystectomy for benign gallbladder diseases

Background

The aims of this prospective population-based cohort study were to identify the patient and hospital characteristics associated with emergency cholecystectomy, and the influences of these in determining variations between hospitals.

Methods

Data were collected for consecutive patients undergoing cholecystectomy in acute UK and Irish hospitals between 1 March and 1 May 2014. Potential explanatory variables influencing the performance of emergency cholecystectomy were analysed by means of multilevel, multivariable logistic regression modelling using a two-level hierarchical structure with patients (level 1) nested within hospitals (level 2).

Results

Data were collected on 4744 cholecystectomies from 165 hospitals. Increasing age, lower ASA fitness grade, biliary colic, the need for further imaging (magnetic retrograde cholangiopancreatography), endoscopic interventions (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) and admission to a non-biliary centre significantly reduced the likelihood of an emergency cholecystectomy being performed. The multilevel model was used to calculate the probability of receiving an emergency cholecystectomy for a woman aged 40 years or over with an ASA grade of I or II and a BMI of at least 25·0 kg/m2, who presented with acute cholecystitis with an ultrasound scan showing a thick-walled gallbladder and a normal common bile duct. The mean predicted probability of receiving an emergency cholecystectomy was 0·52 (95 per cent c.i. 0·45 to 0·57). The predicted probabilities ranged from 0·02 to 0·95 across the 165 hospitals, demonstrating significant variation between hospitals.

Conclusion

Patients with similar characteristics presenting to different hospitals with acute gallbladder pathology do not receive comparable care.

Antibacterial Surgical Silk Sutures Using a High-Performance Slow-Release Carrier Coating System

Sutures are a vital part for surgical operation, and suture-associated surgical site infections are an important issue of postoperative care. Antibacterial sutures have been proved to reduce challenging complications caused by bacterial infections. In recent decades, triclosan-free sutures have been on their way to commercialization. Alternative antibacterial substances are becoming relevant to processing surgical suture materials. Most of the antibacterial substances are loaded directly on sutures by dipping or coating methods. The aim of this study was to optimize novel antibacterial braided silk sutures based on levofloxacin hydrochloride and poly(ε-caprolactone) by two different processing sequences, to achieve suture materials with slow-release antibacterial efficacy and ideal physical and handling properties. Silk strands were processed into sutures on a circular braiding machine, and antibacterial treatment was introduced alternatively before or after braiding by two-dipping-two-rolling method (M1 group and M2 group). The antibacterial activity and durability against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were tested. Drug release profiles were measured in phosphate buffer with different pH values, and release kinetics model was built to analyze the sustained drug release mechanism between the interface of biomaterials and the in vitro aqueous environment. Knot-pull tensile strength, thread-to-thread friction, and bending stiffness were determined to evaluate physical and handling properties of sutures. All coated sutures showed continuous antibacterial efficacy and slow drug release features for more than 5 days. Besides, treated sutures fulfilled U.S. Pharmacopoeia required knot-pull tensile strength. The thread-to-thread friction and bending stiffness for the M1 group changed slightly when compared with those of uncoated ones. However, physical and handling characteristics of the M2 group tend to approach those of monofilament ones. The novel suture showed acceptable in vitro cytotoxicity according to ISO 10993-5. Generally speaking, all coated sutures show potential in acting as antibacterial suture materials, and M1 group is proved to have a higher prospect for clinical applications.

Surveillance of gram-positive cocci infections and drug resistance

In this study, the prevalence of gram-positive cocci isolates and the characteristics of multiple drug resistances in patients were investigated. Antibiotic resistances were determined in the clinical microbiology laboratory with the methodology of the CLSI (2012). The software WHONET5.4 and SPSS13.0 were used for statistical analysis. There were a total of 6211 gram-positive cocci isolates, comprised of 2255 (36.3%) coagulase (-) staphylococci, 1277 (20.6%) staphylococci aureus, 1109 (17.9%) enterococcus faecalis, and 1045 (16.8%) enterococcus faecium. The proportion of Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was 16.6% (212/1277). Methicillin resistant coagulase (-) staphylococci (MRCNS) was 14.1% (318/2255). There were no strains in isolated enterococci resistant to vancomycin, teicoplanin and linezolid. Among the majority of all monitored antibiotics, methicillin resistant staphylococci has much higher drug resistance rate than methicillin sensitive staphylococci (p<0.05). Enterococcus faecalis has higher multiple drug resistant rate than enterococcus faecium (p<0.01). This research may support the clinicians in prescribing antibiotics properly.

Timing jitter characterization of mode-locked lasers with <1 zs/√Hz resolution using a simple optical heterodyne technique

Timing jitter characterization of free-running mode-locked lasers with an unprecedented resolution is demonstrated using an optical heterodyne technique. A highly sensitive timing jitter phase-discrimination signal with low-parasitic-amplitude sensitivity is achieved. Analytical and numerical methods are used to analyze the properties of the discrimination signal. For an experimental demonstration, we measure the timing jitter between two loosely synchronized mode-locked Er:Yb:glass lasers with 500-MHz fundamental repetition rates. The timing jitter-detection noise floor for a single mode-locked laser reaches 2.8×10(-13)  fs(2)/Hz (∼530  ys/√Hz), and the integrated timing jitter is 16.3 as from 10 kHz to the Nyquist frequency (250 MHz). These results show that this approach can be a simpler alternative to the well-established balanced optical cross-correlation technique.

High-precision distribution of highly stable optical pulse trains with 8.8 × 10⁻¹⁹ instability

The high-precision distribution of optical pulse trains via fibre links has had a considerable impact in many fields. In most published work, the accuracy is still fundamentally limited by unavoidable noise sources, such as thermal and shot noise from conventional photodiodes and thermal noise from mixers. Here, we demonstrate a new high-precision timing distribution system that uses a highly precise phase detector to obviously reduce the effect of these limitations. Instead of using photodiodes and microwave mixers, we use several fibre Sagnac-loop-based optical-microwave phase detectors (OM-PDs) to achieve optical-electrical conversion and phase measurements, thereby suppressing the sources of noise and achieving ultra-high accuracy. The results of a distribution experiment using a 10-km fibre link indicate that our system exhibits a residual instability of 2.0 × 10⁻¹⁵ at1 s and8.8 × 10⁻¹⁹ at 40,000 s and an integrated timing jitter as low as 3.8 fs in a bandwidth of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. This low instability and timing jitter make it possible for our system to be used in the distribution of optical-clock signals or in applications that require extremely accurate frequency/time synchronisation.

Highly stable wideband microwave extraction by synchronizing widely tunable optoelectronic oscillator with optical frequency comb

Optical frequency combs (OFCs), based on mode-locked lasers (MLLs), have attracted considerable attention in many fields over recent years. Among the applications of OFCs, one of the most challenging works is the extraction of a highly stable microwave with low phase noise. Many synchronisation schemes have been exploited to synchronise an electronic oscillator with the pulse train from a MLL, helping to extract an ultra-stable microwave. Here, we demonstrate novel wideband microwave extraction from a stable OFC by synchronising a single widely tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with an OFC at different harmonic frequencies, using an optical phase detection technique. The tunable range of the proposed microwave extraction extends from 2 GHz to 4 GHz, and in a long-term synchronisation experiment over 12 hours, the proposed synchronisation scheme provided a rms timing drift of 18 fs and frequency instabilities at 1.2 × 10⁻¹⁵/1 s and 2.2 × 10⁻¹⁸/10000 s.

Association of common variants in/near six genes (ATP2B1, CSK, MTHFR, CYP17A1, STK39 and FGF5) with blood pressure/hypertension risk in Chinese children

Recent genome-wide association studies have identified several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with blood pressure (BP)/hypertension. In this study, we aimed to examine the established associations amongst Chinese children. We genotyped six SNPs (ATP2B1 rs17249754, CSK rs1378942, MTHFR rs1801133, CYP17A1 rs1004467, STK39 rs3754777 and FGF5 rs16998073) in Chinese children (N=3077, age range, 6-18 years). Based on the Chinese age- and sex-specific BP standards, 619 hypertensive cases and 2458 controls with normal BP were identified. Of the six SNPs, only ATP2B1 rs17249754 SNP was significantly associated with the risk of hypertension (allelic odds ratio (OR)=1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-1.44, P=0.003). Although all other SNPs showed a trend towards increasing the BP values and risk of hypertension, there was no statistically significant association after false discovery rate analysis. We calculated the weighted risk score using six SNPs, for systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and hypertension. Each additional weighted risk score was associated with SBP by 1.18 mm Hg (95% CI=0.62-1.73, P<0.001), but not with the DBP (β=0.28, 95% CI=(-0.15)-0.74), and overall increased the risk of hypertension by 1.19-fold (95% CI=1.04-1.35, P=0.01). The present study confirmed the significant association of ATP2B1 rs17249754 with risk of hypertension among Chinese children, but failed to replicate the association of CSK rs1378942, MTHFR rs1801133, CYP17A1 rs1004467, STK39 rs3754777 and FGF5 rs16998073 with BP/risk of hypertension.

Longitudinal spin Seebeck effect free from the proximity Nernst effect

This Letter provides evidence for intrinsic longitudinal spin Seebeck effects (LSSEs) that are free from the anomalous Nernst effect (ANE) caused by an extrinsic proximity effect. We report the observation of LSSEs in Au/Y(3)Fe(5)O(12) (YIG) and Pt/Cu/YIG systems, showing that the LSSE appears even when the mechanism of the proximity ANE is clearly removed. In the conventional Pt/YIG structure, furthermore, we separate the LSSE from the ANE by comparing the voltages in different magnetization and temperature-gradient configurations; the ANE contamination was found to be negligibly small even in the Pt/YIG structure.

Identification of the antibiotic ionomycin as an unexpected peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligand with a unique binding mode and effective glucose-lowering activity in a mouse model of diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Existing thiazolidinedione (TZD) drugs for diabetes have severe side effects. The aim of this study is to develop alternative peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) ligands that retain the benefits in improving insulin resistance but with reduced side effects.

METHODS

We used AlphaScreen assay to screen for new PPARγ ligands from compound libraries. In vitro biochemical binding affinity assay and in vivo cell-based reporter assay were used to validate ionomycin as a partial ligand of PPARγ. A mouse model of diabetes was used to assess the effects of ionomycin in improving insulin sensitivity. Crystal structure of PPARγ complexed with ionomycin revealed the unique binding mode of ionomycin, which elucidated the molecular mechanisms allowing the discrimination of ionomycin from TZDs.

RESULTS

We found that the antibiotic ionomycin is a novel modulating ligand for PPARγ. Both the transactivation and binding activity of PPARγ by ionomycin can be blocked by PPARγ specific antagonist GW9662. Ionomycin interacts with the PPARγ ligand-binding domain in a unique binding mode with properties and epitopes distinct from those of TZD drugs. Ionomycin treatment effectively improved hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance, but had reduced side effects compared with TZDs in the mouse model of diabetes. In addition, ionomycin effectively blocked the phosphorylation of PPARγ at Ser273 by cyclin-dependent kinase 5 both in vitro and in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Our studies suggest that ionomycin may represent a unique template for designing novel PPARγ ligands with advantages over current TZD drugs.