Multi-objective cooperative controller design for rapid state-of-charge balancing and flexible bus voltage regulation in shipboard DC microgrids

In this paper, a multi-objective cooperative (MOC) controller based on average consensus algorithm is designed to achieve rapid State-of-Charge (SoC) balancing, proportional load current sharing, and flexible DC bus voltage regulation for parallel battery storage units (BSUs) in shipboard DC microgrids. Different from the conventional secondary controllers, the designed MOC controller can simultaneously achieve the above three control objectives with a fully distributed manner without requiring multiple controllers, thereby effectively improving the system stability and reducing the communication burden. Furthermore, an optimized convergence factor is designed to accelerate SoC balancing, and pinning control is introduced to obtain flexible and accurate DC bus voltage regulation. The process of SoC balancing and current sharing analysis, SoC convergence performance analysis, large-signal stability analysis, and global steady-state analysis verifies the rationality and stability of the MOC controller. Finally, the Matlab/Simulink simulation and StarSim HIL experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the designed MOC controller in a shipboard DC microgrid under various testing scenarios.

[Association of sleep duration and physical exercise with dyslipidemia in older adults aged 80 years and over in China]

Objective: To explore the impact of sleep duration, physical exercise, and their interactions on the risk of dyslipidemia in older adults aged ≥80 (the oldest old) in China. Methods: The study subjects were the oldest old from four rounds of Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (2008-2009, 2011-2012, 2014 and 2017-2018). The information about their demographic characteristics, lifestyles, physical examination results and others were collected, and fasting venous blood samples were collected from them for blood lipid testing. Competing risk model was used to analyze the causal associations of sleep duration and physical exercise with the risk for dyslipidemia. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) function was used to explore the dose-response relationship between sleep duration and the risk for dyslipidemia. Additive and multiplicative interaction model were used to explore the interaction of sleep duration and physical exercise on the risk for dyslipidemia. Results: The average age of 1 809 subjects was (93.1±7.7) years, 65.1% of them were women. The average sleep duration of the subjects was (8.0±2.5) hours/day, 28.1% of them had sleep duration for less than 7 hours/day, and 27.2% had sleep for duration more than 9 hours/day at baseline survey. During the 9-year cumulative follow-up of 6 150.6 person years (follow-up of average 3.4 years for one person), there were 304 new cases of dyslipidemia, with an incidence density of 4 942.6/100 000 person years. The results of competitive risk model analysis showed that compared with those who slept for 7-9 hours/day, the risk for dyslipidemia in oldest old with sleep duration >9 hours/day increased by 22% (HR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.07-1.39). Compared with the oldest old having no physical exercise, the risk for dyslipidemia in the oldest old having physical exercise decreased by 33% (HR=0.67, 95%CI: 0.57-0.78). The RCS function showed a linear positive dose-response relationship between sleep duration and the risk for hyperlipidemia. The interaction analysis showed that physical exercise and sleep duration had an antagonistic effect on the risk for hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: Physical exercise could reduce the adverse effects of prolonged sleep on blood lipids in the oldest old.

Multiomics profiling reveals the benefits of gamma-delta (γδ) T lymphocytes for improving the tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy efficacy and prognosis in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

As an unconventional subpopulation of T lymphocytes, γδ T cells can recognize antigens independently of major histocompatibility complex restrictions. Recent studies have indicated that γδ T cells play contrasting roles in tumor microenvironments-promoting tumor progression in some cancers (eg, gallbladder and leukemia) while suppressing it in others (eg, lung and gastric). γδ T cells are mainly enriched in peripheral mucosal tissues. As the cervix is a mucosa-rich tissue, the role of γδ T cells in cervical cancer warrants further investigation.

METHODS

We employed a multiomics strategy that integrated abundant data from single-cell and bulk transcriptome sequencing, whole exome sequencing, genotyping array, immunohistochemistry, and MRI.

RESULTS

Heterogeneity was observed in the level of γδ T-cell infiltration in cervical cancer tissues, mainly associated with the tumor somatic mutational landscape. Definitely, γδ T cells play a beneficial role in the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer. First, γδ T cells exert direct cytotoxic effects in the tumor microenvironment of cervical cancer through the dynamic evolution of cellular states at both poles. Second, higher levels of γδ T-cell infiltration also shape the microenvironment of immune activation with cancer-suppressive properties. We found that these intricate features can be observed by MRI-based radiomics models to non-invasively assess γδ T-cell proportions in tumor tissues in patients. Importantly, patients with high infiltration levels of γδ T cells may be more amenable to immunotherapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors and autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapies, than to chemoradiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

γδ T cells play a beneficial role in antitumor immunity in cervical cancer. The abundance of γδ T cells in cervical cancerous tissue is associated with higher response rates to immunotherapy.

[Accurate localization and successful treatment of 23 cases of migrating pharynx and cervical esophageal foreign bodies]

Objective: To explore clinical features, diagnosis, localization, and therapeutic strategy of migratory pharyngeal and cervical esophageal foreign bodies. Methods: A total 23 cases of pharyngeal and cervical esophageal migratory foreign bodies were admitted between January 2015 and December 2021. There were 14 females and 9 males with the age ranged from 35 to 82 (55.0±12.7)years. In all the cases, esophageal CT was taken to confirm the esophageal foreign body. Multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) was performed to locate the foreign body from the horizontal, coronal and sagittal dimensions as well as the corrected reconstructed MPR. According to the location of the foreign body, appropriate surgical method was selected.The symptoms, complications, types of foreign body, positioning, surgical methods, and relevant information were recorded.Data were analyzed using the descriptive method and SPSS 25.0 software. Results: The clinical symptoms of 23 migrating esophageal foreign bodies included pharyngodynia (20/23), foreign body sensation (6/23), hoarsenss (1/23), difficulty in turning neck(1/23), difficulty in opening mouth (1/23), fever (7/23), poor appetite (1/23), and abdominal pain (1/23). The foreign bodies included 19 fish bones, 2 wires, 1 embroidery needle and 1 chicken bone. There were 9 cases (39.1%) of foreign bodies located in extraluminal cervical esophagus, 2 cases (8.7%) of foreign bodies located in the muscular layer of the cervical esophagus and 12 cases (52.2%) of foreign bodies located in pharynx. Twenty-one cases of foreign bodies were removed by cervical lateral incision, in which 11 were removed by cervical lateral incision directly, 10 by the second lateral cervical incision after the foreign bodies were accurately located by MPR and/or corrected MPR, 1 foreign body was removed by incision of the pharyngeal mucosa under suspension laryngoscope, 1 foreign body was removed by tracheoscopy. Compared with patients with intraluminal foreign bodies (n=308) treated in the same period, intake of fishbone [19 (19/23) vs. 133 (82.6% (43.2%, 133/308), OR=7.31] and first visit was more than 24 hours [20(87.0%, 20/23) vs. 77(25.0%, 77/308),OR=17.2] were the significant risk factors of migratory esophageal foreign bodies. Conclusions: MPR and the corrected MPR can accurately locate the migrating pharyngeal and cervical esophageal foreign bodies, by providing more intuitive imaging evidence for doctors, which provide imaging basis for formulation of surgical programs. Foreign bodies in pharyngeal and cervical esophagus need to be treated as soon as possible, otherwise they are easy to migrate, leading lead to serious complications.

A novel artificial vertebral implant with Gyroid porous structures for reducing the subsidence and mechanical failure rate after vertebral body replacement

BACKGROUND

Prosthesis subsidence and mechanical failure were considered significant threats after vertebral body replacement during the long-term follow-up. Therefore, improving and optimizing the structure of vertebral substitutes for exceptional performance has become a pivotal challenge in spinal reconstruction.

METHODS

The study aimed to develop a novel artificial vertebral implant (AVI) with triply periodic minimal surface Gyroid porous structures to enhance the safety and stability of prostheses. The biomechanical performance of AVIs under different loading conditions was analyzed using the finite element method. These implants were fabricated using selective laser melting technology and evaluated through static compression and subsidence experiments.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that the peak stress in the Gyroid porous AVI was consistently lower than that in the traditional porous AVI under all loading conditions, with a maximum reduction of 73.4%. Additionally, it effectively reduced peak stress at the bone-implant interface of the vertebrae. Static compression experiments demonstrated that the Gyroid porous AVI was about 1.63 times to traditional porous AVI in terms of the maximum compression load, indicating that Gyroid porous AVI could meet the safety requirement. Furthermore, static subsidence experiments revealed that the subsidence tendency of Gyroid porous AVI in polyurethane foam (simulated cancellous bone) was approximately 15.7% lower than that of traditional porous AVI.

CONCLUSIONS

The Gyroid porous AVI exhibited higher compressive strength and lower subsidence tendency than the strut-based traditional porous AVI, indicating it may be a promising substitute for spinal reconstruction.

Proposals for the Delineation of Neck Clinical Target Volume Specific to Oral Squamous Cell Cancer Based on Lymph Node Distribution

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To establish the regional lymph node (LN) distribution probability map and draw the neck clinical target volume specific to oral squamous cell cancer (OSCC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 293 patients with pathologically proven OSCC were enrolled from Jan 2014 to Jun 2022. The patients were divided into two groups according to the ≤1 cm or>1 cm of minimal distance from the lesion's edge to the midline of body. The center point of the LNs with a minimal axial diameter of ≥10 mm was marked on a single treatment planning computed tomography scan. The neck LN levels I to X were based on 2013 updated international consensus guidelines. LN distribution probability maps were established. The relationships between the LN distribution and consensus guidelines were analyzed to propose modifications for clinical target volume boundaries specific to OSCC.

RESULTS

A total of 1033 LNs were marked. Compared with the >1 cm group, The ≤1 cm group has following feature tendencies: strong addiction to smoking and drinking, predilection for tongue and oral floor cancer, larger primary lesion with mainly infiltrative growth pattern, more frequent extra-nodal extension with mainly contralateral LNs. For the ≤1cm group, the distribution probability of LNs was: ipsilateral II (42.67%), ipsilateral Ib (17.35%), contralateral II (11.18%), ipsilateral III (8.74%), contralateral Ib (7.46%), Ia (6.43%). The other group was: ipsilateral Ib (43.14%), ipsilateral II (37.64%), contralateral Ib (4.31%), ipsilateral III (3.92%), contralateral II (3.53%), Ia (0.78%). Accordingly, the proposals for the delineation of neck clinical target volume were: 1. the inferior boundary of level Ia extends until the level of the thyroid cartilage plate; 2. the upper boundary of level Ib descends to the level of the mandibular angle, and the inner posterior boundary only includes the lateral and posterior margin of the submandibular gland within 5mm; 3. the upper boundary of level II changes to the transverse process of the second cervical vertebra, and the posterior boundary retracts to the posterior edge of the levator scapula. 4. the anterior inner border of level IVa contains only the internal jugular arteriovenous sheath.

CONCLUSION

This is the first description of LN topographic spread patterns for OSCC. Optimization of CTV delineation is helpful to improve the treatment outcome and reduce adverse events.

Do Physician Patient Sharing Networks Impact Disparities in Access to Multidisciplinary Cancer Consultation for Early-Stage Lung Cancer? A SEER-Medicare Network Analysis

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

To examine early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient and physician network characteristics associated with receipt of multidisciplinary cancer consultations (MDCCs), defined as an encounter with both a surgeon and a radiation oncologist after diagnosis. We tested the hypothesis that physician roles in patient-sharing networks can modify disparities in access to surgical and radiotherapy care. Specifically, we investigated the role of "linchpin physicians" using a novel network measure that assesses the extent to which a physician is the sole type of specialist in their physician patient sharing network, and the association of these physicians on patterns of care.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The study cohort included patients diagnosed with stage I/IIA NSCLC in 2016-17 using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data. We assembled a physician patient-sharing network using all NSCLC patient encounters between 3 months prior to and 12 months following diagnosis. We weighted physicians' patient-sharing ties by the number of shared patients and calculated physician's linchpin scores as a continuous variable measuring the extent to which a physicians' peers in the network lack ties to others of the same specialty as the focal physician. Physicians in the top 15%ile were considered a linchpin specialist. We then derived the proportion of linchpin surgeons or radiation oncologists per hospital referral region (HRR). We assessed patient characteristics including age, sex, race, ethnicity, cancer stage, comorbidity index, rurality, and socioeconomic status (SES). The study outcome was a surgical, radiation oncology, or MDCC in the 2 months following diagnosis. We then performed multivariable logistic regressions (MLR) to assess whether linchpins modified disparities in MDCC.

RESULTS

Of 6,148 patients in the study, 12% received a MDCC, 28% only saw a radiation oncologist, 33% only saw a surgeon, and 27% saw neither for 2 months after diagnosis. On MLR, Hispanic patients were significantly less likely than White patients to receive consultations with a radiation oncologist, while patients in lowest SES quintile were significantly less likely to receive a surgical consultation than those in the highest SES. The proportion of linchpin surgeons and radiation oncologists per HRR was negatively associated with receipt of MDCC (OR low vs high [95% CI] = 0.75 [0.66 to 0.86]; 0.70 [0.61 to 0.80, respectively), but our regressions did not show that any demographic or SES disparities were modified by linchpin specialists.

CONCLUSION

Linchpin specialists do not impact known disparities in access to cancer consultations. Identifying additional system-level factors that contribute to disparities in cancer consultations may lead to policy insights aimed at reducing unwarranted variation in care.

Eosinophil Dynamics during Chemo-Radiation Correlate to Clinical Outcome in Stage II-IVA Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients: Results from a Large Cohort Study

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

We investigated the dynamics of eosinophil depletion and recovery during definitive concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) and how they affect the prognosis of stage II-IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

A total of 1225 patients with pathologically proven NPC from 2013 to 2019 were enrolled. Fuzzy C-Means Clustering (FCM) was used to assess trends in eosinophil during CCRT longitudinally and to grade eosinophil decline during treatment in combination with absolute eosinophil counts (AECs) at the end of CCRT. Grade G0 refers to patients with no decreasing trend in eosinophils and AECs >0.05×109 cells/L, grade G1 refers to patients with a decreasing trend in eosinophils or AECs between 0-0.05×109 cells/L, grade G2 refers to patients with a decreasing trend in eosinophils and AECs between 0-0.05×109 cells/L. Progression-free survival (PFS) is the primary outcome measure, with overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) as secondary outcome measures. A Cox proportional risk model was used to determine the hazard ratio for adverse prognostic effects in declining grades of eosinophil.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 4.1 years, 376 (30.69%) patients experienced disease progression events. The grade of eosinophil reduction after CCRT was significantly associated with PFS, OS, and DMFS but not with LRFS. After adjusting for demographics, clinical baseline indicators, tumor characteristics, and treatment characteristics, a 1.57-fold (p = 0.001), 1.69-fold (p = 0.007), and 1.51-fold (p = 0.019) increase in the risk of developing PFS, OS, and DMFS was observed for G1 compared with G0, whereas a 2.4-fold (p < 0.001), 2.76-fold (p < 0.001), and 2.31-fold (p < 0.001) increase in the risk of developing PFS, OS, and DMFS was observed for G2. Moreover, among patients with G0, treatment with CCRT with a cumulative dose of platinum-based chemotherapy < 200 mg/m2 resulted in PFS, OS, and DMFS that were not inferior to CCRT with cumulative doses ≥ 200 mg/m2.

CONCLUSION

Eosinophil is an easily detectable and inexpensive biomarker that may be useful in the clinical setting to aid in assessing the prognosis for standard treatment of NPC.

[Analysis of recurrent factors and therapeutic effect after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair]

Objective: To analyze the recurrence factors and reoperation effect of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. Methods: A total of 41 patients with recurrence after laparoscopic repair of the inguinal hernia admitted to the Department of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were males, aging (62±7) years (range: 51 to 75 years). The recurrence intervals were 3 days to 7 years postoperatively. The surgical methods, causes of recurrence, and treatment outcomes of the patients were analyzed. Fisher exact probability method is used to compare the rates. Results: Among all cases, the primary surgical procedures included transabdominal preperitoneal herniorrhaphy (TAPP) in 31 cases and total extraperitoneal herniorrhaphy in 10 cases. The reoperative procedures included the TAPP of 11 cases and the Lichtenstein procedure of 30 cases. The factors of recurrent cases in all patients could be divided into 4 categories, including insufficient mesh coverage in 23 cases, mesh curling in 9 cases, mesh contractuture in 7 cases, and improper mesh fixation in 2 cases. Recurrence, infection, chronic pain, foreign body sensation didn't occur in the followed period of(M(IQR)) 18(24) months(range: 12 to 50 months). There was no statistical difference in the incidence of postoperative seroma between the TAPP and Lichtenstein procedure (3/11 vs. 20.0% (6/30), P=0.68). Conclusions: Postoperative recurrence of laparoscopic inguinal hernia is mostly caused by the lack of mesh coverage. Due to the emphasis on standardized surgical operation, a good outcome could be achieved through reoperation by the TAPP or Lichtenstein procedure.

[Morphological study on the transverse branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery based on digital subtraction angiography]

Objective: To summarize the morphological characteristics of the transverse branch of lateral femoral circumflex artery (LFCA) using digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and explore its clinical significance. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted. From October 2020 to May 2021, 62 patients with soft tissue injuries in the extremities were hospitalized in Suzhou Ruihua Orthopedic Hospital, including 40 males and 22 females, aged from 20 to 72 years. DSA was performed in the lateral femoral region of patients before the anterolateral thigh flap transplantation, and in combination with imaging scale to observe and measure the general condition of the blood vessels and the occurrence (with the occurrence rate being calculated), source artery, location of the origin point, direction of course, and the location of the perforating point of the cutaneous perforator of the transverse branch of LFCA, and in addition to classify the morphological characteristics of the transverse branch. Results: DSA detection showed that the femoral artery, the deep femoral artery, and the branches of LFCA were clearly distinguishable in 62 patients. Transverse branches of LFCA were observed in 59 patients, including 52 cases with a single transverse branch, and 7 cases with double transverse branches. The occurrence rate of transverse branches was 95.2% (59/62). A total of 66 transverse branches of LFCA were observed, of which 3 originated from the deep femoral artery, and 63 originated from the LFCA. The origin point of the transverse branch was 6.5-12.7 cm away from the anterior superior iliac spine. The transverse branch which was approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the body, originated outwards, ran between the ascending branch of LFCA and the oblique branch of LFCA, and branched along the way, with the trunk running under the greater trochanter. The perforating point of the cutaneous perforator of the transverse branch was 8.0-18.0 cm away from the anterior superior iliac spine. In the classification of morphological characteristics of the transverse branch of LFCA, the most common type was the one that originated from the same trunk with other branches of LFCA, accounting for 50.0% (31/62), followed by the one that originated from the singular trunk of LFCA (12 cases) or deep femoral artery (3 cases), accounting for 24.2% (15/62); the special type accounted for 21.0% (13/62), including 7 cases of double transverse branches and 6 cases of the transverse branch originated from the same trunk with multiple other branches of LFCA; those with small/absent transverse branch only accounted for 4.8% (3/62). Among the above-mentioned common trunk relationship of two branches, those with shared trunk of ascending and transverse branches were most frequently observed, accounting for 77.4% (24/31); those with shared trunks of the transverse and oblique branches (5 cases) and the transverse and descending branches (2 cases) accounted for 22.6% (7/31) altogether. Conclusions: A high incidence rate of the transverse branch of LFCA is observed through DSA. The transverse branch originates from the lateral femoral artery approximately perpendicular to the long axis of the body, mainly from the same trunk with another main branch of LFCA, especially the ascending branch. This positioning analysis can provide an important reference for the design and resection of anterolateral femoral flaps.

The additional nitrogen atom breaks the uranyl structure: a combined photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical study of NUO2. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023;25:4794-4802. [PMID: 36692210 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp05544a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0]

We report a joint photoelectron spectroscopic and relativistic quantum chemistry study on gaseous NUO₂^-. The electron affinity (EA) of the neutral NUO₂ molecule is reported for the first time with a value of 2.602(28) eV. The U-O and U-N stretching vibrational modes for the ground state and the first excited state are observed for NUO₂. The geometric and electronic structures of both the anions and the corresponding neutrals are investigated by relativistic quantum chemistry calculations to interpret the photoelectron spectra and to provide insights into the nature of the chemical bonding. Both the ground state of the anion and neutral are calculated to be planar structures with C_2v symmetry. Unlike the "T"-shape structure of UO₃ which has a quasi-linear O-U-O angle, both the ground-state geometries of the anion and neutral have O-U-O bond angles of around 90°. The significant contraction of the O-U-O bond angle indicates the strong interaction between the U and N atoms compared with the "additional" oxygen in UO₃. The chemical bonding calculation indicates that multiple bonding of U(VI) can occur in NUO₂^- and NUO₂, and the U^VI-N bond is significantly more covalent than the U-O bond. The current experimental and theoretical results reveal the difference between the U-N and U-O bond in the unified molecular system, and expand our understanding of the bonding capacities of actinide elements with the nitrogen atom.

Complete Low-Temperature Transformation and Dissolution of the Three Main Components in Corn Straw

The conversion of biomass faces the challenge of mass and heat transfer, as well as the exertion of heterogeneous catalyst, because raw biomass exists usually in solid state. In this work, the simultaneous transformation and dissolution of the three main components (hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin) in corn straw were achieved in ethanol/ valerolactone (GVL)/H₂ O (10 : 10 : 40, v/v/v) co-solvent system. With the assistance of AlCl₃  ⋅ 6H₂ O, the conversion of hemicellulose, lignin and cellulose was >96 % at 170 °C. The conversion of solid biomass into fluid, overcoming the mass transfer restrictions between solid biomass and solid catalysts, provides new raw materials to further upgrading. H₂ O could penetrate inside the crystalline cellulose to swell even dissolve it, while ethanol and GVL acted as media to dissolve especially the G unit in lignin. The H⁺ derived from AlCl₃  ⋅ 6H₂ O hydrolysis could break the linkages of lignin-hemicellulose and glycosidic bond in saccharides, and aluminum chloride promoted the next degradation of polysaccharides to small molecules. Consequently, as high as 33.2 % yield of levulinic acid and 42.2 % yield of furfural were obtained. The cleavage of β-O-4 and C_β -C_γ bonds in lignin produced large amounts of lignin-derived dimers and trimers. The total yield of monomeric phenols is up to 8 %.

Combinatorial Application of Papain and CD66B for Isolating Glioma- Associated Neutrophils

BACKGROUND

Stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment play crucial roles in glioma development. Current methods for isolating tumor-associated stromal cells (such as neutrophils) are inefficient due to the conflict between tissue dissociation and cell surface protein protection, which hampers the research on patient-derived stromal cells. Our study aims to establish a novel method for isolating glioma-associated neutrophils (GANs).

METHODS

To observe neutrophil-like polymorphonuclear cells, we performed Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on glioma tissues. For isolating single cells from glioma tissues, we evaluated the efficiency of tissue dissociation with FastPrep Grinder-mediated homogenization or proteases (trypsin or papain) digestion. To definite specific markers of GANs, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and immunofluorescence staining were performed. FACS and Ficoll were performed for the separation of neutrophils from glioma tissue-derived single-cell or whole blood pool. To identify the isolated neutrophils, FACS and RT-PCR were carried out.

RESULTS

Neutrophil-like cells were abundant in high-grade glioma tissues. Among the three tissue dissociation methods, papain digestion produced a 5.1-fold and 1.7-fold more living cells from glioma mass than physical trituration and trypsin digestion, respectively, and it preserved over 97% of neutrophil surface protein markers. CD66B could be adopted as a unique neutrophil surface protein marker for FACS sorting in glioma. Glioma-derived CD66B+ cells specifically expressed neutrophil marker genes.

CONCLUSION

A combination of papain-mediated tissue dissociation and CD66B-mediated FACS sorting is an effective novel method for the isolation of GANs from glioma tissues.

[Application of initial anti-infectives and trends in children with septic shock]

Objective: To investigate the pathogen composition, initial anti-infectives and pathogen coverage, and trends over the last 5 years in children with septic shock in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: The single-center retrospective study included 257 children with septic shock who were admitted to PICU of Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University from 2017 to 2021. The causitive pathogen composition, initial use of anti-infective drugs, pathogen coverage, and changes in recent years were analyzed. The children were divided into sufficient and insufficient coverage groups according to whether the pathogen were sufficiently covered by initial anti-infectives; community-and hospital-acquired groups; and with and without underlying disease groups. T test, rank-sum test and Chi-square test were used for comparison between the groups to investigate the differences in pathogen, treatment and prognosis. Results: A total of 257 septic shock children were included, with 162 males and 95 females, aged 36 (12, 117) months. The pathogen positive rate was 64.6% (166/257) and the in-hospital mortality was 27.6% (71/257). In the 208 pathogen-positive samples, bacteria was the most common (57.7%, 120/208) with G-negative bacteria predominating (55.8%, 67/120), followed by viruses (26.0%, 54/208). Nearly 99.2% (255/257) of the children were treated with antibacterial at the beginning, of whom 47.1% (121/257) were treated with carbapenems combined with vancomycin or linezolid. The proportion of 3 or more antibacterial combinations was higher in children with underlying diseases and hospital-acquired septic shock than in those without underlying disease or community-acquired septic shock (27.4% (49/179) vs. 14.1% (11/78), 29.4% (52/177) vs. 10.0% (8/80), χ²=5.35,11.56,all P<0.05). The proportion of initial combination of carbapenem and vancomycin or linezolid reduced from 52.5% (21/40) to 41.3% (19/46), and of adequate pathogen coverage increased from 40.0% (16/40) to 58.7% (27/46) in the last five years. Conclusions: The initial use of antibacterial drugs is common in children with septic shock in PICU, especially in those with hospital-acquired septic shock and underlying diseases. In recent years, antimicrobial combinations have decreased, but the pathogen coverage has improved, indicating that drug selection is more reasonable and accurate.

Energy Absorption Characteristics of Polygonal Bio-Inspired Honeycomb Column Thin-Walled Structure under Quasi-Static Uniaxial Compression Loading

In this paper, we investigated the internal structure of the beetle elytra, i.e., two different structural forms I and II of the bio-inspired honeycomb column thin-walled structures (BHTS) that give the honeycomb sandwich structure frequently used in construction projects better mechanical properties and lightweight performance. BHTS specimens were fabricated by additive manufacturing selective laser melting (AM-SLM) using AlSi10Mg Al-Si alloy. In order to understand the effect of section angle number on BHTS during loading, quasi-static uniaxial compression tests were carried out and verified by numerical simulation. The experimental results showed that in the quasi-static uniaxial compression tests, the number of section angles greatly improved the energy absorption (EA) index of each BHTS: the average value of initial peak crushing force (PCF) of hexagonal BHTS increased by 108.82% and 43.44%, respectively, compared to triangular and rectangular BHTS. The average value of the mean crushing force (MCF) increased by 74.87% and 45.48%, respectively. The average value of EA increased by 89.02% and 46.64%, respectively. The results indicate that the number of section angles can be used as an effective way to enhance the EA of BHTS. This work can provide a reference for the design of high-efficiency energy absorbers and will be widely used in EA scenarios such as construction, transportation, etc.

[Association of lead exposure with stunting and underweight among children aged 3-5 years in China]

Objective: To evaluate the association of lead exposure with stunting and underweight among children aged 3-5 years in China. Methods: Data was collected from China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) between January 2017 and December 2018. A total of 3 554 children aged 3-5 years were included. Demographic characteristic, lifestyle and nutritional status were collected through questionnaires. Height and weight were measured by standardized method. Stunting and underweight status were determined by calculating height for age Z-score and weight for age Z-score. Blood and urine samples were collected to detect the concentrations of blood lead, urinary lead and urinary creatinine. Children were stratified into 4 groups (Q₁ to Q₄) by quartiles of blood lead level and corrected urinary lead level, respectively. Complex sampling logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association of the blood lead level, urinary lead level with stunting and underweight. Results: Among 3 554 children, the age was (4.09±1.06) years, of which 1 779 (80.64%) were female and 1 948 (55.84%) were urban residents. The prevalence of stunting and wasting was 7.34% and 2.96%, respectively. The M (Q₁, Q₃) for blood lead levels and urinary lead levels in children was 17.49 (12.80, 24.71) μg/L, 1.20 (0.61, 2.14) μg/g Cr, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, compared with the lowest blood lead concentration group Q₁, the risk of stunting gradually increased in the Q₃ and Q₄ group (P_trend=0.010), with OR (95%CI) values of 1.40 (0.80-2.46) and 1.80 (1.07-3.04), respectively. Compared with the lowest urinary lead concentration group Q₁, the risk of stunting still increased in the Q₃ and Q₄ group (P_trend=0.012), with OR (95%CI) values of 1.69 (1.01-2.84) and 1.79 (1.05-3.06), respectively. The correlation between the lead exposure and underweight was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Lead exposure is positively associated with the risk of stunting among children aged 3-5 years in China.

Comment on "Distinct spin-lattice and spin-phonon interactions in monolayer magnetic CrI" by L. Webster, L. Liang and J.-A. Yan, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2018, , 23546

We point out four mistakes in the symmetry classification of vibrational modes of the CrI3 monolayer at the Γ point in Webster et al.'s paper [PCCP, 2018, 20, 23546]. The discrepancy of Raman activity of A2g mode as well as the misidentification of two optical modes A1u and A2u have been clarified.

Biomechanical Evaluation of Spinal Column after Percutaneous Cement Discoplasty: A Finite Element Analysis

Objective

To compare the biomechanical properties of percutaneous cement discoplasty (PCD) in the spinal column between different implant‐endplate friction.

Methods

A validated L3‐Scarumfinite element (FE) model was modified for simulation. In the PCD model, the L4/5 level was modified based on model 1 (M1) and model 2 (M2). In M1, the interaction between bone cement and endplate was defined as face‐to‐face contact with a friction coefficient of 0.3; in M2, the contact was defined as a Tie constraint. 7.5 N m moments of four physiological motions and axial load of 15, 100 and 400 N preload were imposed at the top of L3. The range of motion (ROM) and interface stress analysis of endplates, annulus fibrosus and bone cement of the operated level were calculated for comparisons among the three models.

Results

The ROM of M1 and M2 increased when compared with the intact model during flexion (FL) (17.5% vs 10.0%), extension (EX) (8.8% vs −8.8%), left bending (LB) (19.0% vs −17.2%) and left axial rotation (LR) (34.6% vs −3.8%). The stress of annulus fibrosus in M1 and M2 decreased in FL (−48.4% vs −57.5%), EX (−25.7% vs −14.7%), LB (−47.5% vs −52.4%), LR (−61.4% vs −68.7%) and axis loading of 100 N (−41.5% vs −15.3%), and 400 N (−27.9% vs −27.3%). The stress of upper endplate of M1 and M2 increased in FL (24.6% vs 24.7%), LB (82.2% vs 89.5%), LR (119% vs 62.4%) and axis loading of 100 N (64.6% vs 45.5%), and 400 N (58.2% vs 24.3%), but was similar in EX (2.9% vs 0.3%). The stress of lower endplate of M1 and M2 increased in FL (170.9% vs 175.0%), EX (180.8% vs 207.7%), LB (302.6% vs 274.7%), LR (332.4% vs 132.8%) and axis loading of 100 N (350.7% vs 168.6%), and 400 N (165.2% vs 106.7%).

Conclusion

Percutaneous cement discoplasty procedure could make effect on the mobility or stiffness. The fusion of bone cement and endplate might have more biomechanical advantages, including of the decreasing rate of implant subsidence and dislocation, and the increase spine stability.

[Evaluation of the impact of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine included in an expanded immunization program on the reported incidence rate of Japanese encephalitis in Gansu province-based on interrupted time series]

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine included in an expanded immunization program on the reported incidence rate of Japanese encephalitis in Gansu province. Methods: Information on the reported incidence rate of Japanese encephalitis in Gansu province from 1987 to 2019 was collected through the National Population Health Science Data Center and the China Disease Prevention and Control Information System. In addition, the trend of Japanese encephalitis reported incidence rate in Gansu province before and after the inclusion of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the expanded immunization program was analyzed using an interrupted time-series design. Results: The annual reported incidence rate of Japanese encephalitis in Gansu province from 1987 to 2019 was 0.448/per 100 000. However, after the inclusion of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine in the expanded immunization program in Gansu province in 2008, the amount of change in the level of Japanese encephalitis reported incidence rate was -2.223/per 100 000 (t=-2.90, P=0.007), the amount of change in the slope of Japanese encephalitis reported incidence rate was 0.082 (t=2.87, P=0.008) with the slope of Japanese encephalitis reported incidence rate as 0.071 (β₁+β₃=0.071). Conclusions: The Japanese encephalitis vaccine has achieved good prevention and control effects in Gansu province in the short term after its inclusion in the expanded immunization program, but outbreaks of Japanese encephalitis have still occurred. Therefore, in the future, Gansu province should promptly adjust the immunization strategy of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, and strengthen the vaccination of the adult population, especially the rural adult population in the southeastern region of Gansu province, based on the continued focus on the works on Japanese encephalitis vaccination for children and adolescents.

Tibio-Femoral Contact Force Distribution of Knee Before and After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Combined Finite Element and Gait Analysis

Objective

To assess the tibio‐femoral contact forces before and after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) by three‐dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) models and gait analysis.

Methods

Two hospitalized patients with Kellgren–Lawrence grade IV varus KOA and two healthy subjects were enrolled in this study. Both patients underwent unilateral TKA. FEA models were established based on CT and MR images of the knees of the patients with KOA and healthy subjects. Gait analysis was performed using a three‐dimensional motion capture system with a force plate. Three direction forces at the ankle joints were calculated by inverse dynamic analysis, which provided the load for the FEA models. The total contact forces of the knee joints were also calculated by inverse dynamic analysis to enable comparisons with the results from the FEA models. The total knee contact forces, maximum von Mises stress, and stress distribution of the medial plateau were compared between the patients and healthy subjects. The distributions of the medial plateau force at 2 and 6 months postoperatively were compared with the distributions of the forces preoperatively and those in the healthy subjects.

Results

During static standing, the medial plateau bore the most of the total contact forces in the knees with varus KOA (90.78% for patient 1 and 93.53% for patient 2) compared with 64.75 ± 3.34% of the total force in the healthy knees. At the first and second peaks of the ground reaction force during the stance phase of a gait cycle, the medial plateau bore a much higher percentage of contact forces in patients with KOA (74.78% and 86.48%, respectively, for patient 1; 70.68% and 83.56%, respectively, for patient 2) than healthy subjects (61.06% ± 3.43% at the first peak and 72.09% ± 1.83% at the second peak). Two months after TKA, the percentages of contact forces on the medial tibial plateau were 79.65%–85.19% at the first and second peaks of ground reaction forces during the stance phase of a gait cycle, and the percentages decreased to 53.99% – 68.13% 6 months after TKA.

Conclusion

FEA showed that TKA effectively restored the distribution of tibio‐femoral contact forces during static standing and walking, especially 6 months after the surgery. The changes in the gait were consistent with the changes in the contact force distribution calculated by the FEA model.

Identification of Neural Progenitor Cell-Associated Chemoradiotherapy Resistance Gene Set (ARL4C, MSN, TNFAIP6) for Prognosis of Glioma

BACKGROUND

Glioma is the most common malignant intracranial tumor with high lethality. Despite surgery combined with chemoradiotherapy, the prognosis for patients with glioma remains poor. This is primarily due to acquired chemoradiotherapy resistance. Therefore, to improve the prognosis of glioma, further study into the mechanism of chemoradiotherapy resistance is needed.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the prognosis of patients with glioma by using a prognostic risk score model constructed by chemoradiotherapy resistance genes, (2) provide new targets and directions for precise treatment of glioma, and (3) discuss the tumor heterogeneity of tumor cells.

METHODS

According to therapy class and overall survival (OS), we identified 53 genes associated with glioma chemoradiotherapy resistance in The Cancer Genome Atlas Glioblastoma (TCGA GBM) database. Considering the improtant role of chemoradiotherapy resistance-related genes in the prognosis of glioma, we preliminarily screened and identified vital prognostic factors among these genes by using Cox regression model of absolute contraction and selection operators in the TCGA GBM lower-grade glioma (TCGA GBMLGG) dataset. Next, the heterogeneity of the chemoradiotherapy resistance-associated genes in different glioma cells was revealed by single-cell sequencing in the GSE117891 cohort.

RESULTS

A prognostic risk score model consisting of three genes (ARL4C, MSN, TNFAIP6) was constructed. The expression of this model was high in glioma neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and low in glioma oligodendrocytes. The OS rates were significantly lower in the high- vs low-risk group.

CONCLUSION

Our 3 gene risk score complements current glioma diagnosis and provides a novel insight into chemoradiotherapy resistance mechanisms for the prognosis of patients with glioma.

[Disease spectrum analysis of children with inherited metabolic diseases detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of urinary organic acids]

Objective: To investigate the spectrum of amino acid, organic acid, and fatty acid oxidative metabolic diseases in children diagnosed by detecting urinary organic acid levels using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Methods: From January 2005 to December 2021, clinical data of 2 461 children diagnosed with inherited metabolic diseases (IMD) by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, in combination with tandem mass spectrometry and genetic testing in Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among 2 461 children, 1 446 were male and 1 051 were female. A total of 32 types of IMD were detected among 2 461 patients, which included 10 amino acid disorders in 662 cases (26.9%), 6 common diseases were hyperphenylalaninemia, citrin deficiency, ornithine carbamoyltransferase deficiency, maple syrup urine disease, alkaptonuria, and tyrosinemia-I, 17 types of organic acidemias in 1 683 cases (68.4%), 6 common diseases were methylmalonic acidemia, propionic acidemia, valeric acidemia-type Ⅰ, isovaleric acidemia, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency and multiple carboxylase deficiency and 5 fatty acid β oxidative defects in 116 cases (4.7%), 2 common diseases were multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and short-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency). Conclusion: Among the diseases diagnosed by analyzing urinary organic acid profiling with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the most common are organic acidemias, followed by amino acid disorders and fatty acid oxidation defects.

Genetic and Functional Analyses of Archaeal ATP-Dependent RNA Ligase in C/D Box sRNA Circularization and Ribosomal RNA Processing

RNA ligases play important roles in repairing and circularizing RNAs post-transcriptionally. In this study, we generated an allelic knockout of ATP-dependent RNA ligase (Rnl) in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis to identify its biological targets. A comparative analysis of circular RNA reveals that the Rnl-knockout strain represses circularization of C/D box sRNAs without affecting the circularization of tRNA and rRNA processing intermediates. Recombinant archaeal Rnl could circularize C/D box sRNAs with a mutation in the conserved C/D box sequence element but not when the terminal stem structures were disrupted, suggesting that proximity of the two ends could be critical for intramolecular ligation. Furthermore, T. kodakarensis accumulates aberrant RNA fragments derived from ribosomal RNA in the absence of Rnl. These results suggest that Rnl is responsible for C/D box sRNA circularization and may also play a role in ribosomal RNA processing.

[Association of blood lead and blood selenium with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein among Chinese adults aged 19 to 79 years]

Objective: To investigate the association of blood lead and blood selenium with serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) among Chinese adults aged 19 to 79 years. Methods: The participants were enrolled from the first wave of China National Human Biomonitoring (CNHBM) conducted from 2017 to 2018. 10 153 participants aged 19 to 79 years were included in this study. Fasting blood samples were obtained from participants. Lead and selenium in whole blood and hs-CRP in serum were measured. Individuals with hs-CRP levels above 3.0 mg/L were defined as elevated hs-CRP. Generalized linear mixed models and restricted cubic spline models were used to analyze the association of blood lead and blood selenium with elevated hs-CRP. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the multiplicative scale and additive scale interaction between blood lead and blood selenium on elevated hs-CRP. Results: The age of participants was (48.91±15.38) years, of which 5 054 (61.47%) were male. 1 181 (11.29%) participants were defined as elevated hs-CRP. After multivariable adjustment, results from generalized linear models showed that compared with participants with the lowest quartile of blood lead, the OR (95%CI) of elevated hs-CRP for participants with the second, third, and highest quartiles were 1.14 (0.94-1.37), 1.25 (1.04-1.52) and 1.38 (1.13-1.68), respectively. When compared with participants with the lowest quartile of blood selenium, the OR (95%CI) of elevated hs-CRP for participants with the second, third and highest quartiles were 0.86 (0.72-1.04), 0.91 (0.76-1.11), and 0.75 (0.61-0.92), respectively. Results from the interaction analysis showed no significant interaction between lead and selenium on elevated hs-CRP. Conclusion: Blood concentration of lead was positively associated with elevated serum hs-CRP, and blood concentration of selenium was inversely related to elevated hs-CRP, while blood lead and selenium did not present interaction on elevated hs-CRP.

[Clinical analysis of 6 critically ill children with acute chlorine poisoning]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and treatment of critically ill children with acute chlorine poisoning and explore the risk factors and effective strategies. Methods: This retrospective study collected the clinical data, including general state, clinical characteristics, treatment and follow-up(till 1 year and 6 months after discharge), of 6 critically ill children who were hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Beijing Children's Hospital due to acute chlorine poisoning in August 2019. Results: There were 6 children characterized by severe dyspnea in this accident, among whom 4 were boys and two girls, aged 4-12 years. When the accident occurred, they were within 5 m of the chlorine source. These patients underwent tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation in 3.5-7.0 h after poisoning. The child who was the closest to the chlorine source (1.5 m) and took the longest time (5 min) to evacuate was the most severe one. He suffered hypoxia which could not be corrected by conventional mechanical ventilation and severe shock, then had veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) treatment started 10 h after the accident. All the 6 children in this study survived. Following-up found no growth and developmental abnormality. The pulmonary function tests were normal except for one case with increased small airway resistance due to previous suspected asthma, and the lung CT, electhoencephalogram, and brain magnetic resonance imaging were all normal. Conclusions: Severe chlorine poisoning is mainly characterized by respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation is often required within a few hours after poisoning. When conventional mechanical ventilation is ineffective, ECMO could save live. Timely treatment could improve prognosis.

[Prediction of 6-year risk of activities of daily living disability in elderly aged 65 years and older in China]

Objective: To construct an easy-to-use risk prediction tool for 6-year risk of activities of daily living(ADL) disability among Chinese elderly aged 65 and above. Methods: A total of 34 349 elderly aged 65 and above were recruited from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle and chronic diseases of the elderly were collected through face-to-face interviews. The functional status of the elderly was evaluated by the instrumental activities of daily living(IADL) scale. The mental health status of the elderly was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination. The height, weight, blood pressure and other information of the subjects were obtained through physical examination and body mass index(BMI) was calculated. The ADL status was evaluated by Katz Scale at baseline and follow-up surveys. Taking ADL status as the dependent variable and the key predictors were selected from Lasso regression as the independent variables, a Cox proportional risk regression model was constructed and visualized by the nomogram tool. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(AUC) and calibration curve were used to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of the model. A total of 200 bootstrap resamples were used for internal validation of the model. Sensitivity analysis was used to evaluate the robustness of the model. Results: The M(Q₁, Q₃) of subjects' age as 86(75, 94) years old, of which 9 774(46.0%) were males. A total of 112 606 person-years were followed up, 4 578 cases of ADL disability occurred and the incidence density was 40.7/1 000 person-years. Cox proportional risk regression model analysis showed that older age, higher BMI, female, hypertension and history of cerebrovascular disease were associated with higher risk of ADL disability [HR(95%CI) were 1.06(1.05-1.06), 1.05(1.04-1.06), 1.17(1.10-1.25),1.07(1.01-1.13) and 1.41(1.23-1.62), respectively.]; Ethnic minorities, walking 1 km continuously, taking public transportation alone and doing housework almost every day were associated with lower risk of ADL disability [HR(95%CI): 0.71(0.62-0.80), 0.72(0.65-0.80), 0.74(0.68-0.82) and 0.69(0.64-0.74), respectively]. The AUC value of the model was 0.853, and the calibration curve showed that the predicted probability was highly consistent with the observed probability. After excluding non-intervening factors(age, sex and ethnicity), the AUC value of the model for predicting the risk of ADL disability was 0.779. The AUC values of 65-74 years old and 75 years old and above were 0.634 and 0.765, respectively. The AUC values of the model based on walking 1 km continuous and taking public transport alone in IADL and the model based on comprehensive score of IADL were 0.853 and 0.851, respectively. Conclusion: The risk prediction model of ADL disability established in this study has good performance and robustness.

[Clinical research progress on disappearing colorectal liver metastases]

Colorectal cancer is currently one of the most common digestive system tumors, and the liver is the most common metastatic site of colorectal cancer. In recent years, with the continuous development of the multidisciplinary treatment for colorectal cancer patients, there are quite a few cases of disappearing liver metastases (DLM) after receiving preoperative chemotherapy (or combined targeted drug therapy), and the diagnosis and treatment of DLM is currently still a very challenging and controversial topic. This article sorts out the related researches on DLM in recent years, mainly including the following 4 aspects: (1) The factors associated with DLM, including the size and number of liver metastases, chemotherapy regimens and cycles, targeted therapy drugs, and the pattern of liver metastases, Ras/Braf status and the location of the primary lesion. (2) The relationship between DLM and true complete response (pathological complete response and persistent clinical complete response), and the related predictive factors of pathological complete response. (3) Clinical evaluation of DLM: preoperative evaluation includes ultrasound, CT, MRI, and PET, while intraoperative evaluation includes intraoperative exploration, intraoperative ultrasound, and augmented reality. (4) DLM treatment strategies, including surgical treatment, local treatment, non-surgical treatment and individualized treatment.

[Association between a novel regulatory genetic variants and lung cancer risk in Chinese: a two-stage case-control study]

Objective: Regulatory quantitative trait loci (regQTL) theory can help to evaluate the regulation function of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on crucial biological signals from a three-dimensional perspective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these regQTL-SNPs on the susceptibility of lung cancer. Methods: Based on the regQTL theory, using the database of identified lung cancer regQTL-SNPs, we screened the SNPs that may function as regQTL in the reported susceptible regions of lung cancer by genome-wide association study(GWAS), and a two-stage case-control study was conducted (screening stage: 2 331 lung cancer cases and 3 077 healthy controls; validation stage: 626 lung cancer cases and 667 healthy controls) to definite the association of related regQTL-SNPs with the susceptibility of lung cancer. Results: A total of 8 regQTL-SNPs were screened in the reported susceptible regions of lung cancer by GWAS. Among which, 3 SNPs were significantly associated with the risk of lung cancer (P<0.05) in the screening stage. Further validation results indicated that the variant T allele of rs6998591 in ADRA1A was significantly associated with increased risk of lung cancer (additive model: OR=1.33, 95%CI:1.01-1.74, P=0.040). In addition, the variant G allele of rs11202916 in ACTA2 was significantly associated with decreased risk of lung cancer (recessive model: OR=0.71, 95%CI:0.52-0.96, P=0.026). Stratified analysis indicated that the variant T allele of rs6998591 significantly increased lung squamous cell carcinoma risk (additive model: OR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.01-2.32, P=0.043), while the variant G allele of rs11202916 significantly decreased lung adenocarcinoma risk (additive model: OR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.69-0.98, P=0.031). Gene-environment interaction analysis indicated that the risk of developing lung cancer increased by 235% in smoking individuals carrying rs6998591 variant T allele compared with those non-smoking individuals carrying no rs6998591 variant T allele(OR=3.35,95%CI:2.10-5.34,P<0.001). Conclusion: There are two regQTL-SNPs that could significantly affect the susceptibility of lung cancer in the GWAS reported susceptible regions of lung cancer.

[A cohort study on plasma uric acid levels and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus among the oldest old in longevity areas of China]

Objective: To investigate the effect of plasma uric acid level on the incident risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among the oldest old (those aged ≥80 years). Methods: Participants were recruited from the Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study (HABCS), which conducted a baseline survey in 2008-2009 and follow-up of 3 times in 2011-2012, 2014, and 2017-2018, respectively. A total of 2 213 oldest old were enrolled in this study. The general demographic, socioeconomic, lifestyle and disease data of the oldest old were collected, and physical measurements were made for the oldest old. Fasting venous blood was collected for uric acid and blood glucose detection. Information on the incident and death of T2DM were collected through the follow-up. Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to explore the association of hyperuricemia and plasma uric acid level with the incidence of T2DM. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) function was used to explore the dose-response relationship of plasma uric acid levels with the risk of T2DM. Results: The age of participants was (93.2±7.6) years old, and 66.7% of the participants (1 475) were female. The plasma uric acid level at baseline was (289.1±88.0)μmol/L, and the prevalence of hyperuricemia was 13.3% (294 cases). During 9 years of cumulative follow-up of 7 471 person-years (average of 3.38 years for each), 122 new cases of T2DM occurred and the incidence density was 1 632.98/10⁵ person year. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed that per 10μmol/L increase in plasma uric acid level, the risk of T2DM increased by 1.1% [HR (95%CI): 1.011 (1.004, 1.017)]. Compared with the participants with the lowest quintile of plasma uric acid (Q₁), the risk of diabetes increased by 20.7 % among the oldest old with uric acid in the highest quintile (Q₅) [HR (95%CI):1.207 (1.029, 1.416)]. The risk of T2DM was 19.2% higher in the hyperuricemia group than that in the oldest old with normal plasma uric acid [HR (95%CI): 1.192 (1.033, 1.377)]. RCS function showed that the risk of T2DM increased with the increase in plasma uric acid levels in a nonlinear dose-response relationship (P=0.016). Conclusion: The incident risk of T2DM increases with the elevates of plasma uric acid levels in the oldest old.

[Study on the effectiveness of silicon dust prevention and control of small sandblasting cabinet type water curtain exhaust hood]

Objective: To explore the effect of cabinet type water curtain exhaust hood applied to small sandblasting machine to prevent and control silicon dust, and put forward a new idea of dust ventilation protection facilities to effectively protect the occupational health of workers. Methods: From August to October 2018, the cabinet type water curtain exhaust hood of sandblasting room in a research institute was selected as the research object, and the methods of occupational health survey, on-site detection and physical simulation of air distribution were used to conduct on-site detection and smoke emission test on the local exhaust facilities, silica dust concentration, control wind speed and air distribution before and after the transformation line analysis and evaluation. Results: The air distribution simulation experiment showed that the air distribution of the cabinet type water curtain exhaust hood was reasonable and could effectively control the whole range of silica dust emission during the cleaning process. After modification, the capture velocity was increased from 0.01 m/s to 0.53 m/s, and the capture velocity was increased by 98.1%. The time weighted average allowable concentration (C(TWA)) of silicon dust (total dust) during sand blasting, cabin opening and cleaning was reduced from 7.00 mg/m(3) to 0.50 mg/m(3). The C(TWA) of silica dust (exhalation dust) was decreased from 3.36 mg/m(3) to 0.27 mg/m(3), and the C(TWA) dust reduction rates of total dust and respirable dust were 92.9% and 92.0%, respectively. Conclusion: The combination of cabinet type exhaust hood and water curtain dedusting optimizes the combination mode of dust prevention and control. It has the advantages of high efficiency of dedusting and purification, energy saving and environmental protection, and can be popularized and used in enterprises of the same nature.

A photoenhanced oxidation of amino acids and the cross-linking of lysozyme mediated by tetrazolium salts

Tetrazolium salts (TZs) are pervasively utilized as precursors in the dye industry, colorimetric probes in enzyme assays and for exploring nanomaterial toxicity, but its own toxicity is not investigated enough so far. Using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, nanosecond pulse radiolysis (ns-PRL), western blotting and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy, here we characterized a neutral tetrazolinyl radical (with the same maximum absorption at 420 nm and different lifetimes of 5.0 and 9.0 μs for two selected TZs), the key intermediate of TZs reduction, and noticed TZs-formazan production under UV light irradiation accompanied by 41% increase in the cross-linking of lysozyme (Lyso, model protein) compared to TZs-free sample, which uncovered the photoenhanced oxidation of TZs towards Lyso. The ns-PRL in a reductive atmosphere simulated the electron/proton donors of amino acid residues in Lyso upon photoexcitation and revealed the reduction mechanism of TZs, as that first followed one-electron-transfer and then probably proton-coupled electron transfer. This is the first time to report on the photoenhanced oxidation mechanism of TZs, which would provide new insights into the applications of TZs in cell biology, "click" chemistry and nanotoxicology.

[Research progress of conversion therapy in colorectal cancer liver metastases]

The probability of developing liver metastases in patients with colorectal cancer is 40%-50%. Liver metastases remain an important adverse factor affecting long-term prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Surgical resection of liver metastases is the only potentially curative treatment option. After comprehensive treatment, initially unresectable liver metastases might be converted to resectable tumors. This concept is known as conversion therapy. In this review, research status of conversion therapy in colorectal cancer liver metastases was summarized, providing updated concept of resectability, discussions on the assessment of tumor response and timing of operation, debates on the influence on tumor sidedness, and latest advancement in the treatment strategy of conversion therapy. Through analyzing existing problems, we hope to offer insights into possible progress in the future and provide references for the development of clinical practice.

Characteristics and expression patterns of six α-galactosidases in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

Six putative α-galactosidase genes (α-Gals), three acid forms (CsGAL1, CsGAL2, CsGAL3) and three alkaline forms (CsAGA1, CsAGA2, CsAGAL3), were found in the cucumber genome. It is interesting to know the expression pattern and possible function of these α-Gals in the cucumber plant since it is a stachyose-translocating species. In this study, full-length cDNAs of six α-Gals were cloned and heterologously expressed. The result showed that all recombinant proteins revealed acid or alkaline α-Gal activities with different substrate specificities and pH or temperature responding curves, indicating their distinct roles in cucumber plants. Phylogenetic analysis of collected α-Gal amino acid sequences from different plants indicated that the ancestor of both acid and alkaline α-Gals existed before monocots and dicots separated. Generally, six α-Gal genes are universally expressed in different cucumber organs. CsGAL2 highly expressed in fasting-growing leaves, fruits and germinating seeds; CsGAL3 mainly distributes in vacuoles and significantly expressed in cucumber fruits, senescent leaves and seeds during late stage germination; The expression of CsAGA1 increased from leaf 1 to leaf 3 (sink leaves) and then declined from leaf 4 to leaf 7 (source leaves), and this isoform also highly expressed in male flowers and germinating seeds at early stage; CsAGA2 significantly expressed in cucumber leaves and female flowers; CsAGA3 is localized in plastids and also actively expressed in senescent leaves and germinating seeds; The role of CsGAL1 in cucumber plants is now unclear since its expression was relatively low in all organs. According to their expression patterns, subcellular localizations and previously reported functions of these isoforms in other plants, combining the data of soluble sugars contents in different tissues, the possible functions of these α-Gals were discussed.

[Association of sleep duration with cognitive impairment among older adults aged 65 years and older in China]

Objective: The study is to examine association of sleep duration and cognitive impairment in the older adults aged 65 years and older in China. Methods: We analyzed data from 2017-2018 wave of Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). A total of 14 966 participants were included in the analysis. Data with respect to socioeconomic status, community involvement, behavior pattern, diet, life style, family structure, disease condition, mental health and cognitive function were collected. Cognitive function was measured with Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE). We conducted generalized linear mixed models to examine associations of sleep duration with cognitive impairment, and subgroup analyses of sex and age were conducted. Results: Among 14 966 participants, the percentage of participants aged 65 to 79 years, 80 to 89 years, 90 to 99 years and 100 years and older was 5 148 (4.40%), 3 777 (25.24%), 3 322 (22.20%) and 2 719 (18.16%), respectively. A total of 2 704 participants reported sleep duration of 5 h and less, and 3 883 reported 9 h and more, accounting for 18.94% and 27.19%, respectively. In total, 3 748 were defined with cognitive impairment, accounting for 25.04%. The results of generalized linear mixed models showed that both short (≤5 h) and long (≥ 9 h) sleep duration were associated with cognitive impairment compared with sleep duration of 7 h, with OR(95%CI) of 1.35(1.09-1.68) and 1.70(1.39-2.07), respectively. The association of sleep duration with cognitive impairment was more obvious in males and individuals aged 65 to 79 years old. Conclusion: Short or long sleep duration was responsible for increased risk of cognitive impairment in older Chinese.

[Effects of oxygen saturation on all-cause mortality among the elderly over 65 years old in 9 longevity areas of China]

Objective: To investigate the association between oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and risk of 3-year all-cause mortality among Chinese older adults aged 65 or over. Methods: The participants were enrolled from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study in year of 2012 to 2014 in 9 longevity areas in China. In this prospective cohort study, 2 287 participants aged 65 or over were enrolled. Data on SpO₂ and body measurements were collected at baseline in 2012, and data on survival outcome and time of mortality were collected at the follow-up in 2014. Participants were divided into two groups according to whether SpO₂ was abnormal (SpO₂<94% was defined as abnormal). Results: The 2 287 participants were (86.5±12.2) years old, 1 006 were males (44.0%), and 315 (13.8%) were abnormal in SpO₂. During follow-up in 2014, 452 were died, 1 434 were survived, and 401 were lost to follow-up. The all-cause mortality rate was 19.8%, and the follow-up rate was 82.5%. The mortality rate of SpO₂ in normal group was 21.1%, and that of abnormal group was 41.6% (P<0.001). After adjusting for confounding factors, compared to participants with normal SpO₂, participants with abnormal SpO₂ had increased risk of all-cause mortality with HR (95%CI) of 1.62 (1.31-2.02); HR (95 % CI) was 1.49 (0.98-2.26) for males and 1.71 (1.30-2.26) for females in abnormal SpO₂ group, respectively; HR (95%CI) was 2.70 (0.98-7.44) for aged 65-79 years old, 1.22 (0.63-2.38) for aged 80-89 years old, and 1.72 (1.35-2.19) for aged over 90 years old in abnormal SpO₂ group, respectively. Conclusion: Abnormal SpO₂ was responsible for increased risk of 3-year all-cause mortality among Chinese elderly adults.

[Association of blood lead level with cognition impairment among elderly aged 65 years and older in 9 longevity areas of China]

Objective: To investigate the association between blood lead concentrations and cognition impairment among Chinese older adults aged 65 or over. Method: Data was collected in 9 longevity areas from Heathy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study between 2017 and 2018. This study included 1 684 elderly aged 65 years and older. Information about demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, health status and cognitive function score of respondents were collected by questionnaire survey and physical examination. Venous blood of the subjects was collected to detect the blood lead concentration. Subjects were stratified into four groups (Q₁-Q₄) by quartile of blood lead concentration. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the association between blood lead concentration and cognitive impairment. The linear or non-linear association between blood lead concentration and cognitive impairment were described by restrictive cubic splines (RCS). Results: Among the 1 684 respondents, 843 (50.1%) were female and 191 (11.3%) suffered from cognition impairment. After adjusting for confounding factors, the OR value and 95%CI of cognition impairment was 1.05 (1.01-1.10) for every 10 μg/L increase in blood lead concentration in elderly; Compared with the elderly in Q₁, the elderly with higher blood lead concentration had an increased risk of cognitive impairment. The OR value and 95%CI of Q₂, Q₃ and Q₄ groups were 1.19 (0.69-2.05), 1.45 (0.84-2.51) and 1.92 (1.13-3.27), respectively. Conclusion: Higher blood lead concentration is associated with cognitive impairment among the elderly aged 65 years and older in 9 longevity areas in China.

[Association of blood oxidative stress level with hypertriglyceridemia in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 9 longevity areas of China]

Objective: To investigate the association of blood oxidative stress level with hypertriglyceridemia in the elderly aged 65 years and older in China. Methods: A total of 2 393 participants aged 65 years and older were recruited in 9 longevity areas from Heathy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study, during 2017 to 2018. Information on demographics characteristic, life style and health status were collected by questionnaire and physical examination, and venous blood was collected to detect the levels of blood oxidative stress and hypertriglyceridemia. The linear or non-linear association between oxidative stress and hypertriglyceridemia was described by restrictive cubic splines (RCS) fitting multiple linear regression model. The generalized linear mixed effect model was conducted to assess the association between oxidative stress and hypertriglyceridemia. Results: A total of 2 393 participants, mean age was 84.6 years, the youngest was 65 and the oldest was 112, the male was 47.9%(1 145/2 393), the triglyceride level was (1.4±0.8) mmol/L. The hypertriglyceridemia detection rate was 9.99%(239/2 393). The results of multiple linear regression model with restrictive cubic spline fitting showed that MDA level was linear association with triglyceride level; SOD level was nonlinear association with triglyceride level. MDA level had significantly association with hypertriglyceridemia, and the corresponding OR value was 1.063 (95%CI: 1.046,1.081) with 1 nmol/ml increment of blood MDA; SOD level had significantly association with hypertriglyceridemia, and the corresponding OR value was 0.986(95%CI: 0.983,0.989) with 1 U/ml increment of blood SOD. Conclusion: Among the elderly aged 65 and older in 9 longevity areas in China, MDA and SOD levels were associated with the risk of hypertriglyceridemia.

[Bioinformatics analysis of key genes and prognosis-related genes during the onset of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To screen and analyze the differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) in primary hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and adjacent tissues using bioinformatics methods to explore the molecular mechanism of the occurrence and prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: GSE76427 data set was collected through GEO database, and DEGs were identified using GEO2R online analysis. Go and KEGG databases were used for enrichment and functional annotation of DEGs. Protein interaction network was built based on the STRING database and Cytoscape software to analyze the key genes of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the survival curve of these key genes were analyzed using the GEPIA database. Results: A total of 74 hepatocellular carcinoma DEGs were screened, of which 3 and 71 were up-and-down-regulated genes. The results of GO enrichment analysis showed that the down-regulated DEGs were mainly involved in cell response to cadmium and zinc ions, negative growth regulation, heterologous metabolic processes and hormone-mediated signaling pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis results showed that the down-regulated DEGs pathway were mainly involved in retinol metabolism, chemical carcinogenesis, drug metabolism-cytochrome P450, cytochrome P450 metabolizing xenobiotics, tryptophan metabolism and caffeine metabolism. Protein interaction network had screened out 10 down-regulated core genes: MT1G, MT1F, MT1X, MT1E, MT1H, insulin-like growth factor 1, FOS, CXCL12, EGR1, and BGN. Among them, the insulin-like growth factor 1 was related to the prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Conclusion: Bioinformatics analysis results of HCC chip data showed that 10 key genes may play a key role in the occurrence and development of HCC and the insulin like growth factor 1 is associated with the prognosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Analysis on risk factors of the degree of radical resection and prognosis of patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer]

Objective: To evaluate the factors affecting the degree of radical resection and the prognosis of patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed. Clinical data of 111 patients with LRRC undergoing operation at the General Surgery Department of Peking University First Hospital from January 2009 to August 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The "Peking University First Hospital F typing" was performed according to the preoperative images of the pelvic involvement. The pelvis was assigned into four directions: the front wall, lateral sides of the pelvic wall and the sacrum. According to the degree of pelvic wall involvement, F typing included F0 type (no involvement of the pelvic wall, the cancer only involved the adjacent organs or invaded conteriorly the urinary tract, genital organs or small intestine), F1 type (cancer involved the pelvic wall in one direction, such as the sacrum, or one side of the pelvic wall), F2 type (cancer involved the pelvic wall in two directions) and F3 type (cancer involved the pelvic wall in three directions). Case inclusion criteria: (1) LRRC was confirmed by imaging and pathological examination of samples (puncture or endoscopic biopsy); (2) complete clinical and follow-up data; (3) informed consent of patient. Those with dysfunction of heart, lung, etc., intolerance of operation, F3 type indicated by image, and distant metastasis were excluded. The degree of radical resection was evaluated according to the postoperative pathological results. Patients were followed up every 12 months and related examinations were arranged. The univariate analysis of radical resection was performed by χ(2) test, and the multivariate analysis was performed by logistic methods. The survival rate was calculated by Kaplan-Meier method and the survival curve was drawn. The survival rate was compared by log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the factors affecting the prognosis of patients with LRRC. Results: A total of 111 patients were included in this study. Of 111 patients, 59 were male and 52 were female; recurrent age of 36 cases was ≥ 65 years old; CEA level of 48 cases was ≥15 μg/L. According to the "Peking University First Hospital F typing", 70 cases were F0 type, 38 F1 type and 3 F2 type. Surgical procedures were abdominoperineal resection (n=28), posterior pelvic exenteration (n=32), and total pelvic exenteration (n=51, including 1 case of TPE combined with sacrectomy). According to the postoperative pathological results, R0, R1 and R2 resections were 83, 20 and 8 cases, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that the degree of radical resection was associated with the secondary surgical procedure, F typing and lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that F typing (F1-F2) was an independent risk factor for non- R0 resection (OR=37.256, 95%CI:8.572 to 161.912, P<0.001). The morbidity of operative complications was 22.5% (25/111); the perioperative mortality was 1.8% (2/111); the local recurrence rate after the second operation was 37.8% (42/111). The 3- and 5-year overall survival rates were 41.2% and 21.9% respectively. The 3-year survival rates of patients with and without postoperative chemotherapy were 52.7% and 32.4% respectively (P=0.005). The 3-year survival rates of patients with lower (<15 μg/L) and higher CEA level (≥15 μg/L) were 52.9% and 24.3% respectively (P<0.001). The 3-year survival rates of patients with R0, R1 and R2 resection were 49.8%, 21.3% and 8.5% respectively (P=0.002). The 3-year survival rates of patients with F0, F1 and F2 type were 52.7%, 22.0% and 0 respectively (P<0.001). Cox analysis confirmed that the degree of radical resection (HR=2.088, 95%CI:1.095 to 3.979, P=0.025), the CEA level before the secondary operation (HR=1.857, 95%CI:1.157 to 2.980, P=0.010) and postoperative chemotherapy (HR=1.826, 95%CI:1.137 to 2.934, P=0.013) were independent factors affecting the prognosis. Conclusions: The indication of LRRC surgical treatments must be strictly limited. Evaluation of the fixation site to the pelvic wall is helpful for improving the rate of R0 resection. Lower preoperative CEA level, radical resection and postoperative chemotherapy are protective factors of prolonged overall survival time of patients with LRRC.

Loss of core fucosylation enhances the anticancer activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by increasing PD-1 degradation

As an immune checkpoint, programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) pathway plays a crucial role in CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) activation and provides antitumor responses. The N-glycans of PD-1 and PD-L1 are highly core fucosylated, which are solely catalyzed by the core fucosyltransferase (Fut8). However, the precise biological mechanisms underlying effects of core fucosylation of PD-1 and PD-L1 on CTL activation have not been fully understood. In this study, we found that core fucosylation was significantly upregulated in lung adenocarcinoma. Compared to those of Fut8^+/+ OT-I mice, the lung adenocarcinoma formation induced by urethane was markedly reduced in Fut8^-/- OT-I mice. De-core fucosylation of PD-1 compromised its expression on Fut8^-/- CTL, resulted in enhanced Fut8^-/- CTL activation and cytotoxicity, leading to more efficient tumor eradication. Indeed, loss of core fucosylation significantly enhanced the PD-1 ubiquitination and in turn led to the degradation of PD-1 in the proteasome. Our current work indicates that inhibition of core fucosylation is a unique strategy to reduce PD-1 expression for the antilung adenocarcinoma immune therapy in the future.

[Integrated analysis of DNA methylation and gene expression profiles of hepatocellular carcinoma to construct miR-1180-3p relevant ceRNA regulatory network]

Objective: This study analyzes the expression level of miR-1180-3p and constructs the regulatory network of relevant ceRNA by integrating the DNA methylation and gene expression profile of hepatocellular carcinoma from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Methods: Firstly, the expression level of miR-1180-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent tissues was analyzed by TCGA database, and the differential expression of lncrna and mRNA was screened. Secondly, the LncBase database and the TargetScan database were used to predict the relationship between miR-1180-3p and lncRNA and mRNA, and the DNA methylation-mediated lncRNA was screened by the DNA methylation profile of lncRNA. Finally, Cytoscape software was used to construct miR-1180-3p relevant ceRNA network, and WebGestalt website was used to perform GO and KEGG analysis of related mRNA in ceRNA. Results: Compared with patients with low expression of miR-1180-3p (mean overall survival duration, 5.69 ± 0.35 years), patients with high expression of miR-1180-3p had shorter overall survival time (mean overall survival duration, 3.99 ± 0.47 years), indicating that the high expression of miR-1180-3p was hepatocellular carcinoma risk factor affecting the prognosis (HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.1 ~ 1.5, P < 0.01). A miR-1180-3p related ceRNA regulatory network was constructed in this study, which contained 2 lncRNAs (F11-AS1 and LINC01511) and 37 mRNAs. Conclusion: This study has successfully constructed miR-1180-3p relevant ceRNA regulatory network, and DNA methylation-mediated F11-AS1 and F11-AS1/miR-1180-3p/C11of54 ceRNA regulatory axis has played an important role in the occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

A novel control strategy for mode seamless switching of PV converter in DC microgrid based on double integral sliding mode control

With the photovoltaic (PV) penetration increases in dc microgrid, the traditional PV converters with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control, which are equivalent to current sources, can hardly meet the needs of coordinated operation. The PV converter should operate in both MPPT and constant voltage control (CVC) modes. When the operation mode changes, the PV converter needs to switch between current and voltage sources. Inevitably, the bus voltage instability would be caused. This paper presents a novel switching strategy for the smooth and seamless operation of the PV converter between MPPT and CVC modes. The PV converter under these two modes is always controlled as a voltage source, and its control variables are both the output voltage of PV arrays. When its operation mode changes from MPPT to CVC, a small offset signal based on DC bus voltage would be introduced to the reference voltage of inner loop of the PV converter, so as to shift the maximum power point (MPP) voltage. Meanwhile in the voltage inner loop, a double integral sliding mode controller (DISMC) is used to improve the performance and anti-interference ability of the PV converter. This method unifies MPPT and bus voltage adjustment strategy without any communication and changing any hardware structure and control parameters. When mode switching occurs, only the reference value of voltage inner loop would be slightly adjusted near the maximum photovoltaic power point, so the seamless transition for PV converter between the two modes can be ensured. Finally, the effectiveness of the mode seamless switching control strategy is demonstrated by the simulation and experimental tests.

Moiré Potential, Lattice Corrugation, and Band Gap Spatial Variation in a Twist-Free MoTe2/MoS2 Heterobilayer

To have a fully first-principles description of the moiré pattern in transition-metal dichalcogenide heterobilayers, we have carried out density functional theory calculations on a MoTe₂(9 × 9)/MoS₂(10 × 10) stacking, which has a superlattice larger than an exciton yet not large enough to justify a continuum model treatment. Lattice corrugation is found to be significant in both monolayers, yet its effect on the electronic properties is marginal. We reveal that the variation of the average local potential near Mo atoms in both MoTe₂ and MoS₂ layers displays a conspicuous moiré pattern. They are the intralayer moiré potentials correlating closely with the spatial variation of the valence band maximum and conduction band minimum. The interlayer moiré potential, defined as the difference between the two intralayer moiré potentials, changes roughly in proportion to the band gap variation in the moiré cell. This finding might be instructive in chemical engineering of van der Waals bilayers.

Criterion for optimizing high-power acousto-optically Q-switched self-Raman yellow lasers with repetition rates up to 500 kHz

The criterion for optimizing the high-power acousto-optically ${Q}$Q-switched self-Raman yellow laser is originally explored for the repetition rate within 100-500 kHz. The minimum allowed value for the gate-open time is experimentally verified to be determined by the pulse buildup time. By using the minimum allowed gate-open time, the highest conversion efficiency can be achieved to raise the output power by approximately 20% in comparison with the conventional results. At a repetition rate of 200 kHz, the maximum output power at 588 nm can be up to 8.8 W at an incident pump power of 26 W. Furthermore, a practical formula is developed to accurately calculate the threshold pump power as a function of the gate-open time for a given repetition rate.

Compact efficient high-power triple-color Nd:YVO4 yellow-lime-green self-Raman lasers

A novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach is developed to realize a high-power compact efficient yellow-lime-green triple-color ${\rm Nd}:{{\rm YVO}_4}$Nd:YVO₄ self-Raman laser. The 588 nm yellow laser, the 559 nm lime laser, and the 532 nm green laser are converted from the 1064 nm fundamental wave and the 1176 nm Stokes Raman field. The simultaneous three-color operation is accomplished with three stages to step-by-step generate the 588 nm, 559 nm, and 532 nm lasers by using three different lithium triborate (LBO) crystals. By tuning the temperature of each individual LBO crystal, the 588 nm, 559 nm, and 532 nm output powers can be nearly the same and concurrently up to 2.4 W at the incident pump power of 30 W, corresponding to a conversion efficiency of 24% for the total output power.

[Prediction of 6-year incidence risk of chronic kidney disease in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China]

Objective: To establish a prediction model for 6-year incidence risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the elderly aged 65 years and older in China. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, we used the data of 3 742 participants collected during 2008/2009-2014 and during 2012-2017/2018 from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study, a sub-cohort of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey. Two follow up surveys for renal function were successfully conducted for 1 055 participants without CKD in baseline survey. Lasso method was used for the selection of risk factors. The risk prediction model of CKD was established by using Cox proportional hazards regression models and visualized through nomogram tool. Bootstrap method (1 000 resample) was used for internal validation, and the performance of the model was assessed by C-index and calibration curve. Results: The mean age of participants was (80.8±11.4) years. In 4 797 person years of follow up, CKD was found in 262 participants (24.8%). Age, BMI, sex, education level, marital status, having retirement pension or insurance, hypertension prevalence, blood uric acid, blood urea nitrogen and total cholesterol levels and estimated glomerular filtration rate in baseline survey were used in the model to predict the 6-year incidence risk of CKD in the elderly. The corrected C-index was 0.766, the calibration curve showed good consistence between predicted probability and observed probability in high risk group, but relatively poor consistence in low risk group. Conclusion: The incidence risk prediction model of CKD established in this study has a good performance, and the nomogram can be used as visualization tool to predict the 6-year risk of CKD in the elderly aged 65 years and older in China.

Analysis of the activation modalities of the lower limb muscles during walking

BACKGROUND

Walking is a basic human activity and many orthopedic diseases can manifest with gait abnormalities. However, the muscle activation intervals of lower limbs are not clear.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the contraction patterns of lower limb muscles by analyzing activation intervals using surface electromyography (SEMG) during walking.

METHODS

Four muscles including the tibialis anterior (TA), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and rectus femoris (RF) of bilateral lower extremity of 92 healthy subjects were selected for SEMG measurements. The number of activations (activation intervals) and the point of the highest root mean square (RMS) EMG signal in the percentage of the gait cycle (GC) were used to analyze muscle activities.

RESULTS

The majority of TA and RF showed two activation intervals and both gastrocnemius parts three activation intervals during walking. The point of the highest RMS EMG signal in the percentage of the GC for TA, LG, MG and RF are 5%, 41%, 40%, and 8%, respectively. The activation intervals were mostly affected by age, height, different genders and bilateral limbs.

CONCLUSION

This study identified the different activation intervals (four for each muscle) and the proportion of healthy adults in which they occurred during the normal gait cycle. These different activation intervals provided a new insight to evaluate the function of nerves and muscles. In addition, the activation interval and RMS peak time proposed in this study can be used as new parameters for gait analysis.

[Effects of estimated glomerular filtration rate on all-cause mortality in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China]

Objective: To investigate the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and all-cause mortality in the elderly aged 65 years and older in longevity areas in China. Methods: Data used in this study were obtained from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study, a sub-cohort of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey, 1 802 elderly adults were collected in the study during 2012-2017/2018. In this study, the elderly were classified into 4 groups, moderate-to-severe group [<45 ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)], mild-to-moderate group [45- ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)], mild group [60- ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)] and normal group [≥90 ml·min(-1)·(1.73 m(2))(-1)] according to their eGFR levels. Results: After 6 years of follow-up, 852 participants died, with a mortality rate of 47.3%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the levels of eGFR were negatively correlated with all-cause mortality risk in the elderly (the HR of elderly was 0.993 and the 95%CI was 0.989-0.997 for every unit of eGFR increased, P=0.001), while compared with the group with normal eGFR, the HRs (95%CI) of the elderly in the moderate-to-severe group, mild-to-moderate group, and mild group were 1.690 (1.224-2.332, P=0.001), 1.312 (0.978-1.758, P=0.070), 1.349 (1.047-1.737, P=0.020) respectively [trend test P<0.001]. Conclusion: The decrease in eGFR was associated with higher mortality risk among the elderly in longevity areas in China.

[Influencing factors for depressive symptoms in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China]

Objective: To analyze influencing factors for depressive symptoms in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas in China. Methods: We recruited 2 180 participants aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas from Healthy Aging and Biomarkers Cohort Study, a sub-cohort of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey in 2017. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships of socio-demographic characteristics, behavioral lifestyle, chronic disease prevalence, functional status, family and social support with depressive symptoms in the elderly. Results: The detection rate of depression symptoms was 15.0% in the elderly aged 65 years and older in 8 longevity areas of China, and the detection rate of depression symptoms was 11.5% in men and 18.5% in women. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that the detection rate of depressive symptoms was lower in the elderly who had regular physical exercises (OR=0.44, 95%CI: 0.26-0.74), frequent fish intakes (OR=0.57, 95%CI: 0.39-0.83), recreational activities (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.44-0.96), social activities (OR=0.28, 95%CI: 0.11-0.73) and community services (OR=0.68, 95%CI: 0.50-0.93). The elderly who were lack of sleep (OR=2.04, 95%CI: 1.49-2.80), had visual impairment (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 1.08-2.18), had gastrointestinal ulcer (OR=2.97, 95%CI: 1.53-5.77), had arthritis (OR=2.63, 95%CI: 1.61-4.32), had higher family expenditure than income (OR=1.80, 95%CI: 1.17-2.78) and were in poor economic condition (OR=4.58, 95%CI: 2.48-8.47) had higher detection rate of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: The status of doing physical exercise, fish intake in diet, social activity participation, sleep quality or vision, and the prevalence of gastrointestinal ulcers and arthritis were associated with the detection rate of depressive symptoms in the elderly.