Decreasing Trend Research Articles

Variations in critical current density of TSSC cable under torsional and radial loads

A 3D finite element mechanical-electric numerical model was constructed to analyze the mechanical-electric performance of TSSC cables under torsional and radial loads at 77K. The results indicate that when subjected to torsional load, the tapes in the outermost region within the slot of TSSC cable initially exhibit a decreasing trend, gradually expanding towards the inner region. The magnitude of this decrease progressively diminishes in the direction from outer to inner. Conversely, under radial loading, the normalized critical current density of the tapes in the innermost region within the slot initially decreases and expands outward along the radius. The tapes in the middle region remain mostly unaltered, while the outer region follows a pattern of increasing from inside out and reaches its peak at layers 28 and 29. Moreover, under torsional loads, TSSC cables display a higher normalized critical current density in the counterclockwise direction compared to the clockwise direction. To enhance the critical current density performance of TSSC cables under torsional loads, it is suggested to appropriately reduce the pitch, decrease the width of superconducting tape, increase the number of stacked tapes, enlarge the width of the slot and the diameter of the diversion trench, as well as increase the inner diameter while decreasing the outer diameter of the helical core. The choice of material for helical cores is not significantly impactful. On the other hand, under radial loads, factors such as tape width, number of stacked tapes, slot width, diversion trench diameter, and inner and outer diameters of the helical core have similar effects. Additionally, increasing the pitch length or adding more slots can enhance the critical current density performance of TSSC cables. Selecting different materials for the helical core also contributes positively to this improvement.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitor prescriptions in Chinese hospitalized chronic kidney disease patients

BACKGROUND Many guidelines have recommended renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (RASI) as the first-line treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied RASI prescription trends from 2010 to 2019, and analyzed the characteristics associated with RASI prescription in Chinese hospitalized CKD patients. AIM To study the prescription of renin angiotensin system inhibitors in hospitalized patients with CKD in China. METHODS It was retrospectively, cross-sectional reviewed RASI prescriptions in hospitalized CKD patients in China from 2010 to 2019. RASI prescribing trends were analyzed from 2010 to 2019, and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify characteristics associated with RASI prescription. RESULTS A total of 35090 CKD patients were included, with 10043 (28.6%) RASI prescriptions. Among these patients, 18919 (53.9%) met the criteria for RASI treatments based on the 2012 kidney disease: Improving global outcomes guidelines. Of these, 7246 (38.3%) patients received RASI prescriptions. RASI prescriptions showed an initial rapid increase from 2011 to 2012, reached its peak around 2015 and 2016, and then exhibited a subsequent slight decreasing trend. Both bivariate and multivariate analyses showed that several characteristics, including the male gender, age < 60-year-old, nephrology department admission, lower CKD stage, history of hypertension or diabetes, proteinuria, glomerulonephritis as the CKD etiology, and non-acute kidney injury were associated with RASI prescriptions. CONCLUSION The frequency of RASI prescriptions showed an initial increase but a slight decreasing trend in more recent years. CKD patients with certain characteristics such as elderly age, advanced disease stage, surgery department admission, or acute kidney injury were less likely to receive RASI prescriptions. In the application of RASI in hospitalized CKD patients is insufficient. The actual clinical practice needs to be improved. The development of related research is helpful to guide the correct choice of clinical treatment strategy.

Structural phase transition of G-type antiferromagnetic SrMnO3 under pressure

Perovskite SrMnO3 is a versatile material with applications in transistors, supercapacitors, and spintronic devices. This study employs the DFT+U calculations to investigate the electronic and magnetic properties of two polymorphs: 4H-SrMnO3 and 3C-SrMnO3 under isotropic pressure conditions up to 60 GPa. A novel approach based on density functional perturbation theory (DFPT) is employed to precisely determine the on-site Hubbard U value, yielding a computed value of 4.552 eV, consistent with experimental reports. Below P = 14 GPa, the G-AFM phase of 4H-SrMnO3 is the most favored stable, and transitioning to the G-AFM phase of 3C-SrMnO3 beyond 14 GPa. Notably, we observed significant changes in the band gaps, exhibiting an increasing trend under isotropic pressure, while the magnetic moments of the Mn sites exhibit a decreasing trend from ≈2.8 μ B to ≈2.3 μ B for P = 0 GPa and 60 GPa, respectively. The projected density of states (PDOS) reveals the p-d hybridization contributions between the 3d-Mn and 2p-O covalent bonds, along with d-d Mott Hubbard interactions within the localized 3d orbitals of neighboring Mn-Mn atoms. Furthermore, a decrease in the Mn1-O-Mn2 distance prompts enhanced charge transfer which was facilitated by ligand holes, leading to a noticeable decrease in the magnetic moment of the Mn site in the G-AFM phase of SrMnO3.

Distinctive Lipid Characteristics of Colorectal Cancer Revealed through Non-targeted Lipidomics Analysis of Tongue Coating.

The metabolites and microbiota in tongue coating display distinct characteristics in certain digestive disorders, yet their relationship with colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unexplored. Here, we employed liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to analyze the lipid composition of tongue coating using a nontargeted approach in 30 individuals with colorectal adenomas (CRA), 32 with CRC, and 30 healthy controls (HC). We identified 21 tongue coating lipids that effectively distinguished CRC from HC (AUC = 0.89), and 9 lipids that differentiated CRC from CRA (AUC = 0.9). Furthermore, we observed significant alterations in the tongue coating lipid composition in the CRC group compared to HC/CRA groups. As the adenoma-cancer sequence progressed, there was an increase in long-chain unsaturated triglycerides (TG) levels and a decrease in phosphatidylethanolamine plasmalogen (PE-P) levels. Furthermore, we noted a positive correlation between N-acyl ornithine (NAOrn), sphingomyelin (SM), and ceramide phosphoethanolamine (PE-Cer), potentially produced by members of the Bacteroidetes phylum. The levels of inflammatory lipid metabolite 12-HETE showed a decreasing trend with colorectal tumor progression, indicating the potential involvement of tongue coating microbiota and tumor immune regulation in early CRC development. Our findings highlight the potential utility of tongue coating lipid analysis as a noninvasive tool for CRC diagnosis.

Racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine use among community-dwelling older adults with dementia.

Routine ambulatory care is essential for older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) to manage their health conditions. The federal government expanded telemedicine coverage to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ambulatory services, which may provide an opportunity to improve access to care. This study aims to examine differences in telemedicine use for ambulatory services by race, ethnicity, and community-level socioeconomic status among community-dwelling older adults with ADRD. This retrospective cohort study used Medicare claims data between April 01, 2020 and December 31, 2021. We included community-dwelling Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 years and older with ADRD. The outcome variable is individual's use (yes/no) of telemedicine evaluation and management (tele-EM) visits in each quarter. The key independent variables are race, ethnicity, and community-level socioeconomic status. The analytical sample size of the study was 2,068,937, including 9.9% Black, 82.7% White, and 7.4% Hispanic individuals. In general, we observed a decreasing trend of tele-EM use, and the average rate of quarterly tele-EM use was 23.0%. Tele-EM utilization varied by individual race, ethnicity, and community-level socioeconomic status. On average, White and Black individuals in deprived communities were 3.5 and 2.4 percentage-points less likely to use tele-EM compared with their counterparts in less-deprived communities (p < 0.001). However, Hispanic individuals in deprived communities were 2.4 percentage-points more likely to utilize tele-EM compared with those in less-deprived communities (p < 0.001). Additionally, we observed various racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine use in deprived communities versus less-deprived communities. We observed various racial and ethnic differences in telemedicine use, both within and between communities by socioeconomic status. Telemedicine is a viable healthcare delivery option that may influence healthcare access for racial and ethnic minorities and for individuals in socioeconomically deprived communities. Further policies or interventions may be needed to ensure all individuals have equal access to newly available care delivery models.

Temporal trend of age at menarche in Korean females born between 1927 and 2004: a population-based study.

The age at menarche has decreased worldwide. Previous studies on Korean adolescents have reported a downward trend in age at menarche. This study aimed to investigate the current trends in age at menarche among Korean adolescents using nationally representative data. The study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2021. A total of 50,730 females born between 1927 and 2004 with information on age at menarche were included. The trend in age at menarche was analyzed according to 15 birth-year groups (with 5-year intervals) using quantile regression analysis. The mean age at menarche decreased from 16.92 ± 0.06 years for females born before 1935 to 12.45 ± 0.04 years for females born between 2000 and 2004 (p <.001). According to the percentile group of age at menarche, mean menarche age decreased by -0.071 years per year (95% confidence interval [CI], -0.072 to -0.070) in total, -0.050 years per year (95% CI, -0.052 to -0.048) in the 3rd percentile group, -0.088 years per year (95% CI, -0.091 to -0.085) in the 97th percentile group (p <.001 for all). A decreasing trend of age at menarche was more prominent in the obesity group (-0.080 years per year, 95% CI, -0.082 to -0.078) compared to the non-obesity group (-0.069 years per year, 95% CI, -0.071 to -0.068) (p <.001 for both). Ongoing downward trend in age at menarche was observed in Korean females born until 2004, decreasing by 0.71 years per decade. The downward trend was faster in individuals with a higher percentile of age at menarche and in those with obesity.

Percutaneous endocardial septal radiofrequency ablation on syncope in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy：a short-term safety and efficacy study

Background: Syncope is a serious consequence in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM). Percutaneous endocardial septal radiofrequency ablation (PESA) has emerged as a promising intervention to alleviate symptoms and enhance the quality of life for HOCM patients. However, little is known about the effects of PESA on syncope in HOCM. We aimed to study the effects of PESA on syncope in patients with HOCM. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients with HOCM and syncope were enrolled. The left ventricular outflow tract gradient (LVOTG) of the patients was more than 50 mmHg despite medication. The participants underwent PESA under the guidance of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) combined with a three-dimensional electrophysiological mapping system. The patients were followed for 3 (3-5.5) months. Results: The mean age of the patients was 54.8±13.7 years. Out of the 19 participants, 7 (37%) were females. During the follow-up, the syncope was completely alleviated in 14 patients (73.7%) or the syncope episodes were reduced ≥ 80% in 16 patients (84.2%). The mean NYHA functional class significantly improved from 2.2±0.7 at baseline to 1.7±0.6 during follow-up (P=0.002).The LVOTG and septal thickness showed a decreasing trend from baseline to follow-up (LVOTG: P=0.083, septal thickness: P=0.086). Conclusion: Our investigation provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of PESA in reducing syncope episodes in patients with HOCM.

Invisible Victims: Exploring Gendered Trends in Youth Intimate Partner Homicide

AbstractIntimate partner homicide (IPH) constitutes the most extreme form of intimate partner violence. While this violent crime affects many of women all around the world, little is known about this phenomenon when perpetrated against young victims. To date, no study has investigated trends of IPHs involving young victims. This study therefore aimed to investigate trends of IPHs in Sweden between 1990 and 2017, disaggregated by age-group and gender. Using register data, this study compared opposite-sex relationship IPH committed against young (≤ 25 years) and against adult (≥ 26 years) individuals, disaggregated by gender. Using poisson regression modelling, our study demonstrates that while rates of IPH against adult women has declined, the rate involving adolescent and young adult women has not. Our study also indicated a decreasing trend of IPH against adult men, albeit not significant. In conclusion, while IPH committed against adult women demonstrated a decrease over time, our findings suggest that IPH against young female victims has remained stable the past 27 years. As youth IPH has been a neglected subject of research, these findings suggest that the policies to combat IPV and IPH may not be adapted and tailored for the younger population.

Large-scale geographic patterns and environmental and anthropogenic drivers of wetland plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

BackgroundThe geographic patterns of plant diversity in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) have been widely studied, but few studies have focused on wetland plants. This study quantified the geographic patterns of wetland plant diversity in the QTP through a comprehensive analysis of taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional indices.MethodsBased on a large number of floras, monographs, specimens and field survey data, we constructed a comprehensive dataset of 1,958 wetland plant species in the QTP. Species richness (SR), phylogenetic diversity (PD), functional diversity (FD), net relatedness index (NRI) and net functional relatedness index (NFRI) were used to assess the taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity of wetland plants. We explored the relationships between the diversity indices and four categories of environmental variables (i.e. energy-water, climate seasonality, topography and human activities). We used four diversity indices, namely endemic species richness, weighted endemism, phylogenetic endemism and functional endemism, together with the categorical analysis of neo- and paleo-endemism (CANAPE), to identify the endemic centers of wetland plants in the QTP.ResultsSR, PD and FD were highly consistent and showed a decreasing trend from southeast to northwest, decreasing with increasing elevation. The phylogenetic structure of wetland plant assemblages in most parts of the plateau is mainly clustered. The functional structure of wetland plant assemblages in the southeast of the plateau is overdispersed, while the functional structure of wetland plant assemblages in other areas is clustered. Energy-water and climate seasonality were the two most important categories of variables affecting wetland plant diversity. Environmental variables had a greater effect on the functional structure of wetland plants than on the phylogenetic structure. This study identified seven endemic centres, mainly in the Himalayas and Hengduan Mountains.ConclusionsClimate and topography are the main factors determining the geographic distribution of wetland plant diversity at large scales. The majority of grid cells in the QTP with significant phylogenetic endemism were mixed and super-endemism. At large scales, compared to climate and topography, human activities may not have a negative impact on wetland plant diversity in the QTP.

Impact of seasonal global land surface temperature (LST) change on gross primary production (GPP) in the early 21st century

Understanding the impact of global land surface temperature (LST) changes on gross primary production (GPP) is crucial for addressing global sustainability challenges effectively. This article explores the effects of winter and summer temperature variations on GPP from 2001 to 2020 on a global scale, employing a range of modeling techniques to investigate the complex relationship between temperature changes and GPP. The study employs various modeling approaches, including linear regression models, artificial neural networks, Random Forest (RF) models, and the XGBoost algorithm to examine both linear and non-linear relationships between global temperature changes and GPP. The results reveal that the RF and XGBoost models effectively capture the non-linear relationship between LST and GPP during both summer and winter, demonstrating a high level of statistical significance (P < 0.01) and achieving R2 values of 0.598. Furthermore, the study applies a Sen+MK trend analysis model to identify six distinct trend patterns in LST and GPP during both summer and winter seasons. In summer, the area exhibiting a non-significant increasing trend (NSI) for GPP covers 65,066,274.77 km2, whereas in winter, a strong significant decreasing trend (SSD) for GPP spans 64,537,108.31 km2. Notably, GPP patterns closely mirror those of LST, suggesting that rising high-temperature conditions during summer lead to reduced GPP, while increased low temperatures during winter promote GPP growth. Robust correlations between LST and GPP are observed under various trend conditions in both summer and winter, displaying strong statistical significance (P < 0.01), with SSD achieving a maximum R2 of 0.594. These findings contribute significantly to our comprehensive understanding of the dynamic relationship between LST and GPP and offer valuable insights for addressing the sustainable development of global climate change challenges.

Variation analysis of atmospheric 7Be activity concentrations with respect to precipitation

Beryllium-7 activity concentrations in the atmosphere and precipitation were continuously measured every day between April 2011 and December 2015 in Dazaifu, western Japan. The measured data were quantitatively analyzed to determine the precipitation-induced variation in 7Be activity concentrations. The average concentrations on nonprecipitation and precipitation days were 5.5 and 3.8 mBq/m3, respectively. This difference of 31% (1.7 mBq/m3) on average, was attributable to the washout effect, which was more significant in the summer. Regarding the association between 7Be activity concentration and precipitation, the concentration remained at a similar level for the small precipitation amount of <5.0 mm/day and showed a decreasing trend (but was insignificant) for the precipitation of 5.0–10.0 mm/day. A significant decrease in the concentration was observed for ≥10 mm/day. Furthermore, when precipitation occurred on two successive days, the 7Be activity concentrations on the second day significantly decreased regardless of precipitation.

A study on the physical aging characteristics of the older people over 70 years old in China.

In China, with the increase of life expectancy and the decrease of fertility rate, the aging problem has become increasingly prominent, and the physical problems of the older people over 70 years are the key and difficult problems. Based on the interactive logic between the aging problem and the older people health, in the study, a questionnaire survey and a nationwide physical fitness test were carried out on the older people over 70, to divide into different age groups (70-74 years old, 75-79 years old, 80-84 years old, 85 years old and older) and different genders. There were 8,400 valid samples, and 1,050 persons in each group. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences among groups of different ages, and a broken line chart was drawn to discuss the aging characteristics of various physical indexes of the older people over 70 in China. (1) Body morphology: male waist circumference, male waist-to-height ratio and female BMI showed a gradual downward trend with the increase of age; (2) Physiological function: male and female vital capacity showed a decreasing trend with the increase of age, while female pulse pressure showed a gradual upward trend. (3) Physical quality: the indicators of male and female muscle strength, flexibility quality, aerobic endurance and balance showed a downward trend with the increase of age. Vital capacity, flexibility quality, muscle strength, aerobic endurance, balance ability and so on, decreased significantly with the growth of age. 80 years old is the inflection point of the rapid decline of various indicators. Blood pressure, silent pulse, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio and other indicators did not change regularly with age. Indicators such as blood pressure, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were in the high-risk range of metabolic diseases and cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The study conducted physical fitness test on the older people over 70 years old in 7 geographical regions of China, which is the first nationwide physical fitness test for the older people, which is an extension and expansion of the national physical fitness monitoring system, and also shows that the test indicators involved in the "Health fitness scale" are simple and feasible. And the study added a series of test data over 70 years old, which is the basis for scientific and reasonable formulation of physical fitness evaluation standards for the older people, and is of great significance for improving the national physical fitness database and grasping the dynamic changes of national physical health status, and providing data support for scientific guidance of physical exercise for the older people.

Remotely Sensed Changes in Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Wetland Ecosystems and Their Response to Drought

Wetland ecosystems in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau are pivotal for global ecology and regional sustainability. This study investigates the dynamic changes in wetland ecosystems within the Chaidamu Basin and their response to drought, aiming to foster sustainable wetland utilization in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau. Using Landsat TM/ETM/OLI data on the Google Earth Engine platform, we employed a random forest (RF) method for annual long-term land cover classification. Standardized precipitation evapotranspiration indices (SPEI3, SPEI6, SPEI9, and SPEI12) on different time scales were used to assess meteorological drought conditions. We employed a Pearson correlation analysis to examine the relationship between wetland changes and various SPEI scales. The BFASAT method was used to evaluate the impact of SPEI12 trends on the wetlands, while a cross-wavelet analysis explored teleconnections between SPEI12 and atmospheric circulation factors. Our conclusion is as follows: The wetlands, including lake, glacier, and marsh wetlands, exhibited a noticeable increasing trend. Wetland expansion occurred during specific periods (1990–1997, 1998–2007, and 2008–2020), featuring extensive conversions between wetlands and other types, notably the conversion from other types to wetlands. Spatially, lake and marsh wetlands predominated in the low-latitude basin, while glacier wetlands were situated at higher altitudes. There were significant negative correlations between the SPEI at various scales and the total wetland area and types. SPEI12 displayed a decreasing trend with non-stationarity and distinct breakpoints in 1996, 2002, and 2011, indicating heightened drought severity. Atmospheric circulation indices (ENSO, NAO, PDO, AO, and WP) exhibited varying degrees of resonance with SPEI12, with NAO, PDO, AO, and WP demonstrating longer resonance times and pronounced responses. These findings underscore the significance of comprehending wetland changes and drought dynamics for effective ecological management in the Chaidamu Basin of the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.

Research on Failure Pressure of API 5L X100 Pipeline with Single Defect

Background: With the continuous application of API 5L X100 high-strength grade steel pipeline and the development trend of increasing pipeline diameter and design pressure in China's long natural gas and petroleum pipeline, API 5L X100 high-strength grade steel pipeline steel is bound to become the aorta in long-distance pipeline construction in the future. Studying the failure pressure of API 5L X100 high-strength grade steel pipeline has high economic and social benefits. Objective: Exploring the corrosion mechanism of the two single corroded pipeline models with outer defect and inner defect. Methods: Using ANSYS Workbench 15.0 software to explore the two single corroded pipeline models with outer defect and inner defect and the influence of geometric parameters such as defect depth, defect length, defect width, etc., on the maximum equivalent stress and failure pressure investigated. Based on the finite element analysis database, the failure pressures of two single corroded pipeline models were fitted using Matlab software and the fitting formulas. Results: In the corrosion defect area of the pipeline, stress concentration occurs; Far away from the corrosion defect area, the stress distribution is uniform. For the pipeline model with outer defect and inner defect, as the defect depth and length increases, failure pressure shows a decreasing trend and is almost unaffected by defect width; As the ratio of diameter to thickness increases, failure pressure shows a decreasing trend; By fitting failure pressure formula of the pipeline models with outer defect and inner defect, a multivariate fitting function formula of failure pressure is obtained, with high fitting exactitude. Conclusion: The conclusion obtained have certain guiding values for the normal and stable operation of natural gas and petroleum transportation pipelines.

Impact of carboplatin and cisplatin shortages on treatment patterns in patients with metastatic solid tumors.

11149 Background: The United States experienced cisplatin (CP) and carboplatin (CB) shortages in 2023, leading to potential rationing or switching to alternative therapies in multiple cancers. Using a US nationwide, real-world oncology dataset, we assessed changes in the use of CP and CB in 7 cancers during the shortage period. Methods: All patients (pts) from the Flatiron Health electronic health record-derived de-identified database (~280 cancer clinics, ~800 sites of care) with a machine learning-extracted metastatic (met) diagnosis of a cancer of interest between March 2022 and June 2023 and evidence of first-line (1L) therapy, were selected. Pts with multiple primaries were excluded. Platinum of interest was identified based on frequency of pre-period 1L use for a given cancer. The pre-period was June 2022 through first month of reported shortage (February 2023 for CP; April 2023 for CB); data cutoff was June 2023. Clinical characteristics of platinum-treated pts stratified by pre- vs post-period by disease were assessed. 1L platinum utilization rates (UR), calculated as the proportion of 1L-treated pts initiating CB/CP within 30 days of met diagnosis, were plotted by month. Cohort-level impact was evaluated with an interrupted time series analysis—overall and stratified by practice type, practice size, and socioeconomic status (SES). Multiple testing was controlled using the Benjamini-Hochberg procedure. Results: 10,983 pts received 1L therapy in the study period. Monthly platinum UR were stable across diseases in the pre-period. However, there was a significant post-period decrease in CB usage for non-small cell lung (NSCLC) and endometrial cancers (EC), and a decreasing trend in UR for CB in bladder (BC), ovarian (OC), and small cell lung cancers (SCLC). We also observed a decreasing trend in CP usage for cholangiocarcinoma (CC). Post-period monthly UR were stable for CB and CP in head and neck cancer (HNC), and for CP in BC. Odds ratios (OR) representing the month-over-month change in the odds of receiving platinum therapy during both pre- and post-periods are shown (table). OR trends varied by practice type and disease; no notable trends were seen by practice size or SES. UR with additional follow-up times will be presented. Conclusions: We observed decreased platinum use across multiple cancers during the shortage period, most notably for met NSCLC and EC, suggesting shortages led oncologists to seek alternatives to standard 1L platinum-based regimens. Further study of how treatment changes due to platinum shortages impacted pt outcomes is warranted. [Table: see text]

Orthotic Thermoplastic Demonstrates a Similar Contamination Potential with Bacillus Bacteria Recovered from Thermoplastic Radiation Therapy Patient Masks

Thermoplastics used to construct a variety of patient medical devices can become contaminated by harmful bacteria. We investigated whether two different Bacillus species recovered from patient radiation therapy thermoplastic masks could similarly contaminate thermoplastic material used to construct patient orthoses (splints). Bacillus bacteria form dormant spores, which have been shown to enhance its attachment to thermoplastics. Bacterial attachment and recovery were examined using an orthotic thermoplastic with an anti-stick coating being compared to uncoated material used in radiation therapy applications. Triplicate sample squares were seeded with a saline suspension of either B. cereus (MAB03F) or B. megaterium (DAB01F) containing a similar number of spores. Squares were subsequently sampled at 1 h, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks. The number of recovered bacteria was counted. Differences in material hydrophobicity were determined by water contact angle analysis. Both Bacillus species attached to each material within 1 h, and their spores were recovered at 8 weeks. However, a decreasing trend in adhesion, over time, was noted to the coated material with an opposite increasing trend in the uncoated material. Decreased Bacillus species spore adhesion to coated material with a lower hydrophobicity suggests a greater potential for spore transfer to patients wearing contaminated orthoses.

The ALPINE-ALMA [CII] survey: Dust emission effective radius up to 3 kpc in the early Universe

Aims. Measurements of the size of dust continuum emission are an important tool for constraining the spatial extent of star formation, and hence the buildup of stellar mass. Compact dust emission has generally been observed at cosmic noon (z ∼ 2 − 3). However, at earlier epochs, toward the end of the reionization (z ∼ 4 − 6), only the sizes of a handful of infrared (IR) bright galaxies have been measured. In this work, we derive the dust emission sizes of main-sequence (MS) galaxies at z ∼ 5 from the ALPINE survey. Methods. We measured the dust effective radius, re, FIR, in the uv-plane in Band 7 of ALMA for seven ALPINE galaxies with resolved emission and we compared it with rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) and [CII]158 μm measurements. We studied the re, FIR − LIR scaling relation by considering our dust size measurements and all the data in the literature at z ∼ 4 − 6. Finally, we compared our size measurements with predictions from simulations. Results. The dust emission in the selected ALPINE galaxies is rather extended (re, FIR ∼ 1.5 − 3 kpc), similar to [CII]158 μm but a factor of ∼2 larger than the rest-frame UV emission. Putting together all the measurements at z ∼ 5, spanning two decades in luminosity from LIR ∼ 1011 L⊙ to LIR ∼ 1013 L⊙, the data highlight a steeply increasing trend of the re, FIR − LIR relation at LIR &lt; 1012 L⊙, followed by a downturn and a decreasing trend at brighter luminosities. Finally, simulations that extend up to the stellar masses of the ALPINE galaxies considered in the present work predict a subset of galaxies (∼25% at 1010 M⊙ &lt; M⋆ &lt; 1011 M⊙) with sizes as large as those measured.

Molecular imaging research on 18F-FDG PET/CT and biomarker analysis to predict the efficacy of neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy for resectable stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC.

e15065 Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the predictive value of tumor and secondary lymphoid metabolic parameters on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) and circulating biomarkers for pathological response of neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: We included 22 patients who was diagnosed with NSCLC (stage IIIA-IIIB (T3-4N2)) and underwent curative surgery after receiving 3 cycles of camrelizumab plus chemotherapy between January 2023 and January 2024 in Shandong Cancer Hospital. Radical surgery was performed within 4-6 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy. Patients undergo 18F-FDG PET/CT scans in 1 week before treatment and 1 week before surgery. Pathological outcomes were assessed and divided into pathologic complete response (pCR) and non-pCR (defined as residual tumor &gt; 0%). The PET/CT parameters were measured, including tumor metabolic parameters such as maximum normalized uptake value (SUVmax), average normalized uptake value (SUVmean), total pathological glycolysis (TLG), and metabolic tumor volume (MTV). Additionally, secondary lymphoid organ metabolic parameters like the spleno-liver SUVmax ratio (SLR) and bone marrow-liver SUVmax ratio (BLR) were assessed. Furthermore, lymphocyte subsets and inflammatory biomarkers in peripheral blood were analyzed. The correlation between PET/CT metabolic parameters, lymphocyte subsets, inflammatory biomarkers and pathological response was analyzed. Results: pCR was achieved in 8 of the 22 patients. SUVmax in both pCR (p&lt;0.001) and non-pCR patients (p&lt;0.001) decreased before surgery. Among patients with pCR, the absolute value of decreased SUVmax (p = 0.024) and the rate of decreased SUVmax (ΔSUVmax%) (p = 0.042) before surgery was higher than those in non-pCR patients. In pCR group, SLR has a decreasing trend before surgery (p = 0.083). In circulating biomarker analysis, the percentage of NK cells changes (ΔNK%) of patients with pCR before surgery was higher than that of patients with non-pCR (p = 0.029). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in pCR group decreased significantly (p = 0.021) before surgery and there also had declining trend in the non-pCR group (p = 0.062). Before surgery, systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) was significantly decreased in both pCR (p = 0.028) and non-pCR (p&lt;0.001) groups. There also had significant decrease in derived neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (dNLR) before surgery in both pCR (p = 0.01) and non-pCR (p = 0.031) groups. Conclusions: The SUVmax of the primary site at baseline, ΔSUVmax% and ΔNK% have good value in pCR for patients with stage IIIA-IIIB NSCLC receiving neoadjuvant camrelizumab combined with chemotherapy. More analysis of biomarkers is ongoing.

Comparative Biological Half-Life of Penthiopyrad and Tebufenpyrad in Angelica Leaves and Establishment of Pre-Harvest Residue Limits (PHRLs).

To prevent pesticides from exceeding maximum residue limits (MRLs) in crops during export and shipment, it is necessary to manage residue levels during the pre-harvest stages. Therefore, the Republic of Korea establishes pre-harvest residue limits (PHRLs) per crop and pesticide. This study was conducted to set PHRLs for penthiopyrad and tebufenpyrad in angelica leaves, where the exceedance rates of MRLs are expected to be high. The LOQ of the analytical method used was 0.01 mg/kg and it demonstrated good linearity, with a correlation coefficient of 0.999 or higher within the quantitation range of 0.005 to 0.5 mg/kg. The recovery and storage stability accuracy values were in the range of 94.5-111.1%, within the acceptable range (70-120%, RSD ≤ 20%). The matrix effect for both pesticides was in the medium-to-strong range, and it did not significantly impact the quantitative results as a matrix-matched calibration method was employed. Using the validated method, residue concentrations of penthiopyrad 20 (%) EC and tebufenpyrad 10 (%) EC were analyzed. Both pesticides exhibited a decreasing residue trend over time. In Fields 1-3 and their integrated results, the biological half-life was within 2.6-4.0 days for penthiopyrad and 3.0-4.2 days for tebufenpyrad. The minimum value of the regression coefficient in the dissipation curve regression equation was selected as the dissipation constant. The selected dissipation constants for penthiopyrad in Fields 1-3 and their integration were 0.1221, 0.2081, 0.2162, and 0.1960. For tebufenpyrad, the dissipation constants were 0.1451, 0.0960, 0.1725, and 0.1600, respectively. The dissipation constant was used to calculate PHRL per field. Following the principles of the PHRL proposal process, residue levels (%) on PHI dates relative to MRLs were calculated, and fields for proposing PHRLs were selected. For penthiopyrad, since the residue level (%) was less than 20%, the PHRL for Field 3 with the largest dissipation constant was proposed. For tebufenpyrad, as the residue level (%) exceeded 80%, the PHRL proposal could not established. It is deemed necessary to reassess the MRL and 'guidelines for safe use' for tebufenpyrad in angelica leaves.

A precise thymalfasin-regulated PRaG regimen for advanced refractory solid tumors: An open-label, prospective, multicenter clinical study (PRaG 5.0 study).

e14637 Background: PRaG regimen, which consisted of anti-PD-1 therapy, radiotherapy and GM-CSF, had a positive efficacy and tolerable safety for advanced refractory solid tumors who were heavily treated. However, severe lymphocytopenia was one of the major hurdles for immunotherapy. Thymalfasin has been wildly used as an adjuvant therapy for multiple carcinomas for elevating and sustaining the abundance of T lymphocyte. An exploratory phase II study was conducted to assess the efficacy of a meticulously thymalfasin-controlled PRaG regimen in advanced solid tumors (NCT05790447). Methods: Subjects with advanced solid tumors, having progressed beyond at least first-line chemotherapy, were eligible and treated with thymalfasin at three doses, dependent on the baseline absolute T lymphocyte count. Following seven days of thymalfasin treatment in patients with low baseline lymphocytes, they received at least two cycles of the PRaG regimen until either no suitable lesions remained for irradiation or the normal tissue tolerance dose was reached. When completing PRaG cycles, patients were maintained PD-1 inhibitor and thymalfasin until disease progression or intolerable adverse events. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR) according to RECIST 1.1. Peripheral blood samples were collected for subsequent translational research. Results: As of January 31, 2024, six patients were enrolled in the study and completed at least one tumor assessment. The ORR was 33.3%, and the disease control rate was 50.0% (2 patients with partial response (PR), one patient with stable disease (SD), and three patients with progressive disease). Four patients underwent single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses of frozen peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from before and after two cycles of therapy. Early-activated CD8+T cells, the intermediate state between the naïve-like and the effector-memory subsets, increased post-treatment, especially in three responders with PR and SD after two cycles of PRaG and thymalfasin, while a CD8+ terminally exhausted (Tex) cluster showed a decreasing trend in these responders. Seventy-six differential genes were identified in early-activated CD8+T cells, mainly enriched in activation of immune response, myeloid leukocyte activation, and T cell receptor signaling pathways (gene ontology). CCL3, PTPRC, NFKBIA, FOSB, RELB, and TGFB1 were vital genes in the gene network analysis. Conclusions: The preliminary results of the PRaG 5.0 regimen revealed a manageable safety profile and encouraging efficacy. A loading dose of thymalfasin modulation appeared to increase in early-activated CD8+T cell proportions, which might correlate with favorable responses. These results should be validated in a larger cohort of patients, and the underlying mechanisms warrant further exploration. Clinical trial information: NCT05790447 .