Lower Initial Rate Research Articles

Некоторые факторы неблагоприятного прогноза на один год у пациентов с фибрилляцией предсердий

The aim of the study to determine factors of unfavorable influence on 12-months prognosis of life of patients with atrial fibrillation. Materials and methods of the study: The study included 183 patients (52.5% men) with atrial fibrillation (AF), with an average age of 66.2±10.0 years. Results of the study: It was found that 36% of patients had paroxysmal AF, 16% had persistent AF, and 48% had permanent AF. Non-valvular etiology of AF was identified in 85.3% of patients. Initially, 22% of patients were taking warfarin, while 37% were taking novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Based on the results of the one-year follow-up, patients were divided into two groups: group 1 with a favorable outcome (n=156) and group 2 (n=27) with an unfavorable outcome (total of 15 deaths, of which 11 were due to cardiovascular causes, including 6 cases of sudden death, 5 cases of chronic heart failure (CHF) decompensation requiring rehospitalization, 3 cases of ischemic stroke, including 1 fatal, and 4 cases of bleeding). Conclusion: A low initial rate of anticoagulant use was identified – 59%, including NOACs in 37%. High overall mortality (8.2%) and cardiovascular mortality (6.0%) were observed among AF patients over 12 months. Overall, an unfavorable prognosis was seen in 14.8% of patients.

Response of submarine braided channels to varying inflow hydrographs: Geomorphic experiments and stratigraphic implications

AbstractSubmarine channels on the seafloor experience a range of turbidity current‐flood hydrographs. The characteristics of the flood hydrograph influence channel dimensions, the number of channel threads (i.e. braiding intensity) and the depositional properties of sandbars within the channels. However, the morphodynamic response of submarine braided channels to different hydrograph patterns is poorly understood. In this study, six geomorphic experiments are used to test how varied flood hydrographs affect the braiding intensity and sandbar geometry within submarine channels. Three experiments represent the control group with constant density‐current inflow, and three experiments use different time‐varying hydrograph patterns. The experiments show that, as the inflow‐to‐sediment discharge ratio increases, multiple small channels coalesce into a few main channels, causing a decrease in active braiding intensity defined by the channel threads with flow. When the flow returns to the initial low flow rate, active braiding intensity increases again. These observations show that the inflow‐to‐sediment discharge ratio determines the value of active braiding intensity. Additionally, active braiding intensity is directly proportional to dimensionless sediment‐stream power and dimensionless stream power, in agreement with previously established trends for both submarine and fluvial braided channels. In contrast to active braiding intensity changes, the measured sandbar aspect ratio and compactness ratio (i.e. ratio of planform area to perimeter) of submarine braided channels is insensitive to changes in the hydrograph. However, when inflows reach peak discharge, the higher transport capacity erodes pre‐existing deposits, forming noticeable erosional surfaces, and subsequently depositing thicker sandbars during that stage. These observations imply that sandbar planform morphology is largely insensitive to hydrograph, but hydrograph variability induces a greater variability in the resultant stratigraphic packages. The experimental results predict that field‐scale stratigraphy should be dominated by strata deposited during intervals of high flow, but that these strata will also exhibit reduced lateral continuity compared to formation scenarios with constant discharge.

Hazardous Alcohol Use and Its Effect on Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy Initiation among People with Active Injection Drug Use and Current Hepatitis C Infection.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and hazardous alcohol use are both preventable causes of morbidity and mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID). In the general population, hazardous alcohol is associated with a reduced likelihood of HCV treatment initiation. Less is known about the prevalence and impact of hazardous alcohol use on direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy initiation among PWID with active injection drug use. PWID were recruited via street outreach in Baltimore, Maryland, between 2018 and 2019 and were enrolled in a study cohort. Participants completed a study survey and underwent HCV testing. Self-reported DAA therapy initiation was evaluated at follow-up visits every six months. Hazardous alcohol use was determined based on an AUDIT-C score of ≥4 for men or ≥3 for women. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. Of the 720 PWID recruited, 291 had detectable HCV RNA, and only 134 were aware of their HCV infection. The mean (±standard deviation) age of those that were aware of their infection was 48.7 (±10.3) years, with a slight majority (53.0%) being male and predominantly African American (64.9%). The majority (80/134, 59.7%) met criteria for hazardous alcohol use. Only 16 (11.9%) PWID reported DAA therapy initiation within six months, and 20 (14.9%) reported it within 12 months of follow-up. Hazardous alcohol use (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.43-3.53) was not associated with DAA treatment initiation. There was a high prevalence of hazardous alcohol use, low rates of oral DAA therapy initiation, and no association between self-reported hazardous alcohol use and initiation of oral DAA therapy in our sample of PWID that were aware of their chronic HCV infection. Strategies to increase HCV treatment uptake in PWID with active drug use are urgently needed and should integrate alcohol and drug use evaluation and care.

Assessing the influence of superabsorbent polymers on corrosion resistance of reinforced ultra-high performance concrete exposed to chloride and compound saltwater via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

The corrosion resistance of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) with superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) submerged in deionized water, chloride saltwater, and compound saltwater was studied. The investigated mixtures included a control UHPC mixture and UHPC mixtures with 0.3 % sodium polyacrylates and 0.3 % polyacrylate-co-acrylamide. The corrosion performance was evaluated using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, while scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analysis was used to analyze micro-morphology changes and chemical composition. Polarization analysis revealed that the control specimens exhibited the highest resistance to chloride and sulfate penetration, resulting in negligible corrosion rates after 240 days (icorr from 0.0013 to 0.0063 µA/cm2). The SAP-modified specimens also showed high resistance, with an initial low corrosion rate (icorr of 0.101 µA/cm2) that decreased to negligible levels after 28 days (icorr from 0.047 to 0.088 µA/cm2). SEM/EDX results revealed that SAPs facilitate the formation of Friedel’s salt and Ettringite crystals in chloride and compound saltwater, contributing to the reduction in corrosion resistance.

Mechanistic insight into the impact of dry-state prelithiated SiOx thin-film anode toward extremely fast-charging and long-term stability

Silicon suboxides (SiOx) have achieved partial success in commercialization as high-capacity anode materials to replace graphite because of optimal electrochemical properties over silicon. Unfortunately, the further development has been sluggish, jeopardizing the urgent need of green energy. The daunting challenges to tackle include low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) and low charging rate due to poor electron and ionic conductivity. In the context of thin film microbattery, we propose to precisely control the chemical states of SiOx films through varying sputtering power followed by dry-state pre-lithiation through Li-metal thermal evaporation, superior to the current pre-lithiation approaches for SiOx thin-film anodes. We addressed the leading roles of the surface chemical states of the as-deposited SiOx in the formation of the high ionic conductive Li4SiO4 phase as the pre-solid electrolyte interphase during the proposed dry-state prelithiation process. Ultimately, the prelithiated SiOx successfully mitigated the most confronted issues as low ICE and C-rate limitation, achieving an unprecedented rate performance of 72.8 % at 20 C, and ultra-long-cycle retention of 54.2 % over 5000 cycles at 10 C. These results strongly prove that appropriate pre-lithiation provides tremendous advantages to SiOx thin film anode not only in prolonging electrode stability but also promoting a significant fast-cycling.

Smoking patterns by birth cohort in Argentina: an age-period-cohort population-based modeling study

Argentina's smoking rates remain high. We aim to estimate Argentina age-specific histories of smoking initiation, cessation, prevalence, and intensity by birth-cohort to inform policy interventions. Modeling study. Data from three Argentinian nationally representative surveys conducted from 2004 to 2018 (n=268,193) were used to generate smoking histories. The Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling (CISNET) Network Lung Working Group age, period, and cohort modeling approach was used to calculate smoking initiation and cessation probabilities, ever and current smoking prevalence, and intensity (cigarettes per day, CPD) by age, sex, and birth cohort from 1950 to2018. Ever smoking prevalence increases with age up to 25 and decreases with birth cohorts after 1990. Smoking initiation peaks between 15 and 18 years of age. Among females, initiation probabilities increased until the 1955 cohort, reaching a second peak in 1980-85 cohorts and declining thereafter. Males have higher initiation probabilities than females. Among males, initiation has decreased since the 1950 birth cohort, with a slight increase around the 1985 cohort. Current smoking prevalence has been decreasing since the 1960 birth cohort, except for a peak in 1980-85 cohorts. Cessation increases with age. Mean CPD increases with age and peaks around age 40, appearing flat in females since the 1985 cohort. Recent birth cohorts seem to be experiencing lower rates of initiation, stable rates of quitting and lower current and ever smoking prevalence. The stabilization of cessation probabilities and mean CPD indicate the need to strengthen existing tobacco control measures and advance new ones. NIH/NCI U01CA253858 grant.

Effects of four types of natural bait on water quality, feeding, growth, and antioxidant enzyme activity of Monopterus albus in a recirculating aquaculture system

Monopterus albus is one of China’s renowned and superior aquaculture species, with its seedlings mainly sourced from wild capture. One of the bottlenecks in M. albus aquaculture is the high mortality rate and low feeding initiation rate from stocking wild fry to the initiation of feeding. In production, trash fish is commonly used to wean M. albus juveniles onto feeding. In this study, we introduced three other natural feeds, earthworms (EW), yellow mealworms (YMW), and fly maggots (FM), with frozen trash fish (TF) serving as the control group, to evaluate the effects of these four natural feeds on the survival rate, feeding initiation, antioxidant enzymes activity, and body composition of M. albus juveniles under recirculating water aquaculture conditions. The experiment comprised four treatments, each with three replicates. Each replicate consisted of stocking 150 M. albus juveniles weighing 10.02 ± 0.89 g in size, raised for 5 weeks. The survival rate of the YMW group was 73.33%–85.33%, which was significantly higher than that of the other three bait groups (p < 0.05). The four bait groups showed no significant differences in final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) (p > 0.05). The EW group showed the highest final body weight, with an average SGR of 2.73, whereas the YMW group had an average SGR of 1.87. The average daily feeding amount was significantly higher in EW and YMW groups than in the other two groups (p < 0.05). The percentage of feeding amount to fish weight in the EW group reached 7.3% in the fifth week. After 5 weeks of cultivation, NO2−-N content was significantly higher in the waters of the TF and EW groups than in the waters of the FM and YMW groups (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in TAN content among the treatment groups (p > 0.05). Liver malondialdehyde content was significantly higher in the TF group than in the other bait groups (p < 0.05). GSH-Px activity was significantly higher in the EW group than in the FM group and YMW group. No significant differences in SOD and CAT activity and T-AOC were observed among the bait groups (p > 0.05). The increase in crude protein content was significantly higher in the TF group than in the FM group, but the increase in crude ash content was significantly lower in the TFgroup. In conclusion, Tenebrio molitor could potentially serve as one of the alternative feeds during the initial stages of M. albus juveniles stocking.

Synergistic effect of interlayered doping and surface modification to improve the performance of Li-rich manganese-based cathode materials

Li-rich manganese-based oxides (LRMOs) with high energy density have been intensively studied, but their practical use as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries is still impeded by the shortcomings such as low initial coulombic efficiency, voltage decay and poor rate capability. To address these issues, element Nb is selected to bulk dope and simultaneously surface modify the hierarchical Li1.20Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2 spheres in this work. Synergistic effect of Nb doping and surface modification on the crystalline structure and electrochemical performance of the resultant LRMOs is characterized in detail. The results suggest that Nb5+ ions are doped into the interlayer sites within the crystals while the LiMn2O4 and LiNb3O8 double layers are coated on the primary nanoparticles. The galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements reveal that the optimal LRMO-Nb2 sample can deliver the capacities of 286 and 167 mAh g−1 at the rates of 0.1 C and 5 C, respectively, and retains a capacity of 191 mAh g−1 at 1 C rate after 200 cycles. Ex-situ XRD patterns prove that the layered structure is strongly pillared by the interlayer-doped Nb5+ during the delithiation/lithiation processes. Especially, some lithium vacancies formed around Nb5+ ions can accelerate the diffusion of Li+ ions, which was proved by DFT calculations and experimental results. Our research demonstrates that cooperating of the interlayered doping of Nb5+ with surface coating of LiNb3O8 layer can improve rate capability and cyclability of the resultant LRMOs significantly.

IJCM_17A: Infant and young child feeding practices among Refugees in Gangavalli block of Salem district: cross-sectional study.

Background: Refugees often face worse health outcomes due to barriers including language, cultural differences, inaccessibility to health care services. World Health Organization works around the globe to secure the health of refugees & migrants and to achieve universal health coverage through implementation of “Health and Migration Programme” (2020). Children are more vulnerable & easily prone to malnutrition in refugee & migrant population. Infant and Young child feeding practice is a key area to improve child survival and promote healthy growth. Objectives: 1. To estimate the prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding of refugee children under two years of age. 2. To determine the factors influencing the feeding practices of children under 2 years among refugee children. Methodology: A Cross-sectional study was conducted among 97 refugee children under two years of age in Gangavalli block of Salem district over period of 1month (September 2023). Data collection was done using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and statistical analysis done-IBM SPSS Version 21. Results: Early initiation of breastfeeding (within 1 hour of birth) was done in 53.6% children (52 out of 97). Only 26.8% children received Exclusive breastfeeding for more than 5 months of age. 64.9% children initiated on complementary feeding around 6-8 months of age. 76.3% children received semi-solid foods/soft foods during weaning. Only 5% children have Minimum Diet Diversity. Conclusion: The low rates of early initiation of breastfeeding and exclusive breastfeeding for over 5 months of age highlight a concerning trend. Additionally, the delayed initiation of complementary feeding with minimal diet diversity in majority of children suggests a critical need for targeted interventions to improve and promote appropriate infant and young child feeding practices within this vulnerable population.

Breastfeeding Initiation in People With Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the United States.

To evaluate breastfeeding initiation rates among people living with and without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection during pregnancy and to identify characteristics associated with breastfeeding initiation. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of individuals who had a live birth in the United States from 2016 to 2021 using the National Center for Health Statistics birth certificate data. We grouped participants by whether they had HCV infection during pregnancy. Using propensity-score matching, we assessed the association between breastfeeding initiation before hospital discharge , defined as neonates receiving any parental breast milk or colostrum, and HCV infection during pregnancy in a logistic regression model. We also assessed factors associated with breastfeeding initiation among those with HCV infection. There were 96,896 reported cases (0.5%) of HCV infection among 19.0 million births that met inclusion criteria during the study period. Using propensity-score matching, we matched 87,761 individuals with HCV infection during pregnancy with 87,761 individuals without HCV infection. People with HCV infection during pregnancy were less likely to initiate breastfeeding compared with those without HCV infection (51.5% vs 64.2%, respectively; odds ratio 0.59, 95% CI, 0.58-0.60, P <.001). Characteristics associated with higher rates of breastfeeding initiation among individuals with HCV infection included a college degree (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.22, 95% CI, 1.21-1.24); self-identified race or ethnicity as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (aOR 1.22, 95% CI, 1.06-1.40), Asian (aOR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.06-1.13), or Hispanic (aOR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.08-1.11); private insurance (aOR 1.07, 95% CI, 1.06-1.08); nulliparity (aOR 1.09, 95% CI, 1.08-1.10), and being married (aOR 1.08, 95% CI, 1.07-1.09). Characteristics associated with not breastfeeding before hospital discharge included receiving no prenatal care (aOR 0.81, 95% CI, 0.79-0.82), smoking during pregnancy (aOR 0.88, 95% CI, 0.88-0.89), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (aOR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.91-0.93). Despite leading health organizations' support for people living with HCV infection to breastfeed, our study demonstrates low breastfeeding initiation rates in this population. Our findings highlight the need for tailored breastfeeding support for people with HCV infection and for understanding the additional effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection, HCV treatment, and concurrent substance use disorders on breastfeeding initiation.

The Underutilization of Mental Health Care Services in the Lives of People with Blindness or Visual Impairment: A Literature Review on Rehabilitation Factors Toward Provision.

Roughly 3 million adult Americans have a visual impairment or blindness, and over 4 million adults aged 40 and older. Despite data demonstrating an elevated prevalence of mental health symptoms in people with BVI, this population remains largely untreated. Given that people with BVI often interface with multiple systems of rehabilitative care that are designed to improve quality of life, the relatively low rates of initiation of mental health care services are particularly alarming. In this review, the systematic processes of mental health care services across pertinent rehabilitation groups are identified and critically examined. A comprehensive literature review was conducted. The literature review utilized a critical systems typology, whereby relevant literature was selected, reviewed, and analyzed intra and extra organizationally. In addition, a thorough discussion of disability-related factors was provided, lending a socio-political lens to the problem. Considerable data indicates that short-term mental health care services for people with BVI are ineffective treatment methods, albeit primarily employed in health-rehabilitative processes. Multiple studies offered data indicating the presence of diverse and entangled mental health issues relative to vocational rehabilitation services, mobility tool utility, and emotional reactions to vision loss. Many studies suggested that disability identity work be integrated into health-rehabilitative processes for people with BVI. To improve the utility of mental health care services for people with BVI, a reenergization of the mental health care needs of this population must occur. A critical podcast or forum focused on educating listeners about the health-rehabilitation factors that influence the provision of mental health care services can aid to improve future mental health policy and practice for people with BVI. Disability scholars need to advance research on integrating critical theories in work with people with BVI and accelerate qualitative, community-based methods to enhance understanding of this population and their unique mental health needs.

Surface structure regulation toward anionic redox activation of Li1.20Mn0.533Ni0.133Co0.133O2 cathodes with high initial coulombic efficiency

Li-rich layered oxides cathodes (LLOs) as the promising next-generation cathode materials can provide ultrahigh capacity and energy density due to their distinctive anionic redox chemistry. Unfortunately, severe interfacial side reactions, surface structural degradation and sluggish Li+ kinetics have resulted in low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), capacity decay and poor rate performance, restricting their practical applications for high-energy–density lithium-ion batteries. Herein, Surface structure regulation strategy used as surface modified agent is proposed to activate the anionic redox chemistry via ammonium tungstate treatment. Experimental results showcase that dual coating layer spinel-like structure LiMn2O4 and Li2WO4 have been successfully constructed on the surface of LLOs. The surface spinel-like structure providing 3 D Li+ diffusion channels together with fast-ion conductive layer decrease the interfacial Li+ diffusion barrier and boost the fasting Li+ kinetics. In addition, the in-situ reconstruction layer can further alleviate the interfacial side reactions and reinforce the surface structural stability. As a result, the ICE of modified LLOs can be precisely increased from 74.71 % to 107.42 % with the adjustment of ammonium tungstate usage. Moreover, it delivers a high reversible capacity of 279.5 mAh/g at 0.1 C, as well as excellent rate capability with capacity of 147.2 mAh/g at 5 C. This work provides a significant reference for designing high-energy–density LLOs via surface structure regulation strategy.

Impact of initial high flow nasal cannula flow rates on clinical outcomes in children with bronchiolitis.

Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the initial high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) flow rate on clinical outcomes in children with bronchiolitis. This secondary analysis of retrospective data included children <2 years who required HFNC for bronchiolitis between 10/01/2018-04/20/2019, and following implementation of a revised institutional bronchiolitis pathway between 10/01/2021-04/30/2022. The new pathway recommended weight-based initiation of HFNC at 1.5-2 L/kg/min. We evaluated the effect of low (<1.0 L/kg/min), medium (1-1.5 L/kg/min) and high (>1.5 L/kg/min) HFNC flow rates on need for positive pressure ventilation (PPV), intensive care unit (ICU) transfer, HFNC treatment time, and hospital length of stay (LOS). The majority of the 885 included children had low initial flow rates (low [n = 450, 50.8%], medium [n = 332, 37.5%] and high [n = 103, 11.7%]). There were no significant differences in PPV (high: 7.8% vs. medium: 9.3% vs. low: 8.2%, p = 0.8) or ICU transfers (high: 4.9% vs. medium: 6.0% vs. low: 3.8%, p = 0.3). The low flow group had a significantly longer median HFNC treatment time (High: 29 [18, 45] vs. medium: 29 [16, 50] vs. low: 39 [25, 63], p < .001) and hospital LOS (High: 41 [27, 59] vs. medium: 42 [29, 66] vs. low: 50 (39, 75), p < .001). Logistic and linear regression models did not demonstrate any associations between HFNC flow rates and PPV or hospital LOS. Initial HFNC flow rates were not associated with significant changes in clinical outcomes in children in children with bronchiolitis.

Therapeutic inertia in treatment of older adults with type II diabetes at high risk for hypoglycemia

Patients 80 years or older with HbA1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) treated with multiple daily insulin injections had low rates of rapid-acting insulin deprescription and initiation of diabetes medications with lower risk of hypoglycemia. Further investigation is needed to elucidate factors contributing to potentially inappropriately aggressive treatment of these patients.

The Cascade of Care for Early Infant Diagnosis in Zimbabwe: Point of Care HIV Testing at Birth and 6-8 Weeks.

Routine birth testing of HIV-exposed infants (HEI) using point of care (POC) nucleic acid testing may allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment of infants living with HIV, but more data are needed on retention in care for those diagnosed at birth and re-testing for those with a negative HIV birth test. POC birth testing (within 48 hours of birth) was offered to all HEI born at 10 public maternities in Zimbabwe from November 2018 to July 2019. Data were abstracted from routine registers, including information on re-testing at 6-8 weeks for infants testing HIV-negative at birth and 6-month retention in care among infants diagnosed with HIV at birth. Of 2854 eligible HEIs, 2806 (98.3%) received POC HIV birth testing. Thirty-nine infants with HIV were identified (1.4%), and 23 (59%) were started on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Twenty infants (51%) remained on ART at 6 months. Of the 2694 infants who tested negative at birth, 1229 (46.5%) had a documented retest at 6-8 weeks. 7 (0.6%) of those infants tested HIV-positive. The uptake of POC birth testing was high in study facilities, but low rates of ART initiation after a positive birth test, despite high retention on ART through 6 months, diminish the impact of POC birth testing and must be addressed. Among infants who tested negative at birth, rates of testing at 6-8 weeks of life (46%) were slightly lower than national rates of testing at the same age without a birth test (56%) during the study period. Improving infant HIV testing rates at 6-8 weeks, regardless of birth testing, should be a priority.

Erzhi pills reverse PD-L1-mediated immunosuppression in melanoma microenvironment

BackgroundCancer immunotherapies aimed at activating immune system, especially by blocking immune checkpoints, have become a successful modality for treating patients with advanced cancers. However, its clinical practice is frequently conceded by high outcomes, low initial response rates and severe side effects. New strategies are necessary to complement and advance this biological therapy. Erzhi Pills (EZP) have diverse pharmaceutical effects including immune regulation, anti-tumor and anti-senescence. We hypothesized that EZP could exert its antitumor effect through immunomodulation. PurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the effects of EZP on anti-tumor activities, and define its molecular mechanisms. MethodsBy applying melanoma model with high immune infiltrates, we determined the anti-melanoma effect of EZP. To identify whether this effect was mediated by direct targeting tumor cells, cell viability and apoptosis were examined in vitro. Network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the potential mechanisms of EZP for melanoma via immune response. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry (IHC), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and crystal violet (CV) experiments were performed to detect T cell infiltrations and functions mediated by EZP. The mechanism of EZP was further investigated by western blotting both in vivo and in vitro. ResultsThe administration of EZP significantly inhibited tumor weight and volume. EZP extract could only slightly reduce cell viability and induce melanoma apoptosis. Network pharmacology analysis predicted that JAK-STAT signaling pathway and T cell receptor signaling pathway might be involved during EZP treatment. Flow cytometry and IHC analyses showed that EZP increased the number of CD4+ T cells and enhanced the function of CD8+ T cells. In co-culture experiments, EZP elevated killing ability of T cells. Western blotting showed that EZP treatment reduced PD-L1 signaling pathway. ConclusionThese findings indicated that EZP exerted anti-melanoma effects by inducing apoptosis and blocking PD-L1 to activate T cells. EZP might represent a promising candidate drug for cancer immunotherapies.

3D connected porous structure hard carbon derived from paulownia xylem for high rate performance sodium ion battery anode

Biomass-derived hard carbon has garnered significant attention due to its high capacity, low cost and abundant resources. However, the application of biomass hard carbon is limited by the low initial coulombic efficiency and rate capability. Based on these issues, natural fortune paulownia wood with numerous pores has been used as the precursor to investigate the effects on initial coulombic efficiency and rate capability at different heating temperatures. As the heating temperature increased from 1000 °C to 1400 °C, the graphitization degree of the prepared hard carbon gradually increased, and the defect concentration gradually decreased, resulting in an increase in ICE from 76.8 % to 85.9 %, and a significant increase in the proportion of platform capacity from 49 % to 69 %. The prepared HC-1400 exhibits a reversible capacity of 313 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C, and can still achieve a capacity retention rate of 92 % after 500 cycles at 1 C (charge) and 5 C (discharge). Meanwhile, due to the excellent inheritance of the 3D connected porous structure of paulownia xylem, the prepared hard carbon even exhibits an excellent capacity of 209 mAh g−1 at 10 C. In addition, the assembled HC-1400||Na3V2(PO4)3 full battery also demonstrated a high energy density of 204.4 Wh kg−1 at 0.5 C, and still exhibited 116.6 Wh kg−1 even at a high rate of 10 C. This study will provide strong guidance for designing and preparing hard carbon with both high capacity and high rate performance for sodium-ion batteries anode.

Black Families Who Choose Long-Term Breastfeeding.

Black families face disproportionate rates of poor health outcomes, including low rates of breastfeeding initiation and duration. Some Black mothers make the decision to breastfeed their child beyond infancy and report positive experiences. Understanding their backgrounds, motivations, and characteristics of their breastfeeding experiences may provide insight into what factors facilitate achievement of long-term breastfeeding for Black mothers. Surveys were deployed through a variety of methods including social media and emails to organizations that work with breastfeeding families. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze survey data and the open-ended question was analyzed using a word cloud program. Surveys were completed by 194 eligible mothers. Participants had a mean age of 31 years (range: 19-50). Mean breastfeeding duration of their currently breastfed and youngest child was 21 months (median: 19.5, range: 12-57). Primary reasons for breastfeeding beyond infancy included child wants to cuddle (28.9%) and child is tired (24.7%). Fifty-seven percent of participants reported that their child breastfed three to six times per day and 57.2% reported that their child woke up at least two times per night to feed. Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide anticipatory guidance, resources, and support to breastfeeding parents. Just over half of the mothers in this study had not planned to breastfeed beyond 12 months at the start of their lactation journey. Nurses who work with breastfeeding families could be instrumental in providing resources, support, and tangible assistance for families who may consider breastfeeding beyond 1 year.

Cognitive-Enhancing Effects of Acetylcholine Receptor Agonists in Group-Housed Cynomolgus Monkeys Who Drink Ethanol.

The cognitive impairments that are often observed in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) partially contribute to the extremely low rates of treatment initiation and adherence. Brain acetylcholine receptors (AChR) mediate and modulate cognitive and reward-related behavior, and their distribution can be altered by long-term heavy drinking. Therefore, AChRs are promising pharmacotherapeutic targets for treating the cognitive symptoms of AUD. In the present study, the procognitive efficacy of two AChR agonists, xanomeline and varenicline, were evaluated in group-housed monkeys who self-administered ethanol for more than 1 year. The muscarinic AChR antagonist scopolamine was used to disrupt performance of a serial stimulus discrimination and reversal (SDR) task designed to probe cognitive flexibility, defined as the ability to modify a previously learned behavior in response to a change in reinforcement contingencies. The ability of xanomeline and varenicline to remediate the disruptive effects of scopolamine was compared between socially dominant and subordinate monkeys, with lighter and heavier drinking histories, respectively. We hypothesized that subordinate monkeys would be more sensitive to all three drugs. Scopolamine dose-dependently impaired performance on the serial SDR task in all monkeys at doses lower than those that produced nonspecific impairments (e.g., sedation); its potency did not differ between dominant and subordinate monkeys. However, both AChR agonists were effective in remediating the scopolamine-induced deficit in subordinate monkeys but not in dominant monkeys. These findings suggest xanomeline and varenicline may be effective for enhancing cognitive flexibility in individuals with a history of heavy drinking. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Procognitive effects of two acetylcholine (ACh) receptor agonists were assessed in group-housed monkeys who had several years' experience drinking ethanol. The muscarinic ACh receptor agonist xanomeline and the nicotinic ACh receptor agonist varenicline reversed a cognitive deficit induced by the muscarinic ACh receptor antagonist scopolamine. However, this effect was observed only in lower-ranking (subordinate) monkeys and not higher-ranking (dominant monkeys). Results suggest that ACh agonists may effectively remediate alcohol-induced cognitive deficits in a subpopulation of those with alcohol use disorder.

Development of Novel Delayed Swelling Polymer Gel Particles with Salt Resistance for Enhanced In-Depth Permeability Control

Summary Prolonged waterflooding or polymer flooding in oil fields often exacerbates reservoir heterogeneity, leading to premature water breakthrough and high water cut, which significantly hinders efficient oilfield development. To address this issue, polymer gel particles have been prescribed to enhance sweep efficiency and augment waterflooding recovery by plugging preferential pathways within the reservoir. However, inherent weaknesses of polymer gel particles, such as fast water absorption and expansion rates in the initial stage and low post-expansion rates, make it difficult to balance in-depth transportation and plugging performance. Additionally, these gel particles are sensitive to ions in the formation water, resulting in reduced expansion rates under high-salinity conditions. Therefore, there are still challenges in the application of polymer gel particles for in-depth permeability control. In this study, a new type of delayed swelling and salt-resistant polymer gel particle was synthesized through inverse emulsion copolymerization. To achieve delayed swelling, we use a degradable crosslinker and hydrophobic monomer to enhance the crosslinked network density and hydrophobicity of gel particles. Our double crosslinked gel particles keep their original size until Day 2, then gradually swell up to 20 days in NaCl solution with a concentration of 15×104 mg·L−1 at 90°C. In comparison, the traditional single crosslinked gel particles show significant disparities in swelling behaviors and quickly swell when just dispersed in a 15×104 mg·L−1 NaCl solution at 90°C, maintaining roughly the same size over the testing period. Coreflooding experiments demonstrate that the residual resistance before and after aging increases from 2.37 to 6.82. The newly synthesized delayed swelling and salt-resistant polymer gel particles exhibit promising potential for overcoming the challenges associated with reservoir heterogeneity and high salinity.