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To improve the secrecy performance of cellular-enabled unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication networks, this paper proposes an aerial cooperative jamming scheme and studies its optimal design to achieve the maximum average secrecy rate. Specifically, a base station (BS) transmits confidential messages to a UAV and meanwhile another UAV performs the role of an aerial jammer by cooperatively sending jamming signals to oppose multiple suspicious eavesdroppers on the ground. As the UAVs have the advantage of the controllable mobility, the objective is to maximize the worst-case average secrecy rate by the joint optimization of the two UAVs’ trajectories and the BS’s/UAV jammer’s transmit/jamming power over a given mission period. The objective function of the formulated problem is highly non-linear regarding the optimization variables and the problem has non-convex constraints, which is, in general, difficult to achieve a globally optimal solution. Thus, we divide the original problem into four subproblems and then solve them by applying the successive convex approximation (SCA) and block coordinate descent (BCD) methods. Numerical results demonstrate that the significantly better secrecy performance can be obtained by using the proposed algorithm in comparison with benchmark schemes.

Infections with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) are associated with cancer development, and EBV lytic replication (the process that generates virus progeny) is a strong risk factor for some cancer types. Here we report that EBV infection of B-lymphocytes ( in vitro and in a mouse model) leads to an increased rate of centrosome amplification, associated with chromosomal instability. This effect can be reproduced with virus-like particles devoid of EBV DNA, but not with defective virus-like particles that cannot infect host cells. Viral protein BNRF1 induces centrosome amplification, and BNRF1-deficient viruses largely lose this property. These findings identify a new mechanism by which EBV particles can induce chromosomal instability without establishing a chronic infection, thereby conferring a risk for development of tumours that do not necessarily carry the viral genome. Infection with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) is associated with increased risk of cancer development. Here the authors show that EBV particles, and more specifically the viral protein BNRF1, induce centrosome amplification and chromosomal instability in host cells in the absence of chronic infection.

ObjectiveAssess pregnancy outcomes in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) exposed to dimethyl fumarate (DMF).BackgroundDMF is approved for treating people with MS, but should be used in pregnant women only if potential benefits outweigh potential fetal risks.Design/MethodsTecGistry (NCT01911767) was a prospective, international registry of women with MS exposed to DMF from the first day of their last pre-conception menstruation or during pregnancy. Outcomes included live births, pregnancy loss, ectopic/molar pregnancies, gestational weight, congenital anomalies, and postpartum infant/maternal death.ResultsEnrollment included 397 participants, with a median (range) age of 32 (19-43) years. Median (range) gestation week at first DMF exposure was 1 (0-13) and at enrollment was 10 (0-39), while median duration of gestational DMF exposure was 5 (0-40) weeks. Fifteen (3.8%) spontaneous abortions occurred. Of 360 live births, 323 (90%) were full-term and 37 (10%) were premature. Of 282 infants with gestational weight data, 32 (11.3%) were classified small, 240 (85.1%) appropriate, and 10 (3.5%) large. Overall, 8 (2.2%) had adjudicator-confirmed EUROCAT congenital anomalies. One neonatal death and no maternal deaths occurred.ConclusionsDMF exposure during pregnancy did not adversely affect pregnancy outcomes, with no increased incidence of congenital anomalies or spontaneous abortion.Support: Biogen

ObjectiveReport pregnancy outcomes from diroximel fumarate (DRF)-exposed women with multiple sclerosis (MS) in EVOLVE-MS-1, and describe a prospective, international pregnancy registry of women with MS (BlossoMS).BackgroundDRF is a next-generation oral fumarate approved for relapsing forms of MS. There are limited data on developmental risks associated with DRF use before and during pregnancy.Design/MethodsEVOLVE-MS-1 (NCT02634307) is an open-label, 96-week study assessing DRF. Any female in EVOLVE-MS-1 found to be pregnant was discontinued from study treatment; the pregnancy was followed until completion/termination. BlossoMS (anticipated 2023 start) will evaluate pregnancy outcomes in DRF-treated women, compared with those on other disease-modifying therapies (DMTs), no DMTs, and women without MS.ResultsOverall, 9 patients in EVOLVE-MS-1 had pregnancies; median (range) age at enrollment was 28 (19–33, n=9) years, overall DRF exposure in EVOLVE-MS-1 was 306.5 (12–431, n=8) days, and duration of DRF exposure during pregnancy was 46 (29–101, n=6) days. Of 9 pregnancies, 6 live births without con- genital abnormality, 1 elective termination with no known fetal defects, and 2 spontaneous abortions were observed.ConclusionsWe report pregnancy outcomes in women exposed to DRF during pregnancy. BlossoMS will provide essential information among DMF-exposed women during pregnancy. Supported: Biogen.

Identification of a suitable nonhuman primate (NHP) model of COVID-19 remains challenging. Here, we characterized severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in three NHP species: Old World monkeys Macaca mulatta (M. mulatta) and Macaca fascicularis (M. fascicularis) and New World monkey Callithrix jacchus (C. jacchus). Infected M. mulatta and M. fascicularis showed abnormal chest radiographs, an increased body temperature and a decreased body weight. Viral genomes were detected in swab and blood samples from all animals. Viral load was detected in the pulmonary tissues of M. mulatta and M. fascicularis but not C. jacchus. Furthermore, among the three animal species, M. mulatta showed the strongest response to SARS-CoV-2, including increased inflammatory cytokine expression and pathological changes in the pulmonary tissues. Collectively, these data revealed the different susceptibilities of Old World and New World monkeys to SARS-CoV-2 and identified M. mulatta as the most suitable for modeling COVID-19.

Background Risk factors related to mortality due to Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) bacteremia have been unveiled previously, but early clinical manifestations of AB bacteremia based on prognosis remain uncovered. Methods The demographic characteristics, clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility, and outcomes of 37 hospitalized children with laboratory-confirmed AB bacteremia from Suzhou, China, were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Results Of the 37 children with AB bacteremia included in this study, 23 were males and 14 were females, with a median age of 4.83 (0.60 to 10.15) years. Among the children, 18 died (48.65%, 18/37) and 19 survived (51.35%, 19/37). The dead group had a significantly higher incidence of respiratory failure (p = 0.008), shock (P = 0.000), MODS (p = 0.000), neutropenia (< 1.5 × 10 9 /L) (p = 0.000) and serious neutropenia (< 0.5 × 10 9 /L) (p = 0.000) than those in the survival group. The death group had significantly more invasive procedures (2 or more) than that in the survival group at 2 weeks before onset (p = 0.005). The proportion of MDR-AB in the death group was significantly higher than that in the survival group (p = 0.000), while the PICS score was significantly lower in the survival group than that in the death group (p = 0.000). There was no significant difference in effective antibiotic use within 24 h between these two groups (p = 0.295). Among the 37 children with bloodstream infection of AB, 56.76% (21/37) of the underlying diseases were hematological diseases and oncology. Among them, 17 (81.00%) were died in the hospital. The proportion of white blood cells (p = 0.000), neutrophils (p = 0.042), eosinophils (p = 0.029), the ANC (p = 0.000) and lymphocyte (p = 0.000), the NLR(p = 0.011), hemoglobin (p = 0.001), platelets (p = 0.000), prealbumin (P = 0.000), LDH (p = 0.017), blood gas pH (p = 0.000), and serum potassium (p = 0.002) in the death group were significantly lower than those in the survival group. However, CRP (p = 0.000) and blood glucose(p = 0.036) were significantly higher in the death group than those in the survival group. By further multivariate analysis, CRP [OR (95% CI): 1.022(1.003, 1.041), p = 0.021] and neutropenia [OR (95% CI): 21.634 (2.05, 228.313, p = 0.011] within 24 h of infection were independent risk factors for death in children with AB bacteremia. When CRP was higher than 59.02 mg/L, the sensitivity of predicting mortality was 88.9%, and the specificity was 78.9%. And the sensitivity and specificity of neutropenia for predicting mortality were 83.3% and 84.2%. Conclusions AB bacteremia has a high mortality in children, especially in patients with hematological diseases and oncology. Many early indicators were associated with poor prognosis, while elevated CRP and neutropenia were the independent predictors for the 30-day mortality of children with laboratory-confirmed AB bacteremia.

Under high-temperature conditions, the fluidity retention properties of polycarboxylate superplasticizers remain a challenge. This study improved the molecular structure of traditional slow-release polycarboxylate superplasticizers (also known as slump-retention agents) by introducing hydroxypropyl acrylate, successfully synthesizing a novel slump-retention agent that maintains concrete slump for an extended period at high temperatures. Comparing its performance with two other conventionally synthesized slump-retention agents, the superior performance of the new agent was verified. We then delved into the behavior of this novel slump-retention agent under different temperature conditions.

Background We aimed to compare neuropathic progression rate between hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) and other peripheral neuropathies, including diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Methods Literature searches identified studies reporting neuropathic progression, measured by Neuropathy Impairment Score (NIS) or NIS-Lower Limbs (NIS-LL). Our study also included unpublished data from a clinical registry of patients who were diagnosed with different peripheral neuropathies and seen at the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) during 2016–2020. Meta-analysis and meta-regression models examined and compared annual progression rates, calculated from extracted data, between studies of ATTRv-PN and other peripheral neuropathies. Results Data were synthesized from 15 studies in which NIS and/or NIS-LL total scores were assessed at least twice, with ≥12 weeks between assessments, among untreated patients with ATTRv-PN or other peripheral neuropathies. Meta-analysis models yielded that the annual progression rate in NIS total scores was significantly different from zero for studies in ATTRv-PN and CMT (11.77 and 1.41; both P < 0.001), but not DPN (− 1.96; P = 0.147). Meta-regression models showed significantly faster annual progression in studies in ATTRv-PN, which statistically exceeded that in other peripheral neuropathies by 12.45 points/year for NIS, and 6.96 for NIS-LL (both P  < 0.001). Conclusions Peripheral nervous function deteriorates more rapidly in patients with ATTRv-PN than for other peripheral neuropathies. These findings may improve understanding of the natural history of neuropathy in ATTRv-PN, facilitate early diagnosis, and guide the development of assessment tools and therapies specifically targeting neuropathic progression in this debilitating disease.

At present, many experimental studies have focused on the mechanism of performance of sustained-release polycarboxylate ether (PCE), but research on it from a microscopic perspective is still lacking. In this study, molecular dynamics simulation was used to conduct theoretical calculations on the molecular conformation and adsorption behavior of slow-release polycarboxylate ether molecules on the surface of cement lattices, trying to explore the mechanism of slow-release PCE molecules from a microscopic perspective. There are three groups of research design models, which are PCE molecules with ester groups with different degrees of ester group hydrolysis. The three groups of models are used to simulate the adsorption of C3S on the surface of cement particles at three temperatures of 274, 298, and 318 K, and the various parameters of the analysis model. The interpretation of the simulation results shows that the temperature factor and the hydrolysis degree of the ester group will affect the adsorption behavior of the slow-release PCE molecules in different degrees and different aspects.

Rotavirus (RV) is the primary cause of severe gastroenteritis in young children, yet the long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) regulatory landscape governing the host response remains largely unmapped. To address this gap, the present study performed an integrated transcriptomic analysis of mRNA and lncRNA expression profiles in RV-infected MA104 cells at 24 h post-infection. Deep sequencing identified 11,919 high-confidence lncRNAs, revealing a massive transcriptional shift: 3651 mRNAs and 4655 lncRNAs were differentially expressed, with both populations predominantly upregulated. Functional enrichment analysis confirmed the strong activation of key innate immunity pathways, including the RIG-I-like receptor, Toll-like receptor, and TNF signaling pathways. Conversely, fundamental metabolic pathways were found to be suppressed. Crucially, the analysis of lncRNA targets highlighted their involvement in coordinating the host antiviral defense, particularly through transregulation. Experimental validation confirmed the significant upregulation of key immune-related mRNAs (OASL and C3) as well as two novel lncRNAs (lncRNA-6479 and lncRNA-4290) by qRT-PCR. The significant upregulation of OASL and C3 was validated at the protein level, confirming the biological relevance of the transcriptomic data. This study provides a foundational, genome-wide resource, identifying novel lncRNA targets for future mechanistic investigation into host–RV interactions.