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Optical fiber sensors fabricated by bonding have several limitations. To address these limitations, a CO2 laser welding process for an optical fiber and quartz glass ferrule is proposed in this study. A deep penetration welding method with optimal penetration (penetrating the base material only) is presented to weld a workpiece according to the requirements of the optical fiber light transmission, size characteristics of the optical fiber, and the keyhole effect of the deep penetration laser welding. Moreover, the influence of laser action time on the keyhole penetration is studied. Finally, laser welding is performed with a frequency of 24 kHz, power of 60 W, and duty cycle of 80% for 0.9 s. Subsequently, the optical fiber is subjected to out-of-focus annealing (0.83 mm, 20% duty cycle). The results show that deep penetration welding produces a perfect welding spot and has good quality; the hole generated from deep penetration welding has a smooth surface; the fiber can bear a maximum tensile force of 1.766 N. The performance of the optical fiber sensor is stable, and the maximum pressure deviation corresponding to the cavity length fluctuation is about 7.2 Pa. Additionally, the linear correlation coefficient R of the sensor is 0.99998.

In-sensor and near-sensor computing are becoming the next-generation computing paradigm for high-density and low-power sensory processing. To fulfil a high-density and efficient neuromorphic visual system with fully hierarchical emulation of the retina and visual cortex, emerging multimodal neuromorphic devices for multi-stage processing and a fully hardware-implemented system with versatile image processing functions are still lacking and highly desirable. Here we demonstrate an emerging multimodal-multifunctional resistive random-access memory (RRAM) device array based on modified silk fibroin protein (MSFP), exhibiting both optoelectronic RRAM (ORRAM) mode featured by unique negative and positive photoconductance memory and electrical RRAM (ERRAM) mode featured by analogue resistive switching. A full hardware implementation of the artificial visual system with versatile image processing functions is realised for the first time, including ORRAM mode array for the in-sensor image pre-processing (contrast enhancement, background denoising, feature extraction) and ERRAM mode array for near-sensor high-level image recognition, which hugely improves the integration density, and simply the circuit design and the fabrication and integration complexity. In-sensor and near-sensor computing are emerging as the next-generation computing paradigm, for high-density and low-power sensory processing. Here, the authors report a fully hardware-implemented artificial visual system for versatile image processing based on multimodal-multifunctional optoelectronic resistive memory devices with optical and electrical resistive switching modes.

Sepsis is a hyper-heterogeneous syndrome in which the systemic inflammatory response persists throughout the course of the disease and the inflammatory and immune responses are dynamically altered at different pathogenic stages. Gasdermins (GSDMs) proteins are pore-forming executors in the membrane, subsequently mediating the release of pro-inflammatory mediators and inflammatory cell death. With the increasing research on GSDMs proteins and sepsis, it is believed that GSDMs protein are one of the most promising therapeutic targets in sepsis in the future. A more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the functions of GSDMs proteins in sepsis is important to alleviate the multi-organ dysfunction and reduce sepsis-induced mortality. In this review, we focus on the function of GSDMs proteins, the molecular mechanism of GSDMs involved in sepsis, and the regulatory mechanism of GSDMs-mediated signaling pathways, aiming to provide novel ideas and therapeutic strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

Background Child mortality remains a major health burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where adherence to pediatric clinical guidelines is often suboptimal. Diagnostic capacity, the availability of essential laboratory and imaging tests, is a key structural input for delivering high-quality pediatric care, yet its relationship with quality of care has received limited empirical attention. This study examines the association between diagnostic capacity and adherence to evidence-based pediatric care guidelines across eight LMICs. Methods We analyzed nationally representative Service Provision Assessment (SPA) data from 5311 health facilities across eight LMICs (Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Malawi, Nepal, Senegal, and Tanzania) collected between 2014 and 2022. Quality of care was assessed using a 10-item adherence index derived from direct observations of outpatient consultations, aligned with the WHO Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) protocol. Diagnostic capacity was measured using a 16-item index reflecting the availability of essential laboratory and imaging tests recommended in the WHO Essential Diagnostics List. Associations between diagnostic capacity and adherence to clinical guidelines were examined using multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear models, adjusting for facility-, provider-, and patient-level covariates. Results Diagnostic capacity varied substantially across countries and facility levels. Among primary care facilities, median diagnostic availability ranged from 20.1% in Malawi to 72.4% in Senegal; among hospitals, from 64.7% in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to 88.5% in Ethiopia. On a 10-point scale, pediatric care quality scores were lowest in Afghanistan (3.45) and highest in DR Congo (4.89). Higher diagnostic capacity was significantly associated with greater adherence to pediatric clinical guidelines (adjusted log-odds β = 0.138; 95% CI: 0.061–0.216; p  < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses using alternative outcome definitions, exposure measures, subgroup classifications, and model specifications yielded consistent results. Conclusions This multi-country observational study identifies a positive association between diagnostic readiness and the quality of pediatric care in LMICs. These findings suggest that diagnostic capacity may serve as an enabling structural condition for delivering higher-quality pediatric care in LMICs, reinforcing the role of diagnostics within health system strengthening strategies.

Background Mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell and are critical for plant growth and development. Pitaya ( Selenicereus or Hylocereus ) is the most important economic crop in the family Cactaceae and is grown worldwide, however its mitogenome is unreported. Results This study assembled the complete mitogenome of the red skin and flesh of pitaya ( Selenicereus monacanthus ). It is a full-length, 2,290,019 bp circular molecule encoding 59 unique genes that only occupy 2.17% of the entire length. In addition, 4,459 pairs of dispersed repeats (≥ 50 bp) were identified, accounting for 84.78% of the total length, and three repeats (394,588, 124,827, and 13,437 bp) mediating genomic recombination were identified by long read mapping and Sanger sequencing. RNA editing events were identified in all 32 protein-coding genes (PCGs), among which four sites ( nad1 -2, nad4L -2, atp9 -copy3-223, and ccmFC -1309) were associated with the initiation or termination of PCGs. Seventy-eight homologous fragments of the chloroplast genome were identified in the mitogenome, the longest having 4,523 bp. In addition, evolutionary analyses suggest that S. monacanthus may have undergone multiple genomic reorganization events during evolution, with the loss of at least nine PCGs ( rpl2 , rpl10 , rps2 , rps3 , rps10 , rps11 , rps14 , rps19 , and sdh3 ). Conclusions This study revealed the genetic basis of the S. monacanthus mitogenome, and provided a scientific basis for further research on phenotypic traits and germplasm resource development.

Mental health issues have emerged as a global challenge, particularly affecting middle-aged and older adults. Research has shown that internet use can potentially promote mental health. Substantial research investigated the relationship between mental health and internet usage time or purposes. However, few studies have examined the association between internet usage time trajectories and mental health. The objective of this study was to identify distinct trajectories of internet usage time over a span of 11 years and assess their relationship with depressive scores among middle-aged and older adults. Using longitudinal data from the China Family Panel Studies spanning from 2010 to 2020 and consisting of 5 waves. Participants older than 45 years with internet usage data available for at least 3 waves, including wave 5, were included in the analysis. Internet usage time was operationalized as the number of hours spent on the internet per week, while depressive scores were assessed using the 8-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D 8). A latent class mixed model was used to identify distinct trajectories of internet usage time over the course of this period. Mixed-effect models were used to test the relationship between distinct trajectories of internet usage time and depressive scores. Among 9163 middle-aged and older adults were included in the analysis. The trajectory analysis identified 3 clusters: \"Never use,\" \"Slow increase,\" and \"Rapid increase.\" The \"Never use\" cluster indicated no internet use for one decade. In the slow increase cluster, internet use rose slowly with an average of 7.69 hours per week in 2020. In contrast, the \"Rapid increase\" cluster exhibited a sharp increase, reaching 15.13 hours per week in 2020. Compared to the \"Never use\" cluster, the \"Slow increase\" cluster was significantly negatively associated with depressive scores among middle-aged and older adults (coefficient -0.20, 95% CI -0.34 to -0.06), while the \"Rapid increase\" cluster showed no significant association. The benefits of internet use were more pronounced among females and older adults with chronic diseases than among their male and older adult counterparts without chronic diseases. The sensitive analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. This study identified 3 trajectory clusters of internet usage time among middle-aged and older adults in China from 2010 to 2020. Compared to the older adults who never used the internet, those whose internet usage increases gradually over time exhibited slightly lower depressive scores. Notably, the \"Slow increase\" cluster exhibited a negative association with depressive scores, with this association being statistically significant in females and older adults with chronic diseases, but not in males or those without chronic diseases. Future initiatives should aim to establish an older adult-friendly internet environment to facilitate internet access for older adults and promote moderate internet use.

Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are emerging as the leading contributor to death globally. The usual source of care (USC) has been proven to generate significant benefits for the elderly with CVD. Understanding the choice of USC would generate important knowledge to guide the ongoing primary care-based integrated health system building in China. This study aimed to analyze the individual-level determinants of USC choices among the Chinese elderly with CVD and to generate two exemplary patient profiles: one who is most likely to choose a public hospital as the USC, the other one who is most likely to choose a public primary care facility as the USC. Methods This study was a secondary analysis using data from the World Health Organization’s Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) Wave 1 in China. 3,309 individuals aged 50 years old and over living with CVD were included in our final analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was built to analyze the determinants of USC choice. Nomogram was used to predict the probability of patients’ choice of USC. Results Most of the elderly suffering from CVD had a preference for public hospitals as their USC compared with primary care facilities. The elderly with CVD aged 50 years old, being illiterate, residing in rural areas, within the poorest income quintile, having functional deficiencies in instrumental activities of daily living and suffering one chronic condition were found to be more likely to choose primary care facilities as their USC with the probability of 0.85. Among those choosing primary care facilities as their USC, older CVD patients with the following characteristics had the highest probability of choosing public primary care facilities as their USC, with the probability of 0.77: aged 95 years old, being married, residing in urban areas, being in the richest income quintile, being insured, having a high school or above level of education, and being able to manage activities living. Conclusions Whilst public primary care facilities are the optimal USC for the elderly with CVD in China, most of them preferred to receive health care in public hospitals. This study suggests that the choice of USC for the elderly living with CVD was determined by different individual characteristics. It provides evidence regarding the choice of USC among older Chinese patients living with CVD.

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a critical public health concern among university students, often considered a gateway behavior to suicide. With the widespread use of mobile phones, understanding the association between specific mobile phone use behaviors (eg, presleep and postwake mobile phone use) and NSSI has become increasingly important for targeted prevention. This study aimed to explore the association between presleep and postwake mobile phone use and NSSI among Chinese university students, examining potential dose-response relationships and sex differences. A multistage random cluster sampling survey was conducted across 6 universities in Shaanxi province (northwest China) from October 2022 to November 2022. A total of 18,585 undergraduates were included in the final analysis. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between presleep and postwake mobile phone use duration and past-month NSSI, whereas restricted cubic spline regression was applied to assess dose-response relationships. The prevalence of past-month NSSI among participants was 3.81% (709/18,585). Compared with individuals who reported lower presleep mobile phone use (0-30 minutes per day), those with higher presleep mobile phone use had substantially increased odds of NSSI, with odds ratios of 1.34 (95% CI 1.07-1.66) for the group with 61 to 120 minutes per day of use and 1.93 (95% CI 1.53-2.42) for the group with ≥120 minutes per day of use. For postwake mobile phone use, compared with the group with 0 to 1 minute per day of use, the participants in the group with >30 minutes per day of use showed a significant association with NSSI (odds ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.02-1.58) in the fully adjusted model. Continuous variable analyses revealed that each 10-minute increase in presleep and postwake use was associated with a 3% and 2% higher NSSI risk, respectively. Restricted cubic spline analysis confirmed linear dose-response relationships for both presleep and postwake use (P>.05 for nonlinearity). No significant sex differences were observed in these associations. Prolonged presleep and postwake mobile phone use exhibited linear associations with NSSI among Chinese university students, with no significant sex disparities. These findings underscore the necessity of longitudinal studies to establish causality, elucidate underlying mechanisms, and inform targeted interventions.

Background GRP78 is a molecular chaperone protein in the endoplasmic reticulum that is involved in protein assembly and quality control, and it participates in ER stress regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways. Studies have confirmed that GRP78 gene is highly expressed in a variety of tumors and is involved in different biological functions. Purpose The present review highlights the involvement of the GRP78 gene in regulating the development of cervical cancer by promoting the proliferation and invasion of cervical cancer cells as well as by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting the Warburg effect. High expression of GRP78 is positively correlated with chemotherapy resistance in cervical cancer. GRP78 plays an anticancer role in cervical cancer by regulating autophagy and apoptosis. Mediated immune CD8 + T cells regulate tumor cell immunity and play a role in the application of the HPV vaccine. Conclusions GRP78 plays a multifunctional role in cervical cancer and has important therapeutic and diagnostic value.

Background The relationships of menstrual characteristics with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), a potential precursor to suicidal behaviors, have rarely been explored. Therefore, we aimed to examine the associations between menstrual characteristics with NSSI among college students in China. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among students from six universities randomly chosen from 57 universities in Shaanxi province, China, using a multistage, random cluster sampling method. Menstrual characteristics including menarche age, menstrual cycle length, and menstrual cycle regularity were evaluated using a self-designed questionnaire, and NSSI was assessed using the Chinese adaptation of Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory. Binary logistic regression models were employed to examine the relationships between menstrual characteristics and NSSI. Results A total of 12,192 female students were included in this study. The prevalence of early menarche (≤ 11years), prolonged menstrual cycles (≥ 32 days), and irregular menstrual cycles was 6.7%, 10.2%, and 13.2%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants with early menarche ( OR , 1.38; 95% CI , 1.03–1.83), prolonged menstrual cycles ( OR , 1.57; 95% CI , 1.23-2.00), and irregular menstrual cycles ( OR , 1.48; 95% CI , 1.17–1.86) had significantly increased odds of engaging in NSSI in the past 12 months. Moreover, the likelihood of engaging in NSSI increased as the score of menstrual problems increased ( P for trend < 0.001). Conclusions Our findings suggest that early menarche, prolonged and irregular menstrual cycles were associated with elevated likelihood of engaging in NSSI. These results emphasize the need for early awareness and monitoring by families, teachers, and healthcare professionals to address the potential adverse associations between menstrual difficulties and NSSI.