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Background Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is considered as a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Our study aimed to investigate whether the predicted risk for cardiac death with the Framingham risk score (FRS) could be further improved with the addition of AAC score in general population aged ≥ 40 years. Methods A total of 2971 participants aged ≥ 40 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2013–2014 were followed up. The Spearman’s rank correlation was performed to explore the correlation between the AAC score and FRS. the Kaplan-Meier method was used to make cumulative cardiac death curve. Predictors of cardiac death was identified by multivariate Cox regression. Additionally, the predictive value of FRS alone and combined with AAC score was estimated by comparing the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) and calculating Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI). Results During a median of 70.50 months (interquartile range 58.43–82.57 months), 49 (1.649%) experienced cardiac death in the follow-up. The FRS was positively associated with AAC score. Both FRS and AAC score were independent predictors of cardiac death (hazard ratio 1.216; 95%CI 1.135 to 1.302; p  < 0.00001; 1.159; 95%CI 1.109 to 1.211; p  < 0.00001; respectively). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated increased risk of cardiac death with increasing AAC score (log-rank 54.548, p< 0.0001). The predictive value of FRS significantly was improved by adding with AAC score [increase in AUC from 0.734 to 0.780, p  < 0.0001; IDI = 0.007, p  = 0.013 ]. Conclusions AAC score is positively related with Framingham index, and FBS adjusted by AAC score further improved the prediction risk for cardiac death in general population aged ≥ 40 years.

Purpose Deep excavation in soft clay often causes additional deformations to surroundings. Then, if deformations cannot be predicted reasonably, the adjacent buildings may be threatened by the deep excavation. Based on the good field observations from ten deep excavations in Hangzhou, this paper aims to thoroughly investigate the characteristics of wall deflections and ground settlements induced by deep excavations. Design/methodology/approach On the basis of good field observation of ten deep excavations, the performances of excavations, supported by contiguous pile in Hangzhou, were studied, and also compared with other case histories. Findings The maximum wall deflections (dhm) rang mostly from 0.7 to 1.2 per cent He, where He is the final excavation depth, larger than those in Taipei and Shanghai. The observed maximum ground settlement in the Hangzhou cases generally ranges from 0.2 to 0.8 per cent He. Then, the settlement influence zone extends to a distance of 2.0-4.0 He from the excavation. The relatively large movements and influence zones in Hangzhou may be attributed to low stability numbers, large excavation widths and the creep effect. The excavation width is justified to have a significant influence on the wall deflection. Therefore, to establish a semi-empirical formula for predicting the maximum wall deflection, it is necessary to include the factor of excavation width. Originality/value The relevant literature concentrated on the characteristics of deep excavations supported by the contiguous pile wall in Hangzhou soft clay can rarely be found. Based on the ten deep excavations with good field observation in Hangzhou, the characteristics of wall deflection and ground settlements were comprehensively studied for the first time, which can provide some theoretical support for similar projects.

Background Elevated Aspergillus fumigatus ( A. fumigatus )-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is recognized as an essential diagnostic criterion for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). However, it remains unknown whether initial A. fumigatus -specific IgE at acute stage has a role beyond diagnostic purposes. Method This two-center retrospective study enrolled 149 acute ABPA patients. Risk factors for one-year exacerbation were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Participants were then divided into a discovery cohort ( n  = 93) to determine the optimal initial A. fumigatus -specific IgE cut-off value via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and a validation cohort ( n  = 56) to confirm exacerbation differences based on this cut-off value. Result Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that female sex (odds ratio (OR) 2.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15–5.16, P  = 0.020), A. fumigatus -specific IgE (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.08, P  = 0.002), and bronchiectasis (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.07–12.21, P  = 0.039) were independent risk factors for ABPA exacerbation. In the discovery cohort, the optimal initial cut-off value for A. fumigatus -specific IgE was calculated to be 9.88 kUA/L. And, the validation cohort confirmed that patients with A. fumigatus -specific IgE > 9.88 kUA/L were at higher risk of exacerbation ( P  = 0.005). Conclusion This study highlighted the prognostic utility of initial A. fumigatus -specific IgE at acute stage and found that elevated levels, especially those exceeding 9.88 kUA/L, were associated with increased risks of exacerbation in ABPA patients.

Developing and implementing technologies that can significantly reduce food loss during storage and transport are of paramount importance. Ozone synergistic catalytic oxidation (OSCO) technology has been developed, which sterilizes bacteria and viruses on the surface of food and degrades ethylene released during fruit storage through the active oxygen produced by the catalytic decomposition of ozone. Herein, we report the hydrothermal synthesis of MnO2 with distinct phase compositions and nanostructures through simply varying the reaction temperatures. Optimized copper-doped α-MnO2 nanorods exhibited remarkable efficacy in activating ozone at a concentration of 40 ppb, and this activation resulted in the complete eradication of indicator bacteria on food surfaces within a 24 h period. Moreover, these nanorods demonstrated high effectiveness in decomposing more than 80% of the ethylene molecules emitted by apples and bananas during the preservation period. The high concentration of surface oxygen vacancies is believed to contribute to the enhanced catalytic activity of the Cu-doped α-MnO2 catalyst in the OSCO procedure by reducing ethylene production and maintaining the fruit quality during the preservation period.

Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is a crucial nuclear cytokine that induces the type 2 immune response and maintains immune homeostasis. The fine-tuned regulation of IL-33 in tissue cells is critical to control of the type 2 immune response in airway inflammation, but the mechanism is still unclear. Here, we found that healthy individuals had higher phosphate-pyridoxal (PLP, an active form of vitamin B6) concentrations in the serum than asthma patients. Lower serum PLP concentrations in asthma patients were strongly associated with worse lung function and inflammation. In a mouse model of lung inflammation, we revealed that PLP alleviated the type 2 immune response and that this inhibitory effect relied on the activity of IL-33. A mechanistic study showed that in vivo, pyridoxal (PL) needed to be converted into PLP, which inhibited the type 2 response by regulating IL-33 stability. In mice heterozygous for pyridoxal kinase (PDXK), the conversion of PL to PLP was limited, and IL-33 levels were increased in the lungs, aggravating type 2 inflammation. Furthermore, we found that the mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) protein, an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, could ubiquitinate the N-terminus of IL-33 and sustain IL-33 stability in epithelial cells. PLP reduced MDM2-mediated IL-33 polyubiquitination and decreased the level of IL-33 through the proteasome pathway. In addition, inhalation of PLP alleviated asthma-related effects in mouse models. In summary, our data indicate that vitamin B6 regulates MDM2-mediated IL-33 stability to constrain the type 2 response, which might help develop a potential preventive and therapeutic agent for allergy-related diseases.

Aim： To examine the effects of a mixed formulation composed of prostaglandin E1 and lithium （PGEI＋Li mixture） on brain damage after cerebral ischemia. The effects of the mixture on protein expression of heat shock proteins （HSPs）, p53, and Bcl-2 were also determined. Methods： Brain ischemia was induced with a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion （pMCAO） in rats. Rats were treated with a single intravenous administration of PGE1, lithium or a PGEI＋Li mixture immediately after the ischemic insult. The infarct volume and motor behavior deficits were analyzed 24 h after the ischemic insult. The protein levels of HSPTO, glucose-regulated protein 78 （GRP78）, HSP60, Bcl-2, and p53 in the striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere were examined using immunoblotting. Results： The mixture （PGE1 22.6 nmol/kg＋Li 0.5 mmol/kg） reduced infarct volume and neurological deficits induced by focal cerebral ischemia. Moreover, the mixture had a greater neuroprotective effect against cerebral ischemia compared with PGE1 or lithium alone. The mixture was effective even if it was administered 3 h after ischemia. PGEI＋Li also significantly upregulated cytoprotective HSPTO GRP78, HSP60, and Bcl-2 protein levels, while decreasing p53 expression. Conclusion： These results demonstrated a PGEI＋Li mixture with a therapeutic window of up to 3 h for clinical treatment of cerebral ischemia. The PGEI＋Li mixture potentially exerts a protective effect after stroke through the induction of HSPs and Bcl-2 proteins.

Objectives To identify the existing assessment methods used to measure the spinal flexibility of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis before bracing and to evaluate the predictive effect of spinal flexibility on bracing outcomes. Methods A broad literature search was performed in the PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases to obtain relevant information about spinal flexibility and bracing outcomes. All literature was retrieved by October 14, 2023. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were meticulously determined. The quality of each included study and the level of evidence were evaluated by the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) method and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system, respectively. Results After screening 1863 articles retrieved from databases, a total of 14 studies with 2261 subjects were eligible for the final analysis in this review. Overall, nine methods of flexibility assessment were identified, including supine radiographs, supine lateral bending radiographs, lateral bending radiographs but without clear positions, hanging radiographs, fulcrum bending physical method, and ultrasound imaging in the positions of supine, prone, sitting with side bending and prone with side bending. In addition, five studies demonstrated that flexibility had a strong correlation with in-brace correction, and eleven studies illustrated that spinal flexibility was a predictive factor of the bracing outcomes of initial in-brace Cobb angle, initial in-brace correction rate, curve progression, and curve regression. The results of GRADE demonstrated a moderate-evidence rating for the predictive value of spinal flexibility. Conclusion Supine radiography was the most prevalent method for measuring spinal flexibility at the pre-brace stage. Spinal flexibility was strongly correlated with the in-brace Cobb angle or correction rate, and moderate evidence supported that spinal flexibility could predict bracing outcomes.

Aim： Heat shock proteins （HSPs） are important regulators of cellular survival and exert neuroprotective effects against cerebral ischemia. Both prostaglandin E1 （PGE1） and lithium have been reported to protect neurons against ischemic injury. The present study was undertaken to examine if lithium could potentiate the neuroprotection of PGE1 against cerebral ischemia, and if the synergetic effects take place at the level of HSPs. Methods： Brain ischemia was induced by a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion （pMCAO） in rats. Rats were pretreated with subcutaneous injection of lithium for 2 d and a single intravenous administration of PGE1 immediately after ischemic insult. Cerebrocortical blood flow of each group was closely monitored prior to onset of ischemia, 5 min, 15 min, 30 min and 60 min after surgical operation. Body temperature was measured before, 5 min, 2 h and 24 h after the onset of pMCAO. The infarct volume, brain edema and motor behavior deficits were analyzed 24 h after ischemic insult. Cytoprotective HSP70 and heine oxygenase-1 （HO-1） in the striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere were detected by immunoblotting. Brain sections from the striatum of the ipsilateral hemisphere were double-labeled with the anti-HSP70 antibody and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole （DAPI）. Results： Treatment with PGE1 （8 and 16 μg/kg, iv） or lithium （0.5 mEq/kg, sc） alone reduced infarct volume, neurological deficits and brain edema induced by focal cerebral ischemia in rats. Moreover, a greater neuroprotection was observed when PGE1 and lithium were given together. Co-administration of PGE1 and lithium significantly upregulated cytoprotective HSP70 and HO-1 protein levels. Conclusion： Lithium and PGEI may exert synergistic effects in treatment of cerebral ischemia and thus may have potential clinical value for the treatment of stroke.

招募多元文化背景的圖書館員是一項艱巨 的任務。雖然美國人口有百分之三十屬於不同 文化、種族，包括非裔、亞裔／太平洋島裔、 西班牙裔，以及美國印第安人／阿拉斯加原住 民等，然而來自上述具有這些多元文化背景的 圖書館員，僅占所有館員人數的百分之十一。 估計該比率將隨著即將到來的美國圖書館員 屆齡退休潮而更為降低。有鑒於此，本文首先 回顧招募多元文化與種族背景的學生進入圖 書資訊學研究所就學之相關文獻，提出招募不 同文化與種族背景的學生時所遭遇之挑戰。本 文並介紹由美國聯邦政府所屬的「博物館與圖 書館服務研究院」（Institute of Museum and Library Services）「蘿拉布希21 世紀圖書館 員研究計畫」所贊助的數項示範招募計畫

Purpose - This paper aims to report on the China-North America Library Conference held in Beijing, China. The conference theme is Sharing Digital Resources: Challenges and Opportunities. Six sub-themes are also intertwined with the conference theme: Resource sharing policies and perspectives; Digital infrastructure and repository technology; Research data sharing; Sharing digital preservation methods; and Shared digital access, retrieval and use.Design methodology approach - The paper summarizes several important presentations at the conference.Findings - The shared projects in this report include: National Cultural Information Resource Sharing Project; Multicultural Canada Project; Data Conservancy; National Library Digital Exchange Services; and Digital Museum Platform.Originality value - This is an original conference report which would help those who are interested in sharing digital resources on a global scale to understand the challenges, issues, and opportunities on that aspect.