It has been reported that ACE2 is the main host cell receptor of 2019-nCoV and plays a crucial role in the entry of virus into the cell to cause the final infection. To investigate the potential ...route of 2019-nCov infection on the mucosa of oral cavity, bulk RNA-seq profiles from two public databases including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Functional Annotation of The Mammalian Genome Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (FANTOM5 CAGE) dataset were collected. RNA-seq profiling data of 13 organ types with para-carcinoma normal tissues from TCGA and 14 organ types with normal tissues from FANTOM5 CAGE were analyzed in order to explore and validate the expression of ACE2 on the mucosa of oral cavity. Further, single-cell transcriptomes from an independent data generated in-house were used to identify and confirm the ACE2-expressing cell composition and proportion in oral cavity. The results demonstrated that the ACE2 expressed on the mucosa of oral cavity. Interestingly, this receptor was highly enriched in epithelial cells of tongue. Preliminarily, those findings have explained the basic mechanism that the oral cavity is a potentially high risk for 2019-nCoV infectious susceptibility and provided a piece of evidence for the future prevention strategy in dental clinical practice as well as daily life.
Use of graphene oxide (GO) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) has shown some promising potential to boost the performance of Portland cement (PC). Their influence and working mechanisms in other ...binding systems, e.g. alkali-activated slag (AAS), are still unclear, although some encouraging results have been reported. This study aims at characterising and quantifying roles of GO and GNPs on shrinkage of AAS mortars. A comprehensive experimental programme was carried out to assess the drying shrinkage and autogenous shrinkage of GO/GNPs-added AAS cements along with hydration process and microstructural changes in order to explain the reasons. The results indicate that the shrinkage of AAS is further increased by GO/GNPs due to refined microstructure and higher degree of hydration of GGBS. That is, the main drawback of AAS, high shrinkage, cannot be mitigated by using these two nano materials. Against these backgrounds, it is early to recommend to directly use GO or GNPs in AAS mixes.
The Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory (CBF-PI), a 134-item self-report scale, and its 40-item brief version (CBF-PI-B) are sound psychometric instruments used to measure the Big Five personality ...domains in the Chinese population. However, their applicability is limited by their length, as well as restricted by assessment conditions. In this study, we developed and validated a new shortened version with 15 items (CBF-PI-15) through exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis in a large sample (Sample 1) of 10,738 Chinese adults (mean = 33.90 years, SD = 9.39 years, range 17-57 years). Measurement invariance results suggested the CBF-PI-15 were invariant across gender and age groups. Convergent, discriminant and criterion validities were tested in Sample 2 (N = 256, mean = 21.62 years, SD = 3.06 years, range 18-35 years) and findings showed an expected correlational pattern with external variables. Results revealed positive correlations of Neuroticism with the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Brief Version (BIS-Brief), the Patient Health Questionnaire, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener, as well as a strongly negative correlation between Conscientiousness and BIS-Brief. Additionally, Conscientiousness positively correlated with academic performance as expected. In conclusion, the CBF-PI-15 holds promise as an informative alternative for the original CBF-PI-B when administration time or conditions are limited, and our findings provide preliminary support for the utility of the CBF-PI-15.
The current study assesses the factor structure and construct validity of the self-reported Inventory of Callous-Unemotional Traits (ICU) in 637 Chinese community adults (mean age = 25.98, SD = ...5.79). A series of theoretical models proposed in previous studies were tested through confirmatory factor analyses. Results indicated that a shortened form that consists of 11 items (ICU-11) to assess callousness and uncaring factors has excellent overall fit. Additionally, correlations with a wide range of external variables demonstrated that this shortened form has similar construct validity compared to the original ICU. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the ICU-11 may be a promising self-report tool that could be a good substitute for the original form to assess callous-uncaring traits in adults.
Accumulating neuroimaging studies implicate widespread brain structural alterations in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), but little is known regarding the temporal information of ...these changes and their causal relationships. In this study, a morphometric analysis was performed on T1-weighted structural images, and the progressive changes in the gray matter volume (GMV) in GAD were simulated by dividing the patients into different groups from low illness duration to high illness duration. The duration was defined as the interval between the onset of GAD and the time for magnetic resonance imaging collection. Then, a causal structural covariance network analysis was conducted to describe the causal relationships of the brain structural alterations in GAD. With increased illness duration, the GMV reduction in GAD originated from the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC) and propagated to the bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex, right dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, left inferior temporal gyrus, and right insula. Intriguingly, the sgACC and the right insula had positive causal effects on each other. Moreover, both sgACC and right insula exhibited positive causal effects on the parietal cortex and negative effects on the posterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, visual cortex, and temporal lobe. The opposite causal effects were noted on the somatosensory and the ventrolateral prefrontal cortices. In conclusion, patients with GAD show gradual GMV reduction with increasing ilness duration. Furthermore, the causal effects of the sgACC and the right insula GMV reduction with shifts of duration may provide an important new avenue for understanding the pathological anomalies in GAD.
A novel approach called the nonlinear convex decreasing weights golden eagle optimization technique based on a global optimization strategy is proposed to overcome the limitations of the original ...golden eagle algorithm, which include slow convergence and low search accuracy. To enhance the diversity of the golden eagle, the algorithm is initialized with the Arnold chaotic map. Furthermore, nonlinear convex weight reduction is incorporated into the position update formula of the golden eagle, improving the algorithm’s ability to perform both local and global searches. Additionally, a final global optimization strategy is introduced, allowing the golden eagle to position itself in the best possible location. The effectiveness of the enhanced algorithm is evaluated through simulations using 12 benchmark test functions, demonstrating improved optimization performance. The algorithm is also tested using the CEC2021 test set to assess its performance against other algorithms. Several statistical tests are conducted to compare the efficacy of each method, with the enhanced algorithm consistently outperforming the others. To further validate the algorithm, it is applied to the cognitive radio spectrum allocation problem after discretization, and the results are compared to those obtained using traditional methods. The results indicate the successful operation of the updated algorithm. The effectiveness of the algorithm is further evaluated through five engineering design tasks, which provide additional evidence of its efficacy.
Pulpotomy is one of the most widely used methods in preserving vital pulp in teeth, which is of great significance in achieving continue root formation in immature permanent teeth suffering from ...dental caries or trauma. The aim of this meta-analysis and systemic review is to synthesize the available evidences to compare different pulpotomy dressing agents for pulpotomy treatment in immature permanent teeth.
Electronic databases including MEDLINE (via Pubmed), EMBASE, the Cochrane library (CENTRAL) and the clinicaltrials.gov database were searched. The references of all included articles or relevant reviews were cross-checked. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing two or more pulp dressing agent in permanent teeth with open apex would be included. Also, the studies should have at least 6 months of follow-up, report clinical and radiographic success in detail and publish in English.
Five RCTs were included for a systematic review, and all of them had a high risk of bias. There is little difference in success rate between mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and calcium hydroxide (CH) at 6-month follow-up (risk ratio (RR) 1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94 to 1.06) and 12-month follow-up (RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.13). There is no difference between MTA versus platelet-rich fibrin and MTA versus calcium-enriched mixture (CEM). There is only weak evidence of increased success rate in using MTA and triple antibiotic paste (TAP) rather than abscess remedy.
Based on the present evidence, similar success rates with MTA were found between the dressing agents CH, CEM, RPF and TAP as pulpotomy-dressing agents in the treatment of immature permanent teeth. More high-quality RCTs are needed in this field in future studies.
(1) Background: Universities play a crucial role in nurturing healthy habits, and physical activity has emerged as a valuable tool for enhancing the life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and resilience ...of college students. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of physical activity in the relationship between life satisfaction and self-efficacy as well as resilience among Chinese university students. (2) Method: This study used the Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), the Self-Efficacy Scale (CGES), the Mental Toughness Scale (CD-RISC), and the Life Satisfaction Scale (CSLSS) to administer questionnaires to 353 university students from two universities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Using a random simple sampling method, the data were processed and analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and Excel software. (3) Results: (1) Physical activity exhibited a significant positive correlation with self-efficacy, resilience, and life satisfaction; self-efficacy was significantly and positively related to resilience and life satisfaction; and resilience was significantly and positively related to life satisfaction. (2) Physical activity had a positive predictive effect on life satisfaction (β = 0.2771; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.1905, 0.3637, 55.51%). (3) Self-efficacy (β = 0.0368; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0087, 0.0692, 7.37%) and resilience (β = 0.137; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0919, 0.1894, 27.44%) mediated the relationship between physical activity and life satisfaction. Also, the chain-mediating effect of self-efficacy and resilience between physical activity and life satisfaction reached significant levels (β = 0.0483; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0279, 0.0745, 9.68%). (4) Conclusion: Active participation in physical activity not only enhanced the life satisfaction of college students but also indirectly impacted their life satisfaction by improving their self-efficacy and resilience. Consequently, this led to an overall improvement in the life satisfaction of college students.
DENN (differentially expressed in normal cells and neoplasia) domain-containing proteins are a family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for Rab small GTPases and coordinate a plethora of ...intracellular membrane trafficking events. FAM45A is a non-classical DENN domain protein, whose function was unknown. In this study, we characterized cellular roles of FAM45A. We found that FAM45A localized mainly in late/multivesicular endosomes. Depletion of FAM45A resulted in clustering of endosomes to the perinuclear region. The endocytosis of EGF receptor was impaired in FAM45A knockdown cells due to a delay in the early-to-late endosome transition. Furthermore, the secretion of selected exosome subpopulations was also attenuated in FAM45A knockdown cells. Consistent with these results, Rab27a and Rab27b, two Rabs involved in endosome motility and exosome biogenesis, were found to act downstream of FAM45A pathway. FAM45A colocalized with Rab27a/b and formed complex with them in a nucleotide-dependent manner. Taken together, FAM45A defines a novel regulatory step in the homeostasis of late endocytic pathway, including endosomal positioning, maturation and secretion, possibly through activating Rab proteins such as Rab27a/b.
•FAM45A consists of a single non-classical DENN domain.•FAM45A localizes mainly in the late endocytic pathway.•FAM45A silencing disturbs endosome positioning, maturation and secretion.•FAM45A interacts with Rab27a and Rab27b in a nucleotide-dependent manner.
Accelerated carbonation effectively mitigates the unsoundness issue of steel slag caused by free CaO/MgO. However, the long-term impact of residual uncarbonated iron-rich phases, which may oxidize ...and lead to expansion and degradation during long-term curing, remains unclear. This study investigated the long-term behavior of carbonated steel slag blocks with varying residual iron content in the steel slag obtained by magnetic separation. The carbon sequestration efficiency, mechanical properties, volume stability, and microstructure were thoroughly evaluated. Results revealed that carbonated steel slag blocks with a higher residual Fe2O3 content (38.47 %) achieved only 46 % of the compressive strength and 37 % of the CO2 uptake compared to those with lower residual iron content (25.88 %). Through 180 days of accelerated degradation and natural curing tests, it was observed that the compressive strength of blocks exhibited an overall increase of 20–150 %, especially in blocks with high iron content, due to the hydration of uncarbonated steel slag. Despite the formation of rust in samples with elevated residual iron content, as verified through XRD and optical microscopy, no substantial negative impacts were observed at later stages. The excessive residual iron containing phase contributed to the formation porous microstructure and enhance the capacity of accommodating corrosion products. This study highlights that reducing residual iron content through magnetic separation not only enhances the mechanical properties and stability of carbonated steel slag blocks, but also offers a valuable recycling opportunity for steel and iron industries.
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