After two years of unsuccessful therapies for epilepsy, a 3-year-old female was found to have food allergies. She experienced a 92% reduction in seizure burden after 15 months on a hypoallergenic diet. Most of the improvement occurred in the first 3 months.

Postoperative adhesions (PAs) are a common complication after intraperitoneal surgery. Hydrogels are a physical barrier that prevents peritoneal adhesions, but their efficacy is still controversial. In this study, Laponites, a layered two-dimensional nanoscale, is incorporated into zwitterionic hydrogel (pSBLA) to enhanced biocompatibility and bioactivity to develop a nanocomposite for rapid prevention of postoperative and recurrent adhesion. The anisotropic distribution of charges in laponites results in strong electrostatic repulsion in aqueous solutions and enables electrostatic interactions between amphiphilic ions, thereby enhancing the mechanical properties of hydrogels. The pSBLA hydrogels also possess a series of characters for an ideal anti-adhesion material, including resistance to adhesion against fibrinogen, proteins, bacteria as well as cells. The mechanism underlying the extraordinary hydration of pSBLA is elucidated in this study using molecular dynamic simulations. In addition, pSBLA hydrogel is shown to represent a major advancement in anti-adhesion efficacy by completely and reliably preventing postoperative and recurrent adhesions after adhesiolysis in rat models. Furthermore, mechanistic explorations revealed that pSBLA hydrogel inhibits inflammatory responses and resists fibrosis by regulating the transforming growth factor-β/Smad signal pathway. Above results have therefore provided a facile but effective strategy to improve postoperative and recurrent adhesion.

Under the continuous influence of climate change and human activities, the attribution analysis and prediction of the temporal and spatial dynamics of water and sediment have become fundamental aspects of soil and water resources management and watershed governance. This paper focuses on the Tao River basin (TRB) and Zuli River basin (ZRB), situated in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and Loess Plateau, as the research area. Using the SWAT model and scenario simulations, the study identifies the drivers of changes in water and sediment processes and predicts future water and sediment dynamics. Model analysis of parameter sensitivity and its optimization revealed differences in influential mechanisms. River discharges in the TRB were affected remarkably by storage and regulation of the groundwater system, the sediment processes were more sensitive to parameters addressing river channel characteristics; while river discharges in the ZRB were deeply related with land surface infiltration, the sediment processes there were influenced more by underlying conditions. the direct effects of driving factors on basin water and soil processes were generally higher than the indirect ones. Runoff changes in both basins were primarily influenced by precipitation, with vegetation having a more significant impact on runoff in the ZRB. In the TRB, sedimentation processes were mainly driven by precipitation, while in the Zuli River Basin, runoff exerted a more pronounced driving effect. Precipitation plays a controlling role in the spatial distribution of water and sediment, with factors such as topography, soil type, and land use/cover moderating these processes. Predictive analyses indicate that under a low-emission scenario, both runoff and sediment in the watershed associated with the two development models are projected to decline. Conversely, under medium and high-emission scenarios, both runoff and sediment are expected to increase. The runoff and sediment processes are closely tied to future climate change, and changes in underlying surfaces will have an important moderating effect.In the future, the regulatory effect of vegetation on water and sediment processes should be fully utilized. Strategies for sand control should be integrated with the management of river runoff resources to better protect the ecological integrity of river basins and promote sustainable economic and social development.

AbstractOpen defecation (OD), the practice of defecating in open spaces rather than designated toilets or latrines, remains a critical public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas. Despite global efforts through initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), open defecation persists due to socio-economic, cultural, and infrastructural factors. This review explores the determinants of open defecation in Nigeria, including poverty, education, cultural practices, and inadequate sanitation facilities, while highlighting its devastating public health implications, such as the spread of waterborne diseases, parasitic infections, and antimicrobial resistance. Additionally, the economic and social impacts of open defecation, such as increased healthcare costs, diminished productivity, and gender-based violence, are discussed. Strategies for addressing this menace such as improved access to sanitation facilities, behaviour change communication, and the establishment of robust policy and legal frameworks are proposed. Addressing open defecation is not merely a sanitation issue but a critical public health priority that requires coordinated efforts to achieve sustainable solutions and improve health outcomes in Nigeria.

Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillators (WCDs), such as the LifeVest, provide an important temporary safeguard against sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients who are at high risk but not yet eligible for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). This obseravtional study presents eight case reports of patients with severely impaired left ventricular function, who were prescribed LifeVest WCDs. The case reports provide a thorough discussion of patient-specific outcomes, adherence challenges, and clinical decisions regarding the long-term management of each case. Alongside these case reports, an expanded discussion explores the role, indications, guidelines, and limitations of WCDs in contemporary practice. In conclusion, WCDs can offer a temporary solution for preventing SCD in high-risk patients awaiting further therapeutic interventions. Future developments should focus on enhancing the comfort and accuracy of WCDs while ensuring that patients remain engaged in their care. By addressing these challenges in line with proper patients’ selection, WCDs can continue to serve in improving outcomes for patients at risk of sudden cardiac death.

Integrating mapping and 4D ultrasound – is this the dawn of a new ICE age?Rachel M. Kaplan, MD, MS, FHRSIntracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is routinely used by electrophysiologists in the United States for numerous procedures. ICE provides visualization of anatomic structures and can be used to guide ablation lesions. Integration with mapping expands the utility of ICE to also facilitate acquisition of anatomic geometry and aid in identifying structures of interest such as coronary arteries.In the past few years, multiple companies have developed 4D ICE catheters which have elevated the range of imaging obtainable with ICE to be more similar to modern transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). These catheters can obtain multiplanar imaging which enables 3D views in real time and can reduce the need for ICE catheter manipulation to obtain multiple views1.The use of 4D ICE is increasingly described for LAAO, primarily because it can substitute for TEE. Multiple studies have shown comparable outcomes between ICE guided and TEE guided LAAO, though some have shown higher rates of pericardial effusions with ICE2-4. Reduced need for catheter manipulation in the left atrium with 4D ICE catheters may help mitigate this risk. The benefit of utilizing 4D ICE in ablation procedures is less clear. Beyond the technologic intrigue, multiplanar and 3D imaging is not typically required in ablations5. However, integration with mapping has the potential to utilize these additional imaging features for benefit in ablation procedures.In this issue of JCE, Blumenthal et al . describe a pre-clinical study of the use of a 4D ICE catheter with mapping integration in swine models6. The NuVision 4D ICE catheter (Biosense Webster) provides real-time 3D ultrasound imaging and integrates with CARTO anatomic mapping (CARTOSOUND, Biosense Webster). They demonstrated rapid acquisition of geometry by using CARTOSOUND with the 4D ICE catheter where multiplane imaging acquires two 2D images with each position. Furthermore, 360-degree imaging can be obtained without moving the catheter itself. Additionally, ICE provides real time visualization during cardiac motion which can show the operator how the ablation catheter is moving on a structure such as the papillary muscles, therefore improving catheter stability.There are a few drawbacks to 4D ICE. The catheters are slightly larger which then require larger bore vascular access and higher risk of vascular complications. The biggest concern, however, is cost. These catheters cost significantly more than standard 2D ICE catheters. Cost-effectiveness of 2D ICE has been described for LAAO procedures where it has been shown to be comparable to TEE for overall costs (counting both equipment and professional services)7. However, studies comparing 4D to 2D ICE for LAAO have shown that the 3D images are more comparable to TEE with regards to sizing of the LAAO device8. Demonstrating cost-effectiveness of 4D ICE for ablation procedures will be more complex. Future studies will need to investigate effects on procedure duration, risk of complications, or even procedure efficacy (perhaps for papillary muscle premature ventricular contractions where stability can be difficult). Unfortunately, until cost effectiveness demonstrates tangible benefits to 4D ICE in ablations, these catheters may be relegated to selective and investigational use in most hospitals.One niche area for a mapping-integrated 4D ICE catheter may be concomitant atrial fibrillation ablation with LAAO because ICE is typically used in the United States for atrial fibrillation ablation. Use of 4D ICE can enable the entire case to be performed without needing to use TEE for the LAAO part. This also avoids the requirement for a TEE trained imaging physician to be available for the procedure. An example of an LAAO device implant under 4D ICE guidance with the NuVision catheter is shown in the Figure. In this case, the patient underwent pulmonary vein isolation with the ICE catheter in the right atrium, then the NuVision ICE was advanced into the left atrium to guide the implantation of a Watchman device (Boston Scientific). In such cases, the added cost of a 4D ICE catheter compared to a 2D ICE catheter can be offset by not needing the expense of TEE or TEE trained physicians. Imaging with 4D ICE catheters requires advanced knowledge of the imaging console which is often provided by representatives from the ICE catheter company. However, such costs are borne by the whole healthcare industry rather than attributed to an individual procedure by the hospital.Mapping integrated 4D ICE is a technologically exciting forward step though its utility in ablation procedures has yet to be established. Cost concerns will likely limit its broad adoption but it may provide benefits in specific complex ablation cases or perhaps in concomitant ablations with LAAO.1. Adams A, Mahmood R, Balaji N, Dixit P, Chandra S, Weisman D. Real-world experience utilizing the nuvision 4D intracardiac echocardiography catheter for left atrial appendage closure. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):11937.2. Ferro EG, Alkhouli M, Nair DG, et al. Intracardiac vs Transesophageal Echocardiography for Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion With Watchman FLX in the U.S. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 2023;9(12):2587-2599.3. Serpa F, Rivera A, Fernandes JM, et al. Intracardiac vs transesophageal echocardiography for left atrial appendage occlusion: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Heart Rhythm. 2024.4. Diaz JC, Bastidas O, Duque M, et al. Impact of intracardiac echocardiography versus transesophageal echocardiography guidance on left atrial appendage occlusion procedures: A meta-analysis. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2024;35(1):44-57.5. Kaplan RM, Narang A, Gay H, et al. Use of a novel 4D intracardiac echocardiography catheter to guide interventional electrophysiology procedures. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2021;32(12):3117-3124.6. Blumenthal C, Hsue W, Chen T, Zhang D, Brem E, Garcia F, Callans DJ, Marchlinski FE, Santageli P, Tschabrunn CM. Pre-Clinical Experience using 4D ICE to Guide Ablation and Structural Procedures of Complex Intracavitary Structures. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 2024.7. Alkhouli M, Chaker Z, Alqahtani F, Raslan S, Raybuck B. Outcomes of Routine Intracardiac Echocardiography to Guide Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. 2020;6(4):393-400.8. Della Rocca DG, Magnocavallo M, Gianni C, et al. Three-dimensional intracardiac echocardiography for left atrial appendage sizing and percutaneous occlusion guidance. Europace. 2023;26(1).Figure

A document by Ratan Pal. Click on the document to view its contents.

Quality metrics are parameters used to evaluate and monitor performance in the management of clinical research centers. This document, written by the authors, examines key metrics such as data quality, adherence to protocols and procedures, compliance in recruitment, participant retention, and milestone cycle times, among others, emphasizing their impact on the efficiency and competitiveness of research centers and countries. The use of the Delphi methodology is proposed as a means to establish expert consensus for standardizing metrics, harmonizing definitions, and selecting measurement parameters (thresholds and objectives). These efforts aim to facilitate performance comparisons across research centers and various countries in Latin America. With a proactive, responsible, and transparent approach, the document highlights the distinctive behavior of start-ups in the Americas and the factors influencing their performance. Additionally, it describes existing and emerging technological tools that enhance efficiency in managing metrics and cycle times.

Liriodendron, once widespread during the early and middle Miocene, developed a disjunct distribution between East Asia and North America in the late Miocene due to environmental changes and land bridge ruptures. Understanding plant origin centers is vital for grasping biodiversity, adaptation, and evolution. Single copy orthologue sequences, inherited with low mutation rates and stable across generations, serve as ideal markers for studying population evolution. In this study, three stress related single copy genes (LtDHN2, LtDHN3, and LtTLP11) were cloned and sequenced in 29 Liriodendron populations. The gDNA datasets of LtDHN2, LtDHN3, and LtTLP11 contained 206, 1477, and 75 polymorphic sites, respectively, with most genetic differences between L. chinense and L. tulipifera, moderate individual differences within populations, and the least among populations within species. Both L. tulipifera and the eastern and western populations of L. chinense acted as ancestral populations, with historical gene flow between each pair. The divergence between L. chinense and L. tulipifera occurred approximately 11.4-13.3 million years (Ma) ago, with the eastern and western populations of L. chinense tracing their ancestry back to around 2.19-2.48 Ma. The effective population sizes of L. chinense expanded rapidly during 0.25–1.0 Ma and 0.5–1.5 Ma, while L. tulipifera expanded between 0.25–0.75 Ma and 0.5–2.5 Ma, coinciding with Quaternary glaciations that significantly impacted temperate flora distribution and diversity in East Asia and North America. Understanding the historical and current genetic diversity of Liriodendron species provides molecular evidence for their origins and guides the utilization of their germplasm resources.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Correctly identifying drug and food allergies in hospitalized patients is important to prevent unwanted allergic reactions or unnecessary treatment changes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of the frequency of drug and food allergies in all patients hospitalized in the general surgery department during a one-year period on our approach in clinical practice. METHODS: In our single-center, retrospective study, all patients admitted to general surgery services between 01.01.2023 and 31.12.2023 were included. Patients who were given an identifying red wristband and had allergy information on their digital patient card panel were included in the study. Patients with repeated hospitalizations within the total number of patients were included in the study as one patient. RESULTS: Data of 5810 patients hospitalized in the general surgery department for one year were scanned. 759 patients with an allergy label were included in the study. Of these, 241 (31.8%) were male, 518 (68.2%) were female, and the mean age was 58.81±15.77 (18-96). Among all hospitalized patients, drug allergy rate was 7.2%, antibiotic allergy rate was 3.8%, and penicillin allergy rate was 2.1%. Food allergy was detected in 1.5% of the total patient group.The most frequently reported allergenic foods were tomatoes, mushrooms, spices, eggs, milk and dairy products, respectively. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of identifying wristbands, such as red wristbands, to ensure that the allergy history of hospitalized patients is correctly questioned and that patients with allergies are labeled. We also believe that protocols for allergy labels should be developed in health centers.

Time-to-arrival (TTA) estimation tasks offer valuable insight into temporal processing and the cognitive-motor preparatory processes involved in pedestrian safety. Using EEG and virtual reality (VR), we explored the event-related potentials (ERPs) associated with TTA estimation, focusing on the contingent negative variation (CNV) and P2 components, in a road-crossing virtual scenario. Seventeen participants completed four experimental conditions crossing two factors: vehicle speed (processed at two levels, slower vs. faster) and vehicle disappearance time (processed at two levels, shorter vs. longer). This design allowed us to examine the effects of urgency demands and interval timing on cognitive processes. Results revealed that P2 latencies decreased with shorter interval timing and increased with longer interval timing, while P2 amplitudes were higher in faster-speed conditions and lower in slower-speed ones. CNV components showed distinct modulations depending on the experimental factors. Early-CNV was primarily influenced by urgency demands, showing earlier onsets and higher amplitudes in slower-speed conditions. Furthermore, Total-CNV and Late-CNV amplitudes were higher in shorter timing intervals. While correlations between EEG parameters and behavioural performance did not reveal clear patterns, we were able to observe different trends that suggest how the difficulty of the task and associated cognitive effort were related to the psychophysiological process. Overall, less demanding conditions displayed a more efficient neurophysiological responses and greater accuracy compared to more demanding conditions. In conclusion, our findings provide new insights into the neural mechanisms underlying temporal processing and the complex cognitive-motor preparatory processes involved in timing tasks. By examining the interplay between temporal and urgency demands, we contribute to a deeper understanding of how these processes are integrated at the neural level, with broader implications for understanding the neurophysiological basis of decision-making in road safety contexts.

In this study, we introduce a template matching algorithm using the grand average as a dynamic template to extract P3 latencies. This new algorithm outperforms peak latency and fractional area latency algorithms in both empirical as well as simulated data. Template matching algorithms showed the highest correlation with latencies extracted by expert researchers and the most accurate recovery of simulated latency shifts. Our results highlight the robustness of template matching algorithms across various tasks, preprocessing steps, and algorithm hyperparameters. Additionally, template matching provides a fit statistic that researchers can use to automatically discard ERPs with poor matches or flag certain ERPs for manual review. This template matching algorithm is objective, efficient, reliable, and more valid than previous methods such as peak latency or fractional area latency. Finally, the straightforward application of our template matching algorithm allows it to be easily integrated into multiverse studies or automated pipelines.

Pollinators are exposed to metals while foraging in the landscape and accumulate detectable concentrations of trace metals within their bodies, although major exposure routes remain unclear. As nectar is the main source of food for pollinators, we analyzed trace metal content within floral rewards to identify if nectar contained detectable metals and may serve as an oral exposure route. Nectar from flowering plant species growing within vacant lots in the city of Cleveland, OH, USA was extracted using a centrifuge and tested for metals using ICP-MS. We collected volunteer flower species that are common pollinator forage plants. Nectar metal content varied by plant and metal species, but not by location. This work demonstrates the complexity of identifying metal exposure risk based on soil metal data alone, as oral metal exposure is dependent on plant species, metal species, and soil characteristics.

The increasing prevalence of allergic and auto-immune diseases (AID) has been associated with changes in affluence, life-style and diet. The origins of these non-communicable diseases predominantly occur in early life. While studies have linked allergy and AID prevalence with low intakes of omega-3 Poly-Unsaturated Fatty Acids, vitamins D and E, Zinc and Selenium during the early life, supplementation trials have mostly failed to produce significant benefits. Food allergen avoidance in pregnancy has no effect on allergy risk but potentially adversely effects mother and foetus. The infant gut microbiome has immune regulatory effects but is compromised by a poor diet in pregnancy, and milk formula rather than breast feeding. Pre- and pro- biotics for mother and infant, subtly alters neonatal immune function but rarely clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, there are generic benefits from an over-all healthy diet during pregnancy, with regular exercise, no smoking, antibiotics or Caesarean section delivery. Maternal and infant obesity increases risks of allergy and AID, and weight reduction is indicated. Avoidance of ultra-processed foods is recommended as they increase obesity, cardio-vascular and mental health disorders. Breast feeding, early introduction of common allergenic foods, and a healthy fresh food diet after weaning reduce risks. A multi-faceted approach is most likely to achieve optimal life-long health.

Purpose: It is well established that the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the presence of depressive symptoms in general population. So far, there are no studies analysing how the passage of this pandemic affected the prescription of antidepressants. Methods: We estimated the incidence of new cases of depression based on the analysis of new prescriptions of antidepressive agents over a period of 6 years, distributed in 3 periods of 2 years each: pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic period, running from march 2018 to february 2024. This research was conducted within a healthcare area with a population of 130,000 individuals in Spain. Results: New prescriptions of antidepressants increased significantly during the pandemic and even more in the post pandemic period and to a greater extent in women than in men. During the pandemic period the increased prescription of antidepressant was specifically due to rises among those under 40 years of age, while in the postpandemic the increase has taken place in all age groups. In the subgroups analysis, we found that the pandemic period affected exclusively the number of women aged 40 or under who were prescribed a new antidepressant while in the postpandemic period, there has been a significant increase in the number of patients with a new antidepressant in all age groups, both in men and women, compared to the two previous periods, except in young men aged up to 20 years. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of addressing the mental health of the population in parallel with addressing physical problems adapting health systems accordingly.

C.88_90DEL VARIANT OF THE WAS GENE IN A PATIENT WITH ISOLATED THROMBOCYTOPENIA: CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING PATHOGENICITY. A CASE REPORT.

Unadjusted doses of valacyclovir can cause neurotoxicity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). There are no well documented reports of valacyclovir or acyclovir toxicity providing pre- and post-dialysis concentrations of acyclovir in the blood, dialysate, and urine of acutely neurotoxic patients. We report an elderly woman with stage 5 CKD who developed neurotoxicity after being prescribed standard doses of valacyclovir and provide measurements of the amount of the drug eliminated through hemodialysis versus native renal clearance. The patient’s estimated body-burden of drug before the first session of dialysis was estimated at 580.3 mg. During the first hemodialysis session acyclovir plasma concentrations decreased from 8.8 mg/L to 3.2 mg/L (63.6%). Her body-burden of drug before the second session of hemodialysis was estimated as 131.9 mg. During the 2.5 hours of the second dialysis session a total of 66.6 mg was eliminated based on measured dialysate concentrations. Urinary elimination was 17.7 mg over 30 hours. Despite minimal urinary elimination her blood concentration fell from 8.8 mg/L to 0.88 mg/L with 4.5 hours of hemodialysis. Hemodialysis appears to be an effective method of eliminating acyclovir, especially in patients with advanced kidney disease.

In this article, a multiple dead zone controller (MDZC) is proposed to automatically adjust the dead zone range based on the timing error. The MDZC generates three distinct dead zone ranges, thereby categorizing the timing error into four distinct regions. Thus, the sensitivity of switching the loop’s operational modes can be enhanced to reduce the locking and re-locking times. The proposed MDZC is fabricated in 55-nm CMOS technology. Simulation demonstrates that the locking time is 2.3 $\mu s$, and the re-locking times are 2.3 $\mu s$ and 1.5 $\mu s$, respectively, when 150 mV and 350 mV are applied.

Background: With the implementation of a healthy Chinese strategy, physical examination, a means of preventing diseases, has gradually become valued by health care departments. Can health examinations effectively alleviate the pressure on residents’ medical expenses? Method: On the basis of the CHARLS2015 and CHARLS2018 databases, an ordered multiclassification logistic regression model is established. To study the impact of residents’ health examinations on the level of long-term medical expenditure. Results: The results show that adhering to health examinations, engaging in long-term physical exercise, quitting smoking and drinking can reduce residents’ medical expenses. The physical examination behavior of different populations was further discussed on the basis of sex. The study revealed that the greater the number of physical examinations performed by male residents is, the lower the medical expenses are, whereas the number of physical examinations performed by women does not significantly reduce medical expenses. Conclusion: Therefore, China should vigorously increase the enthusiasm of different residents to participate in health check-ups, give full play to health check-ups for disease prevention and reduce individuals’ medical expenses.

Introduction: Adolescent externalizing problem behaviors has become a non-negligible public health issue, serving as significant indicators of potential future destructive behavior, violence, drug abuse, and criminal activity among youth. The adolescent period is particularly prone to the occurrence of these behaviors. Therefore, analyzing the multiple factors influencing externalizing problem behaviors and their interactive mechanisms is crucial for timely intervention and effective prevention of problematic behaviors in adolescents. Accordingly, this study is grounded in Self-Determination Theory and Frustration-Aggression Theory, hypothesizing that the fulfillment of basic psychological needs and the sense of defeat plays a sequential mediating role between parental psychological control and externalizing problem behaviors. Methods:Grounded in Self-Determination Theory and the Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis, this study employs class-cluster sampling method to explore select 742 adolescents from a city in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region as research subjects. It examines the link of parental psychological control (PPC) and externalizing problem behaviors (EPBs), and tests the Chain intermediary roles of basic psychological need (BPN) fulfillment and sense of defeat. Result:After controlling for demographic variables, the findings are as follows: (1) PPC directly predicts EPBs; (2) PPC indirectly predicts EPBs through BPN fulfillment; (3) PPC indirectly influences EPBs by affecting the sense of defeat; (4) The Chain intermediary roles of BPN fulfillment and sense of defeat also help in predicting EPBs from PPC, offering new perspectives for the prevention and intervention of these behaviors. Discussion:The results of this study indicate that adolescents’ externalizing problem behaviors are significantly associated with parental psychological control, fulfillment of basic psychological needs, and a sense of defeat. To reduce the level of externalizing problem behaviors among adolescents, parents should be cautious about exercising psychological control over their children. It is essential for parents to provide a space for autonomy, offer more support and encouragement, and pay close attention to whether adolescents’ basic psychological needs are being met and to their emotional well-being.

Purpose C motif chemokine ligand 21 (CCL21) is important for tissue homeostasis, immune surveillance. However, the relationship between CCL21 expression, tumor immunity, and prognosis in human tumors remains unclear. Methods CCL21 expression data were extracted from online databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE). The Tumor IMmune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database was used to study the association between CCL21 expression and tumor immune infiltration and immune checkpoint genes. Pancancer correlation analysis of CCL21 expression with the tumor-infiltrating immune response subtype was performed by TISIDB. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis and the STRING tool were used to elucidate the potential mechanism of CCL21 in human tumorigenesis. Results CCL21 expression was significantly lower in most human tumors than in corresponding normal tissues and correlated with prognosis. CCL21 expression showed a strong positive correlation with tumor-infiltrating B cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells. CCL21 also correlated positively with common immune checkpoint markers, including PD-1, TIM-3 and CTLA-4. Moreover, we found that CCL21 was an important regulatory factor participating in many signaling events, especially cytokine‒cytokine interactions and chemokine signaling pathways. Conclusions CCL21 is generally expressed at low levels among various types of cancers and may have an important influence on tumorigenesis, which is significantly associated with immune checkpoint biomarkers and tumor immunity. Together, these findings suggest that CCL21 is a prognostic biomarker that determines cancer progression and may serve as a therapeutic target. Keywords CCL21, prognosis, pancancer analysis, immunity, immunotherapy, therapeutic target

The dual-phase-lag ( DPL ) heat conduction model was used to study transient free convection flow in vertical plates with isoflux and adiabatic thermal boundary conditions at one insulated wall. The DPL model expression was used to formulate the energy equation. The time-dependent governing equations are solved via the Laplace transform technique. Semi-analytical solutions for temperature, velocity, and skin friction are obtained through the inversion of solutions in the Laplace domain to the time domain by a numerical procedure called Riemann sum approximation. The effects of significant parameters on temperature and velocity are graphically and in tabular form. Also, the skin friction is presented in tabular form with the aid of the MATLAB program. It is imperative to give remark that, temperature decreases and increases before and after a critical ( C r ) point as thermal retardation time and Prandtl number increase with time. However, the converse was the case when τ q and Pr number increased at a fixed time. Also, velocity increases at a low Prandtl number and increases at a high Prandtl number as thermal retardation time increases. Conversely, the reverse was the case on velocity due to increased thermal relaxation time.

Sex determination is exceptionally diverse and shows high evolutionary rate in fish. European hake (Merluccius merluccius) is a species of great commercial value distributed throughout European coasts, which displays a significant sexual growth dimorphism. We present a chromosome-level genome of M. merluccius, assembled into 215 contigs using long- and short-read sequencing, further scaffolded into the species’ 21 chromosomes using Omni-C (715 Mb). RNA-Seq on several tissues from pooled individuals improved annotation (26,625 protein-coding genes and 16,766 ncRNAs). Five males and five females from an Atlantic population were re-sequenced at 30x coverage to look for association with sex across the whole genome. Genetic differentiation between males and females (FST) and intrapopulation fixation index (FIS) pointed to a region on chromosome 9 spanning ~10 Mb which included several genes related to gonad differentiation and showed strong linkage disequilibrium associated to a putative inversion. Near sox3 (~25 kb), SNPs were mostly heterozygous in males and homozygous in females, consistent with an XX/XY SD system. These SNP markers were validated in a larger sample of 56 males and 65 females from the same population using MassARRAY. Other genomic regions that were differentiated between males and females and suggestive of sexual conflict were also explored across the genome. Results support a candidate master sex determining (MSD) gene in M. merluccius and indicate some differentiated regions potentially under sexual conflict. This information will be useful for the fisheries management of M. merluccius in the context of climate change, where non-invasive sex identification tools are essential.

：In the region of the western Loess Plateau, the practice of mulching has been implemented with the objective of reducing water losses in agricultural contexts. Nevertheless, there is currently a paucity of understanding and quantification of the impact of different mulching conditions on soil water evaporation. The soil water content (SWC) and the isotopic composition of soil and precipitation of Ziziphus jujuba were monitored on a continuous basis under different mulching conditions. The impact of diverse mulching techniques on soil evaporation was investigated through an analysis of their hydrogen and oxygen stable isotope characteristics and secondary index, lc-excess, in conjunction with the Craig-Gordon model. Despite the SWC of each experimental group being similar following a single irrigation event, the isotope values were all more depleted than those observed in the control check (CK). The evaporation loss rate of CK reached its peak on the second day after irrigation, at 16.15%. The evaporation loss of the thickness group demonstrated that T1 was the most effective, followed by T2 and then T3. In the particle size group, the evaporation loss peaked on the sixth day after irrigation, with G1 showing the highest loss at 8.83%, followed by G2 at 9.51% and then G3 at 10.55%. This suggests that the application of mulching sand will result in a reduction in the rate of evaporation. Furthermore, during the growth period of the date palm, the isotope values of T3 and G2 in the 0-30 cm soil layer were relatively depleted in comparison to the other experimental groups. The evaporation loss rates of the thickness groups were highest in May and August, with the highest rates observed in T1 (28.71% and 22.62%) and T2 (28.49% and 22.12%). T3 exhibited the lowest evaporation loss rates in this period, with a peak of 2%. The evaporation loss rate reached a minimum in October (T1: 16.10%; T2: 14.82%; T3: 13.72%), with the lowest value observed for the thickness groups (1.41% and 21.45%). The evaporation loss rate in May was greater than that in August for the particle size group. In particular, the evaporation loss rate of the sand-covered thickness group was significantly lower than that of the sand-covered particle size group. Therefore, adjusting the sand-covered thickness has a more pronounced effect on reducing evaporation and retaining moisture than adjusting the sand-covered particle size, and can more effectively enhance the utilization efficiency of agricultural water. The findings can contribute to a deeper comprehension of the sustainability of orchards in regions with constrained water resources, and provide a scientific foundation for the management of water resources in orchards in arid and semi-arid areas.