Publications by authors named "Di Zhu"

Unlabelled: Oral Submucous Fibrosis constitutes a severe condition affecting the lining of the mouth, which carries a risk of developing into oral squamous cell carcinoma, and seriously threaten individuals' lives. Currently, no specific treatment has been utilized to prevent OSF. The detailed mechanism of OSF is still elusive, and this study aims to clarify the mechanism of OSF.

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Confined space fires could easily cause serious casualties and property damage, and foam is an effective means of preventing confined space fires. The existing foam generator does not have both momentum and foam expansion rate (FER) and is poorly suited to confined spaces. In order to develop a foam generator suitable for confined space fire protection, an in-depth analysis of the physical foaming characteristics of self-suction foam is required, and the structure of the foam generator is optimized accordingly.

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Background: Studying influential nodes (I-nodes) in brain networks is of great significance in the field of brain imaging. Most existing studies consider brain connectivity hubs as I-nodes such as the regions of high centrality or rich-club organization. However, this approach relies heavily on prior knowledge from graph theory, which may overlook the intrinsic characteristics of the brain network, especially when its architecture is not fully understood.

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Background: The CALLY index, which is derived from C-reactive protein (CRP) content, serum albumin level, and total lymphocyte count, reflects the immune, nutritional, and inflammatory status of the body. Lack of sufficient evidence on the correlation between the CALLY index and the prognosis of cancer patients with various cancer forms. This study seeks to elucidate the association between the CALLY index and mortality from all causes as well as specific causes in cancer patients within a U.

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  • Preterm labor affects about 5%-7% of pregnancies globally and is influenced by genetic, blood, and immune factors.
  • The study investigated familial genetics and its role in preterm labor, using data from the GEO database and various analytical tools.
  • Findings confirm that interleukin-1 and components in peripheral blood may trigger uterine inflammation, leading to preterm birth, suggesting that genetic traits related to this condition can be inherited.
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  • - This study investigates the barriers and facilitators that affect how patients with ovarian cancer in China seek help for their symptoms.
  • - It utilized semistructured interviews with 17 patients, analyzing responses to identify key themes, such as low symptom awareness and cognitive and practical factors impacting their help-seeking behavior.
  • - The findings highlight the need for better recognition of symptoms and addressing psychosocial and practical obstacles to encourage patients to seek medical help more effectively.
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Background: As the population is aging, multimorbidity has become an increasingly important global health challenge. Clinical practice guidelines are essential references to guide daily practice for health care providers. This systematic review aims to assess whether existing multimorbidity guidelines adhered to the principles outlined in a previously developed framework for multimorbidity management recommendations, Ariadne, and evaluate their methodological and reporting quality.

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Prolyl-4-hydroxylase subunit alpha3 (P4HA3) is a triple helical procollagen synthesis protein. The role of P4HA3 in cancer development is not well known and lacks comprehensive analyses among human cancers. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between P4HA3 expression and anti-tumor immunity and its prognostic value in pan-cancer.

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Zinc ion hybrid capacitors (ZIHCs) with Zn metal faradic and carbon capacitive electrodes have potential applications in grid-scale energy storage systems and wearable devices. However, the high specific energy density reported in many recent studies is based on the mass of active carbon materials alone, with deficient device energy density. This perspective article discusses how four crucial parameters influence the device energy density of ZIHCs, including areal mass loading (m) and specific capacity (Q) of active carbon materials in cathodes, negative-to-positive electrode capacity ratio (N/P), and electrolyte-to-active carbon materials mass ratio (E/C).

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  • The study investigates the connection between body mass index (BMI) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in individuals of African ancestry, emphasizing the importance of identifying risk factors for this prevalent eye condition.
  • A retrospective, case-control analysis was conducted with 6,634 participants from the POAAGG study, collecting data on BMI and its association with POAG risk and progression.
  • Results revealed that lower BMI was linked to a higher risk of POAG, worse visual acuity, and faster disease progression, suggesting that individuals with low BMI may experience more severe glaucoma symptoms.
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Background: Growing evidence suggests cognitive and social health benefits can be derived from digital storytelling for older adults with cognitive impairment. Digital storytelling apps offer the potential to serve as an on-demand, easy-to-access platform for enhancing cognitive abilities and promoting social well-being. Yet, despite the increasing quantity of such apps being available on the market, there is a gap in research investigating their quality.

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While ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry has enabled the identification of the molecular composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM), elucidating its molecular structure remains a challenging endeavor. Here, two fulvic acids (FAs), one from river and the other from forest soil, were subjected to reduction using an optimized n-butylsilane (n-BS) reduction method. The reduction products were purified through a combination of liquid-liquid extraction and silica gel column chromatography, resulting in the separation into saturates, aromatics, and polar products.

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  • This study looked at how long patients with early recurring liver cancer (rHCC) survive after a specific treatment called TACE, and compared the results based on a protein called CK19.
  • They analyzed 63 patients and found that those without CK19 (CK19-negative) lived longer than those with it (CK19-positive).
  • The research suggested that CK19-positive patients may need extra treatments to help them live longer after TACE.
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Integrated photon-pair sources are crucial for scalable photonic quantum systems. Thin-film lithium niobate is a promising platform for on-chip photon-pair generation through spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC). However, the device implementation faces practical challenges.

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Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-resistant Kawasaki disease (KD) poses a considerable challenge to patients and their families due to its severe complications. Previous researches have highlighted the critical role of immune disorders in its pathogenesis. However, fragmented studies based on isolated cases hinder a comprehensive understanding of this deadly illness.

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Objective: Though an increased risk of atherosclerosis is associated with anti-CTLA-4 antibody therapy, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Methods: C57BL/6 mice were treated with anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) antibody twice a week for 4 weeks, after being injected with AAV8-PCSK9 and fed a Paigen diet (PD). The proportion of aortic plaque and lipid accumulation were assessed using Oil Red O staining, while the morphology of atherosclerotic lesions was analyzed with hematoxylin and eosin staining.

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Background: The current digital storytelling applications present advantages for individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); however, there exists a notable oversight regarding their potential to facilitate group-based storytelling activities with this population. This study endeavors to identify design requirements for a more inclusive and accessible digital storytelling tool for people with MCI.

Method: The methodological framework encompasses distinct stages, commencing with focus groups and interviews (Stage 1), followed by prototyping workshops (Stage 2) and qualitative prototype testing (Stage 3).

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  • Histological grading is critical for predicting outcomes, guiding treatment, and evaluating recurrence in non-functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NF-Pan-NET), with better prognosis in patients lacking copy number variation (CNV).
  • The study examined tumor cell heterogeneity based on genomic instability and histological grading, uncovering significant differences in the activated core pathways.
  • Key immune cells, such as lymphatic endothelial cells, macrophages, and Treg cells, were identified as contributors to hepatic metastases, enhancing the understanding of NF-Pan-NET's malignant potential.
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  • Researchers achieved the first-ever electric field periodic poling of single crystal barium titanate (BTO) thin films, paving the way for better optical performance through quasi-phase-matching (QPM).
  • The BTO thin films were grown on dysprosium scandate substrates using pulsed laser deposition, and their quality was confirmed through advanced microscopy techniques.
  • The study demonstrated high-quality, uniform poling with a 50% duty cycle and periods of 2 to 10 µm, opening new possibilities for efficient nonlinear optical processes in BTO photonic devices.
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The thermal sterilization process of protein beverages inevitably leads to the formation of insoluble thermal aggregates, greatly reducing the texture and taste of protein beverages. In this study, homogenized egg white (HEW) was obtained by ultrahigh-high-pressure (UHP) homogenization pretreatment of egg white (EW), and then a special egg white fluid gel (EWFG) was prepared by water bath heating. The results showed that the optimal conditions for preparing EWFG were three cycles at 20 MPa homogenizing pressure and heating in a water bath at 72℃ for 10 min.

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Microorganisms are the most common cause of food spoilage. is a common foodborne pathogen that causes food spoilage and poses a serious threat to food safety. As a crucial target in antitoxicity strategies, the quorum sensing (QS) system shows promising potential for further development.

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Optimizing reservoir drawdown operations holds significant implications for hydropower generation, water supply, and drought mitigation strategies. However, achieving multi-objective optimization in reservoir drawdown operations poses fundamental challenges, particularly considering emergency storage capacity and seasonal drought patterns. This study introduces a novel multi-objective optimization framework tailored for a mega reservoir, focusing on drawdown operations to enhance hydropower generation and water supply reliability.

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This study aimed to evaluate the effects of jujube ( Mill.) fruit extracts on oxidative stress levels in rodent models. Animal studies meeting the inclusion criteria were retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP Periodical Service Platform.

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Platinum-Ruthenium (PtRu) bimetallic nanoparticles are promising catalysts for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) required by direct methanol fuel cells. However, existing catalyst synthesis methods have difficulty controlling their composition and structures. Here, a direct Joule heating method to yield highly active and stable PtRu catalysts for MOR is shown.

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Synopsis of recent research by authors named "Di Zhu"

  • - Di Zhu's recent research encompasses a diverse range of topics, including the relationship between low body mass index and the risk of primary open-angle glaucoma, and the development of digital storytelling applications for individuals with cognitive impairment to enhance their cognitive and social well-being.
  • - Through systematic investigations, Zhu has made significant contributions to the understanding of health-related issues, analyzing the prognostic implications of cytokeratin (CK) 19 positivity in hepatocellular carcinoma patients and exploring immune responses in conditions like Kawasaki disease and atherosclerosis.
  • - Additionally, Zhu's work delves into advanced scientific methodologies such as single-cell sequencing in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, effective photon-pair generation in nanophotonic waveguides, and the structural analysis of fulvic acids, demonstrating a multifaceted approach to research that bridges medicine, technology, and environmental science.