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Severe ground-level ozone (O3) pollution over major Chinese cities has become one of the most challenging problems, which have deleterious effects on human health and the sustainability of society. This study explored the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of ground-level O3 and its precursors based on conventional pollutant and meteorological monitoring data in Zhejiang Province from 2016 to 2021. Then, a high-performance convolutional neural network (CNN) model was established by expanding the moment and the concentration variations to general factors. Finally, the response mechanism of O3 to the variation with crucial influencing factors is explored by controlling variables and interpolating target variables. The results indicated that the annual average MDA8-90th concentrations in Zhejiang Province are higher in the northern and lower in the southern. When the wind direction (WD) ranges from east to southwest and the wind speed (WS) ranges between 2 and 3 m/sec, higher O3 concentration prone to occur. At different temperatures (T), the O3 concentration showed a trend of first increasing and subsequently decreasing with increasing NO2 concentration, peaks at the NO2 concentration around 0.02 mg/m3. The sensitivity of NO2 to O3 formation is not easily affected by temperature, barometric pressure and dew point temperature. Additionally, there is a minimum [Formula: see text] at each temperature when the NO2 concentration is 0.03 mg/m3, and this minimum [Formula: see text] decreases with increasing temperature. The study explores the response mechanism of O3 with the change of driving variables, which can provide a scientific foundation and methodological support for the targeted management of O3 pollution.

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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents challenges due to its high recurrence and metastasis rates and poor prognosis. While current clinical diagnostic and prognostic indicators exist, their accuracy remains imperfect due to their biological complexity. Therefore, there is a quest to identify improved biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. By combining long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression and somatic mutations, Duan et al identified five representative lncRNAs from 88 lncRNAs related to genomic instability (GI), forming a GI-derived lncRNA signature (LncSig). This signature outperforms previously reported LncSig and TP53 mutations in predicting HCC prognosis. In this editorial, we comprehensively evaluate the clinical application value of such prognostic evaluation model based on sequencing technology in terms of cost, time, and practicability. Additionally, we provide an overview of various prognostic models for HCC, aiding in a comprehensive understanding of research progress in prognostic evaluation methods.

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Background: Poor mental health literacy (MHL) in the global population significantly contributes to the treatment gap associated with mental disorders. In the digital age, leveraging Internet-based MHL interventions offers scalability and broader accessibility. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of Internet-based interventions in improving MHL and mental health. Method: Up to Feb 2024, seven databases were searched for Internet-based interventions on MHL (knowledge, stigma, help-seeking attitudes and intentions) and mental disorders (general distress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms). The random-effects meta-analyses at post-intervention and long-term follow-up assessments were performed. Results: Twenty-nine eligible studies involving 11,582 participants were included. Significant positive effects were observed across various domains: knowledge increase (immediate: g = 0.459, 95 %CI: 0.285 to 0.634; follow-up: g = 0.487, 95 %CI: 0.348 to 0.626), immediate stigma reduction (g = -0.332, 95 %CI: -0.479 to -0.186), immediate enhancement of help-seeking attitudes (g = 0.168, 95 %CI: 0.046 to 0.3291) and help-seeking intentions (g = 0.135, 95 %CI: 0.072 to 0.198), as well as immediate mental health improvements (g = -0.074, 95 %CI: -0.115 to -0.033). Conclusion: Overall, these findings underscore the promising effects of internet-based interventions in improving MHL and mental health, while maintaining these effects over time remains challenging, particularly in reducing stigma and promoting long-term help-seeking behaviors. Addressing methodological limitations, adopting a more interactive approach, and implementing targeted interventions are crucial to maximizing the effectiveness and advancing mental health care worldwide.

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Background: Waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) is a popular mode of nicotine delivery among young people. We examined the trends and disparities in WTS from 2013 to 2021 among US adolescents and adults. Methods: Data were from Wave 1 (initially conducted among 32 320 adults and 13 651 adolescents) to Wave 6 (2013-2021) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study. We assessed the weighted prevalence of ever and current (past 30-day) WTS for adults and adolescents across waves stratified by demographics. Results: From 2013-2021 among adolescents, the prevalence of ever and current WTS decreased by 86.5% (7.4% to 1.00%; p = 0.0364) and 97.1% (1.65% to 0.05%; p = 0.0012), respectively. Despite the decreasing trends among adolescents across all waves, females had a higher prevalence of ever and current WTS compared to males (p 's < 0.001 for all trends). Hispanics had the highest prevalence of ever WTS compared to other races/ethnicities (p 's < 0.001). Adolescents aged 15-17 had a higher (except Wave 6) prevalence of ever and current WTS than 12-14 years old (p 's < 0.001). For adults, the prevalence of ever WTS increased by 27.4% (16.39% to 20.92%; p = 0.0006), and current WTS decreased by 45.5% (2.19% to 1.24%; p = 0.0012). Young adults aged 18-24 experienced increasing trends in WTS and had the highest prevalence of ever and current WTS compared to other age groups (p 's < 0.001) across all waves. Conclusions: Our study indicates a notable decrease in adolescent WTS prevalence from 2013 to 2021 but an increase of ever WTS among adults. Demographic differences underscore disparities in WTS, calling for tailored interventions.

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Existing medical image segmentation methods may only consider feature extraction and information processing in spatial domain, or lack the design of interaction between frequency information and spatial information, or ignore the semantic gaps between shallow and deep features, and lead to inaccurate segmentation results. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a novel frequency selection segmentation network (FSSN), which achieves more accurate lesion segmentation by fusing local spatial features and global frequency information, better design of feature interactions, and suppressing low correlation frequency components for mitigating semantic gaps. Firstly, we propose a global-local feature aggregation module (GLAM) to simultaneously capture multi-scale local features in the spatial domain and exploits global frequency information in the frequency domain, and achieves complementary fusion of local details features and global frequency information. Secondly, we propose a feature filter module (FFM) to mitigate semantic gaps when we conduct cross-level features fusion, and makes FSSN discriminatively determine which frequency information should be preserved for accurate lesion segmentation. Finally, in order to make better use of local information, especially the boundary of lesion region, we employ deformable convolution (DC) to extract pertinent features in the local range, and makes our FSSN can focus on relevant image contents better. Extensive experiments on two public benchmark datasets show that compared with representative medical image segmentation methods, our FSSN can obtain more accurate lesion segmentation results in terms of both objective evaluation indicators and subjective visual effects with fewer parameters and lower computational complexity.

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Objective: This study aimed to analyze research on anxiety disorders using VOSviewer and CiteSpace to identify research hotspots and future directions. Methods: We conduct ed a comprehensive search on the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) for relevant studies about anxiety disorders published within the past two decades (from 2004 to 2024). VOSviewer and CiteSpace were mainly used to analyze the authors, institutions, countries, publishing journals, reference co-citation patterns, keyword co-occurrence, keyword clustering, and other aspects to construct a knowledge atlas. Results: A total of 22,267 publications related to anxiety disorders were retrieved. The number of publications about anxiety disorders has generally increased over time, with some fluctuations. The United States emerged as the most productive country, with Harvard University identified as the most prolific institution and Brenda W. J. H. Penninx as the most prolific author in the field. Conclusion: This research identified the most influential publications, authors, journals, institutions, and countries in the field of anxiety research. Future research directions are involved advanced treatments based on pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy and digital interventions, mechanism exploration to anxiety disorders based on neurobiological and genetic basis, influence of social and environmental factors on the onset of anxiety disorders.

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Silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells have set world-record efficiencies among single-junction silicon solar cells, accelerating their commercial deployment. Despite these clear efficiency advantages, the high costs associated with low-temperature silver pastes (LTSP) for metallization have driven the search for more economical alternatives in mass production. 2D transition metal carbides (MXenes) have attracted significant attention due to their tunable optoelectronic properties and metal-like conductivity, the highest among all solution-processed 2D materials. MXenes have emerged as a cost-effective alternative for rear-side electrodes in SHJ solar cells. However, the use of MXene electrodes has so far been limited to lab-scale SHJ solar cells. The efficiency of these devices has been constrained by a fill factor (FF) of under 73%, primarily due to suboptimal charge transport at the contact layer/MXene interface. Herein, a silver nanowire (AgNW)-assisted Ti3C2Tx MXene electrode contact is introduced and explores the potential of this hybrid electrode in industry-scale solar cells. By incorporating this hybrid electrode into SHJ solar cells, 9.0 cm2 cells are achieved with an efficiency of 24.04% (FF of 81.64%) and 252 cm2 cells with an efficiency of 22.17% (FF of 76.86%), among the top-performing SHJ devices with non-metallic electrodes to date. Additionally, the stability and cost-effectiveness of these solar cells are discussed.

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BACKGROUND: The clinical management of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients requires the identification of the type of BCR::ABL1 transcript at diagnosis and the monitoring of its expression and potential tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance mutations during treatment. Detection of resistant mutation requires transcript type-specific amplification of BCR::ABL1 from RNA. METHODS: In this study, a custom RNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) assay (Dup-Seq BCR::ABL1) that enables (a) the identification of BCR::ABL1 transcript type and (b) the detection of resistance mutations from common and atypical BCR::ABL1 transcript types was developed and validated. The assay design covers BCR exon 1 to ABL1 exon 10 and employs duplicate PCR amplification for error correction. The custom data analysis pipeline enables breakpoint determination and overlapped mutation calling from duplicates, which minimizes the low-level mutation artifacts. RESULTS: This study demonstrates that this novel assay achieves high accuracy (positive percent agreement (PPA) for fusion: 98.5%; PPA and negative percent agreement (NPA) for mutation at 97.8% and 100.0%, respectively) and sensitivity (limit of detection (LOD) for mutation detection at 3% from 10 000 copies of BCR::ABL1 input). CONCLUSIONS: The Dup-Seq BCR::ABL1 assay not only allows for the identification of BCR::ABL1 typical and atypical transcript types and accurate and sensitive detection of TKI-resistant mutations but also simplifies molecular testing work flow for the clinical management of CML patients.

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Although oxidative stress is closely associated with tumor invasion and metastasis, its' exact role and mechanism in the initial stage of oral cancer remain ambiguous. Glutamine uptake mediated by alanine-serine-cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2) participates in glutathione synthesis to resolve oxidative stress. Currently, we firstly found that ASCT2 deletion caused oxidative stress in oral mucosa and promoted oral carcinogenesis induced by 4-Nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4-NQO) using transgenic mice of ASCT2 knockout in oral epithelium. Subsequently, we identified an upregulated gene Thbs1 linked to macrophage infiltration by mRNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry. Importantly, multiplex immunohistochemistry showed M1-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were enriched in cancerous area. Mechanically, targeted ASCT2 effectively curbed glutamine uptake and caused intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which upregulated Thbs1 in oral keratinocytes and then activated p38, Akt and SAPK/JNK signaling to polarize M1-like TAMs via exosome-transferred pathway. Moreover, we demonstrated M1-like TAMs promoted malignant progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) both in vitro and in vivo by a DOK transformed cell line induced by 4-NQO. All these results establish that oxidative stress triggered by ASCT2 deletion promotes oral carcinogenesis through Thbs1-mediated M1 polarization, and indicate that restore redox homeostasis is a new approach to prevent malignant progression of oral potentially malignant disorders.

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This study investigated mung bean protein hydrolysates (MBPH) produced using neutral protease, examining their physicochemical properties, stability, and lipid peroxidation inhibition capabilities. The research revealed that MBPH molecular weight ranged from 17 to 26 kDa and perform various functions, including catalytic, nutrient storage, and binding. Stability assessments showed that MBPH are stable at 45 °C and pH of 7.5 but are light-sensitive and unstable in solution or when combined with sugars. Additionally, increased concentrations of digestive enzymes reduce MBPH stability. Antioxidant tests in vitro and in Caenorhabditis elegans confirmed MBPH's ability to neutralizing radicals, enhance antioxidant enzyme activities, and reduce lipid peroxidation, thereby protecting against oxidative damage. Furthermore, in vivo experiments showed that MBPH extend the lifespan of worms and reduced their body lipid content, indicating potential benefits in mitigating cholesterol-related damage. This research demonstrates the potential of MBPH in inhibiting lipid peroxidation.

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SCOPE: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammatory condition of unknown etiology, although recent evidence suggests that it is caused by an excessive immune response to mucosal antigens. We determined the anti-inflammatory properties of novel compound DJ-X-013 in vitro in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages and in an in vivo dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced model of colitis. METHODS AND RESULTS: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of DJ-X-013, we used LPS-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages in vitro and a DSS-induced experimental model of colitis in vivo. We examine cellular morphology, and tissue architecture by histology, flow cytometry, RT-qPCR, multiplex, and immunoblot analysis to perform cellular and molecular studies. DJ-X-013 treatment altered cell morphology and expression of inflammatory cytokines in LPS-activated macrophages as compared to cells treated with LPS alone. DJ-X-013 also impeded the migration of RAW 264.7 macrophages by modulating cytoskeletal organization and suppressed the expression of NF-κB and inflammatory markers as compared to LPS alone. DJ-X-013 treatment improved body weight, and colon length and attenuated inflammation in the colon of DSS-induced colitis. Intriguingly, DSS-challenged mice treated with DJ-X-013 induced the numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), dendritic cells (DCs), and natural killer T cells (NKT) in the colon lamina propria (LP) relative to DSS. DJ-X-013 also reduced the influx of neutrophils, TNF-α producing macrophages, restricted the number of Th17 cells, and suppressed inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB in the LP relative to DSS. CONCLUSION: DJ-X-013 is proposed to be a therapeutic strategy for ameliorating inflammation and experimental colitis.

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Reproductive development plays an essential role in the perpetuation of genetic material and environmental adaptation. In angiosperms, the Short Vegetative Phase (SVP) serves as a flowering repressor, influencing the development of floral organs. In this study, heterologous transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana with SVP-like genes (PtSVL1 and PtSVL2) derived from Pinus tabuliformis significantly impacted stamen formation and pollen fertility, without altering flowering time. Gene co-expression networks revealed that SVP-like and SOC1-like genes function as key coregulatory transcription factors during the initial stages of cone development in P. tabuliformis. Interestingly, the regulatory module of SOC1 regulated by SVP in angiosperms is absent in conifers and conifer SVP-like exercises its function in a form that is physically bound to SOC1-like. Furthermore, combining the yeast one-hybrid scanning with co-expression network analysis, revealed that SPLs and TPSs were the principal downstream target genes of PtSVL1. Notably, the PtSPL16 promoter is positively regulated by PtSVL1, and overexpression of PtSPL16 results in delayed flowering in Arabidopsis, suggesting that the PtSVL1-PtSPL16 module plays a crucial role in regulating reproductive development in conifers. Collectively, these findings enhance our understanding of the roles of SVP-like genes in conifers and the key regulatory networks centred on PtSVL1 during reproductive cone development.

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Introduction The brain's reward system (RS) reacts differently to pain and its alleviation. This study examined the correlation between RS activity and behavior during both painful and pain-free periods in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) to elucidate their adaptive and maladaptive responses throughout the menstrual cycle. Methods Ninety-two individuals with PDM and 90 control participants underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) scans during their menstrual and peri-ovulatory phases. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analyses were used to evaluate RS responses. Psychological evaluations were conducted using the McGill Pain Questionnaire and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale. Results ReHo analysis showed higher values in the left putamen and right amygdala of the PDM group during the peri-ovulatory phase compared to the menstrual phase. ALFF analysis revealed lower values in the putamen of the PDM group compared to controls, regardless of phase. ReHo and ALFF values in the putamen, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens were positively correlated with pain scales during menstruation, while ALFF values in the ventral tegmental area inversely correlated with pain intensity. Those with severe PDM (pain intensity ≥ 7) displayed distinct amygdala ALFF patterns between pain and pain-free phases. PDM participants also had lower ReHo values in the left insula during menstruation, with no direct correlation to pain compared to controls. Discussion Our study highlights the pivotal role of the RS in dysmenorrhea management, exhibiting varied responses between menstrual discomfort and non-painful periods among individuals with PDM. During menstruation, the RS triggers mechanisms for pain avoidance and cognitive coping strategies, while it transitions to processing rewards during the peri-ovulatory phase. This demonstrates the flexibility of the RS in adapting to the recurring pain experienced by those with PDM.

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Diabetic nephropathy, a common and severe complication of diabetes, is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, ultimately leading to renal failure and significantly affecting the prognosis and lives of diabetics worldwide. However, the complexity of its developmental mechanisms makes treating diabetic nephropathy a challenging task, necessitating the search for improved therapeutic targets. Intercellular communication underlies the direct and indirect influence and interaction among various cells within a tissue. Recently, studies have shown that beyond traditional communication methods, tunnel nanotubes, exosomes, filopodial tip vesicles, and the fibrogenic niche can influence pathophysiological changes in diabetic nephropathy by disrupting intercellular communication. Therefore, this paper aims to review the varied roles of intercellular communication in diabetic nephropathy, focusing on recent advances in this area.

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Research on the pathophysiological mechanism of carotid artery dissection and its clinical translation is limited due to the lack of effective animal models to simulate the occurrence of this condition. Assuming that intimal injury is an important factor in the formation of carotid dissection, we established a novel method for inducing carotid dissection models by scraping the carotid intima using a fine needle. Scraping the carotid intima with fine needles can induce the rapid formation of carotid dissection. Magnetic resonance imaging and hematoxylin-eosin staining suggest the presence of false lumens and mural hematomas in the vessels. Our model-induction technique, inspired by iatrogenic catheter-induced artery dissections (carotid, coronary, aortic), significantly mimics the pathological process of clinical carotid dissection. The results suggest that mechanical injury may be a significant cause of carotid dissection and that intimal injury is a major factor in the formation of arterial dissections. This approach will provide assistance in the understanding of medically induced arterial dissection.

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Typical pathogen detection processes are time-consuming and require expensive equipment and professional operators, limiting their practical applicability. Developing a rapid and easy-to-read method of accurately sensing pathogenic bacteria is critical for reducing the spread and risk of infection in high-risk areas. Herein, the synthesis of nanographene (nanoG) that exhibits aggregation-induced emission (AIE) is described. The nanoG was embedded into a hydrophobic shell of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) polymersome in a double-emulsion process, significantly enhancing the nanoG luminescence under irradiation at 330 nm due to the enrichment of nanoG between the inner and outer PLGA shells. Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria can rapidly degrade the PLGA vesicular structure, leading to dispersal of the nanoG inside the shell and silencing the AIE effect. A linear relationship between the bacterial concentration and emissivity was established, and the detection limit was identified. Moreover, the polymersome has excellent selectivity for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) detection after a screening pretreatment of a bacterial mixture with suitable antibiotics. The AIE silencing could be observed with the naked eye in an MRSA-infected wound treated with the polymersome after 1 h of incubation, demonstrating a high potential for clinical rapid screening applications.

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BACKGROUND: The present study explored the effects of pre-harvest methyl jasmonates spraying on the volatiles of 'Cabernet Gernischt' grapes through the lipoxygenase pathway. Headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were utilized to analyze volatile metabolites and key enzyme activities following methyl jasmonates application. Total RNA extraction and cDNA library construction were followed by transcriptome sequencing. RESULTS: The application of 0.1 mmol L-1 methyl jasmonate and 5 mmol L-1 methyl dihydrojasmonate significantly increased the levels of C6 compounds in 'Cabernet Gernischt' berries, and also enhanced the utilization of unsaturated fatty acids as precursors in the lipoxygenase-hydroperoxides lyase pathway. The up-regulated expression of VvADH1, VvADH2, VvHPL and VvLOX2S genes led to modulations in enzyme activity, thereby enhancing the berries's aromatic profile. There was a significant correlation between linoleic and linolenic acids (i.e. the precursors of the lipoxygenase pathway) and the activities and metabolites of key enzymes. CONCLUSION: The optimal concentration of methyl jasmonates treatment favorably influences the accumulation of green leaf volatiles in 'Cabernet Gernischt' grape. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

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Owing to its multiple fascinating properties of renewability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antibacterial activity, chitin is expected to become a green cornerstone of next-generation functional materials. Chitin nanofibers, as building blocks, form multiscale hierarchical structures spanning nano- and macrolevels in living organisms, which pave the way for sophisticated functions. Therefore, from a biomimetic perspective, exploiting chitin nanofibers for use in multifunctional, high-performance materials is a promising approach. Here, we first summarize the latest advances in the multiscale hierarchical structure assembly mode of chitin and its derivative nanofibers, including top-down exfoliation and bottom-up synthesis. Subsequently, we emphasize the environmental impacts of these methods, which are crucial for whether chitin nanofibers can truly contribute to a more eco-friendly era. Furthermore, the latest progress of chitin nanofibers in environmental and medical applications is also discussed. Finally, the potential challenges and tailored solutions of chitin nanofibers are further proposed, covering raw material, structure, function, manufacturing, policies, etc.

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Gastric cancer is a common malignant tumor, and its incidence rate ranks first among malignant tumors of the digestive tract, seriously endangering human physical and mental health. Changes in the physiological state of gastric cancer patients can bring about many physical and psychological symptoms and have a serious impact on their quality of life. Symptom clusters are 2 or more concurrently occurring and interrelated symptoms, with the core symptoms within the cluster remaining stable over time and the symptoms in the cluster being independent of each other. The prerequisite for solving this problem is to screen out appropriate symptom assessment tools according to the clinical situation. The aim of this study was to provide a reference for the development of assessment tools suitable for symptom clusters of gastric cancer patients in China, and to provide evidence for the subsequent optimization of symptom management and some clinical decisions. The contents, application, advantages, and disadvantages of symptom cluster assessment tools for gastric cancer patients in China and abroad were reviewed, and the basic situation and contents of each assessment tool were compared. In China, most of the assessment tools used in domestic gastric cancer research institutes were imported from foreign scales, with a long time span and low specificity for symptoms in various stages of disease development at present. Scholars should be encouraged to develop time-specific assessment tools for the disease characteristics of gastric cancer patients in China, and actively explore the pathogenesis and influencing factors of symptom clusters in this population.

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Molecular ferroelectrics have garnered significant attention due to their structural tunability, low synthesis temperature, and high flexibility. Herein, we successfully synthesized imidazole perchlorate (ImClO4) single crystals and high-quality, highly-oriented thin films on Si substrates. These films demonstrated a high inverse piezoelectric coefficient of 55.7 pm/V. Two types of domain bands were observed: type-I bands tilted ~60° relative to the horizontal axis, and type-II bands positioned perpendicular to the horizontal axis. Under a + 20 V bias, type-I bands showed a reduction and detachment of 180° domain walls to form a needle-like domain. It extended toward the band boundary after applying -20 V bias, which grew along the boundary upon contact. In contrast, type-II bands showed straight domain wall motion and displayed a higher piezoresponse than type-I bands. The growth of  high quality molecular ferroelectric thin films on Si substrates paves the way for the development of on-chip devices.