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The most extraordinary systems of symbiosis in insects are found in the suborder Auchenorrhyncha of Hemiptera, which provide unique perspectives for uncovering complicated insect-microbe symbiosis. We investigated symbionts associated with bacteriomes and fat bodies in six cicada species, and compared transmitted cell number ratio of related symbionts in ovaries among species. We reveal that Sulcia and Hodgkinia or a yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) are segregated from other host tissues by the bacteriomes in the nymphal stage, then some of them may migrate to other organs (i.e., fat bodies and ovaries) during host development. Particularly, YLS resides together with Sulcia in the "symbiont ball" of each egg and the bacteriomes of young-instar nymphs, but finally migrates to the fat bodies of adults in the majority of Hodgkinia-free cicadas, whereas it resides in both bacteriome sheath and fat bodies of adults in a few other species. The transmitted Sulcia/YLS or Sulcia/Hodgkinia cell number ratio in ovaries varies significantly among species, which could be related to the distribution and/or lineage splitting of symbiont(s). Rickettsia localizes to the nuclei of bacteriomes and fat bodies in some species, but it was not observed to be transmitted to the ovaries, indicating that this symbiont may be acquired from environments or from father to offspring. The considerable difference in the transovarial transmission process of symbionts suggests that cellular mechanisms underlying the symbiont transmission are complex. Our results may provide novel insights into insect-microbe symbiosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is increasing, with a tendency for co-occurrence. Some studies indicate a connection between atypical sensory processing and executive function. This study aims to explore the distinctive etiology of executive function deficits in children with ASD+ADHD by investigating the relationship between sensory processing and executive function, comparing children with ASD, ASD+ADHD, ADHD, and typically developing children (TD). Method: Sensory Profile 2 (SP-2) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function 2 (BRIEF-2) were measured in 120 school-aged children. The results of the above scales were compared across these four groups, and correlation and regression analyses between BRIEF2 and SP2 were conducted. Results: Our research revealed varying levels of atypical sensory processing and executive function anomalies across the three neurodevelopmental disorder groups compared to the TD group. The ASD+ADHD group showed particularly significant differences. The heightened emotional problems observed in ASD+ADHD children may be associated with more prominent atypical sensory processing. Variance analysis of inhibitory function revealed differences between ASD+ADHD and ADHD children, suggesting distinct etiological mechanisms for attention issues between ASD+ADHD and ADHD. Conclusions: ASD+ADHD represents a phenotype distinct from both ASD and ADHD. Special consideration should be given to interventions for children with ASD+ADHD. The results of this study may offer a new perspective on understanding the occurrence of ASD+ADHD and potential individualized intervention methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Childhood overweight and obesity is becoming an emerging face of malnutrition. The aims of this study were to develop fatty acid (FAs) related dietary patterns and explored the associations of FAs related dietary patterns with overweight and obesity among Chinese children. Methods: An observational study was conducted on 435 children aged 4 to 7 years old in South Central China. Erythrocyte FAs composition was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Diet was collected by food frequency questionnaires and dietary patterns were evaluated by reduced rank regression. The logistic regression analysis was used to exploring the association of dietary patterns with overweight and obesity. Results: The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and overweight or obesity were 6.52, 4.59, and 11.11% in Chinese children, respectively. Twenty five types of FAs were detected in erythrocyte of children and four FAs related dietary patterns were identified. The dietary pattern positively correlated with n-3 PUFAs, but negatively with SFAs,was characterized by high intake of fish, shrimp, crab and shellfish, leaf-off vegetable, nuts, and tubers, which have a significantly decreased overweight risk (OR = 0.580, 95%CI: 0.375 ∼ 0.895, P = 0.014).The pattern positively strong associated with n-6 PUFAs, but negatively strong with n-3 PUFAs, had high intake of snacks, leaf-off vegetable, fresh beans, and coarse cereals, which have a significantly decreased obesity risk (OR = 0.518, 95%CI: 0.325 ∼ 0.827, P = 0.006). Conclusion: Four FAs related dietary patterns were identified. The dietary pattern with high intake of fish, shrimp, crab and shellfish decreased overweight risk by increasing n-3 PUFAs, and decreasing SFAs. The dietary pattern with high intake of plant food, decreased obesity risk by providing an balanced n-6/n-3 PUFAs ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most critics focus on the pain and suffering of the first-generation Vietnamese immigrants depicted in Lan Cao's Monkey Bridge. This paper explores how Cao strategically uses the philosophy of karma in Vietnamese Buddhism to provide a method for alleviating their suffering in this novel. It argues that she employs karma to investigate the origins of the adversity and trauma experienced by the first-generation Vietnamese immigrants, including the pro-American attitude of the early Vietnamese authorities during the Vietnam War, the imperialistic actions of the United States, and the resulting karmic consequences. In addition, they demonstrate, through actions like forming "hui", a way to change their fate and heal their trauma for later generations of Vietnamese immigrants, emphasizing positive transformation of karma. This paper suggests that the Buddhist philosophy of karma provides an effective strategy for Vietnamese American immigrants to reflect on the Vietnam War, overcome adversity, and heal their own trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing carbon emissions during belt grinding is of great significance for environmentally friendly production in the manufacturing industry. In this paper, in order to better grinding aero-engine titanium alloy blades with the abrasive belt, an improved NSGA-II multi-objective optimization algorithm was proposed, which reduced the carbon emissions during the grinding process while ensuring the same surface roughness and material removal rate. Firstly, through analysis and finite element simulation, the model of abrasive belt grinding force is established and the rationality of the model is verified by experiments; furthermore, the carbon emission model of abrasive belt grinding and the multi-objective optimization model based on the improved NSGA-II algorithm are established; finally, the results of the algorithm are verified and compared through numerical simulation and experiments. Compared with the NSGA-II algorithm and the multiple objective particle swarm optimization algorithm, the optimization results of the algorithm in this paper have better diversity and uniformity and can find better non-dominated optimal solutions; the process parameters selected by the algorithm in this paper can more effectively reduce the carbon emissions during grinding. The optimization method proposed in this paper has certain reference significance for engineering practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regular follow-up and medication can effectively reduce the risk of adverse outcomes for patients with hypertension. This study aimed to explore the temporal-spatial distribution characteristics and associated socioeconomic factors of visiting frequency for rural patients with hypertension in Fujian province from 2011 to 2016. Methods: The medical records of patients with hypertension were abstracted from the database of New Rural Cooperative Medical Scheme. Geographically and temporally weighted regression model was used to analyze the associations between percentage of patients whose visiting frequency ≥ 4 times within a year and seven socioeconomic factors at the county level. Results: The visiting rate of rural patients with hypertension was 0.79%, 1.27%, 1.87%, 2.29%, 2.78%, 3.43% over the six-year study period, respectively. The percentage of patients whose visiting frequency ≥ 4 times within a year gradually increased over time and the percentage ranged from 61 to 80% in a half of the counties by 2016. In general, there was positive association between Gross Domestic Product per capita and the percentage of patients whose visiting frequency ≥ 4 times within a year. The percentage of female patients, percentage of patients who aged ≥ 60 years, percentage of low-income patients, carbon emission intensity, percentage of savings and number of health technicians per 10,000 persons were negatively correlated with the percentage of patients whose visiting frequency ≥ 4 times within a year in most of counties of Fujian Province. In the sensitivity analysis, the percentage of outpatients whose visiting frequency ≥ 4 times within a year was higher than that of all patients. There was positive association between percentage of outpatients who aged ≥ 60 years and the percentage of outpatients whose visiting frequency ≥ 4 times. Conclusions: The visiting rate and the visiting frequency within a year for rural patients with hypertension in Fujian province need to be improved. Female and elderly patients should be the focus of health management. Effectively implementing the family doctor services, providing several kinds of free antihypertensive drugs, improving energy utilization efficiency and reasonably allocating the health resources may be the effective strategies to improve the follow-up compliance of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In China, cadmium (Cd) stress has a significant role in limiting the development and productivity of purple flowering stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria). Exogenous selenium supplementation has been demonstrated in earlier research to mitigate the effects of Cd stress in a range of plant species; nevertheless, the physiological and molecular processes by which exogenous selenium increases vegetable shoots' resistance to Cd stress remain unclear. Purple flowering stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria) were chosen as the study subject to examine the effects of treatment with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on the physiology and transcriptome alterations of cadmium stress. Purple flowering stalk leaves treated with exogenous selenium had higher glutathione content, photosynthetic capacity, and antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the leaves treated with Cd stress alone. Conversely, the contents of proline, soluble proteins, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and intercellular CO2 concentration tended to decrease. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 2643 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were implicated in the response of exogenous selenium treatment to Cd stress. The metabolic pathways associated with flavonoid production, carotenoid synthesis, glutathione metabolism, and glucosinolate biosynthesis were among those enriched in these differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, we discovered DEGs connected to the production route of glucosinolates. This work sheds fresh light on how purple flowering stalks' tolerance to cadmium stress is improved by exogenous selenium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) in various cancers, including small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC), remain unclear. Here, 111,54 multi-center samples were investigated to determine the expression, clinical significance, and underlying mechanisms of CDK6 in 34 cancers. The area under the curve (AUC), Cox regression analysis, and the Kaplan–Meier curves were used to explore the clinical value of CDK6 in cancers. Gene set enrichment analysis and correlation analysis were performed to detect potential CDK6 mechanisms. CDK6 expression was essential in 24 cancer cell types. Abnormal CDK6 expression was observed in 14 cancer types (e.g., downregulated in breast invasive carcinoma; p < 0.05). CDK6 allowed six cancers to be distinguished from their controls (AUC > 0.750). CDK6 expression was a prognosis marker for 13 cancers (e.g., adrenocortical carcinoma; p < 0.05). CDK6 was correlated with several immune-related signaling pathways and the infiltration levels of certain immune cells (e.g., CD8+ T cells; p < 0.05). Downregulated CDK6 mRNA and protein levels were observed in SCLC (p < 0.05, SMD = − 0.90). CDK6 allowed the identification of SCLC status (AUC = 0.91) and predicted a favorable prognosis for SCLC patients (p < 0.05). CDK6 may be a novel biomarker for the prediction and prognosis of several cancers, including SCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Layered transition metal oxides have the greatest potential for commercial application as cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries. However, transition metal oxides inevitably undergo an irreversible oxygen loss process during cycling, which leads to structural changes in the material and ultimately to severe capacity degradation. In this work, using density function theory (DFT) calculations, the Ni-O bond is revealed to be the weakest of the M−O bonds, which may lead to structural failure. Herein, the synergistic surface CeO 2 modification and the trace doping of Ce elements stimulate oxygen redox and improve its reversibility, thus improving the structural stability and electrochemical performance of the material. Theoretical calculations prove that Na 0.67 Mn 0.7 Ni 0.2 Co 0.1 O 2 (MNC) obtains electrons from CeO 2 , avoiding destruction of the Ni-O bond by over-energy released during the charging process and inhibiting oxygen loss. The capacity retention was 77.37% for 200 cycles at 500 mA g−1, compared to 33.84% for the unmodified Na 0.67 Mn 0.7 Ni 0.2 Co 0.1 O 2. Overall, the present work demonstrates that the synergistic effect of surface coating and doping is an effective strategy for realizing tuning oxygen release and high electrochemical performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes is widely used for the identification of microbes in complex samples, but it suffers from some limitations resulting in the weak or even absence of fluorescence signals of microbe(s), which may lead to the underestimation or misunderstanding of a microbial community. Herein, we explored symbionts in the bacteriomes and fat bodies of cicadas using modified FISH, aiming to improve this technique. We initially revealed that the probes of Candidatus Sulcia muelleri (Sulcia) and the yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) are suitable for detection of these symbionts in all cicadas and some other species of Auchenorrhyncha, whereas the probe of Candidatus Hodgkinia cicadicola (Hodgkinia) is only suitable for detection of Hodgkinia in a few cicada species. The fluorescence signal of Sulcia, Hodgkinia and YLS exhibited weak intensity without the addition of unlabeled oligonucleotides (helpers) and heat shock in some cicadas; however, it can be significantly improved by the addition of both helpers and heat shock. Results of this study suggest that heat shock denaturing rRNA and proteins of related microbe(s) together with helpers binding to the adjacent region of the probe's target sites prevent the re-establishment of the native secondary structure of rRNA; therefore, suitable probe(s) can more easily access to the probe's target sites of rRNA. Our results provide new information for the significant improvement of hybridization signal intensities of microbes in the FISH experiment, making it possible to achieve a more precise understanding of the microbial distribution, community and density in complex samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We did 194 epochs of simultaneous 2.25/8.60 GHz observations of XTE J1810−197 in 926 days shortly following its reactivation in 2018 with Shanghai Tian Ma Radio Telescope (TMRT). Although its integrated profiles changed with both time and frequency during this period, they could be classified into 12 types according to phase areas of active radiation components. After MJD 59015, XTE J1810−197 turned from the normal emission state into the spiky emission state that was manifesting as a series of bright narrow sub-pulse bursts at both 2.25 and 8.60 GHz. Due to its variable integrated profiles and unsteady rotations, we got the spin frequency ν and spin-frequency derivatives ν ̇ with the piecewise fitting method. In addition, its long-term declining trend of ν was also obtained as ν ̇ = − 3.2 (1) × 10 − 13 s−2 with the linear fitting method based on our observations spanning a comparatively longer period. We found its flux densities went through three stages: sharp decrease, stabilization, and day-to-day fluctuations in our dual-frequency observations. Although the flux density showed different stages, XTE J1810−197 showed a relatively flat spectrum (α > –1) in most observations. Assuming an ideal dipole magnetic field as some previous research works, we obtained the emission heights of XTE J1810−197 were about 7.5(9) × 104 km and 2.38(7) × 104 km at 2.25 and 8.60 GHz, respectively. We also found that its emission heights would decrease rapidly with the degree of magnetic field twisting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(F,G) Apoptotic cell populations determined by flow cytometry with Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) staining after co-incubation with NC@PDA-NH2, NC, or free imatinib in TC-1 cells (E) or SiHa cells (G). (D,E) In vitro cytotoxicity of NC@PDA-NH2, NC, or free imatinib after 48 h of co-incubation in TC-1 cells (D) or SiHa cells (E). (B) Flow cytometry analysis on the fluorescent intensity of cells after co-incubation for 2 h with C6-labeled NC@PDA-NH2, NC, or free probe in TC-1 cells. [Extracted from the article]

S–modified MXene (Ti3C2Tx@S–5) was prepared to improve the catalytic activity of MXene in the electrocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). Here, S groups in the form of Ti–S and S–O species were anchored onto MXene, resulting in superior conductivity and surface activity. Ti3C2Tx@S–5 exhibited an excellent performance of 100% TC degradation under the conditions of 25 °C, a pH of 6, a TC concentration of 10 mg L−1, and an applied current of 20 mA. Radical quenching and EPR analyses revealed that ·O2− and 1O2 played dominant roles in Ti3C2Tx@S–5 and Ti3C2Tx systems. Furthermore, S modification promoted the triggering of ·OH and active chlorine, which contributed to the acceleration of TC degradation. The involvement of these active substances in degradation pathways was further proven. This research advances the S modification of MXene and improves TC degradation by promoting the triggering of ·OH and active chlorine, broadening the applicability of MXene material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivation The interactions between T-cell receptors (TCR) and peptide-major histocompatibility complex (pMHC) are essential for the adaptive immune system. However, identifying these interactions can be challenging due to the limited availability of experimental data, sequence data heterogeneity, and high experimental validation costs. Results To address this issue, we develop a novel computational framework, named MIX-TPI, to predict TCR–pMHC interactions using amino acid sequences and physicochemical properties. Based on convolutional neural networks, MIX-TPI incorporates sequence-based and physicochemical-based extractors to refine the representations of TCR–pMHC interactions. Each modality is projected into modality-invariant and modality-specific representations to capture the uniformity and diversities between different features. A self-attention fusion layer is then adopted to form the classification module. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of MIX-TPI in comparison with other state-of-the-art methods. MIX-TPI also shows good generalization capability on mutual exclusive evaluation datasets and a paired TCR dataset. Availability and implementation The source code of MIX-TPI and the test data are available at: https://github.com/Wolverinerine/MIX-TPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the acceleration of charged particles by ultra-relativistic shocks using test-particle Monte Carlo simulations. Two field configurations are considered: (i) shocks with uniform upstream magnetic field in the plane of the shock, and (ii) shocks in which the upstream magnetic field has a cylindrical geometry. Particles are assumed to diffuse in angle due to frequent non-resonant scattering on small-scale fields. The steady-state distribution of particles' Lorentz factors is shown to approximately satisfy d N /dγ ∝ γ−2.2 provided the particle motion is scattering dominated on at least one side of the shock. For scattering dominated transport, the acceleration rate scales as t acc ∝  t 1/2, though recovers Bohm scaling t acc ∝  t if particles become magnetized on one side of the shock. For uniform field configurations, a limiting energy is reached when particles are magnetized on both sides of the shock. For the cylindrical field configuration, this limit does not apply, and particles of one sign of charge will experience a curvature drift that redirects particles upstream. For the non-resonant scattering model considered, these particles preferentially escape only when they reach the confinement limit determined by the finite system size, and the distribution approaches the escapeless limit d N /dγ ∝ γ−1. The cylindrical field configuration resembles that expected for jets launched by the Blandford & Znajek mechanism, the luminous jets of active galactic nuclei and gamma-ray bursts thus provide favourable sites for the production of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sanctions for prohibited behavior in Vinaya texts are based on the precepts. It is, however, in the padabhājaniya (commentaries on the prātimokṣa) and the vinītaka (case-law sections) that these sanctions are further developed and explained. In the Vinayas, intention (the monk's motivations while committing an act), action (the action that the monk carried out), and outcome (the effect of this action on others) are generally understood to be the three factors that affect the sanctioning principles. Intention is considered the most essential factor because a monk who has performed, without motivation, a negligent action is often declared innocent in the Vinayas. However, some scholars argue that the requirement of intention pertains only to misdemeanors, not to serious offenses, and is not an overriding factor. This article investigates the logic informing the sanctions concerning intention, action, and outcome in the vibhaṅgas for the four pārājikas, including the precepts, the padabhājaniya, and the vinītaka. It is shown that this principle of conviction in fact applies to serious offenses as well as misdemeanors, although there are exceptions, such as cases in which the monk is forced to commit adultery (by being raped), etc. Although the precepts and their associated sanctions vary considerably, this article argues that an underlying logic informs them. This paper provides a typology for these sanctions by investigating the four pārājikas of the Vinayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the correlation between the fibrinogen combined with neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (F‐NLR) and the clinicopathologic features of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who underwent radical resection. Methods: This study reviewed the medical records of 289 patients with NSCLC who underwent radical resection. The patients were stratified into three groups based on F‐NLR as follows: patients with low NLR and fibrinogen were group A, patients with high NLR or fibrinogen were group B, and patients with high NLR and fibrinogen were group C. Receiver operating characteristic curve and Youden index were used to determine the cutoff value of the NLR and fibrinogen. Survival curves were described by Kaplan–Meier method and compared by log‐rank test. The univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with the Cox proportional hazard model to identify the prognostic factors. Results: A value of 3.19 was taken as the optimal cutoff value of NLR in this study. A value of 309 was used as the optimal cutoff value of fibrinogen. Cox multivariate analysis showed that tumor, nodes, metastasis (TNM) stage and F‐NLR were independent prognostic factors affecting the survival rate of patients. The first‐, third‐, and fifth‐year survival rates in group A were 99.2%, 96.6%, and 95.0%, respectively. The first‐, third‐, and fifth‐year survival rates in group B were 98.4%, 76.6%, and 63.2%, respectively. The first‐, third‐, and fifth‐year survival rates in group C were 91.3%, 41.1%, and 22.8%, respectively. F‐NLR was significantly correlated with overall survival in patients with NSCLC (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The F‐NLR level is markedly related to the prognosis of patients with NSCLC undergoing radical surgery. Therefore, closer attention should be given to patients with NSCLC with a high F‐NLR before surgery to provide postoperative adjuvant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Sexual dimorphism widely exists in animals and is reflected in different forms; of these, body mass dimorphism is the most prominent. Studies on the development and adaptation mechanism of sexual dimorphism in body mass can help us to understand how animals adapt to their environment via sexual dimorphism. As this has not been widely reported in Rhinopithecus, this study explores the ontogenetic development pattern of sexual dimorphism in the body mass of R. bieti, and interprets the causes resulting in extreme sexual dimorphism. The results showed that a significant dimorphism appears when females enter the reproductive period, reaching the maximum when males are mature for reproduction. It was determined that a period of decline begins after 8 years of age, and that males had a longer growth period than females. The large sexual dimorphism in body mass in R. bieti can be explained by both Bergmann's and Rensch's rules; however, the females' choice for males may not be significantly related to it. Overall, environmental adaptation, a distinctive alimentary system, and complex social structure have allowed R. bieti to have remarkable sexual dimorphism in body mass compared to other colobines. This study will undoubtedly highlight the same issues on the other 26 primate species in China, particularly the colobines, which will enrich research designs and enlarge research focus on China's primatology. Sexual dimorphism exists widely in animals, manifesting in different forms, such as body size, color, shape, unique characteristics, behavior, and sound. Of these, body mass dimorphism is the most obvious. Studies of evolutionary and ontogenetic development and adaptation mechanisms of animals' sexual dimorphism in body mass (SDBM), allow us to understand how environment, social group size, diet, and other external factors have driven the selection of sexual dimorphism. There are fewer reports of the ontogenetic development of sexual dimorphism in body mass in Rhinopithecus. This study explores the ontogenetic development pattern of SDBM in wild black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys (R. bieti), and the causes resulting in extreme sexual dimorphism compared to other colobines. A significant dimorphism with a ratio of 1.27 (p < 0.001) appears when females enter the reproductive period around six years old, reaching a peak (1.85, p < 0.001) when males become sexually mature. After the age of eight, the SDBM falls to 1.78, but is still significant (p < 0.001). The results also indicate that males had a longer body mass growth period than females (8 years vs. 5 years); females in larger breeding units had a significantly higher SDBM than those in smaller ones (2.12 vs. 1.93, p < 0.01). A comparative analysis with other colobines further clarifies that Rhinopithecus and Nasalis, which both have multilevel social organization, have the highest degree of SDBM among all colobines. The large SDBM in R. bieti can be explained through Bergman's and Rensch's rules. Overall, environmental adaptation, a distinctive alimentary system, and a complex social structure contribute to R. bieti having such a remarkable SDBM compared to other colobines. In addition, we found that females' choice for males may not be significantly related to the development of SDBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Gliomas are the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system. However, the inherited genetic variation in gliomas is presently unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the association of the rs2071559 and rs2239702 gene polymorphisms with glioma susceptibility in Chinese patients. Methods. In this study, a case-control approach was used to compare and analyze whether two genes, rs2071559 and rs2239702, were associated with the risk of glioma formation. Results. The cases and controls were matched for sex, smoking status, and family history of cancer using single nucleotide polymorphisms. Specific rs2071559 and rs2239702 alleles were found much more frequently in the glioma group than in the control group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.014, respectively). Conclusions. These findings suggest that specific rs2071559 and rs2239702 polymorphisms are associated with a higher risk of glioma development; the risk allele is C in rs2071559 or A in rs2239702. Moreover, the kinase-insert-domain-containing receptor may act as a suppressor of tumor progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that impairs memory, thinking, language, and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest of tasks. Tau protein, the major component of neurofibrillary tangles, is considered a key mediator of AD pathogenesis. The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and circulating tau remains unclear. The aim of the present meta‐analysis was to evaluate the relationship between OSA and circulating tau via quantitative analysis. Methods: A systematic search of Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science were performed. The mean values of circulating total tau (T‐tau) and phosphorylated tau (P‐tau) in OSA and control groups were extracted. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by using a random‐effect model or fixed‐effect model. Results: A total of seven studies comprising 233 controls and 306 OSA patients were included in this study. The meta‐analysis showed that the circulating T‐tau level was significantly higher in OSA patients than those in the control group (SMD = 1.319, 95% CI = 0.594 to 2.044, z = 3.56, p <.001). OSA patients also had significantly higher circulating P‐tau level than control group (SMD = 0.343, 95% CI = 0.122 to 0.564, z = 3.04, p =.002). Conclusions: The present meta‐analysis demonstrated that both circulating T‐tau and P‐tau levels were significantly increased in OSA subjects when compared with non‐OSA subjects. Larger sample‐size studies on the association between OSA and circulating tau are still required to further validate our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional symbionts of sap-sucking auchenorrhynchan insects of Hemiptera are usually confined to the bacteriomes and/or fat bodies. Knowledge is limited about the distribution of microbial symbionts in other organs. We investigated the distribution of obligate symbionts in the salivary glands, gut tissues, reproductive organs, bacteriomes, and fat bodies of two cicada species, Karenia caelatata and Tanna sp., using integrated methods, including a modified fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, which can greatly enhance the FISH signal intensity of related symbionts. We revealed that Candidatus Sulcia muelleri (Sulcia) and a yeast-like fungal symbiont (YLS) were harbored in the bacteriomes and fat bodies, respectively. Both of Sulcia and YLS can be transmitted to the offspring via ovaries, forming a "symbiont ball" in each egg. Neither Sulcia nor YLS were harbored in the salivary glands, gut tissues and testes. Phylogenetic trees of both Sulcia and cicadas confirm that K. caelatata is a member of the tribe Dundubiini, and the tribe Leptopsaltriini that comprises Ta. sp. is not monophyletic. YLS of K. caelatata is embedded inside the lineage of YLS of Dundubiini, whereas YLS of Ta. sp. is closely related to the clade comprising both cicada-parasitizing fungi Ophiocordyceps and YLS of Mogannia conica and Meimuna mongolica, suggesting an evolutionary replacement of YLS in Ta. sp. from an Ophiocordyceps fungus to another Ophiocordyceps fungus. Our results provide new insights into the symbiosis between Cicadidae and related symbionts. Modification through the addition of helpers and heat shock greatly enhanced the FISH signal intensity of YLS, which may provide guidelines for enhancement of the hybridization signal intensity of other symbiont(s) in the FISH experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ni sites in Ni-MOF lead to the generation of free radicals (•OH and O 2 •-). • Ligands of Ni-MOF and rGO basement induce the production of 1O 2 and active chlorine. • The electron transfer orientation in Ni-MOF/rGO composite was from rGO to Ni-MOF. The highly conductive Ni–metal–organic framework/reduced graphene oxide (Ni-MOG/rGO) heterostructure shows an excellent catalytic activity through the modification of active sites, considerably enabling the electron transfer between rGO and Ni-MOF. However, the detailed mechanisms, i.e., the functions of separate metal sites and organic ligands and electron transfer orientation between Ni-MOFs and rGO, remain to be discussed. Here, the electrocatalytic mechanism of Ni-MOF/rGO was experimentally analyzed on the basis of the density functional theory. The dominant active sites of radical and nonradical generation were determined. Findings indicated that radicals (O 2 •− and •OH) and nonradicals (1O 2 and active chlorine) contributed to paracetamol (APAP) degradation. Moreover, metal sites (Ni) were favorable to generate O 2 •− and partly •OH to initiate the reaction. By contrast, organic frameworks in Ni-MOF and rGO basement favored to generate •OH and nonradicals (1O 2 and active chlorine). In this case, N sites (in Ni-MOF), which seized electrons from Ni sites, acted as the primary bonding bridge to accelerate the electron transfer from rGO to Ni-MOF. This study provided essential information to decipher the mechanism of Ni-MOF/rGO heterostructure applicable to the electrocatalytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scylla paramamosain is an importantly economical mariculture crab. To figure out the optimized conditions in the culture of juvenile crabs, three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of diet, salinity and light condition on the growth performance (body weight gain, BWG; carapace width gain, CWG; carapace length gain, CLG) and moulting cycle (MC) of crablets from V to VII stages. The growth performances of the crablets from stages V–VII have no significant differences after feeding different diets. However, the MC of crablet V fed Artemia or mixed fish were significantly shorter than that fed artificial diet. The CLG of crablet VI in salinity 25‰ was significantly higher than that in salinity 15‰, while the CWG and CLG of crablet VII in salinity 15‰ were significantly higher than that in salinity 5‰. The MC of the crablets V–VI reared in salinity 25‰ and 15‰ were significantly shorter than that in salinity 5‰, while it was significantly shorter in salinity 25‰ than that in salinity 15‰ from crablets VI–VII. For light conditions, the BWG of crablet VI with full cover was significantly higher than that with half cover. Whereas, the MC of the crablets V and VI with full cover was significantly shorter than that without cover or half cover. These findings indicated that crablet V and VI may prefer to exposing to 25‰ salinity and dark environment and feeding on Artemia for faster growth. Thus, the current findings may serve as a guide for establishing appropriate conditions in the aquaculture of juvenile mud crabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The persistent dynamics in systems out of equilibrium, particularly those characterized by annihilation and creation of topological defects, is known to involve complicated spatiotemporal processes and is deemed difficult to control. Here the complex dynamics of defects in active smectic layers exposed to strong confinements is explored, through self-propulsion of active particles and a variety of confining geometries with different topology, ranging from circular, flower-shaped epicycloid, to hypocycloid cavities, channels, and rings. We identify a wealth of dynamical behaviors during the evolution of complex spatiotemporal defect patterns as induced by the confining shape and topology, particularly a perpetual creation-annihilation dynamical state at intermediate activity with large fluctuations of topological defects and a controllable transition from oscillatory to damped time correlation of defect number density via mechanisms governed by boundary cusps. Our results are obtained by using an active phase field crystal approach. Possible experimental realizations are also discussed. It is intriguing but challenging to control the complex dynamics of topological defects that emerge in nonequilibrium spatiotemporal systems. Through an effective modelling this work explores a viable way to controllably vary the properties of persistent defect dynamics in self-propelled active smectics via the competition of activity and boundary confinements with different topology and geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fluorescence intensity of inorganic CsPbBr3 (CPB) perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) decreases in the presence of O2. In this study, we synthesized CPB NCs with various shapes and sizes for use as optical gas sensing materials. We fabricated O2 gas sensors from the various CPB NCs on several porous and nonporous substrates and examined the effects of the NC shapes and aggregate sizes and the substrate pore size on the device response. Our sensor fabricated from CPB nanocrystals on a porous substrate exhibited the highest response; the porous substrate allowed the rapid diffusion of O2 such that the NC surface was exposed effectively to the gas. Thus, the interfacial interaction between NC surfaces and substrates is a critical factor for consideration when preparing gas sensors with a high response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the application of time-to-event analysis in machine learning prognostic models in the field of medicine. It highlights the importance of using survival analysis, a statistical method that considers partially observed data and censoring, to develop accurate prognostic models. The article criticizes the simplistic transformation of outcomes into categorical variables and the use of ML classification techniques without considering censored data, which can introduce bias and compromise the validity of the models. The authors recommend the use of the "scikit-survival" Python module for incorporating survival analysis into machine learning models and emphasize the need for careful consideration of censoring and time-to-event analysis principles. [Extracted from the article]

Motivation The associations between biomarkers and human diseases play a key role in understanding complex pathology and developing targeted therapies. Wet lab experiments for biomarker discovery are costly, laborious and time-consuming. Computational prediction methods can be used to greatly expedite the identification of candidate biomarkers. Results Here, we present a novel computational model named GTGenie for predicting the biomarker–disease associations based on graph and text features. In GTGenie, a graph attention network is utilized to characterize diverse similarities of biomarkers and diseases from heterogeneous information resources. Meanwhile, a pretrained BERT-based model is applied to learn the text-based representation of biomarker–disease relation from biomedical literature. The captured graph and text features are then integrated in a bimodal fusion network to model the hybrid entity representation. Finally, inductive matrix completion is adopted to infer the missing entries for reconstructing relation matrix, with which the unknown biomarker–disease associations are predicted. Experimental results on HMDD, HMDAD and LncRNADisease data sets showed that GTGenie can obtain competitive prediction performance with other state-of-the-art methods. Availability The source code of GTGenie and the test data are available at: https://github.com/Wolverinerine/GTGenie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motion-induced noise is the main noise that restricts the communication of deeply submerged submarines at extremely low frequencies (ELFs). In this article, a model for analyzing motion-induced noise is established in the context of a long cylindrical antenna towed by a submarine. The model proposed assumes that the antenna vibration caused by vortex obeys Poisson distribution in time and space. The factors involved in the noise generation, such as the speed of the submarine, the length of the towed cable, the transverse motion of the antenna, the pressure of the boundary layer, and the variation of pressure fluctuations with time and space, are further considered in the model. Finally, the derived noise power spectrum from our model shows agreement with the measured data, and has advantages than the result derived from previous work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • H 2 O 2 generated from PMS is critical precursors of 1O 2. • Co sites in ZIF-L@Fe 28 denote all 1O 2 , SO 4 ·−, ⋅O 2 −, ·OH and H 2 O 2 generation. • Fe sites prefer 1O 2 and H 2 O 2 generation via PMS*→H 2 O 2 →1O 2 pathway. Verifying the role of H 2 O 2 is a critical challenge for deepening the understanding of the mechanism of peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). In this research, Co, Fe bimetallic organometallic frameworks (ZIF-L@Fe 28) were prepared, and their ultrahigh activities via H 2 O 2 generation at Fe and Co sites were experimentally and theoretically verified. The important contribution of H 2 O 2 to 1O 2 production was identified through the quantifications of the mutual transformation of active species. Co sites were identified as the most active positions for PMS activation because of they strongly triggered 1O 2 , SO 4 ·−, ⋅O 2 −, ·OH, and H 2 O 2. However, the self-quenching of active species suppressed the efficiency and selectivity of 1O 2 generation at Co sites. In contrast to Co sites, Fe sites had selective preference for H 2 O 2 generation, and the transformation of H 2 O 2 to 1O 2 further enhanced the performance of ZIF-L@Fe 28. The supplementary discussion from the perspective of H 2 O 2 will enable the further application of the PMS activation mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Four tectono-hydrothermal stages were identified at the Nibao gold deposit. • Anatase is the main accessory phase of TiO 2 polymorphs at Nibao. • Ore sulfur was derived from Permian basaltic rocks. • Gold accumulation was controlled by mineral dissolution and reprecipitation. Multistage mineralization overprinting is important for the formation of giant hydrothermal gold deposits. The Youjiang basin in SW China has undergone at least three major deformation phases in the Mesozoic, but their relationship with the large-scale gold accumulation in the region remains enigmatic. Here, we study the large Nibao gold deposit (reserve > 70 t Au) in the northern part of the basin, which has both fault-controlled and stratabound orebodies. We identified a pre-ore stage and syn -ore stage including four tectono-hydrothermal (T-H) substages (i.e., T-H stage 1, 2, 3 and 4) for the local mineralization at Nibao. The pre-ore stage is dominated by coarse-grained pyrite coexisting with TiO 2 polymorphs in the Middle-Late Permian basaltic rocks. The T-H substage 1 is characterized in that the sedimentary pyrites are brecciated in bedding-parallel faults. Fluorination and silicification occur in the T-H substage 2, which is re-brecciated at the T-H substage 3 forming the highest gold grade ore in high-angle thrust fault. The T-H substage 4 presents as fault reactivation within minor calcite and pyrite deposition. Mineralogy and in-situ trace element analyses reveal that mineral dissolution and reprecipitation (incl. dolomite, auriferous pyrite and TiO 2 polymorphs) is ubiquitous during the multistage tectono-hydrothermal process, and the continuous alteration overprinting may have promoted gold accumulation. This replacement process of different generations of auriferous pyrite is also recorded by their inherited sulfur isotopes, giving a narrow δ34S (−3.1 to + 2.1 ‰) range. Anatase is the main accessory phase of TiO 2 polymorphs, as identified with LA-ICP-MS trace element and laser Raman spectroscopic analyses. Moreover, the anatase can been divided into two types (type-I and II) based on their texture, alteration and chemistry. The type-I anatase commonly occurring in the stratabound ore is characterized by higher Zr (mean 1,730 ppm), V (mean 1,412 ppm), and Cr (mean 110 ppm) contents than type-II that coexists with zoned pyrite in the fault-controlled ore (mean 26 ppm, 187 ppm, and 38 ppm, respectively). Additionally, W (mean 636 ppm) and Mg (10,021 ppm) in type-II are much higher than type-I ones (mean 135 ppm W and 476 Mg). These features show that the sedimentary-stage Zr-V-Cr-rich type-I anatase was dissolved via fluid metasomatism, and reprecipitated as the hydrothermal-stage W-Mg-rich and Zr-poor anatase, with gold gradually enriched. Besides, the anatase phase of TiO 2 polymorphs also indicates that the Nibao gold deposit was formed under low pressure–temperature condition. Overall, we propose that the Nibao is a Carlin-type gold deposit, dominated by multistage tectono-hydrothermal events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tonglen is a Tibetan Buddhist practice that aims at developing the practitioner's bodhicitta. In this article, I argue that it not only finds expression in Alice Walker's The Color Purple through the protagonist Celie, but adds more complexity to the womanist philosophy for which Walker has been ensconced in positions of influence. More specifically, Celie follows an implied Buddhist practice of tonglen; in the process of "taking in and sending out", her bodhicitta has been generated and cultivated. Underlying her tonglen practice is Buddhist womanism demonstrating how African American women can survive the social oppression and injustice by way of acknowledging their own terrible afflictions, empathizing with those enduring intense suffering, male and female, extending their loving kindness, comprehending the absence of intrinsic entity and the principle of dependent origination, etc. In addition, the article suggests that the fight for the survival of the oppressed is a type of Buddhist practice in Walker's Buddhist womanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the relationship between emotional working memory (WM) and depressive symptoms has been well established in clinical samples, research in the subclinical population has produced mixed results. The present study tested the effect of WM load on control of interference from emotional (positive, negative, neutral) distractors in dysphoria. Dysphoric (n = 32) and non‐dysphoric (n = 35) university students were administered the emotional 2‐back (lower WM load) and 3‐back (higher WM load) tasks. Results showed that resisting negative distractors was more difficult for the dysphoric group than the non‐dysphoric group, but only in the 3‐back task. The results demonstrate that dysphoria is associated with greater interference from negative distractors under high WM load. We conclude that both WM load and emotional valence have an effect on WM performance in dysphoria, and the poor ability to resist interference from negative distractors in WM might be a key cognitive vulnerability factor for depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of new energy vehicles, the joining of lightweight alloys has received more attention. Self-piercing riveting experiments of aluminum alloy and high-strength steel sheets were performed to analyze the effects of rivet height and laying order of metal sheets on the joining quality in the work. The forming surface, cross-sectional morphology, static tensile property, fatigue property, failure mode, and mechanism were analyzed. The results show that AA5052 alloy and SPFC440 steel can be joined effectively by self-piercing riveting, and there is good contact between rivet head and sheet surfaces. When the rivet is 2.5–3.5 mm higher than the total thickness of two layers sheets, the rivet leg flares symmetrically without cracks or buckling, and the lower sheet completely encapsulates the joint button. The joints have better static tensile properties when the rivet is about 3 mm higher than the thickness of two sheets. The higher static strength is obtained when the aluminum alloy is placed at the lower position. The rivet legs fall off from the lower sheets for all the samples in the tensile tests, which is independent of the rivet height and laying order of metal sheets. The fatigue strength of the sample with the rivet height of 7 mm is the greatest, and the fatigue cracks always occur on the aluminum sheet under all experimental conditions. The findings in this work can help the practical application of self-piercing riveting for aluminum/steel sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automatic analysis of large-scale 3D flow field promotes the combination of topological analysis and integration curve analysis methods. Critical point detection and location are one of the key core algorithms of topological analysis. Dealing with large-scale flow fields in parallel, eliminating memory constraints, and obtaining high-precision position of critical points robustly are still primary challenges. Therefore, a novel parallel detection and location method on the GPU is proposed and denoted by HybridDualCP. It uses the duality property of the cartesian coordinate system and the velocity vector space inside each grid cell. It achieves high locality, has the ability of large-scale parallelization, and can quickly detect and locate critical points in large-scale 3D flow fields. Furthermore, based on the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation algorithm in the dual space, it eliminates the computation of solving systems of high-order or linear equations and can support any dimensional simplex mesh type. HybridDualCP provides the position classification of critical points relative to the grid cell by explicitly considering the inside/facet/edge/vertex. By detecting critical points in 29 typical 3D flow fields, HybridDualCP is faster, more robust and comprehensive than currently widely used methods. This paper also shows the effect of streamline visualization guided by critical points and the necessity of distinguishing critical points at different locations relative to the grid cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypoxia regulates tumor angiogenesis, metabolism, and therapeutic response in malignant cancers including glioblastoma, the most lethal primary brain tumor. The regulation of HIF transcriptional factors by the ubiquitin–proteasome system is critical in the hypoxia response, but hypoxia‐inducible deubiquitinases that counteract the ubiquitination remain poorly defined. While the activation of ERK1/2 also plays an important role in hypoxia response, the relationship between ERK1/2 activation and HIF regulation remains elusive. Here, we identified USP33 as essential deubiquitinase that stabilizes HIF‐2alpha protein in an ERK1/2‐dependent manner to promote hypoxia response in cancer cells. USP33 is preferentially induced in glioma stem cells by hypoxia and interacts with HIF‐2alpha, leading to its stabilization through deubiquitination. The activation of ERK1/2 upon hypoxia promoted HIF‐2alpha phosphorylation, enhancing its interaction with USP33. Silencing of USP33 disrupted glioma stem cells maintenance, reduced tumor vascularization, and inhibited glioblastoma growth. Our findings highlight USP33 as an essential regulator of hypoxia response in cancer stem cells, indicating a novel potential therapeutic target for brain tumor treatment. Synopsis: While hypoxia induced by tumor growth is recognized as a key selective pressure in solid cancers, the molecular mechanisms underlying control of HIF signaling remain unclear. This work identifies deubiquitinating enzyme USP33 as regulator of HIF‐2alpha in glioma, shedding new light on the complexities of brain tumor growth. Hypoxia induces deubiquitinase USP33 expression in glioma stem cells (GSCs).USP33 deubiquitinates and stabilizes HIF‐2alpha in GSCs in response to hypoxia.ERK1/2‐mediated phosphorylation of S484 HIF‐2alpha enhances binding to USP33.Depletion of USP33 impairs GSC maintenance and tumor sphere formation in vitro as well as glioblastoma growth in mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the collision and rebound characteristics between particles and silicone rubber surfaces is the basis of establishing a scientific contamination deposition model for silicone rubber insulators. In this article, high-speed and microscopic imaging techniques are used to set up an experimental platform for tracking and filming the collision and rebound motion of micrometer particles. Key parameters in the semiempirical calculation formula of critical adhesion velocity and tangential and normal rebound coefficients of particles in the collision issue between particles and silicone rubber surface are also obtained in this article by the parameter optimization method based on experimental measurement results. In addition, a probability calculation model for tangent and normal rebound coefficients of particles is proposed based on the statistical analysis method. Findings show that the critical adhesion velocity of particles decreases with the increase of the particle diameter. Influenced by the roughness distribution of the silicone rubber surface, the tangent rebound coefficient and the ratio between the measurement results and the theoretical calculated values of normal rebound coefficients of particles in the oblique collisions obeys normal distributions. This article is valuable for studying the contamination mechanism of silicone rubber insulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of acute lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of miR-146a on RSV replication and the related mechanisms. Material and methods: We pretreated A549 and HEp-2 cells and young rats with miR-146a mimic before infection with RSV. The expressions of miR-146a and RSV-F mRNA in cells and lung tissues were detected by RT-qPCR, and production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF-α in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by ELISA. The expression level of TRAF-6 and activation of the JNK/ERK/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway was detected by Western blotting. Results: RSV infection significantly reduced miR-146a levels in both A549 and HEp-2 cells and rat lung tissues. RSV infection resulted in accelerated growth, increased release of inflammatory cytokines, increased expression of TRAF-6, and activation of the JNK pathway in cells, and the lung inflammatory infiltration and the pathological score increased in rats. Overexpression of miR-146a targeted down-regulation of TRAF-6 expression and JNK/ERK/MAPK/NF-κB pathway induced by RSV infection, reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and alleviate lung injury in young rats. We got similar results in both A549 and HEp-2 cell experiments. Conclusion: MiR-146a alleviates lung injury caused by RSV infection in young rats by targeting TRAF-6 and regulating JNK/ERK/MAPK signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the hypotheses that individuals of rotifers adapted to high food levels are smaller at maturity than those adapted to low food levels, and that selection history has different effects on different life history traits and demographic variables of rotifers, we expose replicate populations of Brachionus angularis in low (LF) and high (HF) densities of Tetradesmus obliquus. Over 100 days (28 asexual generations) of selection, HF-selected populations have a significantly increased growth rate, but more rapidly decreased mictic ratio than LF-selected populations. Common garden experiments reveal that regardless of the density of food provided, populations with an LF-selection history have significantly lower reproductive and growth rates, but larger individuals than populations with an HF-selection history. Compared with LF treatment, HF treatment decreases reproductive and growth rates and individual size in populations with an LF-selection history, but these reaction norms are less pronounced (reproductive and growth rates) or opposite (individual size) in populations with an HF-selection history, indicating significant evolutionary effects. While the potential for evolution in rotifer populations may enable them to survive in oligotrophic and eutrophic water bodies, trait variation linked to food availability may lead to contrasting population dynamics in these two environment types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel collision detection algorithm of abrasive belt grinding blade integrated disk (blisk) based on improved octree segmentation is proposed, to improve the accuracy and efficiency of collision detection while ensuring dimensional accuracy and surface quality. The traditional collision detection algorithm model is described in detail, among them, the collision detection model of the abrasive belt is obtained by establishing its Oriented Bounding Box (OBB), and the collision detection model of the blisk is established by the octree segmentation. Then, an improved octree segmentation based on k-means clustering method can be presented by analyzing the important factors that affect the collision detection; on this basis, an algorithm of collision detection for abrasive belt grinding blisk is given. Finally, algorithm verification and experimental verification are carried out based on a blisk with certain type, respectively. Compared with the traditional collision detection algorithm, the results with algorithm verification illustrate that the accuracy and efficiency of algorithm in this paper have promoted by 45% and 18.60%, respectively; and the results with experimental verification demonstrate that the accuracy and efficiency of algorithm in this paper have improved by 45% and 18.44%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Compound kushen injection (CKI), a Chinese patent drug, is widely used in the treatment of various cancers, especially neoplasms of the digestive system. However, the underlying mechanism of CKI in pancreatic cancer (PC) treatment has not been totally elucidated. Methods: Here, to overcome the limitation of conventional network pharmacology methods with a weak combination with clinical information, this study proposes a network pharmacology approach of integrated bioinformatics that applies a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to conventional network pharmacology, and then integrates molecular docking technology and biological experiments to verify the results of this network pharmacology analysis. Results: The WGCNA analysis revealed 2 gene modules closely associated with classification, staging and survival status of PC. Further CytoHubba analysis revealed 10 hub genes (NCAPG, BUB1, CDK1, TPX2, DLGAP5, INAVA, MST1R, TMPRSS4, TMEM92 and SFN) associated with the development of PC, and survival analysis found 5 genes (TSPOAP1, ADGRG6, GPR87, FAM111B and MMP28) associated with the prognosis and survival of PC. By integrating these results into the conventional network pharmacology study of CKI treating PC, we found that the mechanism of CKI for PC treatment was related to cell cycle, JAK-STAT, ErbB, PI3K-Akt and mTOR signalling pathways. Finally, we found that CDK1, JAK1, EGFR, MAPK1 and MAPK3 served as core genes regulated by CKI in PC treatment, and were further verified by molecular docking, cell proliferation assay, RT-qPCR and western blot analysis. Conclusions: Overall, this study suggests that the optimized network pharmacology approach is suitable to explore the molecular mechanism of CKI in the treatment of PC, which provides a reference for further investigating biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of PC and even the clinical rational application of CKI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, a wideband circularly polarized stacked microstrip patch antenna (CP SMPA) with continuous phase feed characteristics is presented. The designed antenna consists of a square‐loop feeding structure as driven element, four rectangular‐patches and four rotated square‐patches as parasitic elements. First, a square‐loop with arc‐shaped strip is designed to obtain 90° phase difference. Second, four rectangular‐patches are placed next to the square‐loop for generating a CP resonant mode through a capacitive coupling method. Third, four rotated square‐patches are arranged at the top of the rectangular‐patches to excite an additional CP resonant mode. Eventually, the designed CP SMPA features a wide −10‐dB impedance bandwidth (IBW) of 32% (5.93 GHz, 4.98–6.88 GHz), and a broad 3‐dB axial ratio bandwidth of 22.8% (6.15 GHz, 5.45–6.85 GHz). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we give the characteristic estimation of a meromorphic function f with the differential polynomials f l (f (k)) n and obtain that T (r , f) ≤ M N ‾ (r , 1 f l (f (k)) n − a) + S (r , f) holds for M = min { 1 l − 2 , 6 } , integers l (≥ 2) , n (≥ 1) , k (≥ 1) , and a non-zero constant a. This quantitative estimate is an interesting and complete extension of earlier results. The value distribution of a differential monomial of meromorphic functions is also investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wheel brake device is one of the most widely used landing deceleration devices in modern aircraft. For large aircraft, a multivalve parallel brake system is usually used. When a brake pressure servo valve of a certain type of aircraft is debugged, the output brake pressure of the system shows obvious periodic oscillation with constant amplitude. This paper focuses on the brake pressure servo valve, which is the key component of the system. There are a large number of feedback and adjustment segments in the brake pressure servo valve, which can not only improve the control accuracy but also introduce nonlinear factors to cause system vibration. Therefore, in this paper, the feedback stage structure of the brake pressure servo valve is analyzed and improved, and a new two-stage pressure servo valve is designed to restrain the output brake pressure vibration of the system. Firstly, the structure principle of the original pressure servo valve is defined, and the function of the feedback stage is analyzed. Secondly, in view of the vibration problem caused by the original brake pressure servo valve, a new two-stage brake pressure servo valve is designed, which is the main contribution of this paper. Thirdly, the dynamics model of the proposed two-stage brake pressure servo valve is established, and the simulation model of the brake pressure servo valve-controlled cylinder system and the multivalve parallel brake servo control system is built. Finally, experiments are carried out on the experimental platform of a multivalve parallel brake system to verify that the proposed two-stage pressure servo valve can restrain the vibration of the system more effectively than the original brake pressure servo valve. And the two-stage pressure servo valve prototype is successfully applied to the actual aircraft brake control system; the system can better maintain a stable brake pressure output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents two ground radiation antennas with simple feeding structures for mobile applications. Characteristic mode theory is exploited to design the proposed antennas. For antenna 1, a small loop without any lumped elements is used as the feeding structure. And the total length of the feeding loop is only 20.2 mm (0.06 λ0.9GHz). The operating band of the proposed antenna 1 is 834‐1020 MHz. Across the whole operating band, the measured efficiencies of antenna 1 are higher than 72%. In addition, a new method to generate an extra resonant frequency is proposed, which has little effect on the existed resonant modes at the lower band. The dual‐mode antenna 2 without loading any lumped elements is obtained by implementing this method, which covers 812‐940 MHz and 1543‐1576 MHz bands. Furthermore, the new resonant frequency can be controlled independently. Namely, the higher frequency band of antenna 2 can be adjusted freely without changing the lower band. To validate the design strategy, two ground radiation antennas are fabricated and measured. The measured results indicate that the proposed antennas are suitable for mobile terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of RE (Sm, Nd, Pr and Ho)-doped Rh@NSPC (NSPC stands for N, S co-doped porous carbon nanosheets) are prepared by a simple joule-heat pyrolysis method for the first time. The optimized Sm-Rh@NSPC achieves highly efficient alkaline hydrogen evolution with superior electrocatalytic property. [Display omitted] • RE (Sm, Nd, Pr and Ho)-doped Rh@NSPC are prepared by joule-heat pyrolysis method. • Collaborative electronic interactions between Sm and Rh clusters. • The overpotential of Sm-Rh@NSPC is merely 18.1 mV at current density of 10 mAcm−2. The unique electronic and crystal structures of rare earth metals (RE) offer promising opportunities for enhancing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) properties of materials. In this work, a series of RE (Sm, Nd, Pr and Ho)-doped Rh@NSPC (NSPC stands for N, S co-doped porous carbon nanosheets) with sizes less than 2 nm are prepared, utilizing a simple, rapid and solvent-free joule-heat pyrolysis method for the first time. The optimized Sm-Rh@NSPC achieves HER performance. The high-catalytic performance and stability of Sm-Rh@NSPC are attributed to the synergistic electronic interactions between Sm and Rh clusters, leading to an increase in the electron cloud density of Rh, which promotes the adsorption of H+, the dissociation of Rh-H bonds and the release of H 2. Notably, the overpotential of the Sm-Rh@NSPC catalyst is a mere 18.1 mV at current density of 10 mAcm−2, with a Tafel slope of only 15.2 mV dec-1. Furthermore, it exhibits stable operation in a 1.0 M KOH electrolyte at 10 mA cm−2 for more than 100 h. This study provides new insights into the synthesis of composite RE hybrid cluster nanocatalysts and their RE-enhanced electrocatalytic performance. It also introduces fresh perspectives for the development of efficient electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swift  J1818.0–1607 discovered in early 2020 is not only the fifth magnetar known with periodic radio pulsations but also the fastest rotating one. Simultaneous 2.25/8.60 GHz observations of Swift  J1818.0–1607 were carried out with Shanghai Tian Ma Radio Telescope (TMRT) from MJD 58936 to 59092. The spin-frequency ν and first-order derivative |$\dot{\nu }$| of this magnetar were obtained with piecewise fitting method because of its instable timing properties. We found that the amplitude of short-term |$\dot{\nu }$| fluctuations decreased with time, and the long-term declining trend of ν discovered previously continued in our observations. The best fit long-term |$\dot{\nu }$| were about |$-2.25\times 10^{-11} \, \mathrm{s}^{-2}$| using our observation data spanning 156 d. The derived characteristic age was about 522 yr, supporting the recent viewpoint that this magnetar may be older than initially thought shortly after its discovery. The flux density of this magnetar was increased at both 2.25 and 8.60 GHz during our observations, and its radio spectrum became flatter at the same time. We also detected bright-quiet type emission mode switching in Swift  J1818.0–1607. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swift  J1818.0–1607 discovered in early 2020 is not only the fifth magnetar known with periodic radio pulsations but also the fastest rotating one. Simultaneous 2.25/8.60 GHz observations of Swift  J1818.0–1607 were carried out with Shanghai Tian Ma Radio Telescope (TMRT) from MJD 58936 to 59092. The spin-frequency ν and first-order derivative |$\dot{\nu }$| of this magnetar were obtained with piecewise fitting method because of its instable timing properties. We found that the amplitude of short-term |$\dot{\nu }$| fluctuations decreased with time, and the long-term declining trend of ν discovered previously continued in our observations. The best fit long-term |$\dot{\nu }$| were about |$-2.25\times 10^{-11} \, \mathrm{s}^{-2}$| using our observation data spanning 156 d. The derived characteristic age was about 522 yr, supporting the recent viewpoint that this magnetar may be older than initially thought shortly after its discovery. The flux density of this magnetar was increased at both 2.25 and 8.60 GHz during our observations, and its radio spectrum became flatter at the same time. We also detected bright-quiet type emission mode switching in Swift  J1818.0–1607. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanadium doped La9.33Si6−xVxO26+0.5x (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5) (LSVO) electrolyte powder was prepared by combustion method at 600°C for 5‐7 min. The powder was sintered at 1500°C for 3 hours to prepare LSVO ceramics. XPS, IR, XRD, and EIS analysis show that V5+ doping replaces Si4+ in [SiO4] to form [Si(V)O4] tetrahedron. With the increase in x, the lattice volume increase. When x = 2.0, the LaVO4 phase was formed, indicating that the limit doping amount of V5+ replacing Si4+ is x ≤ 1.5. The conductivity of LSVO increases significantly with the increase in x (x ≤ 1.0), which attributed to the xV5+⟶xSi4+xVSi∙+1/2xOi∗// defect reaction caused by V5+ doping. The addition of the interstitial oxygen Oi* in 63 channels and the increase of lattice volume leads to increased conductivity. When x = 1.0, the highest conductivity is 1.46 × 10−2 S·cm−1 (800°C). The doping enhancement conductivity mechanism is the Interstitial oxygen defect‐Lattice volume composite enhancement mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to investigate the role of free triiodothyronine (FT3) in patients with anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis. 137 consecutive inpatients (2016–2019) were registered prospectively and followed up for 12 months. 96 eligible patients were included in the study. The modified Rankin scale (mRS) score was collected, and the score of 3–6 was defined as a poor outcome. The patients were equally classified into 3 subgroups based on their FT3 levels obtained within 24 h of admission, and the subgroup differences were analyzed by parametric or nonparametric tests as appropriate. Logistic regression analysis was performed. We found that there was no difference in the mRS scores upon admission among 3 subgroups, however, patients in the low-FT3 subgroup tended to have higher disease severity during hospitalization and worse outcome in follow-up visits, represented by higher chances of intense care unit (ICU) admission (P < 0.001), longer hospital stay (P < 0.001), greater maximum mRS scores during hospitalization (P = 0.011), lower rates of getting clinical improvement within 4 weeks of starting treatment (P = 0.006), and higher percentages of poor 1-year outcome (P = 0.002). The level of FT3 was an independent factor correlated with ICU admission (P = 0.002) and might be a potential predictor for 1-year outcome. Our preliminary results suggest that the FT3 may be a risk factor involved in the evolution and progression of anti-NMDAR encephalitis, whereas the underline mechanisms remain to be explored. Attention should be paid to these patients with relatively low FT3 upon admission, which might possibly aid clinical prediction and guide clinical decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this research was to investigate the alterations in functional brain networks and to assess the relationship between depressive impairment and topological network changes in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with depression (DPD). Methods: Twenty‐two DPD patients, 23 PD patients without depression (NDPD), and 25 matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. All participants were examined by resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans. Graph theoretical analysis and network‐based statistic methods were used to analyze brain network topological properties and abnormal subnetworks, respectively. Results: The DPD group showed significantly decreased local efficiency compared with the HC group (P =.008, FDR corrected). In nodal metrics analyses, the degree of the right inferior occipital gyrus (P =.0001, FDR corrected) was positively correlated with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores in the DPD group. Meanwhile, the temporal visual cortex, including the bilateral middle temporal gyri and right inferior temporal gyrus in the HC and NDPD groups and the left posterior cingulate gyrus in the NDPD group, was defined as hub region, but not in the DPD group. Compared with the HC group, the DPD group had extensive weakening of connections between the temporal‐occipital visual cortex and the prefrontal‐limbic network. Conclusions: These results suggest that PD depression is associated with disruptions in the topological organization of functional brain networks, mainly involved the temporal‐occipital visual cortex and the posterior cingulate gyrus and may advance our current understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying DPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]