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Acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylases (ACCs) are pivotal in fatty acid metabolism, converting acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. While ACCs in humans, plants, and microbes have been extensively studied, insect ACCs, crucial for lipid biosynthesis and physiological processes, remain relatively unexplored. Unlike mammals, which have ACC1 and ACC2 in different tissues, insects possess a single ACC gene, underscoring its unique role in their metabolism. Noctuid moths, such as Trichoplusia ni, are major agricultural pests causing significant crop damage and economic loss. Their resistance to both biological and synthetic insecticides complicates pest control. Recent research has introduced cyclic ketoenols as novel insecticides targeting ACCs, yet structural information to guide their design is limited. Here, we present a 3.12 Å cryo-EM structure of the carboxyltransferase (CT) domain of T. ni ACC, offering the first detailed structural insights into insect ACCs. Our structural comparisons with ACC CT domains from other species and analyses of drug-binding sites can guide future drug modification and design. Notably, unique interactions between the CT and the central domain in T. ni ACC provide new directions for studying the ACC holoenzyme. These findings contribute valuable information for pest control and a basic biological understanding of lipid biosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the emergence of numerous applications of artificial intelligence (AI) has sparked a new technological revolution. These applications include facial recognition, autonomous driving, intelligent robotics, and image restoration. However, the data processing and storage procedures in the conventional von Neumann architecture are discrete, which leads to the "memory wall" problem. As a result, such architecture is incompatible with AI requirements for efficient and sustainable processing. Exploring new computing architectures and material bases is therefore imperative. Inspired by neurobiological systems, in-memory and in-sensor computing techniques provide a new means of overcoming the limitations inherent in the von Neumann architecture. The basis of neural morphological computation is a crossbar array of high-density, high-efficiency non-volatile memory devices. Among the numerous candidate memory devices, ferroelectric memory devices with non-volatile polarization states, low power consumption and strong endurance are expected to be ideal candidates for neuromorphic computing. Further research on the complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) compatibility for these devices is underway and has yielded favorable results. Herein, we first introduce the development of ferroelectric materials as well as their mechanisms of polarization reversal and detail the applications of ferroelectric synaptic devices in artificial neural networks. Subsequently, we introduce the latest developments in ferroelectrics-based in-memory and in-sensor computing. Finally, we review recent works on hafnium-based ferroelectric memory devices with CMOS process compatibility and give a perspective for future developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tailoring the degree of structural disorder in Ge-Sb-Te alloys is important for the development of non-volatile phase-change memory and neuro-inspired computing. Upon crystallization from the amorphous phase, these alloys form a cubic rocksalt-like structure with a high content of intrinsic vacancies. Further thermal annealing results in a gradual structural transition towards a layered structure and an insulator-to-metal transition. In this work, we elucidate the atomic-level details of the structural transition in crystalline GeSb2 Te4 by in situ highresolution transmission electron microscopy experiments and ab initio density functional theory calculations, providing a comprehensive real-time and real-space view of the vacancy ordering process. We also discuss the impact of vacancy ordering on altering the electronic and optical properties of GeSb2 Te4, which is relevant to multilevel storage applications. The phase evolution paths in Ge-Sb-Te alloys and Sb2 Te3 are illustrated using a summary diagram, which serves as a guide for designing phase-change memory devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Anxiety and depression commonly afflict colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery patients, but their impact on survival remains uncertain. Methods: We systematically reviewed three databases for relevant articles. Data included study and patient characteristics, cancer type, anxiety/depression measures, timing, and prevalence. Meta-analyses, using common- or random-effects models, assessed associations. Subgroup analyses based on follow-up duration and publication bias assessment were performed. Results: We analyzed seven cohort studies, examining anxiety and depression’s impact on mortality in colorectal cancer patients. Samples ranged from 215 to 567 for anxiety and 215 to 46 710 for depression. Using common- or random-effects models based on heterogeneity, anxiety and depression showed increased mortality risk. Pooled odds ratio (OR) for anxiety was 1.07 (95% CI [confidence interval] 1.05–1.10), depression’s OR was 2.76 (95% CI 1.25–6.11; random-effects). Pooled hazard ratio (HR) for anxiety was 1.33 (95% CI 1.28–1.37; common-effects) and 1.30 (95% CI 1.19–1.43; random-effects). HRs for depression were 1.45 (95% CI 1.30–1.61; random-effects) and 1.28 (95% CI 1.25–1.32; commoneffects). Subgroup analyses revealed stronger effects on mortality in a shorter follow-up (0–5 years) compared to a longer follow-up (5–28 years). Conclusion: This meta-analysis shows that anxiety and depression are linked to increased mortality in patients with CRC. The findings suggested that screening and treating mental distress improve survival and quality of life in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ClC is the main family of natural chloride channel proteins that transport Cl- across the cell membrane with high selectivity. The chloride transport and selectivity are determined by the hourglass-shaped pore and the filter located in the central and narrow region of the pore. Artificial unimolecular channel that mimics both the shape and function of the ClC selective pore is attractive, because it could provide simple molecular model to probe the intriguing mechanism and structure-function relevance of ClC. Here we elaborated upon the concept of molecular hourglass plus anion-π interactions for this purpose. The concept was validated by experimental results of molecular hourglasses using shape-persistent 1,3-alternate tetraoxacalix[2]arene[2]triazine as the central macrocyclic skeleton to control the conductance and selectivity, and anion-p interactions as the driving force to facilitate the chloride dehydration and movement along the channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the past decade, single nucleotide variants (SNVs) have been identifed as having a signifcant relationship with the development and treatment of diseases. Among them, prioritizing missense variants for further functional impact investigation is an essential challenge in the study of common disease and cancer. Although several computational methods have been developed to predict the functional impacts of variants, the predictive ability of these methods is still insufcient in the Mendelian and cancer missense variants. Results: We present a novel prediction method called the disease-related variant annotation (DVA) method that predicts the efect of missense variants based on a comprehensive feature set of variants, notably, the allele frequency and protein–protein interaction network feature based on graph embedding. Benchmarked against datasets of single nucleotide missense variants, the DVA method outperforms the stateof-the-art methods by up to 0.473 in the area under receiver operating characteristic curve. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately predict the functional impact of single nucleotide missense variants and substantially outperforms existing methods. Conclusions: DVA is an efective framework for identifying the functional impact of disease missense variants based on a comprehensive feature set. Based on diferent datasets, DVA shows its generalization ability and robustness, and it also provides innovative ideas for the study of the functional mechanism and impact of SNVs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A large number of nanopores and complex fracture structures in shale reservoirs results in multi-scale flow of oil. With the development of shale oil reservoirs, the permeability of multi-scale media undergoes changes due to stress sensitivity, which plays a crucial role in controlling pressure propagation and oil flow. This paper proposes a multi-scale coupled flow mathematical model of matrix nanopores, induced fractures, and hydraulic fractures. In this model, the micro-scale effects of shale oil flow in fractal nanopores, fractal induced fracture network, and stress sensitivity of multi-scale media are considered. We solved the model iteratively using Pedrosa transform, semi-analytic Segmented Bessel function, Laplace transform. The results of this model exhibit good agreement with the numerical solution and field production data, confirming the high accuracy of the model. As well, the influence of stress sensitivity on permeability, pressure and production is analyzed. It is shown that the permeability and production decrease significantly when induced fractures are weakly supported. Closed induced fractures can inhibit interporosity flow in the stimulated reservoir volume (SRV). It has been shown in sensitivity analysis that hydraulic fractures are beneficial to early production, and induced fractures in SRV are beneficial to middle production. The model can characterize multi-scale flow characteristics of shale oil, providing theoretical guidance for rapid productivity evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, fractional slot concentrated winding permanent magnet synchronous motors (FSCW PMSMs) have become a hotspot in the research field. Due to the unique inductance characteristics of the FSCW PMSM, a fast and accurate calculation of the d?q-axis inductance and saliency ratio is necessary. In this paper, a method is proposed to calculate the d?q-axis reactance of the FSCW SPMSM, which constructs the equivalent magnetic circuit model of the d?q-axis armature reaction flux separately, and the saliency ratio characteristics of the FSCW SPMSM were demonstrated. In addition, to meet the high requirements of the modern industries, especially in servo systems, accurate consideration of the effect of stator resistance on torque and electromagnetic performance is important and more applicable. According to the relationship between the vector parameter, the explicit expression of the d?q-axis currents that consider the stator resistance is obtained, and the prediction of load angle at maximum electromagnetic torque is achieved. Then, combined with the finite element method, the influence mechanism of stator resistance on the motor steady-state performance is revealed. Finally, the experimental data are compared with the calculation data, and the correctness of the models and analysis was verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Several studies have examined the prognostic significance of IDH1/2 mutation, 1p/19q codeletion and MGMT promoter methylation in lower-grade gliomas but most of these used the 2007 fourth edition of the WHO classification. We evaluate prognostic significance of these indicators in the 2016 WHO updated fourth edition of CNS tumor classification. Methods: A total of 180 intracranial glioma patients diagnosed according WHO 2016 edition between December 2016 and December 2018 Jinling Hospital (Nanjing, China) were reviewed retrospectively. We performed survival analysis on 109 patients with complete molecular pathology and follow-up data. Results: Histologically, 52 were diagnosed as astrocytoma (WHO grade II and III), 17 as oligodendrogliomas (WHO grade II and III) and 40 as GBMs. At last follow-up, 50.5% patients had experienced tumor progression and 34.9% had died. Among grade II and III cases 36.2% experienced tumor progression and 27.5% died. In univariate Kaplan-Meier analysis, multifocal tumor, EGFR mutation or amplification, PIK3CA mutation and IDHwt/TERTpwt group were associated with shorter PFS (p < 0.001, p = 0.003, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, respectively) and OS (p = 0.010, p = 0.020, p = 0.018, p < 0.001, respectively) as were older age (≥55 years), multifocal tumor, IDH1/2 wild type, 1p/19q non-codeletion and negative methylation in the MGMT promoter region. A Cox proportional hazards model was created demonstrating that single tumor (HR = 0.180, p = 0.04), MGMTp methylation (HR = 0.095, p = 0.003) and chemoradiotherapy (HR = 0.006, p = 0.002) were independent prognostic factors for OS. Conclusions: Beyond histological classification as well as IDH1/2 mutation, 1p/19q codeletion status, we could incorporate IDH1/2mt combined with TERTpmt, EGFR mutation or amplification and PIK3CA mutation into the diagnostic criteria for DLGGs to supplement WHO 2016 pathological criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a novel Fenton reaction system which was called MHACF-MIL-100(Fe) was constructed. In this system, based on active hydrogen-accelerated FeIII reduction, the hydroxyl radical was continuously produced with a trace amount of total iron. The MIL-100(Fe) modified with the nano-Pd0 particle could be used to activate the H2. Under normal temperature and pressure, the target organic pollutants, such as sulfamethazine and 4-chloro phenol, could be degraded fast. In the condition of initial aqueous solution pH 3, 2 g L-1 dosage of MIL-100(Fe) catalyst loaded with nano-Pd0, Pd/MIL-100(Fe), 20 mM 30 wt% hydrogen peroxide, 25 µM ferrous chloride and 60 mL H2 min-1, 97.8% of sulfamethazine and 100% 4-chloro phenol could be degraded within only 5 min, respectively. Although the surface of the catalyst exhibited more obvious defects and roughness after 5 consecutive destructive experiment cycles, its basic structure could be maintained. The removal efficiency could be maintained at least more than 79% (sulfamethazine) and 94% (4-chloro phenol). That may be mainly attributed to the degradation of hydroxyl radical. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few decades, many researchers have focused their research interests on nanocomposite hydrogel fibers (NHFs). These practitioners have developed and optimized techniques for preparing nanofiber membranes such as the template method, microfluidic spinning, electrospinning, wet spinning and three-dimensional printing (3D printing). NHFs have important applications in wearable monitoring, diagnosis and nursing due to their various excellent properties (such as high-water content, porous morphology, flexibility, braiding and rich active functional groups). In this paper, the latest progress of NHFs in pose monitoring, continuous monitoring of physiological indicators, diagnosis, wearables, nursing, drug delivery and dressings are reviewed. This paper also aims to review their key operational parameters, advantages and disadvantages of NHFs in the above fields, including sensitivity, working range and other special properties. Specifically, NHFs can be used for continuous monitoring of biological postures (such as gestures) or physiological indicators (such as blood sugar) in vitro and in vivo. NHFs also can be used for long-term monitoring of related indicators in the wearable field. NHFs can be used in tissue engineering and drug delivery. Finally, we look forward to the development prospects, challenges and opportunities of the next generation of NHFs. We confirm that the emergence of NHFs in the field of diagnosis and treatment has opened up a new vision for human health. Researchers have optimized the template method, microfluidic spinning, electrospinning, wet spinning and 3D printing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the biological activity of essential oils (EOs) and their main components (caryophyllene and cuminol) against Tribolium castaneum larvae and Lasioderma serricorne adults. EOs were extracted from both flowers and leaves of Elsholtzia stauntoni. The results indicated that the EOs derived from both flowers and leaves, as well as their main components (caryophyllene and cuminol), exhibited contact activities with LD50 values of 35.11, 43.66, 15.44, and 26.05 µg/larva, respectively, against T. castaneum larvae. Moreover, they demonstrated obvious contact toxicities with LD50 values of 14.15, 11.18, 17.81, and 13.91 µg/adult, respectively, against L. serricorne adults. Additionally, EOs from both flowers and leaves exhibited fumigant activities against T. castaneum larvae (LC50 = 24.42 and 62.54 mg/L) and L. serricorne adults (LC50 = 15.26 and 24.29 mg/L). Furthermore, the EOs of flowers and leaves and their main components (caryophyllene and cuminol) remained significantly repellency to T. castaneum larvae and L. serricorne adults within the testing concentration range of 78.63-15.83 nL/cm2 after 12 h of exposure. These findings suggested that the EO from E. stauntoni and its two major components could potentially be developed as a natural insecticide for controlling T. castaneum larvae and L. serricorne adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately estimating the yield is one of the most important research projects for orchard management. Growers need to estimate the yield of trees at an early stage to make smart decisions for field management. However, methods to predict the yield at the individual tree level are currently not available because of the complexity and variability of each tree. To improve the accuracy of yield prediction, the authors evaluate the performance of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing system and machine learning (ML) approaches for tree-level pomegranate yield estimation. A lightweight multispectral camera was mounted on the UAV platform to acquire high-resolution images. Eight features were extracted from the UAV images, including the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), the green normalized vegetation index (GNDVI), the red-edge normalized difference vegetation index (NDVIre), red-edge triangulated vegetation index (RTVIcore), individual tree canopy size, the modified triangular vegetation index (MTVI2), the chlorophyll index-green (CIg), and the chlorophyll index-rededge (CIre). Correlation coefficients (R2 ) were calculated between these vegetation indices and tree yield. Classic machine learning approaches were applied with the extracted features to predict the yield at the individual tree level. Results showed that the decision tree classifier had the best prediction performance, with an accuracy of 85%. The study demonstrated the potential of using UAV-based remote sensing methods, coupled with ML algorithms, for pomegranate yield estimation. Predicting the yield at the individual tree level will enable the stakeholders to manage the orchard at different scales, thus improving field management efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metformin is used by women during pregnancy to manage diabetes and crosses the placenta, yet its effects on the fetus are unclear. We show that the liver is a site of metformin action in fetal sheep and macaques, given relatively abundant OCT1 transporter expression and hepatic uptake following metformin infusion into fetal sheep. To determine the effects of metformin action, we performed studies in primary hepatocytes from fetal sheep, fetal macaques, and juvenile macaques. Metformin increases AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, decreases mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling, and decreases glucose production in fetal and juvenile hepatocytes. Metformin also decreases oxygen consumption in fetal hepatocytes. Unique to fetal hepatocytes, metformin activates stress pathways (e.g., increased PGC1A gene expression, NRF-2 protein abundance, and phosphorylation of eIF2α and CREB proteins) alongside perturbations in hepatokine expression (e.g., increased growth/differentiation factor 15 [GDF15] and fibroblast growth factor 21 [FGF21] expression and decreased insulin-like growth factor 2 [IGF2] expression). Similarly, in liver tissue from sheep fetuses infused with metformin in vivo, AMPK phosphorylation, NRF-2 protein, and PGC1A expression are increased. These results demonstrate disruption of signaling and metabolism, induction of stress, and alterations in hepatokine expression in association with metformin exposure in fetal hepatocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Integrating multiple functions in a single compound is still attractive and necessary to meet the demand of device miniaturization. In this work, we systemically modulate multifunctional properties in the 0.74BiFeO3–0.26(Ba0:85Ca0:15)TiO3–x wt. % MnO2 solid solution with the addition of MnO2. A highly rectangular and saturated polarization–hysteresis (P–E) loop is obtained with a large remanent polarization Pr of 49.5 μC/cm² as x = 0:8. Furthermore, the piezoelectric coefficient d33 also obviously improved with an optimized d33 = 137 pC/N by the introduction of MnO2 due to the grain size effect, the improvement of insulation, and relaxation regulation. With the addition of MnO2, the remanent magnetization Mr increases monotonically because of the enhanced exchange interactions between Fe2+and Fe3+. The results may provide an effective way to explore promising multifunctional materials in BiFeO3-based ceramics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key limiting factor of successful axon regeneration is the intrinsic regenerative ability in both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS). Previous studies have identified intrinsic regenerative ability regulators that act on gene expression in injured neurons. However, it is less known whether RNA modifications play a role in this process. Here, we systematically screened the functions of all common m6A modification-related enzymes in axon regeneration and report ALKBH5, an evolutionarily conserved RNA m6A demethylase, as a regulator of axonal regeneration in rodents. In PNS, knockdown of ALKBH5 enhanced sensory axonal regeneration, whereas overexpressing ALKBH5 impaired axonal regeneration in an m6A-dependent manner. Mechanistically, ALKBH5 increased the stability of Lpin2 mRNA and thus limited regenerative growth associated lipid metabolism in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Moreover, in CNS, knockdown of ALKBH5 enhanced the survival and axonal regeneration of retinal ganglion cells after optic nerve injury. Together, our results suggest a novel mechanism regulating axon regeneration and point ALKBH5 as a potential target for promoting axon regeneration in both PNS and CNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The selection of a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant site is the core issue that determines whether the WTE project can effectively treat municipal solid waste, reduce environmental pollution, and promote the development of a circular economy, and is often determined through group decision-making. The complexity of this group decision problem makes the opinions of decision makers often with uncertainty. The single-valued neutrosophic set (SVNS) can reduce the loss of information that contains uncertainty by quantitatively describing the information through three functions. In addition, existing studies on group decision-making for WTE plant siting suffer from the problem that decision maker weights do not change in concert with those decision makers' decision information. Therefore, this study proposes a group decision-making method based on SVNSs. First, a group consensus strategy is proposed to improve group consensus by removing the evaluation value of the corresponding solution for decision makers who do not reach consensus and are unwilling to modify their preferences. Second, a decision maker weight determination and adjustment method is proposed to readjust the decision maker weights from the solution level according to their respective consensus degree when the decision makers' preference information changes. This method enables the decision makers' preferences and weights to be changed jointly. An illustrative example and a comparative analysis of WTE plant siting decisions demonstrate the feasibility and superiority of the method. The experimental results show that the method is effective in helping decision makers to select the optimal WTE plant site more accurately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context • Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic, inflammatory, rheumatic diseases of which axial SpA and peripheral SpA are the two main types. Patients that predominantly have manifestations of axSpA may have additional peripheral-arthritis symptoms, and vice versa. For these hard-to-diagnose SpA patients, symptoms can be nonspecific and difficult to identify, making it easy to miss a diagnosis or misdiagnosis patients, resulting in disability. Objective • The study intended to evaluate the value of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) led by the joint surgeons to rapidly identify spondyloarthritis (SpA). Design • The research team designed a controlled study that analyzed the clinical data of patients with spondyloarthritis. Setting • The study was conducted in the Department of Joint Surgery at Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital in Jinan, China. Participants • Participants were 113 SpA patients at the hospital between January 2019 and January 2020. Intervention • The research team divided participants into an intervention group, the MDT group that used that model to diagnose 83 participants and the control group with 30 participants, for whom diagnoses occurred using the conventional diagnostic model. Outcome Measures • The research team collected data on participants’ number of visits and number of departments visited as well as determined the amount of time that elapsed before a diagnosis occurred. The team also measured C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the scores on the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) at baseline and after 3 months and 6 months treatment. Results • In the MDT group, diagnoses included: (1) axial SpA (axSpA)—73 participants, and (2) peripheral SpA— 10 participants, including three with reactive arthritis, two with uveitis, and five with psoriatic arthritis. Eight participants in that group were HLA-B27 positive, and 14 had complications from a latent tuberculosis infection. In the control group, diagnoses included: (1) axSpA—25 participants; and (2) peripheral SpA—5 participants, including three with psoriatic arthritis and two with reactive arthritis. Six participants in that group were HLAB27 positive and four had complications from a latent tuberculosis infection. The number of visits, number of departments visited, and time to diagnosis in the MDT group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<.001). After three and six months of treatment, the MDT group’s CRP, ESR, BASDAI, and BASFI were significantly lower than those at baseline (P<.001). Conclusions • The MDT model of spondyloarthritis led by joint surgeons was accurate and efficient, allowing the medical personnel to quickly identify and intervene in SpA and provide effective treatment for patients. It’s a diagnosis and treatment model worthy of promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the main causes of chronic renal failure, which is also the final cause of mortality in ~30% of diabetic patients. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6-penta-O-galloyl-ß-D-glucose (PGG) from Galla rhois has anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and angiogenesis effects. The present study aimed to explore the protective effects on diabetic nephropathy rats by alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress and the underlying mechanism. High-fat diet/STZ induced rats and high glucose (HG) induced podocytes (MPC5) were used to simulate the DN in vivo and in vitro. The blood glucose level was measured using a blood glucose meter and renal function was determined by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The pathological changes and renal fibrosis were observed through hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff and Masson staining. The expression of nephrin in tissues, fibrosis-related proteins in tissues, MAPK/NF-B and ERK/nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway related proteins in tissues and apoptosis related proteins in tissues and podocytes was detected by western blotting. The inflammatory response and oxidative stress in tissues and podocytes were determined by respective commercial kits and apoptosis in tissues and podocytes was detected by TUNEL assay. The viability of podocytes treated with PGG with or without HG was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. As a result, the blood glucose level, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio, blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in blood were all increased and nephrin expression was decreased. The pathological changes and renal fibrosis were aggravated and the inflammation, oxidative stress and apoptosis in renal tissues were enhanced. The above effects were reversed by PGG treatment dose-dependently. MAPK/NF-B and ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways were activated in DN rats and were suppressed by PGG treatment. The reduced viability and increased apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in MPC5 cells were shown in HG induction, which was reversed by PGG treatment. However, P79350 (p38 agonist) and LM22B-10 (ERK1/2 agonist) weakened the effect of PGG. In conclusion, PGG protects against DN kidney injury by alleviating inflammation and oxidative stress by suppressing the MAPK/NF-B and ERK/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the learning curve and complications of unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) and lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of 197 consecutive patients who received UBE unilateral laminotomy bilateral decompression (UBE-ULBD) or lumbar discectomy (UBE-LD) surgery, including 107 males and 90 females with an average age of 64.83 ± 14.29 years. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) and risk-adjusted cumulative sum analysis (RA-CUSUM) were used to evaluate the learning curve, with the occurrence of complications defined as surgical failure, and variables of different phase of the learning curve were compared. Results: The cutoff point of learning curve of UBE surgery was 54 cases according to CUSUM analysis. The learning curve of UBE-ULBD and UBE-LD were divided into 3 phases. The first cutoff points were 31 and 12 cases, and the second cutoff point were 67 and 32 cases respectively. With the progress of the learning curve, the operation time and postoperative hospital stays decreased. The visual analogue scale and Oswestry Disability Index at the last follow-up were significantly lower than that before surgery. The incidence of surgical failure was 6.11% and began to decrease after the 89th case based on RA-CUSUM analysis. The surgical failure rate decreased from 10.11% to 2.78 after the 89th case with significant different. Conclusion: UBE surgery is effective in the treatment of LDH and LSS with low incidence of complications. But a learning curve of at least 54 cases still required for mastering UBE surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As relational integration performance can be used to predict reasoning ability, the present study aimed to provide electrophysiological evidence for numerical inductive reasoning. Number series with two levels of relational complexity were utilized, including simple and hierarchical problems (such as “15–16-17” versus “15–16-18”). Two tasks were adopted: a relational integration task that required to determine whether the numerical relations were changed across numbers; a number series task that required to determine whether a hidden rule was acquired (Experiment 1) or to predict the subsequent number (Experiment 2), whose phases were divided as rule searching, rule discovery, and rule following. The event-related potential (ERP) results of both experiments indicated that, in contrast to simple problems, hierarchical problems triggered enhanced N400 and late negative component (LNC), reflecting numerical fact retrieval, and generalizing novel hypotheses about the hidden rules by integrating adjacent numerical relations, respectively; relational integration showed similar N400 and LNC activation patterns to rule discovery (Experiment 1) or rule searching (Experiment 2). Additionally, the N400 and LNC elicited by relational integration showed strong positive correlations and even were able to predict the ones triggered by rule discovery (Experiment 1) or rule searching (Experiment 2). Therefore, the results supported the role of relational integration in numerical inductive reasoning and thereby in intelligence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a case study by Baris Feldman et al. describing siblings with biallelic loss-of-function variants in the GORIN gene, associated with left atrial cardiomyopathy, hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and fibrosis. Exome sequencing of a large Pakistani cohort revealed additional mutations in the GORIN gene linked to similar cardiovascular phenotypes.

A Dirichlet k-partition of a domain is a collection of k pairwise disjoint open subsets such that the sum of their first Laplace--Dirichlet eigenvalues is minimal. In this paper, we propose a new relaxation of the problem by introducing auxiliary indicator functions of domains and develop a simple and efficient diffusion generated method to compute Dirichlet k-partitions for arbitrary domains. The method only alternates three steps: (1) convolution, (2) thresholding, and (3) projection. The method is simple, easy to implement, and insensitive to initial guesses and can be effectively applied to arbitrary domains without any special discretization. At each iteration, the computational complexity is linear in the discretization of the computational domain. Moreover, we theoretically prove the energy decaying property of the method. Experiments are performed to show the accuracy of approximation, efficiency, and unconditional stability of the algorithm. We apply the proposed algorithms on both 2- and 3-dimensional flat tori, triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, disk, three-fold star, five-fold star, cube, ball, and tetrahedron domains to compute Dirichlet k-partitions for different k to show the effectiveness of the proposed method. Compared to previous work with reported computational time, the proposed method achieves hundreds of times acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The slinger is an important configuration of an aeroengine combustion chamber. It is well matched to smaller gas turbines that are more sensitive to cost than larger and more sophisticated models. The slinger combustor is inherently low cost itself, by eliminating fuel injectors and much of the fuel tubing and manifolding and also reducing costs in the requirements of the main fuel pump by operating at fuel delta pressures significantly lower than conventional fuel systems. The slinger's inherent drawbacks of increased combustion liner surface area and less atomization are less of a concern in a lower temperature, lower cost small turbines. The slinger's internal flow is of great significance to fuel atomization. This paper conducts experiments and numerical simulations on the slinger fuel injector. Numerical analysis and high-speed photography of the fuel slinger were applied to investigate the film flow pattern inside the slinger and the liquid phase distribution inside the combustion chamber to predict the flow field in an aeroengine combustion chamber. The transient Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes method, the volume of fluid method, and the discrete phase method were adopted in the simulation, and a high-speed camera and the rotational rig were used to perform the experiments. The nonaxisymmetric flow was present in the slinger and the combustor space. In the simulation results, the total mass-flow rate varies with time. Each hole's mass-flow rate value in the slinger is also different at the same time. The Sauter mean diameter (SMD) difference for each injection orifice is relatively small compared with the SMD difference caused by a rotation rate. The spatial distribution of the spray is also uneven as shown in the result of different single discharge channels' mass-flow rates. The experimental photos confirmed the simulation outcomes. The general theoretical analysis was made that these nonaxisymmetric phenomena were driven by the combined action of centrifugal force, surface tension, and instability phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To isolate essential oil from the aerial parts of Scutellaria baicalensis using GS-MS, and to assess its insect-killing effect against booklice (Liposcelis bostrychophila). Methods: The oil from the aerial parts of S. baicalensis was hydro-distilled and subjected to gas chromatographic and mass spectroscopic (GC-MS) techniques. The components of the oil with insectkilling potentials were fractionated through bioactivity-guided isolation, and the isolated oil and its components were screened for their toxic effects on booklice. Results: A total of 31 components were obtained, with eugenol as the most abundant. When used to fumigate S. baicalensis, the oil and two of its constituents (myristicin and eugenol) exerted appreciable toxic effects. Moreover, the oil and its isolates manifested contact toxicity against booklice. Conclusion: These findings indicate the insecticidal benefits of the essential oil and its components against Liposcelis bostrychophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : The research aimed to establish qualitative and quantitative detection methods of Haleniae Herba, and provide basis for improving its quality standard. Methods: Using thin-layer chromatography ( TLC), qualitative identification of Haleniae Herba was conducted. Using high-performance liquid chromatography luteolin content of Haleniae Herba was determined. Results: TLC identification method had good specificity, with clear spots and good degree of separation, and reference medicinal material of Haleniae Herba was prepared. Content determination results displayed that luteolin had good linear relationship in the range of 0.088 -1.760 g. The RRSD values of precision, repeatability, stability and sample recovery of the instrument met the requirements. Conclusions: The established method is simple and reproducible, and can be used for the quality control of Haleniae Herba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intricate spatial configurations of brain networks offer essential insights into understanding the specific patterns of brain abnormalities and the underlying biological mechanisms associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), normal aging, and other neurodegenerative disorders. This study investigated alterations in the topographical structure of the brain related to aging and neurodegenerative diseases by analyzing brain gradients derived from structural MRI data across multiple cohorts (n = 7323). The analysis identified distinct gradient patterns in AD, aging, and other neurodegenerative conditions. Gene enrichment analysis indicated that inorganic ion transmembrane transport was the most significant term in normal aging, while chemical synaptic transmission is a common enrichment term across various neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, the findings show that each disorder exhibits unique dysfunctional neurophysiological characteristics. These insights are pivotal for elucidating the distinct biological mechanisms underlying AD, thereby enhancing our understanding of its unique clinical phenotypes in contrast to normal aging and other neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fapy•dG (N6-(2-deoxy-α,β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2,6-diamino-4-hydroxy-5-formamidopyrimidine) and 8-OxodGuo (8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine) are major products of 2′-deoxyguanosine oxidation. Fapy•dG is unusual in that it exists as a dynamic mixture of anomers. Much less is known about the effects of Fapy•dG than 8-OxodGuo on transcriptional bypass. The data presented here indicate that T7 RNA polymerase (T7 RNAP) bypass of Fapy•dG is more complex than that of 8-OxodGuo. Primer-dependent transcriptional bypass of Fapy•dG by T7 RNAP is hindered compared to 2′-deoxyguanosine. T7 RNAP incorporates cytidine opposite Fapy•dG in a miniscaffold at least 13-fold more rapidly than A, G, or U. Fitting of reaction data indicates that Fapy•dG anomers are kinetically distinguishable. Extension of a nascent transcript past Fapy•dG is weakly dependent on the nucleotide opposite the lesion. The rate constants describing extension past fast- or slow-reacting base pairs vary less than twofold as a function of the nucleotide opposite the lesion. Promoter-dependent T7 RNAP bypass of Fapy•dG and 8-OxodGuo was carried out side by side. 8-OxodGuo bypass results in >55% A opposite it. When the shuttle vector contains a Fapy•dG:dA base pair, as high as 20% point mutations and 9% single-nucleotide deletions are produced upon Fapy•dG bypass. Error-prone bypass of a Fapy•dG:dC base pair accounts for ∼9% of the transcripts. Transcriptional bypass mutation frequencies of Fapy•dG and 8-OxodGuo measured in RNA products are comparable to or greater than replication errors, suggesting that these lesions could contribute to mutations significantly through transcription. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new 13-oxomilbemycins, 13-oxomilbemycin β3 (1) and 25-ethyl-13-oxomilbemycin β3 (2), were isolated from the broth of a NTG-induced mutation strain of Streptomyces avermitilis AVE-H39. The structures of 1 and 2 were determined based on MS and extensive NMR analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 possessed moderate nematocidal activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Laparoscopic splenectomy and esophagogastric devascularization (LSED) is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of esophageal-fundic variceal bleeding with portal hypertension (PHT) in China, and its high safety and minimal trauma have been proven. Fast-track (FT) surgery improves patient recovery and decreases postoperative complications. Aim: To determine whether LSED with fast-track principles can provide better outcomes than traditional treatment for patients with PHT. Material and methods: A total of 140 patients who underwent LSED with either traditional treatment or fast-track principles in our department were retrospectively analyzed. The postoperative outcomes, complications, inflammatory mediators, portal vein thrombosis (PVT) and recurrent esophagogastric variceal bleeding rate were recorded. Results: No significant differences were found in the patients’ preoperative characteristics. The FT group had better outcomes than the non-FT group with respect to gastrointestinal function recovery, resumption of oral intake, and postoperative hospitalization. The incidence of postoperative complications, including pneumonia, severe ascites, and urinary tract infection, were significantly lower in the FT than the non-FT group. The C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 concentrations and the incidence of PVT were significantly lower in the FT than the non-FT group. The overall recurrent bleeding rate is 11.5% and no significant difference was found between the two groups in the follow-up period. Conclusions: LSED with fast-track principles was superior to LSED with traditional treatment in terms of postoperative outcomes, complications, postoperative inflammatory reactions, and the incidence of PVT. This strategy is safe and effective for the treatment of PHT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of the energy evolution and distribution of rock during deformation and failure were studied based on thermal mechanical coupling tests completed by Min Ming at his Master's thesis in 2019. Dissipated energy is greater than elastic energy at the crack closure stage, while elastic energy is dominant at the linear elastic stage. At the post-peak failure stage, elastic energy is released rapidly before 800 °C and released slowly at 1000 °C. A comprehensive evaluation index to examine the influence of temperature on rock strength and deformation ability was proposed from the perspective of elastic energy accumulation ability. The negative effect of temperature on the strength of the rock sample is weaker than that on the elastic modulus before 400 °C. The negative effect of temperature on the strength of the rock sample is stronger than that on the elastic modulus after 600 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fetal hypoxemia decreases insulin and increases cortisol and norepinephrine concentrations and may restrict growth by decreasing glucose utilization and altering substrate oxidation. Specifically, we hypothesized that hypoxemia would decrease fetal glucose oxidation and increase lactate and pyruvate production. We tested this by measuring whole body glucose oxidation and lactate production, and molecular pathways in liver, muscle, adipose, and pancreas tissues of fetuses exposed to maternal hypoxemia for 9 days (HOX) compared with control fetal sheep (CON) in late gestation. Fetuses with more severe hypoxemia had lower whole body glucose oxidation rates, and HOX fetuses had increased lactate production from glucose. In muscle and adipose tissue, expression of the glucose transporter GLUT4 was decreased. In muscle, pyruvate kinase (PKM) and lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) expression was decreased. In adipose tissue, LDHA and lactate transporter (MCT1) expression was increased. In liver, there was decreased gene expression of PKLR and MPC2 and phosphorylation of PDH, and increased LDHA gene and LDH protein abundance. LDH activity, however, was decreased only in HOX skeletal muscle. There were no differences in basal insulin signaling across tissues, nor differences in pancreatic tissue insulin content, b-cell area, or genes regulating b-cell function. Collectively, these results demonstrate coordinated metabolic responses across tissues in the hypoxemic fetus that limit glucose oxidation and increase lactate and pyruvate production. These responses may be mediated by hypoxemiainduced endocrine responses including increased norepinephrine and cortisol, which inhibit pancreatic insulin secretion resulting in lower insulin concentrations and decreased stimulation of glucose utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shandong and Fujian are two important provinces regarding the development of the seaweed industry, which shared three-fourths of the national seaweed yield in the year 2020. The present study has analyzed the overall situation of the seaweed industry in Shandong and Fujian provinces by comparing annual output, farming area, and species structure. The current status of Laminaria japonica cultivation in two provinces is also compared to the production process, industrial organization, progress, and innovation. On this foundation, the following development strategies are proposed for the seaweed industry in Shandong Province: (1) change the mindset based on the present industrial basis, (2) retain and transform innovative achievements, (3) enhance the services of associations and organizations and (4) construct brands based on current market share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the 1980s, Shandong Province took the lead in establishing breakthrough industrialized seedling raising and breeding technologies for Apostichopus japonicus and successfully led the 'fifth wave of mariculture' in China. In 2008, the experiment of 'raising sea cucumber from north to south' proved successful, and sea cucumber culture gradually radiated and extended to Fujian, Jiangsu, Guangdong, and Zhejiang Provinces in southern China. The total output of sea cucumber culture in Shandong Province accounts for more than 70% of the market in China, and the sea cucumber industry is now a pillar of the fishery economy in Shandong Province. This paper systematically introduces the development status of the sea cucumber breeding industry in Shandong Province in recent ten years, summarizes the current problems and challenges, and puts forwards development suggestions; this guidance has significance for the healthy and sustainable development of the sea cucumber breeding industry in both Shandong Province and the whole country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) is a set of perioperative interventions to alleviate patients' stress response and complications, and to promote rehabilitation. Data on its implementation in renal cell carcinoma treated by laparoscopic partial nephrectomy are lacking. Aim: To evaluate the prospect of application of ERAS in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy based on real-world data. Material and methods: Sixty patients with T1a staging renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were randomly classified as the ERAS group (31 patients) or traditional treatment group (29 patients). Relevant endpoints including postoperative length of stay, ambulation, fart, oral intake, pain at different movement and time points, postoperative nausea and vomiting, complications as well as hospitalization expenses in the two groups were analyzed and compared. Results: The ERAS optimization group presented a shorter time of first-time ambulation (p = 0.008), less pain at rest and ankle movement (p < 0.05), and less feeling of nausea 2 and 4 h after surgery (p = 0.006 and 0.027, respectively). (Although the differences in hospitalization expenses, postoperative length of stay, and complications were not reached in our study (p > 0.05), they were significantly lower than those reported in other literature. Conclusions: The idea of ERAS has had an imperceptible influence on clinical strategy making for over 20 years. This study shows that it could alleviate postoperative pain both at rest and movement, enable earlier walking, and reduce postoperative nausea in patients who have undergone laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. However, its efficacy is sometimes over-extended when compared to extreme conserative. Also, specific ERAS protocols and large-sample clinical trials are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dissociation dynamics of the temporary negative ions of ethanol and acetaldehyde formed by the low-energy electron attachments is investigated by using the anion velocity map imaging technique and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The momentum images of the dominant fragments O-/OH- and CH3- are recorded, indicating the low kinetic energies of O-/OH- for ethanol while the low and high kinetic energy distributions of O- ions for acetaldehyde. The CH3- image for acetaldehyde also shows the low kinetic energy. With help of the dynamics simulations, the fragmentation processes are qualitatively clarified. A new cascade dissociation pathway to produce the slow O- ion via the dehydrogenated intermediate, CH3CHO- (acetaldehyde anion), is proposed for the dissociative electron attachment to ethanol. After the electron attachment to acetaldehyde molecule, the slow CH3- is produced quickly in the two-body dissociation with the internal energy redistributions in different aspects before bond cleavages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the mechanical properties and thermal cracking characteristics of rock under thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling in detail is of great importance for the safe excavation and stability of deep rock engineering. The mechanical properties and thermal cracking characteristics of granite under burial depths of 1000 m (confining pressure of 25 MPa) and 1600 m (confining pressure of 40 MPa) at a temperature of 110 °C and a pore water pressure of 10 MPa were studied.The results show that the elastic modulus decreases with increasing temperature under a confining pressure of 25 MPa, whereas under a confining pressure of 40 MPa, the elastic modulus increases with increasing temperature. As the pore water pressure increases, the elastic modulus decreases slightly. Poisson’s ratio increases with increasing temperature below 40 ℃ but decreases from 50-110 °C. Poisson’s ratio increases as pore water pressure increases. During the heating process, acoustic emission activity is first detected at 30-40 °C and is relatively stable from 40-90 °C. The acoustic emission activity increases sharply at 90-110 °C, and the thermal cracking threshold of granite under thermo-hydro-mechanical coupling is approximately 95 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLTs) are a significant challenge for foot and ankle specialists, which could cause pain and decrease patient function. Researchers canuse the findings of this study to shape future directions for research by exploring global trends and hotspots in OLT. Methods: Web of Science Core Collection was used to retrieveliterature related to OLT between 2004 and 2021. This report covers the current stateof OLTs, such as publications, journals, trends, hotspots, and the performances of relevant countries, institutions and authors. The co-citation analysis, the coauthorship analysis, thecooccurrence analysis, and the bibliographic coupling analysis were conducted withtheBibliometrix R package, VOSviewer v1.6.10.0, and CiteSpace 5.8.R3. Results: Duringan18-year review, 717 articles and 76 review articles on OLT published from2004 to2021were reviewed. The USA has made the largest contribution to the OLT-related literature, anda significant contribution has been made by Kennedy JG (48/6.05%) and van DijkCN(30/3.78%). In terms of total link strength, Foot & Ankle International was the leadingjournal. Analysis showed that the global research hotspots of OLTs focused onthepathogenesis, diagnosis, clinical research, and surgical treatment of OLT. It wouldbesignificant to pay close attention to future research on osteochondral autograft transplantation and management, surgery, multidisciplinary integration and mechanisms of OLT, and its related diseases. Conclusions: The study provides information about thecurrent status and hotspots of research in the domain of OLT over the past 18 years that will assist researchers in identifying potential perspectives on hot topics and research frontiers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION The relationship between smoking and heart disease has been frequently reported. Therefore, we aimed to explore the association between smoking initiation and atrial fibrillation. METHODS Genetic association data pertaining to smoking initiation and atrial fibrillation were obtained from genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Phenotypically related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as instrumental variables. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW), weighted median, Mendelian randomization (MR), Egger regression, simple mode, and weighted mode methods were employed to perform the MR study. The association between smoking initiation and atrial fibrillation was evaluated using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Cochran's Q test was employed to assess heterogeneity among instrumental variables, utilizing the IVW and MR-Egger methods. The Egger-intercept method was employed to test for horizontal pleiotropy, and the 'leave-one-out' method was utilized for sensitivity analysis. RESULTS The MR results for the effect of smoking initiation on atrial fibrillation (IVW, OR=1.11; 95% CI: 1.02-1.20, p=0.013) supported an association between smoking initiation and an increased likelihood of atrial fibrillation. In total, 85 SNPs were extracted from the GWAS pooled data as instrumental variables. The MR-Egger method indicated an intercept close to 0 (Egger intercept= -0.005, p=0.371), suggesting no horizontal pleiotropy in the selected instrumental variables. The 'leave-one-out' sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the results were robust and that no instrumental variables significantly influenced the results. Reverse MR analysis indicated no effect of atrial fibrillation on smoking initiation (IVW, OR=1.00; 95% CI: 0.99-1.02, p=0.684). CONCLUSIONS Smoking initiation has a significant impact on atrial fibrillation. However, atrial fibrillation did not influence smoking initiation. This study provides novel insights into the genetic relationships between smoking initiation and atrial fibrillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large language models (LLMs) are gaining increasing popularity in both academia and industry, owing to their unprecedented performance in various applications. As LLMs continue to play a vital role in both research and daily use, their evaluation becomes increasingly critical, not only at the task level, but also at the society level for better understanding of their potential risks. Over the past years, significant efforts have been made to examine LLMs from various perspectives. This paper presents a comprehensive review of these evaluation methods for LLMs, focusing on three key dimensions: what to evaluate, where to evaluate, and how to evaluate. Firstly, we provide an overview from the perspective of evaluation tasks, encompassing general natural language processing tasks, reasoning, medical usage, ethics, education, natural and social sciences, agent applications, and other areas. Secondly, we answer the 'where' and 'how' questions by diving into the evaluation methods and benchmarks, which serve as crucial components in assessing the performance of LLMs. Then, we summarize the success and failure cases of LLMs in different tasks. Finally, we shed light on several future challenges that lie ahead in LLMs evaluation. Our aim is to offer invaluable insights to researchers in the realm of LLMs evaluation, thereby aiding the development of more proficient LLMs. Our key point is that evaluation should be treated as an essential discipline to better assist the development of LLMs. We consistently maintain the related open-source materials at: https://github.com/MLGroupJLU/LLM-eval-survey [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Danjiang River Basin (Henan Section) is the water source of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project. Its ecological environment quality has received increasing attention. In this study, on the basis of the ecological environment of the study area, we constructed the evaluation index system from four aspects: ecological basis, ecological structure, ecological stress and ecological benefits. The variable fuzzy set model was improved by using the central point triangle whitening weight function and the relative difference function. The ecological environment quality of the Danjiang River Basin (Henan Section) in the past 20 years was evaluated, and the evolution patterns and causes of ecological environment quality were analyzed by combination with land use changing. And the results showed that the area with better ecological environment quality was significantly larger than the deterioration area. The area with poorer grade was decreased from 441.22 km2 in 1998 to 3.93 km2 in 2017, and its proportion was correspondingly decreased from 2.23% to 0.05%. The area with the ordinary grade was decreased from 4528.79 km2 in 1998 to 2636.47 km2 in 2017, and its proportion was correspondingly decreased from 53.67% to 31.24%; The moderately graded area was increased from 3132.7 km2 in 1998 to 5206.88 km2 in 2017, and its proportion was increased from 37.12% to 61.71%; the area with good grade was increased from 319.58 km2 in 1998 to 579.01 km2 in 2017, the area with the excellent grade of an evaluation rating was almost unchanged. Based on the evaluation results, the spatial correlation analysis of changes in habitat quality was further carried out. The autocorrelation index was 0.5122, which indicating that the changes in ecological environment quality in the study area has a strong spatial aggregation characteristics. Combined with the change in land use changing in the present study, we found that the human activities were the major factor causing the changes in ecological environment quality in the study area. These results can provide certain theoretical basis and technical support for land development and utilization as well as for the ecological protection in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Fatigue testing on full-scale CRTS III track model subjected to 30 million cycles. • Study on the evolution of fastener and isolation layer stiffness with fatigue load. • Prediction of the service life of key components of the track structure. • Study on the dynamic response of CRTS III track structure with fatigue load. Abstract Ballastless slab track have been developed and used worldwide to carter for high speed, high stability, high riding comfort, and low maintenance cost requirements of High Speed Railway (HSR) operations. To this ends, the Chinese Rail Track System (CRTS) III was designed and developed independently in China and adopted in new railway lines. The CRTS III is believed to have improved performance over the previously used CRTS I and II, severe structural damages in the form of cracks and delamination at the interface between the prefabricated slab and the SCC filling layer have been reported in service. This cannot be ignored because of the detrimental effects they have on bearing capacity and stiffness of the track. This paper presents an experimental study to evaluate the evolution of stiffness of fasteners and the isolation layer of CRTS III ballastless slab track. The experiments are based on full-scale test on three CRTS III slab track-subgrade structure model subjected to cyclic fatigue loadings up to 30 million cycles. The results of the study revealed the following: (1) The dynamic and static stiffness of the fastener increase by 116% and 30%, respectively. After 10 million cycles of fatigue loading, the ratio of dynamic to static stiffness become larger than 1.5. (2) the stiffness of isolation layer changes in accordance with quadratic function with a correlation coefficient of 0.999. The maximum stiffness obtains 2.4 times than its initial value at 30 million cycles of fatigue loading. (3) the acceleration of rail and slab track reduce by 63% and 34% respectively, while the acceleration of support foundation increases by 54%. The findings of this research can serve as a useful guide in the design and maintenance scheduling of the CRTS III slab track structure as well as references for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron-phonon couplings and charge transport properties of α- and γ-graphyne nanosheets were investigated from first-principles calculations by using the density-functional perturbation theory and the Boltzmann transport equation. Wannier function-based interpolation techniques were applied to obtain the ultra-dense electron-phonon coupling matrix elements. Due to the localization feature in Wannier space, the interpolation based on truncated space is found to be accurate. We demonstrated that the intrinsic electron-phonon scatterings in these two-dimensional carbon materials are dominated by low-energy longitudinal-acoustic phonon scatterings over a wide range of temperatures. In contrast, the high-frequency optical phonons play appreciable roles only at high temperature regimes. The electron mobilities of α- and γ-graphynes are predicted to be &126;104 cm² V-1 s-1 at room temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is very important in the vulnerable ecological environment of the Third Pole; however, data regarding the spatial distribution of SOC are still scarce and uncertain. Based on multiple environmental variables and soil profile data from 458 pits (depth of 0–1 m) and 114 cores (depth of 0–3 m), this study uses a machine-learning approach to evaluate the SOC storage and spatial distribution at a depth interval of 0–3 m in the frozen ground area of the Third Pole region. Our results showed that SOC stocks (SOCS) exhibited a decreasing spatial pattern from the southeast towards the northwest. The estimated SOC storage in the upper 3 m of the soil profile was 46.18 Pg for an area of 3.27 × 106 km², which included 21.69 Pg and 24.49 Pg for areas of permafrost and seasonally frozen ground, respectively. The mean SOCS under different vegetation types showed a decreasing pattern as follows: forest > shrub > cropland > grassland > desert. Among all soil orders, histosols and gleisoil had the largest SOCSs, while gypsisols and salt flats had the smallest SOCS. Our results provide information on the storage and patterns of SOCS at a 1 km² scale for areas of frozen ground in the Third Pole region, thus providing a scientific basis for future studies pertaining to Earth system models. The dataset is open-access and available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4293454 (Wang et al., 2020). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the urban waterlogging mitigation effectiveness on low impact development (LID) in semimountainous regions, the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) of a semi-mountainous region combined with GIS was generalized. The SWMM was calibrated and validated through maximum seeper depth of the checkpoints, and various LID scenarios have been designed according to local conditions. The discharge processes of outlets, surface runoff, peak flow and peak time were analyzed in different scenarios. The results show that: all the flow processes of outlets in the LID scenario are gentler than that in the status quo scenario, and the effectiveness of LIDs in semimountainous regions are different from that in plain regions because of the slope influence; in semimountainous regions, the LID effectiveness on surface runoff reduction decreases with the increase in rainfall return period or the extension of rainfall duration, but remains almost unchanged with the increase in rainfall peak coefficient; the LID effectiveness on control peak flow reduction is not remarkable with the change in rainfall characteristics, and the LID effectiveness on peak time delay is poor. This research can provide decision support for regional small-scale measures of urban waterlogging mitigation and reduction in semi-mountainous regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sodium humate (HNa) and glutamine (Gln) alone or combined supplementation on growth performance, diarrhea incidence, blood parameters, and intestinal microflora of weaned Holstein calves. In a 14-day experiment, 40 calves at 51 ± 3 days of age were randomly allocated to four treatment groups: (1) NC (basal diet), (2) NC + 5% HNa, (3) NC + 1% Gln, and (4) NC + 5% HNa + 1% Gln. Calves combined supplementation with HNa and Gln had a higher (P < .05) ADG, serum concentration of glucose (GLU), IgA, and IgG but lower fecal scores, diarrhea incidence, serum concentration of TNF-a, and IL-10 compared with NC group (P < .05). Compared with NC group, HNa + Gln group showed higher (P < .05) serum GSH and T-AOC activities but lower (P < .05) concentration of MDA and D-lac. Furthermore, the abundances of Prevotella ruminicola, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus in rectal digesta were increased (P < .05), but the Escherichia coli was significantly decreased. In conclusion, combined supplementation with HNa and Gln can effectively improve the immune status, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microflora of the weaned calves while reducing diarrhea incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior to micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment, a layer of high temperature oxide (HTO) prefab film was fabricated on the surface of 6061 aluminum alloy specimens. The formation mechanisms of the cracks and pores in the MAO coatings were investigated by means of Mg element as the tracer. The results showed that there were several different formation mechanisms for the pores and cracks formed in the MAO coatings as follows. Some of pores were attributed to the residual micro-discharge channels, and the others were attributed to the residual uncovered concave regions locating among the surrounding convex regions. The difference in oxide phase composition caused by the compositional fluctuations in the coating weakened the bond strength at the phase interface and resulted in forming cracks between every two convex regions. Some of cracks were resulted from the solidification and shrinkage of molten coating materials, and the others were resulted from the poor connection between every two convex regions. The surface morphology and the content of each element of the MAO coating were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose We sought to investigate the effectiveness and safety of dabrafenib in children with BRAFV600E-mutated Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 20 children with BRAFV600E-mutated LCH who were treated with dabrafenib. Results The median age at which the patients started taking dabrafenib was 2.3 years old (range, 0.6 to 6.5 years). The ratio of boys to girls was 2.3:1. The median follow-up time was 30.8 months (range, 18.9 to 43.6 months). There were 14 patients (70%) in the risk organ (RO)+ group and six patients (30%) in the RO- group. All patients were initially treated with traditional chemotherapy and then shifted to targeted therapy due to poor control of LCH or intolerance to chemotherapy. The overall objective response rate and the overall disease control rate were 65% and 75%, respectively. During treatment, circulating levels of cell-free BRAFV600E (cfBRAFV600E) became negative in 60% of the patients within a median period of 3.0 months (range, 1.0 to 9.0 months). Grade 2 or 3 adverse effects occurred in five patients. Conclusion Some children with BRAFV600E-mutated LCH may benefit from monotherapy with dabrafenib, especially high-risk patients with concomitant hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and intolerance to chemotherapy. The safety of dabrafenib is notable. A prospective study with a larger sample size is required to determine the optimal dosage and treatment duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]